LIGHT CASTS NO SHADOWS, part 4

Thornton Manor could be seen from afar.
The vast manor house sat within a vaster park of ancient oak and yew trees, surrounded by a stout grey wall. The manor itself was a grotesque collection of towers, spires, halls, columns and arches. Every generation had attempted to mark their passage by constructing a new wing to their ansestoral hall in their own style and the style of their time. They had each built with total disregard for the over all appearence of the building; each new addition conpeted and clashed with the last.
The driver rode on, apparently indifferent to my company.
We passed, without resistance, though the impossing, medieval gate house.
A monsterous rage had begun to stir in my chest.
The horses slowed to a trot as we passed through the dense shade of the park, then halted outside the grand enterance to the manor. The entrance, unlike the hall joining it, was built in the classical style. A flight of marble steps lead to a huge rectangular door which was flanked by epic columns.
'Thornton! I roared, as I lept from the carriage. 'Thorton! show your self!'
I continued shouting until the doors flew open and a stout man in an overly elaberate wig emerged. I recall, even now, how his round face was red with indigration.
'Thornton...' I growled, for it was he.
He ignored me, and focused on his driver.
'You oaf!' Thornton yelled that the man.'Why have you brought this madman to my house? How could you be so...'
'He had no choice,' I told Thornton as I strode toward him.
'Who the hel are you?' Thorton snapped.
'You do not know me?' asked I.
'Indeed I do not.'
'I am not suprised,'I said, then drew my sword and ran him through.
He died quickly.
In the distance, I heard I heard Jacques laugh.

Light Casts No Shadows, part 3

As the last glow of twilight fadded, I prepared to retire to my cave, for it was inconvienient to hunt in darkness. Then I was the twin lanterns of a coache approaching. I mounted hastily and rode towards it. I took my reins in my left hand and drew my sword with my right, then charged at the coache. Teeth barred, I roared at the driver to stop.

With a great snorting and stomping of horses, he complied. The four gret mares who led the coache were clearly flustered at the sudden halt. The driver, however, was not.

‘And what can I be doing for you?’ he asked.

I ignored the fellow for a moment, and rode around the coache, and checked for a gunman hidden on the roof and passengers within. There were none.

‘Whose coache is this?’ I demanded.

The driver was a stout fellow in a weather beaten Great Coat. His face was expressionless, resigned.

‘’Tis Mr Thorton’s,’ said he.

The name rang a bell, and woke a rage in me that I did not full understand.

‘Take me to your Lord!’ I demanded, sword to the fellows throat.

‘That I cannot do, for my only Lord is in ‘Eaven,’ he said with a dry smile, ‘but if you want, I could take you to Thornton Manor to meet ‘is Lordship.’

‘Aye, do it.’

I was impressed. I put my sword to its scabard, and swung myself from my horse to the driver’s bench.

We set of at a reasonable speed. My loyal horse trotted along side.

Light Casts No Shadows, Part 2

'How goes the hunt?'
'Not unprofitably,' I repied. 'Aquired some coin and a reasonable time piece last week.
'A lttle coin and a pocket watch?' he scoffed. 'Oh Captain! How the mighty are fallen!'
''Twas enough to pay for a few nights in an inn,' I replied.
I looked away from his horrid form. Concentrating on the beauty around me. It was a fine spring evening, the setting sun cast golden light through hedgerows where birds sang. yet my horse, normally so docile, stapmed its feet and snorted- mirroring my displeasure at the current company.
'You scrape existance from hand to mouth,' he continued.
'At least I have my health,' I said, with a guesture towards the sword at my belt. 'Which is more than can be said for you.'
With that he disappeared, as was his way. 
How I hated him.
I returned to my vigal on the highway. He was correct. I had fallen, from an Officer in The Iron Duke's army to a Highwayman. A robber. I preyed on the rich and weak, living- enduring- by my sword and wit alone.
What else was a man to do when all be possesed had been taken from him?  

From the Temple of Literature

Drew this a few days ago, think in represents the dramatic changes in Vietnamese culture and the decline of their traditional society.

Light Casts No Shadow

LIGHT CASTS NO SHADOWS.

No man can walk in the light without casting shadows, and one's shadows follow one everywhere.
No man can live all of his life in darkness, nor in light, therefore all men must cast shadows... but some cast longer and darker shadows than others.
Perhaps this is why I feel little regret for the terrible things that I have done. Perhaps it is because all of my actions seemed necessary at the time.
Now it is of little consequence how I feel.

I recall when I was waiting on the Highway (long ago- or so it seems) and Jacques came to me. I was, alas, by then used to his company.
"How goes the hunt?" asked he.

To be continued. 

Shameless Self Promotion.

My novel Vampyre: Hunting the Moon and a collection of Gothic poetry entitled Alone in a Crowded Tomb are now available in kindle format on Amazon.
That is all. 

Flying in Darkened Vales.

When I look in her eyes,
I see no lies, no cruel  surprise,
Just a soul that flies,
In darkened vales of sadness,
Searching for some well earned goodness,
Soaring towards destined  happiness.