[ - Author's Note - ]
Well, I can say the response to the poll was a bit of a... surprise, just not how I expected it to be. While I expected 'no' to be the largest response I wasn't ready for how adamant people would be on it. The passion the question was a bit of a shock; I am happy that people feel so strongly about it I'm just taken aback at how vocal they are on saying 'no'. I had to ask people on what they thought about the chapter itself, since almost everyone just talked about their opinion on the poll.
As usual, I'll leave the poll up until the next chapter is posted but I highly doubt that the yes opinions will overtake the no options.
No, really, if the yes options over take the no options after this Satan will be snowboarding, I'm sure.
On a brighter note, the Fan Fiction Dot Net version has now passed one hundred thousand views! I guess I'll make one hundred and fifty thousand the next big milestone in that regard.
Now then onto the chapter; the cliffhanger will be resolved and the fall out will begin. Unsurprisingly fingers get pointed and investigations are launched.
Gee, wonder where those fingers are going to point? I couldn't imagine who could have possibly done such a thing, I mean who could it-
Yeah, I'm not fooling anyone here with this, am I? Let's just get on with it.
[ - Act I - Chapter XII: Ur-gent Investigations - ]
There was a real damned panic when Victor collapsed down to the floor, not that I could blame anyone for it. The first few seconds after it happened there was a lot of action; a lot of people at the tables stood up and backed away. Several glasses of wine were knocked over, poured out or even thrown away. One of the guests (Count Ellion Rongan of Bemul) called out loudly to everyone that he drank the wine but didn't feel ill at all. Samuel called out to a maid to go and fetch a doctor and to be quick about it, said maid all but taking off out the door. Halbert looked like he was about to tear his hair out as he clenched it, glaring at Victor of all people. Sure, Victor was an asshole but it was like he was blaming him for-
Oh. Yeah. There's no need to call Sherlock Holmes for this mystery. But I had to put a pin in that for now.
Samuel rushed over to Victor's side; I was the only one to beat him there, hands moving to his shoulders to pin him down as he convulsed. I looked down as Makoto and Tiffany rushed over, Miria backing away in shock. Prim and Rose looked on in shock as well as Alicia stormed around the table, Cress hot on her heels.
"Victor!" Arnold let off, crying out as he rushed over to look at his son with the rest of his family following him, a horrified look on his face. No one could blame him. I was thinking a mile a minute on one question; how do we get the poison out of him. As much as I disliked Victor (Read: Very) I couldn't just let him die like this.
He did just save my life, kind of, in a way, sorta. But how? We'd have to pump his stomach but we had nothing to do it wit-
"Tiffany!" I called out, the girl jumping at being called at. "Can you make some sort of summons to pull out what's in his stomach, get the poison out?"
"Ugggh, ye-yeah. It won't hold long though." She said as she started to quickly gather mana. "I'll have to cast it quickly."
"It doesn't have to hold long, just long enough Lass." Samuel let off as Arnold knelt by Victor's side, helping me pin him down. It only took a few seconds for Tiffany's creation to come about; a red set of bellows with a tube on one of the handles. Said tube drove into Victor's mouth and down his throat. I really didn't want to think about what was about to happen, but it was about to happen. Soon the tube stopped moving and the bellows started to squeeze together then apart. Together then apart. Soon... stuff came out. Bile, tinted red from the wine and chunks of I didn't want to know came out in it. The bile splattered out onto the carpet but I ignored it in favor of tending to the situation at hand. That said, I did not want to be the one cleaning up that mess.
It wasn't long after that an older man was jogging over from the door, the doctor by the looks of it. "Coming through! Coming through! Ah, yes, that'll help with the poison." The doctor said, panting a bit, likely from age. He was an older, slightly thin man, standing five eight and slightly hunched over with a bit of a pointed nose holding up silver framed glasses and a halo of gray hair around his head. He wore a long, white great coat over his body with two columns of three silver buttons. Black pants tucked into white boots and white gloves on each hand. I quickly used Observe on him.
(-)
Name: Raphael Richardson
Title: Doctor of Fortress Ur
Class: Sage/Doctor
Level: 25
Alignment: Friendly
Reputation: 35
Status: Healthy, Aged, Calm
Known Traits
[Healing Hands] If you are not under attack you're better able to focus on healing the body. +25% to all healing spells when not a target of attack.
[Doctor's Oath] You are a healer by nature, not a fighter. -25% to all damage. +25% to all healing abilities and skills
[Expert on Anatomy] You know how the body functions. +25% healing when focused on a specific area.
Despite his advanced age Raphael Richardson is still a practicing doctor and expert in the medical fields. While he has taught multiple apprentices over his seven decades of life he still prefers to directly heal people, and is the main doctor of Fortress Ur for this reason. Few know why he's so dedicated to healing others to the point of refusing to retire, but none question his dedication.
(-)
He quickly (Well, as quickly as he could) moved to kneel by Victor's head, one hand moving to a pouch at his hip, the other moving over Victor's chest as it glowed green with some form of healing or medical spell, at least I assumed. Victor seemed to settle down as the spell was cast on him, the old man panting softly as he nodded. "Alright, get that tube out of him now."
Tiffany nodded and simply dissipated her creation as Raphael poured a vial of something blue down into Victor's mouth and then moved to make him swallow it. He then followed by checking his pulse and nodding to himself. "Alright, let's get this man moved to the Infirmary. I can do more there."
"Will he live?" Arnold let off, his previously boastful tone gone and replaced with concern. The doctor gave a soft 'harumph' as he looked up.
"We'll see about making that happen, but I think the worst of it is over." He said as Samuel looked to one of the men in the room.
"Captain Miles! Nothing in this room is to be touched or tampered with by anyone until we've found what has happened here!" The Grand Duke called out, turning to one of the men at a side table. He was out of armor, wearing a rich, red jacket with coattails, a set of white pants tucked into black boots and black gloves. He was a large, six foot four man who was powerfully built and carrying a flanged mace at his hip with red leather on the handle. His head was bald and he had no hair on his face; a face that looked a tad flat on the front. There was a scar running from his left cheek up and over his eye and up to the top of his head, another horizontal cut over the nose and a third diagonal one over the right side of his lips that went down over his chin.
(-)
Name: Captain Miles Zeragon
Title: Master of House Fiorire's Guard
Class: Templar
Level: 29
Alignment: Neutral
Reputation: 39
Status: Healthy, Calm, Focused
Known Traits
[When All You Have Is A Hammer] You're a master of blunt weapons. +2 Damage to all blunt weapons you wield
[The Best Defense] Half of the average of your armor's defense resistances is added to your weapon's damage bonus
[?]
[All Right Chumps, Let's Do This] You prefer to charge headlong into battle, and you're good at it. +3 Defense when charging a foe and 30 seconds after it
Born from a family of knights it was discovered that Miles had a talent for magic at a young age. Cross trained between physical and magical combat he has always been the sort to wade into a situation, weapon and spells swinging and fighting at the front. He isn't unintelligent and is more then capable of basic and advanced tactics but just prefers a direct fight. As such he has refused promotions to higher positions in the military knowing he doesn't have the head for it.
(-)
"Of course! Karl, get some extra guards in here!" Miles let off to a saluting guard who ran off as he moved to the glass I sipped, looking it over, huffing. "Others drank the wine too, I saw it. And we were filling from four different bottles."
