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The crowd started chanting their favorite works… it was divided …. There were also those fawning on Lord Sween. “Number ….” The royal messenger paused again with a cheeky chuckle. The crowd held their breath as they waited…. “Number 555- Mira Jackson urf Lady Mira Marsden” Mira stared with misty eyes… she turned around to look at Jack. He gestured a flying kiss to encourage her while Almera kept nudging her to get up. Old master Slegh sat like he lost his soul; the two young masters were not much better, only Caster sat there like an infatuated fool. “Marsden…. Marsden…. Yes… Marsden….” Lord Dulston shouted excitedly…. But the crowd was too loud for anyone other than his sons to hear. “Dad???” “That’s the bastard who married my sister…my Bella…. Your aunt.” Lord Dulston was too excited for words “That…. That …is little Bella.” The Dulston brothers including Aldrin stared skeptically at their father. Cyrus thought his sons didn’t believe him and explained “Well, your aunt marrie
Mira nodded; She was aware that although the prize was announced for five favors, it was also announced that it could be made redundant during the process of making the requests. The reason for the latter half of the decree was simple. A stop gap measure in case the winner didn’t know the immensity of the heavens and earth. “State them before King and country in the order of the most cherished one first, so that none may judge the king unjust.” The royal messenger finished his proclamation and handed the loudspeakers, one to Mira and the other to Orseus. Orseus looked to his father who nodded before he sat back on the throne of judgement. “Your majesty” Mira bowed low in respect “Pray pardon my insolence if my first request were to offend his highness.” Orseus pursed his lips in curiosity and waved his arm to grant permission. “Your majesty, I pray for the title to be bestowed equally on me and husband.” Mira paused “If this is not possible, I pray for your majesty’s kindness in ac
Orseus ordered with a solemn expression “You shall return their papers of servitude to them tomorrow." "The court guards will bear witness to this exchange; they shall continue to reside in their current residence to the very moment of exchange.” Orseus continued to state the rules. He was smart enough to guess that there must have been a reason for Mira to use her precious favor to request freedom when she could easily buy it with her prize money. He took care of the request with sincerity removing all possible obstacles for her as he knew his mother liked the person in front of him and their relationship with Thomas. Old master Slegh and his sons bowed to acknowledge. John couldn’t believe his ears. He never even for a second thought he would see the day when he was a freeman again. He hugged Beth overwhelmed with emotion as she wiped her tears that were fiercely streaming down her cheeks. They looked at Jack through misted eyes. Jack shrugged; he couldn’t take credit for this. O
“All rise.” The royal messenger announced as Orseus stood up from his seat to leave the hall. The king’s private legion of guards ushered the royal family and the members of Mira’s family to the King’s private chamber while the crowd in the hall were left to be dispersed in an orderly manner by the palace guards. Once everyone was settled and the guards left the room, Orseus looked at Mira with a sizing gaze and ordered “Speak” “Your highness, I need your word that anything I speak from this moment will not leave the four walls of this room before it is resolved.” Mira shook her head. She was still not confident in voicing her request. Orseus narrowed his eyes. “I swear on my legions to King and country.” Thomas stood up to support; He knew his sworn brother was on the verge of losing his patience. The rest of the members in the room, including Jack, stood up to swear. Mira giggled as she saw Jack standing to swear the oath but soon covered up with a cough as she felt a burning g
Orseus raised his eyebrows as he looked towards Thomas, trying to restrain the smirk spreading from his lips as he saw the blatant expression of love from the lovebirds in front of him. This was torture to a single man like him. His sworn brother had no intention of reciprocating his sentiments. Orseus turned his attention to the only two single dogs in the crowd and his lips curled up. Martin was rolling his eyes while Oden had a smirk…. They understood! “The person I used to like …... before my marriage…” Mira’s voice was barely audible, a whisper; She didn’t raise her head… she was too embarrassed, but she had to voice this concern as she felt it was a vital clue to the mystery. “That person was with me to find out where the seal of the Zumerong’s was kept. He has asked me about it in a roundabout way many times. Luckily for me and sadly for him, I didn’t know much about this until recently.” Cornelius rubbed his forehead as analyzed all the information he had just received and s
“Your majesty” Mira called with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “You can call me godfather like Leander.” Cornelius dismissed impatiently as he continued to stare down the youngsters. “I for one have never heard of the winged-flame brothers nor your majesty’s exploits.” Mira giggled; she didn’t take Cornelius’s dismissive attitude into account. “Little Mira…” Harry called out pitifully; He was despised by his goddaughter. Mira feigned ignorance to Harry’s theatrics and continued “Why not have a competition?” She had successfully captured the attention of all the men in the room. “Let’s test the theory- The older, the spicier or the young and vibrant?” She shrugged with her signature mischief and turned to rally Aglaya “Your majesty what do you say?” “I think it is a brilliant idea.” Aglaya clapped her hands “I haven’t had so much fun in years.” “I bet whoever is on my husband’s team will win.” Mira giggled tooting Jack’s horns. “We’ll see.” Harry’s competitive spirits was a
