LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE STATE OF THINGS - SECTION 32
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| 02- DAG DIEZ |
At some distance from
Hecun’s contingent, Mouro and his two guards, traveling ahead on the major
highway, by nightfall had already checked in to a long-established inn and
were, indulging themselves in a fine feast and a good measure of the local
wine. All during dinner Mouro had been staring at the young waiter, one of the
groups that were tending their table.
His exceptional good looks, fine features and delicate mannerisms drew
Mouro out to the point of infatuation; discretely at first, but after a flagon
or two of wine, Mouro had flirted more openly (uninhibitedly) with the young
man.
One of the guards, called Dag Diez, found this rather amusing, joined in the fun but the other, called Kade Luir, having some scruples, found the show most distasteful. Soon as he could, Kade Luir therefore asked to be excused and retired early to his room. After divesting himself from his travel garments, Kade Luir had just slipped under the covers when the other guard Dag Diez staggered in, curses and complaints on his breath.
Ranting and raving
incoherently, Dag finally settled down, "That Mouro! Just because he's in charge, where does he
get off! The gall he has, ordering me
around in that manner! I'll show
him!"
Dag Diez slammed his fist into the door, his
face dark with anger. "He's too
much! I'm not even tired." He was striding to and for across the room
now, rubbing his burning fist. "Am
I less deserving than he? There's
nothing amiable about his...eh?"
Dag sheepishly threw a glance at his companion, who had indifferently
shifted and turned his back to him.
"Besides, why should
I retire when I haven't even had my fill yet?
All because he wants to indulge himself in perverse pleasure. Was I crowding him, or something?" Huffing, he plumped himself into the chair.
After a moment's silence,
his mood had changed, "Yeah, he always did like them that way best. He toys with people’s lives; he likes to play
games and moreover, always have be the alfa dog, the domineering one…"
Kade Luir, feigning to
sleep with his face to the wall, ground his teeth in anger, or was it
jealousy? He was so incensed with Mouro,
and this intoxicated fool that he had to struggle to contain his bursting rage.
"Did you see how
annoyed the innkeeper was? What a sight
to see! That old sourpuss squirmed like
a pig back there." Dag Diez slapped
his knee drunkenly and roared.
"But he wouldn't dare
openly say a word against it. He didn’t
have the guts! Even if Mouro hadn't
flaunted all that money around, the greedy wimp knows enough to keep his trap
shut and his tail tucked between his legs.
He knows enough not to stick his bulbous nose into trouble. How else would he have lasted so long and
prospered so? Boy you are a sound sleeper.”
“Yes sirree… Not by being
stupid, that's for sure! Yes, he knows
enough to keep out of trouble." Dag
Diez rose and went over to the other bed, shaking Kade Luir, who was feigning
sleep. "Hey, this is no time to be
sleeping, I'm talking to you. Open your
eyes! Are you making a mockery of
me?"
Finally giving in, and
checking his anger, Kade Luir pretended to being awakened. Then shaking his
head and yawning, he exclaimed that he was still (groggy) tired and demanded
that Dag be brief with whatever it is he had to say.
"Bah! Who needs you? Go back to your precious sleep if you
like." the obnoxious Dag retorted in a gruff voice and waddled back to his
chair.
Before long he was singing the same tune to himself. "That's right; he knows enough to keep in line. He knows that ones Like Mouro, rich wastrels that they are, are too dangerous to be trifled with and deadly to offend. I'm not sure, but Magistrate what's his name is, he might even be a distant relative."
Kade, now exasperated, sat
up and resorted to fine reasoning to persuade the other to get some sleep.
"Sleep… Sleep? Why should I?" rowdy Dag snarled as he
ignored the drooling down his mouth.
"Eh, your kind will
never understand." Dag idly
fingered the copper water pitcher.
"Imagine him having
all the fun and not me! I… stranded here
with the likes of you!" In a burst
of anger, he hurled the pitcher violently against the wall above Kade's
head. Luckily there was very little
water to spill.
Wiping the spray from his
face, Kade Luir clenched his fists, not obliging Dag with a fight. Quietly reclining again, he turned his face
to the wall and remained that way, unresponsive to the vile, disgusting slanders,
muttering and provocation of Dag.
