Fall of a Hero: Hearts Without Foundation (a Fantasy Adventure)

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

The time was up before I knew it. The guards dragged Maccus away and shoved me behind the wood holding area of the interrogation room. I heard them outside murmuring about something and then get into an argument so heated that they left the main quarters. It was suddenly so silent and empty where. I was the only prisoner in the upper floor. I was once again alone with no one to talk to. But be wary not for me, I had a window and a bench. It was definitely better than going back to the cold, rank cell down under. I could now enjoy a barred window with an satirically scenic view of the edge of the manorial garden.

Ha! Supposedly Enervent worked out there. I was sure she had to get her precious little cousin hands all up and in the dirt. Of course, she would also have to deal with the sun and the grubs and pests. I bet she hated her job and was trying to make me jealous. After all, I did have the esteemed position over the sanctuary of Uban, whoever he was. He seemed pretty powerful to mess with fate.

The guards were still not here. The sun had begun to droop into the dense mud of the horizon awaking the surrealistic violin trilling orchestra of humming bugs and the bobbing mass of lightning bees cuddling in the flowers for pollination. The evening mist became heavy and sank to the feet of every fruit tree in the garden. The day flowers swinging in the baskets closed bloom and the twilight buds unraveled their petals. The soft tricking of the fountain shimmered the reflections of both of the small metallic moons. The night song birds joined the chorus with nectarous melodies. All this beauty was almost simultaneously compelled to awaken in one uniform performance.

I was busy gawking at it all when after a few minutes of the heavenly scene when I was jolted alive with this airy high toned moan that made my skin crawl as it reverberated across the scape. It made my fingers tingle, and I clasped my ears in pain. The shrill frequency thankfully persisted for but a moment longer as a gust of a speeding object cyclones away the humming insects, the lightning bees, and the song birds. The massive body glided into view from the sky. Whatever it was, it did a loopy loop and swerved against the twin glows of the moon and then fell forward vertically into a downward plummet. Just before it crashed into the earth, it jerked its head back up, eye locked with me and took off. It continued to revel carelessly amongst the thick low mist and the high spotlights of the moons.

I mindlessly slammed my fist against the pane. I couldn't see the color of it, but a black silhouette, but I knew. That had to be Pixie. It had the same carefree bounce and the features fit those of the statue in the cave! The Quasid had revived from the dead after all! Serpo was right. What a scary thought. It occurred to me that this might not have been a good thing. Apparently, if this dragon creature could not be simply "killed" how was I to stop it from attacking me and getting vengeance on me even if I did defeat it? I shook my head. At least it seemed friendly enough.

At that second, the creature flew from view and let loose a fire ball in the distance that shattered into a firework explosion in the starry sky. Another came sailing closer and closer-right for me! I jumped back and crouched down under the window in case of more assaults. Great. Just when I had assumed it was a safe little critter...it tried blowing off my head.

The one of guards rushed in and hurried me of the wooden room.

"What what was that?" he mused, gazing out the window. The Quasid was marvelously escaped. A series of stomping down the halls diverted his attention away. Immediately, he panicked and urged me with him.

Quick!" he worried as he dragged me back to the sticky musty prison, his head darting back and forth, "Hurry down before my amicas gets here. He will try to take you to the Lady--"

I tossed my head in be bewilderment. "Wait, what?"

The bald man trembles in a deep perspiration. "The other guard overheard you foolishly speaking to Maccus and is bent on taking you to the Lady for further interrogation. If she asks you any questions, answer-no matter what." He pulled off the thickly adorned armor glove on his right hand. He wiggled his four fingers in front of my face. He had no right index...only a clean stump. I gulped.

Without warning, a rock tough hand clamped onto my wrist. The wielder was the taller and older of the two. He had a rusty and knurled beard. His eyes were squinted in manifest scrutiny of my presence. In his other hand he had his spear. He was not nearly as lighthearted as before.

"Nay, amicas. You know the rules. He's out of our hands now," he growled, sternly tearing me from the other guard, whom I suddenly liked better. The first guard persisted earnestly for him not to take me to "her." He said I didn't deserve it. The bearded one merely responded that it was their job and that I was a criminal if I withheld information. It ended hopeless. The second guard had friends.

Now, I had told you about the servant corridors before and how elegant they were, correct? Well, just imagine the residence of the Lady Jez, Lord Mundus's wife. It was as wonderful as it was horrendous. I tell you, I had no idea where people got so much luxury while I grew up and survived without it.

The Lady herself was among the lofty gems. The woman could not have been older than twenty-five, a considerably young wife in comparison to Mundus, but my was she splendid. She was much prettier than the noble girl, hailing long lashes, full lips, and adequate shape and movement. Her face was caked with artily applied makeups, and she oozed a mask of expensive spices. She reigned from a red and purple futon with a curtain that was pulled away as she came out to see me. The Lady was beautiful, but way too old. I was disgusted with myself.

"And who is this young man that you have brought before me today?" she cooed, wordlessly waved for a servant to fill her cup. The white haired noble came from a door from the far wall carrying a wine jug. Ever so carefully, she poured the wine with a shallow trickling noise from the goblet. As she fast as she appeared, the girl retreated into oblivion.

"The noble!" I blurted. The guard harshly thwacked the back of my head.

"Shut up!" he bowed to the Lady, "this is a prisoner caught earlier. He was seen with Nuntius the thief. The two are partners."

The Lady arched one of her finely trimmed eyebrows. Her long nailed finger traced the rim of the goblet. "Ah..." she pondered, "Guard, you may now exit." He bowed again and briskly left out the massive doors. Clunk. The Lady's eyes turned to mine. "That girl you saw is no noble. She is but a mute, my slave that I found around here just a few days ago. Some say she resembles a twin of a noble's child, but everyone knows the noble's child is pregnant." The Lady laughed.

I kept my face stolid, despite my internal turmoil. I felt like I didn't know anything anymore. Everything I knew wasn't what it seemed at all. Lies, lies, lies!

The Lady smiled. "Very well then. We shall talk of business. Enough light chit-chat, yes?" she thew her legs off the futon and classily walked toward me and leaned against a chair near a desk, from there she rested her head on her hand as she asked, "Is what he says true? Are you partners with Nuntius... " she flipped her hair from her face smoothly, "Did you, indeed, speak with him?"

I hesitated and shuffled in my awkward standing position. I opened my mouth but no words came out. My throat was stifled with cotton! I could not speak at all. I was so anxious. This woman was going to hurt me!

"Uh hah..." she nods, setting down her drink delicately on the glass toped table beside her. "Don't worry little boy," she sang, her voice dripping with honey, "you don't have to answer me if you don't want to," Lady Jez revealed a pink cleaver bladed knife engraved with spiraling flowers from her side, "if you're not...comfortable..."

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."