The First and Most Dangerous Gamble

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“Now that I’ve shared with you a little something from my life,” Adrianna murmured, “I’d like it if you let me see your drawings. I’m very flattered you took such an interest.”

The Shepherd looked down, startled by the strange shapes he saw.

Adrianna was there, but not recognizable in the flurry of shapes in motion on the paper.

“Ok,” he said. “But I’m not sure you’ll like it. I can probably have a better one for you later after having some time to focus.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Adrianna replied.

Glancing to his cache of drawings, she grinned wickedly.

“By the way, I would like to see all your drawings, not just the one of me.”

The Shepherd said nothing, but scowled.

The Courtesan threw her head back and laughed when she saw his expression.

Again, the slightly masculine mannerism disconcerted the Shepherd. The familiarity of it unnerved him, as much as how unexpected it was every time she did it.

“In case you’ve forgotten, my dear Shepherd, we made an agreement to trade stories. Perhaps your drawings would be a good start to open you up.”

“You do this every night?” the Shepherd asked in an attempt to veer the conversation.

Adrianna nodded, and finished off her water.

Without warning, she took his pad with his latest sketch and spent a few moments peering at it

“This is really quite good,” she declared. “Are you sure you wish to keep drawing only as a hobby?”

The Shepherd remembered how much the Butler boasted of his mistress as a benevolent and influential patroness of the arts, and was alarmed.

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Adrianna laughed again.

“Sweet, shy Shepherd. As you wish. Please let me know if you change your mind.”

A maid appeared seemingly out of nowhere, a long fur coat draped over her arm.

The Shepherd did not hear the girl enter.

“Ah yes,” Adrianna said. “It is the cocktail hour. I don’t feel a pressing need to change for supper. Do you?”

Without waiting for an answer, the young maid stepped forward to help her mistress into her coat.

Then the Courtesan looked at the Shepherd expectantly, slowly raising her brows when he didn’t move.

The Shepherd flushed when he realized she expected him to offer his arm.

 Adrianna smiled and linked her arm through his once he did.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I think dinner promises to be quite lovely. And of course, I will entertain you with another of my stories.”

“I look forward to it,” the Shepherd said, suddenly remembering the details of the intrigue from the night before and eager to learn more.

*****

 

You are very fortunate, dear Shepherd.

I’ve shared this story when occasion called for it over the years, which gave me the perspective and ability to articulate all that I witnessed and felt.

At the time though, I couldn’t because I lacked the insight to understand the madness that happened. So you get to hear my perspective seasoned with the wisdom of experience.

My world blew apart and wide open during those next few months. I gained much wisdom that would serve me well.

But the most unexpected and shocking lesson was the insidious power of hatred, and the ties created from it. The blind loathing and envy I cultivated for the Patron’s Daughter had bound my soul with hers, and therefore my destiny.

I had no idea that’s what I had been doing to myself. If I had known, perhaps I would have found another release for those violent emotions.

Then again, perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to.

The Sorcerer of the Caverns must have understood this because he certainly used that to his advantage.

He was the must cunning monster I have ever known.

I had no idea how to get him what he wanted.

If you know anything about the Sorcerer, you must know he would never have wanted to seduce an ugly peasant girl named Addie.

Of course, it was the Patron’s Daughter he wanted.

Beautiful and vicious, she presented an unusual challenge for the Sorcerer.

He had always ensnared his conquests through desires that were out of reach.

The Patron’s Daughter had been indulged and pampered all of her life. Never wanting for anything, she had no yearning.

Since the Sorcerer had no way to tempt her, she would never give up her heart to satisfy a forbidden longing.

So I would have to give up mine. But only if I was able to deliver the Patron’s Daughter to the Sorcerer.

You look confused, darling Shepherd. I get ahead of myself.

Our plan was both complicated and dangerous.

 I was to lure the Patron’s Daughter to the Sorcerer, so he could seduce her. After he claimed her maidenhead, he would transform me into the likeness of the Patron’s Daughter.

Except for my eyes, as I said yesterday.

But my heart would be the payment instead.

Although I was never one for sentiment, I resisted.

I didn’t understand why taking my heart was necessary since the Patron’s Daughter was the one marked by the Sorcerer, and I was risking death if anything went awry.

It was an argument I lost.

His premise was that I had the most to gain. Also, since I had been ruminating on death as a choice when we met, I had nothing to lose.

Much later, I learned that although the Sorcerer obviously savored the power that comes with a successful conquest, it was not seduction that kept him alive as centuries passed.

Feeding on the hearts of girls and young women - all of them virginal until he seduced them - was how the Sorcerer gained immortality.

Since the Patron’s Daughter could only be lured to the Sorcerer through deceit rather than her own choice, it was impossible for him to claim her heart even after he took her.

Since the Sorcerer could never have the heart of the Patron’s Daughter, he had to take mine in her place.

And I was definitely a virgin.

Oh the despair that would have followed if we had been caught!

I would have been publicly hanged, and my parents would have known nothing but disgrace for the rest of their miserable lives!

Don’t think I didn’t consider that as I made my deal with the Devil.