The interior of the tower didn’t do much to make me appreciate it. The main doors led into an atrium with two paths leading off to the right and left and a set of closed double doors straight ahead. Lord Varkoni stalked past Dalton and through the double doors, slamming them open hard enough to shake the stone they were attached to.

Yup, he’s pissed.

I followed the lord into his audience chamber and was, again, unimpressed. The room was thirty feet long, with only a pair of pilasters to bear the load of the rest of the tower upon it. The decorations bordered on Iroan, with only crests for Verdant and Cliffhaven visible behind the lord’s chair that wasn’t quite a throne. The lord strode through the room toward his seat of power with a pace that ate up distance faster than it should have given his short stature.

[Silent Step Skill Acquired with Skill Dominance]

[Active Skills - Mastery

Skill Dominance - 24%]

That could be useful. I mean, I bet Dad has it, but I can’t even go see him for a year, so this works. I wonder why Skill Dominance is stuck at 24%. Until it hit that point, it was going up every time I acquired a new [Skill] from it. There must be some kind of plateau I’m missing. I’ll have to think about it later, it looks like Lord Albert is going to speak.

The lord steepled his hands as he rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. “Dalton, what crime does Mister Neilson stand accused of?” He sighed and looked over at me. “Anything said in this room is recorded in the royal archive as well as the report I submit each month to our king.”

The braggadocio gave his cape a half-hearted flip as he approached Lord Albert. He flourished his arm to the side as he began. “Lord Varkoni, Mister Neilson stands accused of murdering my beloved uncle, Baron Ambrose Darkspear in cold blood.” He fluttered his hand against his chest and I nearly dry-heaved, but I fought it down. “This monster severed his noble head from his body and left it lying in the street like a common street rat.” He leaned into the pageantry some more as he wiped phantom tears from his cheek. “I demand restitution and that he be sentenced to death!”

“You demand nothing in my chambers!” Lord Albert roared hard enough to send spittle flying into Dalton’s face. “Kneel, you knave. You’re in the presence of your betters.”

Darkspear’s face went bright red as he wiped his face with a handkerchief. “Understood… milord.” His voice shook as he dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

“Sorry for my captain’s poor behavior, I’m working on it, but it’s a long road.” Lord Albert didn’t smile, but his eyes sparkled as he addressed me. “Would you care to tell your side of the story?”

I bowed at the waist, but didn’t drop to a knee. “It would be my pleasure, sir. You see…” I went on to describe exactly what had happened, only leaving out Raiju’s presence and subsequent departure from the scene. When I mentioned tossing my adventurer badge to the captain, Lord Albert’s eyes finally did sparkle.

He held out a hand and beckoned to Dalton. “Give me his plate, I know you still have it.”

“This plate is evidence–”

He tried to weasel out of it, but Lord Albert didn’t brook with that. “Now.” His voice reverberated throughout the room and my earlier suspicions were confirmed.

His chair is tied to the tower as a whole. I’m pretty sure it’s amping up his [Wits] and [Charm] at the very least, if not [Perception]. I’d guess it adds at least fifty points, each, if not more. If that were on a piece of gear? It’d be worth more than this whole damn city. As is, it gives him an advantage against those who are stronger than him. Interesting.

Dalton’s hand shook as he pulled my adventurer plate from his belt pouch. As soon as it was visible, Lord Albert summoned it through the air with a gesture and he waved for me to continue as he looked it over. In the corner of my eye, I saw another screen and I had to suppress a grin.

[Minor Magnesis Skill Acquired with Skill Dominance]

[Active Skills - Mastery

Skill Dominance - 24%]

Not bad. I bet I can find a good use for that one!

Over the next few minutes, I finished regaling the lord of what had happened and why I did what I did. In the end, he sighed as he looked me over.

“Would you like the good news or the bad news, young man?” His voice was heavy.

