The Test of Ostra Read online

  Merlin turns to Syrus, who had kept a vigil on Dante and Cammilia for the entire night. “They’re here, Syrus. I will return after I receive a brief from Germanicus.”

  Syrus nods. “Ai, Merlin. Set watch and warrant it.”

  (3)

  As Felinius ventures to the Great Hall, he reaches for his shooters. He takes one out to ensure it’s loaded. Morgana places her hand on his to stop him.

  “Relax, Felinius. Herod would think hard and long on eliminating his most valued and formidable man. You are not so easily replaced. And he would not put himself in such jeopardy. You ken?”

  “Ai. But best to set watch and warrant for prudence’s sake.”

  When they arrive in Herod’s hall, he is sitting at his throne, surrounded by many bodyguards. His burgundy velvet jacket seems unusually filled out for Herod’s small frame. Felinius knows why. He’s wearing his tortoise-shelled bulletproof vest underneath. Certainly, he’s taking no chances.

  For a moment, he snickers to himself. Felinius observes Benny with a swollen nose and a bump where he had broken it. Tennyson is there as well. On their faces, they have incensed smirks on their faces. They’re anticipating for the moment that Herod will give the death order. Some men are so impatient their hands nervously touch the butt of their revolvers.

  “How fareth, Sai?” asks Herod tranquilly.

  Felinius sighs and looks at Herod with a meek, penitent expression. “I’m sure you know, Herod- Sai. There were complications. I cry pardon. You asked me to ensure plan’s success, but I was too late to preclude rescue of recruit. Merlin proved resourceful beyond measure.”

  “Merlin?” asks Herod with measured derision. He walks slowly towards Felinius. “I ken this well, Sai. I have been informed of your failure. All your failures. The boy is alive and well!” He booms menacingly. “What the fuck happened to him?”

  “Why don’t you ask your imbecilic son?” retorts Felinius.

  “Oh, I assure you we shared words. Didn’t we Caius?” Caius pokes his head out from the plethora of soldiers surrounding him. He reveals a fresh split lip, a black eye, and a small laceration in between his eyes. “Ai, Father.”

  Felinius shrugs. “Well, there you have it.”

  “What do I have, Sai?” yells Herod. “What the fuck do I have? That little fucking boy, alive and well and on the road to recovery and his bitch wolf with him! All these preparations. All this energy and time, resources of manpower, and considerable coin laid to fucking waste. And you have the audacity to stand there and smirk at me!”

  Felinius tries to speak, but Herod scolds him. “You will not speak unless spoken to. You ken?”

  Felinius nods. “Ai.”

  Herod sighs, runs his hands in his jet-black hair, and rubs his chin pensively. “Explain yourself, Sai. What happened?”

  “I was pursuing the wolf and hot on her trail, but she ventured into Ager Swamp. Even though it was dangerous, I didn’t hesitate. I followed her. My horse, Misty, was blindsided by a croc. I nearly lost my own life-barely made it out alive. I never imagined the wolf could have made it out alive. And I certainly never could have fathomed what happened next.”

  Herod snickers in derision. “The great Felinius, knight exemplar, extreme marksman, and assassin. The same man who gunned down eighteen men single-handedly in Mill’s Tavern. The man who made it out of the Visi-Gaulia castle after absconding with the prince. The man who escaped from Cathrall prison. The same man who lost footing in Ager Swamp and slipped up. Am I really to believe you are a clumsy fuck now?”

  “It’s the truth, Sai. Your soldiers failed in securing the perimeter. Someone broke in. Merlin, Germanicus, someone.”

  “All the brotherhood accounted for,” says Herod.

  “That boy had help,” notes Felinius.

  “Perhaps it was you, Sai,” insinuates Herod, with clenched teeth, the seething anger more apparent with his lowered voice. He points his finger right at Felinius’ chest. The men around him smile in nervous anticipation. Maybe this is the moment.

  “Remove your finger from my chest before I break it,” threatens Felinius.

  “You don’t threaten me, Sai. Nobody threatens me and definitely not in my home.”

