- 2 days ago
My Heir Was In The Stable HD
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00:01I saved a slave whose tongue had been cut out.
00:04He looked about the same age as my son,
00:06but the flame mark on his neck was unmistakable.
00:09That bond belonged to House Valon alone.
00:11It was our bloodline, and ours only.
00:14My son, though, was with his father right now,
00:17celebrating his tenth birthday.
00:19I swallowed the blood rising in my throat
00:21and forced myself to think clearly.
00:23Then the sound of beatings came from the stable,
00:27and that flame mark drove into my chest like a curved blade.
00:32Beat him to death, you filthy little bastard!
00:34Stealing feed from the young master's purebred horse!
00:38A small figure lay curled on the ground,
00:41covered in foul-smelling mud.
00:42His mouth and nose were bleeding from the blows,
00:45but his eyes, his eyes were fierce, defiant,
00:49like he was ready to take everyone down with him.
00:53He looked exactly like my father in the heat of battle.
00:56When the killing rage took hold,
00:58my heart sank.
01:01Stop.
01:02Right now.
01:04One command.
01:05The years of war behind my voice
01:07dropped those stable hands to their knees
01:09before they could think.
01:11My lady?
01:13They scrambled and crawled,
01:15collapsing at my feet.
01:18The mute slave seized the moment,
01:21loosened his bite,
01:22crawled back into the corner,
01:23and watched me with guarded eyes.
01:26I walked toward him,
01:28one step at a time.
01:29He couldn't have been more than ten,
01:31starved down to skin and bone.
01:33Beneath his thin rags,
01:35whip scars and frostbite wounds
01:36crisscrossed his entire body.
01:39Old injuries buried under new ones.
01:42Ten years.
01:44Had he been sleeping and eating in this stable
01:46with the animals for ten years?
01:48My hand trembled as I reached out to touch his head.
01:51He swapped it away like a startled wild thing
01:54and exposed a dark red birthmark.
01:57Shaped like a flame.
01:59The bloodline mark of House Valon.
02:04The Valon bloodline runs hot in the vein.
02:07That mark looks like living fire.
02:10Lucas, the son I'd raised for ten years,
02:13didn't have it.
02:14I always thought he took after his father, Julian.
02:18The truth had been right in front of me the whole time.
02:21My own flesh and blood,
02:23dumped in a stable,
02:24living alongside animals for ten years.
02:28I pulled off my cloak and wrapped it around him,
02:30filth and stench be damned,
02:33and held him tight.
02:34He went surage for a moment.
02:36Perhaps it was the first warmth he'd ever felt.
02:38But the ferocity in his eyes dimmed just slightly.
02:43Don't be afraid.
02:44Come with me.
02:47I didn't take him to the main wing.
02:50Instead, I brought him to my private vault.
02:52The one where I kept my personal assets.
02:56The one only I knew about.
02:59I gave him a name.
03:01Kale.
03:02Kale Valon.
03:03I am the only daughter of Duke Roland Valon.
03:06Years ago, I set aside my armor,
03:09brought with me a vast fortune in dowry,
03:12and married down
03:13to a low-born scholar named Julia Ashfield.
03:17I spent years pulling him up by his bootstaps,
03:21until he sat in the highest seat in the kingdom,
03:24royal chancellor.
03:25Everyone said the chancellor was devoted
03:28and lovingly henpeckered.
03:29Our son Lucas was accomplished in both letters and arms.
03:33The king himself had named him heir.
03:36Today was Lucas' 10th birthday.
03:38The estate was packed with guests.
03:41I reached out to check the back of his neck,
03:43but he instinctively pulled away
03:46and ran straight into the arms of Lillian, the healer.
03:49She was Julian's childhood friend from the same village,
03:52taken in after her family fell on hard times.
03:55The day I gave birth,
03:56I'd lost consciousness from a difficult labor.
04:00Lillian, as the attending healer,
04:02had moved freely in and out of the delivery room.
04:05Julian had waited anxiously outside.
04:08When I came to,
04:10they placed a wrinkled newborn in my arms
04:13and told me it was my son.
04:16Julian was standing beside Lillian now,
04:19straightening the hairpin on her head
04:20as if no one else existed.
04:22His eyes were soft in a way
04:24I had never once seen in 10 years of marriage.
04:28I looked at Lucas,
04:29at his almond-shaped eyes,
04:31identical to Lillian's,
04:33and the hand resting on my sword hilt
04:35began to shake.
04:37During that labor,
04:38I had fallen unconscious for three full days.
04:42No reason given.
04:43No explanation ever offered.
04:47Julian,
04:48my dear, devoted husband,
04:51what exactly did you swap out?
04:56Mama!
04:57I want that one!
04:58Lucas was pointing at the birthday cake,
05:00but he wasn't talking to me.
05:01He was talking to Lillian.
05:03She shot me a timid glance,
05:05then said softly,
05:06Young master,
05:07your lady mother is right here.
05:09Mind your manners.
05:10She said,
05:11Mind your manners.
05:12But her hands were already cutting the cake
05:14and lifting it to his lips.
05:15Lucas swallowed it in one bite
05:18and beamed.
05:19Lillian's the only one
05:20who actually cares about me.
05:22Not like some people,
05:24always forcing me to train with the sword.
05:26Some people.
05:27I was his mother.
05:29To give him a fighting chance
05:30among the nobility,
05:31I had hired the finest tutors
05:33money could buy
05:34for both scholarship and combat
05:36and driven him hard
05:37day and night.
05:40And this was what I'd become to him.
05:42A grievance.
05:43Julian laughed
05:44and smoothed things over.
05:45He's still young.
05:47Kids say things.
05:49Don't take it to heart, darling.
05:50As he spoke,
05:51he casually reached over
05:52and smoothed out a crease
05:53on Lillian's collar.
05:54Practiced.
05:55Effortless.
05:56Like he'd done it a thousand times.
05:58A sharp-eyed guest nearby
06:00made a joke of it.
06:01The chancellor really is generous.
06:03That's quite the attention
06:04for a household employee.
06:06Julian didn't even blink.
06:08We're from the same village.
06:09Of course I look out for her.
06:11How amusing.
06:13Looked out for her so well
06:14their son got her exact eyes.
06:17Lucas picked up
06:18the first slice of birthday cake.
06:20He didn't give it to me,
06:21the woman who'd carried him
06:23for nine months.
06:25He didn't give it to Julian either.
06:27He took it carefully
06:28with both hands
06:29and handed it to Lillian.
06:32Lillian's always been delicate.
06:33She needs the best piece.
06:35It'll do her good.
06:37Lillian put on her most flustered,
06:39grateful expression.
06:40But the corner of her eye
06:42slid toward me,
06:43sharp with something
06:44that looked very much
06:45like a dare.
06:48Oh, this isn't really proper, is it?
06:50Lucas announced loudly.
06:52In this house,
06:53what I say goes.
