FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Merwood, Dread Hideout

ACHARIUS

After doing his morning trap check, Acharius meandered through the trees, stepping over fallen branches and trudging the foggy moss-coated forest floor as he neared Meredith House. Peering at where huge leaves interwove until the tops of towering trees were completely blocked from view.

He caught the pungent odor of basil oil as he rounded the fence.

To his disgust, he found Karina picking plums with Chastain.

He ducked from view. I dislike her more each day. He admitted. Because of how she speaks of Chastain.

He peered through the fence and saw them. I forgot it was picking day.

Karina was in the courtyard pretending to smile with Chastain. Speaking as if they were the good friends Chastain thought they were.

It made Acharius unreasonably angry. Chastain is good. She knows nothing but kindness. And it’s her only friend who speaks of her so harshly.

He recalled Karina calling her a dimwitted twit.

It still makes my teeth grit. She of all, shouldn’t say such things!

Acharius had once been the one to bring Karina food and ensure she’d wood for her fire in the cottage and warm blankets woven by Margaret and Agatha.

I tried to teach her wisdom, but she grew into this greedy selfish creature!

Became this...

He saw it more clearly each day Karina visited Meredith House. While Chastain prattled happily. Karina’s dark eyes were narrowed in malcontent as she listened. She nodded and smiled but those smiles were tight…Ugly.

And in that moment, Acharius realized Karina hated Chastain. Why?

He watched until she left the garden to ensure she didn’t hurt Chastain…My growing fear. She’d never see it coming.

He pictured dark rage on Karina’s face and knew she was increasingly more capable of such a thing.

She’s lustful and prideful. Uncaring of consequences. Thinking of no one but herself.

Yes, she could hurt Chastain.

“Something plagues ye.” Mardichi grunted. Heavy step thumping into Acharius’ chamber in the cave.

Acharius rather preferred the giant’s lumbering sound, to Rhyers’ eerily silent approach.

“Mardichi.” He greeted. “Karina.”

“Devil wench.” Mardichi announced.

“I’d heard you were busy in the Paladines training some poor creature in something or the other.”

Mardichi gave an amused grunt. “Sometimes ye gossip like wee gels.”

“I’m happy for you, Brother.” Acharius grew serious.

“Thank ye.” Mardichi turned a necklace between his fingertips.

Clearly a gift.

“What do you do here when you have a mate waiting for you?”

“I came to thank ye.”

“Thank me?” Acharius reared back.

“In all these years, I never have.”

“For what, in Ardae do you need to thank me?”

“Taking me from the island.”

“Greece? You were my prisoner!”

“A man with no one and nowhere to go. Ye helped give me purpose.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened that day?” Acharius leaned forward, interest written over his face. He’d arrived on the island of Greece and found the man in a village near the shore. Sitting amidst a pile of bodies. Saturated in the blood of his kin. “Did you kill them?”

“I did.”

“You were no traitor?” Acharius was certain of that.

Mardichi is nothing if not loyal to those loyal to him.

“No. I raided with those men. I rode with those men. Set fires with them. And when I went on a hunt, they went to me home.” Mardichi was grave. Voice deadpan. “I was brother to five little sisters.”

“Sisters?” Acharius was astounded.

I never guessed that.

“I was their only brother. Their big brother. I protected them all. And everyone knew better then to get near them.”

Acharius’ stomach sunk. As he waited for the long moment of silence to pass.

“They were beautiful. Young and lively. I just wanted to keep them safe.” He sighed and lowered the necklace to look at Acharius. “But those men I rode and raided with…They were hard men who took what they wanted. They thought with me out, they could take me sisters.”

“Take them!”

“It was often the way of men to take women in the village. Keep them if they were obedient.”