"Ow!" Derek yelled. "Take it easy Crystal."
He pleaded with the dazzling pale lady, having layered copper-red hair, applying a lax thick oily substance to the wounds on his back.
Crystal was one of the captives brought in by Lankins and the third person that approached Derek. She was always bossy towards the male captives and they didn't mind at all, not much they could do against her sharp deep-set gray eyes and her matured figures, not hidden in the old white long-sleeve shirt and light brown breeches.
For this reason Derek would avoid her on most occasions, he wasn't willing to end up like the other male captives, always drooling around her like hungry dogs.
They were seated by the end of the sixteen stall stable, eight stalls on both sides. Apart from the last two on each side which was the hay storage, the rest had a horse in them. The stalls were lightened up by a wall torch high from reach.
"Why do you always push yourself to do extreme things?" Crystal asked curiously, her voice clear and appealing.
"Why are you always pushy?"
Crystal squinted at him then slapped his back hard, Derek clench his hands with a groan, biting his lips to stop himself from screaming out.
"Dammit Crystal." he coughed.
"I'll punch you next time."
"Sorry."
"That's better, back to my question."
"Trust me, it'll seem absurd to you."
"More absurd than Lankins beach time with his maids?"
Derek smiled, "If you put it that way." He sighs, "So I can grow into a strong man unshaken by nothing."
Crystal was silent then suddenly bust out in laughter, tilting Derek's gaze to her.
"I'm sorry," she held his shoulder, "Why though?" She asked.
"Why else, to be capable enough to protect my friends."
"You really are interesting." She dropped a quick kiss to his cheek.
Derek quickly withdrew from her, placing his hand on the kissed spot.
"What has gotten into you woman?"
"Just appreciate it Derek." She straightened up, "every guy here is dying, wishing to get what you just had and don't make Laura worry anymore." She pointed out clearly.
"Worry! Why?"
"You'll know soon enough." She smiled with a wink, walking away humming.
Derek sighs, "Understanding you ladies is such an unbelievable task." He touches his cheek - reminiscing on the kiss, "What was that all about?"
∆∆∆
Alexander had no chill with the willow tree in the Chancellor's compound, he continued punching it - his aggression increasing by the moment.
"Wo! Woo! Calm down kid." Paul spoke worriedly - approaching Alexander. "What got you worked up?"
"There's no time, I have to build my self enough to protect my mother."
Paul looks up at the tree, its leaves fluttering to the passing puff of air. "How's that going Sir Willow?"
Alexander thought on what Paul asked then stopped, almost winded out.
"The fat bastard is no bit of a man." Paul pronounced, bringing a short smile on Alexander's face.
"You see, he has always been a pig." Paul took rest on the tree before taking a seat. "He's never satisfied with his maids, who give themselves willingly. That night we found you and your mother, he had just visited someone else wife, right in front of him, all in the name of owing a debt." Paul clenched his fist.
"I'm going to kill him." Alexander spoke calmly, his sore redden knuckles clenched tight.
"Really? I support you then." Paul draws his knife offering it to Alexander, who was dumbfounded by his reply.
Alexander hesitated, he stretched his hand out to grab the knife, but restricted himself.
"It's pretty easy you know," Paul places the blade by the side of his neck, "strike here and drag," he moves the blade slightly to his throat, "quick death from choking, a little struggle may brace in."
He gazes at Alexander, who kept staring at him.
"Not good enough?" He points the tip of blade at his throat. "Stab and twist, painful and lethal, or...."
"I get it." Alexander interrupted, he walks up beside Paul - sitting by him.
"It's easier to speak of killing a man than doing it. A true man avoids drawing first blood at all costs. Your mother has no choice and that fat pig is taking advantage of it."
"I want to help her, I can't bare to watch him do this to her."
"Then become a man capable of protecting himself and his family."
"Is that really possible? Even my father couldn't, beheaded like an animal." His voice brittled.
"And here you are, living and well." Paul raised a brow.
Alexander took a good look at Paul, eagerness roving in his eyes.
"I've never actually thought of it that way." He lowered his gaze.
"Come on," Paul gets up, "I want to show you something."
Alexander rose on his feet, following behind Paul.
Victoria stood in front of her room window, watching Paul and Alexander with a smile. She loosened the lace of her red overdress then took it off, unveiling her white knee length chemise.
She stepped out of her room into the wide long passage closing the door behind her, she continued into the hall on the opposite side. It was lit up by a fireplace at the middle, the hall had eight windows, four on each side.
She started towards the end were she stood before a door, taking a deep breath she opened it. Aaron was already shirtless on his bed - underneath a thick sheet, rubbing a Camellia over his nose, a roguish smile came on his face.
"Took you long enough," he spoke with much excitement.
Victoria stepped into the room - shutting the door behind her.
∆∆∆
The air stood still like the captives gathered in front of the house, gray clouds forming in the sky.
As soon as Lankins stepped out everyone greeted with a bow, "Good morning Master."
"Good morning." He replied with a yawn, looking rather sleepy. "Get on with it… Derek."
As usual, Derek stood at the front, he looked over to James who stood by a corner glaring at him, arms folded on his broad chest. Derek gazed back at Lankins, he wasn't even focused on him.
