To divide a kingdom
Summary: A deadly sickness has struck the kingdom and the only known cure lies at the hands of a foreign family. But what will be their bargaining price? Yuri must become the King that he was always meant to be, and Wolfram; a stranger to all. Difficult decisions and grave sacrifices must be made if the Demon Kingdom is to survive.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kyo Kara Moah or any of it's characters. I am not doing this for money, nor am I making any.
A/N 1: + future warnings: light cursing, very angsty, highlights of humour, mild horror and goriness (nothing too scary), depression, unhealthy coping meachanisms, friendship, hurt and family love.
A/N 2: Mainly Wolfram-centric. OOC and angsty Wolfram.
A/N 2: Yuri is 20 at the moment
A/N 3: Greta is 14 at the moment, about to turn 15. I don't know when Greta's birthday is so I just made one up: March 18th.
A/N 4: Slightly poetic sometimes, sorry I couldn't help myself =D
A/N 5: A few years have passed since the anime, Wolfram has matured slightly but is still a brat sometimes, at the beginning at least. This will definitely change later on.
A/N 6: Important, or you'll likely get confused: Characters thoughts are in italics
Chapter 1: Fading hope
It was the start of spring in the Great Demon Kingdom, the sun's appearance became more frequent and longer lasting, the snow from the year's winter had finally turned to water a week ago. The cold still lingered however, especially in the morning and at night, but it was quickly being replaced by the cool crisp spring time air.
With the King's adopted daughter's fifteenth birthday less than three weeks away, the castle and it's occupants had already begun making preparations. Chairs had to be repainted, floors polished, the guest rooms refurbished, cutlery re-coated with silver, and most of all Günter had to be kept under control.
Wolfram sat down on the semi-sun warmed granite stairs of the castle gardens taking a moment bask his face in pure unfiltered sunlight, something inside him craved the warmth. As if that could somehow lift his spirit, as if the sun's heat could somehow diminish the cold sensation that has settled within him months ago, even though winter had already passed, even though he was a great demon of fire, something in him left him feeling hard and cold.
"Hey Wolfram! Wolfram!"
Sighing Wolfram turned around, Yuuri was running towards him, unsurprisingly Conrad tailing not too far behind.
"Wolfram, there you are!" Yuuri ran up to him and rested his hands on his knees in effort to catch his breath.
"Wolf, I've been looking all over for you."
"Oh, you have?"
"Errr, yeah?"
"Why?" The blonde asked nonchalantly. I'm waiting for you to say it. Wolfram glared at him.
Yuuri looked at the blonde uncertainly for a moment before looking at his godfather who shrugged in response.
"What?" Wolfram finally snapped when his fiancé didn't say a thing but simply carried on staring at him.
"Sorry, nothing, I was just thinking. He smiled nervously. "Anyway lady Cäcilie has a tailor over right now, she wanted to take your measurements for a suit, you know...to wear for Greta's birthday ball."
"And you, the King, came all the way to tell me that." Wolfram drawled, pressing his lips into a thin line, he wanted to feel happy Yuuri had come down personally, but irritation building up wouldn't allow it. "We have messengers for delivering messages of this sort, it's unbefitting for a King to play messenger boy." I know why you're really here, just apologize and get it over with already!
"Well yeah I guess." Yuuri trailed off, offering a shy smile.
"Now, Wolfram, aren't you happy to see Yuuri? We have been looking for you for the past half an hour. No one seemed to know where you were." Conrad interjected a pleasant smile on his face. "We even considered assembling a search party."
"Don't be ridiculous Weller, and anyway, if you had just taken me with you into town this morning, you would have known where I was all along!" Wolfram replied hotly, looking straight at Yuuri, he squirmed slightly as if he had done something wrong. You just had to say you were sorry and I would have let this go you wimp!
"I didn't want to wake you." He paused thoughtfully, not looking at all sorry, "You were out patrolling late last night, you missed dinner, I didn't even hear you come to bed."
"You could have still asked if I wanted to go into town!"
"I didn't want to wake you." Yuuri repeated.
"And you took Greta. Our daughter." Wolfram couldn't help but sound a little bitter, thinking about waking up alone and not knowing where his fiancé or daughter were. It was bad enough finding out from one of those stupid gossiping maids. Something else for them to talk about.
"We went into town to pick out material to for Greta's dress; so of course I took Greta." Yuuri looked at Wolfram calmly as a patient parent would at a disobedient child, this seemed to annoy Wolfram even more. He's being childish again and over nothing. Yuuri resisted the urge to shake his head and sigh.
"So did you go to Mont's?" Wolfram asked trying not to look as annoyed as he felt.
"Yes, the same place we always go for special occasions." Yuuri tired steadily. Maybe he's not going to blow. "You should see the lace I bought for Greta's dress, it's imported all the way from Touvei Gala, the design on lace is-."
Uninterested, Wolfram rudely spoke over his King. "Did you flirt with the fabric dealer's wife? I've seen the way you look at her." Why did I even bother asking him that? The word's left Wolfram's mouth before he even had a chance to catch himself, he narrowed his eyes accusingly, he knew he sounded silly, but now that the fire within him had been lit after so long, there was no dousing it. It wasn't the kind of fire that made you feel cozy, it was the kind you felt before your insides reached their boiling point, his veins felt like they were transporting lava.
Yuuri frowned, but before he could say anything Conrad stepped forward holding up his hands in a nullifying gesture. "I was with His Highness all along Wolfram, and I can assure there was no flirting."
"And I'm sure you know what flirting looks like Weller." He spat out.
"Yes Wolfram, I do." Conrad looked directly at Wolfram, unperturbed by the poisonous look shot his way.
"Really." Wolfram drawled. He's smiling again, screw that Weller.
"I didn't know you had such a deep interest in my personal life dearest brother." He lifted his eyebrows comically before saying in a low voice, like he was about divulge in some exclusive secret. "I can tell you all about it."
"No thank you."
Yuuri smiled at Conrad, who smiled back at him. Wolfram seeing the two looked the other way unable to think of something to say that wouldn't make him sound like a complete imbecile or a brattish child. Just like that, the heat of the fire he felt in him momentarily was put out like pinching the wick of a candle. I lost. You win Yuuri. He resisted the urge to smile bitterly.
