Lamia

The sun climbed over the horizon, lighting plains of maize that leaned to her light.  Falcons dove through the cloud break, pursuing seed-snatching sparrows.

The village workers, arriving from Medias, stood in the shadow of the fortress, waiting to be summoned.

Ehrlich climbed a rampart ladder and looked down upon the assemblage. When satisfied that all was in order, he signaled the gatehouse, and the drawbridge lowered with a groan of its chains.  

Ehrlich slid down a rope and then began a head count as the workers filed into the courtyard: tradespeople, artisans, and laborers. A shabbily dressed youth opened the stable doors. A woman called to her sister as she drew water from a well. A blacksmith pumped his forge bellows.

Meanwhile, in the castle’s largest bedchamber, Desponia pressed against her gypsy’s body, sweeping Luminita’s hair from the nape of her neck. Luminita’s necklace clicked as she lifted her head. She stretched her arms.

“You don’t need to worry about breakfast, Luminita.”

“But last night you promised porridge in the morning.”

“And you shall have it,” Desponia replied, “but first, you must meet a friend.”

“A friend?”

“You’ll see, we'll take breakfast afterward--quail eggs and cheese, and porridge if you like.”

“Where are my clothes?”

“I had a servant burn them. My seamstresses are cutting cloth. A new wardrobe will soon be yours. In the meantime, wrap yourself in this rag.”

“What is it?”

“It’s called a kimono, a trendy thing in distant lands.”

Luminita dressed and followed Desponia along the castle’s southern corridor.

“Take my hand, Luminita.”

They stepped into daylight, and Desponia let go with a slow whistle that grew in volume until its shrillness caused the gypsy to kneel and cover her ears.

Onyx burst from the tree line--the salivating wolf of Luminita’s nightmares! She shrieked, twirled in fright, and lunged for the door, with the limpidity of her child face shattering as she fainted dead away.

Onyx put an uncertain paw on the gypsy’s shoulder and nudged her.

“Can’t you see you’ve frightened the poor girl?” Desponia scolded.

Onyx let out a mournful howl just as Luminita came to then crawled back on her elbows.

 “It seems you’ve won him over," Desponia said.

“I do not think so! He is no normal animal--not in a sane world!” Luminita cried.

“You’ve fascinated him.”  

Luminita summoned her courage and tugged one of Onyx’s ears.

“Do as I say, you...absurd thing!”

To which Onyx only yawned and panted a little.

“Take care not to overexcite him,” Desponia said. Let's walk in the woods together, just the three of us. Afterward, we’ll take breakfast, then introduce Onyx to our horse teams. Onyx heel!" 

Onyx disappeared with this command, then goosed Luminita’s bottom with his invisible nose. She flinched and giggled.

“Oh! How very rude!” Luminita said with a pout.

“Let him do it,” Desponia said. “Have you nothing to say about his disappearance?”

“Do not think me a complete fool,” Luminita snapped.  “You’re a necromancer, as is he!” She pointed towards the castle.

Desponia smiled. “Clever girl. Let’s walk then.”

“Very well,” Luminita said, struggling to push Onyx’s nose from her armpit.

“Stop, Onyx! Oh, now you’ve given me goosebumps!” She wrinkled her nose. “Filthy animal.”

When the goddess and her gypsy returned to the castle, Onyx faded out instintivly. Desponia led him to a chamber, then called for the kitchen workers, asking them to bring venison and a bucket of water.

The kitchen workers looked around curiously as Desponia directed them to place food and water on the floor of a seemingly empty chamber.

As soon as Desponia had Onyx situated, she and her gypsy took breakfast in the great hall.  Desponia called for Marie, her lead seamstress.

“How goes the materials?”

“All in readiness. All in good time,” Maria said. “We wait only on the lady’s attendance,” Maria said, glancing at Luminita with a pitying expression.

“Why does she stare so?” Luminita whispered as she removed her kimono and pulled a blanket around her shoulders.

“She admires you--lead the way to your workplace, Maria.”

As the trio crossed the courtyard, the workers gazed at Desponia’s ethereal posture with adoration. Only when the goddess disappeared into Maria’s workshop did the courtyard's din return.  

