Jherog paced the floor of the small barn for the millionth time. It had been three days since he’d discovered Devra in the house, crazed and violent. Three days since he’d knocked her unconscious. And for three days, she’d been asleep in the loft above. He’d moved them into the barn out of fear. He still couldn’t begin to hypothesize what had happened in that house. Who, or what had killed Gredik and Rhia? They had clearly been killed in the stairway, or at least one of them had. The strange smear and splatter on the walls had proven to be dried blood in the daylight. But their bodies had been placed in their bed after the fact, as though staged. And their bodies had been mutilated further once there. It appeared as though something had tried to remove their entrails. But what for? Jherog had never seen anything like it. What would possess someone, or something, to do such a thing? And how had Devra survived? He was so relieved that she hadn’t fallen victim to whatever, or whoever, it was. But then why had she written to him confessing she was a life-taker?
Devra, he shook his head. My poor Devra. How had it come to this? He pictured her as he found her, frail, crazed, hurt on the bed, as he’d made her. Was it all his fault? It had to be. He never should have let her leave Grindl, his side. Why had he let her go? He remembered feeling the strong desire and need to protect her as soon as they’d met outside the great hall in Grindl. She’d looked so lost and afraid then. But he’d helped her, and she’d never left his side. She was safe. They were happy.
He heard a soft moan from above and quickly ran to the ladder, taking it three steps at a time. When he reached the top, he looked over to Devra immediately. She still lay in the hay where he’d placed her, but her head was slowly moving from side to side. He ran to her, smiling.
”Devra?” he whispered, afraid his full voice might cause her pain or alarm. Her eyes fluttered but never fully opened. He sighed and reached for the cup of water he’d put aside for her. He gently lifted her head and raised it to her lips. ”You need to drink,” he told her. Somehow, she listened. He could see the water enter her mouth, and her throat moving as she swallowed. He smiled, relieved. ”Good girl.” The first few times he’d done this, she’d not responded and the water had poured over her lips, onto her cheeks, and into the hay. She finally started taking a bit in the night before, and now she was fully drinking. When she finished, he put the cup back down and kissed her forehead. ”You’re safe, Devra. I am here.” He pulled away, hoping to find her eyes open, but they weren’t. She lay still, quiet.
He’d just finished preparing dinner when he heard a noise above again. He ran up the ladder and was surprised to find her awake. She wasn’t standing but was crouched in the corner, amongst the hay he’d laid her in. She looked terrified. Her eyes were wide and he could see her chest heaving as she breathed. He smiled at her but didn’t get too close, unsure how she’d react. She stared at him, a look of confusion, and fear remaining in her eyes.
”It’s me,” he assured her. ”Jherog.” She shook her head, no.
”Impossible,” she spat out. ”That’s not possible.” He kept his smile to try and comfort her, keep things calm.
”I assure you it is. I came here to save you.”
”Save me?” she yelled at him. ”Who said I need saving?” He quickly grabbed her letters out of his shirt and showed them to her.
”I received your letters,” he explained. ”I read them and immediately came to find you.” He took a few steps closer to her. ”I left Grindl, everything. Everyone.” He stepped closer and Devra didn’t seem to want to run or hide. Perhaps he was getting through to her, he hoped.
“You cast me out. You rejected me. You…”
”I know,” he interrupted. He moved closer. ”But I’m here now.” He stood directly in front of her. He wanted to take her in his arms but hesitated. She continued staring up at him, her eyes glossed over with tears. One rolled down her cheek as she spoke.
”Jherog?” she whispered, and he nodded. Her body quickly relaxed as she stepped into him and allowed him to envelop her in his arms. He held her tight and kissed the top of her head, relief and warmth spreading through his body. ”You came,” she said as she released a flood of tears and shivered in his arms. ”You came for me.”
She barely spoke for the next couple of days. Jherog tried everything he could to get her to tell him what happened, but somehow she was able to evade answering and change the subject every time. He thought perhaps it was a matter of shock. Perhaps her mind refused to connect with or remember, what she saw. Or perhaps she was afraid that whatever had killed Gredik and Rhia might come back to kill her. Determining time was the only thing that could help her, Jherog thought it best they leave Linden.