"Now why don't you and His Highness head to Greta's chambers, mother and the tailor should still be there now, it would be rude to keep her waiting."
"Yeah come on Wolf." Yuuri grabbed Wolfram's elbow pulling him the direction of Greta's room. "Conrad aren't you coming as well?"
"No thank Your Majesty, I don't need a new outfit, I will be in my uniform after all." Yuuri looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before laughing out loudly.
"You're just saying that because you don't want to be poked and prodded."
Conrad smiled ambiguously. "Perhaps."
"Well, fine I'll let you get away with it this time but I want to see you in frills for my birthday."
"We'll see Your Majesty." Conrad chuckled lightly.
"No, I mean it. I'll make it a royal decree if I have to."
"Then I will have no choice." He stated dramatically.
"Great!" Yuuri grinned. "Oh, and Conrad."
"Yes Your Majesty?"
"It's Yuuri. I'll make that a royal decree as well if I have to."
"Now that would be abusing your power."
"I'm the king." Yuuri smirked at him.
"Yes you are Your Majesty."
Yuuri lifted his eyebrows in warning.
"I mean Yuuri."
"Now that's what I want to hear!" Yuuri smiled waving Conrad off.
Standing beside Yuuri Wolfram observed the exchange with his fiancé and his brother. Perhaps a year ago he would have been seething with envy, and occasionally he still did feel a fire, but now all he felt was a cold rock in his throat. Wolfram looked at the back of Yuuri's head while he walked a step behind him and let himself be dragged by the elbow.
Honestly, I don't even care that you went into town without me. It just felt necessary to make a fuss, to make you apologize, to make everything look normal, to feel feel normal. This is the reaction I would have had maybe a year or two ago ago. I was angry, I know I was...I felt that heat, so why does it all feel so fake? I feel like I failed.
He shook his head not wanting to think anymore, and quickly yanked his arm free of Yuuri.
The other ignored the semi violent gesture and carried on talking about anything that came to mind, his little argument with Wolfram by the stairs already forgotten.
Wolfram ignored him and looked down at the floor openly showing disinterest in whatever Yuuri was saying. He felt like sulking.
"Wolfram! I asked you a question, are you even listening?" Yuuri waved his left hand in the other's face, irritating the blonde.
He was tempted to slap it away.
"Stop that! What do you want to ask me?"
"I said, have you picked out a present for Greta?"
Wolfram paused thoughtfully. "No, I have not."
"Well, aren't you going to?"
"Yes. Eventually." Wolfram eyed his fiancé out the corner of his eye.
"Hmmmm, okay then...Wolf, are you still mad that we didn't take you to town?"
"Why are you asking me now?"
"Well you seen annoyed…" Yuuri said carefully.
"I'm not annoyed, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Several things."
"Like what?"
"Can't I just think by myself for a moment without having to publicly announce everything." Wolfram snapped hotly.
Yuuri regarded him again before sighing. "Let's just hurry up and get to lady Cäcilie before the tailor leaves."
"The tailor wouldn't be allowed to just leave." Wolfram mumbled uncharacteristically.
If Yuuri heard him, he ignored it and increased his pace leaving Wolfram behind, Wolfram watched Yuuri's retreating back suddenly wishing he hadn't spoken. Sighing the blonde walked in silence.
He doesn't even try anymore. Wolfram thought sullenly.
With the usual tailoring room currently being unavailable due to redecorating, Greta's personal bedroom had temporarily been turned into a dressing room for the tailoress.
"Oooh! When this dress is finished, you are going to look just like a doll!" Cäcilie squealed, running her hand over the large piece of square fabric. "This peachy colour is perfect for you, and the intricate patterns on this lace, I've never seen such a design, it's definitely foreign." She admired the garment, caressing it softly.
Greta laughed lightly, "You have Yuuri to thank for that, he picked it out and paid for it too."
"Well maybe I should let His Majesty pick the material for my dress as well."
"Well, admittedly Yuuri did have a little help from the fabric dealer's wife; Mrs Mont." Greta giggled. "She was wearing a dress with a low square neckline, it definitely showed off her ample bosoms, when she bent over to pick up a pin, Yuuri turned bright red." Greta laughed, but stopped when she saw the tailoress was struggling to take her measurements with her moving around so much.
"Well, you can't blame the young man, he's a healthy stallion." Cäcilie giggled, earning a small giggle from the Geta as well.
The tailoress tried her best not to laugh, it would be very inappropriate of her to laugh at her King. At least I'll have something interesting to tell my sister. So the King likes big busted women, my mother will definitely get a cackle out of that.
At that very moment two small knocks were heard at the door.
"Come in! I'm decent!" Greta called out.
Yuuri entered smiling brightly as his eyes landed on Greta.
"All done my princess?"
"Yep. Err I mean yes Your Majesty." Greta curtsied at Yuuri.
"Not you as well Greta." Yuuro moaned dramatically, feigning annoyance.
Wolfram stepped a few seconds later, he looked at Greta and smiled pleasantly, "Greta, mother." He greeted.
"Wolfram! There you are, we looked everywhere for you when we got back."
"Sorry Greta." Wolfram wanted to wince at the fact Greta no longer called her papa.
How many years has it been since I last heard that word? I never knew such a small word could mean so much to me, she's growing up so fast, in a few years she'll look older than me. Wolfram held the smile on his face despite suddenly feeling a numbing coldness growing at the center of his chest.
"Wolfie dear, look over here! Greta tells me His Majesty picked this out for you." Cäcilie held out a large folded piece of cloth, the whole piece looked completely dark blue from a distance, it was only close up that the painstakingly detailed embroidery done with an thin indigo thread became obvious.
Wolfram took the cloth from his mother's hands and examined it critically. Without a doubt, this is Ursela's Blue.
Ursela's Blue; named after the daughter of the man who first successfully made the dye, it is one of the most expensive dyes in the whole kingdom; made by crushing a rare stone found only in very small quantities in a very limited number of mines throughout the kingdom.
This must have cost a fortune.
Wolfram sighed internally feeling like the cloth was a colossal waste of money. Nothing the crown can't afford in these times of peace. But knowing Yuuri, this probably came from his personal vault rather than the royal vault.
