In Dreams: Red

Home

My thoughts slowly splinter and shatter again as we ride, pulling me in dozens of directions as my body finds its riding rhythm and no longer needs my attention. I wildly consider every scenario that I can think of that would have caused such a flight in the men and animals alike. I consider animals and bests, myths and legends, monsters and worse-the murderers who had attacked us. In my mind's eye I saw the arrows again, and Silas with all his blood spilled out over us both while he wore that small, peaceful and patient smile as he admonished me to hold my blade properly. I jerk my head in an automatic “no” gesture, pulling myself from the trance-like state I had fallen into. I don't really know when Lupus had slowed, but he is no longer tense and wild, so he must feel the danger is sufficiently behind us. I stretch slightly and look around, realizing I must have once again lost myself in a drowse, for there on the outer edge of the horizon are the rooftops of home. Lupus is obviously beginning to feel safe because we're almost there. I have a sudden urge to leap off Lupus and run the rest of the way myself, or urge Lupus into a faster run. But it hits me how very tired I am, which means that we all must be. Hurrying could wait, we're almost home. The prisoner drops back beside me on his horse. His hands are bound again, though I can't remember if that had been done before or after we left the forest in such a hurry. He hands me a water-filled canteen and nods in the direction of the towers and rooftops.

“Is that it then?” He asks. “I would have asked the others, but they appear to be drowsing or lost in thought.” True to form, Corwin's head is drooping, Tyrus' breathing looks a little too even and Reggie is still in the lead, ramrod straight, face fixed in the direction of the towers.

“Yes, that is my home. Father took over a castle that had been built here some time ago. Well, castle is really too grand a word-it was once a fort or outpost of some sort. You'll see once we're inside, but the villagers built around it, leaving the inside pretty much untouched. In times of trouble, mother has them all come inside behind the walls-there are large courtyards and training areas. Plenty of space for defense if you need. The towers are watchtowers with covered walkways between them, hidden stairwells and the like. Inside are a ridiculous maze of buildings, probably once used for armory, storage barracks, officers quarters, infirmaries, cafeterias, stables, that sort of thing. Most of them were connected in some way, and there are a few hidden escape routes, so it's very obvious it was used for war. Of course father had to meddle with all that and add his own touch to it.” I rolled my eyes. “Sort of make it his own castle I guess you could say.” I take a drink from the canteen to shut myself up, aware suddenly that I'm spilling a crazy amount of information to a possible dangerous prisoner. I look at him subtly out of the corner of my eye. Why do I have these lapses in judgment with this man? “I'm sorry. I talk too much and I know it.” I murmur.

“Yes my Lady, why don't you just draw him a map so he can escape a little later, eh?” Corwin calls from ahead. He obviously is no longer drowsing. The prisoner merely looks bemused for a second, then becomes serious again.

“Goo-I'm glad we're almost there. Things can finally be over.” He rides forward into formation with that, leaving me to feel as though I'm still missing a big puzzle piece that is important for me to find.

As with any trip, the harder I stare at the rooftops, the longer they absolutely and stubbornly refuse to get any larger. I continue to stare anyway. The only time they seem to increase in size is when I look away for any length of time, and I realize with the logical side of my brain that the only reason they don't appear to be any closer when I continually stare is because the change is so slow and gradual that my mind doesn't acknowledge it. So I keep forcing my eyes away from the horizon with the nearing buildings, trying to guesstimate how long it would take us to arrive. I know if we get close enough by nightfall the torchlight from the village would help guide us in and I can feel myself growing excited. But, the best person to ask about travel time was always Silas. I grimaced as I turned, intending to ask him before the crushing weight of his death hit me again. It never failed, just when I thought I was going to have a little peace for a while, something happened and I brought Silas up again. I felt like I had no time to mourn, but at the same time I have too much time on my hands. A great conflict just tearing me apart, my role as my father's daughter versus my feelings of mourning for Silas. It was all terribly confusing and completely wrong at the same time. I bang my fist against Lupus' saddle. He twitches his ears and tail, too well trained to flinch, but still with a healthy enough survival instinct to side-step slightly. I immediately regret causing him fear, even if the saddle prevented him from feeling more than a tap.

“I'm sorry Lupus, please forgive me my boy.” I say gently, stretching forward to pat the side of his neck. He ignored me, so I take that to mean I'm forgiven. I take another quick peek at the village. About half of the buildings on the outskirts of the village are visible. I nearly cheer. These are the loners, almost hermits, really. They want to stay within close proximity to the castle to make it inside the walls in case of a threat, but still have their privacy. By now, the furthest villager has probably seen us, and if we're lucky, passed the message onward towards the castle that riders are approaching. In normal situations, riders would be dispatched to greet incoming visitors, and I wouldn't be surprised if we are met by them soon.

