Silvius and Hypatia conversed amongst themselves while pouring over the tomes and other artifacts throughout one of the wars in the keep. The whole chamber was decorated with weapons, armors, shields, flags sporting the heraldic sigils of houses thousands of years old. Kveldulf and Jeanne kept watch by the entrance of the throne, with Maeryn and Benkin doing the same by the top of the stair case leading up into the next level. Kveldulf looked at them and wondered how many had gone extinct since they were first hung in here?

Did their kin ponder the fortune they enjoyed before the final day of house came to a close? Was it worth song and memory? Was it worth the blood-price paid for glory and honor? Did they find the same shameful mark his now carries? It was hard for him not to entertain these thoughts as they stood here of all places. He turned to see Jeanne looking the room with glee. He smiled, admiring the child-like wonder she had for such things. Something he wished he could have kept after so many winters.

Kveldulf looked over at Leonidas and Cid pacing the circumference of the antechamber, a blue stone hovering in the doctor’s hand and as they were scanning the wall with great care.

Jeanne was rubbing her knuckles, now covered in fresh bandages from the morning. “How are they feeling?” Kveldulf asked.

“They’re feeling better,” she said, shaking her hands, “Damn itchy, though.”

“Maybe have Doc could put something on them to help?,” Kveldulf suggested with a small shrug.

“He did.”

“Oh … damn,” Kveldulf said, jerking his head back.

Jeanne nodded as Kveldulf helped her up and rejoined the others. Silvius, moving over to Hypatia, who was holding a map in her hands. “I think this is the room, Sil,” Hypatia said in a soft voice.

“Outstanding! Let’s see what this place has for us,” Silvius said, running his hands along the wall.

“Is this a good idea?” Cid asked. “We haven’t exactly checked it for traps.”

Leonidas nodded at Cid’s comment. “You could set something off, and then we’ll have another problem on our hands.”

“If, and I strongly emphasize the if, I am correct, I believe this is should have some trinkets and what-nots to make this trip worthwhile.”

“I like trinkets,” said Maeryn.

“And I could use some what-nots or a do-dad or two,” followed Kveldulf.

Silvius moved his hand to the center of a shield held by one of several warriors, and with a soft push, a secret door began opening. The ground trembled as the stone slabs moving withing the inner recesses of the walls to the and revealed a room lined with ancient armor and weapons. At the far end of the room was a thick brown tome with the image of steed rearing up on its hind legs.

Entering the room, Silvius marveled at the armor and weaponry with great care. “This is marvelous!” he declared. “This has to be from the before the reign of the Wraith King himself.”

“What purpose was this place then?” asked Cid. “Doesn’t exactly look like a treasury room.”

“This must’ve been an armory of sorts, with the other room being where he might’ve held court while he was here,” Silvius said.

Hypatia looked at a book resting of the massive table in the middle of the room with the etching of the Wraith King’s house in the center. “Then this must be the records of his war-marshal, which means this must’ve been his personal residence when the Wraith King wasn’t here,” she said with excitement. “Now what was his name? Barron, Bursen,” she said, snapping her fingers as she tried to remember, “Oh, I hate it when I can’t remember their names.”

“Baeron Grimkellsen,” said Kveldulf solemnly, “Last lord of the House of Hyvtur Hestur. The White Horse of the Old Kings of Orumus.”

“You know your history,” Silvius said, impressed.

“I should,” Kveldulf said with great regret. “I’m his heir.”

Everyone froze as they looked at him. Hypatia even dropping the book and Leonidas dropping the stone in their hands. Kveldulf could see Cid and Jeanne looking around at the others’ reactions.

“Run that by us again?” Leonidas asked.

“I am, to my knowledge, the last of that line. Once one of the noble exiles houses of the Old Kingdom of Sutr. Sword-regent of the Warband of Orumus. Now relegated to be among the worst of villains and knaves in all our history.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Silvius turned to Cid and Jeanne. “Did you two know about this?”

“Yeah,” Jeanne said, “he told us.”

“And you brought him here!” Silvius exclaimed. “He’s a wanted criminal!”

“For what crime?” Jeanne returned. “Baeron died with the Wraith King, generations before Kel was born.”

“His kin did try to kill Allianna after she took leadership of the city,” Benkin replied.

“Again, generations before Kel’s time.”