"You really picked this out especially for me?" He asked plainly.
"Yeah sure did. Do you like it?" Yuuri asked cautiously.
"It's beautiful." Wolfram replied blankly, he resisted the urge to look away when Yuuri suddenly grinned at him.
"Wonderful!" Cäcilie beamed. "Now Wolf my dear why don't you let the tailoress take your measurements." She stepped forward and gave Wolfram a searching look. "Oh, my dear boy, how you've grown. You look more and more like me every day."
Cäcilie then wrapped one of her hands around Greta's arm leading them both towards the room's only exit. "Greta and I will go see if tea is ready."
The tailoress took that as her sign to move toward the former prince, taking a length of measuring string marked at regular intervals.
"We'll be in the garden Wolfram, come for tea okay?" Greta gave a small wave as she left the room with Yuuri following suit.
"Yuuri."
"Yes Wolf?"
"Aren't you going to be measured as well?"
"Oh, no Mrs Mont said she would design and make my outfit, that's very kind of her, don't you think?" Yuuri smiled warmly, "She and her husband are so grateful that we always buy our cotton and bed linens from them, she took my measurements and said they'd design and make my suit for free."
Wolfram frowned at this. It's probably so they can gain more publicity. "That makes you look cheap, if the town's people knew that their King was-" Yuuri cut him, much to Wolfram's displeasure.
"Of course I offered them money! He said quickly. "When they refused I offered them one of our stable horses to help Mr Mont drive his cart of dye down to the harbour so he wouldn't have to always ask his son." Yuuri said, eyeing the tailoress holding a piece of string from Wolfram's hip all the way to his ankle. The woman seemed to have suddenly tensed.
Yuuri suddenly felt a little guilty; feeling he may have offended the woman and made her uncomfortable. I suppose it's rude to talk about me going to another tailor when she's the one that made my suit last year. I hope she doesn't think she did a bad job.
Yuuri made a mental note to offer the tailoress a bit of extra money. On top of that, a King and his fiancé, accidental or not should avoid arguing publicly. Too often people seem to get the wrong idea.
He was about say his goodbye's and make his exit when Wolfram interrupted.
"You offered a stable horse to the fabric dealer?" Wolfram sounded incredulous. "Our horses are specially bred for riding and combat, they aren't there to pull carts like common animals!"
Already feeling embarrassed and not wanting to cause a scene with Wolfram anymore, Yuuri tried not to appear vexed as he as he gave a fleeting glance to his accidental fiancé, "Wolfram we'll talk later." With that Yuuri curtly left the room after thanking the woman who was now holding a piece of string along the broad of Wolfram's back.
She curtsied as her King left. So the rumours are true, my sister's going to want to hear this; the King and his fiancé really don't get along, Perhaps this whole engagement was a farce after all. She mused. Or maybe they just hit a rough patch, planning grand events must be stressful for everyone. And damn those Monts, they've enough good coming their way as it is. She thought bitterly.
Suddenly feeling a pair of eyes on her the tailoress looked up.
"Are you done?" Wolfram asked the woman hotly, not at all hiding his impatience.
"Ah, I beg your pardon, no Your Excellency." She blushed at the attention and quickly got back to work, taking the last of her measurements and scribbling them down in her book which she kept in a large pocket in the front of her apron.
Wolfram eyed himself in the mirror. He had grown, and noticeably so over the past few years. His height had increased by a few inches and his shoulders were broader but his face was pretty much still remained the same, he'd also kept his hairstyle the same. But Yuuri on the other hand had grown considerably, his face had lost it's baby roundness, his eyes were more pointed, they had lost their innocent look about them, but still somehow managed to look kind and gentle. Yuuri was almost as tall as Conrad, and Greta was almost as tall as Wolfram is now.
In a few more years, it would be like some kind of a joke for her to even acknowledge me as her father, she was already more grown up than I am in so many ways. In another twenty years, she would most likely look old enough to be my mother minus the obvious phenotypic differences.
Then in another fifty years following that, when Wolfram would be equivalent to a human in his early thirties with a painfully long life ahead of him, Greta would most likely be dead. Even Yuuri would be old or already dead, although his demon blood means he'll age more slowly, Wolfram would likely outlive his fiancé provided that he didn't die in battle, illness or from some other unnatural cause.
Wolfram did something, he never thought he'd do; curse his demon blood. Perhaps it's better that Greta has stopped calling me papa now. Wolfram sighed internally vaguely conscious of the presence of the taolieress jotting down something in her crusty looking book. Yuuri, if he really wanted to marry me he would have made this clear on his eighteenth birthday.
This is when a King, if he has not done so already on his sixteenth birthday declare his future plans to his people and subjects, that should have included when he would marry his fiancé.
God what an embarrassing affair that was. Wolfram's hearted was pulled upwards with a dull ache.
Yuuri had not mentioned him even once during his King's speech. Wolfram had gotten drunk and slept in the nearest room which happened to be a guest bedroom. He was far too inebriated to walk back to or even find his own room.
Yuuri had gone to bed as if he had the best day of his life and woken up in an even cheerier mood. At breakfast he had mentioned only in passing how he noticed Wolfram had disappeared the previous night. Wolfram meanwhile had awoken to a raging headache and a lecture from an unsympathetic Gwendal who bellowed about how he had slept in the room that was intended for Lord Von Wincott. Thankfully, the Wincott ruler had not been offended at being relocated in the early hours of the morning after finding the blonde sprawled across what was meant to be his bed during his stay at the castle.
It's as though no one cares. I am a childish brat to them all, then again I suppose I have been on many occasions, I was an blinded fool to think Yuuri and I ever had a chance, what makes this all the more pathetic is that everyone else seemed to see it except me. It took me too long to face the facts, and by procrastinating confronting the obvious truth; I have made myself look like a dullard.
When was it I realised this? The blonde paused in his musing, but he didn't need to stop for too long before he arrived at his answer.
Yes, that's right it was right after Yuuri's nineteenth birthday, that's when I slowly started to let go, but in truth it was probably before that. I want to leave this pitiful struggle behind me, this hope I once had that you would somehow accept me as your significant other. I now know it can never happen. You feel nothing for me other than friendship.
