With his extravagant lifestyle, Flavius had never been this filthy before. Hungry, tired, and alone. A hunted man, all because of one bad purchase. He cursed the day he laid eyes on that beautiful giant and cursed his own appetites for overriding his instincts. The instincts telling him not to buy those men. Flavius knew it was risky to purchase Halder captives. Those instincts said to him ‘Don’t. It is not worth the risk.’ But, alas, he ignored them.

Having fled Disipica, he had made his way upriver. The unrest that erupted in the city seemed to come from nowhere. His one consolation, he still had Raugus. He just had to make it there. Once he had escaped the arena, he thought he was free and clear. Then he learned the Disipica watch was seeking him for arrest. He thought to himself, ‘How did that happen? What was behind this?’ It was then that he fled. He left his fighters, he left his trainers, and he left his winnings from the matches before the main event. Until everything went to hell, he was flying high, travelling to the capital. He had hoped to make enough gold from the Grand Arena that he might retire. Oh well, at least he still had Raugus…

ᚲᚺᚱᛟᚾᛁᚲᛚᛖᛊᚱᛁᚾᚾ×ᛟᚱ×ᛟᚱᚾ

The journey to the Fludavera docks took three days. Darius and Appolina, upon debarking, had a wild-eyed expression, with their legs shaking. They whispered prayers of thanks for being on solid ground once more. Even after three days at sea, they had not grown accustomed to it. In particular, the speed at which they had travelled.

“Are you all right?” Venna asked the couple.

“We are fine. It is just that it is quite an adjustment. It is much cooler, as I have never been this far north before.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Let me just…” With some haste, Venna went back aboard the ship and dug out a shawl from her personal trunk. She returned, wrapping it around Appolina’s shoulders. While not speaking, she showed her gratitude with the warmth in her eyes as she smiled at Venna. Once the knights had unloaded, they all mounted and headed to the ducal palace.

They approached the front gates of the palace. The group paused, noticing something amiss – No guards at the gates. Thayn spurred his horse into a gallop. Orn and Erik raced after him, and Sir Uhter ordered four of the knights to follow them. Venna yelled after them, “Don’t do anything reckless!”

As they approached the main palace, they could hear weapons clashing and saw Holvelan guardsmen on the ground, bleeding from severe wounds. Orn leapt from his horse and knelt next to a guardsman still struggling to rise. “What happened here?”

The wounded man clasped Orn’s hand and between gasps said, “Betrayed…Brudermen attacking…palace…Gods, the prince…” The man’s eyes widened as he let out one more gurgling sigh. With a gentle hand, Orn closed his eyes. He then placed the man’s hands on his chest.

Thayn, in a voice tinged with venom, spat out, “Harolf!”

“We need to get in there,” Erik said.

“Knights, form up! Orn, Erik, with me!”

The four knights formed up, heading up the steps with their hammers out. They made their way inside with the three Haldermen trailing behind them. It was a scene of utter carnage, with palace guards strewn about. The knights hastened, following the noise and before long, found the Brudermen.

The four knights charged straight into the back of the Bruderman berserks and took down four of them straight away. The spikes on the top of their war hammers drove into the bodies of the attackers. Surprised, the rear members of the attacking Brudermen turned on the knights and went berserk. They shunted forward, knocking the knights down and sending them sliding on their backs toward the palace entrance.

They roared at this new threat to their mission. However Orn shouted, “Holvelans! Get down!” and then pulled in flames from the lanterns and candelabras, setting fire to the heads of the berserk attackers. Knowing that he had no choice, Orn raised the temperature of the fire so much that he turned their heads to ash, stopping their attack in its tracks.

“We need to get to the grand duke!” one guardsman implored desperately.

“Lead the way,” Thayn responded as Erik helped the knights to their feet. Orn hurried on after them, with Briga’s warning to Thayn playing in his mind.

“Thayn, let them in front. We need to be cautious,” warned Orn.

“Speak for yourself”

“Stow your stupid pride, uncle! You, too, are in danger here. Hang back, please!”

Thayn slowed slightly, as he smiled incredulously at Orn. “All right, Orn. But we’ll discuss this later.”

They moved deeper into the palace toward Viggin’s personal chambers and office. The sound of weapons clashing was even fiercer, as Viggin’s guard put up a desperate fight to protect their liege.