06:55Right, Dad?
07:02Of course.
07:03It's your birthday.
07:06You're the boss today.
07:09What a happy family.
07:13The crystal glass in my hand
07:15gave a sharp crack
07:16and shattered.
07:16Dread wine ran through my fingers
07:18and dripped onto my skirt.
07:20The room went silent.
07:21A flicker of honey
07:22crossed Julian's eyes
07:23before he frowned.
07:25What are you doing?
07:26It's a celebration.
07:27Blood on a day like this
07:28is a terrible omen.
07:30I dropped the broken glass stone
07:31and wiped my hand
07:32with a silk cloth.
07:36Slipped.
07:38I'm going to change.
07:40Carry on.
07:40As I turned to leave,
07:42I heard Lucas mutter
07:43under his breath.
07:44Such a kill, Locke.
07:46Always walking around
07:47with that face.
07:48I didn't break stride.
07:51I am Ilara Valon,
07:53commander of the Valon Legion.
07:55My tears are for soldiers
07:56who die in battle.
07:57They will never
07:58for domestic affairs.
08:00I didn't go to my chambers.
08:01I went around
08:02to the stone terrace
08:03in the rear courtyard.
08:04Julian's favourite spot.
08:07Sure enough,
08:07footsteps came hurrying in
08:09not long after.
08:12Dad,
08:13when's that old witch
08:14gonna die already?
08:15Soon.
08:16Once I get my hands
08:18on the Valon Legion
08:18command seal,
08:20I'll send her
08:21to meet her maker.
08:22Lillian's voice came next,
08:23honeyed and trembling.
08:25Julian,
08:25I'm scared.
08:26That woman kills
08:28without blinking.
08:28What if she finds out?
08:31Finds out?
08:32She's just a woman
08:33who potters around
08:33the kitchen all day.
08:35She's got nothing left
08:36of the soldier
08:36she used to be.
08:37Kale is such a good boy.
08:39One day,
08:40the Valon region
08:40will be all yours,
08:42and so will every inch
08:43of Ashford estate.
08:45Lillian kissed Lucas.
08:46My sweet boy.
08:48Ten years of calling
08:49that woman your mother.
08:50I'm sorry you had
08:51to go through that.
08:52Lucas spit
08:53in disgust.
08:54I never wanted
08:56to call her that anyway.
08:57She always smells
08:58like the stable.
08:59It's revolting.
09:01She's not even
09:02in your league, mum.
09:03I pressed my back
09:04against the stone wall.
09:06The pain in my knuckles
09:07was bone deep.
09:10Ten years.
09:12Every last day of it
09:14a lie.
09:16The man sharing my bed.
09:18An animal wearing
09:19a human face.
09:21The sun I poured myself
09:23into raising.
09:24A creature just waiting
09:26for the right moment
09:27to bite.
09:28House Valon
09:29has served this kingdom
09:30with loyalty
09:30for generations,
09:32and we had been used
09:33as a stepping stone
09:34for this filth
09:35to climb on.
09:36I didn't step out
09:37from behind that wall.
09:38The way I stood now,
09:40no military authority,
09:42no evidence,
09:43storming out
09:44would only tip my hand.
09:48Alarvalon does not
09:49go into battle
09:50unprepared.
09:54When I returned
09:55to the main wing,
09:57Julian was waiting
09:58with a cup
09:58of sobering tonic.
10:01He looked up
10:02with warm concern
10:03the moment he saw me.
10:05Darling,
10:06where did you go?
10:07I've been looking
10:07everywhere for you.
10:08I made this myself.
10:10Drink it while it's hot.
10:11I didn't touch it.
10:15Settling into my seat
10:17and adjusting
10:17my sleeve,
10:18I said.
10:21Julian,
10:22I was wandering
10:23in the garden
10:24just now
10:24and something
10:25came to my mind.
10:26Julian kept his smile.
10:28Oh?
10:29What's that?
10:30Lillian's not
10:31getting any younger.
10:32It isn't quite right
10:34for her to go on
10:34living here indefinitely.
10:35People will gossip.
10:37As lady of this house,
10:39it's my duty
10:40to find her
10:40a suitable match.
10:43Julian's expression
10:44shifted.
10:46Lillian's hasn't
10:47been well.
10:47The physician said
10:49she can't handle
10:50too much stress.
10:51A marriage right now
10:52might not be...
10:52All the more reason
10:53to lift her spirits.
10:55I've already found
10:56someone.
10:57The butcher's son
10:58on the east side
10:59of town.
11:00Built like an owl.
11:02Her family runs
11:03a butcher shop
11:04she'd eat well
11:05every single day.
11:07He'll have her
11:08looking plump
11:08and healthy
11:09in no time.
11:10The colour
11:10drenned from Julian's face.
11:12That butcher's son
11:14was a notorious drunk.
11:16Three dead wives
11:17all beaten to death
11:19in a stuna.
11:20That's...
11:21That's completely
11:21out of the question.
11:23Lillian comes
11:23from a decent family.
11:24She can't marry
11:25a butcher.
11:26I looked at him
11:27evenly.
11:28Oh.
11:29She thinks
11:30a butcher
11:31is beneath her.
11:33You were a penniless
11:34scholar when I
11:35married you.
11:36I didn't complain.
11:39Julian's speechless.
11:41Besides,
11:43her parents are gone.
11:44I'm her sister-in-law.
11:46As her sister-in-law
11:48and the lady here,
11:49I'm the one
11:50responsible for her future.
11:52This is my call to make.
11:55I didn't give him
11:56room to argue.
11:58The wedding carriage
11:59comes tomorrow morning.
12:05The next day,
12:07music and fan fang
12:08out across Ashford Estate
12:09at the crack of dawn.
12:11A red bridal carriage
12:13rolled directly up
12:14to Lillian's door.
12:16Lillian went white
12:17as a sheet
12:18and fainted.
12:20Or pretended to.
12:22Lucas came charging out
12:23and shoved
12:24and shoved
12:24the driver aside.
12:25Get out!
12:26All of you,
12:27get out!
12:30You're evil!
12:31You're just jealous
12:31of Lillian.
12:32I won't let you
12:33do this to her!
12:34I looked at that face.
12:35A face that shared
12:36not a drop of my blood
12:37and felt the last flicker
12:39of feeling inside me
12:40go dark.
12:41I'm doing this
12:42for her own good.
12:43Every woman
12:44marries eventually.
12:46Does she plan
12:46to spend the rest
12:47of her life
12:47at Ashford Estate
12:48as an old maid?
12:49Are old maids
12:50better than
12:51marrying a butcher?
12:53Lillian is down!
12:54Enough!
12:55Julian came rushing in
12:57and cracked
12:58a hard slap
12:59across Lucas' face.
13:01That surprised me.
13:03Julian actually
13:04struck his own
13:05precious boy.
13:07So that was it.
