Valentin stepped from the hay and dirt floors of the main room onto wooden floors of Ferron’s private room. It was highly spacious, more so than expected. It was likely Ferron’s own resources went into its construction. Scattered furs and pelts carpeted the floor. A large map of Western Strettia was hung up on the wall above a massive mattress.
Attendees sat on cushions around a small wooden table that had a smaller map of a different region unfurled and pinned to it. Various markings and notes littered the map and intrigued the boy to its purpose. Valentin stood on the outskirts of the group flanked by Morna and the crimson man.
Once everyone had settled, Ferron spoke in a low voice. His personality had returned to calm and his dominance of the situation reemerged. His imperial eyes focused on the lone child in his presence.
“Who are you?” Ferron asked.
“My name is Valentin Duvin,” the boy answered concisely and with a small bow. “My parents are Marion and Roland Duvin.”
“Duvin, Duvin…” Ferron mulled the name over as though he had been familiar with it which served to encourage the boy. However, the connection was not made. “Why are you in Lutant?”
“Because I sought your protection. I was told that you were one of the strongest men in Strettia,” Valentin answered with veiled enthusiasm. After all, this was the man at the center of many of Gilles’ stories. An indomitable figure that forced strategists to consider him as much as they would and entire deg.
Ferron rapped his fingers on the table and a look of contemplation crossed his face. “Protection from what?”
Valentin cast furtive looks to either side of him at the warriors and witch that surrounded him. He didn’t wish to be rude but he did not trust the people in this room. The boy wrung his hands in hesitation to divulge everything. Did Gilles plan on telling Ferron the truth?
“Go on,” Ferron pressed. “Protection from what?”
Valentin took a deep breath in. He couldn’t afford to be rejected by Ferron and potentially take Morna’s offer. Gilles spoke of Ferron in a high regard and Valentin needed to trust in the man that his uncle believed in.
“The winged lion.”
“The fuck did you do to piss off Rilleon?” A man with a thick mustache asked incredulously at the reference to their sovereign.
“Hubert,” Ferron raised his hand and the man begrudgingly moved away. “How old are you, Valentin Duvin?”
“My twelfth Killicia recently passed,” Valentin replied dutifully
“And what did the stone say about your blood?” Ferron asked.
Valentin swallowed, this would be the first time that he admitted the results of his Bloodstone to anyone. Somewhere inside him he had hoped that it had just been a dream but he never woke up at home.
“It broke.”
Ferron slapped his hands on the table and rose to his feet. The sound made everyone briefly flinch and Valentin moved a half step away from the man. Ferron chuckled under his breath as everyone else looked on in surprise. Nobody was more surprised than Morna who stared at the boy, her face contorted in a look of realization.
“Truly?” Ferron asked, his golden-specked eyes glowing in anticipation of confirmation.
“Truly,” Valentin confirmed and nodded vigorously for extra effect. “I’ve had people trying to claim my life since the ceremony ended. My uncle, Gilles, claimed that a seer must have…well, seen it.”
“Where are your pursuers now?” The old warrior questioned.
“I lost them shortly after reaching the Jerv Forests and I have not seen them since,” Valentin rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. “Though I doubt that they would give up so easily.”
The old warrior spoke up. “It sounds to me that you may have found the cause of the strange sightings you briefed us on earlier, Hubert.”
The mustached man scratched his cheek with a look of annoyance. He directed his gaze of daggers towards the woman that stood beside Valentin. “It is certainly possible that the things our scouts felt were watching them and the prints they occasionally found were, in fact, Rilleon agents.”
Ferron sighed, “Well by the looks on you and Morna’s faces, it appears Morna did not realize what she had possession of and you, Hubert, had no idea all of this was happening under your nose. No matter, your ignorance can be used to our advantage.” The warband leader addressed the Vice Deggan while Hubert tried to conceal his frustration, “I don’t begrudge the effort though, Morna. You knew you had something good on your hands, it was just too much for you.”
Valentin glanced at the woman, her eyes filled with a nervous terror. Her hand shaking with fear at Ferron’s words and Hubert’s scowl. The boy had yet to see this side of the woman and he was feeling affected by the emotions that exuded out of her. What sort of horrific individuals could cow the vicious Morna in this way? He had already seen the results of another man’s wounded pride and did not want to be introduced to it again.
“I made a pact with Morna for my presence to be made a secret to everyone until your return, Ferron. I was only told to trust you and worried that deals would be struck in your absence. I can only imagine how much my pursuers could offer in exchange for me. I did not reveal my identity to Morna but she seemed to get ideas of exchanging a ransom for her own gain.” Valentin explained using Gervin’s story during dice as a base.
Ferron made eye contact with Valentin and held it as though he were trying to forcefully sniff out the truth like a hunting dog for its quarry. Valentin tried to maintain the stare down for as long as possible before glancing away.
