Darkness Falls (IC)

Nidge Darkfold enters the room quietly. He moves silently in the shadows around the edge of the large, austere room, as if nothing but a mere shadow himself. He is weighed down by the dark, heavy, hooded cloak and the burdens upon him, but has quickly learned to move stealthily to avoid detection or the interest of those aorund him. He looks around this place. If anyone was there, they would only see his eyes beneath the hood no matter how much light flooded the room for only his eyes are unshielding. They would see the torment of his soul reflected in his eyes; the eyes that are growing dim as his interest in this life slips away from him and his longing for release from it grows.

The dark figure of Nidge emerges from the shadows, his soul still gripped by the darkness. He moves towards the desk in the corner of the room, pulls the chair forward enough to allow himself access and sits down wearily. In front of him is the large journal in which he records his thoughts and experiences in the archaic language of the physicians. He opens the book and turns to a blank page. He takes up a pen. Dipping it in the ink, he begins an attempt to unburden himself upon the paper.

"Things have taken some very strange twists recently. My free companion and I have changed homestone to Scimitar Isle. It seemed to be a quiet place at first and most people were friendly. I spent a very pleasant afternoon in the company of the physician there and enjoyed time with one of the kajiri.

As there was already a more than competent physician, I was able to relax; safe in the knowledge that medical needs would be addressed by someone with much more experience than I. This allowed me time to explore some of the wonderful cities of Gor. I particularly enjoyed a visit to Schendi... The poetry and story telling event in Farnacium was also a wonderful change to the drama and intrigues that are so commonplace. A girl named cait told a story by the name of Ink. She described the thoughts and emotions of a kajira in exquisite detail. I cried silent tears listening to her. As well as the plight of a kajira, she also expressed the situation of some free companions."

Nidge pauses for a moment. His mind is a whirl of thoughts and emotions. He sighs deeply. A tear slips from the corner of his eye and ambles casually down his cheek before being soaked up by the mask he is wearing. "How odd that I should be wearing this mask", he thinks, "I have hidden myself behind a 'mask' almost every day of my life and now it turns to a physical one". The mask serves many purposes. Something to keep prying eyes away from him. Something to prolong his safety. Something to hide his shame. He dips the pen in to the ink once more and continues to write.

"Everything was progressing well in Scimitar Isle. I had a place to live, people to engage with. Everything seemed to go wrong without any warning signs. First there was an attack on the fort. Everything was confused. A man I had met only once was with a kajirus I did not know; they seemed to be attacking. I felt I had no option and waded in to the fight with my fists. I managed to overpower the man but the kajirus rendered me unconscious. It is a pity as the man had seem very friendly the last time I had met him and I would have enjoyed getting to know him better. Much better, in fact.

When I recovered, I went to tend my wounds and assuage my shame at attacking someone - by downing a large draught of Paga. I had been injured previously on a visit to White Water. I slipped and fallen from the hillside as I wandered and was impaled by spikes, then stumbling around in my dazed state, a sleen attacked me. So I was already nursing injuries before this attack at the fort."

Nidge dips his pen in the ink once more. The glow from the candle on the desk casts a warm glow around him, but he feels cold. A shiver runs down his spine. He glances around the room checking to make sure no one has entered unnoticed while he was lost in his thoughts. He sees no one, but takes no comfort in that as there still may be unseen eyes watching him from the darkness. There have been whispers that his every move is under intense scrutiny and even a suggestion that an assassin is seeking him out. He returns his attention to the book in front of him. If a blade he should strike, he would prefer not to see it's approach.

"Later I was asked to return to the fort in Scimitar Isle to tend to another kajirus who had been injured by a leech plant. I was surprised to see the cells were quite full when I got there. I dealt with the injuries of the boy. They were not life threatening and he was a strong, fine kajirus."

Nidge lifts his head from his writing. He smiles behind his mask. How he wished he could have the attentions of a strong boy. Or better yet, a free man. His body yielded easily to the touch and his heart burned with passion and a strong desire to bring pleasure. His Free Companion had darker tastes and their encounters in the furs were rough...violent... Their relationship had become turbulent and he had found himself on a couple of occasions in tears cowering in fear at the man he dared not refuse. He shakes his head, trying to dispel the dark thoughts. His mind wanders to the boy he had so desired on arrival at Scimitar Isle. He had found pleasure with him and thought a deep connection had been made between them. Sadly it was not to be and he hed awakened one day to find the boy was gone. How he yearned for him. His eyes glance down at the page.