13:08He was afraid
13:08Lucas would let
13:09something slip.
13:10Julian turned to me
13:11with an apologetic smile.
13:13Darling,
13:13the boy doesn't know better.
13:14But this really
13:15is too sudden.
13:16Lillian just fainted.
13:18The physician says
13:18she can't be startled.
13:19Couldn't we put this
13:20off a little?
13:21I looked at the
13:21three of them
13:22banding together
13:24holding each other up.
13:25Fine.
13:26Then I'd make them
13:27suffer slowly.
13:28Let them feel
13:29every inch of it.
13:31Since she's ill
13:32she should rest
13:33properly.
13:34Seal off
13:35Lillian's quarters.
13:36No one goes in
13:37or out
13:38for her good.
13:39She needs
13:40complete quiet.
13:41And since she's
13:42so weak
13:42keep her simple diet
13:43no more rich food.
13:45From now on
13:46she'll eat nothing
13:47but plain porridge
13:48and bread.
13:49Lillian had just
13:50come around.
13:51When she heard that
13:52she nearly fainted again.
13:53I looked at the
13:54three of them
13:55huddled together
13:56holding each other up.
13:57You're sick!
13:58You're trying to
13:59starve her to death!
14:00It wasn't a hard kick
14:01but it was the last
14:02one I would ever allow.
14:03I slapped him
14:04across the face
14:05hard.
14:07Lucas stood there
14:08stunned
14:09hand pressed to
14:10his cheek
14:10staring at me
14:12like he couldn't
14:12believe what had
14:13just happened.
14:14Ten years
14:15I had never
14:16once raised
14:17my voice at him
14:17never my hand
14:18until now.
14:22Bring me
14:23the house road.
14:24The steward
14:25crept forward
14:26trembling
14:26and held out
14:28an oil-soaked
14:29leather strap.
14:32Alara!
14:33Have you lost
14:33your mind?
14:34He's ten years old
14:36you'll kill him
14:36with that thing!
14:39You're telling me
14:40he's ten years old?
14:47Ten years old
14:48and already
14:50challenging me
14:50shouting abuse
14:52at his elders
14:52no respect at all.
14:54If I don't act now
14:55he'll burn this
14:56estate down tomorrow.
14:58I am the lady
14:59of this house.
15:00I have every right
15:01to discipline my son!
15:05When it was done
15:06I dropped the
15:07blooded strap
15:08on the floor.
15:11Take the young
15:11master to his
15:12study.
15:13He's confined
15:13until he's copied
15:14the sacred text
15:15one hundred times.
15:16He doesn't eat
15:17until it's finished.
15:21After dealing
15:22with that mess
15:23I felt
15:24surprisingly refreshed.
15:28Late that night
15:29I slipped away
15:30from everyone
15:30and made my way
15:31down to the
15:32private vault.
15:35Kale was inside
15:37using a wooden
15:38stick to practice
15:39strikes against
15:39the shadows
15:40on the wall.
15:41The form was rough
15:42but every movement
15:43carried a reckless
15:44ferocity.
15:45It was the kind
15:45of drive that
15:46didn't care
15:46if it lived
15:47or died.
15:48When he saw me
15:50he immediately
15:50tucked the stick
15:51behind him
15:51and pressed back
15:52into the corner
15:53watching me.
15:55I set down
15:56a fine bottle
15:57of medicine
15:57and a pork
15:58chustle
15:59roasted
15:59until the fat
16:00ran golden.
16:03Eat.
16:04He stared
16:05at the food
16:06his throat
16:06moved
16:08but he didn't
16:09reach for it.
16:09I tore off
16:10a piece
16:10and ate it
16:11in front of him.
16:12That was all
16:13it took.
16:14He launched
16:15himself at it
16:16and ate like
16:16he was trying
16:17to make up
16:17for every missed
16:18meal at once.
16:19When he finished
16:20he looked up
16:21at me.
16:22Some of the
16:23Warreness
16:23had left his eyes.
16:26I picked up
16:26the wooden stick
16:27and settled
16:27into a proper
16:28opening stance.
16:29Do you want
16:30revenge?
16:33I didn't
16:33treat him
16:34like a child.
16:35I treated
16:35him like a soldier.
16:36Do you want
16:37to grind
16:37every last person
16:38who ever
16:38stepped on you
16:39into the dirt
16:39beneath your feet?
16:40Cal couldn't
16:41speak but the
16:42fire that blazed
16:43up in his eyes
16:43nearly leaped
16:44out of him.
16:45He nodded
16:45hard once.
16:47I took his
16:48hands and
16:48adjusted his
16:49grip, corrected
16:50his posture.
16:51From this day
16:52forward you are
16:53House Valen's
16:54wolf.
16:55You learn to
16:56hide your fangs
16:56until the moment
16:58you can close
16:58them around
16:59your enemy's throat.
17:00Meanwhile
17:00Julian dropped
17:01to his knees
17:02outside Lillian's
17:03sealed quarters
17:04and begged.
17:06I let him
17:07suffer a while
17:08then played
17:09along.
17:10I released
17:11Lillian
17:11but I demoted
17:13her to my
17:14personal handmaid
17:15her first duty
17:17washing my
17:18feet.
17:20And while I
17:21was at it
17:22I took back
17:23full control
17:24of the entire
17:25estate.
17:27To make
17:28them completely
17:29drop their
17:29guard
17:30I began
17:31to flatter
17:31and coddle
17:32them.
17:33I deliberately
17:34let Lucas
17:35steal the
17:35strategic
17:36manuscripts
17:37my father
17:37had left
17:38behind
17:38so he
17:39could run
17:39to his
17:40worthless
17:40father and
17:41take credit.
17:42Then I
17:43dismissed the
17:44strict
17:44swordmistry
17:44instructor
17:45and replaced
17:46him with a
17:46pack of
17:46fanning
17:47idle rich
17:48boys as
17:48study
17:49companions
17:49and let
17:50Lucas throw
17:50himself into
17:51gambling dens
17:52and let his
17:52training rot.
17:53At the same
17:54time I
17:55took Kale
17:56out to a
17:56valley beyond
17:57the city
17:57and ran
17:58him through
17:59hell.
18:01He didn't
18:01flinch from
18:02pain, blood
18:03or injury.
18:05Weighted runs,
18:07barehanded
18:07fights against
18:08wild wolves.
18:09He endured
18:10it, all of it
18:10without complaint.
18:12Within a
18:12single month
18:13he could draw
18:14a 300 pound
18:15warren and he
18:17had completely
18:18grasped the
18:19essence of the
18:19Valen family
18:20spear style.
18:22Watching him
18:23train sweat
18:24pouring down
18:25his face, I
18:26knew with
18:27absolute certainty
18:29this is the
18:31true bloodline
18:32of House
18:32Valen.
18:36Then came the
18:37day of the
18:38Royal Autumn
18:39Hunt.