Did you even try?
Then again, I suppose I'm the biggest fool here once again, I'm the one that's not strong enough. I'm not strong enough to move on, even though you clearly have and continue to do so more every day.
Do you have any idea what it's like to walk around with people everywhere in the kingdom thinking you a desperate and jealous child whore?
I know I haven't been graceful when it comes to expressing any kind of intense emotion when it comes to you Yuuri, but you've mercilessly stomped on my feelings countless times. Then again, I suppose it's unfair on you as well, especially if you never had feelings for me. Wolfram admitted reluctantly, the thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. This engagement must have been very inconvenient on you and I an embarrassment...
Wolfram wanted to punch himself, he felt an angry fire within him rising. But do you know what it's like to not be taken seriously by your own family? To have a family who see you still as a spoilt child, incapable of having any real problems.
To have a mother that openly encourages you to seek out others as love interests, knowing full well that I, her son am already engaged! And to the King nonetheless! How inappropriate of her to even suggest such a thing. Wolfram grimaced. All it's done is reinforce her image as a slut throughout the kingdom, even worse now that people have seen mother try pass her scandalous ways onto me.
I know she loves me, but why does she do this? Why must she be this way?
Yuuri...do you know how it felt to open my heart to a human girl? Initially I it because of you...I accepted her and loved her as my own child, knowing she will be taken away from me piece by piece through age, marriage and finally death. I thought over the years that we could face that together.
It's been five years now, five years of engagement, five years of pretending, five years to let my insides slowly turn to ice, five years to hopelessly watch hope fade. Just how much longer is this going to go on?
But deep down I know I can't blame you, you never wanted this engagement, yet I pursed you like small insect drawn to honey, when in reality I was a moth drawn to flame. The flame that will eventually turn me to ashes. I've been such a fool.
"Your Excellency, would your care for silver buttons or black buttons?"
Wolfram almost jumped, suddenly jarred from his thoughts, he felt self conscious. Why is she looking at me like that?
The woman watched him with an expectant smile.
Oh, right. I didn't answer her question. "I don't care." He said quickly, trying not to look uneasy.
She nodded, scribbled something down then looked back at him. "The latest fashion in the Demon Kingdom is to have five small buttons along the side of your sleeves rather than the traditional three larger buttons. Which would you prefer? Five buttons or three buttons?" She asked in a sickly sweet voice, oblivious to turmoil of the man in front of her.
"I don't know." He replied numbly.
"I see...and how many layers of ruffles would you like on your sleeves sir?"
"I really don't care."
He resisted the urge to sigh, instead narrowed her eyes at her as she wrote something down in her book.
"Will you have your sword at hand sir? If so I can have a belt made to match your suit."
"I don't know."
"Well just in case, I'll have one made anyway!" She said with forced cheerfulness."And just so I can alter the length of your trousers accordingly, will you be wearing high boots, mid heel boots or low heel?"
"How should I know?"
The tailoress eyed the fair haired boy cautiously, taking note of the irritation that had begun to leak into his voice.
"Double breasted or single?"
"I don't know."
Slowly she asked "Would you like your suit to have an open bodice, so you can wear a cravat sir, or would you prefer the design to have a stiff upper collar?"
"I don't care!" Wolfram finally screeched out, his chest heaved up and down. Why the hell am I out of breath?
After a moment he sighed, feeling he'd been too rude, he glanced at the wide-eyed woman who'd taken a few steps away from him.
"Just make it look good, you can do that much can't you?" He asked sharply.
"Yes of course! I'll do my best Your Excellency." She bowed quickly.
"Thank you." He said curtly and with that Wolfram left the room, not at all in the mood for tea. Even if the tea was scorching hot, it couldn't dislodge or melt jagged ice cube that had found home in his throat.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Wolfram asked himself absently rubbing at his throat, noting he also had a headache coming on. I shouldn't have sat in the sun so long.
Yozak sighed as he eyed the tall brown door in front of him. He'd just got back from a grueling two hour horse ride and a five hour trek far into the Fisian woods, it was decided that on the edge of a lake in the desolate heart of the woods would be the meeting place between himself and a trusted kohi His Eminence had assigned him for this particular mission. Just over two weeks ago, Yozak had sent out three of his men alongside two healer's to a village on the very far edge of the Great Demon Kingdom to investigate the death of a man that somehow had managed to spike the interest of His Eminence.
Initially he had thought this to be noting important, but the report he received left his legs feeling like lead, and it wasn't just the long adrenaline driven journey back to castle that made him feel tired.
Well here goes nothing. He knocked on the door once, before he could even touch the door a second time, it swung open.
"Come in."
"Lord Von Voltaire." Yozak greeted the other man, inclining his head downwards.
"Forget the formalities." He waved his hand dismissively, as he approached his desk. "Just give me your report Gurrier, what have you learnt?"
"It's as we feared, the odd rumours and His Eminence's concerns appear to have a solid body after all." The man paused briefly. "I have good reason to believe our mystery disease is one called a Widow's Cry, it's not indigenous to the Demon Kingdom, supposedly originating from a human country beyond the back walls of Big Cimanron."
"So it's come from one of the human countries, through imports perhaps?" Gwendal narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"To the best of my knowledge, this disease has been dormant for many thousands of years. But in all honesty, I would need to travel beyond Cimanron and conduct a formal investigation before I can say more with certainty." Yozak looked thoughtful. "It's not like we have ready access to countries beyond Cimaron, what we know about the origin of the disease is limited and Big Cimanron isn't exactly running to our aid."
"There is no need for Big Cimaron to know." Even at times of peace, we cannot be made to look weak, that is simply inviting trouble.
"With respect Your Excellency, if this is as bad as I've been led to believe, everyone will know soon enough." He said seriously, the commander eyed him expectantly.
After allowing a fitting silence, Yozak started again. "So far the only accounts of infection I have received are at Jade Peak, a small fishing village by The Port of the Great East Sea."
"And, how can you be sure it's this Widow's Cry disease?"
