Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 24: The Dark

274 I.C.
Sacren
Dark Vale
Black Shield Castle

"Lora, please don't leave me in the dark." Those softly spoken, frightened words echoed to the young woman from years long past. She had whispered words of comfort and lit a candle on a table near the room's window.

"You shouldn't be afraid of the dark," she had said with a soft laugh after moving the candle to the wide, window sill. "Here at home, there is nothing in the dark accept what we imagine." She moved over and took a seat on the bed next to Kaedres. The boy was looking at her with wide, blue eyes.

"You don't understand," Kaedres whispered, pulling the sheet up to his chin. He really did look frightened.

"What's wrong?" Dalora asked softly, resting a hand on the blankets covering his small shoulder. She felt frightened herself for a moment, as his eyes were full of fear.

Kaedres shook his head and looked like he was not going to answer, then after a few moments he whispered, "It always comes to visit."

"What is it?" Dalora asked, calming herself with a desire to appear strong for him.

"I don't know," Kae whispered again, "it scares me Lora, and it wants to hurt me."

"What does it look like?" Dalora asked.

The boy shook his head slowly. "I don't know. It just stands over there in the dark by the door and stares at me all night. I hear it whispering mean things."

Dalora felt a cold chill run up her spine as she looked over toward the door he was referring to. Then she looked back to her brother. "Kae, I know dreams can be scary."

Kae focused his gaze intently at her, and a shadow of anger touched his brow. "It is not a dream Lora."

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Because it is in my dreams too."

Dalora felt her pores tighten up and down her arms. "Kae, it's just a dream. Don't let your imagination run away with you."

"Why don't you believe me?" he asked.

"Kae, we are in one of the strongest castles in the entire world, and we have thousands of soldiers here to protect us. No one can get up here to your room without being seen."

The boy did not look convinced by her logical argument. He remained quiet and looked defiant.

"Good night Kae," Dalora said as she stood up and crossed the room to the door. She opened it and stopped, turning back to look at him.

"Please don't leave me," he whispered.

"Go to sleep Kae... and have good dreams instead of bad," she said. With that she shut the door behind her thinking about her own bed. Then she paused, hearing only part of Kae's words as she had closed the door. He was angry.

"I wish..."

Dalora shivered in the chilled air. She cursed quietly, thinking she should have brought her robe instead of just wearing thin pajamas to take Kae to bed. Halfway to her rooms down the long corridors she came to a sudden halt. His closet door had been slightly open. Had she seen the shape of someone in the shadows? Shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her developing breasts and rubbed her shoulders for warmth. She hurried to her rooms. Scary stories, even from a boy, could make her imagination play tricks on her.

The old memories of that night from childhood receded in Dalora's mind as she took a step closer to the edge of a balcony. She rested her hands on the short, stone wall that kept her from falling hundreds of feet to the cavern's stone floor below. She knew that there had been old caverns beneath Black Shield castle, but she had no idea how massive, complex, or to what depth the builders had delved. Kae said they worked their way into the deep places beneath the world, and there were many unexplored tunnels and caves.