"The Lost Empire VII: Lenora"

“Lenora: A Lost Empire Story”

By Cody Williams

 

            Walter and James continued walking the trail while the man in black stalked them from the darkness. James continued to stare at Walter with distrust and he kept his hand on his sword.

            “Please explain to me again what the hell you are wearing? You look like a Goddamn homeless b*****d!” James shouted. Walter grinned, stopped, and turned around to face him. James leaped back in defense and made sure he was ready to pull out the sword at any moment. He giggled, turned back around, and continued walking.

            “You can calm down James. I’m not going to try anything. I’m not here to hurt you! I’m here to help you!” Walter said.

            “But that don’t mean I have to trust you. And why didn’t you answer my Goddamn question?” James shouted at Walter still trying to keep his distance.

            “Times change James, and people change with it. Like I said, I’m from the year 1958. It is a much better time.” Walter explained. James began to laugh with amusement.

            “What do you mean better time? Like I would be caught dead it that…that…witch clothing!” James said. The two continued to argue for several moments before Walter stopped abruptly. James leaped back again and pulled his sword from his quiver. It looked as if Walter was paralyzed. He continued to stare into space at nothing…or so he thought. Walter began to shake out of control before finally collapsing on the ground.

            “S**t!” James shouted. He slipped the sword back into his quiver and dropped to his knees beside Walter. Something wasn’t right…James saw that. Walter began to foam out the mouth and continued to spasm “Walter! What the hell? I command you to answer me now!” James shouted. After a few moments Walter stopped. His eyes opened back up and sat up. He wiped the foam off of his mouth and pushed himself off the ground. He grabbed James by the hand and stood back to his feet.

            “What the hell was that? What the hell happened to you?” James shouted with anger, but at the same time, with fear. Walter paused for a moment. He bent over placing his hands on his knees and trying to catch his breath. When Walter finally calmed down, he straightened back up and looked at James.

            “We have to go!” Walter said with panic as he grabbed James by the arm and began to lead him down the trail. James resisted and pulled himself away from Walter’s grip. James pulled the sword out again and forced the tip of it up to Walter’s throat. Walter shoved the sword down from his neck and backed away.

            “Would you stop doing that? I already told you that I’m not the enemy! I’m here to help you! So why don’t you help me help you?” Walter shouted to James with frustration. James put down the sword and slid it back into the quiver. “We don’t have time for this! We have to go!” Walter said as he turned his back to James and began walking again.

            “Why? Why do we have to go? Who made you the king?” James shouted with rebellion. Walter stopped again and turned to face James.

            “Do you know why I came here to help you James?” Walter asked him. James shook his head and remained silent waiting for an explanation. “I came to help you because…I have this gift.” Walter began to explain. James looked at him in an intrigued manner and motioned for him to go on. “I had a vision of you being hunted like a wild animal by this man. The man was wearing all black clothing and had long black hair. I came to realize that this man was the man in black. He caught you. And he killed you. And he went on to fight Bloody Mary. That’s why I had to come to help. I had to prevent that. This isn’t about you. This isn’t about your quest to return home. I don’t give a piss about you returning home. I came here to help you stop the man in black and Bloody Mary from ruling all the universes! This is about your destiny.” Walter told him. He turned his back to James again and began to walk away.

            “Wait! If you have visions…what was the one you just had?” James asked him.

            “That’s why we have to go! I had a vision of a woman who has been kidnapped by the Lowlanders. Her name is Lenora. And we have to rescue her. She’s located in a small wooden hut located just on the other side of this hill. Come on!” Walter explained. James nodded in understanding and two men continued down to trail.

            As the two men walked off, the man in black stepped out from the shadows.

            “How? How does he know all of that? Could he perhaps be a witch? I need to know what he knows.” The man in black declared. He stepped back into the shadows and continued to follow them.

            “There it is!” James shouted out as he pointed down the hill at a small wooden hut. James and Walter took off running towards the hut. When they got to it they knelt down beside the window and looked in. On the opposite side of the room was a very attractive woman that looked much like that of a gypsy. She had long brown hair and was wearing a golden colored outfit and her arms were starched out along the wall and were cuffed and chained. Also in the room were several well-dressed men. They were all wearing white dress shirts; black neckties, black dress pants, and long black dress coats. They were all also wearing a black hat much like that of a 1960s reporter to complete the ensemble.

