The Bard

Chapter Three

         
     The cold north wind sent a chill through Shana’s grey robe as she stepped out of the moongate. She was standing in a clearing before a huge, stone tower. The walls of the tower were covered with vines and moss. Worn stone steps led up to rusted, iron double doors. As she approached the steps, Shana could hear a lich laughing somewhere in the thick forest beyond the tower. Shana looked up at the sound of a shout, to see guards standing on the tower roof. One of the guards signaled to Charlie with a wave of his arm and Charlie returned the gesture.

          “Why have you brought me here?” Shana asked.

          “We was ordered to, miss” Ivan told her.

          Charlie and Ivan positioned themselves on either side of Shana, each man taking hold of an arm. They hustled the young woman up the stone steps. The hinges squeaked loudly as Ivan pulled open one side of the rusted iron doors.

“Where are we?” Shana questioned as they crossed the threshold.

“This is his lordship’s Keep.” Charlie answered as she was led into the dimly lit first floor of the tower. The door was pulled shut and the sound of the bolt being thrown into place echoed ominously off the stone walls.

“Seamus does not own a tower in Felucca” Shana said in confusion.

The lower floor of the tower appeared to be used as a workshop and stable. Shana could see horse stalls along the far wall and a large forge and anvil against the back wall. Racks of weapons and armor covered most of the remaining walls. Barrels and chest were stacked in a corner next to wide stone stairs leading up. Three men were playing cards around a table in the center of the room. They turned and stared at Shana as she was led towards the stairs.

“Where is Seamus?” Shana demanded loudly, pulling her escorts to a halt at the base of the stairs.

“Don’t know no Seamus, miss” Ivan replied. He and Charlie used their combined strength to haul Shana up the stairs “His lordship said to bring you here and we do as we’re told.”

“Come along quiet like, miss” Charlie said in a low voice “His lordship is a fierce mean man when he don’t get his way.”

“Aye, he is” Ivan agreed solemnly.

Realization that Seamus had not sent these men suddenly dawned on Shana Rose. As panic began to set in, she wrenched her arms out of the grasp of her kidnappers and ran down the stairs to the front door of the tower. Shana managed to throw back the bolt and wedge one of the doors open a few inches before she was dragged away by Charlie and Ivan.

“NOOO!! LET ME OUT!!” Shana screamed at the top of her lungs. But the hollow sound of the iron door closing and the bolt being thrown back into place was her answer. The men playing cards laughed and jeered as she was once again forced up the stone stairs.

The stairwell was lit by a single torch which flickered in a frigid draft. Shana dragged her bare feet on the ice cold stone of the stairs in an attempt to slow the progress of her kidnappers. They hauled her up to the second floor and down a short hallway. Ivan opened a heavy wooden door and Shana was brought into a cavernous room. The room appeared to be a formal dining hall. It was also dimly lit by a single candle placed on a long dining table. A roaring fire popped and crackled in the hearth at the far end of the room. Two large wooden chairs were placed before the fire.

The room seemed empty at first. Ivan and Charlie gave Shana a push forward towards the fireplace. “We brought her, m’lord” Charlie said into the darkness “We found her in Britain.”

A whisper of movement caught Shana’s eye as a man materialized from the shadows and stood before the hearth. His silhouette was outlined against the flames, making his face impossible to see.  Shana took a step backwards, shaking visibly. “What do you want with me?” she questioned the stranger.

The man did not answer. Instead, he sat in one of the fireside chairs keeping his back to the fire. “Leave us!!” he commanded.

Charlie and Ivan turned and scurried from the room.

     “Who are you?” Shana asked, shivering with fear and cold “Why have you brought me here?”

    She heard the man chuckle. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and hypnotic “Don’t look so frightened, Shana Rose. I mean you no harm.” the man stood up and slowly walked around the table. Shana felt like a mouse trapped under a cat’s paw. She backed further away.

“You may not remember me, but I shall never forget you, child.”

As the man drew closer, the light from the candle revealed his face.

“Jack!” Shana gasped.

