The First Day in the Castle

Siegfried tripped over Edwin's foot, causing the knight commander to stir in his sleep. He cursed and regained his balance. He tiptoed around the rest of the sleeping warriors and their equipment, careful to not to wake them. Wax dripped from his candle and sizzled on the floor, and he took his dagger and scraped the excess wax from the flame away. He shuffled silently to the briefcase and placed his fingers under the wood, lifted with his legs, and hoisted the piece of furniture up. He put the weight of the case on his back as he crawled through. He let it down gently, careful to not make a sound. He stood up and brushed himself off, taking his candle and lighting his torch. The dark halls were illuminated, revealing the monstrosities that had attacked them earlier. He stepped over their corpses and continued down the hall.

As he neared the end, he thought about turning back. He could just go back into the room and go to sleep, no one ever having to know what he was about to do. But if he were too, what then? He and the rest of them would likely die in this place, this dark castle. He could escape and tell the king there's nothing here, nothing here but monsters and an unbearable stench. He wouldn't feel bad either about leaving them here. He didn't care for Gallador, never wanted to see Danticus again, and three people were already dead. Sure, the members of the Squadron were good soldiers, but they were stubborn bulls and pigs of men, never leaving until a job was done. And the job here was to find out how this castle emerged. The only person he really felt bad leaving behind was Jazmyn. She was pretty and sweet, even if a little annoying. But, oh well. None of them would make it out, and none of them would want to leave a mission unfinished.

He neared the doors that led to the outside. He silently jogged when he heard a screech from behind. He quickly turned around, wary of the noise. He raised his torch, trying to see past what the flame allowed. He saw a figure, then two, then three. Finally, they made themselves known. Two cursed ones lunged at him. He dove to his side, keeping his torch flame about. He took his dagger and plunged it into ones back, causing it to howl in pain. He pulled his dagger out and shoved it into the monster's neck, killing it. The other one lunged at him, but pierced itself on Siegfrieds dagger as he held it out. He could hear more coming for him and quickly fled. He inched between the heavy metal doors and pushed them shut. He could hear scratching from the other side of the door, creating a sound that pained his ears.

He left the door and went to the edge of the broken stone. He could see the Pride anchored about thirty, forty feet out. He walked to the wooden pyre they set earlier, took off his mantle and draped it over the pile of wood. He lit the signal with his torch, resulting in a great fire. He stepped back and sat on the cool stone, staring at the ship in anticipation, hoping someone was on watch. After what seemed like hours, there was still no response. Siegfried didn't want to be forced to do this, but there was no choice. They would awake soon and discover his absence.

He stood from where he sat and quickly walked to the edge of the broken piece of land, and hopped into a rowboat and cut it loose. The small vessel drifted from the edge out into the water, later to be propelled forward by Siegfried. He rowed with the oars, pushing his boat closer and closer to the Pride. Finally, his boat bumped into theirs. He climbed up the side via the indentations on the boat that served as a ladder. He pushed himself over the edge, thudding on the boats floor, and heard footsteps as someone quickly approached him.

"Siegfried? What are you doing here?" He asked. It was Erick, the ship's first mate. He still wore that stupid bandanna.

Siegfried stood up and gripped Erick's shoulders. "Erick is it? Listen, we need to go now. Where is Hardeth, tell him to set sail immediately. We need to go."

"Why? What is the matter? Wait, where is everybody else?" He said, his face lit with questions.

"I'll explain it all later, but right now, we need to go!" Said Siegfried.

Erick noticed the state of Siegfrieds face in the torchlight, the purple bruising and red scratches. "Dear Gods...what got a hold of you?"

"Erick...they're all dead...do you hear me...they're all dead...Gallador, Edwin, Irving, they're all dead. Get Hardeth out here and tell him to go immediately!" He had almost convinced himself that was true.

Erick stared at him with concerned eyes. He had no choice but to take his word as the truth. "Okay...okay...I'll go get him." He said, leaving to the captains quarters. He entered through the doors and was immediately shouted at. Siegfried couldn't make out the words, but Hardeth sounded pissed. Finally, he stormed out, his long black hair made into a ponytail.

"What the hell? What's going on? Where are the others? Boy, if you don't answer me right now, I'll kick you overboard!" He barked at Siegfried.

"Hardeth...they're all dead. All of them. I'm the only one left."

"Huh...you? What, what was in there?"

"What was in there...were...Gods above, I don't even know...they were...they were monsters." He said.

Hardeth scoffed, looking to Erick to make sure he heard the same thing. Erick shrugged his shoulders, but Siegfried stared at them with hard eyes.

"I'm sorry, what? Monsters?"

"You heard correctly...monsters." Said Siegfried, his tone as cold as the water below.

Hardeth stared back at him with unrelenting eyes. Finally, he sighed. "What were these monsters? What do you mean?"

"They were shaped like humans...but their skin was gray and brown, like...like aged wood. Their teeth were as sharp as any beast out in the wild...and their eyes were white, like milk...they were vacant and empty...like no one was there."

Hardeth soaked in the information. Siegfried definitely looked like he'd been attacked. His right cheek was bruised and purple, his left eye was swollen and his hair was matted with blood by his forehead.

"Okay...we'll leave. Crew!" He yelled.

They responded with "Aye captain's."

"Get the anchor up and get to your stations. We're going back to Jorden!" He said. The crew was confused and concerned, but obeyed their orders nonetheless.

"Why don't you head below deck Siegfried? And get that eye checked out once we get back to Jorden. Sunrise will be in a couple hours. Get some sleep while you still can." Said a suddenly softer Hardeth.

"Thank you Hardeth." Said Siegfried.

Hardeth nodded and turned to leave for the helm, shouting out various nautical commands. Siegfried sauntered over to the hatch that led below deck. He found an empty hammock and easily fell into sleep.

*****

(Thanks for reading, and I'd love to know what you think! Sound off in the comments! Your feedback is always appreciated!)