Chapter 66

Gasper stood in a hallway a few steps away from the lord's study. Master Rudolf stood by his side, unmasked, and in steward's attire, which Gasper found quite unfamiliar.

They'd been waiting for a while now. Sir Robard, the head knight had sent someone to inform the lord of their arrival. But it seemed that the Viscount wasn't in the keep.

Gasper clenched his fist and shifted his eyes from the walls to the floor to the doors as he waited.

"Being anxious will serve no end," Master Rudolf patted him on the shoulder.

Gasper forced a smile. "I'm not anxious. I just wish I could know what will be of me after this."

The old steward smiled back and shrugged. "At the very least, you're likely to see your father once again."

Gasper nearly grinned at the thought. The Viscount hadn't allowed him to see his father the last time he'd been in Ard. But now that he had already fulfilled what was needed of him and the bandits were gone, the lord would likely allow him to see his father.

After a few more moments of waiting, he heard steps coming from the end of the hallway. He turned and saw the Viscount walking towards Master Rudolf and embracing him.

The old Steward patted the Viscount on the back with a smile that couldn't be truer.

After that, the Viscount headed towards the study. "Come inside," he told them.

Gasper's knuckles were sweaty. He stepped into the study after Master Rudolf, his eyes shifting between the contents of the study and the lord.

The Viscount took his seat and gazed at the two of them. He nodded to Gasper, and he nodded back.

"The hard times are past," Master Rudolf said.

"Are they?" the Viscount chortled and shook his head.

Master Rudolf cocked his head with an all-knowing smile, as if he'd been interrupted, then he continued, "and harder times are soon to come. That is to be expected if you want these lands to thrive, Gerald."

Gasper raised a brow. He'd never heard someone call the Viscount by his bare name, but then again, he hadn't seen him often enough.

The Viscount sighed. "Indeed, Uncle Rudolf." Then he turned his sights towards Gasper. "And how fare you?"

"I'm well, my lord," Gasper bowed his head, gulping. "I await the next opportunity to serve you."

"You need not worry about such matters right now, Gasper," the Viscount smiled. "You can now return home and rest."

Gasper took a breath. "And there is nothing else, my lord?"

The Viscount kept his smile and shook his head. "You are to return home and rest."

The repetition of the words silenced Gasper. He bowed. "Yes, my lord."

The Viscount nodded for him to leave.

And he left.

..

.

A light breeze caressed his face as he walked down one of Ard's newly graveled streets. It ached him, knowing that his father resided at the end of this quiet street, likely clinging to his patience in silence.

The man who'd sacrificed everything for his only son. And here he was, achieving nothing of what his father had wished for him.

Forgive me.

The breeze settled down, and the boring heat returned. He trod his path step by step, until he found himself staring at his home. A nice two-story house, built with lean, brown timber. It looked the healthiest in the whole street. But only he knew the struggle his father had gone through to keep it. A nice house for a good knight, Gasper, his father had said. The lord's aides won't advise him to knight you if you live in a ruin.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door twice. The same silence permeated the street for a moment, then he heard his father's slow steps approaching the door.

The door opened, and a pale man emerged from within. Streaks of white traversed his dark hair, and a stubble adorned his face. His sleepy eyes widened at the sight of Gasper, then they narrowed again in a pleasant smile.

Gasper stepped forward into his father's embrace. The old man patted his back with arms tightened around his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, father," Gasper muttered.

His father stepped back and smiled. "There is no sorrow to be had in this. There is only joy. You live, my son."

"But—"

His father stopped him with a raised hand. "Come in first." He gestured into the house. "There is much I'd like to hear."

Gasper nodded and entered. They headed towards the small table they had often shared their supper on. Gasper took a seat and looked at his father.

He'd told him about the death of the old Viscount and his escape in the letter he'd sent him. But after that, his father had heard nothing of him.

He began the story from the time he'd sent the letter. He told his father about the Viscount's command and his time as a bandit then as a bandit chief; his ruse that turned Black Dog on Big Mountain; his crew that was built from refugees; his meetings with the other chiefs; and the final battle that erased the mercenaries and the chiefs. He told him about Lucas who joined the Viscount, even though he knew he was likely not supposed to speak about him. And he told him about his last meeting with the Viscount in the keep.

"You've done what you could, Gasper," his father said.

Gasper watched the smile on his father's face, and it tore at him. He'd seen it often enough; the smile that masked sorrow. His father had wanted nothing but for him to step up in the world.

As if he'd seen the doubt on Gasper's face, his father patted him on the arm. "Do not let guilt consume you, Gasper. There is nothing more joyous for me than your survival through it all. And there would have been nothing more sorrowful for me than your death."

"I've lost honor twice, father," Gasper said, tightening his empty fist. "Perhaps death would have been a better friend than I first imagined."

His father grabbed his fist and shook his head. "No. You live another day, son. Another day means another opportunity. Perhaps all I have been was a simple merchant with a humble amount of coin compared to my peers, but son, I know many people who would have welcomed another chance at life when their time came. And they would have made the best of it, I'm certain." He tightened his grip on Gasper's fist. "No matter what, you will have me by your side. We can even travel to somewhere different. Somewhere with a new beginning for you."

Gasper closed his eyes and wondered what he truly wanted, but he couldn't push away the blur that clouded his mind. "I don't know, father."

His father nodded. "You need rest." He glanced at the stairs that led upstairs. "You should rest. Your room has been ready for you since I received the letter."

"Thank you," Gasper uttered, standing up and giving his father a faint smile, the best he could muster. Then he headed to his room. Perhaps some rest was due after all.