"A-are you saying..." Prim let off, her face going pale as Arnold picked up his son's body in his arm, following the doctor out to the infirmary. I already knew what was coming; I'd seen others drink the wine and not drop from anything; a poison that was so fast acting and potent meant one thing and one thing only.
"Aye... This was no accident, nor attempt to clean the slate of Ur Nobility." Miles spoke, huffing firmly. "This was an attempt at assassination."
"And I'm the target." I filled in as I crossed my arms...
At that I tried not to let my stomach churn in discomfort; I had been so close to dying (Again) and it was... Uncomfortable to say the least. I had no better words to sum up what I felt.
And I had a good guess as to who was to blame.
[-]
A number of us were gathered outside of the infirmary. The only ones inside were the patient (Victor), the doctor ( Raphael Richardson) and a pair of healers; one priestess and an arcanist. Outside was the other four members of the Blitzhaus clan; Arnold was pacing along up and down the hall outside the infirmary door, as if trying to make a twenty foot divot into the carpet with his footsteps. Jaeger leaned into a wall watching the door like a hawk. He seemed uncaring, but a more careful glance showed his arms were clenching and uncleching over his chest, as if trying to contain himself. Dulca sat by the wall, hugging her knees to her chest, also watching the door but with tears openly spilling from her eyes. Channer sat in a seat by the door, squirming in it, thumbs twiddling as he tried to calm himself.
Samuel and Prim stood off to the side of the door, the Grand Duke stroking his beard in thought and Prim frowning deeply as she looked over to the door and back to her father, then to me then back to the door. Rose was not present, remaining in the dining room to oversee the guard's efforts, having enlisted Carmen's help in said efforts to investigate. Miles had left for his quarters and returned in full armor; it resembled something Roman in origin. Segmented, steel plated armor on the torso with a bronze emblem of a bull's head over the chest. Steel pauldrons covered the shoulders and biceps and had a black cape attached to it with thick, golden fur around the collar and shoulders. Steel gauntlets and heavy bracers on each arm, with the left bracer and pauldron begin noticeably heavier.
Segmented armor was over the thighs and under a black, armored skirt with a belt buckle that looked like a bull's head at the front. Heavy, armored boots were on each foot and covered up to the knees. A helm hung off his left hip, Roman in style as well that covered the head, cheek and nose with two, bronze horns set along the sides of the helm and over the front; tight to the helm to avoid being easy to grab. A red plume stuck up at the top like a mohawk. His mace was at his hip once more, but a heavy, tower shield was slung over one shoulder; red with a bronze bull's head in the center.
I was there, clearly, as was my entourage and Cress. Miria leaned against the wall and took turns between glaring at the Blitzhaus clan and giving me worried looks with Alicia standing next to her, looking to me with worry as well. Cress sat next to her, glancing to her, then to me, then to the Blitzhaus family as well. Tiffany, read a book as she sat down cross legged; a text on healing magic from what I could tell. Makoto, meanwhile, stayed within five feet of me no matter what. With a clear attempt on my life it was clear she had no intention of straying from my side and her left hand was almost glued to her sword's sheathe. She was taking her job seriously and as annoying as that could be I was glad for it in that moment.
As for myself I sat next to Channer, silently offering him support. As much as I disliked (Read: Hated) Victor I didn't want to see him die. Well, okay, but not like this. However I also had other worries right now, clearly.
I was sure, given how he acted before Victor drank the wine and how he acted right after the wine was swallowed that Halbert was the one who tried to have me poisoned. I knew he hated me but not to this degree. Now I had to worry about what else he had planned; I didn't want to take him head on if I could avoid it. He was almost double my level and while I had fought similar odds before I imagined pulling them on Halbert would be less... fun then that.
On the bright side, if I could prove Halbert was behind this or even point the blame to him it would go a long way to dealing with him as I still needed to do so. My thoughts were cut short as the door to the infirmary opened, the good doctor stepping out.
"Doctor, what word have you of my son?" Arnold let off, moving to stand right before the man. The doctor scoffed softly and adjusted his glasses.
"Relax. The boy is fine." He said, sighing a bit. "He was on the Reaper's Doorstep, but since the poison was pulled from his stomach he was pulled back quite well. Really, I just had to work out what was left in his system." As the doctor spoke everyone else moved to stand before him in a half circle, listening to what he had to say. "That quick thinking saved his life; you owe that pair." Arnold frowned and almost snarled at the thought of owing me his son's life but simply nodded. "That said, the poison was a hell of a choice. I managed to figure out what it was; Mana Bane."
"Mana Bane? That's..." Channer let off as he paled. As did I, as did Prim and as did Tiffany.
"I apologize." Makoto began, noting our faces as she looked to the doctor. "Mana Bane?"
"I think I am familiar with that venom." Arnold let off, huffing as he crossed his arms.
"It's a poison. Venom is different." The doctor let off with a huff. "You can drink snake venom, although I wouldn't recommend it. But yes, Mana Bane. It's a poison that's made from distilled Spellbinder Flowers. The flower is very rare; in fact finding it in the wild is next to impossible these days. It was only found in the Thunderblaze Mountain Range until some five hundred years ago. For those who don't know, the Kingdoms of Nyaru and Wereagell invaded the mountain range between their countries. They wanted to carve a road through it for easier trade with each other, to the displeasure of the barbarian tribes who lived there. Both set fire to a lot of the few grazing and woodland areas the place had and, well, nearly wiped the plant from the earth. It's extract was mostly used to make certain, powerful elixirs that could cure certain issues with a person's mana... But that same extract could be used in another way; to attack a person's mana pool directly. It starts turning the mana pool of whoever drank it into a type of poison in it's own right."
"Wh-what!?" Makoto let off, her face paling, as did all others in the room who hadn't paled already; I think only Samuel and Arnold managed to maintain their composure as the doctor nodded.
"Indeed. We all have a mana pool." Rapheal said with a nod. "But not all have a talent for magic. Those who do have reason to enlarge their pools as much as possible. Had Victor been a mage, even a fledgling one, he'd be very, very dead; before his body even hit the ground."
"It would take a lot of wealth and resources to get such a flower." Miles let off sneering a bit. "And a reason to commit such a murder. And knowledge of the target's status as a mage." He let off before looking over to Arnold. "I know you've all three of these, Arnold von Blitzhaus!" He accused, hands moving to his hips as he turned to the count. "The feud between House Blitzhaus and House Noxdecus are well known; ample reason to use such a poison." I rolled my eyes at the show; really? Accusing him?
"I have done no such thing." Arnold said firmly as he turned to face Miles, nearly growling his words out. "While yes, there is no love between our houses that does not mean I would kill him in such a lowly manner. If I were to kill the boy it would be with my own two hands in honorable combat, not from a cup." He sneered, looking ready to step over to Miles, who took a step forwards to lean towards the count. It was time for me to speak up.
