Chapter 403: Where One’s Loyalty Lies

The morning sun bathed Mt. Moonfang in a golden glow, the snow glittering like a wave of jewels in the dawn. Stryg sat at the mountaintop, in the Celestial Shrine’s most sacred place, the Eye of the Moon, and watched the sunrise from the cliff’s edge.

The city of Evenfall lay below in a ring-like pattern, each section of the city behind the natural barriers of the mountain. It reminded Stryg somewhat of Hollow Shade, though unlike the more natural design of Evenfall, the City of Shades was built in a uniform design, with the Commoner and the Trade Districts forming the two outer rings followed by four wedge-shaped districts surrounding the core of the city and the Ebon Tower, the Central District.

The first time Stryg had seen Hollow Shade from atop the shade wall he had felt a profound sense of insignificance. He was small, a mere goblin in a city built by the most powerful mages in the realm. Now he was on his way to joining those mages as an Ebon Lord, yet as he looked on at Evenfall he wasn’t proud to be an Ebon Aspirant, he was happy simply being that mere goblin.

Still, as he stared at his blue hand he was reminded once more that he wasn’t only a goblin. He glanced around the Eye of the Moon and spotted Virella and Aurelia sitting next to each other in meditation. Both Sylvan Mothers were so different and yet they were somehow the best of friends, or so Virella had claimed. Aurelia had made no effort to prove otherwise.

Stryg had spent last night being interrogated by Aurelia while she cut his hair. As the hours had gone by he found himself telling her about his journeys long after she had finished cutting. First Mother was a good listener, the kind that was patient, and only interrupted to ask an important question. Though she did grow angry with him a few times in his story, like the time when he was traveling with Loh through the villages of Dusk Valley and had gotten terribly drunk and tripped and fell into a well and almost drowned.

Yet when it came to the most painful moments of his life the last few years, Aurelia was surprisingly quiet. When Stryg spoke of Clypeus and their friendship and how it all ended, Aurelia did something she never had before. She grabbed his hand gently and sat next to him in solitude. Even when tears fell down his eyes, she did not scold him and instead, simply wrapped her arm around him.

The act of kindness had broken something within Stryg and all the feelings he had been holding within had broken out in a flood of raw emotions. He wailed for the rage he felt at the world and he cried quietly for the helplessness he felt. Aurelia held him in her arms and weathered the pain by his side, as if time had stopped and it was only the two of them in the world.

Stryg wasn’t sure how many hours passed but by the end, he felt embarrassed with his emotional outburst. First Mother didn’t judge him and asked him more about baby Kamilo instead. She disapproved of many of Stryg’s escapades, but she approved of his guardianship over Clypeus and Nora’s child. The life of a hybrid was a difficult one and having Stryg by the child’s side would help him grow up in the Ebon Lords’ city.

First Mother’s words were wise but when Stryg pushed her for answers regarding his own parents Aurelia refused to answer, explaining that a Sylvan is the child of the whole tribe, they have no need for parents. Stryg had heard the answer many times and it still bothered him just the same. If he had been a normal Sylvan perhaps he would have been happy with his lot, but his entire life he had been made keenly aware he wasn’t. His odd lilac eyes and blue skin were a constant reminder of that and who his parents might have been.

Still, as he stared at Aurelia and Virella meditating next to each other he doubted either of them would be willing to tell him the truth about his heritage.

Stryg sighed to himself, brushed off the snow from his pants, and walked over to them. “Silver Mother, First Mother, I will take my leave now.”

Virella opened her eyes curiously, “Already? You don’t wish to dwell in the wisdom of Lunae a little longer?”

He didn’t think there was any of Lunae’s wisdom to glean from this place. In fact, this place only reminded Stryg of how little the gods truly cared about the world around them. It was easy not to care when you looked at everything from so high up. Not that Stryg was going to tell Virella any of this.

Stryg bowed his head, “Forgive me, Silver Mother. I have not slept and I’m quite hungry.”

Virella smiled sympathetically, “I understand, I’ll have one of the acolytes bring you some food in a little while.”

“Thank you.” Stryg bowed deeply to both of them and left through the heavy stone door.

Virella waited for a few moments after the door was closed before speaking, “Hadn’t slept, huh? What were you two talking about?”

“...He told me about where he was and what he has done the last 3 years he’s been gone,” Aurelia said reluctantly.

Virella’s eyes lit excitedly, “And? What did he say?”

“He’s had– an eventful life.”

“That’s it? Aw, come one, you can tell me more.”

“I am trying to meditate. My time at the Eye of the Moon is limited, I’d like to make use of it while I can.”

“Sylvan Mothers always visit the Eye when we visit Evenfall and when we leave. You’ll be back here tomorrow anyway, so just tell me a little bit, yeah?”

Aurelia ignored her and continued to meditate with closed eyes.

