Chapter 24 Curses and Obligations

I

Dawn broke over the Harz mountain range, announcing the the sun's first rays of light the arrival of a new day in the region of Saxony. Outside Lord Aelderic's room the birds perched on the tree branches sang, a soft but not soothing melody to the chaos unleashing inside the duke's chambers.

Leila sat by the edge of the bed wrapped in the white silky sheets weeping uncontrollably. With an empathic look, the Duke stared down at her, his massaging his temples not knowing what to do. The man wrapped himself in his robes to cover up his nakedness, but the terrible sin committed couldn't be hidden behind any clothes. It had only one name: fornication. The night before, Leila slid into the master's room to seduce him and there was nothing he could do to stop her. In fact he wasn't able, he didn't wanted, and desire overpowered him in the form of Leila's luscious silhouette. For the woman and her otherworldly charms it was so easy to bedazzle Lord Aelderic soon he was tangled in the silky thread of perdition the seductress weaved.

"Please don't cry my love", Lord Aelderic knelt on the floor, feeling remorseful and impotent after Leila's overreacting episode of puritanism. "it's not your fault. I'm the man here, hence I had to control my instincts. I was the one that succumbed into the temptation that is your candid nudity, your ethereal beauty... I understand you my dear, you only seemed for love and attention."

"No, I'm the only guilty here. I was shameless and imprudent to come into your bedroom and take my clothes off with such a lack of decency. I'm not that type of woman, you must believe me milord! I'm not a whore... The truth is that I've fallen in love with you Aelderic and I don't want want to lose you", Leila cupped the duke's face in her delicate hands, her moistened onyx eyes fixated on him.

Softened by Leila's feigned innocence, the lord cried with her. "I love you too. In such a short time I swear I've learned to love you... It is fine, look what had just happened between us..."

"What happened was wrong, it's a sin! Oh God, what will happen to me now? I was raped by three men... and I just gave myself to the man I love in a momentum that I should have avoided at all cost! What man is going to take seriously a woman who has been dishonored? Every man would abhor me... including you." She sobbed tightening the blankets wrapping her.

"Don't say that. Never!" The duke hugged her with tenderness. "You can't blame yourself for what those filthy thugs did to you. If God ever places them in front of me, I'll kill them with my own hands! Oh, my beloved you are an innocent angel, pure and harmless... And what happened between us last night... what happened, it's not your fault either. I am a mature and experienced man and I'm a man of honor. I told you we would get married and I'll keep my word. It's my duty to repair the damage I've done to you in making you my woman before we got married. I promise you that in three days we will husband and wife if that pleases you."

"Are you talking seriously? Please, don't  lie to me or my heart will chatter in pieces. Will I become your wife in three days?" Leila clung to the duke's body, looking like a child when promised of a toy.

"Of course I'm speaking the truth. I will never deceive you. Please, get ready. In a few hours we will go to the market to buy anything you need for the wedding. I'll tell the seamstress to work day and night to have your dress ready in three forthdays. This afternoon I'll send message to the Bishop will accelerate the delivery of invitations. Does that make you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy. This is like a dream came true. I... I can not believe I'll be your wife in only three days. I am the  happiest woman in the world!" Leila embraced and kissed the duke once more with exceeding passion.

"I'm also the happiest man in the world, and I will be even more joyful the day you become my wife and I can share all that I have and what I am with the most beautiful woman who ever lived... Now I'm going to take a bath to get ready, there's a lot to do my beloved." Lord Aelderic placed a soft kiss on the woman's forehead and walked to the lavatory.

Leila got dressed and stood in front of the mirror tidying her long hair with her hands. A mischievous smile drew on her face, her chin up knowing herself triumphant. "In three days Harzburg will be mine. I will become the mistress of these lands. As soon as I carry the surname Cuthberht, I'll finish you, my dear Lord Aelderic and anyone who hinders me... Oh, and you my beloved and tender Ardith... I'll see what I'm gonna do with you."