"Oh, what's the
use?" His anger spent, his energy
consumed by his temper, Dag Diez had finally consented to sleep. "I might as well get some rest. Of course you wouldn't take me on! You know you'd lose. You just look competent, but you're
soft!"
As he pulled up his
covers, fully clothed still, he muttered to himself, "And tomorrow,
tomorrow, we'll see. Eh, let him enjoy
it while he can…ha, ha, ha!"
Dag’s sinister laughter
grated on Kade's nerves. “Won't he ever
shut up?” But the obnoxious filth kept
pouring from Dag’s mouth well into the night until; finally, after several loud
belches and yawns, he drifted into a deep, snoring slumber.
Unable to get any sleep
Kade Luir tossed and turned then, sitting bolt upright, fixed his brooding gaze
on the door, contemplating going after Mouro.
But what would be the point? What could he do anyhow?
"He's always preening
(grooming) himself like a prize goose," the drunkard Dag stirred in his
sleep, "but we'll see. We'll see
how much longer he'll enjoy this privilege." He snorted a couple more times then rolled
onto his other side and began snoring even more thunderously than before.
~
Mouro, meanwhile, after
changing his clothes, had patiently waited until all the activity had abated
outside his room then, bolting to his feet and with the sealed drum of fine wine
tucked under his arm, he headed for the door.
"Don't wait for me,
now." He half turned to address the
young waiter, Ted. “I’ll be a while; best you try to get some sleep."
Stealing across the deserted dining hall in the dark, he quietly slipped
outside and entered the stables.
Leading his horse by the
reins, he walked the beast some measure away to the edge of the forest. At this safe distance, he then vaulted into
the saddle and galloped through into woods, disappearing in the paths among the
thick foliage.
He continued to press his fine mare for speed
over hedges and ditches as man and mount covered an incredible distance in but
a short time. Finally, he arrived at his
destination, the deserted ruins of a temple, hidden among the towering cliffs
and ancient cypresses. Dismounting, he
led the mare cautiously across a dilapidated stone bridge spanning a bottomless
chasm.
The sentries on duty at
the other side were relieved to see that they had accosted Mouro.
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| 03- GUARDS ON DUTY |
Hecun, after the formal greeting, asked, "I am indeed pleased to see you, sir, but I feel constrained to inquire what purpose brings you here at this hour. Were we not supposed to meet at the Magistrate's offices? And where are your guards Kade Luir and Dag Diez? I hope nothing untoward has happened to them."
"The guards… Oh no,
dear old friend, they are sound asleep and dreaming of the girls or man back at
the inn, no doubt." Mouro's
informal greeting put the Head Bailiff at ease.
"I know you're a
stickler for protocol, but out here?" he clapped Hecun on the shoulder as
they walked to a more private corner of the compound.
"Let us dispense with the formalities of
office. I'd rather address you as in the
past, eh, Elder Brother, if it’s all right."
He waited for Hecun's nod
of assent before resuming, "As for my reason for (stealthily, covertly)
coming here, I've taken these great pains in hopes of delivering you from an
anticipated dread predicament. Why else? Tell me, are your water rations not
depleted? That's what I thought; I would
have been greatly surprised if they hadn't.
Let's see your map."
Mouro sketched a line of
route on the parchment Hecun provided.
"Now, if you start tomorrow along this shortcut I've indicated and,
upon reaching the fork, keep to the left for about a day and a half, you should
without much difficulty reach the modest inn I'm thinking of. There one can have their fill of drink and
gorge on generous portions of deliciously prepared meals at a fraction of the
normal cost which will, no doubt, also please the men. The proprietor is a bit eccentric,
however. Advise the men not to stare or
make any rude remarks about the ugly scar on his face. No one knows to this day, I suspect, who
inflicted it on him many years ago but, if you keep on his good side, he'll
lavish you with hospitality, the like of which you have never before
experienced.
"But tell me, Elder
Brother," Mouro looked at the encampment about him, "surely you had
more men than this when you embarked on this journey."
"Two hundred to be
exact," Hecun nodded. "Along
the way we suffered several setbacks.
Some were killed and others tried to desert and were appropriately
punished but it would take too long for me to go into that right
now." He hoped that Mouro would
press him for the details.
"Quite right, we can
discuss at length all that later. We
have more immediate concerns we need to address now." came Mouro's
disappointing response.
"I'll say this,
however," Hecun could not hold back, "along the way we even had a
run-in with Zonar but, oddly enough, he opted not to engage us or attempt to
free the prisoner."
