Chapter 2
A month passed. The moon had danced through its never-ending cycle.
The last slice of its silvery light held court in the star laden sky.
Soon the night of total darkness would blacken the countryside and to
the superstitious souls, this was the night the devil walked the
earth to work his evil, to snare unsuspecting into purgatory. To
Kenneth it was an eternal hell. Sleep eluded him and when he did fall
into a fitful, restless slumber, a golden haired maiden haunted his
dreams just as she haunted his waking hours. A ghostly vision
conjured up by his longing for his lost love. And if not dreaming of
his Constance, nightmares of the most ghastly kind terrified and
taunted him. Vivid flames of bright golden colours and hues that were
almost painful to look at would engulf Constance's convulsing body,
and no matter how much he tried or which way he turned he could not
save her. Always at the last hurdle he would fail, and he would
awaken drenched in perspiration, shaking feverishly, his heart
beating frantically as he flailed about in the darkness in a tangle
of linen sheets and bedcovers. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness
he would look about his bedroom, at the remains of a gutted candle,
the still smoldering embers of the fire that cast flickering shadows
on the whitewashed walls and try to will this torture to end.
Yet one face mocked him constantly. The leering visage of Cyrus
Herrick would loom large and terrifying over him, his manic laughter
gloating, goading Kenneth as he flung Constance into the flames of
hell and Kenneth was powerless to stop him. He could not banish that
taunting laughter from his mind. It tormented him everywhere from the
shadow world of sleep and in his waking hours. Kenneth thought he was
going mad. His grief, the desire for vengeance and the sleepless
nights were all taking its toll. Dark circles rimmed his once vibrant
eyes. Laughter never reached them now. His face was gaunt, pinched
and hardened from care and grief. It was if his heart had frozen that
day into an endless winter.
He awoke this night again gasping for breath, soaked in sweat,
sheets tangled about his twitching limbs. He clambered shakily out of
bed and gathered the sheet around his lanky nakedness. He bent over
and tossed another log onto the fire, he would sleep no more this
night.
This nightmare had been strange, different to the rest, almost a
vision. A distorted freakish glimpse into a future world, where
strange images, shapes and people existed. It was surreal. That in
itself, had frightened him beyond belief. It was beyond all
comprehension and he could make neither head or tail of it. With
trembling hands he used the tinder box to strike the flame so he
could light the taper to provide him with some light. He groped for
the jug of wine beside his bed. Unsteady hands poured the ruby
coloured liquid into the pewter goblet and he drank like a man
parched.
`Sweet Jesus I am losing my grip on reality, will this madness never
cease?' He thought as he gathered the sheet closer around him.
Gathering up the jug of wine he sat down in the rocking chair beside
the newly kindled fire. He took another long draught of the wine and
leant back in the rocker and closed his eyes. His heart was slowly
steadying and finding a normal rhythm. He thought on the strange
dream, he could only remember fleeting fragments. Kenneth tried to
gather them into some sort of order, but in his treacherous mind they
were already receding like a fog from the sun's rays. Slipping away
like sand through an hourglass.
A light tap on the bedroom door disturbed any further deep
reflection. It opened slowly and Thomas's face appeared uncertainly
around the aged wood.
`I did see a light beneath the door Ken�could you not sleep either?'
He asked softly.
`Nay Tom ..I had another nightmare, they are a constant companion of
my slumber. I almost welcome them. They keep my focus on what I must
do.' Kenneth smiled but it wasn't a smile of mirth, more of grim
irony. Thomas entered the room and closed the door noiselessly behind
him. He leant back against it and studied his younger brother
pensively. Thomas was not as tall as his younger brother, nor as dark
in looks. But both possessed the same piercing green eyes.
`Ken..I would for all the world take away your pain�If I had been
here I would have tried to save her ..to put a halt to the madness.'
Although there was three years age difference between to two younger
Radcliffe brothers they were close. Kenneth raised troubled eyes to
look at his brother.
`Aye, I know that Tom.' He looked down sadly into his goblet, stared
into the wine. Without raising his head he said in a quietly spoken
voice. `Come closer to the fire Tom ere you catch a chill.'
