“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.”

“It’s good to have you here tonight, Count Biscay.”

The figure that stood admiring the stained glass portrait of the family turned on hearing his host.

“Thank you, Lord Loyola. You know I wouldn’t miss coming. Your meals are always excellent, as is your wine. Besides, you promised me a surprise tonight. I do hope you won’t disappoint me.”

“Don’t worry, I believe that it is quite a pleasant surprise. But let’s continue to dinner first. We have prepared your favorite tonight, capon. Please, let us be seated.”

With that they moved into the dining room and were seated. Servants came and attended them at the table, taking their requests for wine.

“So, do you think that I shall like this surprise, Loyola?”

“I should say it will be enjoyable.”

“So it is an activity then?”

“Yes, but you have caused me to give up too much already.”

“Right, fine. I shall wait.”

The servants came back with the wine at this point.

“To the surprise,” suggested Count Biscay.

“To the surprise.”

They toasted, and Loyola watched Biscay devoutly over the rim of his goblet. Biscay passed out, glass still in hand. As the goblet rolled off the table and onto the floor in an attempt to escape the potion within, Loyola stood. He motioned to his servants, who lifted Biscay. They followed after their lord.

*************

Biscay awoke with a headache. It was cool and damp. His vision was blurry. He tried to wipe his eyes with his hands, but his arms wouldn’t move. Was he paralyzed? He struggled to regain clear vision, and groaned. A figure began to approach him. It stopped a few steps from him, towering over him.

“Good to see that you are awake, Biscay. I had promised you a surprise. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“Loyola? You drugged my drink, didn’t you? This is funny, your twisted sense of humor. You can release me now. My wrists and ankles are sore. Your servants tied them too tightly. I need my shirt. I’ll catch my death down here like this.”

“Oh, but this is no joke. No more than catching your death. I won’t be releasing you just yet.”

“What are you talking about? Release me, Loyola.”

“Do you know where we are?”

“In your tower, I presume.”

“Do you know why we are here? We are here to talk.”

“But we can talk upstairs over dinner. The capon is waiting. You don’t have to bind me to talk. We are brothers-in-law. We are family.”

“Oh, but this way will be a bit more productive, I presume, brother.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I have ways of loosening your tongue,” he said, holding up a dagger.

Biscay drew his breath. Surely Loyola was jesting. There was no sense in killing Biscay. They were allies; they were family. But the blade was still glinting in the light of the sconces. The light was too bright. Biscay noticed just before Loyola continued talking, that the room was covered in mirrors.

“This dagger is dipped in poison. You will wish for me to use it by the end of the night.”

“Come, this is enough of a joke. Loosen me. Let us finish our dinner. You are being too dramatic.”

“Ah, but the joke has yet to begin. However, I do believe that it is time for dinner.”

Loyola’s hand motion was repeated a multitude of times in the mirrors surrounding the room. It was to a servant out of Biscay’s sight behind his head. Biscay looked into the mirror toward his feet so that he might catch a glimpse of the purpose of the motion. The servant brought a bag forward. The man stood beside the count now, with the bag directly above him. The bag was swaying slightly, almost as if it were alive.

“What’s in that, Loyola? What are you going to do?”

“I thought that I was asking the questions. But very well, since you wished to know…”

Loyola motioned to the servant to empty the bag. A shower of angry spiders and scorpions rained down upon Biscay. Horrified, he began to shake as much as he could. He screamed and writhed almost futilely.

“Come, now. Surely you must have learned that the worst thing to do is make sudden movements. It only excites them. Besides, they’re hungry.”

Biscay continued to shake them off. This was difficult, as he was in a position to be drawn and quartered. His body was already stretched taut. The motions only served to pain his muscles more. He couldn’t twist over to completely rid himself of the creatures. He whimpered as bites and stings began to numb his mind with pain like the nails of an iron maiden. How he wanted to take his hands and beat at the blasted creatures.

But he was impotent. Few had fallen. He could feel them rustling the hair follicles as they moved over his skin. Some were burrowing into the warmth of his trousers. Itching sensations mingled with the pangs from stings. One began to crawl through his hair and onto his eye. He was hysterical with fear, trying to blow the creature off.

“Loyola, get these creatures off. This is no way to treat a guest. This is no way to treat family!”

“I agree. This is no way to treat family. I will leave you to think about how you have pained me. I will give you time to consider all of the rotten wounds you’ve given my soul.”

“But I have done nothing to you, Loyola,” Biscay screamed.