"It's not Blitzhaus. That's obvious." I said sighing softly. "Look, let's just assume for a moment he would do it. Let's look at everything shall we?" The two men paused their glares and postures to turn to listen to me. "Let's just assume he was somehow able to bribe a maid to poison me before he arrived, or even planned this weeks in advance. Do you not think he would share this plan with at least his heir? Or at the very least once Victor picked up the glass he'd step in to stop him?" I said as Miles frowned in thought. "He wouldn't even need to do anything suspicious. Just tell Victor to behave and set the glass down, something about how he's embarrassing him or some such." I gave Miles a firm look before finishing off my analysis on the idea it was Arnold behind it. "Do you really think Arnold would be stupid enough to stand around and do nothing while his heir swallowed poison in front of him?"
There was a long moment of silence before Miles stepped back with a huff. "Hmm... Yes, that does make sense. Hmm. How do we find the poisoner?"
"We find the source of the poison, perhaps?" Makoto replied before I could point blame towards Halbert, turning to face Rapheal as she spoke. "Where would one obtain this rare poison? The flower it comes from is across the country and in a hostile land, yes? On top of it's rarity that must make it hard to cultivate."
"Simple. We grow them here." The doctor said to the shock of most of us.
[-]
"Damn bastard..." Halbert let off as he hissed, storming down the hall, almost stomping down it. He had almost done it, almost ended the scoundrel then and there. One mere second from the bastard son of a baron being returned to his home in a pine box. One mere second from being a corpse and out of his Prim's sight forever more.
One mere second from taking his Prim's love.
Worse when he moved to clean up the room and tamper with what evidence there was that peasant whore pretending to be a bodyguard that stood in his way and dismissed him. Him. She had no right to dismiss someone so far above her station. He was in the middle of telling her this when Rose stepped between the two and gave him a stern look. She spoke two things; softly but sternly.
"Halbert. Leave."
Unlike Carmen he couldn't refuse the Grand Duchess; not with good reason of course. Not that the Grand Duke would agree with what was 'good reason'.
He sneered and turned a corner as he moved down towards his room only pausing when he heard a distinct sort of laughter. Laughter that sounded like snorting, squealing pigs. "Someone seems quite upset here, Brother." One voice came out a few more snorts of laughter coming.
"Indeed Brother. It's as if one was upset that a plan went sideways before his eyes, yes?" A second, similar amused voice came out as Halbert looked behind him. There were two pig beast men, both around five foot five or so and grinning at him. They wore the same thing; rich looking coats over a shirt and Jacob's collar with pants tucked into boots. Their faces were shorter compared to the animals they were surely related to, with wider mouths that were human like. No hair was on their head of any sort, and both had a pair of tusks pointing up from their mouths slightly
The only differences were the colorization; the first with a pink jacket with blue trim and a single gold stripe between the two colors. The second with the same, small gold stripe separating colors, but light green and blue as opposed to pink and blue. The first wore a purple shirt with a gold pattern traveling along the edge with purple on the trim. The second wore a yellow shirt, but with the same gold pattern and purple trim. Both wore red Jacob's collars, but the first wore white pants tucked into brown boots, the other black pants tucked into tan boots.
"Conti and Ponti." Halbert hissed out, turning to face them fully, planting his cane to the floor as he glared to them. "What do you swine want here?" He let off, sneering at them as they chuckled in their pig-like manner.
"Now, now, no need to be so hostile. Especially as you might be in need of... new employment soon." Conti (At least Halbert assumed he was the one in the pink jacket) let off as he snorted a bit. "How long until everyone realizes you poisoned the glass?"
"If you have an accusation you wish to make, I assure-"
"Oh please, no need to be hostile. We were seeking a snack when we saw you dripping something into the glass." Ponti said, cutting Halbert off. "Wasn't hard to put two and two together. But really, poisoning in such a manner? Really?"
"You have to know the guards won't be idiots. Unless... You somehow had a maid with evidence planted on her you would point them to?" Conti added as they saw Halbert stiffen, his eyes widening for a moment before they moved to the side, his head turning softly as his mouth turned to a snarl. "You didn't have such a thing prepared?"
"Really, poison is a horrible weapon for a murder in passion, don't you think?" Ponti let off, looking to his brother. "I mean it is a weapon of planning. If you don't think and plan things out, well, they'll point right back to you."
"Indeed. If you don't find a fall man soon, well... You'll be the one squealing like a pig, ne?" Conti let off with a chuckle as Halbert took a step forwards, shifting his cane into his left hand.
"Now, now, we're not here to rat you out." Ponti said as he waved his hands in a calming manner. "In fact, you can consider us... Allies of a sort. While we have no quarrel with the Noxdecus boy, his death does nothing to harm us. We were just seeing about a possible partnership for-"
"I've no interested in working with or for you so you can save both of our breaths." Halbert let off before storming away down the hall.
"Hmmm..." Ponti let off before whispering to his brother once the man was out of earshot. "Methinks the attempts to recruit him will not go so well."
"Agreed, Brother, agreed." Conti said, nodding himself as he stroked his chin. "But we have a job to do..."
[-]
Aside from the royal family and Miles the doctor's declaration was a surprise but soon we were escorted to a spot, underground the castle where a series of catacombs were set up. We were then shown a window looking into a room; it was lit by a series of spell orbs on the ceiling and a series of flowers were being grown in soil pots; aligned in seven columns, each some thirty feet long along tables with a series of small spell orbs on them as well. Two men and one woman in white outfits were tending to the flowers; coming in so many colors and styles I couldn't list them all. The doctor moved to a door and knocked on it, the woman moving to the door. She opened it and looked out to the doctor who whispered to her something. She nodded and retreated back inside as he walked back to us.
"The gardens outside grow several useful flowers, herbs and roots for medicine." Richard said as he began to address us once more. "In the event of a siege we can keep making salves and potions for our men. Even if we're not under siege, well, the walls of the fortress makes it hard to go to town for a quick stroll. Having the ingredients here is much better. This room is for more exotic plants. Each table has a magically controlled climate designed to grow plants that otherwise we couldn't in Ur. And Spellbinders are such a flower we have here." I raised an eyebrow; so someone in the fortress could grab one here?
"Who has access to this room?" Jagaer asked him as he beat me to the punch. I nodded as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"It's not a well known room; it's not a secret persay but it's something we don't talk about often." The doctor began. "But it's kept under lock and key. I have a key, as does four others; Amara as the head gardener, Miles as the captain of the guard, Halbert as the Fortress' steward and Seldanna the Fortress' alchemist."
"I did notice Halbert giving me an odd look during the toast." I said as I took the chance to push the blame to Halbert, speaking up as Samuel frowned in thought. "And when Victor downed it all he looked like he was about to be beside himself with rage."
"You know, now that you mention it..." Alicia said, cupping her chin. "He did seem to be acting a bit odd. Well, odd by his standards, anyways."
"Ha-Halbert!?" Prim let off, gasping as she covered her mouth. "H-He is a rude one, I will admit, but I don't think he'd... He'd go that far, would he?"
"Do we have a better suspect?" Arnold said, cutting off any argument as Miles huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Honestly, I doubt it." The bald man said as he thought before speaking once more. "Seldanna is seeing her family in the elven kingdoms. She's been gone for a week, so no way she could have done it. I don't think she even met the lad before." He said, referring to me. "Likewise, Amara hasn't met him I'm sure and has no reason to murder him. I know of the lad, but I've no reasons to kill him and... Er, well... I don't think I could make the blasted poison if I wanted. Can't even cook a bowl of rice." He admitted, rubbing the back of his head. A glance to the Grand Duke let me catch him sighing but not arguing the point. "And the Doc is well... The doc. I don't think he can bring himself to kill a mouse, let alone a man."
