Disconcerting Promises (unfinished)

Chapter 15: Disconcerting Promises1

Romericco turned in his sheets, sun streaming in from his window. The goose feathers in his pillow scratched his forehead as he reached over next to him. Aletta was gone like the night, weary from the nagging of the sun. He sat up in his extravagant four-poster bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. His hair was tangled and wild from the night, and his blouse was unbuttoned. He went to the window, and gazed around at the estate. The cows were grazing in the fields behind the barn, and his brother Dominicko had mounted his horse, and was strolling throughout the pasture. He rumpled his hair, the events of last night coming back to him. Throwing his tunic on over his head, he thought about the woman that had captivated him the entire night. The thought of her eyes, so soft, upon his face again, laying on the silk spun sheets made him close his eyes in bliss. As he was buckling his ornamented belt, he saw his brother Alejandro enter his quarters. 2

“Brother, father has asked of you to go to the market to receive the money from the fowls we sold Senior Cortez.”3

Romericco looked at his brother, out of breath from running about the manor. 4

“You tell father I shall see to it that the task is done”, he said, fastening his cloak with a large brooch. “Please tell one of the stable boys to ready me a horse.”5

His brother nodded, and scurried off, his padded shoes echoing in the distance.6

Romericco pulled on his thick leather boots, and closed his window. In his head, he had only thoughts of Aletta. He would see her again at the market, dancing again no less. With any luck he could persuade her to pay him a visit tonight. He thought of the gossamer skirts that encircled her body like a goddess, and how her lips were just chiseled enough to fit his. 7

At the beginning of the dusty trek that ended his estate, he found a sturdy pinto, and mounted it, eager to see his beloved again. With a quick flick of the reins, he found himself beginning to gallop closer and closer to the rosy fingered Aletta. 8

All was alive in the market as Romericco rode through the cobblestone streets, looking for Aletta. He found her in the town square, performing for a few young men. She enticed them with her billowing skirts and luscious lips, weaving her tangled webs of scarves softly around their necks. Romericco dismounted his horse, and then tied the reins to a post nearby. He watched her with enchantment, recounting what had happened the night before. How all the other men wanted her so, yet they could not have her to themselves. For her finish, Aletta held a dove in her hands, and within a blink of an eye it burst into wild clouds of purple smoke. The crowd gasped in awe, and whispered to each other. She smiled, and bowed, starting to collect the coins the men had thrown at her feet. But something was wrong this time…there was a strange murmur through the crowd as a tall armored member of the inquisition clambered past. He stood at the front of the crowd, and grabbed Aletta’s wrist.  9

“Waste not your money! For it is the devils work that compels you to spill every ounce of gold owned!”10

The crowd gasped again, as Romericco was instantly on his feet and striding to the front of the crowd.11

“Hear me all! Under God this demon will be sent back to the hellfire! Mark these words!” He spit on the ground before him and forced Aletta to her knees.12

“Fetch me a pair of trusty irons and a blade of silver! Fore today, we spill the blood…of a demon!”13

The crowd cheered, as Romericco pushed through the crowd.14

The man received a blade and held it to Aletta’s neck.15

Romericco, with a look of pure hatred fought to the front of the crowd to where the man held the frightened gypsy. In one swift motion, he grabbed at the hilt of his long sword and unsheathed it. Whirling it about, in one quick motion the man was impaled in the weapon, now glittering blood in the Spanish eve. The man slumped to the ground, dead, as Romericco pulled his weapon out of the corpse. Grabbing Aletta’s hand, he ran through the bewildered crowd. There were screams at the front of the large group and suddenly there came several other members of the inquisition running after them, swords drawn. Untying his horse, he mounted it quickly, and then pulled Aletta up in back of him. Romericco snapped the reigns unsteadily as the horse lurched foreword.16

“Where are we going” Aletta gasped, fear in her eyes.17

A clap of thunder shook the earth below as the horse reared.18

“The barn” He yelled as a fork of lightening snaked over the skies. Rain began to utter its wild gasps down upon the arid terrain. 19

They galloped in silence, until they reached a large stable and dismounted.20

Romericco led Aletta to a ladder in the stale, which took them up to a warm and dry loft. The pattering fingers of the rain echoed throughout the spacious area. Lying in the hay, Romericco and Aletta breathed heavy sighs of relief.21

“You…you saved me” She gasped quietly looking at him.22

Romericco gulped and nodded. “Yes, I did.”23

“But you could have been killed…and you are a wanted man now…you killed the man…”24

Romericco slid over to Aletta and nuzzled her neck.25

“My love…I would die a thousand deaths for you, even if by my own hands.”26

He grinned and kissed her playfully, the two rolling in the hay like children. They both laughed and Aletta lay against his chest. 27

“Oh but love…you are so cold!” Romericco exclaimed at the feel of her skin. Perhaps I can warm you,” He said pulling her close and embracing her. He could feel her breath, smooth and steady as the trade winds on the torpid seas. Her ebony hair caressed his cheeks in sweet lament for their freedom to be together. She kissed him lightly, her hands on his chest. She smiled as she threw her hands around his neck, stars in her violet eyes. Romericco opened his mouth to speak, to which Aletta put a finger to his lips.28

“Shh…” she said. “You need not explain…actions indeed speak louder than words.”29