TWO HEADS TWO SPIKES (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga) (20 page)

The sex he had with the unknowing Queen was supposed to stop the sleeplessness. It did not.

The King agreeing to move forward with his plan was supposed to end this weary cycle. It did not.

His deceased bride still haunted him every night. He even tried to sleep during the day, but he couldn’t do it. Edburgh thought he had known exhaustion when he served military duty, but this was hard to deal with. Ed had now started hallucinating, seeing people who weren’t actually there and someone could talk directly to him for minutes but he wouldn’t remember anything. All he did now was drink until he couldn’t stand up straight in hopes of erasing the bad memories that haunted his thoughts.

The King had promised the hand of Ali-Gare to Edburgh and thinking of her kept him motivated. He remembered her radiance from the wedding and often envisioned his prospective life in the king’s castle, Ali-Gare Wamhoff constantly by his side. Whenever he wanted to abandon the job and go home, he took refuge in his dreams of this life. He really hoped that when he completed the plan and returned a hero that the nightmares would finally dissipate. A ship pulled up, bobbing along the dark waters.

He stood about one hundred feet away at the end of the docks. All the passengers would need to pass by Ed to get to the island. It was a small vessel and Edburgh only saw about a dozen men disembark. Luckily it was a bright night so he could identify the men easily. He was pretty sure he recognized them as they approached.

“Edburgh, is that you?” a tall, skinny man asked as he approached.

“Yes, it is me.”

“What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in what, six years has it been?” the young man asked.

“Sounds about right, I am just passing through, doing some bidding for my father,” Ed said.

“That’s strange, that is the same thing we are doing,” the tall man chuckled.

“That is strange indeed,” repeated Ed, forcing a laugh.

Ed started sweating and had trouble keeping everything together. Three big men stood behind the two boys like they were protecting them.

“Hey, it has been a long time. I have something back at the place I am staying at on the island that you guys should see,” said Ed casually.

“What is it?” the young man wondered.

“It is right up this road at the place I am staying. You really have to see it. But it’s a surprise. Have your friends head down to the tavern and we will join them shortly.”

Ed could feel his hands starting to shake as he put them behind his back and smiled nervously.

“Alright, I suppose we have some time to spare. Are you coming too?” he said to the other young man, who agreed.

The two gave their bags to their associates and proceeded with Edburgh.

“So how is your wife?”

It sliced straight into his heart, applying pressure. His eyes shot open as vengeful blood again rushed through his veins. His pulse jumped and he perspired even more.

“Oh, I suppose you haven’t heard. She is the surprise. She has asked to see you,” Ed said.

“Asked to see me? Why, I barely knew the girl from only a few visits to Elkridge,” the man said.

“That is strange indeed,” said Ed.

They chattered back and forth during the five-minute walk. He drifted out as retribution burned at the core of Edburgh Etburn. He focused on his goal again, without the aid of sleep.

“Here we are,” proclaimed Ed leading the two gentlemen into the house.

He took them into a small room and pretended to look shocked.

“She is supposed to be here. Hold on, let me go fetch her.”

Ed left the room and rounded up the King’s men, quickly and quietly. Ed and his men stormed back in with swords drawn to trap the boys.

“What in the hells is going on here, Edburgh?” the shorter man asked with alarm.

The two young men were both taller than Edburgh, but skinnier. Edburgh promptly punched the taller man square in the nose, sending him back a few feet. Pain shot from his knuckles up past his elbow but the adrenaline soon took over.

“Call me uncle. And just admit that you tried to have her kill me,” shrieked Ed.

“Look, I don’t know what is going on here, but my father will…”

Ed cut him off, “Your father,” Ed released an evil laugh, “Your father is dead…your sister is dead. And your mother and three brothers…are about to be dead. And as for you, my nephew, well there doesn’t seem much hope for you either.”

Ed took satisfaction from the blood running from his enemy’s nose, but he wanted more.

“Put his hand on the table.”

Three guards dragged the kicking, screaming man over. Against heavy resistance they put his hand on the wooden table. Ed pulled the dagger made of Dragon-Steel and shoved it straight through the back of the man’s hand and stuck it in the table.

“OOOWWW,” screamed the injured man as he wiggled around with his hand attached to the table.

