Later

  It was some time later that I was calmer, with my other leg properly bandaged by Klove, with this particular incident not at all what had hardened my suspicions towards the Baroness. It had certainly inspired a great deal of uncertainty towards her, and irritation; however what hardened my sentiments against her came later.

  The incident in question was to take place on the 18th, the next day you might have noticed. Wearied I fell asleep in my chair, only to awaken early in the morn’, wherefore I decided that I should have break-fast.

  Impatient towards Klove, I went down into the bowels of the fortress to find him; it was therein the depths of the castle that I became lost.

  It must have been hours, for I became lost down there, unable to find my way out of the darkness. So that when I doubled back I found that I could not quite retrace my steps half as easily as one might have imagined.

  In time though, it happened that I was to happen upon a darkened chamber. Attempting several of the doors, when attempting to return from the dark tunnels that lined the grounds beneath the keep, it was thus inevitable that I attempt every door. The first one investigated, led to naught same as the next twenty or so, so that by the time that of Klove’s chambers resulted in a great deal of surprise on my part.

  Most of the doors previously investigated had been locked and barred to me. This one though was not, therefore startled I was to discover a nigh on empty chamber, save for a single bed on the hard floor. A rotting oak-made table was by the bed, with an old wine-bottle and clay goblet. That was all that there was in the chamber, unable to contain my curiosity I cautiously entered the chamber nervous about what may lie within.

  It was this that I soon discovered myself thrown against a wall, with a dagger to my throat, head spinning as Klove spat vile threats against me.

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  “What in the name of all the gods and demons, are you doing here within my chambers? Have you come at the beast’s bidding to undo me, as I did the prior man here?” He bellowed with reddened eyes, his words chilling my blood.

  “Wha- what? N-no, I merely became lost,” I answered utterly terrified by the suddenness of his movement and the savagery he assaulted me with. “I had not been forbidden from this part of the castle, or so I had thought.”

  Though he remained unmoved visibly by my pleading words, panting from some sort of exertion his bare chest wet as he had been in the midst of washing himself.

  It was this that most alarmed me, for there were hideous scars and marks upon his flesh. The most noteworthy being those upon his back, which I was permitted to see when he at last released me and turned away to fetch for himself a proper tunic.

  Dressed only in breeches, he did not immediately notice the expression on my face, yet when he did he asked of me why I bore such disgust on it.

  His back I must confess was beyond compare, marked by scars, by burn wounds that were unlike any I had seen since childhood. If you will recall it was at that time that the dragon Brukyslyn, slew ten score men from the lands of Valhol who had dared to besmirch the honour of the drake, with the few survivors brought to the abbey.

  Even those though lack the precision that was required to inflict the sort of injuries that he had been made to endure. The worst of his injuries was one along his left-shoulder, so fresh was it that it had yet to properly heal, and was so noticeable that I could hardly tear my gaze from it.

  “How came you by those marks upon your back,” I asked of him stuttering as I spoke.

  “Never you mind that,” He spat taking me by the arm as he led me from his chambers and through the serpentine halls below the castle. Thwarting any and all questions on my part, he forcefully brought me to the door which led from it and up a series of stairs out to the principal floor long ago left behind. “Find a seat, and I shall cook something for you.”

  “I am quite well, thank you,” I answered as best I could.

  At my words a grimace of frustration made their way to his face so that he startled me once more, “The lady insist that you be properly fed brother.”

  It was at this time that a new thought came into my spirit. This thought was that the wounds upon his back and shoulders had come from the Baroness. A notion that was utterly sickening and one that I wish I could banish from my mind.

  Once properly fed I was to attempt to ask after the possibility of his helping me to leave this place. The look he threw in my direction silenced me, much to my frustration.

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