Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ORPHEUS
I had not forgotten my promise of another coin for Samuel.
I remained on the deck for the remainder of my journey, hoping to catch sight of the small cabin boy.
The ship navigated through the busy Falmouth harbor, making good time, skillfully avoiding the other fishing and merchant vessels.
I offered condolences for the captain’s death and inquired into Samuel’s whereabouts.
“We have not seen him for some time,” the navigator explained, “but he will be fine. In time, he’ll resurface.”
Upon disembarking, I considered it curious that Samuel had not approached me for his second doubloon, but the hustle and bustle of the busy port soon distracted me.
I arranged for my few belongings to be delivered to the local tavern.
However, I would not sleep there. I headed to the town of Penzance, the town where Sunaria had last resided.
I soon settled into a new way of life. I often left the province in order to feed and satisfy my insatiable appetite, preying on those who lived reclusive lives so as not to arouse suspicion.
Occasionally, I would find myself in a dark alley or down a dusty road, threatened by a drunken sailor or a roving vagabond.
Audaciously, I snapped their mortal coil.
One evening, as on so many, I perused the taverns and inns of Penzance in an attempt to gain information.
Dressed in the guise of a rich merchant, I wandered into The Old Galleon Inn, the largest and loudest of all the taverns.
I sat in the darkest corner, my hands wrapped around a cup of warm ale that would never touch my lips.
Six rowdy men burst through the doors of the tavern, obviously drunk. Raucously they ordered drinks from the cheerful innkeeper, shouting and laughing. Annoyed with their behavior, I stood to go but slowly sat again.
There was something strikingly familiar with one of the six men.
Older, yes . . . his face now full, height taller, shoulders broader, his stature that of a man.
But it was him. My heart pounded with the steady rhythm of a revenge long kept and carefully tended.
It was indeed one of the boys who had witnessed Sunaria’s torture.
I scrutinized the young mortal. The man conversed with his exuberant friends, unaware of my stare.
His distinctive aristocratic accent and affluent attire gave away his position.
He was the son of a lord. I judged from their fresh order of drinks I had a few minutes before they would leave. I withdrew from the tavern.
There are places about Cornwall where one is advised not to venture, dangerous and dark territory where men of crime and evil roam.
It was to one of these places that I now headed.
I soon saw what I had come searching for, and by reading one of the two highwaymen’s minds, was ensured of the criminal’s weakness.
The two men walked side by side, apparently scheming in the shadows.
They were alone, and at such an hour there was no one else about.
I moved quickly, approaching the men. With shocking speed, I easily broke the neck of the weakest, smallest man and then threw him to the ground.
The other man froze with fear. I drew toward him with equal speed and grabbed him by his throat.
“Silence,” I threatened. “Make a noise and I’ll crush your neck, just like your friend here.” I smiled, making sure the man saw my elongated, razor-sharp teeth.
The highwayman stared in terror and nodded.
“I know all about you, everything, but I am willing to forget all that I have seen. I want you to do something for me. If you decline or think you can run later in an attempt to evade me, you are quite wrong. Listen carefully and carry out my demands exactly as they are given to you. Waver from them and I will kill you. Comply and you will be well paid.”
I explained his assignment, tightening my grasp around his throat.
Again, he nodded.
I returned to the tavern. Discreetly, I studied the young man and violated his thoughts. He staggered out into the night, leaving his friends to continue with their revelry.
I followed him.
He had obviously enjoyed another evening out and was rather inebriated. His judgment lacking, he trusted his horse more than himself to find its way back along the path through the woods to the castle. It was eerily quiet.
So distracted was he, that he did not immediately notice my highwayman galloping toward him.
His pistol pointed, he fired a shot. The bullet raced through the air, missing the young man by a hair.
His stallion bucked and reared up, front legs flaying out, treading the air.
Unable to control the careening animal the young man fell off, hitting the hard ground winded and shaken.
His stallion bolted, leaving behind his master still sitting dazed on the ground.
The highwayman dismounted. Aiming his gun again, he stomped to the fallen rider.
The young man cowered. Both looked in my direction as I cantered toward them, taking the aggressor by surprise.
I aimed my pistol at the thief, shooting a fatal bullet directly into the highwayman’s chest. Blood gushed from the wound, and he fell to the ground, dead.
The young man staggered to his feet.
I dismounted and strolled toward him.
“Are you all right, sir?” I offered him my hand to assist him.
“I think so.” He backed away and leaned upon a large tree, attempting to regain his poise. He looked down at the dead man who had almost killed him. “You just saved my life.”
“So I did.”
“I am Alexander Artimas.”
“Alex, it looks as though your horse has no head for adventure. Lord Daumia Velde.”
“Lord Velde, I am honored. My father is Lord Artimas. We live not far from here. The castle, you know of it?”
“Yes, it’s familiar,” I said.
“How will I ever repay you?”
“Oh, I will think of something.”
Alex blushed. “Please allow me to repay you in some way for your kindness. Come back to the castle, and I will—”
“I have another engagement that I must attend to. Perhaps if you like, we could meet another time?”
“Perhaps tomorrow night?”
I mounted my horse. “I am a guest of the Brandenburgs while they are out of town. They have kindly allowed me to stay in their spacious home. Do you know of them?”
“Yes, I think I do. Do they live at Woodrow Mansion?”
“Come for dinner, tomorrow at eight.” I kicked my horse and galloped off through the woods.