A Forgotten Memory

Chapter 10: Shock

Chapter 10: Shock

Diana ran straight back to her horse and mounted, setting Moonlight off in a steady canter. I saw Lionel with crossed arms, smirking.

I held a fist up and told him through gritted teeth, “Your lies are petty and weak.”

He said simply in reply, “They worked on her.”

I turned in frustration away from him. I wanted to hurt him, but of course I couldn’t do that in front of Rose. I think I had freaked her out a little too much already when I electrocuted Thor.

I pulled out several coins in my pocket and handed them to Rose. “Stay at the inn in town. The castle is too dangerous for you right now,” I said, not looking up to her eyes.

Then I saw a tear fall to the ground. “N-No,” Rose said, dropping the gold I had given her. “H-H-ow could you do this to me? To her?”

Rose turned away from me and headed to the castle. “Rose! It’s not what you think!” I tried to yell, but I think it came out as a barely audible whisper. I knew that wouldn’t be a good decision. But what good decisions had I made?

Rowan snorted. I think he was trying to tell me, I’m still on your side.

I patted his muzzle and muttered, “Yeah. I guess so.”

I didn’t go to the castle. I didn’t go to the inn, either.

Instead, I saddled on Rowan and carefully followed the previous horse tracks.

I had a feeling somebody was watching me. But with the current situation I am, I think it’s good to be a bit paranoid.

Who knows when Lionel is watching. Or when he-

Snap. I leap of Rowan toward the east where I heard the noise and pull out the dagger I carry at my side. Rowan turns, his ears raised in alarm.

What was that? I could imagine him asking.

“I don’t know, but I-” I begin before I’m knocked backward by a strong force as if I was being hit by a castle brick.

I begin thrashing, but somebody cloaked in black clasps my wrist. I feel like my wrists are about to burst. I see a glint of gold dangling from its neck, with a rune carved in it. Then the figure is knocked away.

Rowan neighs in delight. What fun!

I laugh and hear nothing else.

“Rowan,”

My horse raises it’s ears. I’m listening.

“I have an idea.”

The man puts Colin down next to the fire. “Done.”

The man sitting across from him, says, “Sit down. Celebrate. Lionel said this would be easy!” He laughs and blows a puff of smoke from his pipe.

The other man who brought Colin has a smirk on his face. “I’d rather get the reward now.”

“Aye! Aye!” said the others.

“It’s cold out ‘ere, too!” Another laughed. Too much alcohol, the man who brought Colin thought.

“Fine, then. We’ll go.”

A uniform march followed as the man carried Colin on his back. The man wasn’t worried about the reward. He was worried about Lionel.

“About time,” Lionel said when we arrived in his room. “Colin was vulnerable and still it took you an hour.” he said with a laugh. The cloaked men laughed as well nervously.

Lionel tosses a heavy bag of gold and silver. “And Colin,” he says, pulling out a knife.

The brown cowl goes off the man, and Lionel opens his eyes wide.

“Lionel,” I say, pulling off the black cloak that had been covering me. “You just lost at your own game.”

I pull out the dagger I always had.

It feels like time has stopped. I look down at the golden horse carved in the hilt. The swords of the men in cloaks arcs towards me. Lionel stands still with a crazed smile on his face.

I dodge the swords that come at me and stare at the red, stained glass window. I peer at the mountains past it. And I know exactly what lies below them.

I brace myself and sprint towards the window. I don’t hear it shatter, don’t feel the blood that pours from my arms. All I feel is a step closer to the truth. All I hear is the free winds rushing past me as I plummet from the steep castle walls to the jagged limestone outcrops to the dark lake water.

The air is ripped from my lungs. I now feel the pain of the glass shards buried in my skin. I feel the pain from the words Diana uttered: “You destroyed our friendship, Colin! I hate you!”

Now would be a good place to leave the Earth. I held steadfastly to the dagger in my hand. It would be easy.

But that’s what Lionel would want. And I will not give up fighting him.

I will not give up protecting Rose. More importantly-

protecting Diana.

I saw Lionel pointing in a furious rage to the others. No one would jump down. They seemed to show bravery but now they showed cowardice.

I took one of my two knives and stood up. There was a crest of a lion- one of Lionel’s family crests- on the stone. I smirked as I scraped away the crown from the top of the lion.

I took the knife and threw it at the ground where it would remain planted.

“It ends here, Lionel,” I promised.

“It stops now.”