Orn started pulling in flame orbs and spun them in a circle above his head. Once they were moving rapidly enough, he let them fly, taking the majority of Brudermen down by using them to punch through the skulls of the attackers.

The remaining half dozen attackers were still enough to press the Holvelan guards who were, by now, becoming exhausted. Orn couldn’t risk using a fire attack because of the risk to the palace guards, and so he roared and ran straight into the fray. He slammed his shield into the rearmost attacker’s side, who rounded on Orn, only to receive the length of Orn’s sword through his neck. As he fell, he stripped Orn of his shield.

Orn let the shield go with the mortally wounded man and gripped his sword with both hands to decapitate the next attacker. He was trying to recovering from the force he put behind that swing, when another Bruderman slammed his fist into Orn’s ribs. This caused him to fold and drop to his knees.

As the Bruderman had raised his axe to take Orn’s head when Erik’s hammer caught him full in the face. The force of the blow caused the front of the man’s skull to cave in. Sir Uhter’s knights and the remaining Holvelan guards dispatched the last of the attackers.

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Orn had thrown up and was still gasping and gagging, trying to catch his breath. He tried to stand, but his legs refused to hold him. Erik placed Orn’s arm around his shoulder and helped his brother to stand.

Thayn grabbed the nearest guard to him and asked, the desperation in his voice barely hidden, “Viggin? The grand duke…is he…”

Viggin’s voice sounded from inside the room. “I’m fine, brother. I’m fine. That’s some fine timing you have there. Is the lad all right?”

“The ‘lad’…might…be all right…in a few…months,” Orn wheezed between gasps.

Viggin chuckled while casting a glance of admiration at Orn. “You have changed, Orn. I see now that you truly are your mother’s son. And you Erik.”

“Brother, what happened here?” asked Thayn.

“Well, I would have thought that was obvious. Harolf made his play,” Viggin said flippantly, but then his expression turned mournful, before he continued in a softer tone, “My men?”

“It’s bad, brother. I’m sorry, there were many casualties.”

Viggin pressed his forehead into his palm and sighed. “How do I address this? Our brother just…damn it all.”

Gereld entered the room looking exhausted. He reported to Viggin, “I did all I could, Your Grace, but I couldn’t save them all.”

“I thank you. Any that you saved may very well have died were you not here.”

“Do we have any surviving attackers we can interrogate?” Thayn asked of Gereld.

Gereld answered, “No. They were all beyond saving. Why are Brudermen attacking?”

“Well, I suppose we can clue you in. Harolf has decided he will be king,” Thayn replied.

“How are you so sure it was Harolf behind this? Could it not be similar to what happened in Disipica, and the praetors’ house?” asked Erik.

Orn, gasping, answered him. “No smiles… wilfully following orders… not enthralled.”

Thayn then said, “I’m sorry Gereld, I know you must be exhausted, but I think Orn may have some broken ribs. Do you think you could…” as he waved his hands mystically.

“Of course. Show me where it hurts, Orn.”

While Gereld attended to his injuries, the boys’ parents entered, with Venna demanding, “What in all the hells happened here? Orn! What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, Mother, thanks to Gereld.”

Viggin then spoke up, “Harolf has shown us his disapproval of my succession plan.”

“Who is with Selti?” Erik asked.

Vylder replied, “Mswali and the rest of Sir Uhter’s knights. They’re all in excellent hands.”

Thayn looked at his brother and said, “We have now overcome a direct assault on the succession of the throne. Both Erik’s parents have consented to your plan, brother. We need to act on it soon, if not right now.”

Erik interjected, “Consented to what?” The blonde boy looked from one face to another.

Thayn placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “We are positioning you to be named heir to the Grand Duchy of Holvela.”

“What?” Erik exclaimed incredulously. “I haven’t even done my service yet!”

Viggin Laughed heartily and said, “Don’t worry about that. All will be made clear in good time. But for now, let us move to the main chamber. I want it declared publicly and made official in case he tries again.”

“Do you think he went after Father?” Thayn suddenly asked, his face going pale.

“Honestly, he went after me, so I wouldn’t put it past him. But Father is not easy to get to. He is shrewd and would be ready. That outburst from Harolf would have planted a seed in Father’s mind.”

“If you say so. It’s not like we can get there in time to do anything.”

“I wouldn’t worry. Besides, his personal guard is selected from the best of us, and elemental mages surround him.”

