Remembered (37 page)

The journey back upstairs took ages.

Nordorum was handed from one man to another frequently, and
all the while, Annie grew more anxious to find Kellus.

“Does anyone know where Lionel is now?” Conor asked. They
had finally reached the hospital, and Nordorum was placed on a narrow cot just
inside the door. Conor wheeled the cot towards two diagnostic machines as he
spoke.

“I saw him leave by the courtyard earlier tonight. He took a
horse and carriage,” a peaceman called Mandolis answered.

“Kellus…” Nordorum breathed suddenly. He grabbed Conor’s
arm. “Find Kellus…in terrible danger…”

Annie’s heart thumped.

“Do you think that Lionel took Kellus?” Danus asked.

“Yes,” Nordorum mouthed.

“Did he have the young man?” Conor asked Mandolis as he
pushed buttons on one of the machines.

“I saw only Lionel leave,” Mandolis replied. “But there was
a pile of blankets in the back of the carriage. Perhaps he had the apprentice
stashed underneath.”

Annie reached out and grabbed Markum’s hand. She noticed
fear ripple across his features, escalating the dread that was bubbling inside
her.

“…must find Kellus,” Nordorum mumbled again.

“Do you know where Lionel has taken the young man?” Conor
questioned. He stood still, looking directly at the small crowd.

“Dinora…” Nordorum murmured.

“He took Kellus to Dinora?” Annie screeched.

Nordorum nodded.

“Dinora?” Conor questioned. “Does he mean Lionel’s
mistress?”

“Yes,” Annie responded. “I believe that she was the woman
involved in my kidnapping.”

“I need to stay with the Master,” Conor said. “Borm, please
sound the alarm. We need to send a rescue party for Kellus.”

No!” Markum yelled, jumping to his feet. “No, please. If
Lionel sees a small army coming for him, he will kill my brother. I’ll go alone
for Kellus. I can sneak up on them.”

 Conor pondered this for a second then nodded. “True,” he
said.

“I’ll go with him,” Danus piped in. “I know the way. I’ve
taken Lionel there when he’s had leave.”

“I’m going too,” Annie added. She put up her hands when she
sensed Markum about to argue. “I can’t stand to sit here waiting for news. Please,
Markum.”

“Kellus is my friend,” Borm said. “I would like to go also.”

“Okay,” Conor agreed. “But go wake Tilidus. He’s almost as
handy with a sword as Kellus. You may need the extra help.”

Borm ran from the room, but returned minutes later with
Tilidus, who looked groggy and confused.

Five people left the Citadom with the best wishes of the
senior peaceman.

Annie prayed that they would be on time.

They journeyed on foot, fearing the sound of horses would
alert Lionel to their approach. They walked north, passed the back of the
Citadom and away from the Ocean Road, towards the cliff of the East-West
Crossing.

They followed Danus down almost invisible country roads,
sighing with relief when the moon made a brief appearance, confirming that they
were on the right path.

It was early morning, although there was no sign of dawn.

They walked as quickly as possible, needing the cover of
darkness to approach the house unnoticed.

“Are you sure you know the way?” Borm asked.

“Yes,” Danus stated again. “I’ve taken Lionel this way at
least three times.”

“Markum, I’m so scared that we’ll be too late,” Annie
whispered into her brother-in-law’s ear.

“I know,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder and
pulling her next to him. He kissed the top of her head. “I am also, but we have
to have faith. We have to hope that they haven’t given up on their plan to have
Kellus father the bitch’s child. It would take them a life time and more to
convince Kellus of that. That should buy us some time. They’ve gone to great
lengths to get what they want. I can’t imagine that they would not give it one
last try.”

“I hope you’re right,” Annie said, swallowing back a sob.

They approached the border after an hour and turned right up
a narrow country lane.

The house stood alone, surrounded by large fields to the
back and sides. The front was several feet from the footpath. A four-foot wall
framed the entire grounds.

“Stay down behind the wall,” Danus said quietly. “I’ll sneak
up ahead to judge the easiest way in.”

He returned within moments, wearing an expression of horrified
disbelief. “There are krogs guarding the house,” he exclaimed, “three of them.”

“Krogillians?” Borm asked.

“Yes,” Danus answered, fear thick in his voice.

