Tales of Reaver 27

Lucious sat down on a pile of hay inside the abandoned barn in the outskirts of Oakvale. He lit a candle that he had taken from Mr. Grindwald’s house and looked at the book he had just stolen, unable to open it.

He was really eager to read it, to see what it contained…but he was also a bit scared. What would he do if the solution to his problems couldn’t be found on its pages? What if the price he had to pay was way too high, as the old man had warned him?
But he had to find out, he needed to know if the rumors about the Shadow Court were true…Now that the book was in his possession, he couldn’t give up.

Lucious sighed deeply and opened the book slowly. Its pages were very old and some of them were torn. He looked at the first page: it only had a little poem written in dark red letters.

“Deep down, under the lands
the Court always awaits.
It will fulfill what’s in your heart
if you are willing to trade.”

Lucious felt a chill crossing all over his body. Somehow, this book filled him with a profound sense of dread, but he had to go on reading. He turned over the next page and read.

“Many have seen the gates of the dreaded Shadow Court, but few have dared to traverse the dark corridors that lead to its heart. Countless rumors and legends have been spread about the Court for centuries, some of them more truthful than others. The Court has always been regarded as a source of evil, a place where shadows dwell, a dreaded spot filled with unholy dark magic…But few have mentioned its power, its strength…its miracles.”

Miracles…A hint of hope blossomed inside Lucious.
He turned over the next page, now unable to stop reading.

“No matter what it is that you most desire, no matter how impossible it may seem, the Shadow Court will fulfill it: poor peasants become wealthy nobles, the deformed become beautiful, the sick become healthy, the dead become alive…”

Lucious’ eyes were wide open.

- “The dead become alive…they can cheat death”.

He smiled and went on reading.

“…once the fair price has been paid.”

Lucious’ smile quickly disappeared from his face. The Shadow Court could fulfill his most desired wish but…what would be its price?

“The price to pay in exchange will be decided by the Court. But beware: once you seal the deal your soul will always belong to them.”

Lucious frowned. He didn’t really like this last piece of information…Would he really be able to give his soul to the shadows in exchange of immortality? Would Dainara accept this?

He remained thoughtful for a moment: it seemed a high price to pay, but there was no other option.

- “What is the use of our souls if we are going to die one day?”- he said, reassuring himself.

He turned over to the next page.

“Reaching the Shadow Court is not easy: even if you find its gates, only a seal will open it. This seal cannot be found anywhere on Albion…but it can find you if your heart’s desire is strong enough. You can also reach the Court by chanting the words of The Old Temple.”

Lucious turned over the page, looking for the words that needed to be chanted, but he couldn’t find anything.

- “Oh, damn!”- he said with disappointment- “I must find this chant…or the seal.”

He looked at the book again.

“The gates to the Shadow Court lie hidden in a forest, very close to the peaceful village of Oakvale. To a person who is oblivious of its existence, the gates may look like the entrance to an old abandoned temple…but the one who knows its true power will immediately feel it.”

The book didn’t give any further information about its exact location, but Lucious was quite happy to know where he should start looking for it. Oakvale…the Shadow Court had been so close to him all this time and he was oblivious to it.

As the night progressed, Lucious went on reading more details about the Court. He was so excited about what he had found out that he didn’t even notice that day had already arrived. When he finished reading, he closed the book and looked at it happily, as if it was the greatest treasure he had ever found.

He looked outside: the sun was already shining brightly in the sky. He had to go to pick Dainara up from her palace and he couldn’t wait to do so: he really wanted to tell her what he had found out, he wanted to tell her that their problems would soon be over, that now they would be able to be together forever and that not even death would separate them.

Lucious hid the book below some hay and ran towards Dainara’s palace.
A bit before he reached her palace’s gates, he stopped walking and smirked. Now the posted guards would politely let him in, which would be a good thing for whatever other person…but not to Lucious. Where was the fun in just entering nicely through the main gates? Where was the excitement?

He went around the palace until he reached a spot that was unguarded and he jumped over the fence. He walked around the gardens carefully, trying to find an open window in the palace.

Suddenly, he saw her: Dainara was sitting down on a bench, reading a book. The breeze waved her hair gracefully and Lucious stood still, hidden behind a tree to enjoy her beauty. He loved her with all his heart and he would do anything to be by her side forever…He was sure that she would be so happy when he told her that the Shadow Court could make this wish a reality.

Dainara looked at the gates and sighed. Lucious smiled and approached her slowly.