  Felinius shrugs. “Suit yourself.” In the twinkling of an eye, Felinius grabs Herod’s finger. He bends it back unnaturally until he hears the sickening break. He punches Herod in the face, knocking him to the ground. The men draw out their guns, but not before Felinius draws his own weapons as well. He points one at Herod, who lies on the ground, blood spurting out his nose. “How dare you accuse me Sai!” He says defensively. “After all I have done. For you. In your name. For your goals and your ambitions. You have made me a traitor in my land. I am now a wanted fugitive in Visi-Gaulia with a price on my head I will never be able to rid myself of!”

  Felinius looks at Herod menacingly. “Call off your men, Sai. Now before I remedy haughty accusations with a mouthful of lead! Do it! You wish to test my speed, Sai with your own life? Order your men! Now!”

  Nobody says or does anything. Many are still in shock at the brazenness of Felinius. One man moves to point his gun. Felinius fires his gun off at his kneecaps, but no concussive sound issues from the barrel. He looks at it unbelievingly and fires again. The men look at each other with hope. Felinius brings his other gun to fire but to no avail.

  The men move on him as one. He strikes out at the first man and connects with his kidney. But too many blows land on his head, arms, legs and gut. It knocks him to the ground and close to unconsciousness. He feels the tempered steel rain down blow after blow. They’re using the butts of their guns to subdue him.

  Herod gets up, still fighting off the glimmers of his incapacitation from the blow. “Get him up! String up that fucker!” He yells in a nasal toned voice, which would have been amusing under other circumstances.

  The men pick Felinius up, shackle him and bring him before a makeshift cross made of dogwood. They tie him with a strong polywood rope. It is tied so tight; the rope cuts off his circulation. He fights it, still gasping for breath. Felinius grows woozy and nears unconsciousness, so he is hardly cognizant of the blows rained down by Herod with the butt of his speed shooter.

  “Nobody touches me you fuck! I have slaughtered entire families for less slight!” He yells as he smashes the butt of his revolver repeatedly into his temple. He points the gun into Felinius’ mouth and slowly cocks the hammer.

  “Stop Herod!” pleads Morgana. They look back at her. “Felinius is telling the truth!”

  “Nobody touches me!” yells Herod.

  “Please Herod!” implores Morgana. “We need Felinius. Set aside your anger for now. For our cause!”

  Herod relents, still incensed. He sighs and stares at Felinius contemptuously. Herod loosens the cord around his neck, causing him to drop. Felinius immediately takes in a deep breath and coughs. For good measure, Benny and Tennyson give him a sharp kick to his already painful side.

  Felinius, still wobbly, gradually gets to his feet. “Saved by your only friend, Felinius. Touch me again and I swear to God I’ll have you crucified. If you raise your voice to me, the next person you’ll be yelling at will be the devil. In hell! You ken?”

  Felinius nods. “Ai. I cry pardon!”

  Herod looks at Morgana. “Morgana, get this fucking excrement out of my house.”

  She nods. “Ai, Herod.”

  Morgana escorts Felinius out of Herod’s main hall. Still woozy and feeling the effects of incapacitation, the walls seem to enclose in on himself. The closer he gets to rounding a corner, the farther it appears. He looks at Morgana curiously. She smirks at him conspiratorially.

  As he rounds another corner, he finds himself in Morgana’s private chambers with the door shut. How hard was he hit? Is he hallucinating? He snickers to himself. The smile that erupted on his face disappears with the unexpected slap to his face.

  “Think I am tripe, Sai?” barks Morgana.

  Felinius turns around and
shakes his head. “I recently reloaded my gun.” He pauses. “You emptied it!”

  “And if I hadn’t, you’d be dead now.”

  “So, I suppose a thankee is in order. Indebted.” He sighs. “You have something to discuss? Speak it.”

  “Am I such a fool, Sai? Do you consider me as easily manipulated as one of your harlots? I am a sorceress and a powerful one!” She says with righteous indignation.

  “It would seem you are the one manipulating. You’ve rendered me defenseless, intruded into my mind and extracted the truth for yourself.”

  “Ai! I have known the moment you met me in the grove. You betrayed his trust and you lied.”

  “Why did you cover for me?” asks Felinius.

  “Leverage. Why else?” replies Morgana. “Or perhaps you fancied us conspiratorial lovers in cahoots?” She asks facetiously.