Loyola never heeded him, having carried full well the marks on his soul for years. He and his servant climbed the stairs circling the tower. They paused long enough only to douse the light of each torch. Slightly out of breath at the landing, he turned and looked on the figure stretched out a hundred feet below him. How he loathed him. He spat in his direction, then opened the iron door. Behind him, his servant snuffed the last sconce and departed. Biscay remained bound in the dark below as a feast for vermin wishing to have experienced the dagger.

*************

“You don’t look like you’re enjoying the surprise, Biscay. But I am. I see necrosis has set in. Those sores remind me of the festering wounds that you have given me. Have you thought about your offense yet?”

Biscay opened his eyes to look with pleading hatred at Loyola. He was not sure how much time had passed. A few days perhaps? He had been visited by servants infrequently during that time. They had only come to bring a sponge full of water to him. They seemed to be checking something, too. What, he could not be sure. Whatever it was, it was not the gaping holes in his flesh left from the spider bites. They never cleaned the sweat or pus from his brow.

“Loyola, I have never done such an offense to you. When I get free, I’ll…”

“Ah, but it is not in your best interest or power to threaten me. You forget your place. You cannot escape your binds, either. You know that by now. Your muscles were lax when we tied your hands and feet. You will only get free, if I release you. Otherwise, you will remain with the spiders. I see that they have made themselves quite comfortable.”

“This is sick, Loyola! Release me. I need care.”

“Sick is it? Let us talk of sick. You know all about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“How long has it been?”

“Since what?”

“Since she disappeared?”

“Mari?”

“Yes, my sister, the wife you were unworthy of.”

“Five years. Five lonely years.”

“Lonely? I doubt that. I know something of the lonely nights that you have had with your peasants and ill-reputed. I know what really happened to those you had burned as witches. Lonely. No. Never for you. It is only lonely where she is.”

“Yes, I have profaned her memory with my actions since she has disappeared. But surely you cannot hold me accountable for that. I am a man. My flesh has needs.”

“You more than profaned her memory. You profaned your marriage.”

“But she is gone.”

“While Mari still was here, you were free with your affections. She told me. She told me of the way you treated her, the abuse.”

“Yes, I admit that I was a horrible husband. I was adulterous and abusive. Now please, set me free. I have had my comeuppance. I have suffered with these wounds. Is that what you want from me?”

“No. I want to know what happened to her.”

“She left.”

“Do you expect me to believe that she left and never tried to contact me? Do you think that my sister was the kind to abandon her commitments? If there is anything that you have learned from me by now, it should be that the Loyolas are dedicated to what they put their hand to.”

“She disappeared, Loyola.”

“No, she was killed. She was killed to get out of a marriage that was entered into only for her dowry. Can you honestly tell me that you loved Mari? Was your courting more than calculating lies to win her heart in order to win her money?”

“I did not love Mari. That is true. But I never killed her. I am no murderer, Loyola. You must believe me.”

Loyola paused to look at the feeble being before him. His fingers clutched the hilt of the dagger kept at his side. The knuckles were going white with the loss of blood.

“Naturally, I did not expect you to admit as much. You are a coward, a cur, a liar, an adulterer, a pig, a thief, and a murderer. You have no honor. And yet you impugn mine?” But I will hold back my hand. The best part of the surprise is yet to come.”

“What surprise, Loyola? This was not enough of a surprise already?”

“Oh, it is but a preparation for things to come. I had hoped that you would have talked by now, that way you would not have to be prompted anymore. I fear you will not enjoy what lays in store.”

“Loyola, please, I beg of you. Have mercy on me.”

“Like you had mercy on my sister? Are those the same tones she used when she begged you not to take her life?”

“I swear, I did not take Mari’s life. She disappeared. She was unhappy living with me.”

“I do not doubt that she was unhappy living with you. But as for her disappearance, the answer will shortly appear.”

Biscay looked about apprehensively.

“What are you threatening me with, Loyola?”

“Bamboo.”

“You’re going to beat it out of me, then?”

“No, there will be no beating. I expect that a certain desire to confess will sprout in your heart, maybe not now, but soon. Tell me, what do you know of bamboo?”

“It’s strong.”

“It is good to see that you learned something more than how to mistreat women and philander. Have you ever seen it grow before?”

“Never.”

“Well, I believe that you will have an intimate experience with its growth soon. You see, it grows quite rapidly. Sometimes as much as four feet an hour. We have a certain variety planted beneath you, that’s been waiting to educate you for some time. It’ll grow to a height of ninety feet in a year.”

“You’re not serious?”

“I am. It will start sprouting, and when it does it will grow through your decaying body.”

“You’re crazy, Loyola.”

“Only with justice and vengeance.”