Once he looked away he noticed Morna’s face was covered in relief. It quickly evolved into one of her playful smiles and Valentin closed his eyes. He wanted to tell her it was to avoid making any enemies with the men she feared, but, he too, was nervous in the face of Ferron’s presence. Maybe, he should have left her to the wolves and faced his own consequences.”
The man grunted and Valentin was unsure if his story was believed. “How astute, Valentin. You have sharp instincts to not blindly trust others with such valuable information. There you have it, Hubert, you were only kept blind by a binding oath.”
The offended Deggan seemed to calm a bit and relaxed his posture slightly. The explanation seemed to offer some salve to the shame directed at his leadership. He still gave his subordinate a side eye.
“I wouldn’t have trusted you either, Ferron, if my uncle hadn’t spoken your praises,” Valentin clarified.
The old warrior made a move but Ferron just laughed instead. “Then I have to thank your uncle for his efforts in winning you over. Who was he?”
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“Gilles Duvin. He quit around fifteen cycles ago.”
Ferron once again was trying to remember. “Hrost,” he addressed the old warrior. “Do you remember someone named Gilles Duvin from around then? I can’t quite get the right face to appear in my head.”
“I remember a man named Gilles of a different clan,” Hrost took a similar contemplative pose as his leader. “Boy, did he tell you any stories? Names of his deg mates?”
Valentin recalled the stories that he would beg his uncle to tell him about his days adventuring. Little snippets and tales offered after chores or whenever Marion was out of earshot. The retellings of heroics and death defying escapades would make the boy’s eyes light up and his dreams fill with vague images of dangerous journeys. Remembering those stories was jarring to the boy now that he was introduced to the warband today.
“Most of his stories that weren’t about Ferron were about people named Sleibhin and Yvonne,” Valentin explained, hoping that his uncle wasn’t embellishing.
“Guerros,” the old warrior said, immediately shaking his head. “Must have changed his name.”
Ferron nodded. “Yes, I remember that deg very well. They were all recruited during the end of my father’s time. Now that was a group of killers,” the war leader chuckled as he reminisced. “I still speak to the other two from time to time and now I know what Gilles was up to all these cycles ago. He never wrote to me, you know.”
Valentin was confused by the way Ferron talked about Gilles. “Changed his name? I was told that my father’s side was clanless.”
“Never mind that for now,” Ferron stated, dismissing the topic. “You come seeking protection, what are you offering in exchange for it?”
“My father was prepared to pay you handsomely in exchange for your protection,” Valentin replied quickly. “I don’t know the amount but I’m sure it is up for negotiation.”
“Assuming that the Duvin Estate still exists,” Ferron responded.
Valentin’s chest tightened and his heart felt constricted. “What do you mean, ‘still exists’?”
“Well, Heir Hunts have a history of ending in excessive bloodshed. I remember when an entire village was executed one by one until the Heir they were hunting was procured. Well, it was officially a raid by deserters if you were to ask about it. Though if they are already here it means…” The man’s voice trailed off and Valentin began to panic with worry over his family.
“H-how,” Valentin began to stammer, hoping that the mercenary was mistaken.
“How do I know?” Ferron finished Valentin’s question. “I know, because I was paid to cover it up. By the Supreme Rilleon himself. I found some bandits that looked menacing enough, butchered them, and closed everything nicely.”
Valentin’s heart was pounding through his chest. He had not considered the thought that they would do anything other than hunt him down. If they were capable of turning villages to ash, what would they have done to Roucotte?
Ferron approached the boy and towered over him. “So I ask again, what are you offering for your life?”
Valentin was having difficulty retaining composure. He was taught not to crack in front of the person you were negotiating with, but the information that everyone that he knew and loved may have been killed already was writhing in his mind like a parasite. It was only natural that Ferron wouldn’t make a trade over money he may never get, but what else was there for Valentin to use as a bargaining chip?
He shook his head. He couldn’t afford to be careless like he had been with Morna. Any agreement that he made had to have clearer terms, lest he repeat his mistakes.
Ferron knelt down to meet the boy face to face. “I’ll make a suggestion. Instead of just offering protection, how about I teach you how to be a proper Storm Heir? I can show you how to use those powers and wield a weapon. You can become a legendary warrior if you want.”
“A legendary warrior?” His eyes sparkled at the idea of becoming someone of tales. He hadn’t expected that offer.
“Aye,” Ferron rustled Valentin’s hair. “In exchange, I need your help with something that I’ve been working on for some time. Your uncle, for a time, was helping me with it. Would you like to know what it is?”
The boy’s nodding prompted Ferron to continue. Of course he wished to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. “You see, someone stole my grandfather’s land and title from him. Their descendants sit on a throne that belongs to me. I need your help to get rid of those nasty people. Do you want to help me?”