  “Do not insult me, Mais.”

  “You have insulted me. I gave you the opportunity to disclose, did I not?”

  Felinius nods. “Ai. So, you did.”

  “I want to know why,” demands Morgana with a wounded expression.

  Felinius shakes his head. “I could not abide by such. There must be another way. I cry pardon, Mais.” He looks at her with an impatient expression. “Will you inform him?”

  She shakes her head. “No. You are the only one I believe has a chance to eliminate the Merlin. I have seen the Premptu vision myself. The man still harbors a crescent of hope he can turn you. Judging by your actions, one might venture to speculate he does.”

  Felinius shakes his head vigorously. “No. No chance. I live to see their demise. Especially Merlin’s. He betrayed me and its scalding burns deep in my heart.”

  Morgana touches his cheek soothingly and caresses his neck tenderly. “That is good to hear, Sai. I would hate to see our amorous rendezvous cease.”

  “Is that all I am to you? Do I hold no other meaning for you? No worth?” asks Felinius.

  “Did I not save your life today, Sai? Are my actions not those of a cherished friend? As a woman with my ambitions, love is but a liability I cannot afford. Will that suffice?”

  He nods with a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Ai. Suppose it will have to,” replies Felinius.

  “But know this, young Sai, you tread on thin ice and play a deadly game. Do you think the brethren will welcome you with open arms if they discovered your betrayal? Perhaps they would permit you to rejoin their ranks?” She asks facetiously.

  He shakes his head. “No.”

  “You are a wanted fugitive and traitor in your own country. If your identity is discovered, you will be convicted of treason, murder, conspiracy, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. You are now a wanted man in Visi-Gaulia as well. King Aramon has issued a decree and bounty on your head. One has never been seen in history–ten thousand gold pence to be paid to the man who brings you in. This has induced every bounty hunter from here to Cataman Feraux onto your trail. The only thing keeping you here on this Earth is your alliance with Herod-Sai. You would be wise not to fuck it up. So, do not be so quick to bite the hand that feeds you.”

  Felinius nods. “Ai, Mais.”

  She approaches him, puts her hands gently around his neck, and strokes it affectionately. “Herod is right. I am the only friend you have, Sai.” She seductively kisses him. “But even that relationship is tenuous at best. Never lie again. Ever.”

  “Ai.”

  She turns and walks away from him. Morgana gets to the door but before rounding the corner she speaks to him. “I believe you were leaving. Take Herod’s advice and stay away until he summons you. Permit him to regain reasonable temperament and I assure you he will call on you soon enough.”

  He nods and turns to go. “But do not venture too far from castle walls.”

  He smiles. “Ai, my lady.”

  Chapter 3: Sweet Reunion

  “Did you find anything else besides the watch?” asks Merlin.

  “It is as you have guessed, Merlin. The scene has been whitewashed. Even the coffin was burned to ashes. The ground is still stained with blood, but the bodies have been disposed as well. We found the watch and this.” He hands the object to Merlin, who feels it and knows immediately what it is.

  “A tranquilizer dart.” He states, a matter of fact.

  Germanicus nods. “Ai.”

  “A portion of it is broken off,” observes Merlin.

  It had escaped their notice. Germanicus takes and sees for himself that a small portion of the dart was broken off.

  “That is how she was able to get away,” says Merlin.

  “We found both objects in a dilapidated barn. I’m presuming Cammilia was taken there.”

  “He wanted her alive,” says Merlin. “Perhaps as a trophy. He would not have been able to domesticate her though. If he had killed her instead, the boy would be dead as well. We have his ego to thank for that oversight. He believes that nothing is out of bounds. If he wants it, he takes it. He slipped up once. And he will again.”

  Germanicus hands the watch to Merlin. It is a beautiful, ornate gold watch with a long gold string. There are various etchings on the outside of the watch, on the cover as well as the front plate itself. Merlin opens it up. Encrusted diamonds adorn the inside of it, which has a hard glass cover. Merlin taps gently on the glass and smiles to himself for a moment. It is stunning.

  Expensively hand-crafted by a master artisan. The etchings on the watch are so intricately designed, they are barely visible to the naked eye. A magnifying lens must be used to observe all the intricate detail. It is a rare watch. Merlin feels it and makes out the Latin proverbs and smiles to himself. He knows of only three craftsmen who could have possibly made such an exquisite piece. Two of them are dead, but one of them may still be very much alive.

