Chapter 4
Ryan sat staring at the dossiers in front of him. With
the Aeons missing, he needed protection on his trip to Daylon. His choices were
narrowed down to these three. A Northern Ken space mage traveling to Daylon as
well, a Daylanian mercenary currently stationed in Col, and a swordsman from
Loc. Each one was very successful at their jobs, and all of them had completed
extended length escorts. Each one had their own advantages and disadvantages.
He rubbed his eyes and put the papers away. He yawned. It was getting late. The
moon hung low in the sky. The candles had melted down to stubs. He blew them
out and lay in his bed.
He had read a single passage from the book. A grand total
of one page. It had racked his brain, pulled it apart. Everything he had read
and learned about the sages had been proven false. He sighed. Ryan thought on
what he had read. The Sages were not the first Bishops, as he had learned. The
Bishops were students of the Sages. The most shocking piece of information came
from the count. While he was reading and rereading the passage, he kept a count
of the number of names mentioned. He counted fourteen. If he was keeping a
proper count, that was one student and one teacher for seven of the pillars.
That left out one pillar. Ryan kept thinking about this until the thoughts
lulled him to sleep.
“Master Ryan.” Ryan opened his eyes. “Yes?” He sat up in
bed. The sun bothered his eyes and he had a headache. It was probably later
than he thought when he turned in for the night. One of the maids stood in his
doorway. This was the first sign of trouble. The maids never left his mother’s
side. Ryan moved to the side of his bed and put his head in his hands, resting
his elbows on his knees. “Master Ryan, you have company.” Ryan nodded. “Thank
you. What shall I put on?” The maid motioned behind her. Several other servants
hurried in with his best suit. “Oh dear. How bad is it?” One servant spoke
quietly. “His Lordship Phillip Regale is present and awaiting you.” Ryan’s
heart jumped into his throat. The many servants worked together to get their
liege prepared for the meeting. It was not wise to leave his guest waiting.
In the meeting room, Lord Regale and Lord Seldr sat
across from each other. Madam Seldr and Elaine were in a side room, excitedly
discussing whatever it was that women discussed. The two men sipped tea while
shooting daggers at each other. “Lord Regale, I –”
“Do not speak to me.” The head of the Royal Guard spoke
with authority. Edmund Seldr went back to his tea. Twice, he nearly forgot how
to swallow. Phillip was not in a good mood. It felt to Edmund that holes were
being bored in the back of his head. Although, the man’s gaze was terrifying on
a normal day. There was a knock on the parlor door. “Enter.” The door opened
and Ryan stood in his best suit. The gray jacket contrasted with the green
shirt. Both conflicted with his blonde hair, which he had shortened
considerably since he returned. He stepped lightly in his dress shoes so they
did not fall off. They were a size too large. Lord Regale gave the boy a stern
look. “Ryan Seldr. Heir to the Seldr Estate. Not involved in the court, not a
scholar, not a soldier: what exactly can you do?” Ryan swallowed hard. “With
all due respect sir, I don’t think there is much I can do. I am trying to
become a scholar. I have begun my tutelage with Gobehyz Logan.” The man nodded
and chose to sit back down. This was a good sign. Ryan was now able to get a
good look at the man sitting across from him.
He was seven-foot of solid
muscle. He was a member of the Emperor’s Royal Guard. He was the chief
strategist, but still a capable fighter. Phillip had shaved his head, but kept
a full beard. It was neatly cut. It was a solid gray color. The same beard on
any other man would have made him look old; the Royal Guard was different. The
look only seemed to emphasize his strength and old fashioned morals. Lord
Regale was a Loyalist, through and through, and was not afraid to declare it.
All three men sat in silence as a nervous maid poured
another cup of tea for Ryan. She only filled it halfway so he wouldn’t spill.
Ryan took a sip and waited. It was not in his best interest to speak before his
guest. Lord Regale simply bided his time and took a sip of tea. He finally took
a deep breath and worked his face into some semblance of a smile. “The tea is
good, yes?” Edmund nearly choked on his. Ryan had let magic flow into his body.
