Darkness

… Cast this shadow long that I may hide my face
And in this cloak of darkness the world I will embrace
In all that I endure, of one thing I am sure
Knowledge and reason change like the season
A jester's promenade …

The Pinnacle, by Kansas

Darkness Chapter 51 Not Him Again?

“Damn Skirt!” Cursed Chimera as she locked half the skirt of her dress inside the door on her way out of the Shoppe for the night, which forced her to unlock the door again and pull out the side of her skirt before she relocked the door again and then once more turned to leave. The sun was low on the horizon and the porch of the Shoppe was shrouded in deep shadows, all at once she felt she wasn’t alone then she heard one of the rocking chairs on the porch moving slowly and steadily back and forth. That when she became aware that a dark figure sat on one of the rockers in the corner of the porch, and she almost let out shriek, but then she realized whom it was! He was back and Chimera couldn’t help shiver in fear.

“You, My Lord, did you come to steal more of my flowers or merely to startle me half out of my wits by hiding in the shadows?” She whispered with a small nervous laugh.

“Neither Lovely Lady, I came to pay what I owed you and to make up for my mistake by inviting you to dine with me tonight, please don’t disappoint me by saying no to me.”

“Sir you owe me Six pence for the flowers, as for your invitations, I don’t know whether I should be flattered or annoyed at your persistence, but something tells me, good sir, you are a very dangerous individual and that I should perhaps fear for my virtue, if I spend time in your company.’

“Chimera please don’t be insulted because I forgot to pay for the flowers, have mercy on me dear lady, lately I have been too much alone and I need company in the worst way.” Seer’ Reign took her tiny slender hand and turned it over and gently brought it to his lips in very courtly way and briefly kissed the back of her hand. A part of him wanted to use his tongue to taste the skin of her palm or maybe her slender wrist, but he denied himself the intimate luxury of such sensual contact, so soon. He surely would only scare her away, so instead he gently turned her hand over and placed the coins he owed her in her palm instead. “Please gently lady, join me for dinner… I hate to eat alone. Truly I will be on my best behavior and will reign in all of my darkest and most evil nature, just for you this evening Chimera. What do you say?”

Chimera smiled and couldn’t help but chuckled at his light charming and pretentious air, “Alright dear Sir since you so politely insist I will dine with you!” Chimera replied with a amiable smile while calmly thinking to herself, spending time in this ruthless but handsome man’s presence for part of evening would truly be a test of all Chimera’s skills and arts of subterfuge in order keep her most important life and death secret intact. If he found out the truth, God only know what he would do, surely blood will be spilt or maybe even worse.

Seer’ Reign gently took Chimera’s hand and lead her slowly down the dirt street of the town toward the Inn of Scarlet Paladin, just as if she was a high born lady he was leading into a fancy grand ballroom, as they laughed and talked about normal casual and unimportant things. Unbeknownst to them a smiling figure stood concealed behind the largest and darkest shadowy tree across the road, and watched them, as they moved up the dusty street toward the Inn. The watcher laughed and thought truly things were starting to get very interesting in this little town of Squire and if he was lucky he might get his own chance for his own revenge, for he owed that dark evil bastard, for his cruel treatment the last time they met, especially now that he was completely void of any magick to save himself from violence, the same violence that the watcher was now most capable of bestowing in return on his old client. The pretty little Shoppe Keeper was taking a foolish chance playing with fire like that…having anything to do with the infamous dark lord with or without his magic, and was taking a perilous chance. Tonight he would show himself at the Inn of the Scarlet Paladin, just to see what reaction he got from the now X-wizard, who now was no longer wearing his blond man illusion, and so perhaps in the end he might even protect the lovely mysterious little Shoppe-keeper’s secret, who then would gratefully decide to go home with him instead… what a smack in the face that would be to his dark haughty lordship!

