“They think that they can keep me captive here. They think that I will die. But I refuse. There is plenty to eat down here, and there is water. I do not need sunlight. I have your company. That is enough. I will escape.”

He waited for a response, but found none.

“You don’t believe me, do you? You think that I won’t escape. But I will. I won’t take that kind of attitude from you!” he screamed into the pitch darkness.

Angered, he began to kick at something, and a sound was heard. Yes, there was definitely something trapped in the blackness with him.

“You scream now, do you? Now you respect me. Good. Remember, you need to respect me. You shouldn’t doubt me. After all, I am an no peasant to be spat upon. I am no rat to have my face trodden down in the mud. I have nobility in my veins. My vengeance is stronger than these walls. You will see.”

He moved back over away from his victim.

“You can stop blubbering now. I will not harm you any more, unless you further impugn my honor. Take your beating like a man. To think that you once called yourself a knight! Now you are not even worthy to be called a page. Be a man, I say.”

He waited a moment in the silence.

“That’s better. It’s good to see that you have taken back some of your honor. I will need you to be a man for our assault. I cannot have you afraid of what we must do, no matter how dark will be the undertaking.”

He started laughing hysterically.

“Yes, a fine pun. You could almost be a jester, were you not such a fine soldier. It can truly be no darker than our present undertaking. Nor could it be blacker than the undertaker.”

He paused, obviously in pensive thought, though there was no light on his face to show it.

“Do you remember the light? Yes, it was warm. It was warm indeed. It was nothing like this dungeon. I can almost feel it on me now. Do you remember, Sir, how it was to go hunting? We’d see the sunlight come up together. Yes, I appreciate it more now, too. I always took for granted how the night began to change from purples to pink as dawn drew nigh. You could see well before the sun crested the horizon. It was almost a spiritual light, having no source or being.”

He paced to the other side of the room, and leaned against the wall.

“How long do you think it’s been? No, not since we’ve been hunting, though that has been some time indeed. Months, I would wager. No, no, how long has it been since we’ve seen the light? Really? It can’t have been that long? But it does seem longer now, kept down here. Kept from the light.

“Do you think we’re dead? No, you’re right. We can’t be dead. We never saw the light. It’s been weeks since we’ve seen light. Do you think the light has forgotten about us? Of course light has a memory, Sir. Why else would it visit our land each day? Surely you can’t think it does it on accident over and over. Nay, ’tis as a maiden visiting a flower garden, she goes regularly to daydream, but she can’t very well live there. Or ’tis like a king sitting at feast, he cannot feast all day, and so from the table he goes away. Why did you have to mention feasting? Now I’m hungry! I most certainly did not mention it, Sir. I’ll have thy hide, knave.”

He began to kick in the darkness again. His foot again collided with something solid.

“Bread? Yes, I remember it, too. I would like to have some. What? You have some there? Have you been hiding it from me this while?”

He moved back over to his kicking target, and bent down, rummaging for the bread.

“You’ve no bread. What a poor jester you make. You’ve nothing but meat, Sir. I wouldn’t bother you now, Sir. A rotten jester makes for rotten meat. I know from experience. You would be no less putrid now than yesterday. You tricked me then. I won’t fall for your deception again. You’re not fit for worms, with your puns and cruelty.

“Ah, but royal flesh, it is divine. Yea, it is the divine right. You catch my pun indeed, Sir. Why, He Himself made our flesh superior, which is why I have saved the best for last.”

He began to grunt a little as he gnawed at his arm. After he’d gotten a morsel to suit his taste, he regained his posture.

“No, you cannot have any. It is fit for the knights to sup with the royalty, but not of the royalty. You shall have to be content with your lot. Besides, what acts of valor have you done lately to merit such an honor? As I thought. You have been letting your bravery waste away into bravado. Beware lest the maggots take courage and vanquish thee.”

He had moved back over toward his silent vassal again. He licked his arm to tease the subordinate with the sound of a delicious feast. Then, he kicked him again for good measure.