- “My dear, you should really hire some competent guards for your palace. It is ridiculously easy to break in”.

Dainara turned around quickly and looked at him with surprise.

- “Lucious! Where did you come from? I was looking at the gates but I didn’t see you”.

- “That’s because I didn’t enter through the main gates, darling. I jumped over your fence, quite easily and undisturbed I might add”.

Dainara was still confused.

- “But…why did you jump over the fence? You can enter through the main gates”.

Lucious crossed his arms and smirked.

- “And where is the fun in that, my dear? Jumping over fences, entering here unnoticed, fooling the guards…now that’s fun! You should try it sometime, you’d really love it”.

Dainara got up and smirked too.

- “No, thank you. I’m not meant to be a thief…like someone else we know”- she teased.

- “Oh, but you are already a thief, my dear! It’s too late for that”.

Dainara raised her eyebrow.

- “Oh, really? And why am I a thief if I may ask?”

- “Because you have stolen my heart”- he said sweetly.

Dainara smiled and the couple kissed passionately.

- “Ahem! Your food is ready, my child”.

The couple turned around and saw Nana standing right next to them, holding a little basket.

- “I’m sorry! I…we hadn’t…”- said Dainara shyly.

- “Thank you very much for the food, ma’am”- said Lucious politely- “I’m sure it will be delicious, as usual”.

- “Oh, thank you, son”- said Nana smiling- “Enjoy your day!”

Lucious held Dainara’s hand.

- “Come on, there’s something important I want to tell you”.

The couple walked quickly towards the abandoned barn.

- “Why are we here? I thought we were going to the lake”- said Dainara.

- “There’s something I want to show you”.

Lucious led Dainara inside the barn and the couple sat down on the floor.

- “Are you alright?”- she said, looking at him with a worried expression- “Your eyes seem very tired. Did you sleep well?”

- “Oh, I’m fine, sweetheart, don’t worry”.

- “Did something bad happen?”- she said, still feeling a bit worried.

Lucious smiled and held her hands.

- “On the contrary, my love. I have great news”- he said enthusiastically.

Dainara was a bit confused, but she smiled.

- “Really? What is it?”

- “Our problems are solved, my darling. I have found a way to fulfill my promise; I have found a way for us to be together forever”- he said, unable to control his excitement.

Dainara’s face brightened.

- “Have you already found a new job?”

Lucious chuckled.

- “No, not yet, my love. But that is not a problem anymore, we’ll have endless time to figure this out!”

Dainara raised her eyebrows.

- “Did you find a house for us?”

- “No, even better!”

Dainara was feeling even more confused than before.

- “Then what is it?”

- “I have found a way to prevent death itself from separating us. We’ll always be together…forever”.

Dainara frowned.

- “I’m…not sure I understand. Prevent death?”- she looked at him with a worried face- “Is your life in danger?”

Lucious chuckled and caressed her face sweetly.

- “No, of course not, my love…And soon it will never be”.

He turned around and took the book from below the hay.

- “Look, I wanted to show you this”- he said handing the book to her.

Dainara held the book and read its cover.

- “Shadow Court Necronomicon”.

Immediately, she gasped and got up, dropping the book on the floor. She leant against the wall with a frightened expression on her face.

Lucious got up quickly and went by her side.

- “What’s wrong, my dear? Why are you so scared?”

- “That book…”- she said, almost unable to breathe- “That book is evil”.

Lucious caressed her hair softly, trying to relax her.

- “Why do you say that? Do you know this book?”

- “My father used to tell me about…the Shadow Court”- she went on, still quite scared- “He told me that the shadows rip your soul if you go near them…that it is a wicked place where one will only find despair”.

Lucious smiled.

- “Your father just wanted to scare you, my dear. All those things are just legends”.

- “Where did you get this book?”- she asked him, ignoring his comment.

- “I…just found it somewhere”.

- “And why did you get it? Is that what you wanted to tell me? Is it related to…the Court?”- she asked, looking at him with tears on her eyes.

Lucious looked at her: he could see the fear in her eyes; she was really afraid of the Shadow Court…

He couldn’t tell her anything, not yet…Telling her would only make her be afraid of him, and he didn’t want that to happen.

Dainara still looked at him, waiting anxiously for his answer.

He forced a smile.

- “Of course not, my love. I…I just wanted to show you this book…as a curiosity. But you’re right, I shouldn’t have taken it. And I certainly shouldn’t have shown it to you. I truly apologize, my darling”- he took her hand and kissed it sweetly.

