3.7

Father did not meet Jewel’s eyes, preferring to look down at his own palms.

Then finally, after what had felt like far too long in the too-tight quarters of her parent’s bedroom, he spoke.

“Her husband, Count Ferenc Bathory, Black Knight of Viznove saved my life as a whelp of a Gryphon Rider in war. But it was the Countess Bathory who saved Rochford and our family.”

Jewel listened, she wanted to rear back in shock. But her parent’s room was simply too small for that.

But more than that, the tone in her Father’s voice was brittle.

“There was a blight. The fields failed, not just the wheat but the barley, the peas, and the veches. All that grew in Rochford and the surrounding lands was fouled.”

He sighed.

“It was only one year without harvest, but one year was enough, our granaries were empty come winter. And families were starving come Fallow Turn. I sent letters begging for aid from all our neighbors and allies of our house.”

He shook his head.

“Fiebron offered enough to feed our household. But it was only the Countess who, in hearing of their plight, sent food enough to save the lives of the people. Bought and imported grain at ruinous cost for them.”

He finally seemed to find the will to face Jewel, to meet her eyes with an intensity she often saw when he spoke to the footmen. She’d seen it during the war as well.

“She asked for not a haepenny of debt from me or anyone in Rochford. She’d have been within her right as my liege lady to do so. But she refused, even when I offered.”

He sighed.

“Elizabeth is a spiteful woman, a dangerous one, but she is not overly cruel, she does not wish for suffering or pain on others. When she has set her course she will not heed those that she trods upon in her path. But she will not choose to do that-”

Mother interrupted with a tone that silenced Father sharply.

“Oh fool husband , do not lie to yourself or our daughter. The Lady Bathory would absolutely skin alive every man, woman and child in Rochford if she had the fancy for it. Do not dress up that fiend of a woman as what she is not. Her mercy back then was the same reason for her cruelties.”

Jewel blinked slowly, she knew her Parents might quarrel, but she’d never actually been in the same room when they did. And honestly, this was not the fiercest her Mother could be behind closed doors.

But still, to actually see it with her own eyes?

Father gave off a groan.

“She is my liege and has ever sought out the wellbeing of Rochford with distinction and honor as is proper for her station and responsibilities to us.”

Mother scoffed and bit out with that cutting tone.

“She bestowed your daughter with a betrothal to her son and has her declared heir! You can stop simpering and bowing to that fiend of a woman!”

Father whirled around with what Jewel could almost believe was fury. But then caught himself and took a deep breath to steady his wits.

“She has served us, protected us, since long before Jewel hatched, and supported every decision we’ve made regarding Jewel’s care.”

Mother heaved another breath and threw up her hands as she rose with all the fury that Father had restrained.

“Because as far as she is concerned, you, me and even Jewel are Hers. We are hers and that is the only thing that beastly woman cares about. That she keeps what is hers and that it serves her well.”

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Father’s jaw clenches hard, the tone and the hint of the words were familiar.

Mother always supported father in court, they were always unified as a Wife and Husband should be.

But within their own rooms her mother had a fury that Jewel could only respect her father for standing unbowed against.

“She is my Liege, that is her Right. And she looks over us justly and with a care and stewardship well above what we are due from her.”

Jewel did not know what to say. It did not feel right to be here, now, when her parents were not united. When they were here in private.

Suddenly, Mother’s fury went out, she met Jewel’s eyes and in doing so drew Father back to look as well.

“Johnathan, you fool of a man, your daughter is going to inherit every one of those rights, every one of those dues. But she is considering treason to the High King because she doubts he is just and good.”

Father looked shocked, surprised, hurt and then rising from him in a wave of horror and fear Jewel never wanted to smell off him again he fixed his eyes on her.

“Daughter, is this true?”

Jewel was a dutiful daughter, she would not lie to her father.

So she answered.

“Of Course.”

The look of surprise and pain on Father’s face stung. But mother’s words stung harder.

“She won’t just be a simple baron, Johnathan. She is going to be the Countess, a Wyrm Countess! She is making bonds with The Heir to Arva!”

Jewel considered little Imre and his meaningless ‘token’ of protection from being eaten by herself.

“Her brother is certainly going to be high amongst the Gryphon Lords, maybe even like yourself First amongst them.”

Alexander and his soon to be steed also welled up in her mind.

“You are all but inducting her into your brotherhood of Gryphon riders. Binding her with Fiebron and the other rider counts of the Ridgetail mountains.”

Mother’s words were a sharp hiss, but there was a fear there too.

“Fool Husband, what did you think was happening? If Jewel calls for war after she inherits?”

Father’s fear was rising sharply and suddenly from a slight unease to the tension of imminent peril. Mother however continued, although she was growing quieter. Her scent spoke to the worry her own words were bringing up.

“If the Shining Wyrm of Viznove, an honorable friend to all the lands and hills of the Ridgetails calls for war? Of course they will follow.”

Father turned to look at Jewel as if it was the first time he had ever seen his daughter.

Mother turned back to Jewel again as well with very tired eyes. Still speaking, but voice so quiet now.

“If such an exemplary character as her declares against the High King on grounds that he is unjust? They will flock to her.”

The next words were practically a whisper.

“And it will tear the realm in half in the fighting.”

Jewel could not stop herself from shuddering at the thought.

The entire realm at war?

But if the High King was not Just. Was that not right?

Yet all those soldiers.

All those lives that would be lost.