Part 2
Stepping into the clearing for the chateau some thirty minutes after spotting it, Brian saw a shadow, possibly the same one he’d seen earlier, slipping into a cottage. It was set against the woods, across the lawn from the imposing main house, with a soft glow in the windows. That glow was warm and inviting which was a sharp contrast to the dark and sinister looking chateaux. Brian was on edge, the hair on the back of his neck standing up, as he looked around the clearing but his wife’s coughing made him focus once more on his main goal…to get her help.
Putting his hand on her leg, he said, “I’ve found help, Samantha. You’re going to be okay.”
The smell of roasting deer greeted him as he stopped in front of the cottage. Knocking gently, Brian heard scuffling inside and then the door opened.
From the tiny crack, a soft voice asked, “Yes?”
“I need help. My wife is sick and we’ve been wandering for days.”
“Go away! You need to leave….NOW!”
“I just want a meal for my wife and to let her rest for a while. Please,” begged Brian putting his hand on the door to stop the cottage owner from closing it. “She’s not strong enough to go on…she’ll never make it.”
The door opened a tad more revealing a shadow but as Samantha began to cough again and slip off the horse, he moved quickly, pushing past Brian to catch her just in time. Cradling her easily in his arms, he whisked her inside, almost as if he were afraid of being seen.
By the light of the fire, Brian saw that the man was young, tall, with long blonde locks that fell haphazardly in his face. His blue eyes exuded a warmth and friendliness that was unexpected but yet, there was nervousness too.
The young man set Samantha gently on the only bed and covered her with the quilts. Then he turned to Brian to say, “You must leave.”
“I can’t leave my wife.”
“I will take care of her and bring her to you. There’s a town, about a day’s travel from here. I’ll point you in the direction.”
“I’m not leaving my wife,” insisted Brian. “Please, just a meal for us and let her rest for the night and we’ll be on our way.”
“You’re not safe here. You MUST leave, immediately,” repeated the young man as a knock resonated through the cottage. Panicked, he looked around, then shoved Brian into a huge wardrobe. “Stay put and keep quiet,” he whispered.
“Nickolas,” called a voice from outside the door.
“Coming, Sire.” Nickolas hurried to the door to open it to the voice.
Brian peered through a crack in the wardrobe to see a man about his own height step into the light of the cottage. The man was dressed like a nobleman with dark hair, a thin mustache and a goatee. Something about him looked very sinister and Brian began to fear for Samantha’s life.
“Whose horse is that outside?” demanded the man.
Nickolas kept his eyes cast down, away from this man’s penetrating stare, as he said shyly, “I…I found this girl…in the woods while….I was hunting. She’s very ill, Lord Alexander. I just wanted to take care of her.”
Alexander moved to the bed where Nickolas had pointed to the girl and gazed at Brian’s wife as she slept. “You should have brought her to the main house, Nickolas, so we can care for her properly. Take her now. You can put her in my chambers.”
“I….I must prepare his meal.”
“You can do that after you’ve taken her up,” answered Alexander as he seemingly sniffed the air. Looking around, his eyes glowing dark, he asked, “Nickolas, is she alone?”
Nervously, “Yes, sire.”
“You know the penalty for betrayal.”
“Yes sire!”
“I’ll be waiting for you in my chambers,” said Alexander as he swept from the cottage leaving Nickolas and the girl. Before he closed the door, he ordered, “Put the horse in the stable.”
With the door closed, Brian stepped out of the wardrobe. “I’m taking my wife and leaving.”
“It’s too late. Lord Alexander has seen her and they’ll hunt you down until they find her. You should never have come here.”
“Who is ‘they’?”
“Have you never heard the stories?”
“What stories?”
“The stories of the Dark Lords of The Black Forest….they own it, all of it, and all that is in it…including the people. You must go….now.”
“Will Samantha be safe?”
“Very,” answered Nickolas calmly.
Brian went to his wife and sat beside her. Brushing her hair back, he placed a soft kiss on her lips and whispered, “I love you, Samantha. I’ll be back to get you.”
Nickolas went to the door and opened it checking for Lord Alexander. Assured that his master had reached the main house, he waved his hand to Brian. Pointing towards a road, he said, “Follow that road to the town. Wait there and I will come to you when it’s safe to let you know how your wife is doing. Be careful. Don’t tell anyone that you’ve been here.”
“How long?”
“Some time tomorrow. I have to go to town for supplies. I’ll find you.”
From the shadows, Lord Alexander watched as Brian moved in the direction that Nickolas had pointed and as the young man went back into the cottage, he moved after Brian like a wolf stalking his prey.