”Will we go home to Grindl?” Devra asked as she leaned against the ladder and watched him pack up the horse. He looked at her.
”Is that where you wish to go?” She paused and then shook her head, no.
”There is nothing for me there.” He shook his head, understanding, empathizing. Though he would miss Jevlyn, he realized he couldn’t explain what had happened here. There was no way they could rekindle things as they were before he left. Especially with his newfound responsibility to protect and care for Devra.
”Ok. Then we travel west. How does that sound?” He turned back to secure the last pack on the horse. ”Just the two of us.”
”Will Gredik and Rhia not be coming with us?” Jherog’s heart stopped. He slowly turned back to Devra, forcing a slight smile on his face. He didn’t know what to expect, but Devra appeared normal. She returned his smile and moved towards him. ”I’d love it if it were just the two of us.” She stopped just a few inches away from him, and her smile widened. “Let the two lovers have their time.” Only Jherog couldn’t tell if she was referring to Rhia and Gredik, or him and herself.
They left in the cover of darkness, just before dawn on the last night of the time of no shadows. Jherog thought it best considering what they were leaving behind to be discovered. He was concerned Devra might be fragile and nervous, but she seemed fine and excited to go. It was almost as though she were treating it like an adventure. As though no terrible things had ever happened. The darkness didn’t seem to bother her as his horse led hers into the valley beyond the city limits. They’d been riding for a few hours when the sun finally began to rise ahead of them. Devra heaved a heavy sigh.
”Mother loved sunrises,” she told him. ”Every once in a while she would wake me in the middle of the night and drag me to the hill west of Grindl. We’d sit atop and watch the sun rise over the village.” Jherog smiled. He had a few memories of catching Derina watching sunrises. He’d loved watching her admire them, seeing the sun spread across her face and light up her red hair like fire. He tugged on the line of Devra’s horse, forcing it to move to his side. His lips spread into a big smile when he saw Devra’s hair. The sun was hitting it just right to make it look as though flames were flying from her skull. Just like her mother, he thought. Devra looked at him, a devilish smile on her lips. “Why are you looking at me like that?” She asked. He shook his head, no.
”Nothing,” he lied. ”You just seem… at ease... I’m relieved.” Devra huffed at him and turned to face the sunrise again. She really is beautiful, he thought to himself.
They kept to the road and stopped in villages only when they were in desperate need of warm food. Most of their travels were uneventful, filled with comfortable silences, similar to those Jherog remembered sharing back in Grindl. He kept hoping and looking for an opportune moment to ask about what had happened in Linden, but it just never felt right. He didn’t want to mess with Devra’s well-being.
Several days in, they reached a very small settlement of houses. Jherog wanted to press on, but Devra insisted they stop.
”I need a bath, as do you, to be honest. Also, I could go for a pint or two, couldn’t you?” Jherog hesitated for a moment but then looked at Devra smiling. Perhaps a nice warm dinner and a pint would make her comfortable enough to open up to me, he thought. They made their way to a small inn, dismounted, and tied their horses up. The keeper was surprised to see them.
”We don’t get many travelers,” he explained. ”I usually reserve the rooms for the merchants what come to sell us their goods.” Jherog smiled at him and thanked him for making an exception.
”Come on,” Devra pulled at him to go upstairs. ”He said the bath is on the third floor. Jherog nodded and allowed her to pull him along. He heard the front door of the inn open and voices waft in, but they were already out of sight.
They stepped onto the third floor into a spacious but low-ceilinged room. The heat radiating from the water could already be felt in the air. Devra sighed and began to undress.
”I love a hot bath. It’s the only joy I’ll take away from my visit to Linden.” She let her clothes fall to the floor and Jherog quickly turned away. He looked for an area to hide or something to separate him from Devra, but there was nothing, nowhere to go. He moved to leave Devra giggled. ”Don’t be afraid,” she teased, but he didn’t stop or turn back around. He heard a sudden gasp when his foot hit the first step to go down. ”Please don’t!” He couldn’t stop himself before he turned to face her. Thankfully, most of her body was immersed in the water.