18:39This year's
18:40hunt carried
18:40particular weight
18:41because after
18:42ten years holding
18:43the northern border
18:44my father, Duke
18:46Roland Valen, had
18:47finally returned
18:48in triumph.
18:51This hunt was
18:52my father's way
18:53of testing the
18:53metal of the
18:54capital's noble
18:55sons and he'd
18:56arranged every
18:56detail himself.
18:58Julian had a
18:58fine set of
18:59chainmail custom
19:00forged for
19:00Lucas, sparing
19:01no expense so
19:02the boy could
19:03make an impression
19:03on his
19:04grandfather.
19:05Lucas rode out
19:06on his purebred
19:07horse at the
19:07head of the
19:08procession, chin
19:09in the air.
19:10Lillian was
19:11supposed to be
19:12a handmaid, but
19:13Julian had quietly
19:14smugged her along,
19:15dressed as a
19:16traveling healer.
19:17I brought only
19:18one person.
19:19Kale.
19:20He wore a
19:21black iron
19:22mask and an
19:22ordinary guard's
19:23uniform, tucked
19:24into my escort
19:25detail.
19:26He looked
19:26completely
19:27unremarkable.
19:28When we reached
19:28the hunting
19:29grounds, the
19:29noble sons were
19:30already sharpening
19:31their nerves and
19:32their blades.
19:33Up on the
19:33platform, my
19:34father stood in
19:34full military
19:35dress.
19:36His hair had
19:36gone white, but
19:37the force in him
19:38had not dimmed.
19:39His gaze swept
19:40the field like a
19:40hawk's.
19:41Today, the man
19:42who brings down
19:43the white-marked
19:43winver takes my
19:45warblade, companion
19:46of thirty years, and
19:48I will grant him
19:48one wish.
19:49Whatever he asks.
19:51The crowd erupted.
19:53That tiger was the
19:54apex predator of the
19:55hunting grounds, and
19:56Bane was the symbol of
19:58the Valon Legion
19:58itself.
19:59Lucas's eyes lit up.
20:01Dad, that tiger's
20:01mine.
20:02If Grandfather gives
20:03me the blade, nobody
20:04in the Valon region will
20:05dare to question and
20:06dismiss me again.
20:07Go.
20:08Show your Grandfather
20:09what you can do.
20:10I've already arranged
20:11men to shadow you, and
20:13make sure you come out
20:13on top.
20:14The horn sounded.
20:16A hundred horses
20:17exploded from the
20:18line and thundered
20:19into the trees.
20:22Lucas charged into
20:23the forest at the
20:24head of a small army
20:25of escorts.
20:26He had no idea that
20:28I'd already had Bate
20:29laid inside that
20:29forest.
20:30Bate dreamt in the
20:31exact cologne Lucas
20:33always wore.
20:34The same scent that
20:35drives tigers into a
20:37frenzy.
20:37I glanced back at
20:38Kale.
20:41He gave a small
20:42nod, peeled away
20:44from the main group,
20:45and disappeared
20:46silently into the
20:47far edge of the
20:47tree line.
20:48The game begins.
20:56The sounds came
20:57quickly.
20:58Animal sharks
20:59tearing from the
21:00trees, followed by
21:01sharks of panic.
21:02The tiger, it's
21:03enormous!
21:04Run!
21:05It's gone mad!
21:09Every last one of the
21:10pampered young nobles
21:11who'd been riding at
21:11Lucas's back took one
21:12look at the real thing
21:13and scattered like
21:14startled birds.
21:15Lucas was swept off
21:16course in the chaos.
21:17His purebred horse
21:18reared in terror and
21:19bolted.
21:20Help!
21:20Dad!
21:21Somebody help me!
21:22The white-marked tiger
21:23burst from the
21:23undergrowth, eyes
21:24burning red, launching
21:25itself straight at
21:26Lucas, the cologne.
21:27It had locked on.
21:28Lucas's horse buckled
21:30at the front legs and
21:30sent him tumbling
21:31into a mud pit.
21:32That fine custom chain
21:34arc, worth a small
21:34fortune, now pinned him
21:36to the ground like a
21:36shell he couldn't shed.
21:37Lucas's eyes rolled
21:38back.
21:39A dark stain spread
21:40across the front of
21:41his trousers.
21:42The tiger's jaws were
21:43closing in on his
21:43throat.
21:44Then, at the last
21:45possible moment, a
21:46dark shape dropped
21:47from the treetops.
21:48Cale locked his legs
21:48around the animal's
21:49ribcage like iron
21:50clamps, one hand
21:51pressing down on the
21:52tiger's skull, the
21:52other gripping the
21:53splinted shaft of a
21:54broken spear.
21:55The tiger thrashed and
21:56bucked, trying to
21:57throw him.
21:58Cale didn't move.
21:59He found the throat, the
22:00one spot where the
22:01great cat had no
22:02defense, thud.
22:03The sound of steel
22:04plaiting flesh.
22:05The broken spear
22:06drove deep.
22:07Blood sprayed across
22:08the boy's black
22:08clothing in a wide
22:09arc.
22:10The tiger let out
22:10one last desperate
22:11cry, and then the
22:12massive body crashed
22:13to the ground and
22:14went still.
22:14Cale rose from the
22:15carcass.
22:16His spine was
22:17straight as a
22:17rounce.
22:18Up on the
22:18platform, my
22:19father's pupils
22:20shrank to points.
22:21His whole body was
22:22shaking.
22:23That technique, that's
22:25the Valens reversal.
22:26Our lost spear form.
22:28I thought it was
22:29gone forever.
22:30Cale reached up and
22:31pulled the black iron
22:32mask from his face.
22:34Beneath it was a
22:34sharp, composed face.
22:36The brow, the jaw, the
22:37set of his eyes, carved
22:38from the same mold as my
22:40father in his youth.
22:41Unmistakable.
22:42My father forgot
22:43himself entirely.
22:44He leaped down from
22:45the platform and
22:46crossed the field in
22:47long strides, eyes
22:48wide and unbelieving.
22:50The resemblance.
22:52It's extraordinary.
22:54This boy.
22:57He looked straight at
22:58me.
23:00Ellara.
23:01Who is this child?
23:05I stepped forward and
23:06tore open the worn
23:07cloth at Cale's
23:08shoulder.
23:08A dark red flyam
23:09shaped birthmark blazed
23:11into view before every
23:12eye on that field.
23:13The bloodline mark of
23:14House Valen.
23:15Passed down through
23:15generations.
23:16No one outside the
23:17true Valen bloodline
23:18could ever carry it.
23:19The hunting grounds,
23:20quiet just moments
23:21before, exploded into
23:22chaos.
23:22The nobles and
23:23quarters packed around
23:24the edges leaned into
23:25each other, whispering,
23:26pointing.
23:27Then Julian pushed
23:27through the crowd.