With an inoculation of water magic, he was alert and prepared for the man’s
statement unlike his father. “Quite. I find that Rebeca prepares the best tea
in the house.” The maid blushed slightly and curtsied. “Thank you, milord.”
“And you know her name?” Ryan put the cup down on the
saucer and smiled politely. “Yes sir. I make it a habit to learn the servants’
names.” Ryan made a small sweeping gesture with his hands. “After all; the
well-being of the estate is in the people, not just the lords. That is just
like the Empire. Without people, an empire is just a land filled with
buildings, no? Besides all that, I believe that acts of kindness – no matter
how small – are always returned in some way.” Phillip was caught off guard at
Ryan’s straightforwardness and his answers. No man had ever dared to speak to
him with that kind of confidence, yet filled with respect.
Phillip leaned forward. “Tell me, Ryan.” Ryan sat
straight, but leaned in a bit to meet the man’s gaze. “Tell me, have you ever
considered joining the Royal Guards?” Ryan shook his head in the negative. The
man sighed and returned to his old posture. “A shame,” he said, “I would have
thought a young man like yourself would be an asset to the group.” Ryan thanked
him, but Lord Regale continued. “You are quick with your words, compassionate,
confident, and you possess a unique skill with magic.” Ryan suddenly became
aware that he was giving off a faint blue glow. “I noticed that aura from the
moment you stepped in. There is no guile, pain, envy, anger, sorrow…nothing
negative in that aura. Whatever thoughts you use to channel magic are pure, or
at least not wicked.” Ryan slowly nodded.
Phillip finally settled into the chair he was seated in.
“I am not sure,” he said as he looked at the ceiling, “What I disliked about
you.” Edmund looked over at Ryan with concern. “As you know, our houses do not
agree often. I have often wished to completely remove your house from
existence. Yet, since arriving here, I find it hard to remember why.” He took
another sip of tea. “But I do know this; It is time for the hostilities to
stop. I am here to offer an ultimatum.” The man stood and clasped his hands
behind his back. “Edmund Seldr.” Edmund stood at the man’s command. “Yes?”
Phillip glared down. “You have two choices: join with the Regale household, or
be destroyed.” Edmund stood speechless. Ryan stood as well. “Sir…I would prefer
more than anything to avoid destruction, but how do you propose we accomplish
this merger?”
“You would marry my daughter, Ryan.” Phillip said. Ryan
was equally as speechless as his father. “Sir?” Phillip turned towards the
window. “The Maverick Family brought the wrath of mine against it. The estate
was…confiscated.” Lord Seldr brought his hand to his mouth. “The Mavericks?
B-but they were his majesty’s main supporters in the senate!”
“His majesty fully supported my actions. As for you,
Ryan,” Phillip turned to the boy, “Will you accept this proposal?” An elderly
butler entered from the direction of the kitchen. He was not dressed like a
Seldr servant, so Ryan assumed he was a Regale. The man pulled a small slip of
paper from his breast pocket and bowed. “Thank you, Winston.” The Lord read the
paper and returned it to the man. “Good work. Dismissed.” The butler bowed and
made an exit. “It seems that the women have finished their chat.” The women
entered. Both were beaming ear to ear. “Now then, Ryan; do you have an answer
for us?”
“I – ”
“I believe,” Edmund interrupted, “That it would be for
the best if these two discussed matters alone for a while, no?” Lord Regale
actually agreed. “Very well. I shall allow that. Winston, stay with these two
while we move to the dining room. Come get us when they have reached an
answer.” Ryan was left alone with a butler and the woman he had met briefly in
Atlantis. The butler was the first to speak. “I have done a check of the dining
hall, milady. They would not be able to arrive in time. You may begin.”
“Wait, hold on!” Before Ryan could speak, lady Regale had
produced a rather large knife and held it to his throat. “Tell me about the
other women servants here.” Ryan had stopped using his magic, and as a result
had become increasingly clumsy with his thoughts. “You smell nice.” Was all he
could manage. It wasn’t his best idea, but it was that or comment on her hair.
He liked the way the light reflected off her black locks. The tip of the blade
was pushed against his skin. She smiled though. “Thank you, darling. Now back
to the question at hand.”
“W-well, w-w-what do you want to know? Names? Ages?