“How long have you been planning this?”

“For five years, since Mari disappeared. I’ve been cultivating it all these years. You won’t see it until it sprouts, but it should be time. If not in the next hour, then certainly in the next few days. We’ll keep you alive that long. We’d hate to disappoint it.”

“But I’m innocent, Loyola. You must understand.”

“I understand that you’re unwilling to confess now. Perhaps you want to test to see if I am bluffing. But you will find that I am not. I will keep you alive as long as possible so that you can confess your sin. It would be a shame for you to die with a guilty conscience. As the bamboo grows, we will raise you. At least, until you weary my patience.”

Loyola motioned and a pair of servants that were accompanying him went over to the pegs where the ropes holding up Biscay were fastened. They loosed them and began to raise him. Pus dripped from his taut body, and he screamed.

“The bamboo will be more painful than that. It will enter your putrid flesh. It will pierce your spine and organs. Your heart will still be beating and your brain working, at least until they are punctured. Or you can confess and be free.”

“But I have done nothing, Loyola.”

“Suit yourself, Biscay. We’ll set you at two feet. When it sprouts you’ll be able to feel it shortly. Call us when you are ready to talk. But remember that time is running out.”

*************

Not too much later, Biscay’s screams began to echo through the hall.

“Ah, just as I expected. Let’s go see if he is ready to talk now,” Loyola told his servant. They descended the staircase to the bottom of the tower. It was evident that the bamboo was sprouting.

“You have done well,” Loyola told the servants he had left behind. “You’ve kept him just high enough for it to touch his back, exactly as I had requested.”

“Loyola, please,” Biscay began.

“You are fortunate that I have such obedient servants here, Biscay. If they had been shirking their duties, you would have been dead by now. But seeing as how you are not dead, you are fortunate enough to assuage your guilty soul. Are you willing to tell me everything that happened to Mari, or do you despise freedom?”

“Yes, yes,” Biscay groveled and weeped. “I’ll talk.”

“Good. Now tell me what happened.”

“I killed her. Now set me free.”

“That’s not good enough. I need to know that you are not just trying to get free. How did you do it? Where is Mari’s body, that it may finally be lain to rest?”

“Mari was going to leave me for another man. I found a note telling her where to meet him. She was going to slip out in the middle of the night while I was drunk and hie to their rendezvous. I couldn’t let her go. I couldn’t take that dishonor.”

“But you could dishonor her during your marriage with your revelings?”

“I was wrong. I admit that, Loyola. My pride bested me.”

“What did you do?”

“I left to carouse, as I was wont to do. But there were no festivities in my feasts. I waited until the time and ambushed her on her way. She wouldn’t tell me where she was going. She tried to run from me. She was my wife. But she wouldn’t come home. She fought against me. She never made it to her destination.”

“Where did you leave her body?”

“I took it and put it on the hilltop near where she was to rendezvous in the hollow. He could have her now. Then, I returned to my estate to bury my sins in spirits.”

“Did you ever meet the man?”

“No, I never saw him.”

“That’s not so. You’ve seen him scores of times over the years.”

“You know him?”

“Yes. I am he,” he said, which evoked a gasp from Biscay. “She was going to return to my estate as a sanctuary. Mari would be safe from you. I was late to our meeting. When I arrived, I only found her body. Sorrowing, I took it back home and buried it here near the where the gardens grow. Then, I waited. There would come a time when you would have to reveal the truth. Who else would have wanted her dead as badly as you did?”

Loyola turned to walk away.

“Loyola, you promised. I would go free. Please, release me. I’ll confess. I’ll stand before the court. I’ll acknowledge my crime.”

Loyola spun around with his eyes burning. “Did you really think that I would let you go? There is no justice for those such as we among men. This is justice. You have tried to escape it for years, but you will pay.”

“Surely you don’t intend to this. You are mad. Think, Loyola. Your servants have seen. Will you kill them too? People will miss me.”

“My servants are good and devoted. I have treated them well always, and they know that nothing good will come from my demise. Besides, they are as guilty in this as I am. They loved Mari almost as much as I did. Who is to miss you? Mari? Your subjects you mistreat? For all we know, you have merely vanished with her.”

“Loyola, please. Let me go. I’ll forgive you.”

“I have no need to be forgiven of you, Biscay. You are a worthless cur. But we will feed your remains to the dogs, for that is all that you are worth.”

Loyola approached his servants.

“Raise him up to about ten feet. That will give him time to think about what he has done and where he will go.”

Loyola went to bed, now that his honor was finally cleared. He heard Biscay’s screams echo through the castle that night. He finally slept well.