Chapter 546: The Honor of Nobles
Evelyn stared at the anger oozing out of Elena, then she glanced at Tauri’s guilt-ridden face, and Stryg’s consigned expression. “Tauri…?”
Her daughter stiffened at her name but she couldn’t meet her mother’s gaze.
“Gods, what have you done, child?” whispered Evelyn.
Tauri slowly raised her eyes and met Evelyn’s stern glare. She licked her lips and swallowed hard, “...I…”
Elise Veres sipped her wine and gave the couple a wide side glance.
Stryg’s ears felt like they had been stuffed with cotton. Everything sounded distant, as if behind a blurred glass wall. He could hardly grasp all the emotions running through the table, but when he saw Tauri everything else fell silent. The guilt in her amber eyes, the way her scarlet lip trembled, her pained expression… Stryg mustered what little focus he had and grabbed her hand. He turned to her parents, eyes resolute. “If you wish to brandish your anger, aim it at me.”
Tauri flinched at his touch and she tried to pull her hand from underneath his, but his grip was steadfast. Anxiously glancing between her stunned family members and her lover, she whispered harshly, “Stryg, no, this isn’t the time—!”
“Tauri,” said Evelyn in an icy voice. “We should take this somewhere else.”
The nobles sitting at the other tables in the main hall were drinking and eating merrily, for now. The last thing Evelyn wanted was to cause a scene and show them all a chink in their armor. The Katag and Veres Houses needed to appear united, a strong alliance that they could all rally behind.
Krall lowered his fork and knife, though his grip tightened around them until his knuckles were white. “...What are your intentions for my daughter, Aspirant?”
“Which one?” asked Stryg.
Everyone at the table stiffened at his question, save for Plum who sighed and covered her face in disappointment.
Elena glared at Stryg sitting next to her, tears in her eyes. He looked at her, a question on his lips, but he stopped, and really looked at her. His mind still felt like a haze had been thrown over it, but even in his unfocused state, he could see the pain in her expression.
He realized for the first time that he had hurt Elena. Stryg had never given much thought to her before. At first, she only had been a part of the Katag alliance, a woman he had to marry so that he could protect himself and his tribe from those who would seek to take advantage of a budding Ebon Aspirant. He supposed they would eventually get to know one another, but that seemed relatively unimportant at the time.
Then he found Tauri at the pool on that lonely morning. It was only the two of them, no longer student and teacher, but colleagues far from home. She had been different. One thing led to another and Stryg found himself opening up to her, as had she. After that morning, Elena had become an afterthought, nothing more. His eyes had been settled on Tauri. He’d be lying if lust hadn’t played a large part in his pursuit of Tauri, but it was true that he loved her, and that had seemed enough until tonight.
Now, Stryg was beginning to understand the worries that had plagued Tauri during their journey in Vulture Woods. He had assumed Elena wouldn’t care whom he married, rather, she would be happy if he canceled their engagement. He was wrong.
He should have felt guilt, empathy for her tears. But as the chaos mana flowed through his veins in streams of fiery cold and chilling heat, all he could feel for the girl was a dull note of sympathy.
“Why are you crying?” The curious words slipped out of his mouth like an afterthought.
Elena looked at him, confused. And for the first time that night, she saw the man behind the beguiling eyes. He looked at her as if she was different, as if her entire existence was something new to him. He didn’t understand the pain, anger, and shame she felt. It was foreign to him. Like a heartless puppet trying to understand mortal emotions. But she had seen the way he looked at Tauri, the way his lilac eyes lit up when she sat next to him. He loved her. So why? Why now did it seem as if she was staring into the eyes of a darkness that reflected nothing back?
Lucas laughed incredulously. “Why are you crying? Are you serious!? You sleep with my sister like her purity doesn’t even matter. Then you have the gall to ask my even younger sister, your fiancé, why she’s crying? Is that what you do in Vulture Woods? Stab someone in the back and then ask them why they bleed?”
Krall closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. “Lucas, hold your tongue. Lord Aspirant, I ask you once more; What are your intentions with both my daughters?”
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Stryg looked at Tauri’s parents, at the suspense on their faces. He felt he was saying the wrong words all night, but he didn’t know what else to do. He slowly realized that no matter how this night played out, someone was going to be hurt. “...I value our alliance, Lord and Lady Katag, and I do not wish to break it. So with your permission, I’d like to cancel my engagement to Elena and marry Tauri.”
Elena bit her lip and looked away, tears streaming down her red cheeks. Tauri bowed her head in shame but said nothing. Krall and Evelyn glanced at each other uncertainly.
Lucas jumped to his feet. “Unbelievable! Have you no shame!?”
Evelyn grabbed his forearm, “Son, sit down.”