I can't help it, my eyes stayed glued to the houses eagerly. I notice that there's no smoke coming from any of the houses nearest us. This worries me, surely meals should be cooking? But it is a warm day, maybe the fires are banked for a later supper? Or maybe there was a festival, gathering or farmer's market I'm not aware of? But still the lack of smoke is bothering me. And surely there should at least be a child or two running about? I push Lupus forward on the outside of the group.

“Corwin?” I call over the sounds of the horses. He jumps around as if startled from thought himself.

“Yes my Lady?” He yells back.

“Do you see what I'm seeing? Anything look off to you up ahead?” I ask. Corwin takes a quick glance as if to confirm what he's already thinking.

“There's a definite lack of activity from what I can see. I've seen no movement: people or animals. No smoke. Not even general noise is echoing back to us. Normally the children of those living so far out would have set up a shout and run towards us by now, surely? And where are your father's riders sent to greet those headed towards your father's house? They should have been in view by now I would wager...” He responds.

“It's making me nervous.” I tell him solemnly. Suddenly Reggie drops back beside us and now we are all arranged in a loose line.

“My Lady, I'm not sure if you have noticed, but there appears to be no activity up ahead, and it is quite worrisome to me...” Reggie shouts to me.

“I know Reg, that's just what Corwin and I were discussing.” I call back to him. I note Tyrus and the prisoner are straining to hear what we are saying.

“I suggest we take extreme care and be prepared for anything. I advise extreme caution.” Reginald yells.

“I agree, and please pass along the message to Tyrus and our prisoner as well. I think we should all be prepared for anything. Unbind the prisoner. There's no cause for him to be bound if we fall under attack.” I instruct Reggie. He falls back and then loops around to Tyrus' side. I hear their voices but have a hard time understanding everything that is being said. I watch Tyrus cast a nervous look towards the now very obviously empty outskirts of the village, and then as he steers his horse closer to the prisoner's and leans outward extending a blade towards him. The prisoner reaches with bound hands and snatches the blade quickly and efficiently, holding the blade with his teeth as he cuts through the outer bond and tosses the binding away behind them. He offers the blade back to Tyrus but Tyrus shakes his head, obviously more trusting of him than Reggie, who is giving the prisoner a nervous look. Personally, I'm beginning to wonder at our prisoner's skills. Who exactly is this man that we've captured and why do I have the feeling he is merely allowing us to bring him in?

We are nearing the houses on the outskirts of the village quickly now, I can see how deserted things are. Houses are shuttered, animals and people nowhere to be seen. People have packed away all of their farming tools, outdoor furniture and there are not even any toys laying about. Things are, in short, eerily still and empty.

“I am not comfortable with the state of things, my Lady.” Corwin shouts to me as a cloud of dust catches my attention ahead, and the thunder of hooves issue from within it. Riders come into view, heavily armed and armored. The riders are prepared for battle, swords drawn. I can see my father's colors from here, so I know these are our soldiers. I jerk my chin towards the men.

“Anyone else seeing this? They're prepared for war. What has been happening here?” I cry. I have a hand on one of my hidden blades, and I note the other men have their hands on their weapons as well, prepared for anything. I look for any sign of an enemy army near us but see nothing. In my nervous state I can't prevent my eyes from jumping back and forth from my father's men to all the available hiding places surrounding us, searching for enemy soldiers. I call our small group to a halt and wait for the soldiers to draw nearer. As soon as they're within hailing distance I shout a greeting to them, urging Lupus ahead of our group.

“The Lady Right Hand hails you and asks what news?” I call to them. The men slow and halt a few feet from me. I can see the leader of the group is Phineas, one of my father's most trusted officers. He removes his helmet letting loose his long brown hair and revealing his hawk-like features and dark eyes in his bronzed skin. He inclines his head in my direction.

“My Lady.” Phineas says simply. “I am glad to see you are safe. I know your father will be as well. Unfortunately there is no time to explain everything that has happened in the short time you've been gone, but I will say this, we must hurry and get you and your men within the confines of the castle. We have received word that a new War Lord that has been causing no end of grief to our neighboring villages is heading this way. He believes if he conquers your father, he will inherit all your father's lands and wealth. Apparently he is intent on ruling as many lands as he can possibly conquer, as he has done this to several other rulers of late. WE received word from our scouts the day you left that he was headed this way, and we have been preparing for him to arrive at any time. Now please, let's get you and your men behind the walls to safety.” He reports to me and pulls his helmet back over his head. Not waiting for an answer, he spurs his horse around and his men wheel around and surround us without command. We form an orderly pattern within their ranks and Phineas calls for the group to move forward. We push the horses towards the castle at a brisk pace, and as we are riding through the empty houses in the village I get a familiar feeling of foreboding. The village had only rarely been emptied during my lifetime, and each time I remember wondering if it would be the very last.