“So you do remember” Jack looked pleased. “Come stand by the fire. You look half frozen, my dear.” Shana was too stunned to object, when he took her arm and guided her to the blazing hearth.

Jack was just as handsome as Shana remembered. Throughout her childhood, Seamus’ brother had been her ideal hero. She had nurtured a childish, romantic fantasy about the charming and dangerous man who visited her sister’s home. It had broken her heart when Jack turned out to be a murderer. He had even tried to murder is own brothers on a Felucca treasure hunt six years ago.

“Jack, I don’t understand. Why did those men bring me here? Where is Seamus?”

“Seamus? Why would my paragon of a brother be here?” he started to laugh.

“Those men…they said my brother-in-law…” she stopped. The men had never actually mentioned Seamus’ name “You tricked me! You had your men bring me here thinking that…”

"I am your brother-in-law. No one has lied to you. You chose to hear what you wanted to hear, nothing more.”

Shana stared up at Jack with complete dismay. He smiled back.

“You frightened me to death, Jack!!” Shana said, anger suddenly replacing her fear and shock “What is going on?”

Jack motioned Shana to sit in one of the large chairs close to the fire. “Warm yourself before you catch a chill.” He moved to a small table set against the wall and filled a goblet with wine. “This should help” Jack said returning to Shana. He placed the goblet into her hands and made himself comfortable in the other large chair beside her. “Drink up and I shall explain all.”  Jack watched as Shana gratefully drank the wine.

As the wine began to bring warmth back into her limbs, Jack continued “Now, to answer your question. I was in the dungeon, Despise, today when you arrive with your….” he paused “with our family. I could not believe my eyes when I saw what those two blundering brothers of mine had done.” a frown darken his face “To bring a child like yourself into such a foul and dangerous place…”

“I asked to be brought to that foul place…” she interrupted.

“They should have known better!!” Jack exploded, anger showing clearly in his eyes “Seamus, at least, should have known that you would be maimed and killed within minutes of your arrival.” he sprang from his chair and began to pace in his agitation.

“It was my own fault” she argued “I am not a child, Jack. I should have done as I was told and stayed close to the group.”

“You were in no position to judge whether or not it was too dangerous!” he ranted “You have no experience with which to make such a decision! It was up to my brothers to protect you. And at that task they failed completely!”

Jack scowled down at her “Seamus should have known better.” he spat the words out with such hatred, that it caused a chill of fear to twist in Shana’s breast.

Shana took another sip of wine. She had never seen Jack angry before. His rage was a frightening thing to witness. She must proceed cautiously to avoid provoking another angery outburst.

“Was it you that I heard calling to me in the dungeon?” she asked, trying to calm her host.

“Of course! Who else would know your name? Who else would take the time to remove you from that filthy pit?” he stopped his pacing and looked thoughtfully at Shana “But you turned and ran like a frightened rabbit. And moments later you were, in fact, quite dead.” He smiled with satisfaction “Were you not?”

“Aye” she sighed “Tis sad but true.”

“Just as I predicted” Jack gloated.

“So you kidnapped me to keep me from being killed again?”

“Kidnapped is such a harsh word, my dear” Jack said smoothly “I prefer that you think of it as being escorted out of danger.”

“You were saving me?” Shana asked.

“Exactly”

There was a lull in the conversation as Shana digested this information. She took another sip of her wine. Jack was a strange man, she thought. It was quite clear that he was not accustomed to anyone disagreeing with him. Charlie had warned her that Jack was ‘a fierce mean man when he didn’t get his way’.  But his actions had been driven by a concern for her safety. How could she be angry with someone who had her best interests at heart.

“Well, whatever motivated you to bring me here, Jack, I must say that I am happy to see you again.” She told him.

“I was hoping that you would be, Shana Rose. The last time we met you were weeping for me. Do you remember that day?”

“Aye” Shana smiled “I was sure I would never see you again. You were my knight in shining armor.” she laughed “My childhood idol.”

“And now?” he asked, his eyes narrowed and a wicked smile curved his lips.

Shana was not sure how to answer. The veil of innocence had been lifted from her eyes. She could now see beyond the handsome face and charming smile. And what she saw was frightening. “I am no longer a child. I have come to realize that heroes are not always what they appear to be.”