“This clothing is suitable for wear about the castle,” Desponia said, pointing to a rack. “Pick something and wear it, Luminita. More clothing will be fitted to your figure by tomorrow evening. We’ll soon embark upon a journey.”

Luminita frowned. “A journey?”

“Why, yes, Luminita,” Desponia said, reaching out to toy with Luminita's pearls. I mentioned it yesterday while we stood in the tavern.”

“The tavern?”

“Oh, well, best not to trouble over details.  Now, hold still while Maria takes your measurements.”

“Very well.”

Desponia turned to Maria. “See to it that this girl’s wardrobe can withstand a frost.”

Several hours later, the women sat again in the great hall with a spread of food before them.

Luminita sat back, rubbing her stomach.

“Oof, I can eat no more. My seams will burst.”

“The amount you’ve eaten should sustain you until this evening. I’m about preparation today. Come with me.”

No sooner had Desponia started from her seat than a harrowing wail checked her movement. She went quickly to the hall door and pulled it open.

A woman stood in the courtyard with blood-covered hands. “My child! My child!” She screamed

Luminita ran to the door, standing behind  Desponia as the woman continued to rave.

“Oh, unholy murder!” she shrieked, “A demon fed upon my child, a thing from hell. My infant lies slaughtered in its cradle, and the monster vanished.”

She pulled her hair and pierced the air with another scream. 

Women came from different sides of the courtyard and led her to a washroom where they tried to calm her. 

Desponia closed the door quietly and called for a servant.

“Have Ehrlich raise the bridge," she told him.

A short while later, the goddess and her gypsy went to the yard in search of Ehrlich.

“Hold there, Ehrlich, I would speak to you,” Desponia said.

Ehrlich bowed low, keeping his back bent and his eyes cast down.

 “Stand up, man, you’ve nothing to fear. Tell me about that peasant woman?”

Ehrlich glanced furtively at Desponia.

“A terrible thing. An infant half-devoured by an animal. But the mother must surely be mad. She described a reptile that walked like a man--a monster with a single malignant eye and a horrible odor.

Luminita shuffled her feet and suppressed a giggle.  “Boo,” she said under her breath.

Ehrlich rolled his eyes in consternation. “I know nothing more of the woman’s distress,” Ehrlich said flatly.

“And what of our journey?” Desponia asked. “Are you about preparations?”

“I've planned accordingly as instructed. We leave in two days, an hour after sunset.”

“And will there be fair weather to accompany us?” Desponia asked.

“With any luck, your ladyship, with any luck.”

“Who will escort us?” Desponia asked.

“I will lead the Count’s guard, as I always have,” Ehrlich said, grasping hold of a wheelbarrow and pushing it across the courtyard.

Luminita followed his movement.

“He’s a kind of farm animal--a pig,” she said, pushing up the tip of her nose.

“Even a pig has its uses,” replied Desponia.

“He makes me sick. His face reminds me of moss rock.”

“I’ve heard it said that Ehrlich cannot be charmed.”

“Men are charmed with the thing they most want to believe about themselves. I would charm him easily.” Luminita said.

The sun stayed its course, sailing steadily west, casting dark legions that stretched along the ground as the light retreated.

Ehrlich stood in the courtyard, ringing a bell to signal the close of the workday.

The workers assembled in the yard, standing shoulder to shoulder as Ehrlich walked the line, taking a headcount.  He motioned for the accountant’s table to be brought. A moment later, the accountant appeared, carrying a ledger. At the same time, his assistant came with a poke of coins.

Vlad’s employees came forward as Ehrlich called their names. Each made their mark, received their coins, and joined near the drawbridge. When the last had gathered, Ehrlich signaled the bridge down. The workers crossed over while the best-paid of Vlad’s employees led the procession to the wood. As they entered the tree line and disappeared, the sound of a minstrel’s flute faded. The dark figures stretched as the trees intercepted the sun’s rays. 

Desponia climbed to the battlements and looked over the walls, her eyes scanning the trees while she cursed under her breath.

"Where are you hiding, Lamia?"