Schwan (17 In the Dungeon)

Life isn't always easy - especially for the poor Lady Juliet.

But we need to continue with this story now...

17 In the Dungeon

When it became obvious that the Duke was not going to open the door, Rathard ordered the guards to break it down.  Something was seriously wrong.

The guardsmen began hesitantly.  They feared the Duke's wrath.  But with Lord Rathard's threats spurring them on they fell on the door with a will.

It took some time to force the heavy doors, but eventually they gave way.  The room was empty.  Yet, the doors had been barricaded from the inside; and, where was the Duke now?

By now Damson had arrived.  He watched in silence as Rathard stomped around the room, in a rage.  Rathard was his father's son, but without any of the Duke's restraint.

Damson cleared the Guardsmen and servants from the room.  When he was alone with only Rathard and Lady Juliet, he spoke in a quiet tone.

"My Lord and Lady, as you well know, I have been privy to your fathers closest secrets.  Please allow me..."

He stepped to the wall and pushed a certain panel.  A door they had never seen, swung open.

"He must have left the room by this passage."  He said turning to the others, "But I have no idea why."

Damson was wondering if the Duke had secrets even from him.  He picked up a candle, and they followed him into the dark passage.

Damson knew the way though the maze of passages.  From time to time he would bend low examining footprints in the thick dust.

"They came this way," he said pointing.  "There were at least four of them."

Finally, they emerged into the room Fredrik had been staying in.  By now Juliet was sure of what had happened.  It was no great surprise that someone had known of the passage.  And that, someone, besides herself, had also helped Fredrik.  But what had become of her father?

Her face must have betrayed her thoughts.  She became aware of Damson staring at her.  By now Rathard had found the Duke's robe.

"That bastard Fredrik is behind this!"  He looked at Damson.  "Where is he?"

"He seems to have disappeared," he answered, looking hard at Juliet.

"Search the castle!" demanded Rathard.

"It is being done, as we speak."

Damson led them back to the main hall where a servant found them.  He spoke privately to Damson.

"Apparently, King Fredrik has escaped in disguise," Damson told them.  "It seems that a certain Lady ordered the Gatekeepers to let him pass."  He turned to Lady Juliet.

Rathard's face passed though surprise to anger.  Now he realized why the man on the road had seemed so familiar.  It had been Fredrik, himself.

"You! Traitorous bitch!" he spat, slapping his sister.

"My Lord!" Damson said hastily, "Control yourself!"

"Where is Father?" Rathard demanded.

Juliet raised her face defiantly.  A bit of blood trickled from her lip.  She had expected as much, or worse.  But she really had no idea where the Duke was.  All she knew was that he had not been with Fredrik.

When she still refused to speak, he slapped her again.  Then twisting her arm behind her, he spoke close into her ear.

"Perhaps some time in the dungeon will loosen your tongue… Sister."

Damson looked on impassively.

The Jailer looked up at Lord Rathard's approach.  With him were Damson and a woman in shackles.  She held her head down.  It was turning out to be an unusual night.  He bowed low before the duke's son.

"My Lord."

"Lock this traitor up until we decide what to do with her!"

"Yes, My Lord," he answered as he took her arm roughly.  Then, he recoiled as he recognized the Lady Juliet.  He looked at Lord Rathard questioningly.

"Are you deaf?  I said put her in the dungeon!"

At this, Juliet lifted her head and repeated the word, "Dungeon!"  Was this what Fredrik had meant?

"Is Father here?"

Now Damson turned and asked;

"Is the Duke here?"

"I don't know, but Fredrik said..." Juliet began.

Now Damson turned to the frightened Jailer.

"Speak man!  Is the Duke here?"

"N... no... of course not, Your Lordship... Sir..."

It was obvious that something had happened here.

"What is going on here, dog!" Damson demanded.

"Please Sir!" the man said, dropping to his knees.  "They made me promise not to tell!"

"Speak, if you value your life!"

"It is Fredrik, the King.  The Duke's men… they brought him here."

"You saw him?"

"No, Sir.  His face was covered.  They told me... never to..."

Rathard and Damson exchanged looks.

"And where is he now?" Damson interrupted.

"In that cell, the last one; the one where..." and his voice trailed off.

They were silent for a moment.  Then Rathard demanded,

"Give me the keys!"

"The Duke has the keys!" answered the frightened man, explaining what had occurred earlier.

"We'll have to break down the door."

✠

Duke Richard sat with his back to the wall in the darkness.  He could sense the corpse beside him moving.  He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising, his ears straining for the slightest sound.  But there was nothing.  Now, he felt the presence of the bones in the corner as well.

Five men, and one woman were here.  Or had been.  They had been left to die; chained to this very wall in turn.  But they were still here; and now they waited for him.  He could feel their presence, watching, waiting in the dark.  Waiting for him.

How long would they wait?  How many days?  But what was a day in this place of silent darkness?  Had it been a day already?  No, that was impossible; wasn't it?

But already, it seemed like forever.

One by one, they came back to him.  Some begging in tears… some stoic.  But now they waited in silence; staring at him, though empty eyes.  He felt them pulling him through... into the darkness with them.

He did not hear the sound of the ax.  He did not see the torchlight.  He was already in hell. 

When Rathard and Damson found the Duke in the Cell of the Forgotten, he made no response.  As the chains were cut from his wrists and ankles, there was no reaction at all.

"This is Fredrik's revenge for his father's death," Rathard said to Damson.

Lady Juliet looked up in surprise.  They had forced her to come with them.  This was the first she had heard of this affair.  She looked at her father with tears in her eyes.  He was an empty shell now.  He walked stiffly, never speaking as Damson lead him from the cell.

"You see what you've done?" Rathard said to her viciously.  "But I'll see Fredrik dead yet."

"Please, Rathard, don't do  it.  Aren't things bad enough already?"

"You really have turned, haven't you," Rathard said to her scornfully.

✠

The Jailer opened the door to the cell, and Rathard pushed her in.  Juliet tripped over her shackles, sprawling on the floor.  Rathard walked in behind her.  He stood looking down at her now.

"I never would have thought it.  My own sister, turning against us."

"Don't go after them, Ratty... Please!"

It was his childhood nickname.

"Don't you ever call me that again!" he said angrily, kicking her viciously.

The Jailer watched in horror from the doorway, afraid to speak.  Was this to be his new master?

Rathard turned and gave him a hard look.  The Jailer retreated back into the hallway.  Rathard turned back to his sister.

"You foolish girl, you've fallen in love with our enemy, haven't you.  When I return, I'll bring you his head.  He can share your cell... and bed if you wish."

He turned and strode out, motioning to the Jailer to shut the door.  Juliet heard it slam, and then the lock turned.

There was an iron grate over the tiny window near the top of her cell that let in a small amount of air and light.  The window opened into the main courtyard, but it was far too high for her to see out of.

Soon, Juliet could hear the sounds of horsemen gathering.  She heard Lord Rathard join them, and then the horse's hooves, as they rode out into the grayness of the predawn morning.

To be continued of course!