“My dear, young Shana.” Jack laughed “There are no heroes left in this world. Only men driven by ambitions and greed.”

“I hope that you are wrong, Jack.” Shana said quietly.

The effects of the wine were beginning to wear off. Shana shivered and tried to tuck her bare feet beneath the grey death robe, which she still wore.

Jack took note of this and offered his arm to Shana. “Come with me, child, let us find you something warmer to wear.”

Shana took Jack’s arm and let herself be led through the tower to a room on the third floor. Jack opened the heavy wooden door and bowed with flourish “Your room, my lady” he announced as she entered.

The chamber was decorated in rich hues of green and gold. Costly tapestries covered the walls and plush polar bear fur formed a carpet across the floor. A cheery fire burned in the hearth and the large four poster bed was decorated with colorful pillows. As Shana moved closer she saw a blue velvet dress laid out upon the bed.

“This is lovely” Shana said, holding the dress up to examine. Placed on the floor beside the bed were matching shoes “Oh Jack, thank you.” she exclaimed as she slipped her feet into the soft leather “My feet are near frozen.”

“I am glad you like them, my dear. Get dressed and I will be back for you in thirty minutes” Jack told her as he closed the door. Shana heard the sound of the lock falling into place. She hurried over to the door and tried to open it. Jack had locked her in.

“Am I a prisoner?” Shana asked through the heavy wood of the door “Jack?” But she heard the sound of his footsteps moving away, down the stairs.  “How strange.” she said to herself. Was Jack once again trying to protect her? Was she in danger from those wicked men downstairs?

With a sigh, she slipped into the heavy velvet gown. She found a comb on a table by the bed and sat on a stool before the fire. She combed and braided her hair as the flames in the fireplace warmed her.

She wasn’t sure if she should be frightened of Jack or not. He was a murderer with a volatile temper. At times he reminded her of a spoilt child, and yet, he cared enough about her welfare to bring her to his home. Jack was perplexing, to say the least.

Minutes later there was a light tap upon the door. Shana heard the lock being unlocked and went to stand by the door.  Jack smiled when he saw her.

 “Lovely” he said and offered his arm to her, once more “Blue suits you, Shana. From now on you shall always wear blue.” he told her, as they made their way back to the dining hall.

“Always?” Shana asked, confused by the remark.

“Yes, always.”

“Why did you lock me in, Jack?” 

“For your protection, my dear.”

Jack and Shana shared a quiet lunch by the fire in the dining room. Shana entertained her host with news about their family. It had been six years since Jack had been banished from Mountain View and much had happened in that time. Shana told him about the wedding of Jeanne Rose and Bronson and the birth of their son, Angus. She made him laugh with tales about the tiny warrior and his antics.  She told Jack about the Journey’s End Inn and the fact that most of their family resided there now.

“It is sad that you can not come to visit us, Jack” Shana said at the end of the meal “If only there were some way to repair the bond between you and your brothers.”

Jack chuckled “You can not repair something that never existed, Shana. It is not likely that my brothers and I will ever see the world in the same way.”

“But you visited Mountain View many times, when I was a child.”

“That seems a lifetime ago. I am ruler of my own kingdom here” he smiled with satisfaction “I am content, for now.”

Shana stood up “Nevertheless, I shall tell Seamus and Bronson how well you have treated me today. Despite the unfortunate misunderstanding which brought me to this tower, I have enjoyed our visit. Perhaps this meeting will help pave the way to some future communication between you and the rest of the family.”

Jack remained seated, saying nothing.

“If you would be so kind as to cast a moongate to Mountain View, I really should be leaving. Amanda will be worried if I do not return with the rest of the hunting party.”

“I shall send word to your dear sister that you are alive and well, Shana Rose. But I have decided that you will be staying with me for awhile longer.” Jack said in a most congenial way.