“Tie them up and secure them to the post over there. I am not done having fun with them yet.”

The King’s men sprang into action as Edburgh went to chase some sleep.

Maybe this is what I needed
.

Ed saw a blond haired woman waiting for him in his makeshift bed. It was Caroline. She suddenly disappeared as he reached out to touch her. Ed really needed to get some rest.

The castle was eerily quiet with most of his family gone. Riceros Colbert, although mentally strong and very intelligent with words and numbers, was still emotionally fragile at eleven. He hadn’t realized that he would miss his father so much after only a few days. Riceros knew that children with his limitations were cast away in most families and he loved Jon Colbert for embracing his shortcomings and accentuating his strengths.

His mother had asked him to sleep in her room and he agreed on the condition that Jasper could too. The fire had almost burned out and a few candles flickered in the late-spring breeze that blew gently through the window. Riceros lay in his parents’ bed with Camelle and felt his eyelids slowly getting heavier.

He wondered what the king’s castle looked like and how Mariah felt about it. She liked to dress elegantly and Riceros thought she would enjoy the grandiose nature of the Capitol. He pictured his father and Brehan. He knew they would not appreciate the wasteful nature of the King’s ways. Riceros wished he could have gone to see the Capitol firsthand. He had heard many stories about it and Count Silzeus had sketches of the castle and other monuments but he wanted to experience it in reality. Riceros’ mind shifted to his brothers on the high green seas. He had journeyed up the coast to Waters Edge, but never been anywhere even close to Gama Traka. Riceros Colbert started to doze off.

Mariah danced with a red-headed man he presumed to be Ali-Ster Wamhoff. His father talked with Camelle and Duke Etburn. This seemed like a wedding. Riceros stood next to his brothers and Sir Brehan Castaway. Beautiful dresses and outfits were on display in a lavishly decorated room in a castle. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Riceros spotted the King. He was a large man exactly as the stories went, but he walked hunched over and had several chins. His body was covered with a series of different colored robes twisted into a black, red and white pattern. King Ali-Stanley reached into the capacious robes and pulled out a large dagger from within their folds. He started to walk straight toward Jon Colbert, who had his back turned to the King. Riceros tried to scream but only silence sang out. He tapped his brother Krys and then Brehan only to have them ignore him. The King walked slowly and purposefully, but nobody seemed to have seen what Riceros was seeing. He tried to run to his father to warn him of the impending danger. He wanted to move but something grabbed him from behind. He turned around to see a giant, rabid fox with a tight grip on his shirt. The King closed in and still no one could see what was happening. Riceros tried to shake loose but he couldn’t get free. The King of Donegal raised the knife high in the air behind Riceros’ father. The party continued and everyone was still having a good time. The cowardly King buried the shining blade into his father’s back. Riceros could see a huge, vile smile on the King’s face as he tried to struggle out of the fox’s grip to help.

“ROOF, ROOF, ROOF, ROOF.”

Riceros shot up in bed. Through the dim, shimmering light that the remaining flames had to offer, he could see his mother grappling with someone. He saw the same shiny blade he had just seen in his dream. Jasper jumped onto the person’s back. Suddenly Camelle kicked the shadowy figure back and Jasper took the tall person to the ground. Riceros saw a glimmering silver blade fly through the air and hit the ground with a clank. Without hesitation, he ran over and grabbed the knife. The assassin had gotten back to his feet with his back to Riceros as he fended off the dog. He rushed up and stabbed the person in the back of the thigh.

“OWWW,” bellowed what sounded like a man.

The man spun around and smacked Riceros right in the ear, causing him to crash into the stone wall. Dizziness wouldn’t let him rise to his feet as ringing vibrated in both ears. He quickly refocused and saw someone jump onto the assassin and throw him to the ground. They wrestled around for a few seconds until the killer was on top, in control. Riceros grabbed the knife and ran over swinging blindly. His first thrust struck hard and deep into the left side of his back.

“Bastard,” screamed the man in the hooded black cloak.

The second and third swing hit the shoulder and upper arm respectively. Riceros took one more stab and stuck the blade in right next to the initial wound. In an instant, the assassin had been flipped on his back and three hammer-like punches shattered the would-be killer’s face. The sparse light revealed that it was Riceros’ brother who had ended the man’s life.