"I'm... forced to agree. Halbert is the most likely suspect..." Samuel said as he crossed his arms thinking it over as Prim gave him a look of shock. "Still, I want proof before we punish him. I'll have him take a leave from duties as we work on this and have him confined to his quarters until further notice." He said firmly before turning to Miles. "See it done. Also..." He would turn to Alicia next giving her a stern look. "I know despite your dislike for Halbert you pride yourself on being fair and honorable. I want you to take the lead on this investigation, if you don't mind."
"We're allies, Grand Duke. Consider it done." The Blonde Shield Princess said as she gave a salute.
[-]
Alicia left to start her task; starting with pulling everyone present at that moment aside and asking their view of events (After getting a pencil and sheet of paper to take notes on, of course) one by one, myself included. Once I was dismissed I was asked to return to my quarters. Dinner was brought to me; I was told four guards were watching everything that was going on it the kitchen and even had a taste tester on hand for extra safety. Halbert was confined to his quarters with a pair of guards posted outside. He was going nowhere. Seems the task of 'deal with Halbert' was going smoothly; all I had to do was not drink poisoned wine.
Still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rattled at how close I came to dying a second time. Dying sucked; I could tell you that first hand and dying with no ability to do a thing about it was so much worse. Still I endeavored to not let it get to me; I wouldn't want to give Halbert that satisfaction.
While Alicia looked into things I was assigned two guards outside of my own room; two men in full plate armor, helms with their visors open to get a better look of whatever was coming down the hall. Meanwhile I had also gained a new roommate; as I watched the town from the window once more I could feel the eyes of Makoto on me; she was standing alert by the opposite wall, eyes glancing about. Prim had appointed the guards outside of the room as night started to fall and asked Makoto to stay at my side no matter what. She agreed in a flash, and here she was. "You can come look out the window as well, you know?" I told her, looking back at her finally.
"Indeed. But I am fine here. I feel... I feel better, seeing you stand there." She said as I looked back out of the window. "I only wish I could catch these things sooner."
"No one could have seen that coming, Makoto. Don't beat yourself up over it; not like you can kill poison with a sword." I told her, turning once more to face her as she sighed and looked up, giving me a somewhat downcast look.
"Still, I was hired as your bodyguard." She said simply. "I would feel as if I had failed; regardless of my power to stop it." She said as I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and pulling her into me, patting her back.
"Thanks. But don't worry so much; I'm sure Alicia is hunting down our man as we speak."
[-]
"Okay, no speculation, no idle guessing, no pointing fingers without cause. What do we know for a fact?" Alicia began. Gathering in an office were herself, Miles, Carmen, Doctor Raphael and one of the maids, named Gina Whiteboard, who was writing down notes as everyone else spoke.
"Well, I spoke with Amara. As it turns out of all the Spellbinder Flowers in the cellar's garden we have had three of the flowers unaccounted for; someone harvested them Who, we don't know." Raphael began. "And I took a moment to look over my records." He sighed as he shook his head. "One of my books had been misplaced on the shelf; one that talks about potions and elixirs made from flowers. Someone could have used it to figure out how to make Mana Bane."
"You have a book on making poisons?" Carmen let off as the doctor shook his head.
"No, no it doesn't say how to make Mana Bane." He told them firmly. "But it does have a series of warnings on what not to do while handling the extract. Someone able to put two and two together would be able to figure out how to make it, or something close enough at least." Alicia frowned as she tapped her chin for a moment.
"So... Anyone who knew what tomes the doctor would have and knew of the hidden garden and knew of this poison would be able to make Mana Bane." She said before turning to Miles. "So, the lock to the garden. Can it be picked?" Miles hummed a bit as he crossed his arms.
"I'd like to say no, but I can't. We took locks like that down to... The less reputable guilds in town. We offered a handsome sum to anyone would could pick the locks we use in the fortress, that one included. I think we had over a hundred men and women try their hands at it, but only one managed it." He said firmly. "The ability to pick a lock like this is rare. At least it would be unlikely anyone in the fortress would be able to do it." He said as Alicia nodded before looking to Carmen.
"What did you find in the dining room?" The blonde asked the bodyguard.
"We checked the wine first. The poison wasn't in it, like we thought. Then we teased each glass." Carmen said hands on her hips. "Only one glass was tainted, and it was James'. We don't know when the poison was added, but it was likely after the seating arrangement was made. Prim wanted him seated next to her, so it wasn't hard for anyone to figure out. The house staff would have easy access to it; chefs, maids... Butlers."
"Carmen..." Alicia sighed out as Carmen shrugged.
"Look, do you really think anyone else could have done it?" The bodyguard let off before crossing her arms under her bust.
"I need to be impartial here... But I agree, he is beyond a doubt the prime suspect, but we saw nothing in his room hinting at anything." Alicia said, sighing. "Did you ask Miria to sniff around, see if her nose picked up anything?"
"I did, but she said she could smell Wine, James, Victor, and a woman's on it, but not Halbert's." Carmen said before holding up a finger. "But Halbert wears gloves, and she smelled some sort of leather on it."
"Even so, you would need no more then a drop if you made it right." Raphael spoke up. "If left in the sun it would take little time to evaporate what little moisture is in it; you'd never even need to touch the glass."
"Damn..." Carmen let off, rubbing the back of her head. "Aside from the flowers what do you need to make this stuff?"
"Not much. Something to make an intense, focused flame, a glass beaker or even a simple small pot, some water, a bit of pure alcohol or even just vodka and an hour of time. It's not that hard to make, as long as you take your time and don't overcook it." Raphael hummed for a moment. "Usually such a thing would be made in a lab, but you could use a kitchen or any room really."
"Any scents left from it?" Carmen asked as she thought. "If we can identify it-"
"It's a flowery scent and depending on where it was made the scent would be blended in with all the flowers that are kept around the keep." The doctor said, cutting her off.
"True." Alicia let off with a sigh. "I've interviewed a lot of the maids and cooking staff. No one saw Halbert, or anyone else, tamper with the glasses, but it would have been so easy for him to do it..."
"If we can find where it was made maybe we can find something definitive." Carmen said as Alicia sighed, turning to look outside of the window and to the rising moon.
"...Let's pick up the hunt tomorrow." Alicia said as she shook her head. "We will do no more good when we're not wandering about tired in the dark. Let's meet after breakfast and then try and figure things out once more."
"Agreed." Raphael said with a sigh. "These old bones aren't what they used to be..." He said before groaning and walking off to his quarters, as did the others gather. Miles moved to walk in step with the Princess of Feoh.
"What do you think, Princess?" He grumbled out softly as they walked. "Think Halbert's to blame?"
"I'm sure of it, if I'm to be honest. But without a proverbial blood stained dagger in his hand, it's hard to prove it." She said sighing as she moved her hands to her hips. "But everything we do have points to him. We just need that one, last thing..."
[-]
Two O'Clock the Next Morning
Hall of the Servant's Quarters
The guard looked up and down the hall before he glanced to his counterpart. Between the two was the door for Halbert Oxford's room. The sounds of night birds, crickets and frogs sounded to lull them to sleep, even though both men were too disciplined to nap on the job. Finally he sighed and looked to the other solider. "Hey." When his counterpart looked over to him he carried on. "Think he did it?"