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Dominic wiped the blood from the razor sharp blade of his magic bardiche with an oil cloth. He had left a trio of brigand corpses half a mile away and returned to his vigil in the woods surrounding the Grove of Love. The snow had been falling steadily for three hours, but he took no notice. Thick leather armor and a black woolen cape protected Dominic from the elements. He crouched in the shadow of a leafless oak tree, and watched the guards on the tower roof, as he cleaned his weapon.

His only choice now was to wait until nightfall. Under cover of darkness he might be able to enter the tower of the Dread Lord, Jack.

Hours ago, Dominic had returned to the healer in Britain, after donning new armor and refilling his pack. He stopped at the bakery, for he had decided to help Shana Rose, by providing a moongate to the dungeon, Despise. He was going to Despise anyways, Dominic told himself, as he headed north along the cobblestone street. The fact that the lady was pretty and sweet would make the journey back to the dungeon a pleasant one, indeed. He carried a loaf of fresh bread for Shana Rose to eat; perhaps a bite of food would help to restore her stamina.
 

As he approached the spot where he had last seen the lady, Dominic witnessed an unsettling scene. Two henchmen, of the Dread Lord, Jack, were accompanying Shana into a red moongate. Dominic knew the faces of those despicable villains well. He had seen them many times in the Felucca dungeons where the Champions spawn. They preyed upon the injured and lost warriors who wandered too far from the battle. Any warrior who spent time battling murderers in Felucca knew the reputation of Lord Jack.

 Lord Jack’s home was in the heart shaped clearing south of Yew, known as the Grove of Love. An ironic place for a man filled with such evil to make his home, Dominic thought.

Shana was in danger if she stayed in the company of Lord Jack’s men. He hoped, for her sake, that they had not taken her to their master.

As he watched them disappear into the moongate, Dominic strode over to the glowing red sphere. He waited for several seconds to give Jack’s henchmen time to exit the moongate and move away from it. Then Dominic followed them through the magic orb. He exited the portal to find himself standing before the Felucca tower of Lord Jack. The men had indeed taken the innocent, young woman to the Grove of Love.

Dominic sprinted into the nearby woods and knelt behind the thick underbrush. From this position he watched as the two ruthless men led Shana into the tower. The men had escorted her inside and locked the iron doors. It was impossible for Dominic to tell whether or not Shana was entering the tower of her own free will.

 As Dominic was assessing the situation from his concealed position in the trees, he heard the loud creak, of rusted hinges, as one side of the iron door began to open. Then he heard Shana’s terrified screams to be released. The heavy iron door was pulled shut as Dominic raced out into the open to aid the lady.

But, in running across the clearing to the front door, Dominic had attracted the attention of the rooftop guards. The guards had showered him with crossbow bolts. He managed to reach the door only to find it locked again. Dominic retreated, taking two bolts in the back as he ran for the cover of trees. He barely had time to remove the bolts and cast greater heal upon himself, when he heard the iron doors opening once more. Three heavily armed warriors were being dispatched to hunt him down.

Dominic led the three brigands through the woods and into a small clearing just south of the tower. As they approached, he used his wrestling skills to deliver a paralyze blow to the archer, before taking up his bardiche and attacking the fencer. The bardiche completely severed the man’s arm at the elbow. One more hack and the fencer lay motionless on the ground.

Whirling around, Dominic caught the warrior brandishing a halberd in the ribs, while neatly ducking beneath the deadly blade of his opponent. He felt a bolt slam into his back and knew the paralyze spell had worn off the archer. Casting flame strike onto the warrior with the halberd to finish him off, Dominic then turned his attention to the remaining brigand with the crossbow. He rushed the archer, making it impossible for the murderer to take aim. The archer could not avoid the bardiche’s deadly blade on the down stoke. The badly wounded brigand turned and ran back into the woods with Dominic close upon his heels.

Dominic zig zagged through the trees in pursuit of the injured archer. In one fluid movement he slung the bardiche across his backpack and tackled the fleeing brigand with his bare hands. It took only three blows from Dominic’s powerful fists to end the life of the archer.

Dominic stood beside the brigand’s corpse; his breath misted in the cold air as he reached over his shoulder and pulled the crossbow bolt out of his back. He tossed the bolt onto the ground beside the archer’s body and then cast greater heal upon himself.