"There is an old man who is a book collector and also a librarian, who not surprisingly has read many books from all over." The orange haired man said casually but cleared his voice to adopt a more serious tone when he saw his commander's expression. "He lives at Jade Peak, several months ago, one of his neighbours developed an illness that got progressively worsened eventually leading to his death. At the time, the people assumed he had the flu, fever, fatigue, and achy muscles was what had prompted the man to visit the local healer in the first place."
Gwendal motioned for him to continue, leaning back in his chair.
"But no amount of bed rest or even healing maryoku seemed to improve his condition."
"So he just died from the flu?" Said Gwendal trying not to sound hopeful. Flu is better than some mystery disease.
"Well not directly anyway, the healer that treated him had said he died from a secondary bacterial infection; supposedly pneumonia as a result of the flu." Yozak stated. "If he had the flu, even basic healing maryoku should have been enough to stop the propagation of the virus and anitbiotics should have taken care of the pneumonia."
Gwedal looked at him, almost daring Yozak to continue, the orange haired man however looked unperturbed.
"As you are aware, we've come a long in medicine over the past hundred years, especially over the past ten years now that the war has ended. Whilst it does still happen in exceptional circumstances, dying from something such as pneumonia and common flu is practically unheard of." Yozak stated as a matter of factly. "For all intents and purposes, that man should have lived."
"Perhaps, the healer that treated him was incompetent." Gwendal offered.
"Perhaps, but I don't think that's the problem here."
"Say what it is you want to say already Gurrier, I'm running out of patience." Gewndal said with no real malice in his voice, but he could tell he wasn't going to like where this was going.
"Immediately following his death, it was decided that the man was to be cremated to reduce the chance of spreading infection. The deceased man's only remaining family was his younger sister, so his neighbour; the librarian had offered to dress the body in preparation for the burning." Yozak took a moment to think of the dead man's sister. From the report I received, she would have been around Greta's age. Yozak let out a heavy breath. It's not going to be easy for her.
"Continue."
"Whilst he was dressing the man, he noticed he had a small raised concave swelling on the epidermis above his left lung. He described it as being no more than two inches wide, and about a quarter of the swelling had a purple discolouration on top in the shape of a waning gibbous moon."
Gwendal stood up out his chair and turned around showing his back to Yozak resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. I knew I wasn't going to like the sound of this.
"The healer said he had thought it was a histamine induced angioedema in response to inflammation in his lungs caused by the secondary bacterial infection, and dismissed the purple discolouration as bruising. But the librarian wasn't convinced, he had thought he had read about something similar in relation to a old disease before and mentioned this in a letter to his grandson who happened to be one of Conra-, I mean Lord Weller's trainees here at the castle."
Gwendal started to pace the room.
"The was the first mention of Widow's Cry was in that letter." Yozak scratched his eyebrow thoughtfully. "I have no idea how His Eminence knew though." He paused shifting on his feet. My ankles are sore, two hours of straight riding did my back no favours either.
"Anyway, moving on...I sent some of my birds to investigate as you asked on request of His Eminence and here I am with a report." Yozak said casually, trying to make light conversation before delivering the bad news to frowning man in front of him. No use stalling Gurrier, you'll only end up being here longer. He said to himself.
"Yes. Here you are." The grey haired man said dully. "Never mind about His Eminence for now. This book collector, or librarian, whatever he is; how can this man be sure that the ailment his neighbour had was Widow's Cry, what if it really was just a swelling and some bruising?"
"According to Karlyn Jaecar-"
"Who exactly is Karlyn Jaecar?" Gwendal asked the orange haired becoming increasingly impatient and troubled the more the man in front of him spoke.
"He is the grandson of the librarian, Lord Weller's trainee sir." Yozak said patiently. "His grandfather; the librarian read it in a book dating to be around two thousand years old. He had bought it from a sailor who stopped at the Jade Peak Harbour several decades ago when there weren't so many trade limitations between The Demon Kingdom and the free Human Countries. The book clearly mentioned a-"
"He read it in an ancient book?!" Gwendal did not look impressed.
That was the second time the orange haired man had been stopped mid-sentence, he wasn't impressed either. Maybe I should try a different approach. He thought before speaking again. "So far, from what the librarian has found out from the book and the description of the disease provided by our birds, it all appears to match up."
Gwendal's frowned deeply in light of this news either, his premature wrinkles became more prominent suddenly. "It is deadly." He said, it was more of a statement than a question.
"I'm afraid so sir, my spies confiscated the book from the librarian in the name of the King, the old man gave it up with some reluctance-"
"I don't care about that, just tell me what you have learned!"
"Yes it is deadly." Yozak said simply, subtly licking his lips before speaking again. "Once contracted the unlucky person usually has four to six weeks at most, at least that's what my spies have written from the intelligence they've gathered so far." Yozak said trying to keep the spite out of voice, whilst he respected his commander, he didn't take too kindly to being constantly cut off either. "The letters I received mention no cure."
"What about healing magic?"
"I explained the situation to Giesela she-."
"I said not to send Giesela!" Gwendal interrupted swinging around to face Yozak. "We need her here." He said more slowly.
"With respect Your Excellency, I did not send Giesela." Yozak said in measured tones, noting that the grey haired man was getting close to tipping. Yozak could understand the man's anger was merely concern but this meeting would be so much easier if his commander just allowed him to say everything he had to say in one go. Then ask questions.
Yozak resisted the urge to blow hot air through his nose and flare his nostrils.
"Once I had explained the situation to Giesela, she recommended two of her most trusted healers, they accompanied our spies. Unfortunately they reported magic was ineffective at curing the disease, at best it helped to alleviate some of the more mild symptoms."
"Is that so…" Gwendal paced the room several times, and stopped suddenly, conscious of the other man's eyes trailing him. "I suppose this wasn't to be completely unexpected since you mentioned that the healer was unable to help the first man with maryoku."
"Yes sir."
"Just how bad is the infection at Jade Peak?"
"The village has a population of around eight hundred sir. But so far only fifteen of the reported accounts of disease appear to match Widow's Cry, this doesn't include the six deaths that have already occurred. My birds tell me that there is a general sense of fear among the populace there, although the people are not hysterical." He paused gravely. "Yet."
"And just how long will that last when people start dropping dead like flies?"