“What if he came back to finish what his family started? And bring the Wraith King back?”

“I am not a traitor nor an ally of The Wraith King!” Kveldulf bellowed.

“I think we’re being a bit quick to judge Kveldulf,” said Leonidas. “No one’s asked him why he’s here in the first place.”

“Ties to kin can be a great drive for person, good or ill, transcending generations,” said Maeryn.

“Some houses have brought their end trying to avenge a slight instead of letting go and moving on,” said Benkin.

“But if Kel wants to prove his family isn’t bad, why shouldn’t he be given the chance?” said Hypatia.

“Because this could be a danger to Orumus and we don’t know it,” said Silvius.

“I’m about to start knocking sense into you if you keep that up, Sil,” Jeanne said, cracking her knuckles.

“Jeanne, stop,” said Cid, “everyone, let’s try and not escalate this, anymore than it has.”

“I’m not going to stand here and listen to some fop insult my friend,” said Jeanne.

“I’d rather be a fop than kin to the worst traitor in the history of our kingdom.”

“You need to watch your mouth,” said Jeanne.

“I think we should judge Kveldulf by his own merits,” said Leonidas, “not the merits of someone long before him.”

“It would be easier if he wasn’t as closely tied to his family’s legacy,” said Benkin, “which does seem to be the case.”

“You didn’t think to inform the auth—” Silvius tried saying as Jeanne grabbed his collar and pulled him closely.

“Be careful with your next words scholar, they could be your last.”

Benkin, Hypatia and Maeryn unsheathed their weapons. “Let him go!” Benkin said.

“Make me,” Jeanne replied, beginning to turn her skin to stone.

“Enough!” Cid snapped. “Jeanne, release Master Silvius. Benkin, Maeryn, Hypatia, sheath your weapons, now!”

Jeanne let Silvius go, pointing a finger towards him before walking back over to Kveldulf. Benkin, Maeryn, and Hypatia lowered their weapons cautiously.

“Yes, we knew about his past. We also know him now. And Kveldulf has done nothing but try to live up to the old honor his kin were renowned for. If you cannot see that now, then you are welcomed to take your pay and go.”

“Well,” said Silvius after a long moment of uncomfortable silence, “this was most unexpected.”

“I guess this can’t be easy for you to be here, then,” Hypatia said to Kveldulf.

“There are other places I’d rather be,” Kveldulf confessed.

“Then why come back?” Benkin asked. “Especially with the decree in place?”

“That’s precisely why I’m back,” Kveldulf said. “If I’m the last of my blood, then there’s no one else who could undo Alliana’s verdict. My name will be known for little more than mud and nothing more. And my kin have done too much in serving this city to be given such a fate and denied the glory of honor we earned in the life after this.”

“I guess I can’t blame you for that one,” Benkin said. “That last part was more than harsh.”

“That woman denied us access to the Halls of Valor, that wasn’t her call to make, and I do what I must to give us back that decency.”

“I guess there’s no harm in that,” Silvius said.

“Changing the subject to … happier thoughts,” said Hypatia, “I’m wondering why Baeron would’ve taken so much time and effort to make this place home?”

“It must’ve had some significance to him,” Leonidas said, “possibly family history?”

Silvius paused for a moment, his eyes widening and inhaling sharply. “I know this place!” he exclaimed. “This is The Unyielding Fortress!”

“Come again,” said Benkin, tilting his head and furrowing his eyebrows.

“When the Draken Lords ruled these lands, House of the White Horse led a revolt amongst the free peoples to throw off the yoke of the draconic tyrants. This was their fortress!” Silvius smacked his brow as he took in the discovery. “This was thought to be lost, or not even existing at all.”

“Many myths come with a grain of truth,” said Leonidas. “The question is how much has been added?”

“Perhaps such things should remain hidden,” said Cid, “given the nature of this place.”

“No,” Kveldulf insisted, “the pursuit of knowledge should not be inhibited by the discomforts of the past’s truths. What we can learn here can help us now, or generations later.”

“Well, Silvius, why don’t you help us figure out if there’s anymore hidden rooms in here. Kveldulf, if you’d mind keeping Hypatia company while we tend to that matter?”

Kveldulf nodded. “Of course,” he turned over to Hypatia, “Where did you want to check out first?”