Trilverda - Winds of the fall

Chapter 13

City's howl did not sleep, near midnight, yet many feet splashed through the muddy grounds. Every guard peeked every corner of the city, no stone unturned but they got no luck, not a single sign of Gill or Elena. People did not sleep, closed even the smallest entries, suffocating themselves inside their own canopy. Children cried, it disturbed the city even more.

Elena and Gill had wriggled past the gate. And yes, a horse stood idle, waiting for their arrival. The horse's silhouette took over their burden. Gill dragged his fat snatched feet, mouth curved upwards. Moment of escape had come, Olfran, me home once again. A chill caressed his nude and dirty arms. He turned around, the city disgusted him. He frowned his blackened nose, strengthened his jaw. His escape did not satisfy him wholly. The time had come to inflict his terror upon Neamora, whole Cruston and the ruling family, primarily.

“What ya looking at? Run away” Elena gasped, inhaling huge lumps of air. She wished not to be captured, not by her own brother who now would have a disgraceful memory of tonight. Leaves touched the damp path, she rose her head up, saw the blank and dark sky. Slam a hard blow hit her from behind, right in to the lower head. The leaves doubled their numbers and the world around her seemed to blur until it turned completely dark. She fell on the ground. Gill had hit her with his boney elbow right above her neck.

He tore his ragged sleeves, tied her wrists tight, lifted her and rested her unmoving body in the saddle. Bestowing a final glance at the terrified city, he clambered up, covered Elena with his arms, didn’t want her to fall mid path. A hard kick to the horse and he set off to Olfran, wind speed. Even though Elena was just a cook, she held a different significance in the castle. Her food readied many warriors, lords, maids and guests that rested inside the castle. Erton would plead for her safety and Brinlov would risk his life for her's. Gill abducted her.

“Me Lord Kelvin” Brinlov's voice tore through the walls. “Me Lord Kelvin, yer presence is vital”. His hand grabbed the cloth tainted in blood, the cloth which rapped unconscious Erton. He thudded Erton on the floor, he moved his limbs, Brinlov crushed his moving hands with his iron boot. His strength to let out a scream had been seized away. A Handful of guards had followed him inside, their future commander.

Vivian walked down, overseeing Kelvin's steps. Kelvin carried an unmistakable smile, Vivian seemed not worried too. “Yes, me boy?” Kelvin's voice lurched as he stepped down the stairs. Vivian took him to the chair beside the throne, he rested with a loud gasp. She squinted her eyes, glaring at the boy struggling to move his hand away from Brinlov's boot. Erton, she couldn’t care less.

“Me Lord, Gill Farrale escaped. I tried to fight him but yer beloved steward hit me with a plank in me head” he clenched his jaws and pressed his foot harder. Erton managed to let out a faint scream.

His beloved caretaker's gasp lanced through his ears, smile of satisfaction dropped low. “Leave the boy Brinlov. Guards, if Brinlov is correct, bind this traitor in shackles and tie him to the pillar” Kelvin ordered, intending to relieve Erton from his current misery. “He will stay here the whole night until his exile tomorrow” his plan of sailing Erton to Vajra had not been compromised, not even a slight.

The guards yanked him, they had no shackles but one's belt would terminate the task just as efficiently. Erton had no power to move, let alone escape. He got tied, mercilessly to the pillar, but couldn’t expect any more relief. His eyes disgusted the old man, he scowled and grunted and spitted. He would sacrifice Reynor for his ambitions, I was just slave boy. A heartless monster, I knew all along.

“I suppose this little man cannot have thrown the guards of the castle in awe, not alone” Kelvin let out. His assumption caused distress, Erton and Brinlov did not want to let the truth out. But Brinlov stood honourable to his vows.