Snow was beginning to quietly fall around him. Retrieving the bardiche from its resting place across his pack, Dominic had headed back to the spot under the oak tree where he now kept vigil on the tower of Lord Jack.

Four times, in the hours that followed, warriors from the tower had ventured forth to challenge Dominic. Four times, he had met that challenge and prevailed. After the last defeat the brigands had remained safely behind the walls of Lord Jack’s tower. Dominic chuckled. Perhaps they had collected enough grey robes for one day.

          He gave the magic bardiche’s blade one final wipe with the oil cloth and then carefully tucked the fabric away in his pack. His father, Lord Augustus, had given him the weapon only a month ago.  Its powerful magic gave Dominic the advantage in most battles.

          The hum of magic energy brought his attention back to Lord Jack’s hideout. It signaled the opening of a red moongate near the worn steps of the tower. As Dominic watched, a large party of murderers exited the moongate and headed directly for the front doors. They greeted the rooftop guards with hoots and laughter. Dominic surmised that this was a band of murderers returning from Despise. Some carried bulging sacks, of what he assumed to be, loot from victims in the dungeon.

          Dominic was tempted to try and force his way into the tower as he heard both iron doors being opened to admit the returning brigands. But he counted ten armed men in the party and knew that he would not survive a fight against such numbers.

          Wait until nightfall, Dominic thought. Then he would climb the walls of the tower and enter through the roof. The two guards stationed there would not hinder him.

Once inside Dominic would have to take his chances. But he knew that his chances were not good. With so many warriors present and Shana’s location within the tower unknown to him, the odds of success were slim to none. But, regardless of  the odds, Dominic would not leave without trying to rescue Shana Rose. Even though it meant almost certain death.

Lord Augustus had always told his son how proud he was of Dominic’s prowess and determination on the battle field. Augustus often boasted to his friends that his son had the ‘heart of a hero’. But as Dominic waited in the freezing cold, for the chance to enter a stronghold filled with murderers, he smiled. He was beginning to wonder if he had the heart of a hero or the wits of a village idiot.

.

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The Bard

Chapter Four

          Shana stood on her toes and tried to see through the small arched window of her room in Jack’s tower. The glass panes were covered in decades of dirt and grime. Iron bars, fastened to the outside of the thick stone wall, secured the opening.

          “I am a prisoner” Shana said to herself. She felt rage at being detained in this manner by her own brother-in-law. And for what reason?

“Jack is insane!” she ranted to the empty chamber.

          Again, Shana searched the richly furnished room for some means of escape. The only containers in the room, a metal chest and a large armoire, had not yielded anything more useful than ladies clothing. This room had been designed, decorated and stocked for a woman to inhabit.

“A female guest or a prisoner?” Shana wondered aloud as she sank down onto a stool by the hearth.

          Her family must be worried about her. The hunt was surely over by now and Seamus would be searching for her. Could Jack be trusted to send word to Amanda? Shana very much doubted it. She experienced an overwhelming pang of guilt over the distress which she was causing her sisters.

 She must escape.

          After sharing a pleasant lunch with Jack, Shana had been informed by her host that she would not be allowed to return to Malas and her family. Shana had politely rejected the proposal that she should remain in the tower until Jack saw fit to send her home. She cautiously attempted to persuade Jack that she must return to her sister’s house outside Luna, immediately.

          But her host had become highly agitated at the mere mention of Shana’s departure. “You will do as I say” Jack had told her “I, alone, will decide who shall leave and who shall stay. And for now it pleases me to have you here.”

          “Jack, you can not force me to remain here!” Shana had protested

.

          Jack had stood up and started towards the door “There was a time when you wanted my company, Shana Rose. You shed tears of sorrow at my banishment from your life. Now that you can be with me, you wish to leave. I shall never understand the mind of a woman.” he pulled open the door and summoned Charlie and Ivan.

          “Dinner will be at six o’clock” he had informed her from the doorway “Be ready when you are sent for, my dear.” Jack had disappeared down the hallway, leaving Shana to be escorted back to her chamber by his men.