Heritage?”
“Have you ever flirted with any of them?” Ryan hesitated.
The burning fire in her eyes told him that she wasn’t kidding. “O-once or
twice.” The fire flared up momentarily. “Forgivable. Have you been romantic in
any way with any?”
“No.”
“None?”
“None. Not a one.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I mean it.”
“How do you plan to prove that?” Ryan looked at Winston,
who was holding a small towel and another dress. “Please answer the question,
Master Ryan. I am merely here to assist the lady in cleaning up, if necessary.”
She repeated her question. “I…I don’t know. I just – ” A vile smile drew a line
across her face. “I like you Ryan,” She said as she pulled herself closer. She
never took the knife from his throat, even as she rest her head on his chest.
“I just have to know, darling. I can’t be responsible for my actions if I don’t.”
Ryan swallowed hard. “I give you my word. I’ve never given flowers, courted,
or…any of the like.” She shot him a skeptical glare. Winston coughed. “Perhaps,
I can be of assistance, milady?”
The knife retracted, but it was replaced with an iron
grip from Winston. The man was obviously not a mage, but the power the man
wielded was that of a powerful mage. “Now then, master Ryan; I am at the end of
my patience. When I came here, I questioned ever eligible woman within two
leagues of this estate.” With his spare hand, he flipped out a small booklet.
“Each and every one stated that they have never met a man so kind. What do they
mean by that?”
Ryan struggled to breathe, let alone talk. He gagged a
bit before Winston dropped him. Winston put some white cloth gloves on. As Ryan
rose to his feet, Winston punched him hard in the chest. He aimed for the
middle of his torso, knocking the breath out of him. Once again, Ryan struggled
to fill his lungs. Once the pain passed, Winston lifted the boy by his hair. “Wait!
Wait…just…”
“Now, master Ryan.” Even throughout the interrogation,
Winston remained respectful to the title Ryan possessed. Ryan’s life was a
different matter altogether. However, his life depended on his answer. “I’m not
like the other noblemen.” Ryan said after some struggle. Both of his captors
decided that wasn’t enough. Ryan gave a pathetic whimper and held up a finger
to stop them. “I admire the flowers, but I don’t pick them.” He glared
halfheartedly at Elaine. “I’m waiting for a rose to fall into my hands.”
Winston stopped mid kick at Ryan’s pleading. “I worded that poorly! I’m sorry,
I can’t think.” He took a few deep breaths and tried again. “I will not accept
multiple paramours. I am for one woman, and only one.”
“Who is she?!” Elaine dropped to her knees and thrust the
knife at him. The tip hovered dangerously close to his eye. “I don’t know…I’m
still looking. I’m still waiting.” Elaine straddled him and pulled a second
knife out of one of her stockings. This one she actually stuck into his
stomach. The wound was shallow, but the pain got the point across. “Who?” The
once peaceful angel had morphed into a demon. “I’m not seeing anyone! I swear.
Please…please don’t kill me!”
Elaine’s
eyes went wild with envy. She put enough pressure on the knife stuck in Ryan’s
stomach to make him cry out in pain. There was a pause as Elaine let out a
small giggle of insane laughter. Winston looked down at him and put a boot on
his chest. Between the boot and Elaine’s knife, Ryan considered just acting
like a fool ending it all. Winston spoke before he did. “If I find out – in any
capacity – that you have or have had contact with any kind of strumpet, you
will find that her tortures are far more kind than mine will be.” Winston lifted
his boot after he had spoken. Elaine huffed and removed the point from his
stomach. She put the knife back where it came from. She then stood and
retreated to a seat.
Ryan
rose to his knees weakly. Blood seeped out of the small wound on his stomach.
“You are insane.” He hissed. She smiled. It was a kind smile. To Ryan however,
it cut deeper than any knife could. “Not insane, darling.”
“You
are a hateful woman, then.” She gasped. “Why, I never.” she said, “I could
never hate you. I just love you so much, it hurts. I love you to death, my
sweet sweet Ryan.” She clapped her hands and motioned to Winston. “Get my
father; I must announce my engagement at once!” Ryan opened his mouth to
protest, but the blood on his hands told him otherwise.
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