”What’s wrong?” he asked.
”I don’t want to be left alone.” Her eyes held a fear and plea in them. ”Please stay.”
”I’ll be just downstairs. I won’t be far,” he promised, but she shook her head, no.
”No!” she yelled. ”I can’t be alone, please. Something bad will happen.” He looked at her confused. ”Something bad always happens when you’re not with me.”
He finally nodded and sat on the top step, his back turned to her. How could he be so foolish? Of course, she wouldn’t want to be alone, he thought. Not after all she’s been through. He waited patiently as she bathed, listening to the water lap against the side of the tub as she maneuvered to wash her body.
”You don’t have to hide your eyes,” she ended the silence and he laughed. He wanted to respond, tell her that he didn’t want to confuse things between them. He was still uncertain what her letters meant when she’d written that he loved her and she him. And it wasn’t a simple topic to bring up. ”Only my head is above the water. You can look at me. Please.” He hesitated. ”It feels strange with your back to me.” He slowly turned and she smiled at him. ”Thank you.”
They didn’t speak. He simply sat and watched as she bathed and washed her hair. The hair took some time as it had grown a lot in the last year. As she finished washing it, he watched in wonder, curious as to how long it would take to dry, as it flowed over the side of the tub and down onto the floor. When wet, it looked dark, almost like the color of blood. But it was still beautiful. Almost hypnotic to stare at.
”I’m going to get out now.” She moved to stand and he almost forgot to turn. He saw the curve of her hips out of the corner of his eye as he turned away. He cleared his throat and Devra gave a small laugh. He waited for a moment and she finally said, ”Okay. Get in.” He stood and sighed, unsure what to think. He’d never taken a bath before. He’d always cleaned himself with a bucket of water and a cloth. He quickly, and awkwardly took off his clothes and turned to the tub. The water was no longer steaming. He hoped that meant it wouldn’t be too hot. As he readied to climb in, he looked up to see Devra watching him. ”Oh!” she cried and quickly turned away after their eyes met. She was wearing only her long undershirt. It barely covered her backside. ”I’m sorry,” she said. ”I thought you’d already gotten in.” He quickly averted his eyes and let himself fall into the tub. It was warm, but not hot. He was thankful to have it there in that moment. ”Are you in?” she asked.
”Yes,” he told her. She turned back around, smiling, and walked toward him. He couldn’t help but notice the shirt was clinging to the wet parts of her body underneath it. He swallowed and averted his eyes.
”Do you want me to help you wash?” she asked, taking a strange-looking brush into her hand and immersing it in the water by his feet. He smiled.
”I think I can handle it,” he leaned forward and took it from her hands. She looked a little disappointed but then quickly smiled at him and stepped back. Before turning, she lifted a bundle of leaves and tossed them into the water.
”Make sure you get all of the sticky areas,” she said and then turned to finish dressing. He nodded and proceeded to rub the cloth over every crack and corner of his body. He had to admit, it felt nice.
After bathing, the keeper had sent a young girl to show them to their rooms.
”We’re not going to be in the same room?” Devra asked, shocked, and angry. Jherog looked at her calmly.
”We can’t,” he explained. ”It wouldn’t be appropriate.”
”Fathers and daughters share rooms all the time,” she rationalized and Jherog felt a pang of guilt. Perhaps if he really were her father, it could be so, but he wasn’t. He stepped in closer to her to whisper, noticing the young girl making a strange face at them.
”You’re old enough for your own space,” he told her as a father would. ”I think it best.” He knew it was the right thing to do. The appropriate thing to do. Especially as she’d seemed to have developed even further since he’d last seen her. All washed up and pretty, it was hard not to notice.
”I really think it’s best if we stay together,” she insisted in a harsh whisper, forcing a fake smile to her lips. But he shook his head, no.
”We’re right next to each other. It’ll be fine,” he promised. With a look that could kill him and not a word, she went into her room and slammed the door. Jherog sighed and went into his own after thanking the girl.
He waited a short time to allow Devra to calm down before he knocked on her door.