23:28How dare you bear
23:29yourself before the
23:30king?
23:30Cover yourself at once
23:31before you cause
23:32offense to his
23:32majesty.
23:35I lifted my foot and
23:36kicked him straight
23:37into the mud at the
23:38edge of the field.
23:40I didn't spare him a
23:41glance.
23:42I turned, faced the
23:43king seated on the
23:44high platform and my
23:45father whose whole body
23:46was trembling and
23:46dropped to both knees.
23:48Ten years ago I
23:49nearly died bringing his
23:50child into this world,
23:51all for Julian Ashford's
23:52sake.
23:53And yet this man, this
23:54pillar of false virtue
23:55had been plotting
23:56against me from the
23:57very beginning.
23:58I raised my hand and
23:59pointed directly at
24:00Lillian who had been
24:00cowering behind a wall
24:02of guards shaking.
24:03He conspired with his
24:04childhood friend, this
24:05healer Lillian, to
24:06secretly swap the
24:07bastard child they
24:08conceived together into
24:09my bed while my own
24:10son, my flesh and
24:11blood, the only true
24:12heir of House Valen was
24:13thrown without mercy
24:14into the estate stables.
24:15Drew Kale in front of
24:16me and pushed up both
24:17his sleeves.
24:18The boy's lean arms were
24:19a map of damage, whip
24:20scars, burn marks and
24:21years of layered wounds,
24:22old ones buried beneath
24:23new ones, not a single
24:24patch of unmarked skin.
24:25For ten full years my
24:26child slept and ate
24:28alongside the animals.
24:29He ate animal mixed
24:31with blood.
24:31He has been beaten and
24:33cursed without end.
24:34Even the lowest
24:35servants on that estate
24:36grind him under feet.
24:39The gathered nobles erupted
24:40in uproar.
24:41Those quarters who had
24:42spent years calling
24:43Julian a brother, praising
24:44his grace and refinement.
24:45Every last one of them now
24:46wore an expression of
24:47undisguised horror.
24:48Julian, waist deep in
24:49mud, found some last
24:50savage reserve of
24:51spite as death closed in
24:52around him.
24:53He clawed his way out on
24:54all fours and jebbed a
24:55finger at me, voice
24:56cracking with fury.
24:57Alara Valen, you
24:58faithless, scheming
24:59witch!
25:00You want to hold on to
25:01the estate's assets so
25:02badly that you drag some
25:03unknown urchil in off,
25:04pass him off as
25:04Valen blood!
25:05He didn't bother wipe
25:06the filth from his face.
25:07He flung himself at the
25:08platform, pounding his
25:09forehead against the
25:10ground.
25:11Your Majesty, I beg you
25:11to see the truth!
25:12Lillian and I are
25:13innocent!
25:14We have never once
25:14crossed a lie!
25:15This bastard is
25:17obviously the spawn of
25:18this woman's own
25:19affair, conceived
25:20behind my back with
25:21another man.
25:22Now she's afraid I'll
25:23expose her and cast her
25:25out, so she's turning
25:26it around and dragging
25:27my name through the
25:28mud!
25:29I let him finish.
25:30Then I gave a cold
25:31laugh.
25:32I humbly request that
25:33His Majesty summon the
25:34royal physician to
25:34administer the bloodline
25:35reagent, here, in front
25:36of everyone.
25:37The reagent properties
25:38are absolute.
25:39It will not bind unless
25:39the blood is that of a
25:40true parent and child.
25:41Not even close chin can
25:42fool it.
25:43The moment Julian heard
25:44the words bloodline
25:45reagent, the colour left
25:47his face entirely.
25:48He stumbled backward.
25:50Absurd!
25:50This is sorcery!
25:52It proves nothing!
25:53I refuse!
25:54You don't get to refuse.
25:56Two royal guards stepped
25:57forward like walls of iron
25:58and locked down Julian's
25:59shoulders.
26:00The royal physician came
26:01forward at a brisk pace,
26:02white cerium bowl in
26:03hand, silver needle
26:04glinting.
26:05My blood, then Kale's.
26:07Both fell into the
26:08clear reagent, one drop
26:09after another.
26:10The two drops moved
26:11through the liquid,
26:12drifting, circling,
26:13seeking, and then
26:14merged completely
26:15into a single, full,
26:16perfect bead.
26:18They merged!
26:19They actually merged!
26:22The king slammed his
26:23fist against the throne.
26:25Julian Ashfield!
26:26You treacherous, lying
26:28snake!
26:29What do you have to say
26:30for yourself now?
26:31Seize them!
26:32Both of them!
26:33Now!
26:35The royal guards
26:36drew their blades,
26:37cold steel catching
26:38the light, pressing
26:39towards Julian's throat.
26:41Lillian, who had spent
26:42the whole time hiding
26:43at the back of the
26:44crowd playing the victim,
26:45went completely to
26:46pieces.
26:47She threw herself at
26:48Julian on hands and
26:49knees, grabbing his
26:50leg.
26:50Julian, say something!
26:51You're the royal
26:52chancellor!
26:52Do something!
26:53Tell his majesty
26:54everything we did,
26:55we did for our future,
26:56for our child!
26:57Julian looked down
26:58at her like she was
26:59something that had
27:00crawled out of a grave.
27:01To save his own
27:02neck and his official
27:03title, he had no
27:03use for old affection.
27:05He drew his foot back
27:06and drove it into
27:07her without hesitation.
27:08Get off me,
27:09you poison woman!
27:11Lillian hit the
27:12ground, coughing
27:13blood.
27:13Julian threw himself
27:14at the platform,
27:15banging his head
27:16on the ground.
27:17Your majesty!
27:18I have been wronged!
27:19I swear it on my
27:20life!
27:21It was her, this viper!
27:22She planned every
27:23last bit of it!
27:24The switching of the
27:25children, the whole
27:26conspiracy!
27:26It was her scheme
27:27from start to finish!
27:28I was deceived!
27:29I'm a victim in this
27:30too, your majesty!
27:31I swear it!
27:31Lillian lay in the
27:32mud, staring up at
27:33him with eyes that
27:34couldn't process what
27:35they were seeing.
27:36The man who had
27:37sworn the world to
27:38her not an hour-er
27:39was now pushing her
27:39toward a grave with
27:40both hands.
27:41She clutched her
27:42chest.
27:42A long, broken
27:43sound clawed it way
27:44out of her throat,
27:45somewhere between a
27:46laugh and a scream.
27:47A victim?
27:49Julian Ashfield,
27:50you ungrateful,
27:51backstabbing dog!
27:52Lillian came
27:52completely undone.
27:53She dragged herself
27:54half upright from the
27:55mud on one arm and
27:56screamed.
27:56Your majesty, I have
27:59crimes to report
27:59against Julian Ashfield!
28:01Over the past ten years,
28:02he used his position as
28:03royal chancellor to
28:04embezzle military funds
28:05from the northern border,
28:06200,000 gold coins in
28:08total.