Robbing the other (Hecun)
once more, of a chance to boast, Mouro interrupted. "May I make a
suggestion, then? Since there is no real
danger to speak of in this province, and since that cowardly assassin was obviously
issuing only empty threats, why should you continue on these remote paths? Why put yourself and your men through
unnecessary hardships? After a brief
stay at the inn, I told you about you can keep to the highway and, in less than
three days’ time, you can arrive with ease at Magistrate Rue's offices. I'll be riding on ahead to inform His Honor
of your arrival. I really should be
there now, if it weren't for this detour.”
“Hmm… Micen Do will be furious about the delay and,
no doubt, demand my head on a platter upon our return. Don't worry, though. He doesn't scare me one bit and, besides, I
know how to deal with him. As I see it,
this was unavoidable. I had to make
amends when, a few days back, it suddenly dawned on me that I had neglected to
mention the location of the only well at this temple which still contained
water. Yes, brother, there is another
one located here other than the two obvious dry ones you have already
discovered. I stumbled across it quite
by accident some years back when I was caught in a similar predicament. Feeling responsible as I did, I took
appropriate measures and raced here over some treacherous terrain in the hope
of meeting up with you tonight."
"I'm indebted to you
for your concern and trouble." Hecun thanked Mouro gratefully. "Now, brother, if you'd be so kind as to
direct me there."
"Wait, there will be time for it soon enough." Mouro held up a hand, smiling. "First, I've brought a surprise with me. I know how fond you are of good wine and had anticipated that you'd be craving a good cup just about now. If, by some misfortune, I had not met up with you tonight I had planned to leave it hidden here along with the instructions on the whereabouts of the well. Please allow me to have the drum fetched for you now." Mouro called for the guard.
Mouths watered and neck
craned to observe the unloading of the special drum from Mouro’s horse and its
transport over to Mouro. The guards
looked on with hungry, yearning eyes as they waited with trepidation for their
turn to partake of the sure to be a rare wine.
They hoped there would be plenty to go round once Hecun and Mouro had
had their fill.
Mouro, after a sly grin, called
for a cup as he, at the same time, unsealed the mouth of the small barrel. Filling it to the brim, he ceremoniously
presented it to Hecun who received it with appropriate thanks then, politely
smiling, put the cup down and called for another cup to be brought.
Filling this one to the
brim, Hecun reciprocated the courtesy to Mouro and proposed, "Let us drink
together one more time for old times' sake, before we are joined by the
others."
"You are too polite. All right, brother, we'll drink to your good health and to a long, prosperous life." Mouro grimaced as he obligingly received the cup. Subsequently, as custom decreed, each deferred the honors of first toast to the other.
After a few turns, Hecun
unable to resist any longer, congenially toasted, "To our lasting
friendship," before he raised the cup to his lips and was about to gulp it
down all in one go when, Mouro, suddenly assuming a stern visage, in a flash
discarded his own cup to the side and violently knocked Hecun's cup from his
hands, spilling entire contents of the wine all over the bailiff's face and
garments.
"What disgraceful conduct? How dare you insult me in this manner?" Mouro stormed.
"You may be my elder, but I'm still your
superior and don't you forget it!"
He shook a threatening finger in Hecun's face.
"And you stay out of
this!" Mouro turned to lash out at the sergeant Tubak who, (standing by at
close proximity,) aimed to intercede on behalf of his commander.
Mouro once more reverted his menacing gaze
back to the Head bailiff and, with curses on his lips, he demanded, "How
dare you be so presumptuous? How dare
you behave in this outrageous manner, just because I'm kind enough to treat you
with courtesy?"
Aghast (shocked, appalled),
Hecun's face flushed and, even though he did not know what he’d done to offend
Mouro, finding his tongue, rushed to apologize, but there was no placating
(mollifying) Mouro.
Placed on the defensive,
inwardly Hecun remained most resentful of Mouro's inconsistencies, “What
kind of game are you playing at? How
dare you set me up, make me breach etiquette, then make me lose face in front
of my men like this?”
Head Bailiff Hecun just wanted
to squash this upstart, ungrateful vermin like a bug, but knew only too well of
Mouro's hot temper and obstinate nature; therefore, he wisely opted to suffer passively
and with total restraint, this heaved, unending abuse, hoping that Mouro's
anger would summarily be spent (pass).
