The Chains of Duty Chapter 10: The Window in The Dungeon

A faint light shone through a small window on one side of the room. The stars winked in the dim night sky. She found herself once more standing all alone. A growing unease lurched in her gut. There was something unreal about the window. She did not know what.

She heard a shuffling behind her and froze. Her ears strained to pick up every tiny sound made. And sure enough, there it was again. A rough rustling of cloth followed by a ragged breath. She turned her back to the window and scanned the room as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. In the middle of it was a post, a struggling figure tied to it. She edged closer to the pole and gasped in realization. It was her sister, Nidara.

She reached out to comfort Nidara, only to realize her touch was not felt, just as she did not feel anything. And so she remembered what this was, how she was witnessing this. She had been hidden away safely in the castle when Nidara was hostage. She felt tears sting her eyes. To know that this was how her sister was treated and being able to do nothing to help her broke her heart.

She heard something hiss to her left. Nidara heard it too, because she instantly became rigid. A single beam of light penetrated the gloom of the dungeon. It spread to reveal two figures in the doorway. The first, clad in black, snapped his fingers, and torches hung on the walls of the dungeon flared to life.

Novara gasped as the light illuminated the faces of the two people. At the front was Xelop, who she knew from their encounter in the study when she attempted to study the book on her own. Behind him was Keed, looking stiff. Like a guard without a mind of his own.

Nidara flinched at the sudden presence of light. But from her posture it was evident that she braced herself for what was to come. Novara could only imagine the horror; she saw what Nidara went through during her seizure. She knew, though, that her imagination could never compare to the real feeling. She dreaded what was to come. But she could only dread.

They made their way towards Nidara, Xelop smiling to show his unnaturally sharp teeth. They looked like they were used to eat flesh. Novara felt a slicing fear. All she could do was watch.

He bent in front of Nidara’s face. “How have you fared in the past day, dear?” he asked heartily.

“As well as you would expect me to be, of course,” She said. The dryness of her voice was evident. Novara wondered if she was even given meals.

“Tut tut. Have you not had your midday meal?” he said, the heartiness never leaving his attitude

.”If midday meals could fix everything Keed would NOT be standing beside you, Xelop!”

“Hmm,” he said stroking his chin with a finger, “true. But perhaps something could help you stand next to him, wherever he is.”

Nidara scoffed.

“Oh, come now, Nidara.” Xelop coaxed. “You only have to join forces with me. And then you two can rule Yawen for the rest of eternity.”

Nidara snickered. “There is something I still do not understand, Xelop. What is it that you are really after?” she asked.

“You have yet to respond to my offer, princess.” Xelop stated. His tone resonated with a sudden gruffness. Novara found herself wondering how he was so volatile; calm and cheery one moment, stern and angry the next.

“Take your offer to dungeons deeper than this one Xelop,” Nidara growled. “No offer of yours’ will ever suffice for me.”

Xelop bore her down with contempt. Then he made a subtle motion with the back of his hand and Keed disappeared through the door.

“You will regret your stubbornness, Nidara, as your mother before you did.” He said.

The color drained from Nidara’s face in an instant. “H-how? How do you know about my mother?”

He chuckled. There it was again, the volatility. Novara shivered in fear. There was a formidable aura always being emanated from him.

“I know a number of things that you could never fathom.” He said as Keed appeared at the doorway, two guards behind him carrying with them a trunk. The soft light emanating from the trunk played shadows on their faces which showed no inkling of emotion. They set it down a few meters from Nidara and unlatched the sides. The four sides fell to the floor revealing a bed of burning coals. An iron whip lay embedded in their depths, its handle sticking out ward through the top.

Novara gulped at the sight. They were going to brand Nidara. She looked from the bed of coals to her sister. Instead of fear, Nidara’s jaw clenched in determination. Novara felt respect for her sister, and gratitude that she had made it out, shine through the fear.

Keed returned to his position behind Xelop. His face as stoic as he was in a trance, like when people sleepwalk they subconsciously know what to do.

“Redo her ties,” Xelop ordered the guards, “face her back to me.”

They did as they were told. Nidara did not so much as struggle against them, she held her head high and held her stand against Xelop with dignity.

“I will give you one last chance, Nidara,” Xelop said. “Join me, and you will be spared all this torture. You will walk home with pride and the crown on your head.”

“I would rather die than form an alliance with you.” Nidara retorted.

He lifted his chin indignantly. His nostrils flared up with anger, his eyes sparked with fury. “Very well then.” He turned to Keed. “Keed, why not do the honors today,” he said, gesturing towards the handle of the whip. “This might quench your thirst.” He whispered.

She saw Nidara’s eyes widen at the words.

Keed made his way toward the bed of coals. Novara watched with horror Keed’s slow trek, and how Nidara listened intently to each step he took, no doubt wishing that this was all just a bad dream. He positioned his hand over the handle, and, finger by finger wrapped his hand over it. He seemed to take an eternity just to grasp it. The swift motion with which he whipped out the burning red head was unadulterated proof of his sheer strength.

Nidara flinched at the sound of metal against coal. The red hot head with its formidable spikes clanged to the floor. His face still showed no sign of emotion, good or bad, as he dragged the whip from the beds to the pole, and swung with his might. He huffed with the effort. A split second later, Nidara’s agonized screams filled the room. Xelop laughed to his heart’s content. In the middle of it all he made sure to make a mockery out of Nidara’s situation. Everyone else remained pensive; the guards as furniture in a torture chamber, Keed as a day laborer, who had nothing to gain from retaliation except loss of valuable earnings.

Unable to watch the horrid scene in front of her, Novara began to wish for retrieve. She closed her eyes and hoped it would go away the way her previous dream had. However, Nidara’s screams only intensified. And she could only imagine the pain, only. She covered her ears and turned away to look out the window, hoping it would provide her some solace till she went mystically back to sleep. And mystically indeed, the stars made Nidara’s cries seem distant. And now, she knew what was unreal about the window. This was a dungeon. And dungeons do not have windows. This was just another one of Xelop’s treacheries.

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To be continued...