“What was that, Sir? You must really speak up. It is not polite to mumble or whisper in my company. Ah. It would indeed have been a fine thing to have been able to finish it off with wine or mead. Yes, anything would have been better than what we have. Nay, Sir, do not be silly. You cannot very well drink the dark, though the dark can drink you in. No, no, you forget there is something to torment our thirst and remind us of stronger, sweeter pleasures for our tongues and minds. Yes, this trickle of water. It will do. It will do.”

He moved through the darkness and began to feel along the walls for the moldy spring of which he spoke. Finding the dampness of the wall, he began to lick it repeatedly.

“They could have left us with some wine to pass the time, couldn’t they? Aye, it would indeed have made up in part for their lack of hospitality, since they were intent not to leave us with light or bread. But they’ll pay for that, Sir. I warrant you that. We shall give them a taste of moldy water, and we shall acquaint them with the dark. No, it would not be a sin to treat them in the same fashion. Doesn’t it say in the law, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?’ Marry, you’re right again, Sir. I fancy that you were almost a man of the cloth, or that your maid was, for you to know such things. It does also say that those things have had an end. Then, we shall have to be more generous in our dealings with them, and give them greater darkness.”

He went back to the wall to moisten his throat again.

“Do you think they miss us, Sir Knight? No, not the ones that have given us these gracious quarters. If they had missed us, then they would have come to visit more often. You really are a poor jester, Sir. A poor jester indeed. Who then? Why, our maidens; our brethren. You don’t think they’ve noticed we’re gone? Come now, everyone knew we were gone. We went to battle, didn’t we? The whole of our kingdom bid us adieu. True, the whole of our kingdom save those as followed him. But they weren’t very well of our kingdom any more, were they? Truly, Sir, you must think before you spout such nonsense.”

“You don’t miss them much? Come now! No, I fear you don’t miss much at all any more. It’s a pity this life you lead. You should find some renewed interest, like vengeance, hate, or love. Yes, I know that there is very little difference between them. You must have been a man of all three. Yes, I guess we all are. Yes, I blame it on love, too. The love of women breeds the vengeance and hate fair enough, as you say.”

“It was a fine charge wasn’t it? Weren’t the banners gallant? Their arrows fell into our ranks like raindrops into the ocean. How many did you take? That many? You were with me in the heat of battle, despite your wounds. I should call you Sir Faithful, since there was none as devoted as you were. You were always brave. At least before now. But I suppose you can’t help that, can you? There’s a certain bit of darkness that saps a man’s bravery. Who would have thought that you would be afraid of the dark when you were grown? Do not worry. I am with you. I am sure that you are not alone.”

He leaned over to pat the knight he had previously kicked.

“Do you think they are afraid? Well, I should hope that they aren’t rejoicing. After all, they did let me get captured. Yes, perhaps that was my own fault. But did you really expect me to lead from behind the battle’s fray? What kind of king would I be? You’re correct. I was never such a coward. Not like you are now. No, I suppose war isn’t as pleasant as most of the maidens they left either. Do you think they still besiege the castle? They can’t have abandoned us already. You must have faith. These were devoted men. They were loyal to the crown. Not like my brother and his ilk.”

He pounded his hand against the wall. It was wet, and it reminded him that he was thirsty.

“Do you have any plans? Besides eating, Sir Knight. What other plans are there? I really wonder if your spirit has left. Where is that spark and fire that burned in your eye in the battle’s heat? Where are your mischievousness and scheming. Where is your strength? Your boasts and vaunted bravery? Have these left you only to be replaced with your indolence? Really, you have barely moved in weeks.”

“Well, if you are merely letting your soul fester, then let me not interrupt. I only wanted to know if you had determined a way to put your festering self to use. Have you developed a plot for our escape? Neither have I. I suppose that we may only wait. That gives us plenty of time to develop a plan of action. Sir? Yes, perhaps it will keep your brains from turning to mush, indeed, Sir. Well spoke.”

