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| The Runic Eye | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Act seven: reunion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the castle library - Samson was frantically searching through the records and maps of the old kingdoms and their boundaries. In his mind he could see everything that had happened that day. He remembered the deafening sound that was made when Tamina atop the legendary dragon Black Fang rose up from the ground. Everything - was so clear - except - where it actually happened. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Damn it," he muttered as he threw the book aside. "I was there - I saw it. Why can't I remember?" he cursed. Just then several books fell from one of the shelves near him. He reached over to pick them up when a woman's hand did the same. He looked up and saw Syn handing the books to him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am sorry to intrude," she said softly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - think nothing of it. Who are you - and how did you get in here?" he asked seriously. Syn smiled and leaned against the shelves behind her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My name is Syn. The good prince - Sir Gregory - he brought me here," she began as she looked at the ring on her hand. "He - proposed marriage to me - early today on the way here. Why he would want one as common as I though," she said modestly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prince is a good man. He sees things in people that others might miss," Samson replied as he closed the books before him. "If you do not speak ill of yourself - rest assured - he won't either," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are too kind. Have you been here long?" she asked curiously. Samson sighed and nodded. "Is - is he in any sort of trouble?" she hesitantly asked. He looked over and saw the concern she wore on her face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why do you say that?" he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My - my mother - she always said be wary of people that answer questions with questions. Is it that serious? Please tell me. I love him so and if anything were to happen," she began emotionally. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - I don't know yet," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't know?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have a theory - but that is all it is," he answered. He looked over at Syn and smiled. "So - how did you get hooked up with our prince?" he asked curiously. Syn modestly blushed and lowered her eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was to be sacrificed to some mad rat. He rescued me - in more ways than one," she replied softly. Samson sighed and nodded. That was Prince Gregory alright. "If he is in danger - please let me help," she requested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fair enough. You ever hear of a woman named Tamina?" he asked as he opened a book. Syn studied the man for a moment - but smiled as if nothing was remotely wrong. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She - was a witch right?" she asked. Samson nodded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Before Harmen became king - she waged war against Eversky - came dangerously close to succeeding too," he began as he looked over at Syn. "The war - ended when Harmen - using the power of the Runic Heart - killed her and the legendary black dragon Black Fang," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But - but what does this have to do with my prince?" she asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Simply this. Shortly after - Gwenyth and Gregory were born - things - odd things began to happen. Gwenyth had nightmares - Gregory said he saw shadows - doing things. Just routine kid stuff. But then - something - happened to Lady Angela," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She - she died in her sleep. Gregory told me - he told me everything," she replied calmly. Samson sighed and closed the book. He looked over at the candle that had almost melted down to the holder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then he told you about the queen? How she believed that - some person was behind all the grief and tragedy. That one mastermind - had a hand in everything since the dark times began," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And - you believe that this Tamina - is that person?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To be honest - I'm not sure. I was there when Harmen ran her through," he began - Syn tensed up and doubled over. Samson was instantly to his feet and caught her before she fell. "You okay?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just - an illness - I will be fine," she reassured. She slowly stood up and tried her best to ignore the pain that was all but tearing her apart inside. "I am - sorry - you were saying?" she added timidly. Samson walked her over to his chair and sat her down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was - just saying that I was there. I saw him kill her. But - I can think of no one else who would - or could hate him and his family that much - except her. You look a touch pale - can I get you something to eat - some water maybe?" he offered. Syn smiled and nodded. "Does the prince know you are not well?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is a good man - and he would worry so. Please do not tell him. I know I am getting better," she timidly begged. Samson sighed and looked away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If something were to happen," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have had these pains since I was a little girl. Only now have they started to get bad. I promise I will tell him - just let me do so in my own way - please?" she begged. Samson sighed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You promise?" he asked. She nodded. "It goes against my better judgement - but I'll do as you ask," he replied reluctantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I thank you. May I ask what you were so feverishly looking for?