“Have you gone mad?” Tilidus demanded. “There are no krogs.
There hasn’t been a krog in Vistira for centuries.”

“I know what I saw,” Danus argued. “They fit the
description.”

“But the krogillians were banished by Contitus hundreds of
years ago,” Tilidus contradicted.

“You mean the krogs from the legends?” Markum questioned.

“Yes, he does,” Tilidus answered. “But I think his mind is
playing tricks on him.”

“Does it matter what they are? There are three guards,
that’s the important issue,” Borm chided.

“Can you three take care of the guards?” Markum asked. “I’ll
take Annie with me into the house to find Kellus.”

They quickly made a plan: Danus, Borm, and Tilidus would
approach the guards and draw them away from the front of the house, leaving an
easy passage for Markum and Annie to enter.

Annie and Markum remained crouched down behind the wall
while the three apprentices drew their swords and approached the entrance of
the house proudly.

“Krogs!” They heard Tilidus confirm. Markum’s face displayed
the same surprise that Annie felt.

Seconds later, the sound of steel on steel rang through the
air. The confrontation had begun.

“Get ready,” Markum whispered. He leaned forward to see when
they had a clear passage to the front door.

The apprentices played their parts perfectly, and soon,
Annie and Markum were running towards the entrance. Three separate fights took
place a mere fifteen feet from the door.

“Stop them!” a monstrous voice called out. “That man and
woman there. Kill them before they enter the mistress’s house.”

Fear paraded up Annie’s spine as she ran with her back to
the beasts, feeling more exposed than she’d ever felt.

“You will not, you evil fucking creature,” she heard Danus
yell.

Annie and Markum raced past and into a large house, which
appeared completely empty.

A menacing quiet accompanied the eeriness of a dark, shadowy
hallway, forcing the hairs on the back of Annie’s neck to stand out.

She and Markum were unsure of which direction to look first.
They stood by the foot of a staircase and looked around for any sign of life.

Suddenly, they heard a low noise coming from the second
floor. They crept up the stairs carefully, making sure that they made no sound,
and came to a long, narrow corridor. There were several doors on each side, but
none appeared to have light shining through the cracks at the bottom.

They looked left and right, both bewildered.

They heard another noise that seemed to come from above.

“Look for another staircase,” Markum whispered into her ear.

She pulled him to the end of the hallway—the only feasible
direction—to a staircase inside a narrow doorframe. At the top of the stairs, a
closed door leaked light through it’s seams.

They crawled up the stairs on their hands and knees,
stopping two steps from the top.

They were afraid to breathe, afraid to alert whoever
occupied the room to their presence.

“This could not be any easier, Kellus,” they heard a voice
say. “All we want is for you to plant a little seed. Simply close your eyes and
pretend she’s your lovely bride.”

“Never!” Kellus answered.

A crack cut through the air, then the sound of hard leather
tearing flesh, followed by a painful gasp.

Kellus was being tortured beyond the door.

Rage overcame Annie. She leapt at the door, but Markum was
faster. He grabbed her waist and pulled her back down beside him. “Not until we
know how many are in there,” he breathed against her ear.

“Or we can do this the hard way if you like,” Lionel’s voice
echoed. “Must I send the krogs to your home, Kellus? Must you make me order
them to kill your family and bring the lovely Annella back here?”

Another loud crack. Another painful moan.

Annie put her hands over her ears. She couldn’t bear the
sound of Kellus’s pain.

“Do you think Annella would like to feel that pain, Kellus?”
Lionel taunted. “She could take your place. We could tie her to that post in
your stead. Is that what you want? Would you prefer if I whipped your pretty
wife raw?”

“You will stay away from her!” Kellus yelled, venom in his
voice.

“But you’re not in a position to stop me, are you?” Lionel
laughed hatefully. “What can you do to protect your lovely wife? Oh, yes,
absolutely nothing. I will make this very clear to you; you have five minutes
to decide. We will finish this once and for all, or I will bring Annella here.
I will tear the skin from her back, one lash at a time, before I finish her
off. I swear to you, Kellus, I will kill her before this night is over.”

“You’d better kill me too because you have my word, you will
pay if you hurt her,” Kellus answered. “Why don’t you free my hands and fight
me like a man, you fucking coward?”

