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GNO Chapter Excerpts Page ~ B1C15 Quick-Browse
Chapter Quick-Browse For Graven's Grotesque: A Gothic Epic
Chapter 15 Excerpt Teaser
Description: The Terrible Choice ~ 6 Paragraphs
Lazarus shook his head. “Yet, m’Lord; I saw your army outside the castle. ‘Twas great. How can Lord Hugon defeat such numbers if you place them in defence of your castle? Perhaps, if you do this, then no blood shall be spilled.
D’Alcicourt shook his head. “‘Twas not my army, gathered at the gates, yet an unruly and unwelcome mob. When word had spread throughout the province, they came for you. In truth, my loyal ranks have dwindled considerably and; for the most part, they remain within the castle. And unlike me, Hugon leads a considerable army—perhaps even greater than the mob that you saw. All told, I have little defence, should he strike. The village, outside the castle, shall be the first to fall. As is his practice, he shall spare no lives.”
Lazarus searched over the tabletop, considering options. “Then perhaps you can lead your villagers and soldiers away from harm—as did Moses, with his people; and no blood shall be—”
“No, Lazarus,” he interjected, “I am not Moses; and this is not a faraway land of old. I am a vassal and servant of the king—a mere lord—and these are my lands and its people. We’ve no place to go. We were born on this land; we work this land; and we shall be buried in the shadows of our forbearers—this is our home. If I command my people to abandon everything dear to them and, allow Hugon to burn their homes and defile the graves of their fathers, brothers, and sons, who died at his hand, then they would turn against me—villager and soldier alike. And I could not begrudge them for it.”
He stared through the walls, weighing what further recourse remained to him. “M'Lord, if you have so few people, then why do you require the same amount of land as, when you had many? Perhaps you might make peace with him by offering him a portion of land, which you no longer require. And perhaps you might send the bishop to arrange the accord, and have him free Endora. And no blood—”
“No man can barter with Hugon. He desires all of my lands—and my head—and shall settle for nothing less; he is beyond reason. Moreover, the bishop has fled, leaving me with only a winged man and a dagger.”
“Fled? Why did His Eminence flee?”
D’Alcicourt caught his breath and smiled curtly. He rolled his eyes, interlocked his fingers, and explained, almost reluctantly, “Well, because I insisted of him, that he arrange another sort of accord: one that involved an informal inquisition of sorts, which I gathered might serve to quell growing suspicion and calm the concerns of my people.” D’Alcicourt looked sternly at the soldiers against the wall, who nodded with a gaze of sincerity.
Lazarus asked, “The inquisition was about me—with His Eminence and the scribe, yes?”
D’Alcicourt nodded. “For my people, I required a representative of the Church to proclaim that you are not the Devil, but a mere flying man.” He loudly cleared his throat. “In his overly long stay at the castle, and under constant guard for his safety, mind you; he found the time to gather our delicate position. The cause is now clear, yes?”
Lazarus looked away.
D’Alcicourt continued, “Nevertheless, he fled to Avignon with his concerns.” He shrugged. “I had no recourse. I could not have him order you burned upon a stake.”
Lazarus winced. “His Eminence wished to burn me? Yet he found me to be a flying man. Only the scribe said otherwise.”
“No matter; they shall trouble you no more. You are under my protection; and my people are now at ease with a mere Christian flying man in their midst.” He turned to the guards, who stood against the wall, and addressed them, “Is this not true?”
They answered as one; “Yes, m’Lord.”
“Yet do you gather me to be a Devil?” Lazarus asked him.
“It matters,” he answered with a quick twist of his neck, “Only that you are safe.”
“If you will, m’Lord; it matters to me.”
D’Alcicourt sighed and shook his head. “Very well; I shall confess that, in the beginning, when one of my soldiers sent word of your capture, I believed you may—um, that perhaps you might have been—the Devil, captured.” He shrugged. “His recollection of you was quite colourful, to say the least; as he had me gather you standing a full head taller than the tallest of my men, having monstrous wings of a dragon, and baring teeth so large as to devour even a cow. Merely words without merit, they were; idle as prattle, as I have since learned from your short stay.” He passed a presenting hand over Lazarus and chuckled. “Look at you. You are not the Devil—or any Devil for that matter—merely a flying man.”
Lazarus cocked his head. “Yet, if you gathered me to be the Devil, then why did you allow me into your home?”
They searched one another's eyes.
D’Alcicourt abruptly stood, clasped his hands behind him, and paced the floor as he kept an eye on Lazarus. Then he abruptly stopped and spun on his heel to fully face Lazarus, saying, “Yes; and why would, a God-fearing man like me, invite all that is unholy, as the Devil Himself, into his very home?” He smiled and propped himself loosely against the wall, and praised Lazarus, “You are quite versed in the discipline of dialogue and leave little space for idle speak. It seems to me that you can best even the bishop, in discourse and discord.” He snatched a breath and assumed a more sincere stance. “Nevertheless, ‘twas not so difficult a decision for me, since I had no course but insist upon an audience with you. If you were the Devil, as my soldiers had claimed, then I gathered that you might be quite willing to offer me a pact of sorts, and perhaps provide me with options unavailable to me.”
Lazarus questioned him, a growing apprehension in his voice, “What sort—um, if you please—what manner of pact?”
“Surely, an accord that would save the lives of my people—in exchange for my own, of course,” D’Alcicourt admitted, retaking his seat opposite Lazarus.
Lazarus cleared his throat and solemnly declared, “Perhaps the Devil may—take more than your life, m’Lord. What of your soul?”
The man nodded. “Yes; my soul, in exchange for defeating Hugon and forever protecting my lands and people from butchers like him. He clasped his hands before him and smiled, elatedly saying, “However, by the Grace of God, the pact was not to be, since you are not the Devil, but simply a winged Christian man who can likewise save my fellow Christians from the vile spread of Hugon!” He shook his fists at the ceiling and joyfully called aloud, “In Christ’s Name, my prayers have been answered by His godsend of a flying man who can deliver us from the Devil, who is Hugon, and protect my good people from his growing evil! Truly, the Lord moves in wondrous ways.” He turned to his soldiers. “Does He not?”
“Yes, m’Lord,” they responded, reverently.
Lazarus set his jaw and briefly closed his eyes, weighing the moment in his mind. “Yet, you insist that I take another man’s life.”
D’Alcicourt pursed his lips and nodded. “Notwithstanding the good and godly intentions of such a venture, I gathered that you might have reservations.” He slipped his hand into his vest and produced a jingling purse. “I am likewise prepared to offer you generous compensation.” He shook the purse. “Thirty-three pieces of Genoese gold should ease such concerns, yes?” He loosened the purse straps and poured the heavy gold coins on the table betwixt them, adding, “Most men never earn as much in all their lives; however, ‘tis all yours upon your safe return. I am a man of honour and my word is genuine.” He smiled and leaned toward Lazarus, asking, “Now, what say you to a lifetime’s wages for a mere single eve’s work?” D’Alcicourt raised his eyebrows and awaited Lazarus’ reply...
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