Lorelei could no longer hear what was going on around her. She was in the middle of a bubble, her ears – deaf for everything but her own voice. The words simply rolled out of her mouth one after the other, forming a rosary of sentences. Every memory seemed so distant but, at the same time, so painfully clear. She caught herself remembering minuscule and insignificant details that would have slipped into oblivion under normal circumstances – the taste of yellow jasmine on her tongue; the hot bitterness of the charcoal; the coldness of the hard cellar stones; the rough, gleeful voices of her jailors; the thirsting hands of master Argente all over her body… It was so vivid! She could even remember the beads of sweat on his pale skin, his smell of herbs and walnuts, mixing with the pungent aroma of love-herbs lingering in the air. She could taste his blood in her mouth again!
Her stomach turned and she had to fight the urge to throw up. This jolted her and she realized that she had simply bitten the inside of her cheek.
Gritting her teeth, Lorelei mustered up her willpower and tried to concentrate. Some murmur reached her through the ringing in her ears and nudged her mind, waking it up. She had almost revealed too much about her kidnapping, things she had intended to keep close to her heart forever. Luckily, her moment of clarity came at the right time. There still remained many things that were better kept secret.
Lorelei made sure to go only into the necessary details when talking about the attack of the dhrowghost, as she wasn’t sure how the people around the table would react to her ability to see the apparition’s true form. After all, even Noah had been surprised at that time and, according to Yanosh’s ghost, it was unusual for a Limerian to be able to perceive supernatural beings without the assistance of potions. On the other hand, she had no problem telling them about the valiant struggle of her Binshi friends and the excruciatingly painful aftermath. About the appearance of Yanosh’s ghost and his assistance in healing her, she didn’t utter a word. As a reason for her miraculous cure, she named the powers of the Star-gazer starting to affect her later than the rest and Gregor trying to heal her for a second time. This corresponded to the facts known throughout the castle and Lorelei highly doubted that Gregor would openly deny her words.
Finishing the story, she heaved a sigh. There was a bitter aftertaste in her mouth but at the same time a wave of relief rushed over her – it was finally over. Slowly returning back to reality, she realized that the booming thunder reaching her ears did not come from outside the window. It was a cacophony of voices, mixing, overlapping, and amplifying each other to the point of becoming an avalanche of noise.
It took Lorelei some time to realize that someone was actually speaking to her. She felt fingers stroking her palm as the words finally came through the fog in her mind.
“Calm down, child, calm down. It’s over. Everything is fine now. Calm down.”
Behind the worried tone, Lorelei recognized the Mother Prioress and blinked confused. Calm down? But she was calm. What did the old nun even mean? Lorelei’s eyes trailed to her hands, still gently caressed by the prioress, and she understood everything. At some point, without even noticing, she had balled her palms into fists that were still tightly clenched to the point of her knuckles turning white. The moment her mind concentrated on them, the pain also reached her brain and Lorelei hurriedly relaxed her grip. Seeing the rows of red crescents her nails had left in the soft parts of her palms, she could only sigh. Her hands were still recuperating from the burns and scrapes and now she had damaged the soft, newly-formed skin.
While cursing herself for aggravating her injuries, Lorelei started paying a bit more attention to the arguments around the table.
Duncan’s fist landed on his armrest and made the wood creak.
“Let me get my hands on that yaud-swiver!” The normally booming voice of the old knight had subsided to a low rumble that made one’s hair stand on edge and was far scarier than his usual bellow. “I don’t need long. Give me a few minutes and he’ll be hanging by his innards from the highest machicolation with his balls in his mouth!”
“S-sir Duncan, there are ladies here!” The foreman Collin sounded flustered but his dark face was giving out just as vicious vibes as Duncan’s.
Further down the table, the sturdy figure of Mayor Preston had deflated. He shook as streams of sweat ran down his chalky face and dripped on the polished wood.
“Oh, no, no, no! It’s happening again! Just like seven years ago. Drals, dhrowghosts, the Red Hands are out for blood again! C-can we even stop them? The current Star-gazer is but a child!”
“Stop shitting your pants and man up!” Fat Edwin massaged his temples. “We have to plan ahead and think how to retaliate. Not only have the Red Hands entered the slave-trading market, they have become bold enough to try harming the Duchess of Norden herself. We need to show some more muscle, otherwise, the population might panic.”
“B-but the kidnapping of her highness has been kept a secret. Maybe…”
“Honestly, how have you been sitting in the mayor’s seat with such a small brain. Sooner rather than later, the whole story will be leaked into the open, most likely by the perpetrators themselves. Maybe a public execution of the ones involved in the slave ring will calm the spirits and shift the attention.”
“If it is bloody enough…”
At the same time as the two peers of Yalda were having such an eerie conversation, Bishop Petronius was waving his rosary, making blessing signs at the direction of the Binshi, all the while chanting loudly holy verses mixed with not very obscure insults.
