“You dropped your sword, sweetheart. I won the fight.” Laurier declared with a victorious smile on his face. His hand was still around her waist and he looked down at her, watching her stare back at him in shock.
“Wha-What? How?” Raelynn muttered; her mind unable to process what had transpired just now.
“You lost concentration while fighting and you know what happens when you lose concentration.”
“But it was you. You were the one who distracted me.” Raelynn protested, still confused by the turn of events.
“Don’t you know
“There goes my desire to have a secret, thrilling love life in the river.” Raelynn complained, annoyance evident on her face and she shot cold daggers at Laurier. “It is all your fault.”“How is it my fault, Lady? I am as much of a victim as you are. They caught us being together, if you remember.” Laurier defended himself, putting up a mask of innocence. He knew what Raelynn was talking about. But he was not ready to accept the claims, not when he had good intentions at heart.“If you had not kissed me, we would not have ended up in this predicament.” Raelynn continued, unable to accept the sudden turn of events. Although she was not unhappy with how things had turned out, she had wished to have he
The next day, Cathal Bringe was ready to leave for the kingdom of Hollis. Accompanying him were four knight guards, one from each battalion. He had come to the palace first as the Lord had called him to have a small private chat. Eldrick and Cathal were now seated in the dining hall as they ate breakfast together. “Are all the preparations done, Minister Bringe?”“Yes, Milord. Everything is set and I’ll be leaving in a few hours.”“Good. I hope you will succeed in convincing Lord Dimitri. But it’s fine if you cannot, after all, he is a man who listens to none. If he is hellbent on waging a war against us, we will fight h
The courtroom session ended after the voting session and Cathal was all set to leave. Seeing his unwilling gaze, Raelynn knew that it was unfair for him. But he was the one who volunteered to be the messenger and although he could have withdrawn even today, he did not. So, she could not help him in any way. The man had decided on his own and everybody had agreed to it. However, she could still give him some words of advice for his own safety.Raelynn approached him with Laurier right behind her. He was not ready to leave her in the presence of the man alone when he was still not able to clear his suspicions of him. Moreover, everybody had already heard about him and Raelynn. So, there was nothing to hide from Cathal. “Minister Bringe, may
Laurier and Eldrick stood face to face, both not averting their gazes away from each other. This was the first time Laurier was meeting the Lord this close and it would be an understatement to say that he was nervous. He was more than nervous and his legs were shaking in anxiety. He had to use a lot of strength to stay in his place. The man before him had an aura so powerful that he did not know how to deal with him without annoying him. But Laurier knew that it was now or never. He had face Eldrick someday or the other and if today was the day, so be it. He used all the strength he had in him to appear bold and confident and he was being successful, or that was what he thought.“Knight Commander Laurier, how long have you known Raelynn?&r
“What were you two talking about?” Raelynn enquired as soon as they left the palace. She was eager to find out what the two men had spoken about in her absence and how things had turned out in their favor at the end. But with her brother present in the same room as them, she could not bring up the matter lest she should give an option for Eldrick to change his decision. So, Raelynn had waited until they left the palace before she questioned Laurier.“We had a man to man talk, Raelynn,” Laurier replied, his eyes for once not meeting her. It was not because he was unwilling to look at her. No. He was more concentrated on the commotion that was taking place in the market place.After leaving the palace, the couple had proceeded towards the market place. Although they knew it would not be easy to move past the crowd the place
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of kingdom Volar.Miranda sat alone as she took small bites of her lunch. She had ordered a cup of rice and some millet porridge as that was what she had seen her grandmother eat. She did not want to attract other people’s attention by ordering a hearty meal even though she was starving. It would make her look suspicious and that was the last thing she had in mind especially when she was close to her d
“Milady? Who are you talking about, Lady…?” The man left the sentence mid-way waiting for the girl to answer him.However, instead of answering him what he wanted, Miranda shook her head. “I apologize, kind Sir. I am not in a place to answer your questions, especially when I am suspicious about all people, including you until I meet the Lord. I hope you will understand the predicament I am in.” Miranda said with a helpless smile, hoping that the man would not give up on her just because she did not give him what he wanted.The man nodded at her, his eyes staring somewhere far behind her. He seemed to be lost in thoughts. ‘T
Eldrick and Minister Oakley arrived together at Fergus’s manor and the moment the people saw the Lord, they made way for him on impulse, unlike the way Raelynn and Laurier had to push their way forward through the mob. By now, the news of the merchant leader’s death had reached all ears and everybody was keen to find out what had happened. People swarmed to his place like bees making it burdensome for the guards.As soon as the people saw Eldrick, all the people bowed at him in respect. However, this time, the man did not even glance at the people like he usually did. His face had scrunched up and just by one glance, anybody could infer that the man was in a horrible mood. Provoking him at this time would only mean throwing themselves into the arms of danger.