“Soft, Sir Knight. Do not make even such a noise as would disturb the slumber of the dead. Something cometh. Yes, you are correct. Someone comes. It’s some roguish knave. Do you hear how he talks. Hear how he treats royalty with his brutish, unlearnéd tongue. Why, he says, ‘My lord said to bury his remains. Naturally he won’t do it. King thinks he’s too good to do a commoner’s work. Too good to bury his own brother. Won’t even let me have help, since he doesn’t want any witnesses. Shady business this. Shady enough for shades.’

“We will have to show him a shade or two. I shall have to teach him to hold his tongue. You don’t believe that I can? You shall see, good knight. I’ll get the first attack, as a leader should. You can follow me in glory. But for now, be still. We will give him a corpse or two to look upon. I will give him a spectre worthy of his shady business. We will take him by surprise. Yea, there is still honor in surprise. It’s a whining wretch who says otherwise; one that’s been beaten by being surprised.”

He stopped whispering and crumpled on the floor beside the knight, scarcely daring to breathe. The footsteps grew louder, and keys jangled. The man entered, passing his torch around. He bent low to look at the king’s body.

“Didn’t you learn not to disturb those at rest? Your light will pay for being so unwelcome.”

He pushed the torch back into the man’s face, burning him. Then he broke his neck.

“You will need to visit a healer after that, boy. But methinks that perhaps you are a delicacy.”

He bent, and ripped off the burnt skin.

“It’s good to have a cooked repast. But I warrant you that you were no king, from the taste of you. No, not even a king’s jester’s son. A poor delicacy indeed!

“I have bested him, Sir Knight. Come quickly! You are too weary? Fine, stay here to rot if you like it so much. Then, I shall take all the glory, and let you sleep.”

He bent down over the body of the burned man.

“Now, where does he keep the keys? The robe does little to reflect my dignity, but we will try it. Now, Sir Knight, I have given you company. I would not have you alone and afraid of the dark. Yes, this light is horrible isn’t it. My eyes aren’t used to it yet. I much prefer the dark now.”

He shut the door, leaving the light behind.

“It must be night out, Sir Knight. You were well to be weary. No one will be watching for my assault. Rest in peace while you may, for soon I raise the battle’s cry.”

He crept up the stairs and out of the dungeon.

“Not a guard in sight. No doubt my brother has all let them all frequent a brothel or he has put them all on the wall. He was always a foolish man, eager to hide behind a false sense of protection, while never guarding what was closest to home.”

He continued to move through the castle.

“Ah, there is his room, if I am not mistaken. Let us see how he sleeps, and if he is afraid of the dark.”

He opened the door and entered the room.

“Ah, a mirror. It will not do me justice to look, for I have not bathed in some time. Still, I wonder if I still have a soul? Or am I just a creature of darkness bound to wonder forever? The mirror will show me.

“Who is this emaciated figure covered in wounds? Are those claw and bite marks on his skin? No doubt it is a denizen of hell. Surely, it is not me. But I digress. I did not come so far to be vain. My brother has to answer for his cold treatment. He was a poor brother’s keeper, if any.”

He moved across the room and bent down over his sleeping brother. His brother’s eyes shot open wide.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Sire. But I am worse. Sir Knight, he thinks his crucifix will save him now. It is laughable, isn’t it? I never took him to be a religious man, but his fondness for the rosary corrects me. Doubtless he has a guilty mind for his crimes. We shall have to put that to rest. He looks at me ghastly, but I am more than such. I will not suffer such dishonor. I am a demon. I’ve come to take the light from your eyes, as you did mine.”

He let the freshly strangled corpse fall back into the bed.

“Will there be as much gnashing of teeth in the hell I put thee in, as there was in the one in which you placed me? It’s a pity really that you have not yet married, brother. She would have probably liked a snack at this hour of night. As it is, too much will be left to waste.”

He called down to his vassal below.

“I shall discover the kitchen later, Sir. I have found something far superior to your spoils. We’ve already established the divinity of royal flesh, and I have need to sup with my brother. Find me a good vintage for my feast.”