  Vandemus. Perhaps he knows the man who bought the watch.

  The interloper may very well have recruited other members of his organization from Cortez and surrounding city states. If Vandemus could be reached and questioned, there is a possibility he could enlighten them.

  Merlin would prefer to go himself, but another pressing matter warrants his immediate attention, one which concerns the fate of him and Dante and possibly many more. He will send Atteus and Domithicus.

  (2)

  Dante awakes two hours before he is roused from his bed with Germanicus’ annoyingly, bleating whistle that pierces his eardrums daily. Cammilia’s large head weighs heavy on his bladder, causing a dire urgency to pee. He flips out of bed, forgetting about his swooning headache and bruised bones. He winces the moment his feet touch the cold stone tile.

  Cammilia, sensing his intent, grabs the handle of the doorknob and opens it for him. Once he is out in the hallway, she runs through the hallways to the main door of the rectory and again opens the door.

  Before he gets to the latrine, Cammilia darts in there ahead of him and sniffs for several seconds and seems to scrutinize the place. She looks back at him, seems satisfied and barks at him. Dante rolls his eyes. “Is it safe now?” He asks sarcastically. He shuts the door on her, and she yelps as if in protest. Dante rolls his eyes and sighs. Do dogs get paranoid? This one sure is.

  At recess that day, Dante chooses to practice his fighting skills rather than play. He assumes a defensive posture, his knees slightly bent, his legs shoulder width apart and his hands up. He motions to Cammilia and she turns the post on the whipping board and unleashes the sticks that protrude out from the board quickly and randomly.

  Dante moves in and out, ducking, swerving, tapping, blocking and then throwing his own jabs, roundhouses, hook punches, uppercuts, elbow swings, and side arms, landing blows on the hard wood. With every blow, he angles his fist perfectly, sending the strength of his arms past the hand, protecting himself from a hand break.

  Dante steps back from the whipping board and nods to Cammilia, but she has already turned off the contraption. Dante can feel the vibrations in her throat pulse ever so slightly and knows she is going to bark- a familia
r bark.

  It is someone they both know. Sylvia. Dante’s eyes widen and a big grin emerges on his face. Cammilia licks his face. Dante wipes it off and feigns annoyance. He and Cammilia go outside of the rectory to meet her. Dante sniffs the air and smells the intoxicating aroma of cinnamon and honeycut.

  Upon seeing Dante, she runs to him and puts her arms around him and hugs him fiercely. “I told her you were recovering, but she insisted on seeing you, young Sai.”

  Dante smiles. “Ai. Gratitude, Merlin. We are well met.”

  “I heard what happened Dante. How fareth?” She asks.

  “Well. Even better now that you’re here.”

  She hugs him fiercely again. There is something different about her. Dante can’t quite place it. The small, vulnerable waiver in her voice is no longer there. She seems to have lost some deep-seated insecurity. But how? Dante doesn’t understand it but is elated at the change. Perhaps Merlin had something to do with it.

  Cammilia, feeling left out, approaches the pair and licks Sylvia. She feigns annoyance and wipes it off. “Cammilia is glad to see you as well,” proclaims Dante.

  Sylvia pats her affectionately. “And I her. I heard she had a bit of adventure herself.”

  Dante nods. “Ai.”

  “I will leave you two to yourselves,” says Merlin.

  They both nod and bow to Merlin. “Ai, Merlin.” They say.

  “I have another hour. Would you like to play a game of hoppy-scotch?” asks Dante.

  She nods enthusiastically. “Ai. So, I would.”

  “A half toke to the winner? What say you?” asks Dante.

  She hesitates. “I don’t have your skills, so I don’t. If you give me a two-mark headsy, we can play for a kiss on the cheek.”

  Dante’s eyes widen in anticipation. He stirs, a little uncomfortably and feigns annoyance at the request. “I’d rather play for money, so I would. But I’ll do it for you.”

  She approaches him, a bit reluctantly but then comes in and gives him a small kiss on the cheek. Dante blushes in response.

  “What was that for?” He asks.