The man sitting next to the bed turned to the door after hearing a small thud in the distance.
Still draped in the dark red cape from the night before, now dry from the warmth of the fire in the back of the room that was raging, consuming the split but dry wood one log at a time.
The overflow of the cloak was strewn along the blue carpet of his daughter's room.
Now wearing his signature black steel armour with a silver trim of Veralium, this was the heirloom of the Vayreban line donned on the middle-aged lord.
Still, the speckles of blood were on his fist; whenever he found a spot he missed, he would wipe it away.
His mind shot to the thoughts he had when he saw Amelia when he entered his daughter's room and faced a world of living nightmares.
Dirt and blood shot across his mind—a horror he couldn't shake out of his head. All he could do was comfort her, soothing her hand with his, and make sure she wasn't alone.
Louvan had taken care of the young lady's state and made her look like she was sleeping normally; no longer were the flickers of blood present on her face.
Gone was the dress of nightmares and the mud of memories, washed away, but still lingering in his mind was something nothing could erase—a fear he lived through once before and had to live through again.
Louvan did a service for her lord and for Amelia. The sins of the night were washed away from her body, but the nightmares must still be in her mind.
Vayreban: I don't know if you can hear me... (Pausing.) We are going out there to kill that cara; it will no longer haunt you anymore.
The small frame of the little girl in the bed was oblivious to the world around her.
Her father watched her like a merchant coveting gold, never taking his eyes off the treasure in front of him, but the love here was real; she was his golden-haired girl; he placed his hand on her head and brushed her hair away.
Vayreban: Sleep, my darling. (softly.)
The door behind him was tapped on twice and slowly opened.
Without turning, he waved the man into the room, already knowing who it was.
-The door opened then closed slowly.
Hyrne: Sir, please forgive me; I was held up.
Vayreban: Louvan, I presume...
-Silence.
Vayreban: Never mind. What was that bang just now?
Hyrne went quiet, then spoke.
Hyrne: It was Louvan, sir; we got into a disagreement about Tristyn.
Before he could elaborate any further, the man stood up and moved to the door, not out of anger but out of annoyance at the end of the butler's explanation.
Vayreban: In the future, do not mention that name in this household again. Am I clear? (Staring at Hyrne.) I am heading to the courtyard. Watch over Amelia and Rubern, though he will be in his room; still, make sure he doesn't leave the manor. I don't want a repeat of last night.
Both men froze in place as they heard the whimpers coming from the bed.
The little girl began to speak as soon as her father was on the move again.
Amelia: Don't. Don't go. (in a weakened state.)
-Vayreban moved back to her side.
Vayreban: Amelia, AMELIA! My darling. I will be back, I promise. (He brushed her golden hair to the side once more.)
Both of them looked at each other. Hyrne nodded, affirming the role he needed to fill, and bowed. Thoughts were running through his mind; the reaction his lord had when he mentioned Tristyn shocked him, as were his words to Louvan.
raising his head and meeting his lord's eyes.
Hyrne: I will look after her like she was my own. As soon as she comes to, we will send a guard to wait by the broken wall. Let that be our signal for good news.
Vayreban: Very well, my treasure is in your hands!
(Vayreban walked out of the room and headed towards the courtyard.)
Amelia spoke once more when her father was no longer in sight.
Amelia: Don't… Don't
Hyrne moved to her side and grabbed her hand, consoling her.
Hyrne: Lady Amelia, I am here; your father will be back. Until then, please rest.
Amelia: Don't go, Tristyn. Please... (crying.)
Hyrne's eyes looked to the doorway.
Hyrne: What happened in that forest? (muttering to himself.)
-Pulling a soft cloth from his jacket, he wiped away her tears. He couldn't do anything more than comfort the cries of a sleeping child.
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Yurn made his way to the main hall; he could see the healer's room right in front of him.
Eral's room was so close now. In the corner of his left eye, he saw the mass of a black figure. A red cape was flowing on his right arm. There was no mistaking who this was.
Yurn: My Lord...
-Their eyes locked.
Vayreban: Ah yes, the guard from last night. The one who couldn't keep his trap shut. Your name is Yurn, isn't it? (pausing.) I gave an order for all the able guards to assemble in the courtyard. Why aren't you there?