Thomas made his way over to the fire but not before dragging
Kenneth's coverlet from the bed. He tossed it over his younger
brother. `Here Ken wrap that about you. It won't serve for you to
catch a chill either. Not now, not with what is in your heart.'
Kenneth raised brooding eyes to meet his brothers. `In my heart? I
have no heart left to me Tom�it died with Constance in the ashes of
that fire.'
`Suicide be a mortal sin Ken, whether it be at your own hand or
another's. You understand that, do you not?' Thomas picked up the
spare goblet from beside Kenneth's bed and joined his brother close
to the fire. After pouring the wine he rested his foot on the hearth
and stared sadly into the flames. He absently twirled the goblet
through his fingers. The flickering light from the fire reflected on
his profile and cast shadows over his features so that his face was
unreadable. `I know you too well you see. It's not only vengeance you
seek is it Ken? Tis the ultimate escape from your pain and grief as
well.'
`I have no wish for death Tom.' Kenneth insisted but his statement
sounded hollow, even to his own ears.
Thomas threw his brother a look that spoke volumes. He sat down
wearily, his eyes never leaving Kenneth's face. `No?' he asked with a
raised eyebrow. ` Please credit me with the sense God gave me Ken.
Tis not hard to see into your heart�for one who knows thee well.'
Kenneth raised his own goblet to shield his thoughts from his
brother's knowing eyes. Thomas's hand reached out and grabbed hold of
his wrist stopping Kenneth's hand. Some of the ruby coloured wine
slopped over onto the sheet and it spread outwards like blood oozing
into the earth as it soaked into the fine linen. Neither brother
missed the implication. Kenneth opened his mouth to speak, closed it
again. Then almost inaudibly the words left his lips. `I'll not deny
the thought has crossed my mind.' He looked across at his brother and
what Thomas witnessed in Kenneth's tortured eyes tore at his heart
but Kenneth's next words chilled him to the bone. `I will know naught
of peace for as long as I draw breath Tom.'
`Kenneth�for the love of god..' Thomas started to ask.
A bitter laugh burst forth from Kenneth interrupting him. `For the
love of God Tom? There was no love, no mercy shown to Constance that
night�..'
` That night twas the work of evil Ken. Herrick played his cards well
for he timed his treachery to perfection�'
Kenneth leaped out of his chair and the coverlet fell away from his
body and a mound of coloured material pooled against his
feet. `Herrick, that misbegotten son of Satan will answer to me for
his sins. And if I die bringing him to justice, then so be it.'
Thomas looked at his brother's face and sighed. He knew that obdurate
look. Resigned to the inevitable he asked. `Even at the cost of your
mortal soul?'
Kenneth raised his tortured eyes to meet his brothers. `This is no
ordinary revenge I do seek. Tom, this man is pure evil.' Kenneth
tapped at his heart. ` I feel it here..he must be stopped. There is
nothing godly about Herrick and if I am to pay the price to stop him
and his evil ways, so be it.'
Thomas filled up his goblet again and muttered sarcastically. `So tis
not exactly a death wish of yours then �ere I commit myself following
the path you take.'
`Nay Tom..I ask only that you trust me.'
`Christ lad I'd trust you to the very fires of hell and you know it,
tis the fact you might want to stay there for a prolonged visit that
has me worried.' Thomas muttered before he drank deeply of his wine.
Kenneth barked a harsh laugh. `I will pay the ferryman Tom if needs
be. Herrick dices with the devil, I only await the numbers to fall my
way�and if they don't. I make them fall.'
Thomas drained the last of his wine. He stared into the empty
goblet. `So when do we strike?'
`Tomorrow night, there is no moon.' Kenneth told him.
`What of Jonas, does he know aught of this? He did want to help us.'
Thomas asked.
`No..I don't want him involved. If things go awry, people will not
think anything of the two younger hot headed Radcliffes seeking their
revenge. But Jonas has a standing here in the community. I do not
want to jeopardise it.'