Dainara seemed more relaxed now. She smiled and hugged him.

- “Don’t worry, my love”- she said- “I probably overreacted. It’s just a book anyway”.

Lucious hugged her tightly, but his face showed disappointment. He hadn’t even considered that Dainara would be so afraid of the Shadow Court. If only she understood how happy they could be thanks to it…But he wouldn’t give up, he would convince her somehow that it was the best thing to do.

- “Let’s go to the lake”- she said happily.

The couple walked until they reached Sandwood Lake.
As soon as they arrived, Dainara placed a little tablecloth by the shore and placed the food on it. Lucious sat down next to her and the couple started eating.

- “So, what were the great news?”- she asked him- “With all the commotion you didn’t have a chance to tell me”.

- “Oh, well, it’s just that…I have started saving some gold for our future life together”- he improvised.

Dainara smiled happily.

- “Oh, that’s great! But you know, I think that you should let me add some gold to our household. I’m going to live there too, I should provide something”.

- “Your presence will be enough, my love”- said Lucious caressing her face.

- “But where are you going to get so much gold?”

- “I’ll go on doing missions with my crew until I gather enough. Don’t worry about that, my dear”.

This comment made Dainara remember that Lucious would leave again soon.

- “When are you leaving again?”- she asked sadly.

- “I’m leaving tomorrow in the morning”- he replied, raising her chin- “But I’ll be back soon, I promise”.

- “I wish I knew at least where you are going. It is agony not knowing where you are and if you are alright”.

- “This agony will end soon, darling. Soon we’ll be living together in a beautiful house somewhere in Albion and we won’t be separated ever again.”- he smirked- “I’ll follow you everywhere you go: to the market, to the forest, to pick our children up from school, to visit a friend…You’ll beg me to leave you alone!”

Dainara laughed.

- “I’ll never do such a thing! I’d love it if you came with me everywhere”.

The wind blew and Dainara’s hair waved, getting uncombed.
Lucious took a lock of her hair and placed it softly behind her ear. Dainara smiled and he wished with all his heart that time just stopped so that they could stay there forever, admiring her beauty, hearing her laughter, loving her.

If only she could understand…If only she could see that time passes very quickly, bringing us one step closer to our final demise…And he had the solution for it, he had found the cure for the disease of time.

One day, he would convince her; one day, they would live happily together and death would overlook them forever.

- “So, what do you think?”

Dainara’s voice made him go back to reality. She looked at him, like expecting an answer.

- “I’m sorry, my dear. I’m afraid I was a bit…distracted. What is it that you asked me?”

- “I asked you if you wanted to walk around Barrow Fields. We come here often but we have never ventured into its forests”- she said, frowning.

- “Oh, that’s a lovely idea, my love”.

Dainara approached him and held his hands.

- “I have been thinking about it all this time and now I believe I know what’s bothering you so much”- she said firmly.

- “You…you do?”- said Lucious, hoping that finally she had understood his words.

- “Yes. You keep mentioning our future life together and that you don’t want to lose me…There can be only one thing that is worrying you”- she sighed- “You are afraid that Captain André won’t let you leave his crew so easily and that you must remain a pirate for longer than we plan. You are afraid that I’ll abandon you if this happens, aren’t you?”

Lucious tried to hide his disappointment and faked a smile.

- “Well, I…”

Dainara hugged him.

- “I’ll never abandon you, my love. No matter what happens, even if you must remain a pirate forever, I’ll still love you”.

Lucious held her tightly and kissed her head.

- “I’m very happy to hear that, my love. I really am”.

Dainara smiled sweetly.

- “Let’s go”- she said pulling his arm.

The couple walked around the amazing sceneries of Barrow Fields until the sun was about to leave the sky.

It was getting dark when they arrived at Dainara’s palace. They were going to say goodbye to each other when a guard approached them.

- “My lady, a letter has been delivered for you”- he said, handing her a little white envelope.

Dainara read the name of the sender.

- “Duke of Shalefields”.

She looked at the guard.

- “Did the Duke come to the palace?”

- “No, my lady”.

- “Then who delivered this letter? Was it one of his men?”

- “Actually…I didn’t really see who delivered it, my lady”- he said, embarrassed.

Dainara frowned.

- “What do you mean you didn’t see?”

- “Well…there was some noise so I went to check it out and when I came back…the letter was here, by the gates”.