28:08He also rigged the
28:09noble selection process,
28:11selling recommendations to
28:12the highest bidder!
28:13Every ledger and every
28:14piece of evidence is
28:15hidden behind the
28:16third secret panel
28:17behind the display
28:18cabinet in his study!
28:20Julian's face contorted in
28:21pure panic.
28:22He lunged at her like a
28:23man possessed, hands
28:24scratching to cover her
28:25mouth.
28:26Shut up, you stupid
28:27woman!
28:28I will kill you!
28:30The king surged to his
28:32feet on the high
28:32platform, fury shaking
28:34the air.
28:35Commander of the
28:35royal hard, take your
28:37men and tear Ash
28:38Vesait apart!
28:38I want those ledries
28:39found if you have to
28:40dig up the foundations!
28:42I watched those two,
28:43the pair who had made
28:44my life a living
28:45nightmare, tear each
28:46other apart in the mud
28:47like ravid animals.
28:48I reached into my
28:49coat and drew out a
28:50rolled sheet of
28:50parchment, already
28:52sealed with the
28:52House Valon crest.
28:53I flicked it up with
28:54one hand.
28:55It struck Julian's
28:56ashy face and fell.
28:57Read it carefully,
28:58Julian Ashfield.
28:59Every word.
29:00That is a decree of
29:01disillusion.
29:02Our marriage is over.
29:03From this moment, you
29:04are no longer an ally
29:06of House Valon.
29:07You're nothing.
29:07A stray dog that the
29:09whole world wants dead.
29:10Less than half an
29:11hour later, the
29:12commander of the
29:12royal guard came
29:13calloping back to the
29:14hunting grounds.
29:15A thick stack of
29:16ledgers and letters
29:16was laid before the
29:17king.
29:18The king had barely
29:18turned three pages
29:19before the fury on
29:20his face threatened to
29:21set the entire field
29:22alight.
29:23A fine royal
29:23chancellor indeed.
29:24By royal decree,
29:26Julian Ashfield is
29:27stripped of every
29:27title and office
29:28effective immediately.
29:30His assets are to be
29:31seized in full.
29:33All those complicit
29:34are to be punished
29:34without exception.
29:36Under the king's
29:36thundering order,
29:37the guards dragged
29:39all three of them
29:39into the darkness
29:40of the royal dungeon's
29:41death row to await
29:43judgment.
29:44Stripped of the deep
29:44purple robes that had
29:45marked him as royal
29:46chancellor.
29:46Julian now wore a
29:47reeking, filthy
29:48prison uniform.
29:49The dungeon saw no
29:49daylight.
29:50Rats and cockroaches
29:51moved freely through
29:52the rotting straw.
29:53When feeding time came,
29:53the jailer tossed half
29:54a stale hardened
29:55loaf through the iron
29:56bars like throwing
29:56scraps to a dog.
29:57Back off!
29:58That's mine!
29:59The man who had
30:00once embodied
30:00scholarly refortment
30:01now lunged like a
30:02starving animal.
30:03He drove his foot
30:03into Lillian's stomach
30:04and clutched the
30:05stale bread to his
30:06chest.
30:06Lillian's legs were
30:07already broken.
30:07That kick tore a
30:08gush of blood from
30:09her mouth.
30:09And Lucas, rather than
30:10help his own birth
30:11mother, threw himself
30:11at Julian and sunk
30:12his teeth into his
30:13arm, trying to wrench
30:14the bread away.
30:14Dad, please!
30:15I'm starving!
30:16Just one bite!
30:17Please!
30:18Get away from me!
30:19Useless waste!
30:20Ten years I fed you
30:21and for what?
30:22Julian backhanded
30:22Lucas across the
30:23cell.
30:24The loving father,
30:25the devoted family,
30:26all of it stripped
30:27away by half a
30:28moldy loaf.
30:28The dungeon took its
30:29toll on Julian in
30:30other ways too.
30:31Political enemies he
30:32had crushed under
30:33his boot over the
30:34years had bribed the
30:34guards, and every day
30:36brought fresh
30:36humiliations.
30:37Drinking from buckets,
30:38performing like an
30:39animal on command.
30:40The fall from the
30:41heights to this had
30:42shattered something in
30:43him beyond repair.
30:44Hilara Valen, you
30:45poisonous witch.
30:47Even if I come back
30:47as a ghost, even if I
30:49have to sell my soul, I
30:50will bring your entire
30:51family down with me
30:52into the grave!
30:56That very night, a
30:57shadow disguised as a
30:58meal delivery guard moved
30:59silently to Julian's
31:00cell door.
31:01My lord chancellor, it's
31:02good to see you're still
31:03breathing.
31:04The figure kept his
31:05voice low and pushed
31:05up his sleeve, revealed
31:06the wolf's head tattoo of
31:07the northern border
31:08tribes.
31:09Julian's eyes went
31:10sharp.
31:10He knew that mark.
31:12This was one of the
31:13tribal spies he had
31:14secretly dealt with
31:14years ago, back when
31:16he'd been skimming the
31:16northern border's
31:17military funds.
31:18Ten thousand northern
31:19troops are massed and
31:20ready at the border.
31:21Our chieftain has made
31:22his terms clear.
31:24All he needs is the
31:26city defense layout of
31:27the royal capital, the
31:29one you kept hidden from
31:30your time in office.
31:31All you gotta do is use
31:33your guys inside the
31:33dungeon, have them open
31:34the gates, and we hit
31:35the city together.
31:36When it's done and the
31:37city falls, you receive
31:39half the territory.
31:39We crown you the one
31:40and only non-royal king
31:42this land has ever seen.
31:43The hunger for power and
31:44the hatred for me.
31:45The two of them together
31:46consumed whatever was
31:47left of Julian's reason.
31:48He bit open his finger and
31:49drew the contact signal onto
31:50a strip of cloth.
31:51The next day, during the
31:52exercise hour, Lillian
31:53smashed her drinking bowl
31:54and picked up a shard of
31:55sharp ceramic.
31:55Without hesitation, she
31:56dragged it across her own
31:57face, deep enough to reach
31:58bone, the features she had
31:59always been so proud of.
32:00She threw herself on the
32:01ground, rolling and
32:01waning and laughing, performing
32:02a convincing breakdown to
32:03pull the warden's
32:04attention away.
32:04Then, dragging herself on
32:06broken legs, using what
32:07remained of her charm and a
32:08promise of gold hidden
32:09outside the city, she
32:10seduced a greedy, lutherish
32:11guard into carrying
32:12Julian's message to his
32:13remaining contacts in the
32:14capital.
32:14She believed she was
32:15earning her way out, buying
32:16her survival.
32:17What she didn't know was
32:18that from the moment I
32:19threw down that
32:20desolation jeet, the royal
32:22dungeon had been ringed,
32:23inside and out, with my
32:24own operatives.