          The clock on the wall told Shana that she had fifteen minutes left to find a way out of this room. But she was no closer to discovering a means of escape than she had been hours ago. And judging by what little light she could see through her dirty window, night was fast approaching. Even if she could find a way out of this tower, Shana had no idea where she was or how to return home.

          The fire in the hearth was beginning to burn low.  Shana stared into the flickering flame of the room’s only candle and suddenly realized that she had found a weapon. She would use the candle stick to fight her way out of this tower.

          Charlie and Ivan arrived at a few minutes before six o’clock. As soon as Shana heard the lock turn, she positioned herself by the door and raised the candle stick above her head. She was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get past her guards and flee this plush prison cell.

          When Ivan poked his head into the darkened chamber, Shana brought the candlestick down on his skull with as much force as she could muster.  Ivan grunted with pain and promptly dropped like a rock onto the floor. Shana pulled the door open and took a swing at Charlie, as he stood in the hallway. His face showed complete surprised, when the candlestick caught him in the chin. Charlie stumbled back just enough for Shana to slip past. Gathering the heavy skirt of the velvet gown in one hand, and still carrying her candlestick in the other, she hurried to the stairs.

          Shana Rose could hear the deep murmur of male voices somewhere below, as she continued her headlong descent towards the first floor and escape. However, on the second floor landing Shana’s bid for freedom came to an abrupt halt. Four disreputable looking men were walking towards the door of the dinning hall as Shana came careening down the stairwell. One of the men blocked Shana’s path. She swung at the brigand with her weapon, but he grabbed her wrist and twisted it until the candlestick clattered to the floor. The fearsome looking murderer then dragged Shana into a bone crushing embrace.

          “What have we here?” exclaimed the huge man with a long black beard “Looks to be a princess in search of a prince!”

          The other men laughed. A man with a green topknot caught hold of her long braided hair and gave it a tug. “A fey wood nymph we’ve caught. Look at these fiery red locks!”

          Shana continued to struggle “Take your hands off me this instant!” she demanded, bringing another round of laughter from the men.

          “You heard the lady, Ben.” said a chilling voice from the doorway of the dinning hall “Unhand her at once.”

          Shana turned to see Jack scowling at the group. “At once!” he commanded.

Shana was released so quickly that she nearly fell. Jack strode forward and wrapped his fingers painfully around Shana’s upper arm. He yanked her away from the circle of brigands and propelled her down the hall towards the dinning room.

          “Taking your leave without staying good bye?” he hissed into her ear “Not very gracious of you, my dear.” He cast an angry glance towards the stairway. Charlie and Ivan were hurrying down to the second floor landing. Blood ran from the wounds that Shana had inflicted. The two men stopped short when they saw Jack. The look on their faces was one of terror. “I will deal with you both later.” he dismissed Charlie and Ivan with a wave of his hand.

          “You can not keep me locked up in this tower like a pet.” Shana told him indignantly.

          “What a novel idea.” He chuckled as he hauled her along with him “You would make a lovely pet. But first you should learn to obey your master.”

          “Please let me go, Jack” Shana pleaded.

          “I know what is best for you, Shana.” Jack laughed. “After you have accustomed yourself to my home, you will see that you belong here.”

          “Jack, I can not stay” Shana, staring up at her capture in disbelief “My family will be worried about me.”

          “They have naught to worry about, sweet lady. You could not be in safer hands.”

          “Have you sent word to my sisters that I am safe?” she asked, trying to break his hold upon her arm.

          “All in good time” Jack replied. He forcefully guided her to the head of the long dining table “We don’t want my bothersome brothers nosing around, now do we, my pet?”

          “You must send word!” she felt her fear rising “Please, Jack, I beg you.”

 Jack held out a chair at the head of the table. “We will discuss this after dinner. For now try to behave like the lady of the castle in front of my men.” he ordered with a look of warning.

Seething with anger, Shana plopped down into the chair. She would bide her time and find a way to escape. The night was still young.  Jack was insane if he thought he could control her. Truly insane.