”Why don’t we go for dinner,” he suggested. ”We can talk.” No answer was given though he could hear her inside. He knocked once more.
”Thank you, father,” the title dripped from her mouth like she was spitting out a vile drink. ”I’ll have dinner in my room and will retire early. I’d like my space.” She emphasized the word ’space’ and Jherog decided to leave it at that. If she was choosing to have a tantrum like a child, he’d rather not be with her during it. So he went into the dining room and ate alone.
He was almost finished eating when a couple of men entered, walked to the bar, and ordered ale. One of them looked disheveled and dirty. He seemed to falter where he stood, but his friend helped him to a seat.
”I thank you,” he said and nodded to him. It looked as though the man wanted to continue talking, but his friend turned and walked away. The man looked around and stopped when he saw Jherog. He smiled and stumbled over. He slammed his drink onto the table and fell into the seat beside him. ”Good evening, friend,” he said, and Jherog nodded. ”Let’s drink to our health and to life.” He slammed his drink onto the table again and then brought it to his mouth and drank. Jherog followed suit, taking a small sip. He’d never really liked ale all that much. ”We’re lucky to be alive,” he said as he brought the cup back down to the table. ”You know that?” Jherog simply nodded, unsure what to say. ”With everything that’s going on in the world, the plague that is Gigan, trying to take over…” He was slurring his words a bit, but Jherog had to be sure he heard him correctly.
”What? What are you talking about?” he asked. The man looked at him, though his head continued wavering from left to right.
”The Gigans are coming for us,” he said.
”What do you mean?”
”My village…. it’s gone.” Jherog couldn’t be certain he understood what he was saying. The man looked off in the distance. ”My family… gone. Dead!” He turned back to Jherog. ”Burned by the Gigans.”
”Gigans attacked your village?” Jherog asked, needing clarification. Could it be true? Had Devra been right all that time ago? Were the Gigans hoping for war? The man shook his head, yes.
”Burned it to the ground. Only a few of us survived. And I am to be grateful I am one of them,” he didn’t sound convinced.
”Where? Where was your village?” Jherog asked him, but he wouldn’t answer. He just kept drinking from his ale until it was all gone. He burped loudly as the cup fell from his hand onto the table. Jherog grabbed his arm and the man tried to look at him but clearly couldn’t focus. ”Where?” The man pointed southwest and then promptly passed out onto the table. Jherog looked at him, shocked, not knowing what to do. Were Gigans truly attacking Goridian villages? Why? He needed to know more and pushed the man to wake, but he didn’t. Frustrated, he left him at the table and ran up the stairs to talk to Devra. She’d heard rumors when she’d been in Linden. It was time she started talking.
He barreled toward her door, ready to bust in, but quickly stopped and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to scare her, especially as he’d been the one to insist she stay in her own room. He knocked gently and waited for a response. There was none. He knocked once more and still, no answer. He placed his hand on the knob and gently turned it. It was unlocked. Why would she leave it unlocked, he wondered.
The room was dark, except for a small candle lit on the bedside table. Devra was lying on the bed, only her feet under the covers, sleeping. Her left hand was cradling her face while her right arm rested on the side of her body, the hand appearing to cradle her backside. She was in only her undershirt again. Her long, thin legs were bare, crossed just above the ankles, her feet hidden beneath the covers. She looks so peaceful, he noted. Even her face was at rest, her lips smooth and still, her eyelids closed and relaxed. Her breath was slow, a sign she had been asleep for some time. He watched as her chest rose and her breasts pushed up against her left arm. He watched for only a moment and then moved to pull the covers up over her body. He moved to leave, turning to look at her one more time. She really was beautiful, just like her mother. He quietly activated the lock on the knob, and left the room. They would just have to chat tomorrow, he thought.
Some time later, he woke to a loud bang, though he couldn’t discern where it had come from as he was still in a sleepy haze. Another bang came and it sounded like it had come from Devra’s room. Unsure, he got out of bed and threw a shirt on over his undershorts. Within a few seconds, another loud bang came, followed by a bone-chilling scream. It was most certainly coming from Devra’s room. Jherog ran out and over to her door right away. He banged on it.