Eldrick sat on the chair, his eyes not leaving the man who was kneeling before him. The two royal guards were standing beside him keeping him in check, while the other two guards stood outside the manor.Eldrick crossed his leg, his imposing aura impossible to ignore. He tilted his head with his lips pursed, and everybody could tell at once glance that he was beyond furious. And why wouldn't he be? Since the time he had set foot outside the castle, he had been uncovering shocking information one after the other. The day had been anything but pleasant, and Oakley wondered how much more would they uncover by the end of the day."Commander Carrier," Eldrick's voice resonated through the room. "Care to explain what we just witnessed." Although the Lord was giving an option for the man, everybody knew that it was not so. He was only ordering the man gently to do as he was told. Or else, the consequences would be dire.However, his threat did not affect the man,
Eldrick rode his carriage, thinking about Curtis's words again. 'Who is the Minister he was talking about?' He pondered over it, his mind unable to move away from the issue. 'Is he saying the truth, or is he just trying to deceive me?' Eldrick closed his eyes, his head throbbing in pain. The recent turn of events was too twisted and complicated, but it was not something Eldrick could not handle."Milord," Oakley had been observing Eldrick since the time they had left the warehouse. The Lord was lost in thoughts, not speaking the entire time. He had not said a word about what he had found out from the three men, and this was making the two ministers curious and anxious. Oakley's voice brought Eldrcik out of his thoughts, and he lifted his head in confusion. "Is everything fine, Milord? You seem lost and troubled.""Minister Oakley, I wonder if we should recruit new ministers and remove the older ones." Eldrick put forth his thoughts before the two ministers he trusted t
"Milord?" Curtis gaped at the Lord in horror, his eyes widening in trepidation. He shuddered at his words, and his palms turned clammy as time ticked by."Tell me, Curtis." Eldrick approached him slowly, his each step pushing the man closer to his doom. "How did you afford such expensive clothes? Where did you get the money from?""Mi-Milord," Curtis breathed, not knowing how to overcome the predicament he was in. It was as though the man had lost all his senses. He had even forgotten to lower his eyes and give Eldrick the respect he demanded. Curtis was frozen in his spot, and Kolan had no idea what was happening in the room.'Why is the Lord enquiring this assistant about his clothes rather than asking him Sir Fergus? What am I missing?' He pondered looking back and forth between the Lord and the assistant whose name he did not know."How many people are there in your family, Curtis?" Eldrick changed his question all of a sudden, and this ti
Ravi left the room and met the two other assistants who were waiting for him in anticipation. His calm gaze did not give anything away and the men could only frown at him. "Ravi, is everything fine? Are you fine?""Yes, I am fine. The Lord wants to meet you, Curtis." Ravi reiterated the Lord's orders, making Curtis's jaw drop."Why me?" He wailed, keeping his voice low so as to not alert the two ministers who were guarding the room."I don't know. It's best that you deal with it soon. The Lord seems vexed." Ravi stated calmly. However, the calmer he was, more the anxious Curtis became. He had just escaped the Lord's wrath, coming out alive from the lion's den. Now he was asked to go again. How could he do it?"Do you know the reason?" Curtis was almost about to cry and Ravi was sure that once the man stepped inside the room, he would be begging for his life given the way the Lord looked.Having no other choice, Curtis knocked at the door and
Hiro's happiness vanished, and his shoulders dropped hearing the Lord's determined words. "You may leave now and send the last man." Eldrick waved his hands and Hiro dejectedly left the room.The moment the two assistants saw him, they rushed him. "What happened? Why was the Lord furious?"Hiro snapped out of his miserable thoughts and shook his head at them. "Ah, that's nothing. Ravi, the Lord wants you to go in."Ravi narrowed his eyes at him, and he observed him closely. There was something strange in Hiro, but he could fathom what. Not wanting to make the Lord wait, Ravi entered the room after knocking at it.Eldrick was beyond infuriated. He was annoyed at Hiro and he still had another assistant to deal with. He could not control his frustration, and his face showed how he felt the moment Ravi entered.Ravi took a glance at the Lord to read his expression before he lowered his gaze. "Milord," He bowed at him politely, and Eldrick let out
