The castle of Mordrak. Black-Ice was a dark artistic infrastructure.
Stone arches bend across the floor. Walls lined with tall windows, narrow slits letting in only the fragments of pale white light with a hue of snow.
Flames on the Iron sconces flickered, illuminating the hallway I was following Mordrak in.
His woollen coat swayed with every step he took, unlike mine, which just flickered to my movements.
Even though Mordrak was walking in front of me, I couldn't hear his footsteps.
We arrived near the black wooden gates that were opened by the knights wearing black armour, the instant they spotted Mordrak.
Inside the room, there was a large circular brown table, a single black cloth covering the whole top. Surrounded by eight seats.
Five people were sitting on those seats. These were the five trusted counts under the Dukedom of Krells.
Vahn, Galt, Elias, Hurst and Kravos.
Everyone stood up and bowed slightly in his presence, as Mordrak walked to the last seat with a window behind it. He sat on the chair and gestured for everyone to sit.
"Have a seat, Count Rile," He spoke, and gestured at the seat next to him.
I followed, setting my cane aside, sitting on the chair next to Mordrak.
Maids wearing traditional black and white uniforms with long skirts entered the room and poured wines in the glasses of the counts.
The one who poured me wine was a young one. She was probably of my age. Fair skin, long black hair, and brown eyes.
She had a scent of sweet pea. I looked around, and all of them had taken a glance at me.
'I see now…these guys are trying to gauge me,' I thought. 'Or…Maybe because they're nobles, they think I'd lust for her…'
I let my eyes rest on her. A smile touched my lips enough for the wolves to notice.
"Sweet pea," I murmured, swirling the wine in my glass.
"A delicate choice for a hall built on iron, isn't it?" I looked at the counts.
The maid flinched, lowered her gaze and stepped back.
"Wine, perfume, power, and silence," I said lightly.
"You test me with all three. I wonder which of you thought I'd stumble first."
The room stilled. The air turned colder than ever as the counts glared at me.
Mordrak leaned back in his chair and scoffed at those reactions.
"Welcome to the gathering of Wolves, Count Rile, I assure you. This is not a test…" He glanced once at the maid who poured me wine. "Just a humble gesture for your presence,"
Vahn smiled and then looked at me. "I've heard a lot about you, Count Rile,"
"Your feats are impressive, and now that I see you in person, you're even more charming." He leaned in and raised the glass of wine.
"To the count of Rile, let's have a toast before we begin," He said, as all the counts raised their wine glasses. Even Mordrak did, so I followed the gesture.
"To the count of Rile," everyone spoke, and took a sip of wine in their glasses.
Count of Galt, however, a brute with white hair and a long beard, wearing silver gauntlets. Gulped the whole wine in one go.
I sighed inwardly and looked back at Vahn. He was going to be my first target, Nicholas Vahn.
Vahns were a family of warriors, sure. But they also experimented with species. There's a high chance that the hounds I encountered on the way were his doing to gauge my powers.
I was sure no one at the scene watched the whole thing like a spectator. So, his scout must either be one of the knights that were with us, or he must have checked upon the dead hounds after we left.
"I'm not a man who loves such pleasantries, Duke. You called me here for a reason, so shall we get to the point?" I spoke and looked at Mordrak, who started tapping his index finger on the armrest.
Mordrak nodded and snapped twice, as all the maids present in the room left and closed the door behind them.
"You must know of the situation of our Dukedom, Count Rile," Mordrak said. "Krells don't lack the ore and the lands,"
"I know," I replied. "You're asset-rich, cash-poor."
"But are you suggesting that I…a count that supports the first prince, and a professor who teaches the future of our lands, convert your assets into gold you require to march in a rebellion?" I asked and stared into his eyes.
"Mind your wor-"
Before Galt could complete his sentence, Mordrak gave him a stern look.
"I lost my son, and the crown didn't punish the one who should have experienced pain worse than death," Mordrak spoke.
He was mentioning the saintess. Violet.
"And you lost your parents, your family…your whole tragic past was twisted to be a laughing stock or gossip for the nobles that lick the foots of the crown, so I think you understand the pain that's driving me Count Rile, it wasn't just my son's life that was made a joke off, it was the pride of Krells," Mordrak's voice was low, but it growled across the hall.
Not a single count uttered a word, seeing him speak like this.
"I'm not asking you to 'help' the Krells, Count Rile. I'm offering you a deal. Because the first prince is not going to give you what you want when he gets the throne, but I swear on the name of Krells that I will give you what you desire," He spoke.
"Do you even know what I want, Duke?" I asked.
I was curious. 'What was he going to offer me? A position that's important for the throne? What was it? And why is he so confident that I'd want it? He did mention that I was a man waiting to kill a prince in his invitation…'
'Wait…' The realisation hit me later than I thought.
"I know it very well, Count, I'll offer you the head of Ymir Celestie of Lunar, the Fifth Prince," Mordrak spoke as my eyes opened wide in shock.
"I'll offer you the murderer of your family..." Mordrak continued.
No…I was genuinely surprised.
'He'll offer me the head of Ymir?' I thought… 'I am Ymir Celestie of Lunar, you fool!'
I stared back at the wine glass, trying to process this new development.
First, Ymir Celestie is Marcus Rile.
Second, Marcus Rile supports the first prince, and the faction he supports dislikes Ymir Celetie of Lunar.
And now…I was being presented with the head of Ymir in return for my help.
I was being offered my own head in negotiation for my service.
'Well…isn't this one hell of an intriguing deal?' I thought and smiled.
Looking up, I could see the satisfaction in the eyes of all the counts. Were they mistaking my shock for surprise at a fascinating deal?
"Send the financial records, ledgers, asset holdings, and every document you can or want liquified, Duke, you have a deal," I smirked.
"I expected nothing less from our Count Rile!" Vahn shouted and raised another toast.
"This one for having Count Rile as one of us!" He raised the toast, and all the counts raised their glasses again, as Galt filled his again.
'Yeah…I'm going to kill you all,' I thought and raised the toast along with them with a smile. 'This is going to be a lovely game, one that I'd love to hunt you all down in…'