“That’s better, my pet.” Smiling at his victory over her, Jack took a seat beside Shana. The brigands from the hallway filed in and found their places at the long table in silence. They eyed Jack with obvious fear. Shana wondered what power Jack could have over warriors such as these to make them obey his every command.

Dinner was served by a pretty young woman dressed in homespun clothing. She looked frightened as she brought trays of food and drink into the room. Jack ignored the servant completely while he discussed the dungeon crawl with his men. But Shana was very much aware every time the heavy wooden door of the dining room opened and closed. The door was not being locked. If Shana could slip away from the table she might be able to leave through that exit.

“Is it true that we have a lone warrior laying siege to the tower?” Jack laughed as he poured wine into his goblet.

“Aye, my lord” answered Ben, the warrior with a long black beard “He has been watching the entrance all day, despite our best efforts to convince him otherwise.”

“This man has defeated three guards at once?” Jack asked.

“Aye, five times he did this.” reported the brigand with a green topknot “Shall we send more men to drive him away?”

“I think not” Jack laughed “He poses no threat to us. Let him freeze all night if he wishes.” he helped himself to the roasted chicken “Any idea who he is or what he wants?”

“I have seen his face in the dungeons.” Ben replied “He is one of Lord Augustus’ men. Augustus of Ravenswood, my lord. They fancy themselves to be protectors of innocence or some such rubbish.” he finished his goblet of wine and dragged the back of his hand across his mustache.

“Protectors of innocence?” Jack turned and eyed Shana suspiciously “Do you know this man, Shana? Are you kin to Lord Augustus of Ravenswood?”

“I have never heard of Lord Augustus.” Shana replied, pushing her food around on her plate with a fork.

“Well, perhaps he has come to the wrong place” Jack laughed “There is no one here who is in need of his heroic efforts.” All the warriors joined in the laughter and the subject returned to the murdering of innocent victims in the dungeon.

Shana ate little as the meal progressed. Her thoughts were focused on escaping the tower and returning to her family. The men drank heavily and their talk became louder. They bragged about the many murders they had committed in Despise and all of the loot which had been acquired from their victims.

It was at this point that the conversation turned to a chest which had been placed against the wall. The lid was opened and inside Shana saw items which had been stolen from the murdered victims of a recent dungeon hunt. There were magic swords, axes, helmets and shields shining in the candle light. But one item caught the young bard’s attention. It was a golden, lap harp.

A plan began to form in Shana’s mind. Smiling with sudden hope, she turned to Jack and said “Would you like me to entertain your men with some music, my lord?”

Had Jack known Shana better, he would have seen the mischief behind that radiant smile. But Jack, who was feeling the effects of his wine, looked pleased at her sudden wish to perform. “That would be lovely, my pet.”

Shana continued to smile as she removed the golden lap harp from the chest. She took a seat near the hearth and let her fingers drift across the strings of the instrument. Each note rang out pure and true. The golden lap harp had been tuned recently. But a small trace of blood upon its golden finish only served to bolster Shana’s distain for these men.

 Without hesitation, the bard began to play a festive tavern song. Shana hoped that the music would encourage these murderers to feel lighthearted and to indulge themselves in the drinking of spirits.

The plan seemed to be working as bottles were emptied and the serving woman was repeatedly ordered to replenish the supply of wine and ale. The laughter and bragging had reached an almost deafening level when Shana began to play her magic spell.

The first note of the spell floated above the din of laughter. Shana had been taught that the spell of peacemaking, combined with the effects of alcohol, would put a victim to sleep. This would be her first opportunity to experiment with this theory. If it worked she could walk right out of the unlocked door.

After only a few minutes of playing her peacemaking spell, the sound of snoring filled the room. Every man at the table was unconscious. The murderer, with a long black beard, slept face down in his plate of roasted chicken. Jack was slumped to one side of his chair in open mouthed oblivion.  Shana pressed her lips tightly together to stifle a laugh.

Much to Shana’s surprise, the serving woman had collapsed in a corner, fast asleep. Apparently she had chosen to sample the wine, as well.

“Perfect.” Shana whispered.