32:25That treasonous letter was
32:26on my desk, intact, within
32:28half an hour of leaving the
32:29cell.
32:29I traced the bloodstains on the
32:31letter with my fingertip, a
32:32cold smile curling at the
32:33corner of my teeth.
32:34A non-royal king, huh?
32:35Sending in the wolves.
32:36Bold move.
32:37I dropped the letter into the
32:39burning coal, Bozi, and
32:40watched it catch.
32:40Since he wants to play, I'll
32:43see the game through to the
32:44end.
32:45Let that guard go.
32:47I want to draw them all out
32:48into the open and cut them
32:50out at the root.
32:53Three nights later, the royal
32:56dungeon caught fire.
32:57The blaze came from nowhere
32:59and spread fast, swallowing
33:01half the prison in minutes.
33:03Under cover of the chaos,
33:04with the northern spy team
33:05moving silently through the
33:06smoke, the door to Julian's
33:08gas was eased open.
33:09Julian, take me with you!
33:10You promised me you said
33:11I'd be your queen!
33:13Lucas was beside her, choking
33:14on the smoke, both fists
33:15knotted in Julian's coat.
33:16Both of you, get off me,
33:18you're dead weight!
33:19Something flickered through
33:20Julian's eyes.
33:21Cold, final, decided.
33:23He kicked Lillian into the
33:24burning timber without looking
33:25down.
33:26Then he planted his boot
33:27on his own son's spine
33:28and used the boy as a step
33:29to vault himself over the
33:30flames.
33:33Julian!
33:34Rot in hell!
33:36Lillian's streak tore through
33:37the fire behind him.
33:38Julian didn't look back.
33:39He vanished into the dark.
33:41He ran without stopping,
33:42slipping back into the city
33:43and making for a hidden
33:44abandoned chapel on the
33:45outskirts of the capital.
33:47Behind the altar base,
33:48buried under a layer of
33:49dust and stone, he dropped
33:50to his knees and clawed at the
33:52earth with bare hands until
33:53he pulled free the city
33:54defense layout.
33:55The northern border
33:56assassin commander and the
33:57garrison military traitors
33:58Julian had bought with gold
33:59and promised titles were
34:00already waiting inside.
34:02They sealed their pact in
34:03blood.
34:04Tonight, they would break
34:05open the royal capital.
34:07Back at the dungeon, the
34:08prison fire was brought under
34:09control by the royal guard.
34:11Lillian was still breathing,
34:12barely, scorched beyond
34:14recognition.
34:15Lucas encrushed under a
34:16falling bame during the
34:17stampede.
34:17Both legs gone.
34:19He would never walk again.
34:20The warden interrogated them
34:21through the night.
34:23Faced with their own
34:24executions, that mother and
34:25son came completely apart.
34:26I know where he hid the
34:27money for the rebellion!
34:28I know the contact codes!
34:31He's the traitor!
34:32I was forced in this, I swear!
34:34At the same time, across the
34:35city, the royal council chamber
34:36blazed with candlelight.
34:37Your majesty, I have a request.
34:39Deploy 80% of the capital's
34:41city guard to the outer
34:42districts immediately.
34:43Leave 500 royal guard soldiers
34:45to hold the palace.
34:46That is all we need.
34:47The king was quiet for a long
34:48moment.
34:48He looked at me steadily.
34:49Then, without a second's
34:50hesitation, he brought his
34:52palm down hard on the table.
34:54Granted, tonight I place
34:55this kingdom, its people,
34:56its walls, and my own life
34:58entirely in your hands,
35:00General Vallon.
35:00It was a devastatingly
35:02dangerous gamblet.
35:03An empty city laid out
35:05like fate.
35:06A deliberate illusion
35:07constructed to draw the
35:09rebels into a killing
35:10ground.
35:10I needed Julian to believe
35:12that layout was accurate.
35:13I needed him certain the
35:14palace was exposed and
35:15poorly defended.
35:16Hungry enough and
35:17desperate enough to walk
35:18straight into the trap.
35:21The night was moonless.
35:24The air tasted like
35:25blood.
35:26Julian had put on black
35:27armor.
35:28He carried a sword and
35:29walked at the front.
35:30Behind him, over a thousand
35:31northern assassins and
35:32Turnged garrison soldiers.
35:34They moved along the routes
35:34marked on the layout.
35:35The resistance they met was
35:36almost nothing.
35:37A few scattered guards
35:38easily cut through.
35:39They walked into the inner
35:40palace grounds without
35:41breaking stride.
35:42Julian stepped over the
35:42bodies without slowing down.
35:44The throne room plaza opened
35:45up ahead of him.
35:46The seat of absolute power.
35:48Right there, almost close
35:49enough to touch.
35:50Julian threw his head back
35:51and laughed at the empty
35:52sky.
35:53The sound was raw and
35:54unhinged.
35:55Elara Valen, get out here
35:57and die.
35:58This is the end of your
35:59whole family.
35:59I'm going to take your head
36:00off myself and hang it on
36:01the city wall for everyone
36:02to see.
36:02You?
36:03Is that so?
36:04In the next instant, every torch
36:05on every white marble palace
36:06wall ignited at once.
36:07Thousands of flames snapping
36:08to life in a single breath.
36:10Julian's head snapped back.
36:11There I stood, silver battle
36:12armor, the Valen warblade
36:13bane gripped in my hand, at
36:15the very top of the steps
36:15before the throne room doors.
36:17And beside me, stacked along
36:18every tier of Palawal above
36:19and behind, the 10,000
36:20cavalry of the Valen legion
36:21who had been waiting in
36:22silence for hours.
36:23Countless archers with bows
36:24drawn full.
36:25Every arrowhead fixed on a
36:26target in the plaza below.
36:27It was a net with no exit.
36:29Julian looked around at his
36:30men, hunters who had a prey
36:32and one brat boy in the
36:33next.
36:34The sword fell from his hand
36:35and rang against the stone.
36:37Julian Ashfield, I told you
36:39once before, House Valen does
36:41not go into battle unprepared.
36:43I looked down at him the way
36:44you look at something rotting
36:46on the ground.
36:46That layout you thought was
36:47your winning card?
36:48I threw it to you.
36:49It was bait.
36:50Strike!
36:52Bane swept down.
36:53The battle cry that answered
36:54it shuck the palace to its
36:55foundations.
36:56The Northerns and rebel
36:56soldiers, for all their
36:57reputation, were nothing in
36:59front of a real steel tide.
37:00They were ground apart in the
37:01time it takes a stick of
37:02incense to burn.
37:02Julian came apart completely.
37:04He could see it was finished,
37:05eyes wild.
37:06He snatched a sword from the
37:07ground and seized a court
37:08attendant by the throat.
37:09One last human shield.
37:11One last attempt to break
37:12through.
37:12Don't touch them!