"Hope so." The other guard said, looking ahead once more, the hall lit with hanging spell orbs giving off a gentle, soft light. "Be an excuse to end the bastard and his snooty attitude."
"Heh. Hell yeah." He said, smirking as he nodded. "If one good thing comes out of it then it should be him getting the axe. Dude called me a 'lowly farmer's whoreson' you know that?"
"Fuck man, he called me a 'living mud golem'." The first guard nodded a bit; his counterpart was very dark skinned, a rarity in Eostia. "And I heard him call Patterson a 'smelly peasant with illusions of grandeur'."
"You serious?" Patterson was one of the merchants in the dining room when the incident happened. He rose himself up from nothing to one of their most reliable and treasured suppliers; even the Grand Duke himself called the man an icon to the common man.
"Yeah. Dude's an asshole and needs to-" The second guard's head turned as he saw something out of the corner of his eye. "I saw something."
"What?" The first said, moving to stand next to his counterpart, looking down the hall. At the end was a window and in the dull light of the moon they could see the walls beyond the keep. "You sure?"
"I'm sure. I saw som-" He paused as something blocked the dull light for a moment; as they saw a shadow of... Something. The two looked to one another and nodded as they started to walk to the window. The first knight drew his sword, the second his axe, shields raised as they stalked forwards as silently as plate mail would let them. Step by step they moved forwards seeing the shadow move before the window once more. Steeling themselves they finally reached it, the second knight moving up and opening the window...
Only to see a banner fall off the keep's wall and fall to the ground below. "Ugh, you serious?" The second knight let off chuckling to himself. The first knight slapped his shoulder with the back of his gauntlet with a soft laugh.
"Hey, better then something happening, right?" He said, shutting the door soon the two would walk back to their posts. "Someone will put it back up later, I'm sure."
Both missed a shadow going down the stairs.
[-]
I woke up the next morning and took some time to do stretches in my usual sleepwear; which was to say boxers. I groaned and rolled my arms one by one as I took in the morning light. I had no idea how Alicia's investigations were going, but hopefully well. I had bent over, stretching to touch my toes only to hear a loud yelp behind me. "Huh?" I turned about and saw Makoto staring at me as she sat up on the large couch. She looked like she just woke up and was staring openly at me; it occurred that maybe she hadn't seen maybe men nude, or in this case, nearly nude. "Morning Makoto." I said normally, trying to make it seem casual as I turned to face her. "Did I wake you?"
"N-no..." She let off, blushing as she looked me over. Despite all offers she insisted on sleeping on the couch; thankfully it was a nice, comfortable couch and it wasn't too rough to sleep on it. Still, I felt bad she didn't have her own bed. I stretched back as I let off a yawn; an honest one but noted Makoto was looking down my body and to my groin in particular. As much as I wanted to tease her because of this I decided not to and moved to get dressed. I had gotten my pants on when a scream came from outside of the hall. I shared a look with Makoto and grabbed my rapier before we moved out the door to see what was going on, Makoto's hand on her blade's grip.
"You brutes! You fiends! Look at what you've done to my dress!"
"S-sorry! It was a long night for us!"
"S-sorry! It's our fault! Forgive us!"
And I got out just in time to see a woman smack two pigmen with a closed parasol, all three turning around a corner before I could do more then note a pink jacket, a green jacket and yellow dress stained with some brown liquid. I could see a tea cup on the ground. I looked at the two guards outside of my room who were at their posts but before I said anything Miria burst out of her own room. "What happened?" She called out. Her shorts were missing, but she was otherwise dressed, dagger in hand. Cress came out of his own room, sword in hand as well, dressed save his jacket.
"Relax; two sleepy, clumsy beast men stumbled into one of the guests." One of the men at their posts said. "No need to panic; she just got her morning tea all over herself." I figured as much as I relaxed, setting the tip of my still sheathed sword down to the floor. Makoto sighed as she rubbed the back of her head.
"After the events of yesterday I feel worried about things like this, you know?" She said as another door opened.
"Heeeeey, what's with all the noise...?" A sleepy voice, Tiffany's, let off as she stepped out and-
The rest off us let off gasps or yelps as we turned to face her. "T-T-Tiffany, why are you naked!?" Cress let off, staring at her openly. I think we all were, really. A patch of golden pubes were over her sex and pert breasts with their pink nipples were shown off as she yawned, walking over to us while not wearing a stitch of clothing at all. Her hair was out of it's twin tails and cascaded down her back. "P-P-Please put on some clothes!"
"Why? You seem to like what you see." She replied, stretching out her back. "Ahhh. But really, I always sleep naked. Feels great, you should try it sometime!"
"Tiffany, it's too early for this; get dressed." I said, sighing as I moved back into my room to grab my shirt and jacket.
"Oiy, why are you getting stiff from this?" I heard Miria's voice let off as Cress let off a choking sound.
"I-I-It's not my fault!"
What a morning...
[-]
Halbert snarled a bit as he looked out his window to the side of the castle grounds. He had just woken up but stayed in his sleeping clothes for the moment, thin white pants and a matching sleeveless shirt. As much as he hated to say it, the Porker Brothers had a good point the previous day; he had made his move far too swiftly and he was suffering for it already. While he was sure he left no hard evidence behind they suspected him enough to confine him to his own quarters like a prisoner. He scoffed at the thought.
Depending on the investigator it might not even be a fair trial. After all he knew what his reputation was among his lessers, not that it mattered to him usually, but now he realized there was a chance for them to undermine him and his ambitions because of his hasty actions. He sighed and moved to wash his face in a basin in his room, pausing before his hands dipped into the clear water. At the entrance to his room was a strange letter, slid under the door and waiting on the floor. When it arrived he didn't know; likely the previous night. He walked over to it and picked it up, looking it over.
The letter was pure black in color with a dark red edge, folded in thirds. There was a wax seal giving it weight, but rather then sealing the letter shut it was at the bottom of it, acting as house seal he thought. Finally he opened the letter, surprised that the letter was written in blood red ink. It was unusual to say the least. Curiously the stamp in the wax was of a blade driven down into a crowned skull; if he he recalled right the former Emperor Verlangen used such an emblem two thousand years past. Finally he decided to read it.
I greet you, Butler Halbert. I am a leader of an organization that desires, shall we say, changes within Eostia.
As of now I will not elaborate on all of these changes, nor how I intend to implement them What you need to know is the power to do so is within
my grasp. I am moving my pieces into position to ensure each and every Fortress of the Seven Shields can be breached. Do not panic for we see you
not as a possible foe, but rather a possible ally.
Indeed, we have agents in position and moving to position in and around each of the great fortresses. I expect we can make our move in a time
frame of some twelve to sixteen months. We will have the numbers, supplies and means to march and create the first ever Cuntry, a true Sex
Empire.
Imagine; the ability to lay claim to women as you please. To put any haughty bitch in her place; on her knees and in service of your cock.
To end the rule of the soft and foolish 'Goddess Reborn' and replace it with a strong rule, by a strong hand of a strong man. A man of action and a
man of power.