Ruxin Colbert said, “Close the door and lock it, hurry.”

The man who lay dead on the floor had pale skin and a very big nose. Ruxin pulled back the cloak to expose his bald head with black stubble trying to break through. He was bald by choice. Riceros noticed his near-purple lips and busted pinky finger that looked like the number 7. He was a big man who had gotten through all of the Mattingly security measures.

How did he get into Mattingly and then into our castle? Someone on our side must be betraying us.

Ruxin rushed over to his mother, “Are you alright, mother?”

She couldn’t respond through the hysterical crying but Ruxin could see that she was bleeding from numerous cuts on her forearms. He went and lit a few candles on the table so he could further inspect the wounds. Riceros looked on, head throbbing, while Ruxin checked his mother’s forearms. They had both been slashed several times while deflecting the killer’s murder attempts.

Through all the commotion, Riceros didn’t realize that his dog was still lying on the floor. He moved over to Jasper and the dog barked in pain. Riceros lay down next to his friend and started to feel for a wound. He found it right behind the back of Jasper’s neck. It wasn’t bleeding terribly, but Riceros wanted Count Sproul to take care of his mother and dog. He ran to the door and started to unlock it.

“What are you doing? We may still be in danger,” Ruxin yelled at Riceros.

Danger meant little to Riceros as he pushed open the door and rushed to the Count’s room. Riceros had to put his life on the line for a friend that had done the same for him countless times. He got to the Count’s room and pounded on the wooden door. He heard rustling from inside the room as the Count finally woke and responded. Riceros knew that his mother would be alright but he worried about his dog. He rushed into the Count’s room and hurried over to his desk. He picked up a candle and used it to light two more. The waxy glow revealed paper and a quill that Riceros picked up and used to write a message to Count Sproul. The Count read it and moved over to the dresser he used to house his medicine. He grabbed two little bottles and the two of them quickly went back to his parents’ room. Camelle had stopped crying but his dog still lay motionless on the floor.

The Count approached Camelle first. “My Duchess, what may I do to help?”

“I am fine. The knife didn’t cut me deep. Look at Jasper, he is in pain,” she said in a low tone.

“As you wish,” softly said the Count while he painfully got down to his knees to tend to Jasper.

Riceros hovered over the dog as the Count inspected the wound.

“It is rather deep. I must clean the wound first. Hold on to our friend as I pour this in,” the Count said to Riceros.

He hugged his dog’s body as the Count opened one of the bottles. He poured its contents into the wound. Jasper jerked around yelping in pain, taking Riceros along for the ride. After a few moments, the dog calmed down.

“Now we will dull the pain,” stated Count Sproul.

Why didn’t you dull the pain first, and then clean it?

The Count poured the other bottle into the gash. The dog only moved a touch before staying still.

“Now even though we have numbed the pain, he will still feel the next part when I seal the wound,” Count Sproul warned.

Ruxin carried over a flat piece of metal he had been holding in the burning embers of the fire for several minutes and gave it to the Count.

Count Sproul instructed Ruxin, “Hold the cut closed, but be very careful with your fingers.”

Ruxin had to be nervous as the Count held the red-hot metal, shaking, over his hands. The Count finally zeroed in on the mark and pressed the burning seal onto Jasper’s flesh. The dog bounced up and knocked Count Sproul onto his back as he let out a cry of pain.

“What is the matter?” asked Ruxin.

“I dropped that fiery metal on my foot when I fell back,” the Count yelled.

He collected himself for several moments and said, “And now I shall treat you, my Duchess.”

The Count limped over to Camelle. A quick survey of her cuts revealed to Count Sproul that they were superficial.

“Now this will sting just a bit,” said Count Sproul as he cleaned and bandaged Camelle’s cuts.

Camelle appeared to be in shock and didn’t seem to feel a thing. Riceros still held on to his friend. The dog was calm now and the wound appeared to be sealed up. It looked like everyone would be alright, but who had sent an assassin to kill the Duchess? Riceros walked over to the window and noticed that there was a grappling hook hinged on the sill. He pulled it to find a roped attached that extended to the ground. Riceros thought it could have been someone who came down the Royal River and bribed or murdered enough men to get to the castle. Then he got in through the window of his parent’s second-story bedroom.