Ooooo

When they reached the Inn, instead of escorting Chimera into loud and noisy crowded barroom, Lord Seer’ Reign lead her into the smaller intimate dining room, which was only occupied by another couple, who sat in front of a window in one corner… having eaten earlier they seem so intent on each other staring romantically into each others eyes they seemed unaware of anyone else. Seer’ Reign and Chimera sat close to small lit fireplace, waiting for their server to come.

When the server didn’t come after fifteen minutes, Chimera was aware of the arrogant Lord Seer’ Reign starting to fume in restless silence. So with out a word of explanation she rose gracefully to her feet and grabbed his hand and endeavor to pull him to his feet, but only after the tall warrior cooperated with her did she succeeded in getting him to stand up.

“So my dear miss Chimera where are you leading me, surely you haven’t suddenly lost your appetite now… have you?”

“No My Lord. But I suggest we move to the tavern part, where surely we will get waited on much sooner, for least my eyes fail me that young lady sitting and holding hands with that young guardsman, is actually the dining room’s server and apparently she is off duty for the present, for she is obviously in love with that young man.”

“It seems my lovely Chimera, you are very familiar with the locals of this town, and a most excellent idea to retire to the tavern and bar. Besides the pairs besotted looks of love, are starting to make me ill, love is such a foolish worthless emotion I do not believe in it at all,” growled Seer’ Reign with a smug snicker. As they headed in direction of the common room of the tavern and entered and quickly found empty table close by the huge fireplace and sat down.

“Yes My Lord Seer’ Reign, I most thoroughly agree love is the most vilest and foulest illusion of them all, on occasion it makes you even lie to yourself.” Replied a whispering Chimera with a distressing hiss between her teeth, as if she remembered something unpleasant in her past.

Unable to control his intense curiosity about her past, Seer’ Reign commented in gentle curious voice, “So Lady, love has not been kind to you either, I would guess?”

“Sir I would prefer not talk about it, but is sufficient enough to say, that some man has not been particularly kind to me in the past…now shell we now converse instead about happier things my lord?

“Of course it would be my pleasure, but I can’t imagine anyone being so evil and cruel to hurt you, beautiful lady!”

“Surely you jest, Sir, for you as a warrior and a fighter you are obviously quite familiar with death, evil, and cruelty in all it’s baser forms… don’t lie those large dark eyes of yours Sir, I detect, hold much that is dark, evil, and dangerous.”

“Ah Lady I fear you are correct about my lie, but before such pure innocent beauty as yours I prefer not to think about my lurid past and in such unpleasant detail.”

“Now your being foolish My Lord Seer’ Reign, I am neither pure or innocent either, merely a woman who has endured much to improve the quality of her life and be independent of those that would dare to master me. Now we will cease this particular conversation about my past and you will cease your probing curiosity and about me Sir, right now, or I will leave you to dine on your own. Sir which is it to be? Chimera got to her feet with indignant pride and grace, which showed she meant business. Seer’ Reign then too rose to his feet after her in an effort to placate her into staying.

“Please lady I promise no more questions about your past… yes please don’t leave me to dine alone, recently I lost one I cared about and I didn’t realize it, not until after they were gone did I truly believe I cared so much.

“I will stay My Lord if you keep your word, but only if you truthfully answer one personal question about yourself for me… so we can be even.”

“As you wish, Chimera. What is your question? Came Seer’ Reign obviously nervous about question.

“This person who left you, did you love them or just cruelly use them.”

“Actually that is really two questions, Chimera, but I’ll let it slide… I loved this person, as much I am capable of loving anyone I suppose. Yes I used them, for I had my needs, they needed to be met, but this person hated me and then left me.”

“I thought as much, My Lord, perhaps you deserve to be alone, for in spite of your handsome appearance there is something frighteningly dark perhaps even cruel about you!” Apparently she was satisfied for Chimera once more sat down at the table, yet she didn’t seem to be afraid of him, even after he told her the truth.

Seer’ Reign sat back down too at the table, confused and surprised that he could be so openly honest and truthful about himself with a lady he just met and not lose his temper. He was beginning to think there was certainly more to this little lady than he first thought.