And by that hand a Black Storm will wash over the realm; Garan first then Eostia, both united under a proper rule, a proper Emperor. We know
well that you'll agree with us that women needs to be put and kept in their place. Seen and not heard, used and not elevated. And while we
have agents in Ur already one more, close to the royal family would do us a boon.
Perhaps you ask why I am willing to be so open, risk so much stating even this much to you? The first is that well am I aware of your dealings.
It does seem odd that Hector Onglave were to die of illness after a gift of brandy with a slow acting poison from an 'admirer', one you have
fashioned from the garden you help tend. And that so many funds have been 'redirected' towards groups willing to torment a certain city in
Faircas, one once ruled over by your family? And yes, we have means to prove all the above. I can only imagine what the Grand Duke would
think, knowing of these things and more besides.
And second we know you desire the Princess Prim. To claim her body for your own pleasures. What would you do, what would you give to claim
her sex as your own? To claim her first time, to ravish her body as by a man's right? To teach her what sex and pleasure truly is. Yes, Prim and
her fellow Shields will be made into property, to be auctioned off then shared and used for the pleasure of all men; yourself included.
You will have any choice of the Shields to lay with. And even the Grand Duchess, should you wish. Should all wish. And united with us we
will all create a new land, a new Eostia, a new Cuntry.
If you wish to join us then leave a letter addressed to Gelnraven at the Black Thorne Pub in Stonewall. Our agents will find it. If you refuse us
no punishment will come. If you join us then we all have much to gain.
Signed Varro Batzorig
"No... Impossible... He is not alive... I know it..." Halbert scowled as he looked to the name at the end of the letter. Varro Batzorig was once the leader of the Howling Hounds, the leader of the very same mercenary group that would help end his family's reign, claim his parent's lives and ruined his life. The man was nothing more then a rabid dog, a dark skinned, feral dog posing as a human who was willing to accept goblins and orcs as brothers in arms.
Halbert ground his teeth as he thought more about it. Years later, just over a decade and a half ago in fact, he had heard they arrived in the Grand Duchy, staying at some small town. It wasn't hard to have them dealt with, really. A false job offering that led them to a farmer's field. A report of bandits in the region to the knights. A couple paid whores, acting the parts of damsels in distress. Almost the entire group was slaughtered. And he found their wounded leader retreating into the forest; Varro trying to stagger away with a deep slice in his belly. Only a few of the bastards escaped, but the Howling Hounds were no more. And as for Varro, well, Halbert himself had simply lifted a heavy rock and dropped it onto his skull, smashing it open like a melon. He wasn't worth dirtying a blade for, after all.
Varro was dead, Halbert knew it. After all, he had done the deed, so how...
He bit his lip. An alias then? One of the surviving members had taken his old dickless bastard of a leader's name as an alias to contact him with, either knowing or not knowing the connection. Bastard.
However at the moment Halbert had other worries.
"These fools. Do these... These... Fools think I would play any part in letting them lay a finger on my Prim!?" He hissed out as he glared at the letter before he tossed it to his desk, glaring at it. "No, none deserve her, none!" He hissed out, lifting a clenched fist upwards. "Bah! … But what arrogant fool things they had a chance at besting Eostia's might?"
The fact of the matter was none of Eostia's neighboring kingdoms wanted a war with Eostia; a weakened Eostia could mean a strengthened Garan and if they ever gained a foot hold in the Seven Shields Alliance then all of her neighbors would suffer the Aberrant. Even then Dominious and Balanar were the only two with a shot at matching her might and both had other entanglements; to tackle Eostia now would be to open a second front with a new, unneeded enemy.
Even then, the letter declared they would conquer Garan and then Eostia. To do that one would need to march on Queen Discordia's lands. Even ignoring the impossibility of that because of the Black Citadel's power the only other nation that bordered Garan was Wereagell but the mountains along the border prevented either side from mounting an attack to the other. Dominious was cut off from from them because of the Halcyon Mountain Range, but they could land on the northern shores via the sea although who knew what the terrain was like there? And again, the Black Citadel would prevent any invasion; it was the sole reason the war dragged on for over seven hundred years and no one had found a counter to it.
Really the only other possible force that could pose a plausible threat was the Bl-
He paused in his thoughts, thinking. When he arranged for the fall of the Howling Hounds he knew he got their leader and most of their upper ranks. The few that escaped were the lower ranked ones, but he heard one of the ones who got away was a man with a massive sword; described as a towering man in dark armor who was as strong as an orge and bested three knights before escaping. While he didn't think much of it for years the description matched a leader of another very well known band of mercenaries.
In fact, that band of sell-swords rate of growth had exploded over the past decade and the last five years in particular to the point they had become the largest mercenary band in all of Sererus, or so he had heard. He frowned for a moment; they were possibly, no, definitely the largest independent force in all of Sererus as well; matching or possibly exceeding the church's forces in size. Hell, they had a force larger then most smaller nations. It had even led to their leader being nicknamed the King of Mercenaries, even if the man was as far removed from a king as one could get.
To be sure they were overwhelmingly rabble; gambeson armor at most for the lot of them bare a few. They were a ragtag assortment of talented fighters, thuggish brutes, desperate outcasts and bloodthirsty curs. What weapons they had were mostly simple weapons like clubs, axes meant for lumber, basic spears and low quality swords. Only a handful bore quality weapons... Although rumors were they'd been seeing an increase in quality supplies and equipment, as if an excess of funding was available to them...
They even allowed Aberrant into their ranks... Much like the Howling Hounds had...
A leader born of common filth, likely baptized in mud and pig waste who fancied himself a grand leader of men but even Halbert himself was forced to admit that the man wasn't an idiot by far; the man and his forces won more battles then lost. In truth, he was a cunning bastard. And while his forces were undisciplined and ill equipped compared to Eostian Regulars the fact was in another year who knew how far their numbers could swell; numbers did in fact matter.
Still, it wouldn't be enough... Shouldn't be enough... But with a cunning leader with no honor, willing to undermine his foes a full year before the war had been even declared, willing to take the time to swell his numbers further, willing to take in those others would not, willing to fight with underhanded means, willing to simply move to fulfill such lofty ambitions...
And with the confidence to think he even could deal with Garan even with it's near perfect defense suggested the man had a plan, knowledge others didn't have... Possibly from the very Aberrant that worked under him granting him details others couldn't otherwise get.
A pit in his stomach opened and filled quickly with dread. There was a real threat here. The Black Storm was no falsehood if one stopped to think of it and knew the right details; he could picture it in his mind's eye now. A conquest of Eostia would be difficult but possible... Doubly so if this man could lay the foundations for his conquest so early. This man had, after all, gotten the black letter to him in the most guarded of all fortresses at a time he himself was under guard.
He had to do something! He had to go and save his Prim and...
He stopped himself as he stormed half way to the door, pausing as he grit his teeth, clenching his hand once more. As much as he hated to admit the pair of swine were right about anything at allhe had to admit that Conti and Ponti had a point. He had acted in a fit of passion yesterday with his attempt to remove the scoundrel with the poison. He acted with little beyond basic planning and now suffered for it. If he were to rush out once more without thought then all he would do was worsen his situation and doom Prim in a year's time.
With a soft growl he paused and turned back to walk to his dresser. He would dress for the day. He would then sit on his bed and stare out his window, elbows to his knee, chin to his fists.