The Dulston’s stood outside the palace waiting for Mira and group to come out for a long time. “Dad why don’t we go home now and see Mira in the morning?” First brother asked with a conflicted expression; he couldn’t bear to his father’s anxious expression. He was also worried that Mira might not like them once she knew who they were. He didn’t want his father’s enthusiasm to be met with disappointment. “How will we….” “Aldrin knows the way. He has been there several times.” First brother, Albert, knew what his father wanted to ask. “Really??” Lord Dulston was not convinced; he knitted his brows “Why?” “Must be to eat delicious food.” Third brother, Alwyn chuckled. “We are business partners.” Aldrin decided to ignore third brother and spoke in a serious tone. He would never admit third brother was right. “What business?” Lord Dulston was even more confused. “He would eat all the dishes served to him.” Third brother kept mucking around. “Mira’s husband makes the slate stand for
“Your Grace” Harrison pursed his lips into a conflicted expression. “What is it?” Jack knitted his brows. “Are you ready to come home?” “Aren’t we home?” Mira twisted her lips. “Your Grace, as Duke and Duchess of Southamberston, your home…….” “Husband, I want to stay here.” Mira interrupted Harrison tugging Jack’s hand with a cute pout. “Then we will stay.” Jack turned to look at Mira with an affectionate gaze before turning his gaze back at Harrison “My home is where my Duchess resides.” His tone and aura were not that of a peasant but that of one born to rule. Harrison bowed low to acknowledge “What orders do you have for us, Your Grace?” “Go about as usual.” Jack waved as he turned back to enter the house. Harrison and the others still stood without moving. “Anything else?” Jack half turned his head as he asked noting that there were all standing in attention. “Your Grace, we are your personal staff.” Harrison spoke with an embarrassed expression “Our place is with you.”
The older guard who followed Caleb passed the message to the Butler to serve the dishes for supper in the underground room where the men were seated. The trunk and all its contents had been carefully put away even before Caleb called the guard over for passing instructions.The older guard was also someone who had followed Caleb over the years and followed him from Worthington duchy to this place; still Caleb was cautious; his master’s words were holy edict for him. If his master said that no one other than the four men present could see the contents of the trunk, then no one other than the four men would see it.Once the maids served supper, he asked them all to withdraw, ordering them to only return in the morning to retrieve the empty dishes from the guards’ quarters.No one spoke while eating; the air in the room was filled with curiosity as a myriad of questions danced in front of their eyes, yet no one dared to break the silence. It wasn’t until they finished eating and had the g
Jerome didn’t know why but tears kept streaming down his cheeks as he read the letter, a deep sense of loss and an overwhelming pang of heartache filled his chest, he rubbed his chest in distress as he found it difficult to breath. He didn’t know why the words of a man he couldn’t remember could make him so emotional, why the possibility of not ever being able to meet him would crush his soul into feeling an irreparable loss.Not knowing what to say or feel, he decided to process everything slowly, he didn’t know why, but he wanted to hold the letter close to his heart, as though it was a piece of his soul that could never be replaced. But just as he was about to fold, he saw a life-like portrait at the back of the page and turned around anxiously hoping to see the face of the person who made his heart feel so much loss.But what welcomed him was the life-like, yet miserable faces of the younger versions of the two men beside him. And under it was a side note-“On after thought, I will
I have not sent anyone to follow her as this will only jeopardise everything. There are too many eyes on my every move, and I cannot afford a single miscalculation. Her brother is a righteous man and will protect her. If anything, untoward should happen to him, God forbid, I have instructed your men who have already been moved there to lend a hand.Your elder brother is too incompetent and have stretched myself beyond my limit and hence can only humbly beg your forgiveness and hope to atone some day when we meet. May the gods be willing and grant my prayer.If things don’t go according to plan, I will have instructed uncle and aunt to go to the castle I had bought in the kingdom of Barr; I have instructed my good friend, Uzi, the Duke of Warringal, to protect them. Most of our father’s men both household men and men in arms, will go with them. They will not come back unless one of us calls them back.Stormwall has been renamed Southamberston by the king but do not worry. Everything wil
