A Feral Froward: Prologue

It was a bright and quiet night, almost too tranquil and seemingly peaceful to be harmonic. Not a single creature dared make even the smallest sound. All of them were holding their breath, as if there was a sensation of something treacherous to take place soon. It was one of those nights when the moon was hanging unusually large in the sky, shining with a strong yet calm light through the ornamental glass windows of the mansion.

In a corridor, multiple heavy footsteps could be heard as somebody stepped out of the deep darkness. A perfectly polished silver-coated armour glistened in the clear moonlight and clattered with each step. As though made especially for ceremonial occasions, its surface was graven with the most intricate golden curlicues. The following shadows wore duller coloured garments which didn’t befit but some more or less high-standing vassals. With hastened steps, the group went along the carpeted corridor – and this in the middle of the night while most of the house was long sunk in slumber, not a candle alight. The figures came to a halt before a sturdy wooden door and ensured to have arrived at the exact location. Two determined nods from the elite leader and one of the men. Then, an indelicate hand was stretched out and turned the metal doorknob in an attempt to push the door open. A strong thrust, another heavy jerk followed by several even more reckless jolts, but despite this violence the lockless door appeared to be closed tight. This was quite an awkward surprise as well to the hand as to its owner. The man made a sign, whereupon multiple large bodies loudly crashed through the sturdy wood, destroying it into a big lot of splinters, and all of them rushed into the room. The armed men encircled a large noble bed which was occupied by a sleeping person. “Take her.”, came the order. The blanket was literally torn off the bed, the body forcefully grabbed by the arms and brought before the leader. The head was tilted downwards and the long hair was hanging down messily due to the ruthless handling. The person in silver armour stretched his thin lips to a wide grin and seemed very pleased.

“I have the unfortunate duty to wake Her noble Mistress at this time of day and to kindly take under arrest this guilty being…”, he announced.

“In the name of the Holy Church, I need to take irregular measures in order to cleanse your foul, wretched soul of all the deadly sins you have committed. Long enough has this infernal beast, which you are, caused ruin in our peaceful land.”

His gaze strayed to the restrained body of the accused as if assessing its impossible elegance.

“You have proficiently disguised yourself – but to your misfortune, this pitiful disguise of yours was futile! For none can hide from His judgeful sight.”

While speaking, his hand allowed itself to touch the white, delicate skin of the body’s arm. His speech began sounding almost emotional, defined by an impure undertone and a fortified aspiration.

“Finally, you shall be rightfully punished by the hand of God for your ignoble, satanic deeds – you daemonic mistress!”

The men sneered at his unseemly remark. He swiftly turned and pierced them with his incensed glare that they froze in place, unable to stir. He glanced around and looked again at the figure of devilish beauty.

He observed the head with its hanging black hair and then took it by its chin to examine the face.

“You aren’t listening? Now, so obstinate, are we? You are indeed a cold woman. Mind me, you are too imprudent. I know, this is due to your foolish overconfidence! You must know that if you yield, your sentence might perhaps be mitigated…, whereas if you do not, you shall be forced to speak the truth by experiencing just agony …”

The moonlight was barely bright enough to observe the virtuous facial features of the female – it seemed that only a talented master could have created a wonder such as this. The man in silver armour finally let the body go with the words “…what a pity for such a fine face. Put her into custody.”

The armed men pulled the female body with a heedless yank. Suddenly, there was a loud cracking noise, something fell onto the carpet, a deadly silence fell upon the chamber. Everyone stared horrified at what had happened – lying sorrowfully on the floor was none other than an arm, and furthermore, a dark fluid substance slowly dripped from it, forming a small pool of bloody ooze. A repugnant, rancid stench of rotten blood filled the air like a malicious aura, from which anyone would be compelled to hold their breath in unspeakable fear. The fume was so noxious that it made all eyes water. With their eyes impeded, they barely turned their gaze to the miserable prisoner which now missed an arm and rather resembled a stiffened, putrid corpse than a human at all. The unwieldy mass of the body began to tremble, then to jolt so powerfully that the stalwart sentinels flinched backwards with consternation. The corpse instantly fell down and snapped and burst into a multitude of body parts. The guards shuddered, seized by a ghastly terror, as they watched the head roll over the carpet until it stopped at the feet of the exalted aristocrat. After a brief instant of confusion, his visage darkened when he beheld by the moonlight, how decayed the aesthetic female face he had admired scarce a moment before. His countenance at once contorted with an atrocious rage, as he realised his own improvident oversight.

Infuriated, he gnashed his teeth and bellowed, “You inept half-wits! Have you the faintest inkling that you fouled up the mission? See for yourself!”

That said, he made a hard blow with his leg so that the beautiful artistic work of the head shattered into many small pieces of wood.

He roared, “That insidious sorceress has thrown dust into our eyes! We have been fooled by a shameful puppet! I swear by my name, by the name of Lord Herleifr, that I will personally find her wherever she might be hiding – for she shall experience true divine punishment by my hand!”

Questions for readers

Whenever possible, identify the specific sentence or passage that prompted your reaction.

1. What was your immediate reaction after finishing the prologue?
2. In your own words, what do you think is happening in the text?
3. Was there a moment when your interest, understanding, or feelings changed? What happened?