Page 14 of A Crown Without Mercy

“I have no desire to get their blood in my mouth, much less drink from the filth,” she stated, before taking a sip.

“There are other ways to kill without getting their blood in your mouth.”

She choked on her ale. “I’m—sure there is.” She wiped her mouth, feeling embarrassed by the uncouth behavior.

Nicolai stepped in front of her and ran his thumb down the corner of her mouth. “No need to be abashed.”

After a short time Sylvana pointed at Rana, who was in the visitors stable. “That’s my mare.”

Nicolai picked her up, sat her on Rana, and placed the bit in her mouth he had removed from the wall.

“What are you doing? I need my saddle.”

“I will escort you home.”

“What? You?”

“Yes,” he replied sternly, as he mounted Rana and adjusted himself behind her.

“There’s no need to put yourself out. I’m sure someone else would see me home,” she suggested.

“No.”

He pulled Rana’s reins and gently kicked her hindquarters. He then wrapped one arm around her waist and scooted closer. She reluctantly placed her hand on his forearm and held Rana’s mane with the other.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I can hear the erratic hammering of your heart. I have no ill intentions.”“I never expected to being heading home like this is all,” she replied.

Rana leisurely walked down the road leading into the forest. Sylvana glanced at the shadows waning amongst the outstretched branches, and the burnt-orange rays of the moon cleaving their way through the thick canopy. She then noticed one shadow in particular that appeared to be the silhouette of a man, gently swaying beneath a large branch from where he hung. His arms and legs were awkwardly contorted as if he were a jester hanging from uneven ropes. The lifeless corpse was suspended above a dark pool of depravity which had cascaded down his body onto the forest floor. The dampness lingered in the night air and wrapped within it was the stench of death and a familiar scent. Sylvana looked at the body, and then glanced back at Nicolai, who pulled Rana to a halt, just shy of the body.

They have no mercy,she thought. She placed her hand over her churning stomach. “Is he the beggar who stopped me earlier?” she asked.

“Yes,” Nicolai replied unemotionally.

“Did you do this?”

“He is a victim of his own circumstances and choices,” he replied cryptically.

“I hope you didn’t get his blood in your mouth?”

Nicolai chuckled and gently kicked Rana’s hindquarters. “Have you ever take a life, Sylvana?”

“Once. It was a long time ago.”

“What happened?” Nicolai asked.

“I don’t enjoy talking about it. It’s not a pleasant memory.”

“Tell me. I’m genuinely curious,” he urged.

The memory flooded her mind, and for reasons she did not understand, she wanted to tell him. She took a slow, deep breath and began. “My sisters and I were home alone, and we heard the horses in the barn whinny, as if in distress. My sister, Calista and I looked out the window but we couldn’t see through the heavy downpour, so we ran to the barn. The door was slightly open and the moment we entered, we felt someone’s presence. We didn’t notice anyone right away, so we walked toward the stalls. I then heard what sounded like Calista’s muffled voice, and a struggle. When I turned around, she was gone; the next thing I knew, someone hit me over the head and then grabbed me. I tried to fight back, but the blow all but knocked me out; he dragged me to where Calista was and forced me onto my knees and bound my wrists behind my back.”

Nicolai listened intently, and a small seed of anger and the desire to protect her sprouted deep within.

“The Helot who had ahold of Calista, dragged her over, threw her onto her back, and ripped her night shirt open while the one who had me, grabbed a fistful of my hair, and forced me to watch. I still remember the look in his soulless eyes, and how they had taken root in mine the entire time he was assaulting my sister and I knew I was next.”

“I’m sorry, Sylvana. Had I known this was such a horrific experience, I would not have pushed you.”

“It’s fine. Really. It’s sort of cathartic telling you about it. I have never told anyone.”

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