“Fathers of Light and Darkness, oh, Lustris and Norn, spread Your benevolence, cleanse the lands, heal the innocent souls from the corruption of witchcraft. Purge the abhorrent demons, wearing guises and walking amongst Your righteous children, tainting the blood of Your sons and daughters to disfigure the purity of creation. Sent Your armies of Saints and Holy Spirits to burn the Plague, purify the spawns of witchcraft, wearing Your white stigma, oh, Lustris, Father of Radiance! Oh, Norn, Father of End and Judgement, condemn these heretics, daring to steal souls, rightfully bound for Your Kingdom, for they have perverted Your holy creations into the seeds of calamity!”
At the same time, Baba Tevishka was shouting from the other side of the table and, if it weren’t for Gregor and Aiden who were forcefully keeping her in place, she would have already jumped over to claw out the bishop’s eyes.
“Ti deshte, DRAL! Nu, nu dral, ti dhrowghost-e chelveshkam koshe! Kogo ti zovesh ‘demon’? Mne neshte ulisha tvite bltavka! Umrishe bi, ti starek luzhe-svetek! Zla ti bila magika nasha? Na, popitai samin!
Mir-Mama, uslisha mna!
Dvesh-desh, oslepesh.
Trish-desh, oglushesh.
Chesh-desh-”
As the curses coming from the old woman’s throat became strangely melodic, Gregor suddenly paled and slapped his palm over her mouth, silencing her on the spot. Judging from the glare the old woman gave him, his intervention was not the least appreciated but Aiden’s strong hands kept her in place.
“What did that witch say?” Bishop Petronius’ voice rose to new heights. “Is she trying to curse me! A holy man! Let her try, mister false-knight, let’s see whose gods have more power. I know you want it too.”
“Calm down, your holiness!” Gregor didn’t even flinch. “We are all emotional right now, but please, bear in mind, not all Binshi are your enemy.”
“Oh, and that’s why she’s trying to put a curse on a member of the Church?” the bishop hissed with bloodshot eyes. “You are all the same, you wretched white demons! Wanting to defile the Duchess of Norden? Turning an innocent child into an abomination? Only demons like you can do that!”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Lorelei looked around the table and her heart stung. It was getting worse! She had hoped that the common threat would unite everyone but it seemed to only deepen the chasm between them. Why were they so blinded by anger? Why couldn’t they…?
Her train of thought was interrupted by the sudden change in the air. It felt like a chill, enveloping her body and making it hard to breathe. A primal instinct deep in her subconscious mind screamed that something dangerous was approaching. Something that was ready to rip her throat and feast on her flesh. A predator… a Beast.
She frantically looked around and her suspicions were confirmed. In his place at the head of the table, Noah sat silent, not even a muscle twitching on his face. His arms lay loosely on the armrests – relaxed and unmoving. And yet, the air around him felt heavy and cold, the killing intent he exuded – almost palpable.
Very slowly, he turned his head and stared for a short moment at every single person gathered around the table. No words were needed. The moment someone entered the range of that merciless gray gaze, the shouts remained clogged in their throat. In a very short time, silence returned to the meeting room.
“Have you finished with the hysterics?” The voice that left the Duke of Norden’s lips was as piercing as an ice dagger. “I thought I am having council with grown people, not toddlers still suckling on their mother’s tits.”
Noah’s eyes lingered on Bishop Petronius and everyone could clearly see the old man gulp.
“Your holiness, I have always considered you a man of virtue and fair judgment, albeit a bit inflexible in thinking. I never thought that the souls of my people are in the hands of a senile old man that can’t even distinguish right from wrong. Today, I have been patient enough, listening to you slandering my knights, my guests, and my wife. But this will also be the last time. The Grand Council is in a couple of weeks. Be sure that I will discuss this matter with the Barons and consider compiling a letter to the Arch Bishop concerning your replacement.”
“Y-you can’t!” Bishop Petronius became as pale as a ghost. “I have been serving the Arch Bishop and the Church loyally for years! I have been saving the souls of this parish even before you ascended the ducal throne.”
“For such a devote servant of the Gods with such a deep connection to this land, I am amazed that you still can’t grasp the plans of the Church, your holiness. The Arch Bishop has stated many times that he desires for more Binshi to see the Truth of the Two Fathers. Sending divine retribution to future members of the congregation seems contra-productive.”
“But-”
“I believe that, if you are unable to comply with the requirements of your post, retirement to the warmth and calm of the Capital would be the best course of action. The bishop’s seat needs fresh blood and the second son of Baron Firmon has been showing great potential in his clerical studies.”
“You want to replace me with a child?!”
“Your holiness, it is all up to you. But as the Father of Darkness states: ‘Nothing is eternal but me. All shall return to the Origin.’”
The old man was left gaping as Noah shifted his gaze and focused on Baba Tevishka. At his sign, Gregor and Aiden let her go. Surprisingly enough, she remained calm, only returning Noah’s stare and clicking her tongue.
“Baba,” Noah addressed the old woman just as coldly as he had spoken to the bishop, “for there to be a conflict, two are needed. Bishop Petronius might have veered off-track with his statements but so have you.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” stated the Binshi, lifting up her chin. By the twitch of Gregor’s eyebrows, it was more than evident that she was lying through her teeth.