Yozak had seen a lot in his life but he still had to force himself not to wince at the image, suddenly reminded of all the littered bodies found in villages during the war. He shook his head as if to physically shake away those memories. "Whilst my birds cannot openly admit to being spies, Giesela's healers have taken upon themselves to go under the guise of traveling apprentice healers heading to the Capital to reunite with their teacher. The healers promised the Chief of Jade Peak Village that word will be passed onto King."
"That is risky business, I can think of a number of things wrong with what the healers have done, it may even make things worse in the long run."
Yozak frowned at this. It's not as though we can simply ignore what is happening and leave them these people die. "My spies wrote that the people were comforted to hear that despite being on the edge of the kingdom, the King will know of their troubles." Yozak allowed himself a small smile. "It's fair to say that most of the kingdom know of our benevolent King's kindness."
Gwendal didn't visibly look any less relived, his shoulders still tense and square.
"In other news, word of this strange disease has already spread to Houloie; it's the next nearest village to Jade Peak."
"What's the situation there?"
"My men report that the people are concerned. Naturally." Yozak exhaled loudly. "They were reluctant to let my birds pass through their village even when they showed them the royal seal."
"It's understandable." Gwendal almost growled. "They are reluctant to let anyone from Jade Peak into their village out of fear of contracting the disease themselves." He man said, stealing the words from Yozak's mouth.
"Yes sir."
Gwendal frowned turning away from Yozak to look out the window of his office. "Your spies, the ones that journeyed to Jade Peak, have they become infected?"
"I received message via kohi, so far none of them have been infected."
"What if one of your spies has already contracted the disease and it is lying dormant?" Gwendal rubbed his forehead with his back to Yozak.
"I doubt that sir, the disease is said to be fast acting, once infected according to the reports; it disables the body in a matter of days."
"With flu like symptoms?"
"Initially yes but not necessarily leading to a similar death as the first man. According to the observations made by Giesela's healers on the few cases they've had the opportunity to observe, and the knowledge they've acquired from the librarian's book; the Widow's Cry starts off like a common cold preceding a high fever." Yozak sighed again, not caring if the other man heard him.
"This may be followed by any of the following symptoms; delirium, patchy rashes over the abdomen, yellowing of the scelera, vomiting blood and fluid filled swellings of the feet and lungs. The book goes onto to state that-"
"That darn book again!" The green glad man banged his fists against his desk.
Ignoring the disturbed man, Yozak took a deep breath before he carried on. What a tiresome job this is, this whole report would go much faster if only I were allowed to complete my sentences!
"As I was saying sir, some other symptoms that are mentioned in the book have not been reported. The book points to more than one cause of death, either directly or indirectly resulting from the disease. Death can occur from dehydration through vomiting to drowning from fluid filled lungs, men castrating themselves because of fluid filled…er genitals and even suicide among others. The purple coloured swelling appears to be notable in this disease, but of course if the swelling is inside say the lungs rather than on the surface of the organ as it was the case with the first man, we would not be able to distinguish the disease from that one that symptom alone."
"So is there any way to determine if someone has a simple cold and bruise from falling off a tree or the beginnings of Widow's Cry?"
Under different circumstances Yozak might have offered a smile to the commander for his rather imaginative scenario, but his lips refused to be tugged upwards.
"Giesela's healers spoke with the librarian, according to his book, there is a simple test to determine if a person had become afflicted with Widow's Cry."
Gwendal looked at the other man expectantly.
Is he holding his breath? Yozak wondered noting the stony silence in the room. "Supposedly the way to see if a person has Willow's cry is to take a piece of rice paper and soak it in concentrated Vollny's extract, once this has dried, some kind of yellow medicinal dye..." Yozak rubbed at his neck thoughtfully. "I cannot remember what it was called, but this dye is also added to the rice paper till saturation. Once completely dry, adding a drop of a suspect's blood should turn the yellow dyed paper into a bright orange colour if the person has Widow's Cry."
"Sounds rather primitive." Gwendal rubbed his chin with a meaningful look on his face. "How can we be sure this method is reliable?"
"Our spies and unaffected villagers all revealed negative results, but when the healers tested this on those suspected of having Widow's Cry, the orange bloomed."
"I see." Gwendal sat down heavily on his chair. "We cannot afford to have any of the infected entering the capital." Gwendal said gravely, the man had to say no more, Yozak knew what the consequences would be if one of his spies or the healers were to become infected, for this reason, he chose his spies carefully, his watchful birds knowing full of the risks involved when they set off to investigate Jade peak.
Although it went without saying, Yozak had made them aware of what would need to be done if they found Jade Peak under some sort of deadly epidemic. Though at the time, I don't think anyone could have guessed how serious this was going to be, it was just one man that had died from some unknown illness, just one! He thought frustrated, gritting his teeth remembering how nonchalantly he'd sent his men off.
"How long before your men return to the capital from Jade Peak?"
"According to the report, they left a two days ago." Yozak pursed his lips in thought. "Theoretically it should take them about two weeks to return, but I suspect it'll take them longer. This year's winter snow hit the East pretty hard."
"I heard." Gwendal said sitting down on his chair heavily. "Lady Von Rochefort has sent several letters of complaint, with part of the East falling in her territory, she had to donate extra food supplies and blankets to the villages in that area."
A rare sight to behold, a small smirk graced the Voltairian land ruler's face. "She demands the Crown pay her 35% in gold based on the monetary value of what she had to give away."
"And, may I be so bold as to ask if the Crown is going to pay up." Yozak asked, noting the light conversation was out of place but he welcomed it nonetheless.
"What do you think?"
"No." Yozak said smugly.
"If you cannot serve your people when they are in need, you should not rule." Gwendal said firmly, all traces of humour now gone.
"I couldn't agree more." After a pause, Yozak added, "From what I've heard Lady Rochefort has a bit of a reputation for being...an ambitious woman, and especially determined when it comes to money. This might be problem that may not drown in the mud so easily sir."
"It isn't an issue, I will simply have to remind Lady Rochefort of how the Royal Vault Masters pay all the noble houses an unnecessarily large amount of money every month in aid to care for their territorial villages."
"A handsome amount I take it."
"Five times more than what you earn in a year."
