***
In the innermost chamber of the castle, an old man was sleeping. His wrinkles bunched and stretched, as he tossed and turned. His limbs trembled. It wasn’t long before he woke up, wheezing. He let out a harsh cough as he sat up all the way. Another dream! He strained to push himself off of the bed, and with an effort he reached for his chamber-pot beneath the bed.
One deafening crash later, he lay on the floor.
“You disappoint me, Lord Vengir,” rasped a voice, “After all of the brilliant plans you set, and the piercing agony you have made out of my people and my life, you now die because you let your guard down. It’s not the man I remember at all.”
“Torthan,” whispered Vengir, “I was a fool to let you go.”
“Old age catches up with us all,” said the voice, still in the shadows, “That’s at least one weapon of yours we no longer have to fear.”
“If you’re going to speak about my penis, come out of the darkness and speak to my face.”
“You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say that.”
Torthan limped out from the closet, holding a club with a knobbly end.
“I’d love to make this last much longer,” he hissed, “But I know your little lizard is still in this castle. I know better than to linger near Casrad. I’ll make this quick. And then I’ll make for the border, and this time I’ll get there. Remember that day? Did you love the sight of me bleeding on the ground, and your little pet gnawing my face off?”
“I remember it every day of my life.”
“You didn’t remember it enough. You threw me in hell, and jabbed salt in every cut on my body. You let me shrivel to a crust, for twenty long years. Now the hawk’s out of his cage. Do you like this feeling? This helplessness, as blood trickles down your chin? I’d bring one of your hounds to make it complete, but they’re too soft now. I’m going to the tribes. After all you’ve done to them, they’ll howl to follow me back here. This castle will burn to the ground!”
“If you come any closer to me, I’m going to defend myself. Torthan, there are many things I would tell you if you let me.”
Torthan stepped into the light from the window, raising the club and grinning.
“Lord Vengir, you can tell them to the devil.”
The door burst open, and soldiers rushed into the room. Immediately, Torthan launched into them with his club, and before a torch entered the room, three men were on the ground moaning. Torthan broke a hand, and as the man roared and dropped his dagger, Torthan seized it and plunged it into Vengir.
“Take this as a token of my love,” he snarled, and limped to the window. Cursing, he tried to vault out but tripped. Another few seconds of climbing and he was through the window and gone.
Vengir gasped in pain for a full minute; at last another man ran into the room.
“My lord!” said the man, shutting and locking the door behind him, “Where is your attacker!”
“Gone, Casrad, already gone! You were right. It was Torthan; you just missed him. He stabbed me here, in the shoulder; now he’s going to try to whip up the tribes.”
“Won’t he be in for a surprise!” said Casrad, crouching down, “After all the food and goods your son has given them, they’d never lift a finger against us.”
“You will call my boy home, so I can speak to him?”
“I'll bring him home. Don't you worry. Now let me see the wound. Let me see… oh. Oh dear. That won’t kill you. The blade went clean through your shoulder. There, there, let me take it out… there!”
“Ah! Thank you… thank you…”
“I must confess Torthan disappoints me. He should have borrowed a torch if he really wanted to kill you. Luckily, I'm here to finish what he started.”
Vengir’s eyes flared with surprise as Casrad cut his throat, and tossed the knife beside the club. Hastily he unlocked the door, just as the captain of the guard arrived there with a full company.
“Lieutenant Casrad! There’s three men dead on the walls! What’s happened?”
“Vengir is dead! Torthan himself has killed him! Captain, I want martial law declared immediately.”
“Is that your right to decide, sir?”
“We don't have have time to ask for sure! Torthan will go to the tribes now; I’m sure of it! Vengir’s son must have vengeance. Ask him to lead a search party while I keep order here.”
“He is inexperienced, sir. Are you sure?”
“He is a weakling, as I’ve always said. Now is his chance to prove himself to our people. Send word to him; he's in that little grotto he made for his mother!”
As the captain dashed away, Casrad looked at the corpse of his master and sneered. He gave it a little kick. He nearly danced a jig.
“I knew I was wise to let that maniac out of jail,” said Casrad to himself, “He’s played the whole kingdom into my hands. All that stand between me and the throne of Tulrasia is Vengir's son. He’ll go after Torthan. His noble little heart won’t have it any other way. If he does find Torthan, he’ll be gutted like a fish. And if he doesn’t find him, I’ll be ready for him when he gets back.”