The Memory of Darkness (on hold until October)

34 - A Shade of Remorse

Arianna sat in the chapel, her whispered prayers asking for strength, resolve, and some way to escape from this place, from him. The statues of the Divines stared back at her, their faces seeming to mock her words.

How much do you really want to leave him?

The sound of screams jolted her from her supplications. She traced the noise to the great hall, where a girl sat cowering in the corner of the room, a cascade of blonde curls covering most of her face. The girl had fallen silent, but when Lorcan tried to approach her, the screaming began again.

"Lorcan!" barked Arianna. She felt her legs buckle at the sight of blood smeared across his face, hands and clothing. "Divines save us, what have you done now?"

The girl had stopped screaming once Arianna spoke. She pushed her hair away from her face, staring up with wide, wild eyes.

Lorcan took advantage of the silence to speak. "There was something I had to take care of." His voice was strained and weak.

The girl pointed a finger at Lorcan in accusation. "You murdered him... you slit his throat, you freakish bastard."

Lorcan turned to her. "Do not make me regret this! If you want to live, you'll keep your mouth shut!"

Arianna stared at Lorcan in horror. There didn't seem much point asking him if it was true, or why he had done it. Her immediate concern was for the girl's safety. "You promised that you wouldn't bring anyone else here."

"I did," he admitted. "She was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and... I panicked. I don't know why. She's just some tavern wench."

"Perhaps you should take her back," said Arianna, her voice calm. "Safely. Even if she gave a full testimony to the Guards and it would make no difference to you."

Lorcan shook his head. He seemed shocked and dazed, lacking his usual air of confidence. "No," he said. "I can't... I don't know." He looked at the blood on his hands as if seeing it for the first time. "I'm going to get cleaned up. Try to calm her down."

Once he had departed, Arianna cautiously made her way towards the newcomer, crouching down beside her, unsure of what to say. The girl stared at her, her eyes red with tears. "Your Grace?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid so," said Arianna. "I'm sorry he's done this. I'll do everything I can to get you out of here. He promised..." she shook her head sadly.

"He murdered my Uncle," said the girl. "I'm not a tavern wench, we were trying to help you." Her eyes widened as she remembered something. "Is this Isterbeck?"

"Yes," said Arianna. "This place takes some explaining, but-."

"Lightning," interrupted the girl. "I know about the barrier, and we're sure lightning could breach it. We-."

Arianna shushed her, glancing around nervously. It seemed that there was more to the newcomer than met the eye, but this wasn't the time to discuss such things. "Don't let him hear you say any of this," she warned. "It's in both our best interests for him to think you're a serving girl." She dropped her voice to a whisper. "My powers are bound here. I don't know how he's done it. I'm very sorry about your Uncle. We'll talk more, when he's away from the castle. What's your name?"

"Gretchen," answered the girl. "Gretchen Malgard."

Malgard "Felix was your Uncle?" queried Arianna.

Gretchen nodded, her eyes filling with tears again.

Whatever has gone on out there, he's dead because of me. "I'll find you somewhere to stay, hopefully not for long. Try to stay out of his way, but if you do encounter him, play dumb."