“No!” He shook her off. “I don’t care who he is, Aspirant, Ebon Lord, it does not matter! I’m not just going to sit here while he brazenly dishonors our family! We had a sacred agreement and he defiles it as if it’s nothing more than a drunkard’s promise! A lord must abide by the laws of nobility, if we cannot do that then we are nothing better than animals! Father, you know it’s true!”
Krall frowned in consternation at his son’s words.
Evelyn scowled, her beautiful features marred in anger. “Lucas, sit down.”
Niko shook his head and stood up beside Lucas, “No, my brother is right. If we ignore our laws and let the powerful rule by their lust and hunger we are left with only chaos.”
“And what’s so wrong with chaos?” Stryg accidentally spoke his thoughts aloud. He found it harder and harder not to. Whatever filter held his words back before seemed to have been lost in his own chaos.
Lucas rounded on him, rage practically glowing from his amber eyes. “What did you say?” his voice dripped with venom.
Elise hastily raised her hands, “I’m certain my cousin meant no disrespect. Right, Stryg?”
“Disrespect?” growled Lucas. “Your cousin doesn’t know the meaning of respect. He sullies the name of House Katag without a shred of remorse!”
Plum glanced at Stryg worriedly. He wanted to reassure her that everything would be alright, but even he knew he had overstepped. He didn’t know what to do. His whole life he had been trained to fight monsters, not a political dispute.
Tauri stood to her feet and raised her free hand in front of Stryg. “If anyone is to blame it is me. For the sake of our family’s alliance, leave Stryg out of this.”
“Enough!” snapped Lucas. “You have done enough to tarnish our family’s honor tonight, little sister. As for you, Aspirant, mark my words, my House will not take this dishonor lying down.”
Several nobles’ heads began to turn at the commotion from the Katag table.
Elise laughed shakily, “Why don’t we all calm down before half your guests see two Ruling Houses squabbling in front of all? Surely this will not benefit anyone.”
Lucas placed his hand on the pommel of his sword. “It is your cousin who offended us first. Honor dictates a duel to the death.”
“And if your champion dies? What then? How will the alliance between both our Houses flourish if it’s built on the bodies of Stryg or your kin?” asked Elise.
“You should have told that to your cousin before he stole my sister’s innocence.”
Elise inclined her head. “That may be, but surely you don’t think you can deliver punishment to a member of House Veres under your own roof? Even if honor dictates it to be so. We are scions of Ruling Houses, we are above such petty squabbles of honor.”
“My House was built on honor,” Lucas growled.
“No, your House was built on bloodshed like mine own,” said Elise. “I understand my cousin is at fault, I do. But haven’t we seen enough bloodshed these last few days? I certainly have.”
“Krall, say something,” whispered Evelyn harshly, but her husband’s stern expression did not change.
“...Let our son speak first,” muttered Krall.
“I understand your position, Lady Elise,” said Lucas. “And I thank you for your wisdom, but we have rules for a reason. Dishonor must be met with reasonable punishment, that being said, our House has no quarrel with you. I do not blame you for your cousin’s actions. On my honor as heir of House Katag, I give you my word; you may leave safely, we will not stop you.”
“Really? You’d let me go, just like that?” asked Elise, surprise in her voice.
Lucas bowed his head, “You have my word.”
“...I see,” Elise smiled with relief. She glanced at Stryg, “Cousin, I wish it hadn’t come to this.”
Stryg narrowed his eyes. “Is that right?”
“I’m afraid so.” Elise rose from her chair, walked over to Stryg, and placed her hand on his shoulder. She turned to Lucas and her smile melted into apathy. “Lynette, if Lucas or any orc attacks Lord Veres, slice their throat.”
The Gale warrior appeared by Stryg and Elise’s side and drew her blade in one smooth motion. “Gladly, my lady.”
Lucas’ eyes went wide in shock. Elena squeaked in fear at the sword mere inches from away and fell off her chair.
Krall jumped to his feet and slammed his fist on the table. “Sheathe your weapon! This is my home!”
Guards from all across the main hall rushed over to the head table, weapons at the ready.
Lynette did not waver. She pulled Stryg to his feet and kept him behind her, while her other hand aimed her sword at the guards. “I am the Shield of Veres, be it Monster or Man, here I stand, and I shall not falter.”
Every noble from every table was now looking in confusion at the Katags and their guests. Plum and Tauri looked at Stryg anxiously.
“Why…?” muttered Lucas, stunned.
“What are you doing!?” yelled Evelyn.
Elise looked her dead in the eye. “Protecting my family.” She turned to Stryg and offered him her hand, “Are you with me, cousin?”
Stryg looked at her and the way her lips curled in a confident, half-smirk, the same way as Callum’s. He nodded hesitantly and grabbed her hand.