“Auriiii!” Virella whined and shook her friend’s shoulders from side to side.

~~~

…Several days earlier…

Lady Elise Veres sat at her father’s desk, glancing at the reports from last night’s attack.

My desk, she corrected herself.

This was no longer her father’s desk, this was no longer his study room. It was hers and with it came the burden of ruling one of the Seven Ruling Houses of Hollow Shade, a House that had just lost their patriarch and the majority of their soldiers in an attack by a dragon of all things.

The people she could trust were dwindling fast. Her younger brother had escaped his rooms last night and her men had not yet been able to find him. When she had sent Lynette to escort Callum to his room she should have made her guard him the entire night.

Lynette and Elise had grown up alongside each other, as was family tradition among a Veres and a Gale. Lynette had kept her safe ever since childhood. Elise trusted Lynette with her life, which is why she needed the Gale warrior here. There were enemies afoot, even in her own home.

A knock came at the door and Lynette, who stood in the corner of the office glanced at Elise questioningly.

Elise nodded, “Open it.”

Lynette silently opened the door, while keeping her hand on the hilt of her blade. An elder vampire walked into the study room with a calm gait. Lynette glared at him and Elise leaned back on her chair and tried to mimic her father’s imposing smile.

The elder vampire ignored Lynette’s glare and casually looked around the room. His well-groomed dark beard was speckled with grey hairs and there were lines of age on his forehead and the edges of his eyes, the telltale signs of an old man, but as his gaze settled on Lynette she faltered and when he turned to Elise her smile broke.

He hadn’t said anything, but as Elise stared at him couldn’t help but feel a trace of fear and admiration.

Here stood a living legend, the realm’s Sword Paragon, a warrior whose blade had surpassed even the grandmasters of House Gale. Here was the only man capable of facing ‘The Great Elzri Noir’ on equal footing. This was the being, the pillar, who had carried House Veres for the last three centuries. This was Gian Gale and he would not cower in front of the likes of them.

“You sent for me, my Lady?” Gian asked calmly.

Elise took a deep breath and gathered herself. “Yes, I did. As the eldest and wisest of our two Houses, my father trusted you implicitly. He relied on your guidance throughout his leadership, I was hoping I could do the same.”

Gian bowed his head, “I am sworn to the Veres Throne. I am and always will be loyal to House Veres’ one and only leader.”

Elise smiled, “I am glad to hear it, uncle. I could use your advice regarding a particular matter right now, actually.”

“Oh? How can I be of service?”

Elise stared at him, searching his face for any hint of a lie. “Last night, my brother escaped from the mansion.”

Gian furrowed his brow, “Escaped? You make it sound as if little Cal was imprisoned.”

It was you…! Damn you, uncle. Elise thought angrily, though she displayed a smile outwardly. “My brother hasn’t been well since the deaths in our family. I was worried he might hurt himself, so I sent some Gale guards to watch over him.”

“Your worry as an older sister is commendable, my Lady,” Gian said.

“You have no idea,” Elise narrowed her eyes. You have no fucking idea!

“How can I help? Shall I arrange a team of my House’s best warriors to search for Callum?”

Elise shook her head, “No, I have already taken care of that. What I need from you is your expert opinion. You see, my brother didn’t walk out of this mansion on his own. I placed ten Gale mage-warriors to watch over him. It would have taken a small army of mages to have broken him out, but seeing as there was no sign of a large battle last night, I can only assume that there was no army. Instead, the culprits must have been a select few powerful mages.”

“An assassin’s guild perhaps? We recently dealt with some who attacked Clypeus’ son and the baby’s mother.”

“No, it’s doubtful. Our enemies gain nothing from killing Callum. Using him as a hostage, however? That is an entirely different story.” Elise raised her index finger, “There’s just one problem. The Gale warriors guarding my brother, they’re not dead. They were defeated, yes, but they were barely injured, just a few scrapes and concussions.”

Elise leaned forward, “Odd, isn’t it? Even stranger there were no marks of a struggle. Can you imagine it? Some of the most elite warriors in the entire realm, silently defeated without even a hint of a battle? They must have been completely overwhelmed. Yet their opponent had mercy on them and didn’t even kill a single one of them. What kind of person wields such tremendous power, is willing to kidnap a son of Veres, and yet would choose to spare the lives of the guards? Can you think of anyone, uncle?”

“I’m afraid not, my Lady,” he replied with a straight face.

“Is that so…?” Elise asked. “You are the pillar of our Houses. You said you are and always will be loyal to House Veres’ one and only leader. Was that a lie?”

“No.”

“Then why, uncle? Why betray me?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Gian said.

“Yes, you do!” yelled Lynette angrily. “How could you, Lord Gian? You of all people!?”

Gian looked at the Gale vampiress with a raised eyebrow, but he made no move to defend himself against the accusations.

“Stop it, Lyenette!” Elise snapped. “Leave us, now.”

Lynette turned to her with indignant shock, but she quickly nodded with a curt apology and left.

Elise sighed as the door closed, “I need you, uncle, now more than ever. An army like Hollow Shade has never seen is marching towards us, the last thing I need is the greatest Shield of my family turning his blade against me. So, I will only ask this once. What in all the bloody realms were you thinking when you attacked your own family last night?”

Gian looked her over and studied her face, thinking of his next words carefully. “I was thinking about the throne my sister left behind and how she entrusted me to safe-keep it. I was thinking about my responsibility to our Houses and my vows. Vows I intend to keep until the day I meet my end.”

“Then tell me, are you still loyal to the Veres Throne? Or are you loyal to my brother?”

“Your brother is not the rightful ruler of House Veres.” Gian bowed his head, “I am and always will be loyal to the rightful ruler of House Veres.”

“…Very well. On account of your long history with my House, just this once, I will overlook last night’s actions as an old man’s love for his family. Next time you find your feelings conflicted, remember where your loyalty lies, uncle.”

“As you wish, my Lady.”