Lord Kailer's face darkened, any who witnessed so wouldn't have thought of Grand lady Rose as his mother but rather an old enemy of his
Trying to calm him down she spoke saying "Before any rushing acts just know that—"
Not giving her words, a thought lord Kailer replied unsheathing his blade "You switched once more, that is the answer"
It was as if her tongue was bitten, an old sharp memory cut her throat and stitched it back removing the right to speak from Rose's human being
Both Torden and his brother Fraymon were confused, about the origins of the hate between their father and grandmother, But mostly on the current situation
"We can't waste time here son" said Grand lady Rose "Follow us and we'll—"
Stopping her once more Lord Kailer replied "Us? Follow, you?" looking at the Vikings on her side "How much did they pay you? or perhaps, how much did YOU pay them"
Rose understood what he wanted to point it, but to defend herself, that decision was not made
"Was it you all along? The one behind this sick game" that was the line wish broke her
"You think I am the one who caused the murder of Elara?" her eyes hiding tears of disbelief
"Maybe you were forced to do so" said Lord Kailer staring the surroundings "It won't be the first time you've prioritized your life"
"I don't think we can waste much time with this weird family reunion," said the armless commander
Lord Kailer's responses were to hold on tightly to his word, wish the Viking ended up doing the same
"My lord I might not know deep these rotten roots cut" said Barmen shielding lord Kailer with his shoulder "But are you sure this the decision you want to commence with?"
Both Torden and Fraymon were behind him, he gave a thought for a moment, how can they flee unharmed?
With a little smile he raised both hands slightly as if opening for a hug, staring his mother dead in the eyes he spoke saying
"What are we waiting, lets go and talk it out"
Holding the tears back, Rose was broken by that absurd forced smile of his, it carved her heath open like a knife, but she kept the pain deep inside, stuffing how she felt deep inside her throat
They went down the narrow streets, reaching the end of it the street was full. Unable to cross they made a decision
"Give me that" said one of the Vikings to Knight Barmen, asking for the cover he used atop of his head
"Sure mate, take it" replied Barmen handing it over
The Viking wore it and sprinted down the street towards the other alley. It caught the guard's and knight's attention as they followed after
"Crazy…," said Barmen
With the road safe the armless commander guided them inside one of the empty houses, right beneath the largest bookshelf, a hidden hole in the floor let them slide into a dark tunnel
"How did they know of its existence?" asked Fraymon in worry and suspicion
"We have our ways" replied The Viking walking before them
"Could it be inside every house?" Fraymon whispered to Torden
"If it were, they wouldn't have come through the front door nor would they have broken the window on that other day" replied Torden
"Don't pull that up" said Fraymon shushing Torden "We don't know if they are still mad about it"
"They don't seem to want us dead" said Torden
"What makes you think so?" asked Fraymon
"Because we are alive" replied Torden
Reaching the light by the end of the tunnel, they witnessed the real shock. What they thought to be kidnapped and in chains were walking around sharing their meals in peace
"Can you calm down now?" asked the armless commander stopping in place so they can look around, ordering his men to scatter around he took them to some empty chairs
"What is it this?" Lord Kailer was the one to speak first as he seated comfortable
"Alleys" replied the armless commander
"Them?" said lord Kailer mockingly "You mean hostages"
"They look happier in here replied the commander
"It is because you were the ones who started the chaos in the first place" replied lord Torden pulling the real conversation from beneath the dirt, his eyes continued to inspect the room searching for a way out
"Don't try," said the commander "We have the tunnels, memorized"
"So, you are keeping us hostages?" said Lord Kailer "Well bad luck, the king won't trade a penny for the lot of us, in fact you are doing him a favour"
"This is not what we are intending" replied the commander "And we wish not to harm you even after what you did to my soldiers"
"What we did to your soldiers?" asked lord Kailer "Don't mistake it, you are the monsters here" his eye got sharper with each word "Killing my wife, attempting to harm what remained of my family—"
"Honey—" said Grand lady rose before she was cut
Lord Kailer spoke with heavy words, slow and uneven, each letter added force to his jaws "You stay silent!"
"It was not them, who killed your wife, lady Elara" said grand lady Rose after taking a deep breath
Going silent for a moment with a dumbfounded look covering his face, lord Kailer spoke"… Have you gone mad already?"
"She is telling you the truth" said the commander "And we did not wish to harm you that day"
"Stop covering it up with sweet wordings" said Lord Kailer getting angry with each passing sentence" The fire you started, the people burning alive"
"That was necessary" said the commander "We had to take care of anyone who wouldn't stand on our side, we are no heroes, after finding out what the king prioritizes, we had to change focus"
"Now you are admitting to be the monsters" said Lord Kailer raising his eye brows and smiling at him
"And perhaps you are the good guys? For how long did your people slaughter mine?" said the commander, as tension grew with each passing conflict in the conversation
"So, it is for revenge purposes?" said Lord Kailer
Sighing the commander leaned on his chair in disbelief, he glanced to the side and spoke to lady Rose "You did not tell me he is driven by emotions"
"He… Never was" replied Grand lady Rose
"Look the point is—" the commander was cut before he finished once more
"I know what I need to, "said Lord Kailer his hand ready with a knife from underneath the table, his knight's crossed hand are weaponized under the robe
"I saw the rusty broken knife planted inside My wife's skull. That is enough for me" he was about to go on cutting the throat before him
"That is what I am trying to reach to!" the commander shouted making lord Kailer loosen his grip in confusion
"They are not the ones to kill you wife, my lord" a sound came from the crowd, it was a mean wearing a rob, escorted by two of the Vikings
Showing his face, it was Prince Rafam, The heir to the throne and the first son of the king
"Let me explain" he said