Shadow of the Crown

2. Anna

Two

Anna

Summer 961 MC

Screams echoed down the hallway, bouncing off the cold stone walls, making their way to where Anna, Princess of Merceria, lay huddled on the floor. She held her hands over her ears, but the sounds of agony pierced her heart. She could do nothing to end their suffering.

She was being held in a cell; a small room, barely enough space for her lie down with no way to escape. The only entrance was a sturdy wooden door with a narrow barred window at the top and a smaller door below where food could be passed through.

She shivered, her thin shift doing little to protect against the dampness of the chilly stones. The screams began anew, this time a much higher pitch; a woman. The princess brought her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, trying to eke out what little warmth she could while her breath frosted in the cold air.

When footsteps echoed down the hallway, she ran to the bars, straining to see who was coming. Two armed guards appeared carrying spears, and then two more who dragged someone between them. Closer they came, and then one of the spearmen aimed the point of his weapon at her, motioning for her to back away. The second pulled forth a key ring and unlatched the cell door while the first kept his spear at the ready. With a creak, the door opened, and the last two men dumped the prisoner onto the floor.

"This is a gift from the king," one of them said. "He thought you'd like to watch him die."

He chuckled at his own words, and then he and his partner withdrew. Without another word they locked the door, disappearing down the hallway, their footsteps blending into the distant screams.

Anna crawled forward, toward the body in front of her. It was slumped, face down, but she instantly knew who it was.

"Gerald!" she cried out, her coldness forgotten.

She rolled him over. His face was battered and swollen, with a large gash over his right eye. Blood seeped from his mouth, while his body was covered in cuts and bruises. What clothes he still wore were tattered; his shirt, ripped front and back, revealed deep lacerations to his flesh.

She rolled him onto his side to let the blood flow freely from his mouth, afraid he might choke to death on it. She put her ear to his chest and thankfully heard a faint heartbeat.

She tried to think, but the numbing cold and the drowsiness that clouded her mind were working against her. Forgetting her own misfortune, she began pulling at the remains of his shirt to bind his wounds in a vain attempt to stem the flow of blood.

"Stay with me, Gerald," she begged. "Please don't leave me here alone!"

Unsure how much time had passed, she was awoken by someone else screaming; a man's voice this time. He kept begging them to finish it, but his tormentor merely laughed and bragged about how long the t*****e was going to last.

Anna was numb; her fingers and toes had lost their sense of touch in the cold, harsh environment of her cell. Her attempt to bind Gerald's wounds had had a limited effect, for there was not enough material left for all his injuries. He now lay on his side, the blood from his mouth oozing out to create a small red pool beneath him.

Once again, the sound of footsteps attracted her attention. It didn't take long for a guard to appear and unlock her cell, the door protesting with a familiar squeal as he pushed it open. Behind him, two guards stood by with spears while her brother, King Henry, entered. Dressed in his most elegant clothes, he carried a kerchief close to his nose to ward off the stench of the dungeons. Looking down at Anna, his face wore a mask of contempt.

"Our father, King Andred was murdered," he began. "I rule Merceria now, and I will see to it that you, his murderer, are brought to justice."

"I didn't kill him, Henry," she pleaded. "Please, you must believe me."

Henry chuckled, "Oh, I know full well who is responsible, but I can't hold onto the crown if I don't have someone to blame. That's where you come in, my dear sister. I intend for you to confess to plotting the murder of our dear, departed father."

"Never," spat Anna. "Why would I confess to such a thing?"

Henry stared at her for a moment, thinking. "No doubt you've been entertained by the screams of agony I have provided for you; your precious Knights of the Hound. I've decided to let you listen to their cries of anguish as they die, one by one. I have a rather skilled torturer employed here; he uses a special elixir that prevents his victims from succumbing to the pain and lapsing into unconsciousness. I've been told it's most entertaining to watch. I'd let you see for yourself, but you might get the idea of escaping, and we can't have that, can we."

"Why are you doing this, Henry?" she implored. "What have I done to earn this?"

Her brother's face broke into a rage, "You interfered in things! If you had minded your own business in Westland, none of this would be necessary." He paused, took a deep breath, and then continued in a calm voice, "No, I'm afraid you've caused too much trouble for us. It's been decided; you have to be silenced."

"You can't do this, Henry," she exclaimed. "You'll never get away with it. When Weldwyn hears of this-"

"Weldwyn?" interrupted the king. "Don't make me laugh. Do you really think they can help you?"

"They'll hear of it," she responded. "The Weldwyn ambassador will surely report this."

"The Ambassador? I think not. He will not be returning home to report on anything." Henry smiled, throwing Anna into confusion. "That reminds me, I have a present for you." He fished about his belt, finally settling on a small pouch. He carefully opened it, withdrawing a crumpled package, then tossed it to the floor in front of her.

"That's what I think of your precious Weldwyn," he sneered.

Anna crawled forward, grasping the paper in her numb hands. She picked it up, opening it as carefully as she could. Suddenly she dropped it, shocked by what she saw. A finger rolled forth, the signet ring of Weldwyn still adorning it.

"This will mean war," she proclaimed.

"I doubt it," said Henry knowingly. "You see, Weldwyn, as you like to call it, is far too busy with problems of its own. Did you look at the wrapping? No? Too bad, it's your precious marriage proposal. Of course, I could offer you a choice, if you wish."

"What choice?" she asked, a small sliver of hope present in her voice.

"If you don't want to be charged with the murder of the king, you could do my bidding."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning I would raffle you off to the highest bidder and then you would be used by whoever paid the most. I know a number of people that would be amused by such a prospect."

"You're sick, Henry," she spat out. "I would rather die."

"I thought you'd say as much. It's just as well; things are tied up nicely this way. Of course, I have a written confession from all your knights to support my claims."

"My knights had nothing to do with the king's death."

"True, but a confession is very compelling, especially when the prisoner is no longer around to argue the point. I've killed them all, Anna, every single one of them."

"You lie," she shouted, "I can still hear their screams."

"Oh, yes, I forgot, we're not quite done yet. I've saved the best for last. That harlot Fitzwilliam will be the last to die. I've been making her watch the rest. By the way, I've killed that nasty brute of a dog of yours."

He enjoyed watching all hope die on the young princess's face, smiling as he did so.

"You'll be dead soon enough, Anna, but not before you suffer. You've angered some very powerful people, people who've been planning this for centuries. You don't upset folks like that without paying a price."

"What people? What are you talking about?"

"I would tell you, but I'd rather you die in ignorance. You have some time left, perhaps you'll figure it out for yourself, but then again, you might not, it matters little either way."

He stepped back into the hallway, and then a guard closed the door, locking it securely.

"I won't come and see you again, Anna. I think it's better this way. Wallow in your despair, little sister, it's the only thing you have left."

He turned abruptly, straightened his tunic, and marched back up the hallway, the kerchief once again returned to his nose.

Anna ran to the barred window to watch him disappear down the hallway, and then the screaming resumed.