While the elders, servants, and guards were combing through the debris, Kato arrived at the medical hall.

"Healer Kuse, how is my son?" he asked the attending healer.

"Nothing serious Master Kato, some cuts and bruises. He also broke both of his legs, but not to worry we have given him an advanced bone-mending pill, right now his bones are healing, after a day of rest, he will be as good as new," Healer Kuse explained.

"Um, I would like to see him alone," Kato said indicating for Healer Kuse to leave.

"Of course Master Kato— just don't tire him out, he needs to rest," cautioned Healer Kuse, closing the door softly behind him.

Swiftly walking to the medical bed his son was lying on, Kato sternly asked him.

"Edvard what the hell happened?— and don't fucking lie to me brat, this is bloody serious."

Looking at his father's serious face, Edvard decided to come clean, he described all the events leading up to the explosion. He knew his father would protect him, this incident was too severe and would implicate the whole second branch of the family.

"Of all the most stupid—" Kato exploded, he was flabbergasted at his son's stupidity. Breathing heavily he tried to calm down, they quickly needed to come up with a plan to explain his son's appearance in the library.

"You saw that slut sneaking into the ancestor's library— and you followed her," Kato commanded.

"You saw her break the case for the divine tome and you tried to stop her."

Looking sternly at Edvard, Kato demanded: "Got it Edvard?"

"Got it, Father," Edvard nodded his head. "But Saphira—"

"Don't worry about Saphira," Kato interrupted "She will keep her mouth shut if she knows what is good for her."

Kato left the medical hall and rushed back to the library to inform Za'thul that his son had awakened. Wiping the cold sweat off his forehead he cursed and swore at his son in his mind, he couldn't believe he had done something so stupid.

I must definitely discipline that unruly child when this is all over, he thought. Kato wasn't too worried about Saphira, as he knew she was a clever girl, and she would follow the script he and Edvard had come up with.

Kato arrived just as the guard sent to the medical hall had finished speak to Za'thul. Walking up to his eldest brother Kato informed Za'thul.

"Edvard is awake Clan Leader."

"Mm I know, the guard just informed me — the divine tome is missing," Za'thul informed Kato.

"W..w-hat?" Kato stuttered.

"The. Divine. Tome. Is. Missing," Za'thul slowly stressed.

"Are you sure?" Kato asked timidly.

"Of course I am fucking sure!" Za'thul bellowed.

"Well Edvard awake, let's go and ask him what the hell happened," Kato suggested.

"Kato even though you are my brother. I am warning you now if your son had anything to do with this, don't expect me to be merciful — blood or not — I will finish your family!"

With that Za'thul turned around at stalked off to the medical hall, all the time shouting orders to the guards to close down the Freehold Estate, and not to allow anyone to leave.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

With the clan leaders orders, hundreds of guards surrounded the Freehold Estate, making sure not even a fly could escape.

While the Freehold Estate was being locked down, Jayde was struggling through the small forest, running for her life. Breathing heavily she leaned against a tree trying to catch her breath, unaware the final nail was about to be hammered into her coffin.

When Za'thul arrived at the medical hall, he sent all the medical doctors away, then he and Zato entered the room were Edvard was resting. After interrogating Edvard and finding out what happened. Za'thul exploded. He roared angrily at the guard stationed just outside Edvard room.

"Find that bitch — Jayde — and bring her to me."

"Calm down Brother," Kato tried to placate Za'thul. "Being angry is not good for your body."

"I should have killed the bitch when I had the chance," Za'thul roared.

"How could you have known she would have turned out to be a wolf th—" Kato injected quickly.

"A wolf in sheep's clothing which turned to bite the hand that fed her," Za'thul injected sourly.

If Jayde had overheard the comment about them feeding her, she would have laughed bitterly, a bowl of boiled water with a few grains of rice and rotten vegetables, is that what they considered feeding her?

"But Brother now is your chance to finally get rid of her, and no one will blame you," Kato went on to say, trying to placate his brother.

Taking deep breaths to calm down his fury, Za'Thul nodded, Kato was right he finally had a chance to get rid of this threat that had been hanging over his head. He was always uneasy about someone finding out she was his daughter.

If he weren't so jittery about the gods punishing him for killing his own child, he would have gotten rid of her along time ago, but now being able to use family law to kill her, he would finally be free from worry about anyone finding out his secret.

Seeing his brother was calming down, Kato quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Kato and Edvard were relieved that Za'thul had bought their story.

"Edvard you must rest well and get better soon," Za'thul said affectionately. "Once you have healed I promise I will reward you handsomely."

The stone weighing on Edvard heart lifted, and he smiled joyfully at his uncle.

"Thank you, Uncle... ah, I mean Clan Lead—"

"Call me Uncle in private," interupted Za'thul.

Nodding his head, Edvard was delighted — finally, he had impressed his uncle, even his father looked pleased.

"Good son you got there, little brother," Za'thul said patting Kato on his shoulder.

"Ah don't exaggerate big brother," Kato replied acting modestly.

Za'thul and Kato left the medical hall and joined the elders in the clan meeting hall to wait for the guards to bring Jayde. Her death had already been decided, the elders had decreed that she was to be drawn and quartered❶.

First, she was to be interrogated as to the reason why she stole the Divine tome. Za'thul had already concluded she must have been approached by one of the clan's enemies and he was hell-bent on finding out which family was making a move on the Freehold clan.

Just then one of the senior guards entered the meeting hall. Saluting the elders he solemnly declared.

"The slave Jayde is nowhere to be found, it looks like she has escaped Master," the guard then went on to describe how one of the other slaves in the slave pit had seen Jayde leaving with a small bag in her hands.

"The seeker hounds found a small fox hole, and her scent leads to the forest outside the estate," he went on to clarify.

"Hunt her down, I don't care what it takes, gather all the guards and bring that bitch back to me—alive—do you hear me!" Za'thul roared.

His face red with anger, Za'thul felt faint. Black spots danced in front of his eyes as fury filled his body. With bloodthirsty eyes, he glared at the guard.

"What the fuck are you still standing there for," he thundered. "Get the fuck out of here and find the bitch!"

"Y..y-es Master," the guard stammered, totally flustered he had never seen the clan master this angry before, turning around he quickly fled.

Kato rushed to his brother's side "Calm down Clan Leader," he begged.

"Calm down, you want me to calm down—are you out of your fucking mind, do you have any idea the ramifications of this matter?" Za'thul spat out, his words firing off like a machine gun.

"Our Freehold clan has guarded that Divine Tome for thousands of years—and that... and that—" Za'thul spluttered to angry to even carry on.

"I understand, Clan Leader," Kato placated. "I will personally lead the hunting party."

"I will bring her back—alive—so that you may have the pleasure of ripping her to pieces yourself," Kato vowed.

With that Kato straightened his robe, spun on his heel and stormed out of the meeting hall.

Inside the meeting hall, Za'thul could hear his brother calling for his elite guards, telling them to round up the seeker hounds and to get his Fire-Tailed Stallion.

Feeling relieved Kato was taking over the hunt, Za'thul weakly collapsed onto his chair, lifting his hand to cradle his head, he could feel a mighty headache coming.