"Ouch, life is unfair. That much every month huh?" Yozak cocked his head to the side and added rather cheekily; "So, I take it you also get paid an unnecessarily large amount of money every month as well." He raised his eyebrows teasingly.
"Not nearly as much as some of the other houses."Gwendal frowned. "Now getting back to what you were saying."
"Right, the snow and ice have melted and caused minor floods and slushy roads, the horses won't be able to travel with ease in those conditions."
"So how long exactly do you think our spies and the healers will take to return?"
Yozak resisted the urge to roll his eyes; feeling the conversation becoming repetitive."Even if the spies and healers were to ride fast and straight with minimal rest, they would still need to stop periodically to allow the horses to rest, and as I mentioned the condition of the roads aren't helping. I would say anywhere between sixteen to eighteen days."
"Send out a message, I want them to routinely check to see if they have become afflicted, especially before entering any villages. Inform the healers to check themselves as well if they have not done already. In fact, I think it would be better if your spies were to not sleep overnight in any of the villages." Yozak frowned at this.
"Send two people to gather any necessary supplies from the villages but they are to camp out away from the the villages. If it can be helped, ask them to avoid passing through as many villages as possible." That should help limit their exposure to outsiders.
"Isn't that being a little over cautious sir?"
"There is no such thing."
"Well, ultimately they will pass through at least four villages; there are some other possible routes, but this could increase their journey time by a few more days. But, to come to Blood Pledge Castle...well there's no way around the Capital, they'll have to pass through. What would be the point in this measure if-"
"It minimizes contact." The grey haired man interrupted.
"They tested themselves after leaving Jade Peak, it's unlikely our people would spontaneously develop Widow's Cry." Yozak tried to reason; not at all pleased that his men will not be allowed to sleep in a bed at night and after all they have done. He wanted to say that this was not fair, but even Yozak knew the commander had a point. Still, my men and the healers risked their lives to go investigate a potentially deadly disease, they deserve better.
"This is a safety net. All we have is fossil of book and pieces of chemically treated paper to rely on, I do not want to take any chances." He looked darkly at the man in front of him. "Do not question me further on this."
Yozak nodded in compliance knowing he will get nowhere.
"Now will you inform the healers and your men of this arrangement?"
" I will do so sir." Yozak paused, "There's one more thing Your Excellency."
"Yes?" He practically hissed.
Geez commander, ever heard of don't shoot the messenger.
"It's about the book, the reason why we've had to rely on the librarian so much is because the book is written in an ancient human language and-"
"Well of course it is!" Gwendal bellowed sarcastically, in a manner very unbecoming of him.
The coin sure flipped quickly. "What's more sir…the librarian is too frail to travel."
"So we have a deadly disease, no known cure and the only clue is in a book that's in a Shinou forsaken language!"
"In short. Yes. My spies wrote a down a few of the symbols and sent them to me via the kohi." Yozak looked at the green glad man knowingly, "I think I understand why His Eminence insisted we utlize the help of the Kotsuhizoku. "
Yozak continued "We don't know whether this disease can affect pigeons or other animals for that matter." Yozak said calmly.
Gwendal nodded in approval.
"I will find His Eminence and ask if he is familiar with the language."
Yozak looked at the man in front of him regretfully. "There's more, with his frequent visits to his neighbour, the librarian has also contracted the disease."
Initially the Commander said nothing. "How long does he have left?" He finally asked tiredly.
"The man will likely die in a matter of days from now or if he is lucky; he may have one more week." Yozak carried on in a slightly more sympathetic voice. "He is at an advanced stage, likely accelerated by his old age. The report said he was bedridden with violent tremors by the time our men were leaving. We have a lot to be grateful to him for, if it wasn't for him and his book...and the translations he's provided..." Yozak trailed off, knowing he didn't need to say anymore.
"Does his grandson know?"
"I imagine so Your Excellency."
"Does he have any other family?"
"The librarian had a son, he died in the war."
Gwendal sighed audibly, something he rarely did in the presence of company. "I will see to it that this Jaecar is taken care of. I will not however allow this young man to return to Jade Peak."
Yozak nodded solemnly in understanding, all the while feeling bad for the young man and for his grandfather. He's going to die alone, away from his only family.
"That reminds me, the girl." Gwendal stated.
Yozak raised his eyebrow, not sure what his commander was referring to.
"You mentioned that the first man to become infected had a sister, has she become infected?"
Understanding lit Yozak's face, "Ahh, no she was not mentioned in the report I received."
Gwendal narrowed his eyes, "I thought you said that this disease was contagious."
Yozak scratched his face thoughtfully, noting the he needed to shave. "That's the strange thing, not everyone that has come into contact with an afflicted person has become infected. The report mentioned that the healer that looked at the first man was still up and around trying to help as many people as he could."
"You're saying that this disease is someone selective in who it infects?"
"That's what the report suggests sir."
"I see."
"We'll know more when the next kohi arrives with a report from my men."
Gwendal lowered his eyes and simply nodded.
"There is some good news."
At this the green uniform clad Commander raised an eyebrow cautiously. "We believe that the disease is transmitted through contact with body fluids."
"Body fluids? And this is good news how?" He asked the spy.
"All the reported cases from Jade Peak are from the same area, and whilst not everyone who has come into contact with an afflicted person has become infected, those that have contracted Widow's Cry still appear to have come into contact with someone who is infected at some point." Well that was a mouthful, I wonder if the commander got that? Yozak looked over at the man on the other end of the room, he simply frowned back at him.
"We have two cases where half the individuals in the two family's are infected, but the other half perfectly healthy. The reason why this is significant is because the villagers all share a communal fresh water source, shop at the same market place, worship at the same temple …I could go on, but in short Giesela's healers are quite certain that the mode of transmission has to be through the body fluids from the afflicted, otherwise a lot more people would have become infected if it was something in the water or airborne for example."
"Do the villagers know?"
"The Jade Peak Chief has been informed, he should have made a public announcement by now and made arrangements to section off the contaminated areas."
That is reassuring to some extent, it also makes it more unlikely that the Kohi that bought the report had somehow carried the disease on it...Gwendal gave the man in front of him a calculating look...And passed it on to Yozak.
