> The Historian put his expensive, engraved white-gold quill down, the parchment thickly written in rich black ink and in that flowing elegant style few could read. He pushed his round glasses on the bridge of his nose and set his tired eyes on him.
>
> There was a touch of sadness in his stare.
>
> “I didn’t catch your name,” He said in his cultured voice, grey hair combed expertly on his head and deep wrinkles around his mouth forming hearing his response.
>
> “Toutatis. That’s not a common name,” He noticed. “The ancient word for the god of War. Tyeus.”
>
> “People just call me Tout,” Tout told him stretching his long sinewy legs, boots carrying the dirt of the road. “I’m a traveler.”
>
> “Friend of my wife?” He asked with a small smile. “Haven’t seen one around here in a while.”
>
> Yet, there was always one lurking.
>
> “Another was to come, check on her… well-being,” Tout replied measuring his words, sole eye on the door of the veranda cracking open just a hair. The old assassin behind it listening in. “Things happened back home that needed his undivided attention.”
>
> “Where’s home?”
>
> Where Wyverns roam.
>
> “It’s a distant land named Dan,” Tout replied and watched him standing up straighter, as if a jolt had run through him. The old man turning to a younger version of himself, remembering of past horrors and unresolved mysteries. “You shouldn’t know it, yet you do.”
>
> The Historian cleared his throat and glanced at his scrolls nervously.
>
> “I served a man years ago that knew of things… history has lost,” He sighed sadly. “Or shall never allow to see the light of day.”
>
> “Secrets are like that, they hide in whispers. They also never go away,” Tout elucidated, eyeing the door. He had to turn his head, as his left eye was missing. Half his face was slightly distorted, as if the flesh had been removed at one point in the past, then put back together without stitches.
>
> By memory and a sorceress magic.
>
> “Is that why you are here?”
>
> “Nah, I just came to check on her,” Tout replied with a hideous smile, hearing her gasp realizing who he was. “And the boy.”
>
> They remain hidden, but there.
>
> Like Oras mark.
----------------------------------------
Lord Storm Nattas
Baron of Moon's Haven
You think the King is a fool?
----------------------------------------
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The rat’s eyes were small and black. Two soulless pools of darkness. The rodent turned its head back on the bronze plate with the lukewarm beans and started slurping at the runny mixture. If one had never seen diarrhea in his life but really wanted to, there’s a fucking prime example of it, Storm thought scrunching his nose in disgust.
“I need that plate,” Pardo the dungeon guard said, looking through the small square opening. He’d a large mouth, a flat nose and eyes too close together. It’s as if his face has morphed itself at some point in order to fit in that opening, Storm thought with a grimace, turned into a thin smile.
“Give the rat a couple of minutes to finish up,” He retorted, hands clasped behind his back. “Just gobbles them motherfuckers down.”
“Fine beans yesterday,” Pardo agreed, apparently in a talking mood today.
Having said that…
“It’s this morning’s meal,” Storm noted with a frown.
Pardo returned his stare blankly.
“Fine beans,” He repeated to get his point across.
Not to be wasted.
“That’s what the rat said,” Storm deadpanned. “Wasn’t convinced then, I ain’t buying it now.”
“Hmm.”
“Yeah,” Storm agreed at that and went to get the plate. Just looking at it turned his stomach and he was hungry as a wolf keeping a harem of bitches. For four days he’d only had bread and a piece of bacon.
At least it looked like it.
Looking back Storm realized he could have been wrong. Sud –the rat- did appear rather pensive when they first met. Losing a mate can do that to you.
Pardo took the plate and walked away slowly.
“Hey, are you going to clean that? You know, wash it some with water and soap?” Storm asked trying to look out from the small opening of his prison cell. It wasn’t a dungeon, more like the basement under Aegium’s City Guards building, but it was built as poorly as one would expect. The poor light coming in from a round hole, the same Sud used to come in and out to eat Storm’s meals.
Pardo paused and turned almost unseen, as he was standing at the end of the narrow hallway near the stairs.