Dainara looked at the letter and opened it: inside, there was a carefully bended letter written in the Duke’s handwriting. She looked at Lucious nervously.

- “What does it say?”- he asked, feeling also a bit concerned.

Dainara read it out loud.

My dearest Dainara,
Not long ago I told you that, despite the wedding’s cancellation, you could always count on me if you ever required anything. The offer still stands but now, unfortunately, it is I who requires your assistance.

Shalefields has always been a peaceful place to live, but not long ago, a group of bandits set camp not far from my palace. Since they arrived, they have been trying to steal from me unsuccessfully, thanks to my army and guards. But my people have been suffering their raids daily.

Last week, my son Alastor volunteered to lead my army into the bandits’ camp in order to stop these attacks. And now something terrible has happened…The bandits are holding him prisoner, and they demand that I give them control over the lands if I ever want to see him again.

I have heard of what your boyfriend did in Brightwall; I have heard how bravely he saved Major Marshall’s daughter. So I beg you: convince him to come and rescue my son. I’m begging you not as a Duke, but as a father.

I’m offering him 500.000 gold pieces for his trouble.

The bandits warned me that if I ask for help they’ll kill my son immediately, so he must come alone.

I will be waiting for your answer anxiously.
                                                                  Duke of Shalefields
Dainara looked at Lucious.

- “By Avo! Poor Alastor!”- she said sadly.

Lucious’ eyes were wide open.

- “500.000 gold pieces? We would have more than enough money to start our life together! We could even buy a mansion with this money!”

Dainara sighed.

- “Lucious…as much as I want Alastor to be rescued, I don’t think it’s a good idea that you go there. I will send some of my men”.

- “Only one person can go there, my dear. He clearly mentioned that the bandits warned him about asking for help. And I can do it, I have done it before. I know I can do it”.

Dainara frowned.

- “I don’t like this, Lucious. It seems so dangerous to go there by yourself…I’ll find someone else”.

Lucious held her hands.

- “My darling, think about all the gold we would get…As soon as I came back from the mission, we would get married and find a house to live in”.

Dainara wasn’t convinced.

- “Just think about, my dear”- he said.

Dainara nodded, looking down.

- “Well, my love…I must go. I’ll come to say goodbye in the morning”- he said, raising her chin.

- “I wish we could spend the night together…Every minute, every second without you seems wasted”.

Lucious kissed her sweetly.

- “See you soon, my love”.

Dainara entered her palace and Nana approached her.

- “Oh, you’re back. Did you enjoy your date, my child?”

- “Yes…I wish it hadn’t ended”- she said, smiling sadly.

- “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll see him again tomorrow”.

- “Yes…I know”.

Dainara joined Nana and her servants for dinner, although she wasn’t really hungry.

- “I’m going to bed, Nana. I’m quite tired”- she kissed her on the cheek- “Goodnight”.

- “Goodnight, child”.

Dainara went upstairs and opened the door of her room; she wanted to sleep soon so that the hours without Lucious wouldn’t seem so long and empty.

- “Such a good girl, going to bed so early. But tonight you won’t get much rest…There’s a thief in your room”.

Lucious lied down on her bed, smirking teasingly.

Dainara’s eyes brightened.

- “What have you come to steal?”- she asked, smiling.

- “Oh, I was undecided at first. Everything seems so expensive here…But now I know what the most valuable thing of this palace is”.

- “Really? And what is it?”

- “Why of course, it is you, my dear”.

Dainara chuckled.

- “And how do you plan to steal me?”

- “Oh, it’s rather simple. I’ll just give you one kiss and you’ll be mine forever”.

- “Is that so? You seem awfully sure of yourself”.

- “But I am, my sweet!”- he stretched his arm to her- “Come and I’ll show you”.

Dainara held his hand and he pulled her towards the bed, making her fall on it. He lied on top of her and kissed her sweetly.

- “So? Did it work?”- he asked softly.

- “It really did. You are a great thief”.

He smiled and kissed her again, and among her delicate silk sheets he made love to her.

Soon, dawn arrived.
The couple looked at each other sweetly, their naked bodies still touching each other. Lucious caressed her hair softly.

- “I must go, my love”.

Dainara nodded sadly. Lucious got up and got dressed.

- “I’ll be back as soon as possible, and when I return we’ll get married”.

- “Please, Lucious, don’t go to Shalefields”.

Lucious smiled and approached the window.

- “I love you, Dainara. Never forget that”.