He would then think.
He would then plan.
And once ready he would act.
[-]
"I'm sorry this is happening... Uwwwohhhh, it's frustrating for me... But I imagine it's worse for you..." Prim said, sighing as she held her head low as we walked, her hand holding my arm at the elbow. She wanted to speak with me in 'private' and so we were walking along in the garden in the back of the keep, the massive hedge maze to our right. When I say massive I mean massive, it was over the size of two football fields, side to side. Why so much space was dedicated to a hedge maze of all things I didn't know, but it was huge. And for the record I say 'private' like that because we weren't really alone. Makoto was following us at a distance behind us and two, fully armed and armored guards were walking on either side of us; they were far enough away that we couldn't be heard as we spoke to each other but they would be able to react in moments if something happened.
While there was a lot of panic from the poisoning things had calmed down today; thanks largely in part due to how seriously House Fiorire was taking the possible threat to their guests in general and me in particular. Once the word got out that it was an attempted assassination of one person and the prime suspect was isolated from everyone else things had calmed down quickly. The fact that the Princess Knight Alicia Arcturus was on the case reassured more people. "It's fine Prim, this is hardly your fault you know." I patted her hand that held onto me as we walked, smiling to her. "Don't let it ruin what's coming up. If nothing else I think your Father will reconsider Halbert's employment, no matter how things turn out." She sighed and shook her head.
"I mean... Halbert, for all of his faults, has always been kind and good to me. Really, I thought... I thought maybe, over time he'd... Soften, ease up on everyone... I think..." Prim frowned, moving her other hand to her mouth, knuckle pressing to her lip. "I think he's only hardened over time, really. I hate to say it... Maybe removing him is for the best. I still don't think he could... Well, do that but... I do worry... Maybe he did..."
"You... You shouldn't fret too much on it Prim, please." I asked her, smiling as I stopped to move my hand to her shoulder, squeezing it softly as I looked at her. "Maybe something shocking him into his senses is what he needs." I somehow doubt that would work, but it was worth considering. At least saying it should comfort Prim a bit. Although I was convinced he was the one who tried to off me, and I was sure Alicia would find what she needed to prove it.
"...Perhaps. Well, if nothing else I think things will go well for the party." She said, smiling wider. "Ah, and we found a way to keep the ice cream as cold as it needs to be! We're making a lot of it based on what Miria said your manor has been making. I can't wait to see how they turn out!" She let off, clasping her hands together with a loud clap as I nodded to her once.
"Well, I hope you enjoy it and-"
"Beg your pardon!" What I was about to say was cut off as we turned and faced a younger butler who came up to us, panting a bit as he came out of a jog. "I apologize. A few guests have arrived; a collection of Feoh and Geofu Nobility. Your father sent me to ask you to go and greet them, Your Highness." He said, as he got his breath back.
"Duty calls, it sounds like." I told her as I gave her a glance. She looked a bit sad but nodded and put on a smile.
"Indeed. Well, I should see you at dinner. Until then, My Hero." She said before giving me a deep curtsy as I bowed slightly to her. She turned and left, butler in tow as I sighed and watched her leave.
And with the sun hitting her in just the right way to make the back of her dress semi-transparent I did in fact watch her leave.
"Do you think Alicia is any closer to finding what she needs to finally put Halbert away in a dungeon?" Makoto asked me as she moved to stand next to my side.
"Ahh, of course she is, it's Alicia. She knows what she's doing." I said, smiling as she looked up at me. "I'm sure she's really close to pinning him to the wall already!"
[-]
"We're no closer then when we started!" Alicia let off, groaning as she resisted the urge to bang her head into something. She settled for rubbing her face with the palm of her hand.
"Calm down, Lass. Breathe and clear your mind." Raphael said as he shook his head at her. The pair, along with Miles and Carmen, had gathered back in the dining room. They had followed what leads they could but came up with no direct evidence. She hoped being in the scene of the crime would help spur her thoughts along, but it wasn't helping her. "Frustration is understandable, but it clouds judgment. We need to stay calm and focus."
"Easy for you to say, Doctor." Carmen said as she set her hands to her hips. "But she is right; we're no closer. We have everything pointing in Halbert's direction, but no blood dripping dagger we can set to his hand; so to speak." Raphael sighed at the annoyance both of the women had as he pulled a chair from the main table out to sit down on it as everyone spoke.
"Hmm. Okay then. Let's think about this." Miles said speaking up in a stern voice, the four ignoring the maid who was moving to lay out plates; dinner was soon and the room needed to be ready for it's guests. "What would we need to prove it? What thing if we know Halbert used or held could we point to and say 'yes, he did it, this is it'?" He asked before crossing his arms for a moment.
"Hmm. A vial or container with the poison?" Raphael began to muse. "Uncleaned items that were used to make it?"
"Hmm. Maybe someone seeing him around the glass, hands over it?" Alicia mused before shaking her head; no, she knew no one saw that.
"Well if we could put the flowers in his hand we could definitely say he did it." Carmen said, lifting a hand up, finger pointing to the ceiling. Miles huffed a bit before a new voice spoke up.
"I'm sorry, are you talking about Halbert and flowers?" The maid let off as the other four in the room turned to look at her.
"Indeed. Do you know something?" Miles asked the woman. She seemed, to his eyes, five foot four and had large... tracts of land, blue eyes and long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She had a look to her face suggesting that not all was proper in her head; she had an airy look, suggesting she was a bit on the slow side. What were they called? Bimbos?
Yeah, Bimbos. She even had the plump lips to add to the look.
"Oh, it's just I saw him with three flowers yesterday is all." The maid said, tapping her chin. "He saaaaaaaid he got them from the garden, but I was sure he came up from the cellar, or whatever is under the keep. I asked if they were for a woman and he said, umm, sorta. Well he said 'yes, not that a vapid girl', whatever that means, 'girl would know anything about that'."
"And these flowers..." Raphael began as he stood and took a step to her. All of them could feel it; this was it. They could have the proof they needed provided by this girl right now!
"Oh yeah! Never saw ones like them before." She said, smiling to them. "They were reaaaally pretty. Like real long, blue petals but they were, like, in a spiral with a purple line along each one. Oooh and the center was, like, whispy looking and white and, like, a thing poking out of it that was pink and had a little bell thing on the end."
"That's... That's a Spellbinder Flower!" Raphael let off, grinning as Carmen pumped an arm. "That's it! That's our proof!"
"Umm, was something I said important?" The maid asked, blinking to them with a blank stare.
"Very, very. Come with me." The doctor said as he walked over to her and took her head. "The Grand Duke will want to hear it; it's in fact very important he hears it in fact."
"Oh! Okay then!" The girl chirped as she walked with the doctor, the other three looking to each other.
"Miles, you are to arrest Halbert immediately." Alicia commanded with a sweep of her hand, giving him a stern look. "He is to be taken to the dungeon and imprisoned until further notice. I want him in chains, now."
"With the greatest pleasure Your Highness." The man let off, saluting her before turning to walk off. As soon as he was out of the room Alicia and Carmen turned to each other and after a nod lifted a hand up each and slapped them together.
"Perfect! We finally have him, dead to rights!" Carmen let off, grinning. "Gods and Goddesses above, it will be good to be rid of him."