“Are you sure that I can be someone that can do that? Me?” Valentin asked. He had barely managed to conjure favor, let along get in a real fight.
The man smiled warmly and Valentin felt something genuine from his words. “I do believe that. Jaela saw it.”
“With respect,” Hrost stepped in. His harsh facial expression made Valentin shrink away. “The vision also said that the hammer was broken. Isn’t it possible that taking him with us will prove fatal?”
“Standing and waiting is proving to be just as fatal,” Ferron countered with annoyance. “It’s been three generations and time will eat away at my prime years too. The people will be accustomed to their rule if we do not act while I still breathe. I’m willing to stake much on this gamble, Hrost. If that doesn’t sit well with you, you all have always been allowed to come and go as you please.”
With that, dissent had been squashed and the rest of the room stood quietly in wait of the boy’s response to the offer. Valentin had been stunned by Ferron’s confidence in his ability and the expectations that would suddenly be hoisted on him. He was believed in. He was needed. There was an opportunity before him where he could prove himself. He could reclaim his standing and use it to truly help Bassett and the others.
“I’ll do it,” Valentin replied as strongly as he could.
“Excellent,” Ferron jovially returned to his feet. “Great things are before us, boy. As of now, Valentin Duvin is no more.”
“Huh?” The words sputtered involuntarily out of Valentin’s mouth.
“We will use Hubert’s lack of reaction to your arrival over the many days to claim that you never reached me. For all intents and purposes, you are deceased. If they believe you are lost or killed in the woods, it will be the end of it. If any of your family members are still living, they will be left alone afterwards. If you’d like, you may keep the name Valentin. It is not so uncommon. I believe there is one in Arthus’ deg.”
“If it’s to make sure nobody else gets hurt,” Valentin spoke softly.
“Hrost, collect some warriors and wait in front of the longhouse,” Ferron instructed. “I want to go out and see these mysterious phenomena myself. For everyone else, I plan on having a formal meeting with the Chief tomorrow. I’d like for you all to attend. You will not be required, Jaela.”
The attendees bowed and shuffled out of the room leaving the warband leader alone with Valentin. The man reached down for a mug that wasn’t there and cursed under his breath. He then gave Valentin a mischievous smile that looked almost menacing on his frame.
“So, what’s going on between you and Morna?” Ferron asked with curiosity, once he knew that the rest were out of earshot.
The boy stiffened reflexively. “What are you talking about?”
“Well for starters, she tried to hide you from me, held your hand during Jaela’s reading, and watched you for most of our discussion just now. It’s peculiar for someone like her,” Ferron remarked. “So what happened?”
“The terms of our deal were…crueler than I had been led to believe. I do not want anything more to do with that woman.” Valentin’s voice trembled with distress as he recounted his experiences under the guard of the warrior.
“So you were forced upon then?” Ferron inquired for confirmation and the boy nodded. “I am surprised that it was her that behaved that way. As much as it may hurt to hear, I ask that you not let the fact that you were an unwilling partner leave this room.”
Valentin whipped his head up in surprise. “Why? Is she not going to be punished for it?”
“Punished? If I were to punish Morna for this, I’d have to punish most of my warband too,” Ferron remarked with furrowed brows. “If I am to have an army that will reclaim my city, I have to make certain…concessions to make them happy. It is something that all armies inevitably deal with, as distasteful as it is.”
Detecting Valentin’s surprise and disappointment at his words, Ferron attempted to console the boy. “What occurred was unfortunate and I will ensure that it is not repeated. However, you will need to come to terms that many dark transgressions occur in this world and that they will continue to happen as long as life persists. Morna is highly popular, those that fancy her will not tolerate your negative stories about her. If anything, they’d be highly jealous of your encounters.”
“Jealous? What is there to envy?” Valentin balled his fists up and tears formed in his eyes in frustration from his lack of justice. He could not understand why anyone would want to have been him in those moments.
“I will make it clear to her that if it happens again, she will be punished,” Ferron stated with authority. “You do not have to worry about her.”
“Why would she be punished if it happens again but not any of the other times?” Valentin asked, not understanding the difference.
“You’re somebody now and I promised to protect you. Before today you were just a lost boy of no value, that’s just how it is,” Ferron answered with a shrug. “I cannot punish Morna for ignorance.”
Ferron reached down and grabbed the handle of a hammer. At the end was a large forged lump of iron covered in runic symbols. He balanced the heft in his hand and looked satisfied with it. “If you would excuse me, I need to entertain some other guests and put this chase to rest.”
“I thought you were just going to talk to them.”
Ferron grinned before departing the room and leaving Valentin by himself. “This is what lets me talk to them.”