Another excerpt

See ya on the next one.

“I've confined Elara to our summer vacation home..”
Vyr's heart sank, hearing those words from the patriarch. His shoulders went slack and his lips halted in their articulation of his question ‘why’ remembering his place.

The sun's purest golden rays paled in comparison to the lord's short blond hair, the radiance creating an ethereal, soft golden glow around him, as it poured through the open windows from behind. Though the stunning image, together with the melodic bird song and fresh flowery scents flooding in from outside, it was all lost on Vyr.

“No, before you consider the dreadful and morbid… No, nothing evil has befallen her and I will make certain nothing will.” the patriarch, stippling his fingers, leaned back in his arm chair, with a comfortable exhale that carried just a hint of concern, his piercing gaze darted up to Vyr's, who still stood awkwardly before the seat offered to him. Only as the lord once more gestured him to sit, did Vyr appear emerging from his reverie, positioning himself with care so as not to appear too relaxed, then, having composed his thoughts,
“Yet, I imagine there must be a reason for all this.. Subtle shift in how staff is arranged, for my sister's confinement…”
Vyr glanced away from his master's soul-crushing gaze, down at the oak table between them for a moment.

The patriarch first nodded toward the entrance some fifty steps behind Vyr, prompting the guards to leave, though Vyr only surmised that from hearing the double winged door closing and the clanking steps of armored figures growing ever more distant.

“We have a problem emerging between the lower and middle branches of the family, even among my own confidantes. I'm not expecting too drastic actions for the moment, but I must remain wary of rogue elements and potential rebels in our midst.”

Vyr's tense face relaxed, his gaze slowly trailing up, meeting the lord's,
“I had heard rumors but…”

The patriarch suddenly stirred in his seat, leaning forward above the table, positioning his elbows and arms so as to form a triangle between himself and Vyr, fingers interlocking,
“Whatever you've heard pales in comparison to the truth, my friend.”
Before Vyr fully relaxed, growing convinced he wasn't under suspicion, the lord reached down to one of the drawers on his left, searching for a moment before producing a charred piece of parchment.

“This death threat had been addressed to Elara and I last night. The beginning part however, had been a declaration that if she and I were to conceive a child, they would ruthlessly slay our offspring as well.”
He pushed the palm-sized remnant of the letter toward Vyr.

Eyebrows high, eyes wide, mouth nearly slack open, Vyr turned his full attention to the writing.
Vyr deduced from the beautifully curved runes that whoever wrote the threat was of nobility, possibly from the middle families, definitely not of a lower standing as only nobles of note were schooled in this language. The dialect, he readily identified as one used in the clan, and that finally set his bubbling rage free, sending waves of a maddening anger down his spine.

Before he finished reading the first sentence, Vyr's eyebrows narrowed, his lips pursed tightly together and elongated into a more angular frown..

“Outrageous and preposterous!” he called in utter fury, jolting up from the soft, blue cushioned arm chair, forgetting his master's presence, his right hand, out of habit, trailing to his side, though when his fingers clasped only thin air in place of his weapon's hilt, Vyr sat back into the chair.

“Do forgive me…”

But the patriarch simply raised his right hand, his face hosting a shadow of a smile,
“I understand your reaction. I had immediately set that gibberish ablaze with a spell, but then Elara calmed my surging anger.. And then I remembered you and the countless achievements to your name. Above all, your overbearing protectiveness of her had convinced me that you were the ideal man for this investigation.”

Before Vyr's reply, the lord raised his right hand again, dismissively gesturing him to remain silent.

“I understand you'd want to destroy these people on the spot, but I must ask you to capture them alive and to keep them that way until the spring festival next year.”
The lord finished, once more leaning back in his seat, legs folded, an intent gaze fixed on Vyr…

“Tell me, lordship, the circumstances around this… Scribbling..”

“How'd I find it?” he interjected,
“Well, it was left on my..”
The lord's eyes sparked with a strange shine for an instant, a faint redness rushing through his cheeks,
“Our bed, and just an hour before Elara and I were to retire for the night.”

Vyr suddenly made sense of the guards not admitting him to the mansion that night, but also of his senses striking him with headaches and anxiety, a sensation he'd felt only when Elara was in danger.

“Dangerous implications there. Still, I can't imagine anyone foolish enough to challenge your excellency so directly..” Vyr noted,
“This also narrows our suspects to the middle and higher houses..”

“Please dispense with the titles when addressing me from now on.”
The patriarch interrupted,
“After all, you'll have a nephew by the next springtime festival. Also, given this turn of events, I'm further promoting you to one of my advisors on the clan's internal affairs and its security.”

Vyr's words and breath stilled, he absently collapsed into the soft cushions of his seat.
‘You didn't waste any time, did you.. Taint my sister would you? Well… We will see how long your life lasts..’

“It was Elara, who requested our engagement, and successful conception to be kept secret, especially from you.”
The patriarch continued, oblivious to Vyr's inner turmoil and dissatisfied expression for the moment, then,
“What troubles you so much?”

“N.. Nothing, this is all just a bit much for me, all at once. Not to mention the effects these news will have on the others, the traitors especially.”

Author's Note

More content cumin soon.
Nuffin more fo' now tho.

Reviews

[AYVID N]

I couldn't help wondering who deposited the death threat. And Vyr's thoughts are quite chilling when he hears of a nephew coming . This chapter conveys his possessiveness of his sister very powerfully. There's much ambivalence in his reactions - quite intriguing. Is his loyalty being tested by the master? I wonder.
Another excellent chapter.

[Dennis Wolf]

Not by the master, rather by what he represents. Though Vyr also dislikes the patriarch on a personal level, a bit... As we will see. Though he keeps that to himself... 😁

Until, when his aspirations are ruthlessly pulled from under him and his more profound hatred begins to develop... Couple that with opportunities to do something about it all and poof.. Instant mastermind. 🤣

Thank you for reading, again 😁