"It was something of a shock to discover that those in the cells of the fort were of the Dark Ahn. Once I had treated the injuries of the boy, the outlaws were escorted outside to their waiting associates. A trade took place and they left by tarn without further incident.

The following day a scroll was pinned up to say the Ubar of Scimitar Isle had been taken in to protective custody. I was unsure what was actually happening...as were the others of the homestone. A man I did not know came and said he would be acting in an advisory capacity until such time that the Ubar was able to return. Much confusion and anger were evident.

On the next day a council meeting took place very early. I was asleep and not party to the discussions. Some of the conversation was relayed to me on waking. My free companion had apparently sought acceptance for himself within his caste. He is a scribe and has previously occupied the role of magistrate. He wished for the same within Scimitar Isle. His request had been denied. He had also asked for me to be able to practice the healing ways of my caste in conjunction with the existing physician. It is said that the physician threatened to leave the homestone if such action was agreed upon."

The fallen physician stops writing and drops his pen. His hands cover his face. Unable to hold his emotions in a moment longer, his body shakes as he sobs violently. He does not care if anyone hears. He does not care if anyone sees. In his mind he screams out to the Priest Kings to end this torment swiftly. He sobs for an ahn, until no tears are left in his body. He feels a numbness creeping through him and sits silently staring at the candle flame. Eventually he regains enough composure to continue. Picking up the pen and dipping it in the ink, he writes the final part of the entry. The worst part of the entry. The part that scares him most of all.

"After I was told of the events of the meeting, my Free Companion told me that there was a place he wanted to show me. He said we would find a home there. He took me to a castle on a hill and assured me I would be safe there. My mind screamed in terror when he told me to whom the castle belonged...the Dark Lord, Bac. I struggled to control myself. I had thought he was dead and his return sent my mind reeling. His reputation preceeds him. My Free Companion revealed to me how he knew this person and I shook with fear.

If only that had been an end to my fear. Within moments the Dark Lord entered the room. I fought the desire to run; not knowing if I would be cut down before I could even reach the door. The two men greeted each other strangely. The Dark Lord then turned his attention to me. I am sure my fear must have been palpapable. He approached, standing so very close to me. He was so close that I suspected that even the slightest movement would have caused me to touch him and be lost forever in the darkness that surrounded him. I was gripped by fear but unable to move. His presence was intoxicating. I have always secretly been drawn to men of power and even this dark and terrible power awakened my senses and my desires. In that moment I felt fully alive; not knowing if it would be last moment I ever felt anything.

He questioned me for a short time, before his true nature burst forth like a crazed sleen emerging from it's burrow. He said he had previously used the services of a member of my caste. To prove his point he produced the head of the man. I shrank back from him but it was to no avail. My free companion and this dark beast had formed some kind of allegiance and I was now trapped. Orders were issued. We were not to be seen. Our clothes were to be changed so that no skin showed. I had no option but to accept these demands as I was almost paralysed with fear.

The Dark Lord left us. I observed him from the door of the castle. He appeared to be talking to a kajirus; how I pitied the kajirus, not knowing what fate he would meet. If only I had known his fate, I would have done everything I could to send him away. The Dark Lord left him untouched, but the boy came to us. He said he was alone and desired to serve us. Having lost the boy I felt so much for, I was not interested in another. My free companion, on the other hand, was most eager and I knew what his purpose was - and what the boy would be subjected to in the furs. I shuddered at the thought. The boys slave papers were removed and burned. Foolishly I allowed one of my collars to be taken and fitted to him. We then made our way on a long journey to an oasis. The two of them retired in to a tent. I could not be a party to the acts...nor a victim of them either. I made my excuses and left. On returning to Scimitar Isle much later, I discovered that my free companion was absent. And the boy was dead. The man who came to us in an advisory capacity has revealed a scroll from the Ubar saying how unhappy he is at his property being slain. The murder will be investigated, I do not know what the outcome will be, but I fear my free companion's time is running out. I pray to the Priest Kings that mine is too."

Nidge puts down his pen. He leans forward and blows out the candle. Sitting alone in the room consumed both by the night and the darkness. His scream pierces the night before he falls to the floor and crawls under the desk to sleep fitfully, tortured by terrible visions from the past, the present and an imagined future.