II

Leila and Lord Aelderic strolled amongst the kiosks under the colorful shade of the tents covered topped from posts to posts on the market. The dark haired lady carried a wicker basket filled with the things that the duke had purchased for her. She picked the most expensive fabrics, jewelry, perfumes, incense and spices she found. A servant and the driver walked behind them carrying a load of some other items needed for the wedding celebration and to satisfy her greed.

In the village's market, everything was music, color and excitement. It had been a long time since the duke was seen in the market. And he seemed to be in such a great mood. For many years remained a widower and never fancied another woman, busy enough with political affairs and taking care of his daughter Ardith.

The couple stooped by a colorful kiosk, one that sold fancy fabrics and exotic items, candles, herbs and soaps traded from the Middle East. Behind the shabby table-like counter, a woman woman greeted them. Her olive colored skin and a black wavy mane revealed she was not a local and the Zoroastrian symbols decorating the purple and indigo fabrics that hung in her shop unvealed her real job: Divination and sorcery.

Lord Aelderic asked for the merchandise, but The Spanish woman were not paying attention. Her big hazel eyes were fixed on Leila. After studying Lord Aelderic' s fiancée a mixture of awe and terror drew on her face. Her hands clutched a gold crucifix on the table and standing up she spoke out loud, "Back off! ¡Vos sos la pezuña de Satanás hecha carne y mujer! You are made of pure evil! Vampira!"

Around them, everyone quieted and stepped back, except for the guards that encircled Lord Aelderic, Leila and the gypsy.

The Duke stopped short darting with severeness to strange woman. Leila held herself of attacking the soothsayer, and retreated, standing half-length behind the duke, playing the victim once more.

The sorceress pulled out loud in a commanding tone. "Woe to him who pose his eyes on the devil's daughter. Your body and soul will be dragged to perdition. The flames of hell will consume your body alive until the last breath is drawn by the devouring maw. She is the whore of Babylon riding the seven-headed beast untamed. Woe to him mortal who gets in her poisoned bed... for he will be seduced and wrapped in her beadspreads made of silk thorns! Night will become his life and would never awake of that nightmare!"

"Are you reffering to fianceé?", the Duke spoke exasperated to the woman. "You are offending my future wife, the next Duchess of Harzburg! Don't you know who I am and the power that I represent? You are a witch! Sorceress!" Lord Aelderic faced the women defiantly and with a sigle movement he tossed the table in the kiosk and all the candles and fabrics.

The fortuneteller retorted back ferless. "I know very well who you are Milord. You are Lord Aelderic Cuthbert, Duke of Harzburg. And I know very well the demon that clings now to your arm. She's a creature of evil, devourer of blood and souls! She'll be your death and perdition. This woman has brought doom to your castle. Woe to you who have succumbed to her charms and had committed adultery with the daughter of Satan. She will end with your life and of your family to quench her insatiable thirst for blood and power!"

"Oh, my love, you will not allow this woman to offend me in this way! She's a witch! She's the only daughter of Satan here for she practices the occult arts." Leila had to defend herself from the fortuneteller's attacks.

"I will never allow anyone to offend or doubt of the reputation of my future wife! Guards, arrest this woman on charges of witchcraft! See that all in her shop is burned!" The duke was fuming. Two of the guards arrested the woman and dragged her on the floor. She writhed trying to escape from the soldiers and kept yelling, "Do not marry the daughter of Lucifer! I warn you, she will be your curse!" The other soldiers tore the store into pieces and then burned it.

After that, The duke and Leila withdrew, mounting the carriage that would take them back to the mansion. Inside, the raven haired faked crying and buried her face in the lord's chest. The man stroke her black hair to sooth her down. "My dear, what will happen to that woman?" Leila asked.

"She will be taken early morning to the Bishop. A trial will be held against her on charges of witchcraft and offenses against authority." The duke replied sternly. "Her punishment... she will be hung."

Leila smiled mischievously while cradled beneath the duke's arm. Justice will play in her favour. The man's law will be responsible for woman's death. This time Leila wouldn't stain her hands in blood.