I Remember
There was no light. There were no sounds. There wasn’t another soul inside, not even the festering company of a rat or a roach. This was no cell for criminals, no this was something different. The man in the cell knew the circumstances had changed. He knew this was special. He had thought he was held for treason. Rebellion of the highest order. Of this he was guilty, but the torturers and interrogators couldn’t make him speak a word. Now though, he had moved. A new ordeal awaited him.
The door cracked open with a sudden screech. The man’s eyes fought the new rays of light that pierced the darkness. A figure moved into the room and placed down a simple wooden stool. The man’s chains jingled as he forced himself back to a proper sitting pose. He had no power here, but he would never be seen with his head down.
“Oh, please,” The figure spoke as he gently stuck his hand out, “don’t get up on my account.”
The man in the cell’s eyes began to adjust as the figure sat down on the stool that it had brought with. A young man sat before his eyes. Handsome and rugged of the face. Strong, but not large.
“A sordid look you have, Vuk.” The man said with a smile. “Emaciated, hairy and filthy. Hardly befitting a knight.”
Vuk’s mouth snarled as he thought about how he should reply. It had been 20 years since he was a Knight of Vichny. 20 years since the nobles he served were rounded up and slaughtered. Who was this man to speak of his past?
“More Valtesian scum?” Vuk spat in response. “What makes you think you won’t fail like those before you?”
“Valtesian? “The man replied, amused by the accusation. “I’m no such thing.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Not all of Vichny’s nobles died that night, Sir Zvijezda.” The man stated calmly. “You know it, and I know it.”
“I have no idea of what you speak.” Vuk growled out indignantly.
The man chuckled to himself before speaking.
“I suppose I came about this all wrong. You’ve been rotting away for a long time, surely you are curious about what’s been taking place in the world?”
“Vichny still lies in oppression.” Vuk replied. “That’s all I need to know!”
“Oh no, I wasn’t talking about political matters.’
“Then what do I care?”
“You have two nieces in Minulost,“ the man stated with a widening grin. “Do you not?”
Vuk scowled at his interrogator. He had hoped the anonymity of the slums would hide the girls. It seems it no longer did.
“The pretty one, quite the lady. She’s married a sailor now. Lovely wedding, cake was a bit too sweet for my taste.”
“You stay away from her!” Vuk yelled out as he shook in his chains, desperate to pull them right off the very walls they were bound to.
“And the farrier? Quite the troublemaker, that one.” he spoke, ignorant of Vuk’s cries. “But at least she has her health, no?”
Vuk’s head dropped in defeat, for he could no longer feign strength. His plans had come to an end, for whether he spoke truth or lie, he could do nothing to protect his nieces from this man.
“That’s what I like to see.” The man said with a wry grin. “Resignation is becoming of a Vichnian, as they say.”