“Why?” He asked nigh perturbed.
“Aye,” Storm agreed his chin lodged at the hardwood, his eyes ogling to catch a glimpse of the outside world. The first days locked up were easier as he’d slept a lot and thought of stuff that could help him out, assuming everyone else was still working for him. Then the first days go by and you can’t sleep so much anymore as you aren’t tired. The lack of light is depressing as fuck and the lack of proper food is causing your arse to be constantly hungry. You start walking around your cell a lot like a crazy person, the tiny space headache inducing and even more boring than watching paint on the wall dry.
But hey, you make friends, if you are lucky.
“Don’t crap on my mattress,” Storm said returning to his crude chair to sit down. Sud stared at him whilst defecating. “Yeah, that’s a good spot.”
Storm sighed and went to have some water, but there was a centipede inside it fighting for its life and he poured it all down. Washed some of Sud’s shit away after killing it. Sud didn’t mind, he feasted on the dead insect next.
“They probably put Jeremy in charge by now,” He explained to the burping rat. A fat rat, lots of meat on him, Storm noticed, then remembered that piece of ‘funny’ tasting bacon. “Which means everyone else gets to make decisions for him, unless he grows a backbone. Maybe he will, but there’s not much he can do. Doris will have a say, others as well. Scaldingport will have one eye on him and the other on the throne of Kaltha, assuming Antoon croaked his last.”
This surely through a wrench into the works for them.
“You never know what will come out of a Queen’s belly,” He continued, the rat listening to him, or sleeping with its eyes open. “I know how it sounds, but it’s the truth. They get a girl and it’s just a matter of time afore someone gets up in a Council meeting and asks all curious. Why not use the girl we have? It’s all grown up. Tits, arse the whole nine yards. She might have an heir soon, surely will live more than a baby everyone wants a piece of. Right?”
The rat snorted and started furiously cleaning its snout with both front legs.
Gulping down things with so many legs can do that to you.
Or Sud was just seeing his point.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Storm agreed, wanting to finish their conversation. “Only an idiot would leave that to chance.”
“Where is he?” Someone asked from the hallway taking his cue.
“Third cell, end of the corridor Lord Commander,” Pardo replied.
Fluvius Noster, Aegium’s Commander of the City Guard, Storm thought getting up.
“I may come back,” He told the staring rat. “Or I may not. In either case, I want you to know ye need to work on your speech Sud. You’re boring as fuck. Work on it pal with gusto, else you aren’t seeing another rat cunt again.”
----------------------------------------
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“Big night?” Storm asked, the rigidly walking beside him officer. Commander Noster was sporting a shiny chainmail vest and a thick white gambeson underneath a long red cape. Cavalry boots that reached his knees and a fine goatee that put Lord Nattas’ uncombed one to shame.
Probably.
Storm hadn’t seen his face in a mirror for days and catching a glimpse of it in the urine container didn’t count.
“Lots of people came for the king’s coronation. It’s been a hectic schedule these past days,” Noster a man of Storm’s age, replied crooking his mouth.
“Really? Must have been a huge surprise how they managed it,” Storm taunted. “Given it was done in such a hurry.”
“The whole of Aegium was present,” Noster grunted.
“In the Temple of Tis? Must have been a tight squeeze,” Storm commented in the same vein. “Wasn’t she a priestess of Naossis? I bet it turned into a riot!”
“A priest of Uher ordained the ceremony, King Jeremy was declared afore the Five Gods, their priests, the Lords of the Realm and his people,” Noster spat angrily and stopped before the guarded door. They were inside Lord Doris palace again.
“Good grief dear Noster!” Storm chuckled, eyeing the tensed guards. “Don’t tell me you’ve actually found a priest of Luthos for the event haha,” His face getting a serious tone afore adding. “I don’t believe you. I’ll have you know sir, yer credibility has just taken a hit.”
Commander Noster grimaced and signed for the guards to open the door.
“I’ll have you know,” He hissed in Storm’s ear. “Nobody likes you Lord Nattas, or will miss ye, when yer gone.”