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was hoping to put my fears to rest," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How? You saw her slain - right?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I did - but we never looked back. We just left. I - I was hoping to find some record - some document that marked where that battle took place - so that I could find her body and know that she is dead," he answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "May I help? A fresh set of eyes might be able to catch something you missed?" she offered with a smile. Samson smiled and looked over his shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you want. Do you want something specific to eat or drink?" he asked curiously. She closed her eyes and smiled innocently at Samson. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just some water please. Gregory got me something before I came here," she replied. Samson nodded and made his way from the library. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A few moments later - he returned - but Syn - wasn't there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Syn?" he called out. he looked over at the table and saw a book that was left open. He made his way over and looked at the map that was shown. His mind flashed back to the battle - the things that were around. "There," he muttered as he placed his finger on a spot on the map. Just then two hands reached around him and began to caress his chest. He was going to reply when a woman's leg stretched out and wrapped around his. "Uhm? Syn?" he asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes?" she answered softly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing?" he asked hesitantly as he stopped one hand from going down his chest. "What about Gregory?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is he here?" she replied - her face slowly changed to reveal her true self. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No but," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I saw you looking at me - you desire me - want me," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - you are promised to Gregory," he muttered. She gripped him tightly and pressed her body against his. "This isn't right," he added. Tamina quietly laughed. She lightly kissed the center of his back and pushed him forward against the table. Samson turned around and all color drained from his face. Before him - wearing the clothes that Syn was wearing - was the Witch Queen Tamina. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Gregory be damned - you were going to take me on the floor. Hmm. Hello Samson - long time - no see," she said coldly. Samson looked around. Tamina waved a finger at him and smiled. "Don't bother - my magic will keep anyone from hearing," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How did," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I survive? I almost didn't. Do you know what it is like - to feel your life - slowly - ever so slowly ebbing away? No - you couldn't. You and your noble friend - didn't see if I had perished - you just left me there to die. I - I got to hear the sound - of my kingdom being razed by the - noble people - of Eversky," she began as she revealed the scar on her belly. "Because of this - I could do nothing - to stop it. The lamb - it seemed - was no better than the wolf," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - you brought that to your people - not us. You want to talk about suffering? How about the late duchess? Or had you forgotten about her?" Samson retorted. Tamina sighed and shrugged her shoulders. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We could drag the past out - but what purpose would that serve? It will change nothing that was - and nothing that is. Do - do you remember - Hunter?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "All too well," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Me too. I remember how you shot him in the back - like some craven coward," she began. Samson scowled at her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How - did you survive?" he asked seriously. Tamina sighed and leaned against the bookshelf behind her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would have perished. I had lost - everything. The man I loved - the only true friend I had - my kingdom. I had little reason to go on - then I remembered - I remembered you - killing my Hunter - I remembered that little whore Angela - seducing Harmen away from me. Hate - grew inside me - it sustained me - gave me reason to go on," she began as she glared at Samson. "Then the storms fell. The hole I was trapped in - the one created when my power clashed with the power of the Runic weapons - began to fill. The mud - began to cover me - until I was buried alive. For ten - long years," she strained - forcing back the rage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You expecting sympathy?" Samson asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I expect nothing of you. I just want you to know - that I will finish what I started - and there is nothing you - or anyone can do - to stop me. I will have my vengance on the man that - hurt me - more than anything - possibly could. And I will use his own son - to help me," she added with a wicked smile. Samson began to draw his weapon when he heard a growling noise coming from behind him. He slowly looked over and saw a panther perched on the table behind him. "When you see my old friends - Harmen - and Angela - do tell them Tamina sends her love - and that their children - will be joining them shortly," she added coldly. Before Samson could even scream out - the panther pounced and began to slay and devour him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tamina sighed and walked away from the gory scene. She made her way over to the window and looked outside. In the distance - she could see the armies of the foolish King Frederick marching towards the border of Eversky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Everything - is going as planned," she began with a wicked smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||