Dalton, on the other hand, seemed giddy. “Yes, deliver his just rewards!” His mirth was cut off by a glare from the lord again, those two obviously didn’t get along very well and hadn’t for a long time.

“I’ve always been a ‘bad news first’ kind of guy, sir.” I gave him a worried smile. “I hate having the rug pulled out from under me when I’m in a good place.”

The corner of his mouth raised, but it didn’t manifest into a smile. “I can’t pardon you for what you did,” Dalton cheered, “despite you being in the moral right and well within the rights of your Steel status as an adventurer.” He glared over at the cheering form of Dalton. “Have some class, you swine. We’ll be having a long conversation after this about how you acquitted yourself today.”

“Where does that leave me?” I glanced back at the terrified form of Marley and had to suppress the urge to get closer to protect her. “Where does that leave Marley?”

“Therein lies part one of the good news. I have no doubt Marley did exactly as she was ordered, despite the heinous nature of those orders.” His voice took on a more fatherly tone. “Marley, would you like to work in my tower? I swear upon the System that I’ll never give you an order to do, or let me or my staff do, anything like what happened to you again.” Golden light formed above his head to signify the System heard his oath.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She shivered in place and a bit of blood dripped from her thigh down to the ground. “I-I-I… I would be honored, milord.” She stammered before catching herself. “Can I start today? I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight otherwise.” No tears fell, she was tougher than that. “I’d also ask if my mother could also work for you? She’s been a chambermaid,” everyone in the room knew what she meant by that, “for Baron Darkspear for more than twenty years. She deserves a better life than that.”

Hold on a moment, if Marley is seventeen and her mother was Baron Darkspear’s chambermaid for over twenty years… She never mentioned a father, did she? Ugh, I bet that cretin didn’t think of who she was, did he? Or did he just not care!? I’m even more glad I killed him now and I was almost sure that was impossible.

The lord tapped a finger to his chin. “Twenty years of back breaking work is more than enough. I’ll gladly offer her a position here if she’ll take it. I’ll extend the same oath to her before the System that I offered you.”

The flash of golden light sealed the deal and Marley bowed her head. “May I please take a few guards to collect my possessions and my mother from the Darkspear compound?”

“Absolutely. Tell the guards at the door where you’re going and they’ll find people to take you. Don’t leave without an escort please.” He glared at the white faced Dalton. “I wouldn’t want you to have an unfortunate accident before you made it back here.”

“Yes, milord.” She curtseyed and turned to walk away before I caught her eye.

I raised my hands glowing with [Healing Light]. “Mind if I heal you before you go? Sorry I didn’t do it earlier, but I wanted to make sure the former baron’s crime was as obvious as possible.”

She merely nodded and turned her head away as I healed her. It only took thirty seconds or so before I felt the draw on my Mana fade. “You’re as healthy as I can make you.” I smiled. “I hope you live a happier life after all this, you deserve it.”

“Thank you. I can’t–”

She started to say more, but I cut her off. “Like I said. Be happy. That’s more than enough payment for me.” I flashed her a big grin and she blushed as she turned to fast-walk away.

“Captain Darkspear, were you aware of your uncle’s tendencies or proclivities with his servants?” The lord’s voice was filled with unspoken fire. “As my guard captain, I’d be surprised if you hadn’t if it’s been going on so long.”

The captain’s face was as white as a sheet. “Milord, I never saw–” A purple blade of energy sank into the ground in front of him and I could’ve sworn I smelled urine for a second before something in his armor’s groin region glowed and it went away.

[Psyknife Skill Acquired with Skill Dominance]

[Active Skills - Mastery

Skill Dominance - 24%]

Psychic daggers? Neat. Until I get a bow [Skill] I might as well slot that in. I’ll wait until I get into a fight though, no use doing it early.

“I didn’t ask if you saw it happen, I asked if you knew about it.” Lord Albert held a purple blade of energy in his left hand. “Speak carefully. Your life depends on it.”