“Oh, really? So, wishing one of the peers of Yalda, one of my peers, to go blind in two days and become deaf after three was just a silly joke? I thought that you never invoked the name of the Mother Above for a joke.”
“H-how…?” The mouth of the old woman dropped.
“I have been the Duke of Norden for fifteen years. My daughter and one of my best friends are Binshi. How naïve, no, how disdainful do you have to be to think that I wouldn’t know the language?” Noah’s brows furrowed. “Since you have relatively recently received the position of a peer from the late Baba Mira, I have been lenient towards you. You have shown great compassion towards the mixed-blooded children in your care. However, your view on Limerians is no different than the one Bishop Petronius has on your kin. What is worse, the words you have uttered in this very room support his claims.”
“So, I should have just lied down like a good little slave and left that luzhe-svetek, that fake holy man, curse my people?”
“‘Hatred only breeds more hatred. Sometimes, in order to break the chain, you need to break your spine.’ Do you still remember these words?”
“Mir-Mama!” For some reason the eyes of the old Binshi became teary. “To think that the teachings of kush-turgan Yanosh would live on in a Limerian. I just wanted my people to be treated fairly. To lump us together with those Pure Blood barbarians, with those grave-defilers, it was too much.”
“Baba,” Noah’s tone softened. “You realize that I will report about your actions to kush-turgan Akasha and the elders of Twin-moon Lake?”
“This is the right thing to do, your highness.” A self-deprecating laugh left the old woman’s lips. “To think that a pup with foreign blood would teach an old wolf humility… I don’t know about these two Fathers of yours, but I am sure that Mir-Mama has her eyes and blessing on you, my duke.”
“And may the Mother Above illuminate your path too, baba.”
With that said, Noah moved his gaze away from the old woman and addressed the room.
“I hope you all have calmed enough. The information the duchess has shared is grave and important and therefore requires an even clearer mind. There are still some things left to be discussed.”
“My lord,” Fat Edwin rose his hand and said cordially, “I have a question.”
“Proceed.”
“The duchess has mentioned the masked man running the whole slave operation being named master Argente. Would this, perchance, has some connections to Baron Argente?”
The expressions around the table became grim yet again.
“I doubt it.” Noah shook his head. “It is way too on the nose. More likely, the Red Hands are trying to sow discord amongst the Barons.”
“But maybe they want us to think exactly that, while at the same time-”
“E-excuse me!” All the heads turned to Lorelei who nervously licked her lips. “Would the lords mind telling me how Baron Argente looks like?”
“I thought you said you didn’t see his face, my duchess?” said Noah a bit perplexed.
“I didn’t. But I have seen enough of his body and hands and heard his voice, albeit muffled. The masked man was no older than the duke but his body was not the one of a warrior. His hands were also not callused so I don’t think he has been training a lot with weapons. Also, his hair. It looked black but it was actually stained by a potion containing walnuts.”
“Ha, then Thomas Argente is out of suspicion,” said Duncan and rubbed his palms. “The Lord Baron is my age and has been skirmishing through the battlefields for more than half his life.”
“Indeed,” nodded Noah. “And as far as I know, his son was born in his later years and is currently no older than Jess. His daughters are also too young for marriage, so there is no other male with the Argente name. Besides, the whole family, even the side branches, sport black hair so they would have no need to dye it.”
“Then it is just a coincidence.” Fat Edwin seemed relieved.
“It… it might be a bit more than a coincidence.” Lorelei felt the heavy eyes of the council on her body. She looked at Noah and his gaze, now devoid of its coldness, gave her reassurance. “In the language of alchemy, argentum means silver.”
“So, is the duchess suggesting that the man is an alchemist?” Sir Aiden lifted an eyebrow. “Isn’t it a bit farfetched to judge that only from a single name?”
“It’s not just the name,” said Lorelei. “He was wearing a silver mask and his name means silver. Also, there was a certain smell on his body that only those working with herbs on a regular basis acquire. There was a slight discoloration on the inside of his palm that can occur after contact with some potions and reactives. And you said that a strange potion was discovered with one of the rescued girls. It is a bit too much to be a coincidence.”
“You might be onto something.” Noah scratched his chin. “We need to investigate further. And since you mentioned the potion-”
“Pardon me, my duke,” a voice interrupted him mid-sentence. Everyone’s attention shifted from Lorelei to Neli, who had spoken for the first time since the beginning of the meeting. The old Marzbanati put down her quill and locked her fingers. “I believe there is one point on which your highness and the council need to shed some more light.”
“Speak up your mind, Lady Abrahmandar,” Noah encouraged her. “Your opinion is always valued.”
“I would first like to apologize if my words might seem hurtful, but I am speaking with the duchy’s best interest in mind.” Neli turned to Lorelei. “Thanks to the duchess, we have gathered some valuable clues about the Red Hands and that master Argente. Her ladyship herself has stated that the plan of those monsters was to gift her to the cult’s leader so that he can… use her as he pleases.”
“We are already aware of that.” An inpatient note slipped into Noah’s tone.
“Indeed. But after witnessing the great detail in which the duchess was able to describe the body shape and even odor of that man… It raises the question whether the goods were not spoilt even before delivery.”