Eh, Storm thought. As if I didn’t know that!
----------------------------------------
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“A vote to have you punished for fornicating with a royal,” Lord Doris said looking at him over a large table in his high-ceiling, well-lit and ventilated office. The room they were inside next to his throne room. “Was unsurprisingly unanimous. Everyone present agreed you have no redeeming qualities.”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“I lie less than you,” Storm deadpanned, a little offended.
Had an old whore reach a fainting orgasm in Alden of all fuckin’ places, among other things.
Lord Doris rolled his eyes.
“What did Lord Holt say?” Storm asked to prove his point.
“He wasn’t present,” Lord Doris replied with a scowl.
“To the meeting or the coronation?” Storm taunted in good form.
Lord Doris glared at him. “Lord Nattas the punishment for this vile offence is beheading after thorough mutilation.”
Storm grimaced and nodded.
I guess it’s time for the nasty parts. Although starting with the worst outcome possible leaves no wiggle room to maneuver later. Either Lord Doris don’t give a shit and wants this finished, or he has a long meaty cock up his arse and can’t remove it without extra lubrication.
Or information.
Storm was a bottomless well of secrets.
“Kaltha was dealt a huge blow,” Lord Doris said measuring his words. Storm shifted his weight on his feet. He didn’t expect Doris to offer him a seat. “King Antoon is injured… apparently it’s very serious.”
Storm nodded.
“Queen Nienke is dead,” Lord Doris added and Storm raised his eyebrows in the tiniest of fractions. This was a surprise, he thought. Had Maja gone for the wipe? It seemed uncharacteristically risky for her. She should be on her way back by now for crying out loud!
Not killing babies.
“Wasn’t she pregnant?” He asked casually.
“She had a son,” Lord Doris grunted. “Antoon’s line is secured for now.”
“Very fortunate,” Storm commented. “Whilst horrible of course.”
“Well, it’s a mess. The heir is in Midlanor apparently. The announcement was made by one of Lord Anker’s envois in court two days ago.”
“The bird came straight here?”
“A lot of people are interested in such news lord Nattas.”
“I take it by your expression not all lords declared for him?”
Lord Doris eyed him with hatred. “Kaltha is sharing our problems it seems,” He grunted.
Thanks to me, Storm thought.
“Which creates a diplomatic nightmare,” Lord Doris continued looking at his scrolls. “Not easily solved.”
“Where does Scaldingport stand?” Storm asked.
“Lord Ruud is very parsimonious on his intentions.”
The old Crow is looking for the coup de grace afore he leaves this world, Storm thought. The Queen of Regia is a crow, can he have a son on the throne of Kaltha? Hmm, he does have a son on Eplas last I checked, where the Princess resides.
“How many lords stand behind Antoon’s son?” Storm asked with a frown.
“Lord Anker’s allies. The problem is he lost Krakenhall and the North is… well nobody knows what the hell is going on there. The Lakelords are their usual shifty selves and Riverdor with Badum whilst loyal to Antoon, are obviously stunned at Midlanor’s brazen appropriation of the boy.”
“People are pushing for Elsanne,” Storm translated. “Why? She is still married to a Cofol Prince.”
“The war with the Khan has no end in sight,” Lord Doris replied. “The Princess has the potential to end it upon assuming the throne. The Khan won’t fight his son.”
You don’t know that.
You’ll also surrender Kaltha to the Horselord. He steps a hoof on Jelin, then he is coming for Regia. Are you blind, or stupid?
“Lord Sula refused to bend the knee,” Lord Doris said his lips pressed tight. “He has trained soldiers and coin enough to be a problem, especially if Lord Holt insists on being a stubborn old fool.”
“Lord Holt is a patriot Lord Doris,” Storm reminded him. “He won’t fight Lorians, but he’ll never accept Jeremy also. He’ll follow King Alistair’s orders to his last breath. If Asturia joins with Demames you have a big problem.”
“Lord Sula is blockaded from the coast and if he moves against Aegium, Lord Ursus will cross the Salty River and attack his city with the help of Cartagen.”