 Quietly, she stood up and hurried to the door; glancing back over her shoulder to make sure that the men continued to sleep. Once outside the room, Shana took a chair from the hallway and wedged it under the brass knob of the dining room door. This would give her a few extra minutes to escape, should Jack and his henchmen awaken.

Shana stopped in the darkened stairwell leading down. On the floor below she could hear the voices of murderers laughing. The remaining brigands were drinking and playing cards around the table in the workshop. Again Shana let her fingers pluck out the notes of the peacemaking spell. Within minutes the sound of snoring filled the first floor of the tower.  Shana hurried to the iron double doors.

As Shana’s fingers touched the door handle, she remembered the loud squeaking which the rusted doors had made upon her arrival. She tip toed over to the racks of weapons hanging upon the wall and chose a sturdy spear. She carried the spear with her as she carefully opened the door.

The squeaking noise seemed loud as it echoed off the stone walls. But, much to her amazement, the sleeping brigands continued to snore. Slipping outside, Shana closed the door and shoved the spear through the iron door handles. She hoped that this would keep Jack and his murderers from following.

Shana stood on the snow covered steps and look out into the moon lit woods which surrounded the tower. A frigid wind cut across her exposed skin like a knife. She shivered as she tried to decide which direction to take.

“Oh dear. Which way shall I go?” she questioned herself out loud. “If only I knew where the road was.”

The sound of a lich’s laughter, nearby, galvanized Shana into action. She gathered her heavy velvet skirt in one hand, cradled her harp against her side with the other hand and set off running into the forest heading south.

*******************************************

          Dominic cautiously trekked through the woods, which circled the Grove of Love. The sun had set and a single lantern, hanging above the tower’s iron doors, cast a small circle of light onto the snow covered steps. The snow had stopped and the moon hung full in the sky. It shed its own mellow light down upon the forest; creating eerie shadows among the trees.

          The rooftop guards had just patrol the east side of the building, and then moved on to the south, as Dominic approach the tower wall. He felt sure that the thick vines, which covered the walls, combined with the rough stone, would provide the necessary footholds to achieve his goal.

          Securing his magic bardiche across his back, Dominic began his slow ascent of the tower’s east wall. He wasn’t sure what he would do once he had slaughtered the guards on the roof and forced his way into the building. Dominic was determined to rescue Shana Rose.  And he had waited all day for the cover of darkness so that he could enter the home of the Dread Lord, Jack.

          Dominic was about halfway up the tower wall, when he heard the iron doors squeaking loudly as they opened. He stopped and held his breath, clinging to the dead vines. Having chosen the east side of the building to scale, Dominic could not see the door. He was unable to tell how many warriors were being sent to challenge him, this time. Dominic hoped his footprints in the snow didn’t lead them to his present position. He was vulnerable to attack, as he hung like a helpless mongbat, on the side of the tower.

          But in the silence of the night, Dominic heard a female voice speaking softly. A woman had come through the front door. No other voice answered the woman. The sound of a single set of footsteps crunched in the snow. Was a woman leaving the tower alone?

Had Shana Rose, somehow, managed to escape?

          Pushing away from the tower wall, Dominic dropped into the soft snow. He remained in a crouched positon, as he peered around the side of the stone building. The lantern, hanging beside the door, revealed a young woman, in a blue gown, running into the trees towards the south.

          “God’s teeth!” he whispered a curse of surprise.

Even in the moonlight, Dominic could see the flame color of the woman’s hair.  His vivid memory of Shana’s bright red tresses convinced him that she was, indeed, escaping into the woods.

          Unfortunately, Shana Rose was leaving a trail in the snow that even a blind man could follow. Reaching into his pack he removed the oil cloth. Using the cloth like a broom, Dominic tried his best to erase Shana’s footprints as far as the tree line.

          He was only a few yards away from the tower, when he heard the sound of someone violently rattling the iron doors of the tower, from the inside. It was then that he saw the spear jammed into the door handles to prevent their being opened. Dominic chuckled. Shana was thinking like a true warrior now.

          Tucking the oil cloth into his pack, Dominic took off at a trot, following the tracks of Shana Rose