"Hey, one good thing came from this. But there is one problem we have to take care of." Alicia said with a sigh. "Telling Prim."
"Ah. Yeah." Carmen replied with a sigh. "Well, even now she must admit he's at fault."
"True. Come, let's go see her. She should be readying for dinner tonight." Alicia said, the two girls turning to go to the quarter's of the local princess.
[-]
Miles stomped down the hall, a bit of a grin on his face with two knights flanking behind him. Halbert had been a pain in everyone's arse for years, decades even. While he'd never harassed or looked down on Miles himself he had looked down and sneered at many of his soldiers; mostly those of common birth or former orphans of unknown birth. It was something he had never understood.
To Miles birth was less important then ability, dedication and loyalty. He would pick a common born but hard working, determined man over a high born but lazy, privileged brat any day of the week, regardless of breeding or natural born talent. He turned to the hall of the servants quarters and stomped forwards for a moment before pausing. "Huh?"
He was sure this was the right hall, but the posted guards were missing. He rubbed the back of his head; he'd gotten lost and turned around in the massive keep more then once before so it wouldn't be the first time, but he was sure this was the right hall. He even wrote the directions here down and followed them to the letter so how could he be in the wrong hall?
"Sir..." One of his men said, looking down to a door. Miles let off a 'huh?' as he turned to look at what his man was looking at.
Unknown to them the room the door led to was unoccupied by a worker; it's former occupied having left for another job a week ago and had yet to be replaced. The butler was one of those that felt unable to work under Halbert anymore and simply found another line of work.
And leaking from under the door was a trickle of blood.
Miles drew his mace and grabbed the door handle. His men drew their own weapons and stood behind him at the ready. And then he threw the door opened and glared at the inside of the door... And his response to the sight was only to gawk.
Two, heavily armored knights, the guards assigned to Halbert's room, were inside and both on the ground, unmoving. Blood dripped from the open visor of one and the closed visor of another; likely stabbed in the face. To him it looked like they had been leaned into the wall, but both had slumped over, allowing their dripping blood to escape to the floor and create a small stream to the door.
"Bloody Murder!" Miles bellowed out, growling. He turned to his men and swung his off hand. "Quickly! Raise the alarm! Halbert is to be found and found quickly! He must not be allowed to escape!"
"Sir, yes sir!" His men let off, saluting him before turning to jog off to alert the keep to the issue at hand. He himself started to stomp his way down to find Alicia or the Grand Duke.
Halbert had gone somewhere and while Miles didn't know what his plan was he did know nothing good would come of it.
[-]
Prim gave a worried look into her bedroom mirror as she brushed her hair, sighing softly. Everything was a mess. To her it wasn't about what this was doing to her birthday plans either; her friend and crush was an inch away from dying right before her, a long time and loyal butler (Attitude notwithstanding) was accused of his attempted murder, and until the mystery was solved said friend and crush was under threat of death. An assassin let loose in the heart of Ur's Fortress?
It was unthinkable.
At least most of the guests had been calmed by Halbert's confinement. If he did betray her trust or was just a scapegoat in the end, all had been calmed with the thought the likely assassin was under surveillance and not allowed out of his room.
The worst part of it to her was that a small part of her spoke up and said that the man who helped raise her, protect her and served her was in fact the one who made the poison and tainted her hero's drink. To her it should be unthinkable but it just nagged at her. Perhaps it was a fault of hers, to think the best of people even when they show their worst, to hope that someone's better nature would drive them even when she knew that sometimes the best of people could fall to the worst of impulses. And she was not so naive to think that Halbert was the best of people.
She gave another sigh as she set her brush to the desk in front of the mirror. Regardless of anything else she knew Alicia would sort things out; her cousin was dependable like that.
A dependability Prim wished she herself could emulate. Despite everything Prim had always felt that she wasn't reliable enough to those around her.
She finally stood up and turned, moving to the door of her bedroom; beyond was the sitting room of her quarters. She opened the door and before she could step through it she gasped and stepped back slightly at the well dressed man on the other side of the passage holding a cane in his left hand; Halbert Oxford. "What... Halbert? I thought you were under confinement?" She let off in surprise, blinking up at him.
"Something came up." He said simply as he huffed softly. "I seemed to have failed you up until now. That must change, and it must change immediately."
"What do you mean by-" Before she knew what was happening his right arm pulled back. She had enough time to note that there was a layer of metal over his fist; brass knuckles clenched in his hand. The moment she noticed it and that his hand was cocked back it was thrown forwards and impacted her in the solar plexus, and impacted her hard. The breath left her lungs in a blink as pain and lack of air hit her in less then a second, collapsing to the floor on her side with her arms around her gut, her body going into a fetal position on instinct.
Halbert moved to kneel by her after she hit the ground, gently pulling her arms behind her and binding them firmly. "I will give you a more proper education soon, I promise. But for now we must escape the Black Storm that brews." He said as he made sure the mage restraints were in place. The specially made cuffs was supposed to be two to a person; wrists and ankles, but he only had one set. It would have to do until Prim understood the reality of things. He watched as his Prim slipped from consciousness as he lifted her up, setting her softly over his shoulder.
Moving around patrols and not being spotted by the guards was difficult, but quite possible for someone who had known and seen those patrols for over a decade. Sure a few guards had to be dealt with along the way, but thankfully they were all low born filth and his training had paid off in full, helped by how unaware of their surrounding they were. You'd think they worked in the most secure fortress on the continent with how lax some of the guards had acted.
He sighed, as he turned to the door and set his ear to it, listening for possible interlopers. Hearing nothing he left Prim's quarters and made for his destination. Thankfully being the loyal butler of House Fiorire meant he knew how to escape Ur Fortress; as long as he could get where he had to go without being caught.
He had to escape with his Prim, before the Black Storm blew in. Some may call him paranoid to think Eostia couldn't weather it...
Perhaps he was. But empires have been felled by less.
[ - Author's Note - ]
Ugh. Note to self, I should better prep how a mystery will go before writing it next time.
I think what I wrote was logical for a who-dun-it chapter (Even if Ray Charles could have seen who it was coming from three and a half miles away) but feel free to let me know how I could have improved that. Anyway...
Victor lives and Halbert is now, most certainly, in hot water. And that was before kidnapping Prim. Since I'm sure the question will come up; yes Prim could have fought him off if he hadn't sucker punched her or she was ready for him. If she could have brought herself to strike him down is up in the air. I wanted to portray her as a bit too naive and trusting and I think I pulled it off but feel free to give an opinion on that.
Aside from writing this chapter I've been a bit busy on making banners for the AO3 version; as mentioned I have a House Blitzhaus Banner ready, but I also have one for House Arcturus and Levantine as well, plus one for Lulu, Kaguya and Maia as well as one for Eostia as a whole. Lastly I've made up a... larger version of the banner of the most well known group from the Kuroinu series who will not yet be named because I'm pretending it'll be a big reveal.
A group that was heavily hinted at in this chapter. I'm sure no one will figure it out.
Okay, pointless-trying-and-failing-to-be-funny sarcasm over.
Next chapter we'll see exactly how exactly Halbert plans to escape Ur and the upcoming confrontation he'll be dealing with and what Prim's fate will be.
Until then.
~~Eostian Scribe