He stepped forward, bowing as low as his pride deemed possible. "I am sor…" He hesitated, "Sorry for disrespecting you yesterday, I'll be more considerate next time."
"Sure, sure" Lankins yawned waving his hand, "you are forgiven." He declared then walks back into the house.
"Runt." Derek cussed under his breath, he straightened up.
He turns around, only to see Laura standing before him smiling.
"What?" he asked softly, trying to understand why she was happy - more than usual.
She kept smiling, playing with the end of her recently braided hair streaming down her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he spoke a little bit louder.
Laura stamped her foot with a huff then walked away.
Not still clear as to what just happened, Derek spur over to everyone else seeking an explanation, instead they welcomed him with a displeased glare.
"What did I do?" he asked, more confused now.
"Take a hint Derek." Crystal said, shaking her head as she walked away with Cilia by her side, the last female captive and the smallest of them.
Derek glanced at James, at least he would speak harsh words like usual and give a hint.
"You are one lousy dummy Derek." James walked away from him.
His mouth opened, glaring at James in shock, it was strange to him, for it was the first time James spoke that kind to him. He turned towards Jerry, who shook his head then followed behind Brandon and the other male captive.
"Seriously guys, what happened?" he chased after them. "Come on, speak to me."
∆∆∆
The night stood still and silent in the Lankins compound, no hooting - neither warbles nor croaks, everyone except the guards patrolling were fast asleep. The captives were placed in one room at the higher floor of the cottage house, it was big enough to take everyone. From the right flank were the girls - Cilia, Laura and Crystal, then Derek in the middle, in front of the open window, followed by Brandon, Jerry and the other male captive.
"Derek," Laura whispered, kneeling beside his bed - tugging the fur sheet he was wrapped in. "Derek." she called again, tugging harder.
Derek moaned from his sleep, he couldn't see who it was at first, when his sight became clearer he saw it was Laura, looking rather worried.
"What is…?"
"Shuu!!!" she covered his mouth, looking about to check if everyone was still asleep, before letting him speak.
"What is it?" Derek whispered, straightening up on his bed.
"I heard some unfamiliar sounds coming from outside." she replied with a hushed tone.
"It's nothing Laura." Derek assured already feeling drowsy.
"It is, after it stopped I saw huge shadows move pass our door."
"Go to sleep Laura." Derek lays back on his bed, "its probably James and Ron going to spy on Master and his maids."
"Huh? How would you know that?" Laura asked suspiciously.
"Who are you?" Lankins voice muffed out from the other room.
Derek straightened up immediately, himself and Laura staring at the wall separating the rooms, as though they could see through it.
What came next were continuous swishing sounds followed by agonizing screams of terror, which jacked everyone else from their sleep.
Then came a tumbling sound of struggle then a resounding metallic clang echoed through the space, the sound sharp and crisp, reverberating with intensity. All ended with a sharp, chattering tinkle chiming with echoes and a resounding thud which ripples through the surrounding.
Derek and Laura looked over the room window immediately, Lankins laid on the other side of the fence, naked, covered in glass and blood, his sword still held firmly. By this time Brandon and Jerry were up on their feet, the other male captive hid under his sheet while Cilia and Crystal cuddled up on one bed, shivering with wide-open eyes.
"It's Master." Laura screamed. "Something has happened to master." She glanced at Derek.
Derek's eyes and hands were trembling just looking at Lankins, the event at Greenland flashed before his very eyes, the blood, the burning bodies, his dying father.
"No, not again, not again."
"Derek!?" Laura reached out to touch him.
Suddenly the room door bust open, an arrow hissed through the air with ferocity, straight through Laura's throat, no one had the chance to react - not even Derek who was close to her, his last glimpse of Laura was her going through the window.
Unlike Cilia and Crystal who began screaming, Brandon and Jerry charged at the stranger with a shout, not willing to let him nock another arrow or draw his knife.
Derek glared with despair, his breath short and deep. Laura lay on the ground close to the fence, chocking on the blood flowing from her throat and mouth - her watering, round amethyst eyes begging to be saved.
He's heart thud loudly, his breathing increased, he screamed out and without a second thought he reached for the knife hidden under his pillow charging at the stranger who was still struggling with Brandon and Jerry.
Derek pounced on the stranger, stabbing his neck over and over. Already losing consciousness the stranger lurched backwards to the passage, falling off the higher floor with Derek, to the lower floor.
Derek rolled away from the stranger - sitting up with grunts, holding his waist.
He glanced at the corpse of the stranger, blood sprouting out from the multiple cuts on his neck, he remembered the state of his mothers corpse when he found her. He looked at his trembling hands covered in blood - his body quivering as he kept staring, he threw up immediately.
"Derek!!" Jerry screamed out from the top floor looking down at him.
"Run!!!" he screamed with all his might before a sword plunged through his chest.
Derek didn't waste a single moment, he stood on his feet almost stumbling to the side but gained balance then ran out the door, he didn't stop to look back or slowdown one bit, he continued running as fast as he could through the ploughed courtyard. The moment he got to the fence, he leaped up and grabbed the ledge - throwing himself over to the other side.
He didn't stop there to catch his breath, he got up with tears streaming down his eyes then bolted through the farmland towards the town.