Far from being appeased,
Mouro was, in fact, further antagonized. He bellowed furiously, "Why in
blazes did I take all this trouble…For the likes of you? You're beneath my contempt!" Scoffing, he sprung to his feet and stormed
away into the darkness.
Alarmed, Hecun raced after
Mouro, still apologizing. Eventually he caught up with him beyond the courtyard
and, in a hot pursuit, dashed after him behind a half-collapsed tower. The
moment he’d entered the full darkness, however, a hand extended from under the
dilapidated flight of stairs and forcefully yanked (pulled) Hecun into the ink
black crevice, where he was brought face to face with Mouro.
Hecun's fear soon abated
when, in a passive voice, Mouro explained, "You can stop worrying now,
brother. I'm not at all offended. It was a charade, enacted for their benefit."
"Whose benefit,”
Dumbfounded Hecun strained to see more clearly.
"What madness is this?"
Moving out of the shadows,
his hand still clasping Hecun's shoulder, Mouro smiled wryly. "Rest assured, my faculties are
intact… I couldn't go through with it,
anyhow. Still, I had to stop you from
drinking it, while casting suspicion, that the drink was spiked."
"The wine was
spiked. What are you talking
about?" Hecun asked in exasperation.
"We have no enmity between us, why should you try to poison
me?"
"You're not listening," Mouro snapped. "The wine is perfectly fine; they only think it's laced with poison, and I had to play along with the pretense."
Now it was Hecun's turn to
be temperamental, "Your inference to 'they"… Just who are 'they'? Why do you talk in riddles, or is this just
another one of your underhanded ploys to make me look like the fool? Are you purposefully trying to muddle
me?"
"There are turncoats,
you fool! Renegades planted among your
men."
"Are you sure? How do you know this? Who are they?
How many are there? Tell me and
I'll have their black hearts torn from their chest." Hecun clenched his fist repetitively.
"I don't know who
they are." Mouro shrugged and
walked away. "I came to know of
their existence myself only quite recently, but I didn't have the means to find
out their numbers, but I surmise it must be over thirty. In any case, it’s up to you to flush (hunt)
them out." Reading confusion and
disbelief on Hecun's face, he continued, "You still need convincing, don't
you? Why must you always be so
obstinate? I should be furious with you
for not trusting me but, oh, all right, I'll start at the beginning and clarify
this situation for you, even though I'm pressed for time.”
"Listen, my coming
here tonight was not accidental, nor was my failure to tell you about the
functioning well. The purpose was obviously other than the one I expressed in
front of the men." He cleared his throat. "Actually, I was instructed by
Micen. Yes, Micen Do. Now, don't interrupt. I was instructed by him to deliver some
poisoned wine to you as part of a diabolical plot to bring about the demise of
yourself and your men, saving the spies who were obviously warned not to drink
the wine."
"But why would Micen
want to kill me?" Hecun injected in surprise. "I was never out of line with him. I served him loyally for all those years and
did nothing to incur his enmity. What
could he gain from my death?"
"You were only the instrument, the insignificant pawn, please forgive my saying so, who had to be sacrificed in the scheme of things. It had nothing to do with you personally, or with your performance of your duty. “Mouro explained dismally. "You think you mattered anything to him at all? Your only fault was that you let yourself become expendable. Added to that, your mission was doomed from the start, even if you had survived the ambush and other conceivable dangers on the road as you have done. Yes, I'm well aware of the traps you've avoided all along the way in order to reach this point. Never mind how I know." He held up his hand to stay any questions from Hecun. "Even the desertions you experienced earlier, I suspect, were the workings of the implanted spies, working within to assure your perilous end.
"It would have been
their objective to reduce the numbers of those to be doomed way before now and,
no doubt, you played right into their hands.
You would have done better, my friend, to have, just this once, acted
contrary to your nature, to have made concessions and exceptions to the
rules. Your flaw, besides being too
predictable, is that you're a stickler for rules and regulations. Don't you see how much of an easy target that
makes you, how much more vulnerable?
Never mind, it’s pointless to harp on that now."
"How deep is this
conspiracy, anyway?" Hecun grumbled, gritting his teeth.
Mouro, agitated, turned
away. "Listen well and you'll learn
the extent of it."
~
(END OF SECTION 32)