Yozak, oblivious to other's thoughts light up suddenly remembering something. "Oh, and the leader of the Houloie village has also been informed so he can both warn and reassure his people. This has somewhat helped lessen the tension in and between the two villages, but until there's a cure; I'm afraid this is as good as it's going to get." Maybe I should have gone to my room, showered and shaved, and written a nice long report for the good commander to read.
Changing the topic completely, the older man suddenly said; "In the event your spies or the healers were to become infected…" He looked at the man poignantly, expecting him to pick off where he left off without him actually needing to say it.
"I'm sure they will sir." Yozak said knowingly. "They are more than willing to lay down their lives." Yozak said, trying not to sound offended at the implication that Lord Von Voltaire did not trust his men. "In the event all my spies including the healers were to become infected, they have been instructed to move to an unpopulated area, remain there and send a message back to the castle informing us of their situation."
The orange haired man paused, lowering his voice but looking at the other straight in the eye "I would then personally ride out, find them and kill them if they have not already succumbed to the disease. I will then burn their bodies till there is nothing left but their ashes."
After a careful consideration Yozak added "Burning, the healers including the librarian believe that burning is the surest way to prevent the spread of disease from the corpses."
"And your spies and the healers, they were fully aware of this; that they may very well have to burn their comrades or themselves?"
"Of course!" Yozak raised his voice, unable to hold back his anger this time. These men have put their lives on the line and you doubt them!
Gwendal narrowed his eyes at the other man, "I am merely weary of the fact these men may have a change of heart."
"With respect sir, I served beside these men in the war, they are loyal. They would never abandon their pride in the face of duty, they know how important this assignment is."
"You trust these people?"
"Yes."
"Then that's good enough for me." People change in face of death. But Gwendal kept his thoughts to himself and pushed them to the back of his mind. I hope your trust in them is well placed Yozak.
"And the healers that accompanied them, will they let themselves be burnt if they become infected?"
"Giesela trusts them." Gwendal eyed the orange haired man solemnly before offering him a gentle slow. "Keep what you have learned to yourself for now."
"As I mentioned the disease has not spread to Houloie." Yozak looked at the grey haired man with a serious expression. "Jade Peak trades fish from the East Sea for fruits from the Houloien forest. The people of Houloie are afraid to let anyone from Jade Peak in, but there may be a few ignorant and desperate enough to try and proceed with trading."
Seeing he had his commander's undivided attention he carried on. "If I may, I recommend some kind of official action be taken to stop any trade. Fortunately for us, my birds tell me that the roads are too muddy for horses to pull large produce carts and all pathways have been temporarily closed."
"Any idea as it how long it will remain this way?"
"A week at most should be enough to dry up the ground and firm up the mud enough for small horse drawn carts."
"If I introduce a blockade, the people of Jade Peak will feel isolated." They will lose faith and feel forsaken. But what choice do I have? His Majesty will not like this. Gwendal thought grimly.
"You have to be cruel sometimes sir, I don't want these people to suffer any more than you do." Taking a deep breath he carried on. "But we have no cure, the best we can do is contain the situation and prevent it's spread."
"I agree, I will inform His Majesty tomorrow. Then we can discuss an action plan." After a moment of pondering he added "I will however issue a royal decree with His Majesty's permission; temporarily forbidding the trade of goods between Jade Peak and any other villages or traveling merchants until we have a full guarantee that their trading goods have not become contaminated." Even if this disease does spread through bodily fluids, it can easily spread onto food; all we need is for someone who has just become infected to sneeze on a dead fish...if that gets passed onto Houloie, Widow's Cry may potentially spread. Gwendal propped his elbows on the table feeling himself become dizzy from thoughts of all the possible way the disease could spread. The port will have to be closed as well, incoming ships suspended.
"Gisela should be back by sundown today from her herb gathering trip, I will inform her of what you have told me as soon as she is here." Gwendal stood grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from one of the draws in his desk. "I would like for you to be checked out by Gisela by the method you described using rice paper and Vollny's extract and so on, till then you will stay in your room and make no attempt to contact anyone in the castle. You must understand I cannot-
"I do understand." Yozak interrupted him for the first, and he did understand, he expected nothing less than extreme caution from the commander. After all the interruptions he had to endure whilst presenting his report, the scowl directed at him from his commander felt like sugar in his mouth. Now you know how I feel, it isn't nice is it? Yozak thought rather childishly.
"You mentioned your spies wrote down a few symbols from the book for His Eminence to have a look at, leave it here with me."
"Yes sir."
"When is the next report due?" Gwendal asked the man almost looking disgusted, as of he really didn't want to know.
"Just over a week from now, it'll be a progress update."
"Report to me as soon as you hear any news."
"We're done here." He sat at his desk expecting Yozak to leave, when the said man didn't he looked up.
"Your Excellency, this devil disease may be old and unheard of in the Demon Kingdom until now, but there may be those that know of it. Not to mention the symptoms aren't exactly desirable either."
"What are you saying?"
"Word will spread like wildfire throughout the entire Kingdom and if some kind of action is not taken, the people will panic."
"I know." Lord Von Voltaire said gravely. "Now go, I must prepare my report to His Majesty." Just as the man reached the door, Lord Von Voltaire turned to him and said lightly; "Good work Yozak, go take a shower."
Yozak smirked, "Well you trying riding for two hours straight, then tracking through a godforsaken wood that's trying to kill you at every turn. You don't exactly come out smelling like a gardenia."
"I have." Gwendal stated simply.
"Did you smell like a greasy horse's ass?"
Gwendal said nothing.
And there you have it folks! I hope you liked that, there so much I want to do with this story I need to just sit down and think to try and get my ideas in order.
I set things into motion with this chapter and I already have the next chapter written but I just need to tidy things up a bit. There'll be more Wolfam and Yuuri in the following chapters, that lengthy conversation between Gwendal and Yozak was necessary.
By the way, Touvei Gala, Ursela's Blue, Widow's Cry disease, Vollny's extract whatever these thing's are; I'm sure you guessed right: yep they are made up!
WARNING: PLEASE excuse any bad grammar, missing words or punctuation; I only have the heart to read through this so many times before I just don't want to anymore.
Let me know what you think. Xx
Have a lovely day (or night).