37:13The command split the night
37:14air.
37:15Kyle dropped from above in
37:16silver light armor, fluid and
37:18fast as a hunting cat.
37:21The long spear in his hands
37:22moved like water finding its
37:24path, and then the Valen
37:25reversal technique unrolled.
37:26The spear tipped screaming
37:27through the air.
37:28The spear found both of Julian's
37:29sword tendals and both of his
37:30heel tendals in a single arc.
37:32Julian's scream was
37:33animalistic.
37:33He folded and went down into
37:35the blood pooling beneath him.
37:36Cale set his boot on Julian's
37:37face.
37:38The king emerged from the
37:39throne room doors, surrounded
37:40by hundreds of royal guard
37:41soldiers.
37:42He looked down at Julian,
37:43gasping, broken, face in the
37:45dirt.
37:45Julian Ashford, I strip you of
37:48the last dignity you have left
37:49as a man.
37:50By royal decree, this traitor is
37:52to be taken to the royal gate
37:53execution ground and put to death
37:55by a thousand cuts.
37:56His entire line exterminated.
37:58Three days later, the royal gate
38:00execution ground was packed so
38:01tightly, the crowd spilled into
38:03the surrounding streets.
38:04Word of Julia's treachery had
38:05spread through the capital.
38:06The people were not there to
38:07mourn.
38:08Rotten vegetables and garbage
38:10rained down on the platform from
38:11every direction.
38:12The executioner's blade fell again
38:13and again, and Julian lasted three
38:15full days under the slow
38:16cutting before he finally stopped
38:17breathing.
38:18The blood that ran from the
38:19platform turned black and
38:20reeking.
38:20A wicked man left the world in
38:22pieces, with nothing to bury.
38:23In the dungeon, when word of
38:24Julian's death reached them,
38:26Lillian and Lewis lost whatever
38:27was left of their minds.
38:28The infected burns across
38:29Lillian's face and the wounds
38:30on her broken legs had gone
38:31seamic, crawling with rot.
38:33She died in agony, starving,
38:35consumed from the outside in.
38:36Lucas, as a traitor's family
38:37member, was sentenced
38:38accordingly, tendums cut, then
38:40discarded like refuse on the
38:41wasteland outside the city walls.
38:43In the dark of that night, a pack
38:44of half-starved wild dogs found
38:46him.
38:46There was nothing left to
38:47identify by morning.
38:49Evil had met its end.
38:51And all debt were finally paid.
38:56Three days after the rebellion
38:58was crushed, the throne room
38:59stood in solemn ceremony.
39:01The king overruled the objections
39:03of every narrow-minded old
39:04courtman who dared raise a
39:06voice.
39:06He stepped down from the throne
39:08himself and placed the purple
39:09gold tiger steel, the symbol of
39:11supreme military command over the
39:13entire kingdom, into my open
39:15hands.
39:16Alara Valon, hear your title.
39:18House Valon has served this
39:19kingdom with unwavering loyalty
39:20across generations and has now
39:22saved the crown itself.
39:23By my decree, I name you
39:24Grand Duchess Protector of this
39:25realm, equal in rank to the
39:27three pillars of the court.
39:28You kneel to no one.
39:29Your servant receives this
39:31honor with gratitude.
39:33When I turned, I found Kael
39:35standing at the front of the
39:36military ranks.
39:37This boy, who had grown up
39:38eating filth in a stable, now
39:39stood in the silver armor of
39:40House Valon, straight and still,
39:42exactly where he belonged.
39:43I had already entered his name
39:45into the Valon bloodline record.
39:46He was formally recognized as the
39:48young master of the Valon
39:49Legion.
39:50He looked at me.
39:51In those eyes, so much like my
39:53father's, a fire burned that
39:54nothing would ever put out.
39:56Ten years of shadow, swept clean
39:58in the light of this breaking
39:59dawn.
40:00I put on the deep red commander's
40:02cloak and climbed the steps to the
40:03top of the capital's command
40:05platform.
40:06The autumn wind moved hard,
40:08pulling at my hair.
40:09Below me, the Valon Legion
40:10stretched ten miles beyond the city
40:11walls, blades and spears like a
40:12forest, the breath of ten thousand
40:14soldiers rising in the cold air.
40:15I thought back across those ten years,
40:17the suffocating back rooms, the
40:18laughable marriage, all of it.
40:19Nothing.
40:20A pebble on the long road of
40:21Alara Valon's life.
40:22To hell with playing the dutiful
40:23wife.
40:24To hell with obedience and
40:25submission.
40:26I drew gain slowly from its sheath and
40:29raised it toward the sky.
40:30From this day forward, this vast land
40:32and every soldier who rides, this is
40:34where I belong.
40:37Less than two weeks after Julian's
40:38execution, after Lillian and Lucas met
40:40their end, the Chancellor's mansion
40:42plaque had already come down.
40:43In its place, three gilded characters
40:45hung above the gate.
40:46Valon Manar.
40:48When the sunlight hit the gold, it was
40:49almost blinding.
40:50My handmaid Ivy stepped close and
40:52lowered her voice.
40:53My lady, the audit of the household
40:55staff is complete.
40:56Sixteen servants remain who are loyal
40:58to Julian and Lillian.
40:59Five of them are still quietly passing
41:00information to Ashford's distant
41:01relatives, keeping tabs on the
41:03manor.
41:03A cold edge moved through my eye.
41:05I should have expected it.
41:07Julian had spent ten years building
41:08his network inside this house.
41:10You don't cut out roots like that
41:11overnight.
41:12The worst poison in a household war
41:14was never the open blade.
41:15It was the rat hiding in the
41:16corridor, waiting for the moment to
41:18gnaw through the foundations.
41:21Who's leading them?
41:22One of Lillian's former personal
41:24maids.
41:24She's been assigned to sweep the
41:25rear courtyard.
41:26She's been meeting regularly with
41:27Julian's distant cousin Marcus, took
41:29money from him, and apparently made
41:31promises to avenge the Chancellor
41:32when the chance comes.
41:34Cale stepped forward.
41:35He picked up the charcoal pen from
41:36the table and pressed two words onto
41:37the paper in firm, deliberate strokes.
41:40Every line cut through to the other
41:41side.
41:42Not a trace of hesitation.
41:44Nothing like a child of ten.
41:45I reached over and set my hand on his
41:47shoulder.
41:48Something in my chest tightened, then
41:49hardened back into resolve.
41:51The ten years of beatings and hunger and
41:52humiliation he had survived in that
41:54stable were not something I could simply
41:55let pass.
41:56But I would not let him drown in
41:57hatred either.
41:58And I would not let his hands carry more
41:59blood than they needed to.
42:00Not yet.
42:01Marcus is small.
42:02Someone bigger is moving him.
42:04We cast the net wide.
42:07And let them step into it themselves.
42:09Deloresgame.
42:14The 것을ence the stone for all
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