Thomas nodded and yawned. `Best we get some sleep then Ken. Tomorrow
will be a long day.' He stood placing the goblet on the mantle over
the fire. As he opened the door to leave he saw that Kenneth had not
moved but rather was staring broodingly into the flames. With a sense
of foreboding he closed the door silently behind him thus missing
Kenneth's whispering. `Soon I'll get all the sleep I'll need Tom.'
**************
Kenneth looked up from the bale of hay he was using for a seat as his
brother entered the stables. Wearing his many caped riding coat,
Kenneth was already booted and spurred for the ride. He was carefully
cleaning his sword with a soft cloth while her waited for his
brother. The cold steel gleamed and glistened as the light from the
lantern caught and reflected it in his green eyes that also wore a
look of hardened steel. His long dark hair was tied back with a black
riband and it gave him the look of a mysterious highwayman.
`I've saddled the horses and they are ready, do you have the pistols
and powder Tom?' Kenneth asked as he continued to rub the cloth over
the length of the silver blade.
`Yea I have it all in the bag.' he indicated the leather bag on his
hip. `Think you've not rubbed the edge off that blade ere we leave
Ken? You do want the steel to do its work I presume?' Thomas asked
with grim humour as he slung the bag down next to his younger
brother. Like Kenneth he was also dressed for riding and the work
they had vowed to do tonight.
`I want Herrick to see the blade as much as feel it.' Kenneth said
intently not looking up from his task.
`He will see it alright, it will blind him.' Tom muttered shaking his
head.
Kenneth smiled his first smile in weeks at his brother's sarcastic
tone. The two brothers looked steadily at one another. Kenneth's eyes
softened. `Tom�I do want you to know�'
Thomas laid his hand gently on Kenneth's shoulder. `I do know lad�'
His voice was unsteady but the brothers clasped hands and they needed
not words to share their feelings.
A sound at the stable door startled them both out of their reverie
and they turned quickly towards the sound. Kenneth stood sword at the
ready. Thomas likewise beside him tensed his muscles to pounce.
`Jonas!' Both Thomas and Kenneth uttered in surprise.
`I take it you two young hotheaded fools thought to leave me behind?'
Their older brother asked as he emerged from the shadows to face his
two errant younger siblings.
`Nay..' Thomas protested.
`Yes..' Kenneth started to say.
`All for honourable reasons no doubt.' Jonas butted in wryly as he
flung his saddlebags onto the floor.
`We sought not to involve you Jonas. If we fail in this enterprise we
didn't want to bring you down with us. You've a loving wife and
family to think of. I cannot ask this of you. Tis my fight.' Kenneth
sheathed his sword and adjusted the scabbard on his hip as eyes of
the most intense green steadily held those of his older brother.
Kenneth was the tallest in his family but he was not intimidating his
brother in the least.
`The devil you can't Kenneth. Yea I've a family to think of but what
would Prudence think of me if I stayed behind and let you two take
all the glory? She doted on Connie and besides someone must needs
stop Herrick ere he causes more grief and evil in the world. He has
gone too far. I have Prue's support in this.' He added his trump
card. For both his brothers respected and cared for his diminutive
spirited wife. When he often failed in talking sense into these two
hotheads, she invariably succeeded.
Thomas sat down on Kevin's hay bale and idly swung his booted foot as
he watched Jonas and Kenneth with interest. He knew Kenneth to be
stubborn as a mule and it was a trait he shared with Jonas, but a
third sword hand might be of great use to them. He spoke. `We
Radcliffe's have ever possessed a wild streak, methinks you've not
escaped it Jonas, for all that you have been the sensible one of us.
Well, we can't stop you risking your neck and a third sword might be
helpful Ken.'
`Well what say you Ken? Jonas asked.
Kenneth smiled grimly. His eyes glittered dangerously in the light of
the lantern as he nodded his acquiescence. `Let us go hunting.'
Jonas moved to saddle his mount and Thomas and Kenneth finished off
the rest of their preparations. They had work to do on this night the
devil roamed the darkness. But would he take care of his own?
Chapter 3
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