Annie heard the whip ring through the air once more, heard
the skin rip. She didn’t know how much more she could stand.

“Don’t be a fool,” Lionel spat, “there is only you and me
here. What do either of us have to prove?”

“NOW!” Markum yelled and slammed through the door.

Kellus was tied to a bedpost with thick rope. Five deep
wounds dripped blood down his naked back and onto the floor. The skin on his
wrists was tore away from friction, and there was a large gash on his cheek.

Annie stopped short, overcome by the sight of him tied up
and unable to defend himself. Her hands flew to her mouth, her stomach flipped
inside her.

Kellus looked her in the eyes, and torment crept over his
face. He closed his eyes tight, utterly horrified to see her there.

Markum charged at Lionel with his sword held tightly in both
hands. He swung at his target, but Lionel was ready for him. Lionel ducked down
quickly then stood straight again. He kicked Markum in the chest with such
force that Markum flew backwards and smashed his head against the stone wall.
He slumped over, completely unconscious.

Annie picked up Markum’s sword quickly and ran at Lionel
with everything she had, rage causing adrenalin to pump through her.

Lionel swung his right leg, making contact with Annie’s
wrist, and kicked the sword from her hands. She felt her wrist snap.

“Well, look who came to visit, Kellus,” Lionel chuckled
wickedly. “This saves our krogs a journey, doesn’t it? He turned his vile glare
on Annie. “It’s lovely to see you again, Annella. How was your trip?”

She stood perfectly still, holding her limp hand up against
her chest. The pain was excruciating. She merely stared at Lionel, unable to
respond.

Lionel continued to leer. “I will admit I was skeptical at
first. I was not convinced the spell would work. I really did not expect you to
disappear, though. Was that your doing, perhaps?”

She continued to stare at him, unwilling to answer his
taunts.

“Not one for conversation?” he questioned. “No matter.” He
moved closer to her. “I will tie you up to the post facing your husband. I
would like him to have a clear view as I introduce my whip to your back.”

She clenched her left hand and struck it against Lionel’s
face forcefully, but the punch he returned to her was four times harder. She
fell to the ground, her cheek burned.

“You will die for that!” Kellus seethed.

“I don’t think so,” Lionel answered. He smiled smugly at
Kellus, then reached down and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her
across the room. She screamed as hairs ripped from their roots. He pulled her
into standing position by the opposite post. He looked back and forth between
her and Kellus, rubbing his chin.

After a moment, he spoke. “Perhaps you are right, Kellus. It
would be a shame to ruin her perfect little body. She is such a lovely young
thing.” Lionel let go of Annie’s hair and stared at her pensively. “Perhaps
Annella would help me demonstrate what we expect you to do, Kellus.”

“NO!” Kellus bellowed, agony flashing in his eyes.

“But I’m sure I would enjoy feasting on her charms,” Lionel
replied, smirking in Annie’s direction.

“Do not touch her!” Kellus roared.

“You are a rather selfish young man, aren’t you?” Lionel
sneered. “Do you really expect to keep such a pretty young lover all to
yourself?”

Annie’s stomach lurch. She felt sure she would vomit from
mind-boggling fear.

“Do you mind if I discover for myself what Kellus finds so
addicting, so alluring, beautiful Annella?” He reached out and ran his hand
down her cheek.

She recoiled from his touch, continuing to stare, unable to
answer.

“Lionel, kill me if you must, but leave her alone,” Kellus
pleaded. “She has done nothing to you. It’s me, you want, let her go. If you
still have one shred of decency, spare her.”

“Ah, so very noble. Perhaps I will spare her,” Lionel replied.
“But I’ll make no promises; let’s see how she pleases me first. In the
meantime, I have grown rather fond of the idea of bedding this little beauty.
Her breasts are quite perfect; I can hardly wait to taste them.”

“LIONEL!” Kellus yelled. “Have you sunk so low that you
would rape an innocent girl?”

“Who said anything about rape, Kellus?” he answered
indignantly, an insane look twisted on his face. “I’m sure this pretty little
thing would enjoy the touch of a real man. I’m sure she’s had her fill of playing
with little boys. What do you say, beautiful Annella?”