“If you move against Demames, Lord Holt will come down from Asturia. Anorum is a small city, but a city of veterans’ none-the-less, he can field two Legions worth of soldiers against you. Experienced troops that can march down the Lorian Plains—”
“The Legion answers to the King of Regia!” Lord Doris blasted him standing up.
“What you have in Alden perhaps,” Storm continued. “But those living up there and in Lord Holt’s lands will rise to his banner, especially if Lucius comes out of the North.”
“Ah, Lucius is on a fool’s crusade,” Lord Doris replied and clasped his hands behind his back. “The Crulls will trap him afore the mountain passes and the closer he comes to Regia, the closer the fool is to Sovya. With Antoon and Kaltha leaderless the Duke is probably salivating at the opportunity to avenge his daughter’s death.”
“Lucius had nothing to do with that Lord Doris,” Storm said.
“As if I would believe a word coming out of your mouth,” Lord Doris hissed. “As if anyone would. You are a degenerate cretin Nattas. A vile creature that despoiled my sister…” He paused to breathe deeply and calm himself down. “You brought us into this mess with your rotten character and you would have been dead already had Jeremy not stopped me.”
Ah.
There it is then, Storm thought. The reason you still have a cock and of course limbs. One would argue without cock one doesn’t need the limbs.
But Storm wasn’t of the same opinion.
The question now was why?
“Where is she?” Lord Doris asked, answering him that query and Storm stood back deeply moved. Sudi had come through for him. Ah, ye stupid ugly bastard. I’ll make sure you live the few years you’ve left in relative peace. Give ye a good burial, not anything fancy, but decent.
After I get out of this fucking mess.
“Where is my sister Lord Nattas?”
Storm smacked his lips and scratched his left ear, pulling at the lobe for a few annoying moments.
For Lord Doris.
“She was with Sir Barnard the last time I saw her,” He replied faking innocence.
“Sir Barnard is gone as well!”
A good man would jump at the opportunity to save his Queen.
“Ah, there then,” Storm said. “You have yer culprit,” Smearing his reputation without an ounce of guilt.
“Sir Barnard? Are you serious?”
Yes. I’m seriously lying.
“That old horny dog had his eye on her Lord Doris,” Storm replied eyeing him knowingly. “You’ve seen how he defended her with yer own eyes. Frankly, I was shocked, aye.”
“You irredeemable piece of foul shite,” The Lord Treasurer growled irate. “I know it was you! You’ve knocked her up after seducing her—”
“I never touched your sister,” Storm lied sounding affronted, his delivery perfect. “Nor is she pregnant for all I know. You’ve gotten me ambushed the other day sir. Why, I stand bewildered even now at the news. I have no reason to take you on yer word afore examining her myself, or use an independent professional to avoid the scandal of fingering her private parts.”
He could have used a better word there admittedly, but he was on a roll and couldn’t stop himself. Fortunately Lord Doris was too riled up to delve in the minutiae.
“What manner of bullshit is this? Admitted it herself and Dottore Epolonius—”
“I’ll admit I suck cock behind the Hippodrome under duress Lord Doris and Epolonius is a senile old man that has a grunge against me for which I can readily produce witnesses to the fact, is that your evidence? I’d like my case brought in front of a Judge Lord Doris,” Storm said. “As a matter of fact, I insist. I suggest Judge Curtis of Novesium. He’s incorruptible.”
Meaning he couldn't possibly be corrupted more. The man was thoroughly cooked.
“Jeremy wants to know where she is,” Lord Doris hissed, pressing two fingers on the bridge of his nose. “You will answer to the King Lord Nattas.”
Of course he does.
“I will say the same thing,” Storm replied. “Because it is the truth. You’ve threatened to cut her up Lord Doris. What did you expect she would do? Even if she slept with a knight, or two. Who the fuck are we to judge that grieving woman? Hells, I can see how she might not want to stay anywhere near you. What do you think King Jeremy will say, if he learns you wanted the only mother the boy has ever known slain?”