Inside the trunk was a bow and quiver with arrows, both the bow and arrows had an image of a griffin engraved on it; the quiver too had a life-like griffin embroidered on it. There was also a dagger and a long sword with its sheath; while the sheath was embroidered with images of a griffin, both the dagger and the sword had its hilt in the shape of a griffin head. There was also a shield, with a magnificent and ferocious griffin embossed on the face of the shield. The only other things in the trunk were the full chainmail armour, an elaborate waist belt, a leather pouch, a set of tubular bells and cloak with the coat of arms of the Zumerongs which was a magnificent and ferocious griffin, standing tall and proud, embroidered with threads of gold, silver and copper; the image was so life like and imposing that just a glance at the magnificent image commanded respect. Jerome’s hands passed through the items, his hands lingering on the coat of arms on the robe; something flashed past h
“Why official?” The older man’s eyes sparkled as he asked anxiously, excitement surging in his voice “Is there an unofficial version?”“Not until recently…” Matthew’s voice was gloomy but soon brightened as he thought of why there was an unofficial version now. He turned to Jerome and smirked “Guess who your nephew married?”To his disappointment, Jerome cried out in his usual exaggerated manner “Where did I get a nephew from? I am my father’s only son.” Before turning to his father and teasing “Father, you haven’t been up to mischief outside, have you?”“Is this why I was prohibited from going outside without a mask?” Jerome continued chuckling “Are you afraid that…..”“Shut up….” The older man slapped the back of Jerome’s head and muttered shaking his head “I cannot believe there are still miserable souls looking for you considering how insufferable you are….” His words and his body language were contradictory; the affection in his voice and eyes, the gratitude in his posture had com
Jerome lifted his eyebrows quizzically towards Cyan, who looked equally baffled; Neither could make sense of the duo’s ramblings and yet strangely, they could feel the regret and sadness emanating from them.“Did we know each other before?” Jerome turned back to the two sloths who were drowning in self- blame and asked cautiously.“Know???” Harry scoffed before shaking his head regretfully “No…. we don’t deserve to claim to know you… we couldn’t even find you in so many years…. How could we claim to know you?”They say men never cry and yet, streams of hot tears ran down the faces of the two men sitting before him and oddly this made his heart ache as well.The four men sat silently sipping their drinks, gloom looming in the room; no one dared to break the solemness in the room, partly because they didn’t know how to.Jerome, who was rarely short for words suddenly didn’t know what to say; he wasn’t sure if he had unknowingly hurt the two men in front of him.Matthew and Harry sunk int
“Search the whole mansion.” The man roared in anger “I want those old bastards before me in 5 minutes or I will skin you all alive.”The men, guards and servants all scattered in fear, searching frantically.Meanwhile, neither Matthew nor Harry was in a rush, they methodically searched the mansion, from one end to the other. Not only did they search all the rooms, but also the tunnels and secret rooms that not even the men in the mansion were aware of.The man stood frozen among the chaos as he heard cry of a goshawk; although the cry of a goshawk was strange in their mansion as there were no goshawks and no hunting grounds nearby to justify the sound, he seemed to be very familiar with this sound. He frowned trying to place the sound, only to have triggered a headache.“Chief are you alright?” one of the guards went forward and stretched out his hands in concern, in an attempt to steady his boss; the man slowly straightened his back and without any change or reflection of his inner tu
Matthew and Harry stood in front of the weird looking mansion with an unreadable expression. There was a reason for their mood; this was the very mansion that they had won in a gamble along with their dear friend, Jerome in their carefree younger days. The mansions aesthetics were the result of their rebellion towards the norms that existed regarding the do's and don’t of building mansions for nobility.They had never thought of this place as they had never returned after wining the bet and remodelling the place. Gradually as their days and exploits became too many to count on fingers, as their adventures and achievements started to leave a mark on every feat they undertook, as one of the first and more insignificant feat, this place seemed to lose its original lustre and was tucked away in their memories, only to be forgotten; But now that they were standing in front of it, how could they not remember?The trio had personally deformed the place with their own hands and with the guidan
Matthew left Southamberston palace in the wee hours of the morning, he didn’t take the carriage that was carefully prepared for him and took the horse that he had taken a fancy to and rode off; his first stop was his office to leave instructions for his assistant and also to let them know that he wouldn’t be coming in for the next 2 days due to urgent family matter.As soon as Matthew came out of the chamber of trade and book of hereditary rights, he saw Harry waiting anxiously, next to his ride, mounted and ready to bolt the minute he came.“You took the beauty even before I woke up…” Harry chuckled as he leaned forward and rubbed the mane of Matthew's ride “You didn’t play fair.”“Hur … .hur…hur…” Matthew chuckled smugly as he jumped on to his ride and the two friends rode, bickering non-stop just like the good old days.It took half a day of riding non-stop to reach the west end of the water tribe county, the poor horses were ridden to their death when they finally alighted at the i