Yurn: Yes, you did... (still staring up the stairs.)
The guard knew he didn't know of the order directly, only the fading calls of Alvin as he ran to find Eral, but he wasn't here to argue with the man above; he was here for his own reasons.
Both men were standing still, locked in a battle of sight. The only thing lightening the mood were the scatters of light from the sun on the main doors and windows.
Where the lord stood, it was still dark, and where the guard was standing, only flickers of the new day were taking hold, touching the back of his feet.
Vayreban: So please do tell me, what are you doing here? Also, where is your armour and sword? You plan on killing the Cara with your fists?
The man standing on the stairs glared at him, demanding answers that sounded more like a berating flurry of questions.
Time could have stopped in this moment. But the world around them was still turning; soon, something would break the realm they had both created.
The door to the right of Yurn opened. Eral stumbled into the main hall, nearly falling over the mess near the inside of the door.
Eral: Stupid bloody box! (cursing tone.)
The healer looked to the man loitering by his door; he traced along the path of his eyes. They were looking at something else; they were staring at the black figure on the landing at the top of the stairs, it was the Lord.
This was an eye-fucking match he had no business being apart of, nor did he want to. He felt like it would have been best to slink back into the room like a rock snail, though it was too late to do that now.
- Looking at both men and began to talk, thinking on the fly in his mind. He looked at the box in his hands, and a spark went off.
Eral: I am sorry, my lord. I asked Yurn to fetch the potions for the men; I would have brought them myself, but I am heading to Amelia's room to check on her. (Bluffing all the way to the barn and back.)
-Vayreban's eyes unlocked from the guard.
Vayreban: Very well! I have more pressing matters to attend to. Please watch over Rubern also; he is in his room.
The lord made his way down the stairs, each step echoing into the main hall. As he reached the bottom, he made one final look into Yurn's eyes and headed outside towards the courtyard.
Both of them waited until the doors closed behind the imposing man, Yurn turned to Eral and looked at him in confusion.
Eral: I don't want to know... You can thank me another time. (He shook the box and placed it on the floor.)
-Yurn snapped himself out of the daze of confusion about "why did this man lie?" But something of importance hit him instead.
Yurn: (constructing his thoughts) Eral, May I ask you something? Do you have any healing potions on hand?
Putting one eyebrow up, he shrugged and reversed.
Eral: Maybe.
The healer went back into the room he just came from; he booted the box that nearly took him out.
Eral: Not a second time BOX!
Inside the healers room, the rummaging noises of wooden crates and papers, things being pushed aside, and the clinking of glass could be heard.
After a few minutes, the healer returned, grasping something in his left hand.
Eral: All I have is this (a small red potion). Will this do? It won't bring back the dead, but it will be a lifesaver. (winking,)
He went to hand over the bottle and pulled back from the guard.
Yurn: What's the matter? (confused.)
Eral: Wait, you have to promise me something?
-Shooting back his reply.
Yurn: Name it?
Eral: Okay. (stroking his face.) When you get some more booze from the Dozy'Mare, I want a good percentage of it. None of that crap from the merchants. If you can do that, this is yours.
Yurn: That's a price, not a promise. Still, I accept the terms; now hand it over, please.
He handed the bottle to the desperate-sounding man. Yurn picked up the box and proceeded outside.
Yurn: I know you could have bent me over the barrel for that, so thank you. You don't know how much this means!
Eral: You owe me several barrels! Also, ONE AMBER POTION PER PERSON! (laughing)
The Healer headed up the stairs, hearing the main doors open and then close in the distance.
When he reached the top, he entered Amelia's room. (Smiling all the way, thinking of the booze from the Dozy'Mare.)
He stood next to the window, watching the men below get prepared for the battle that might be ahead.
-He looked over to Hyrne.
Eral: What's up with you?
Hyrne didn't answer.
Eral looked back at the window; his eyes once again were now following the four men that were making their way to the edge of the estate; behind them, two more were talking in the pebbled courtyard.
-He moved to the door once more.
Eral: I am going to check up on Rubern; will you be fine here?
-The butler returned to life.
Hyrne: Yes, I will be fine.
Eral: Very well, I'm off; if you need me, I will be in the main hall after I have spoken to Rubern.