Dalton threw himself down on his hands and knees as he pressed his forehead to the stone floor. “I did, milord! Everyone living in the compound knew about it, but none of us were strong enough to stand up to him.” His voice broke in what I was sure was an attempt to garner sympathy. “A few people tried to come here and tell you, but they all ended up dead before they could make it. I didn’t want to–”

“You didn’t want your uncle to remove you as his heir.” The lord let his psychic knife fade away. “I have good news, that’s not a problem anymore. As of now, I strip you of your noble status.” He roared. “Guards! Take this man to the dungeons.”

Dalton wailed for a few moments before four plate armored men walked in and dragged him away, kicking and screaming. He moved to reach for his rapier and a psychic blade from the lord stopped his hand in place, though it didn’t break skin.

OK, that’s really neat. I can’t wait to see what else it can do!

Once we were alone in the room, the lord sagged in his seat. “Good riddance, the Darkspears have been a thorn in my side for over fifty years. Maybe now we can actually grow as a city instead of mysteriously always staying the same.” He chuckled before glancing up at me. “I take it you figured out who Marley really was, didn’t you?”

“Not until she mentioned how long her mother had worked for the family, I only knew she worked there before.” I shook my head. “Are you going to have her tested to see if we’re right?”

“Once she returns, I’ll have Healer Melody check her out, cleaning up the mess the Baron left behind, as it were.” He gagged a bit. “Melody will do a blood draw at the same time and we can use it to check. She has the nose and eyes of a Darkspear though, so it likely isn’t needed.”

“I trust you’ll support her until she can stand on her own two feet?” My voice brooked no argument.

“Even here, on this chair, I can feel your [Charm] stat. I guess that’s the power of an S-Ranked Class.” He laughed. “Yes, I’ll support her claim to the family. Hopefully she can right that ship, it’s been rotting for years.”

“A bit of time in dry-dock is in order, good thinking.” I frowned. “What was the other bit of good news?”

“It’s a mixed bag, if I’m being honest. You’re not guilty, but I can’t pardon you. Since it was a noble, even a piece of shit incestuous baron, only the king can set you loose.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m going to have to send you to the capital under armed guard before end of day.”

I reeled at the thought. Damnit, I don’t want to go to the capital. My ‘sister’ is there and I’d like to keep some space between us.

“Are you sure?” I half-pleaded.

“Sorry, but I am.” He walked over and extended a hand to me. “King Evergreen is a good sort. I’ll make sure my weekly report includes my personal notes as well as this transcript. Once you make it to the capital, you’ll be out in a few days. Tops.”

I groaned and shook his hand. “How long is the trip? A few days?”

He burst out laughing. “Days? We’re at the northern edge of Verdant. It’ll be at least two months by carriage to make it to Grenwood.”

No way am I traveling in chains for two months. Not gonna happen.

“Counterpoint. What if I can get there in just a day or two on my own or with one of your most trusted aides?”

“I mean, I guess that could work, assuming you would swear a System oath to do so.” He was obviously confused. “Do you know how far we are from the capital? It’s at least a thousand miles!”

I did some mental math before holding up a finger. “I know I could do it in a week, but four days is a more realistic number.”

Lord Albert looked at me with wide eyes. “In that case, I’ll get my personal bodyguard to go with you. He has a [Skill] that will let him return to me as long as we haven’t been separated for more than a month.”

“[Guardian’s Bond]? Nice.” I knew Arlo had that [Skill], though he never told me who he had bound to it, I always assumed it was his wife or Mom.

He shook his head. “Blue Steel at its finest. You’re right there. He’s a [Knightguard] and also my twin brother.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “I look forward to meeting him. No use burning daylight, I should get on the road as soon as possible.”

I hope Raiju isn’t too mad. I’m going to be relying on her to get to the capital in time. I should get some more beef for her as an apology, she really liked the last stew I made.