Chapter 16:

“My lord there has been a summons.” An armored figure stood at attention within a mist covered space. Not mist, but steam as the room was incredibly humid. However, the armored figure ignored the uncomfortable feeling, that was slowly building. He had been through worst; this was of no concern. Even as sweat was beginning to accumulate on his exposed forehead. He didn’t voice any complaint nor shown it, standing at attention waiting for his lord and master.

Just ahead all the mist and water vapor stood a partly submerge figure from the near concealed pool of water. Such was as the density of the steam in the insolated air. The figure in question had their back towards the armor warrior. Not acknowledging the warrior, seemingly unaware of his presence. However, the figure so close to the edge of the pool, suddenly began to fully emerge from the water. Revealing a youth, no older than in his twenties, his exposed well-toned yet scared body on full display.

The youth then turned to face the armored warrior, before proceeding to wade through the water. The water rippled as the youth strode through, at this the armored guard made a gesture with his chin. Then two figures came troding through the mist, a pair of twin male servants donning a simple clothed robe. Their bare feet’s taping light upon the stone pavement, as they then stop near the edge each holding a towel for their master.

Before their lord reached the edge of the pool, they each held out their own item forward, as if giving an offering to a god. With their heads bowed they barely noticed their lord had come to a stop.

“What are your names?” the lord had questioned them. The question almost didn’t register to them, before the twins realized the youth lord was speaking to them.

“My lord?” one of the twins inquired of their master. Nervousness can be felt radiating off of the twins’ lease of all hearing it. Then their master asked again. In that same tone he was always known for. A deep, mix of gritty and elegance tone of voice coming from the youth, one which has screamed and shouted orders, over hundreds of wars, over a hundred battlefield. Outside of such an environment, now that same voice barely comes off no more than a soft whisper.

This was how their master was outside the fields of battle calm and soothing, his voice being nothing more than a whisper. In normal situation he never spoke above that, and yet the same inkling sensation still lingered within his voice, a voice that always carried the promise of death.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“Your names.” The master spoke again, so softly the servants almost couldn’t hear the question properly.

“I am Ossoln my lord.” The first of the twins spoke before the second one followed “And I am Orlalnu my lord.” For a moment no one said a word, before their master spoke again. “Tell me, what does your master have to offer you two to even bother with this task he has given you?”

At this question the two seemed to have flinched just slightly, sweat baked their faces. However, it is unknown whether it was from the humidity of the room, or from something else. They’ve subconsciously found themselves gripping onto something more tightly underneath the towel they held out, without another word the two moved. Dropping their cloths in their hands each holding a long dagger, aimed at burying the weapons cold edge upon the youth’s body.

At least that was what they had intended to perform.

However, before the twin could even swipe the hidden daggers they held beneath the cloth, the youth already had one by his throat. His grip so sudden and so tight, the servant instantly found himself gasping for air, that of which was being denied to his lungs, dropping his weapon his hands grasping at the arm holding him up in the air. The other was no luckier than his twin sibling. Having already been shrewd through, by the armored guard through the chest. His blade, precising through his spine and where his heart was. The twin didn’t even have the time to scream his final breath as his body fell limp. His body was then casted aside with a single swipe throwing the body away.

The first twin still thrashed and kicked in the young lord’s grasp. His eyes burned with hatred, as he stared into the near soulless gaze of the man he had been sent here to kill. He tried to speak, but his throat failed him. His foe even denying him the last defiant act of spitting out a curse or anything. His mouth hung agape but no words came out before a quick snap, and his vision turned to nothingness.

Despite snapping his assailant’s neck ending his life, the youth held him in his grasp just a moment longer staring at the now deceased soul. Before then tossing the body aside like a child becoming bored of a now useless toy. At this moment more armored figure hidden with the mist came forward, and began the gruesome process of cleaning up the corpses that had been made.

“You always like to play these dangerous games too much, soon it will backfire on you.” The first armored guard said seeming more annoyed, not bothering this time to hide his discontent to his master. Wiping away the blood on his blade with cape of his armor.

“It helps keep me active and alert at all time, if I were to become too soft, I would be devoured alive.” The youth said reaching down to pick up the towel that was dropped onto the floor. Begin to wipe the still clinging droplets on his skin.

“You’re still playing with fire.” The guard responded but, he already knew there was no convincing his master to his concern. However, that didn’t mean he would stop trying. “We have identified each suspicious personal within the staff of the estate, instead of letting them continually to run amok here, we should dispose of them to save us any future headaches.”

“Leave them be.” The youth said tossing away the towel before continuing. “I am aware that you’ve been hunting them repeatedly over the years, behind my back. despite me telling you not to and yet their numbers don’t seem to be dwindling any more so. They will not end. Fear not my friend we’ll deal with these interlopers in due time now where’s the Royal Decree?”

“The speaker is awaiting you within the meeting hall.”

“Very well we’ve wasted enough time, we must not let our guest wait any longer bring me my amor and weapons……. Call in my serfs arm me.”

As you command your highness, Charles Von Luis.”