Nighmare Of The Past

Chapter 6: Nightmare Of The Past1

“Ha ha! Have at thee!” Romericco shouted, clashing his sword against Alejandro’s, the noise high and metallic. He stepped forward and aimed a onward blow at Alejandro’s chest.2

“Ah, not yet brother”, Alejandro replied, smiling as he blocked the blow against his chest. Romericco smirked and aimed a swing at Alejandro’s shins, to which he jumped, the blade just missing his feet. 3

“Been practicing?” Romericco asked stepping to his left.4

“Three…three times a day” gasped Alejandro once again eluding the blade’s wrath on his ankles. 5

“Practice makes its presence known” he replied block a blow to the head. “But you must do more if you wish to be one of the Queen’s guard.”6

Romericco wheeled his blade around his head, and met it with his brother’s, inches away from his skull. Alejandro struggled with the strength behind the opposing blade. Romericco drove the blades downward, still straining against each other. In an instant, Romericco make a final strong strike at the unready weapon. On impact, the sword was dropped at its owner’s feet, and Romericco had the body of the blade against Alejandro’s neck.7

“You did well brother, but not well enough to save your throat from being slit in battle,” laughed Romericco, withdrawing his blade, and sheathing it at his belt. “ I know your strengths. Your wit will no doubt come to play in battle, but without poise and strength it is useless.”8

The wooden door to the barn slid open, and their sister, Rosario strode through it, a basket of eggs in her arms. She glared at them both.9

“You are not supposed to be using those, and you both knew it”, she said shifting the basket on her hip. “You are supposed to be using the wooden ones that were carved for you.”10

Romericco sighed exasperatedly. “A wooden sword would not be much use in a fight.”11

“You know mother would not be happy if she caught wind of this.”12

“Alright, alright. I’m putting them away, see? Mine is already sheathed. No harm done.”13

Rosario rolled her eyes and held out a small leather pouch.14

“Father wished you to go to the market to receive the new bridle for his mare.” She said dropping the bag into Romericco’s outreached palm.15

The market was bustling among the yellowed cobblestones. Peasants with their wares polluted the streets, professing sales and no-fool deals. The lavish colour and variety of people was overwhelming to Romericco and his brother as they strode the streets on the way back from their errand. The gold studded bridle the shopkeeper had wrapped in a bundle to swing over his back. They were somewhat out of place with their crimson capes of silk and expensive fabric brought from over sea. The wealth displayed on their clothing was elaborate. There were gold buckles on their shoes and vests, and the necklines of their tunics were studded with gemstones. Usually such wealth was seen atop a sturdy horse or even a carriage with gold hubcaps. But walking the dirty streets with ordinary peasants was quite unorthodox.  16

Walking along, Romericco noticed a crowd set up along the side of a jewelry display. The men were whooping and roaring and the women were shaking their heads at their husbands. Immediately distracted on getting back home, he grabbed Alejandro’s arm and tugged.17

“Come, I want to see what goings on there is.” He said, pulling his brother with him into the crowd.18

“But Romericco…father!” he cried, his voice muffled through the voices of the crowd.19

The crowd parted for them, noticing the signs of high class by their bearings. 20

Finally, they got through to the nub of the crowd. A spectacular sight greeted the boys’ eyes.21

The melodic harmonies of a mandolin reached their ears, the player’s worn fingers skirting down the frets as if they were gliding on air. The minstrel played his haunting songs to the crowd as they watched a young girl dance. It was foreign to Romericco, this kind of dance. The movements were graceful, as the girl’s veiled body twisted and turned like a serpents, her many sheer skirts billowing from under her. Her hair was of the purest black ebony, her skin the soft colour of burnt cedar, and her eyes were ever-enticing lavender. Tiny gold coins circled her forehead in a band that was draped in filmy vales of indigo. She made her scarves dance in the dusking sky, the first hints of stars sparkling against her rainbow of colours. She could not have been more than sixteen years old, yet possessed the beauty of an age-old goddess. 22

She suddenly pulled a red rose from under her scarves and held it in her hands for all to see. Still moving with grace, she pointed her fingers at the rose. It suddenly, in a violet clash of smoke disappeared before their eyes. The crowd gasped and whooped at this miraculous sight.23

When the song ended, and the people cleared, the girl gathered up her spoils dropped at her feet.24

Romericco stepped forward and Alejandro grabbed his robes.25

“No Romericco! She is a gypsy-demon! God will not forgive you for joining pacts with his minions!”26

“Hush Alejandro. I’m just going to speak for a second then on my honor we will depart.”27

Romericco stepped further to the girl. She blushed, and bowed her head.28

“You are quite the charmer” he said pressingly to her.29

“Your kindness is all a humble gypsy may ask for, my lord”.30

Romericco retrieved the little pouch and pulled three coins from it. He held them out to her. “Eat well tonight. You have earned it” he said smiling.31

“Gracious thanks my lord” she said gasping at the coins he held out to her. She quietly took them. “If there is any way I might please such a lord, please seek me out.”32

“I would like something in return” he said. “Your name.”33

She looked at him, puzzled, and muttered “Aletta”.34

He smiled at her, as she gathered up her things, and stole away, giving him one last glance as she departed.35

“You spoke to the demon!” Alejandro exclaimed. “You must visit the cathedral to repay your sins!” He insisted.36

Romericco didn’t answer. Her face was still etched in his mind.37

Cloud suddenly fogged his mind as he began hearing sounds. Echoing screams filled his mind. Suddenly, he jerked awake gasping. It took him a moment to figure out where he was. In his hut as usual. The rain had stopped, and he was at the brink of a brand new brisk night ready to be hunted. He sighed. Another nightmare. Memories had been plaguing his nightmares for some time. This time it had bee his first encounter with her. Everything had seemed so true then, so innocent. The gypsy girl trying to make a living by dancing in the street…Alejandro had been right. He never should have talked to her in the first place. He never should have looked upon the demon. Perhaps if he hadn’t, his dreams and the lives would not have been taken because of him.38