Ooooo

Their server finally came, a startlingly handsome young blond youth, so that Seer’ Reign couldn’t help but study appreciatively his perfect attributes with pleasure as the young man took their orders. Chimera ordered a Chicken vegetable stew along with a mug of fresh unhardened cider. There seemed little chance she would get drunk enough to be coaxed in to his bed this night, so he would have to be just satisfied with her company and for once it just might be enough. When it was his turn to order he selected rare sliced roast beef with fresh vegetable and potatoes, and usual large glass goblet of dark red wine. Along with that for them both to share, he ordered a breadbasket with fresh butter and honey and side of hard cheese and a bowl of sliced apples and sweet raisins.

When their drinks were delivered he took several long mouthfuls of the rich potent red wine and managed to catch out of the corner of one eye, a small little hand reach out furtively, as if she couldn’t resist the compulsion for a piece of the fresh warm bread and then carefully cover it with butter honey and took a small delicate bite and then place the remainder of the bread on the side of her platter for later. That very simple familiar act reminded him of his missing Key. He frowned in distress for he missed the brat greatly and that he found that fact so abruptly disturbing, he was unable to stop a sad sigh escaping from his lips. Chimera looked up as he sighed and he saw a terrified look come into her bright green eyes, as if she had made a mistake by daring to touch the bread.

“Dear Lady Please help yourself, there is no need to be frighten I assure you I ordered the bread, cheese, and fruit for us both… so it is as much yours as mine.”

She replied with a quiet smile, and much less terrified look and as she reached out and sliced off a large hunk of cheese from the wedge. That’s when he noticed it… a large stray drop of clear sweet amber honey adorning one of her tiny slender fingers like a jewel and found he hungered to lick it off, but definitely the lady was much too skittish, and she’d likely slap him for such an indignant act. Almost as if she read his mind, or was aware of him lustfully studying her honey bejeweled hand, she grabbed a napkin and quickly wiped the honey off her hand.

They were just finishing up their meal when a familiar cloaked figure approached their table and stood looming over them. His red hair fell forward in his face, while an arrogant sarcastic grin covered his full sensual sneering mouth. Seer’ Reign recognized him immediately it was Feles the Whore, who worked for the Rasmus the hedge magic user… he appeared to be up to no good.

“Chimera my love who’s your friend, I don’t remember seeing him around town, but there is something so very familiar about him… he almost reminds me of one my customers!” snickered Feles.

“Please Fe, leave me alone and mind your own business, I told you to leave me alone, many times! Why wont you listen?”

“Perhaps I thought only to save you sweet little lady from the big bad wolf or shall we say the big bad mercenary.”

“Go away Feles now, I can take care of myself,” said an angry Chimera insistently.

Feles reach out and curled a lock of her shiny dark hair around one of his slender fingers and tugged at it playfully, then whispered closer to her ear, but loud enough so that Seer’ Reign could still hear it to, “surely little Shoppe keeper you will be safer with me than with him… for he is the infamous dark Lord with a reputation for Sin.”

By this time Seer’ Reign had enough of the rude redhead’s, interference and taunts, despite the degree of truth, and he moved between the redhead and lady and knock the man’s hand away from her hair. His hand rested nervously on the hilt of his sword.

“Sir, leave the lady alone…she say she is not interested, or… surely pretty Feles the whore, perhaps you would enjoy having me draw your blood, and end your miserable existence infront of all these witnesses.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time My Lord you did it! [Feles laughed at his own cryptic comment and put special emphasizes on the word she] SHE’S… wrong in her choice of companions, I fear she is foolishly attracted to you My Lord… just like a frail beautiful moth to a deadly flame, and she foolishly just can’t see it.” Then suddenly with swirl of the redhead’s long cloak and a toss of his bright scarlet hair Feles turned and gracefully walked away... letting the much relieved couple’s stare at his retreating back. Yes,it was still far from over. He promised himself, that he would have his complete revenge on the cruel haughty Lord for the pain given him the last time they met. Perhaps in the end the little shopkeeper would be his, after all!