After some time, with the palace cleared of enemy and the throne room set, they invited local and visiting dignitaries to attend an announcement. In front of all those witnesses, including the Avdlak family, Sir Uhter, Darius and Appolina, Viggin made his declaration.

“I summoned you here today to make a declaration before all those present. You will bear witness, and you will sign the declaration and the patent of nobility.” Viggin gave a signal to the guards at the palace doors, and they closed and secured them, trapping the dignitaries inside. There were some nervous mumblings among the assembled dignitaries. Some that were more vocal than others. Viggin took a mental note of those.

He then went on, “I, Prince Viggin Uldenson, Grand Duke of Holvela and heir to the throne of Utstadland and next Lord of all Haldermen have taken this young man, Erik Avdlak, to be as my own. He is of royal blood by direct descent as the grandchild of King Ulden Argenson, and my nephew. I declare him to be my heir, and the next Grand Duke of Holvela.”

There were some audible gasps, and some red faces, but mostly applause. Then the palace guards placed the documents to be signed on a small table next to the entry and stood by. They opened one door as Viggin finished. “Thank you for attending this hearing on such short notice. Make your mark on the documents on your way out.”

Before he left, he approached Vylder and shook his hand as he said, “Vylder. I remember you. Not vividly, but I do remember. I am glad that you are restored to us. A happy counter note to this unfortunate symphony around us.”

Vylder took his hand and replied, “As poetic as ever. Even as a pup, you had a way with words.”

“Sister, I am glad to see you are well, and that your quest has reached a successful conclusion.”

“Your Gra…er, brother. I owe that success in large part to you.”

Viggin waved that away. “You have given your people far more than I could ever do to repay it.” He looked meaningfully at Erik. “You have ensured your country has a bright light ahead. Now, who is it that accompanies you?”

Venna replied, “This is Darius Decimus, Praetor of Raugus and his wife, Appolina.” Viggin shook Darius’ hand and bowed as he kissed Appolina’s.

“A pleasure. I would be honoured if you would add your illustrious signatures as witnesses to today’s proceedings.”

“It would be our pleasure, Your Grace.”

Venna then introduced Brenda, and Viggin bowed slightly and kissed Brenda’s hand, which caused Sigtrin to bristle slightly. Then Viggin’s gaze settled on Selti. Venna introduced her as Erik’s betrothed. He looked at Venna and cocked his head almost imperceptibly in an unspoken question. Venna merely cocked an eyebrow and stared back at him. The Grand Duke gave a minute shrug, then he grasped Selti’s shoulders and said to her, “So you will be the next Grand Duchess of Holvela. A fine example of blossoming Holvelan womanhood if I have ever seen,” he smiled and looked at Erik, as Selti’s face noticeably reddened. “You chose a fitting bride to be, Erik.”

Viggin then stood before Mswali, a speculative look on his face. Mswali looked around a little nervously. While still regarding his face, Viggin said, “I hear it said that you are Vylder’s brother. He doesn’t much look like you, Vylder. Different mother, perhaps?” This caused some laughter, even Mswali laughed a little. Then, doing the unexpected, he embraced Mswali and shook his hand. “If a man as storied as Vylder would call you brother, then I shall do the same. Besides, Vylder is my brother-in-law, after all.”

Viggin then took a step back to address them all, “I must apologise. I have things to attend to. You all must be hungry. Please, go to the dining hall. I shall notify the kitchen and join you there. Erik, attend to me. ”

He disappeared through the doorway and said without looking, “Shufi. Nice to see you are, as always, where you shouldn’t be, while at the same time where you are needed most.”

“You are the only one, Viggin. Even as a boy. I hope you don’t teach Erik this trick,” Shufi said as he laughed and came out of his place of concealment. “How may I be of service, Your most worthy Grace?”

“Why is it that you always add those extra honorifics? I often wonder, because we essentially took you from one slavery to the next.”

“No, my most esteemed lord. I was enslaved and treated as filth. Your people offered me life, and so I took it. Although I wasn’t entirely free, I am now. What is more, you offered me honour and trust. These things I hold dearest, as they are gifts that my life had not seen until now.”

“Hm. Something I probably should have asked long before now…Anyway. You saw the crowd, I take it?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you can quietly have those that were most vocal and visibly upset brought before me? I think I have some housecleaning to do.”

“It is my honour to serve, most esteemed Grace.”