            “Who are those heathens?” James asked in disgust.

            “They are the Lowlanders.” Walter replied.

            “What do they want with her?” He asked.

            “She must threaten them somehow. She must have something they want.” Walter answered. He stood up and began walking around to the front entrance. Walter motioned to James and he nodded back in understanding. James reached down pulling out the sword again and the two men barged in the hut. When they got into the hut, James began swinging his sword at the Lowlanders and Walter reached into his coat pocket pulling out a pistol. Walter quickly fired the pistol at the five men and they fell to the ground dead. James looked over to Walter who put the pistol back inside of his jacket.

            “What the hell was that?” James shouted.

            “It’s called a pistol. It’s like a small hand held cannon. Weaponry has evolved quite a bit since your time.” Walter explained. James shook it off and the two men walked towards Lenora. James grabbed his sword again and slashed the chains off of her. She fell to the ground. Walter reached down to help her up and she forcefully pushed him away from her. She began to mumble something in Romani, the typical gypsy language, and then stood up.

            “Who the hell are you?” She asked the two.

            “My name is Walter and this is my friend James.” Walter explained to her. “We are here to rescue you.” He continued.

            “What did these men what with me? And where did they take my sister Wilma?” Lenora asked.

            “I don’t know. You must have something she wants.” Walter said. He turned away from her and he and James began to walk towards the exit. James left and Walter turned back to the young woman. “Come on! You can travel with us. I’ll tell you everything on the way.” Walter said as he stood aside. Lenora looked at him with distrust but then decided to go. She walked out of the hut and Walter followed her.

            After they left, the man in black walked into the hut and took a look around.

            “Damn it! They got her.” The man in black said angrily. He then knelt down next to one of the dead Lowlanders and grabbed him by the index finger. He placed his right foot on the hand of the Lowlander and ripped the index finger from his hand. He shoved it into his mouth and smiled with sick and twisted grin. The man in black then turned around and walked out of the hut to follow the others. The quest for the Lost Empire continues.

Copyright 2014 by Cody Williams

Courtesy of The Enchanted Press

A division of TTP Entertainment

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Author's Note

I know, it's been a while. Here's the next installment of the ongoing Lost Empire Series. I hope you like it.

Other Lost Empire stories:

1. The Lost Empire I: The Twister
2. The Lost Empire II: The Man In Black
3. The Lost Empire III: The Road To Avon
4. The Lost Empire IV: The Flea Market
5. The Lost Empire V: The Shapeshifter
6. The Lost Empire VI: Prophecy

-CW

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A well written story. I like the characters and how you set-up the ending. I like the storyline. Made me desire to know more about the struggle and the woman. Thank you for sharing the amazing tale.
Coyote

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Coyote! It really means a lot!

-CW

[FlatLineBeauty]

very clever and interesting read. the only thing is what Angel told you earlier about arrows and swords. Nice work. xo Winter

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Winter!

-CW

[Angel]

Oh, this is good.
A couple of things...a sword slides into a sheath, arrows go into a quiver. They are not the same thing.
And you still need a bit of work on the mechanics.
Other than that...two thumbs waaaaaayyyy up!!!!

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Angel!

-CW

[Angel]

Just give me more Lost Empire stories. I love them...
(and remember...sword goes in a sheath, arrows go in a quiver...)
☺

[Cody Williams]

I'll have more posted soon!

[Michael Stevens]

Nice addition to the story; mmm, finger sandwiches!

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Michael!

-CW

[Lyn Anderson]

Good progression and development. A couple of editing things- in instead of it in the line Like I would be caught dead it that
And this set of lines is confusing: “How? How does he know all of that? Could he perhaps be a witch? I need to know what he knows.” The man in black declared. He stepped back into the shadows and continued to follow them.
I find myself wondering who is saying what.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading KL! I'll make it more clear when I go to revise it.