"Shall we start from the beginning?" Eldrick stood up from his chair and walked around Hiro who was still slouching on the ground. Not once did he raise his head to meet the Lord in the eye, an action that he had rudely followed when he had entered the room a few minutes ago.Eldrick did not avert his gaze away from him while he continued walking. He only stopped when he was right behind him. Hiro did not dare turn towards his back and face the Lord. He was too petrified to even move. He had already annoyed the Lord by lying to him. He did not want to anger him more.Eldrick picked up the dagger that was lying by the door, and walked back to his chair, an action that did not go unnoticed by Hiro. His body stiffened as Eldrick approached him and he sat frozen in his place.Eldrick dropped the dagger on the table with a thud, the sound loud enough to send Hiro's heart thundering in fright."I expect an answer when I put forth a question." Eldrick gritted hi
After Curtis left the room, Eldrick had taken his eat on the chair, while he waited for the next man to enter. The dagger, he had removed earlier, lay on the table. Eldrick had not taken the effort to put it back to its original place.As soon as the man entered the room, his eyes fell on the Lord's face before they settled on the dagger that greeted him wholeheartedly. His eyes widened in disbelief and apprehension, and he could move his gaze away. Eldrick was amused to see his reaction. While Curtis had been scared to even lift his head and meet him in the eye, the second man was completely opposite to him.He had not only stared at him without showing him any respect, but he was also gaping at the dagger. Eldrick cleared his throat to gain the man's attention. He was younger than Curtis and from what he remembered, Eldrick was certain that he was the youngest among the three assistants."Are you done staring?" Eldrick chided him and the man blinked in c
"Why did you kill Fergus?" Eldrick's question made the man's eyes widen, and he dropped to his knees at once, bowing his head before him."Milord, I did not kill Sir Fergus. I am innocent. I did not kill him." He pleaded, his eyes tearing up in terror. "Milord, I did not kill anyone. Please, believe me."Eldrick narrowed his eyes, and he stared at the man trying to see through him. The man's body language did not seem strange. Although he was appalled and trembling, it was a reaction Eldrcik had already expected from him. "What is your name?" Eldrick did not ask him to get up, and the man had no choice but to stay on his knees."Curtis, Milord." The man replied without lifting his head."Curtis, say how many people are there in your family?" Although Eldrick's question was simple and harmless, Curtis knew that the Lord was threatening him, and he shuddered in fear."Milord," He cried, his mind unable to fathom what he had done wrong. "Please spare
"Call the helpers who were in the record section. I would like to interrogate them." Eldrick ordered Leander. Leander was just about to leave to follow his orders when the Lord stopped him. "Also, I want your workroom to be cleared out of all men. I want to speak to the assistants privately.Eldrick's orders stunned Leander, and he stood frozen in his place for a few moments. He had no idea what the Lord was thinking and why he wanted to interrogate them privately. Being wise he was, he had a hunch that it had to do with the three assistants and one among them knew crucial information that Eldick could use to find the murderer.Seeing Leander not moving from his place, Eldrick raised his eyebrows. "Is there a problem?"His sudden question brought the man out of his stupor and he shook his head immediately in fear. "No, no, Milord. I will leave right away." Leander scurried away like a scared rat, leaving Eldrick with Kolan and Oakley. They were at the main secti