”Devra?” he yelled. He tried the knob. Locked. He could hear someone, or something, moving about the room, and then another loud scream. The keeper and his daughter ran into the hallway, watching, afraid. The keeper held his daughter back. ”Devra?” Still no answer. Another loud bang came through the wall, as though someone, or something large, had been thrown against it. Jherog looked at the keeper. ”Where is the key?” The keeper quickly ran away, likely to retrieve it, and Jherog was left with the terrified daughter. Devra screamed from inside again and Jherog decided he couldn’t wait. He started throwing his body into the door, hoping to break it open. It finally opened as the keeper returned with the key. Jherog fell into the room and quickly readied to fight.
Devra was in the bed, her clothes torn, her body on display, blood dripping down her face and arm. Jherog moved to run to her side until he saw him, a large Gigan standing at the other side of the bed. He looked angry and had blood splatter on his chest. He was nearly naked, a pile of clothing on the floor. Devra brought a hand to her chest to try and hide her body, and held up the other in front of her, screaming, crying.
”No! Please! Don’t!” Her eyes were squeezed shut as she cowered at the head of the bed. The Gigan tightened his face in anger, clenched his fist and moved toward her. It looked as though he were going to attack her. Without thought or hesitation, Jherog attacked him first. He jumped up and landed on his back, wrapping his arms around the giants neck. He pulled back as hard as he could, hoping to relieve the monster of air, but the Gigan was too strong. He took Jherogs arms in his grasp and pulled them off, then flung Jherog around to land on the floor in front of him. He growled as he lunged at him, his fists ready. ”No!!!” Devra screamed and ran at him. She jumped up and landed on his shoulders so that his face was buried in her torso. She wrapped her legs around his neck and screamed as she pulled at his hair and twisted her body every which way to try and hurt him. The Gigan struggled for air and waved his arms around in a panic. The Gigan buckled to his knees and Jherog thought he might soon lose consciousness. But then he grabbed Devra around the chest and pulled her off of him. He stood and held her out in front of him, her feet dangling above the floor. He was squeezing the life out of her and Jherog could almost see it leaving her body. His heart was pounding and he cried out to her. He looked around for any sort of weapon he could use to fight. A chair was broken in pieces on the floor a few feet away from him. Among its pieces was a leg that had broken and now looked like a stake. Thinking only of saving Devra, Jherog picked it and ran toward the Gigan. What came next was unexpected. He didn’t know if he’d expected the stake to bounce of the Gigan’s skin, or explode on impact, but it did neither. Instead, it very easily slid into its torso, and out the other side. The Gigan quickly dropped Devra to the floor and yelled out in pain. He fell to his knees but didn’t seem to be stopping, so Jherog twisted the stake and pushed harder still. The Gigan yelled out and suddenly stopped, and fell to the floor, the piece of chair still sticking out of his torso. Jherog stared at him for a few seconds and once certain he wasn’t getting back up, ran to Devra’s side. He was terrified he’d been too late. Terrified the Gigan had succeeded in crushing her bones and killing her. He took her in his arms, cradling her head, and moved the hair from her face.
”Devra!?” he yelled, not even feeling the tears falling from his eyes. He gently patted her cheek. ”Devra?” He couldn’t tell if she was alive or not. He heard a noise and looked up to see the keeper peering in.
”I’ll get a healer,” he quickly blurted and ran away. Jherog turned back to Devra and squeezed her toward him.
”Please,” he begged. ”Please be alive. Devra?” He kissed her forehead and slapped her face again. Her eyes quickly popped open and she took a deep breath, as though bursting through water after too long under the surface. He couldn’t help but smile and laugh. He squeezed her toward him and kissed her forehead again.
“Jherog?” She looked scared and confused. The blood on her face had been smeared but he didn’t care. He smiled down at her. ”What happened?” He shook his head no, and shushed her, kissing her forehead once more.
”You’re safe,” he told her. He grabbed at the corner of the sheet on the bed and pulled it off, covering her body with it. ”I’m here and I will never leave you again.”
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Ⓒ November 2022. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.