Sorry love, I have to whore you out a bit for a good cause.
“You think the King is a fool?” Aye, I do. “Jeremy will never buy into your drivel Lord Nattas.”
“I could find Miranda… if I was spared the guillotine,” Lord Doris smiled at his slip up, but Storm grimaced and continued. “What do you think is more important for him?”
“Your bastard shall never be seated on this, or any throne Lord Nattas,” Lord Doris warned him a tad pompously and as if he could see the future. “I’ll make sure of that.”
No ye won’t.
You’ll be sleeping with the fishes soon.
“I only have a daughter Lord Doris. Quite the trouble she is,” Storm said faking honesty, as if to reason with him. “Wish I was worthy of your sister’s affections, but I’m not.”
Lord Doris scrunched his face this way and that, disgusted with his theater.
“You actually expect me to believe that?”
“If Jeremy believes it, it won’t matter whether you do, or not,” Baron Nattas had replied with a casual shrug and he was right.
> With a livid Lord Sula blocking the coastal road towards Cartagen, at first it was suggested King Jeremy and Queen Janneke be escorted to Cartagen under Lord Brakis’ fleet protection, but seeing as the aging admiral could barely maintain a loose blockade on the port of Demames as things stood, it was decided to have the couple move to Alden instead. Aegium was not a city built to withstand a direct assault. Prefect Faustus Ligur was ordered to bring the Legion down the coastal road and to Aegium to keep the Lord of Demames contained.
>
> The events in Kaltha had paralyzed the neighboring kingdom, but nowhere was this as apparent as on Eplas. The army was left leaderless for a crucial period that summer, despite Lord Anker’s efforts to secure supplies and reinforcements. The fleet had been dealt a huge blow with the loss of Krakenhall and several of the sailors had lost family and their homes.
>
> Whilst Caspo O’ Bor would quickly absorb all those forces and ships to its great benefit, it boosted the large port city so much in men and wars vessels, Duke Rinus Van De Aesst and self-proclaimed High Admiral of Kaltha started having ideas of his own about the war. He ordered the fleet back to port over Lord Anker’s furious objections, in order to prepare for a direct naval assault at Rida.
>
> The biggest problem was dealing with the rebels that flocked to raise Elsanne’s banner. The matter had paralyzed Lord Anker’s Third Foot that moved to secure Issir’s Eagle and squash the rebellion, whilst the Second Foot was half on Eplas and the other half still recovering in Riverdor.
>
> Lord Sigurd Bach, became the front man of a shady coalition of several more prominent lords that hid behind him. Kaltha’s Master of Silence was also in a precarious situation as he had to secure first and foremost the person so many believed should succeed King Antoon. The first order of business was smearing young Antoon the third, starting a vicious campaign questioning and even ridiculing the legitimacy of what was to be known as the ‘Fake Heir’, or later Antoon the Phony, of Midlanor.
>
> The second order was securing Princess Elsanne survived and escaped Eplas and the Great Khan’s claws. It was something that would plague the cunning and persistent Priest of Oras for a long time and make him Lord Anker’s biggest headache.
>
>
>
> Lord Sirio Veturius
>
> Circa 208 NC
>
> The Fall of Heroes
>
> (Lost)* Chapter IV
>
> (Lord Storm Nattas,
>
> Regia’s Master of Silence
>
> Queen dowager’s Shield,
>
> Baron of Moon’s Haven, Ruler of the Turtle Isles
>
> And Keeper of the Golden Forest.
>
> -Also known as the ‘Abominable Cripple’ and the ‘Principal of Secrets’)
>
> Volume III
>
> Secrets O’ Whispers
>
> -A harsh lesson in politics-
>
> Unknown date, probably sometime in the summer of 190 NC)
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
>
>
> *(Voluminous fourth chapter was omitted in the first edition, scraped completely in all subsequent versions, but was widely circulated in the upper echelons of Jelin’s nobility. The only complete copy of Lord Veturius Fall of Heroes resides today in the sealed Sorceress Hall in Dan.)