Chapter 182: Whispers in Motion

Chapter 182: Whispers in Motion

Chapter 182

Whispers in Motion

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!! Why are you doing this to me?!! Sylas glanced to the side, a strange expression on his face. It has been a while since the sound of the blood-curling screaming didnt stop his heart for a moment. On the floor of the brick-taped, damp, and barely-lit dungeon, the man who called himself simply M was currently in the process of liberating the Baron from his family jewels. No, no, no, please, please stop! Anything but that, please! Please, please, please...

Ever heard him beg like that before? Sylas asked.

Somewhat, M replied, looking at Sylas with an odd expression. Occasionally, Id hear it coming from the bedroom. Please Mistress do this or dont do that.

Ah. Kinda pegged him for a pegger.

What?

Nothing. Go on.

If you dont say--

Im telling you! I dont know, I really dont! the Baron cried out soulfully. I--theres, theres a secret cabinet in my office. T-theres a mirror there, a copper mirror, and from time to time, some, some information appears there.

Who tells you? Sylas quizzed. The word mirror triggered a distant memory from within him.

Tells me? What? No, nobody tells me anything! A bunch of letters appear on the mirror! Wait--who are you?! Are--are you... are you the one they warned me about?! Could it be the mountainfolk? Sylas wondered inwardly. Hmm, that chick departed with us, but I didnt see her make any strange movements.

What are your orders? Sylas continued to question.

I asked you a question, you mongrel! If you dont--AAAAHHHH!!! Ouch, even Sylas felt the pain--the dagger poked and prodded well enough to shave one off. Oh my God! It hurts, it hurts, oh my God, it hurts--

Answer his question or the other one goes too, M quickly said. He was willing to burn down the entire Barony if need be, let alone torture and kill someone as pathetic as the man in front of him.

Aaah! Ill answer! Ill answer! My--my orders... my orders were to k-k-kill the Prince!

Thats all?

I swear! I swear that is all!

... Sylas turned silent, stroking his chin. The conflict in the Capital is bleeding out, aint it?

It wasnt terribly difficult to see that there were forces at play that were trying to push each other out of the game. While the Queen carefully positioned pawns to act as effective goal posts for Valens journey, others tried damned and hard to prevent the growth of the southward force.

No, Sylas replied. The day Valen left for north marked the beginning of this story.

What story?

His ascension. Everything is prepared for it--distraught nobles who feel the Queen is in the middle of a power-grab while their King quivers like a coward. All the Princes and Princesses are either dead or corrupt. What used to be a flaccid balance of power is now completely gone. Like a bomb a second away from exploding. And boom. In goes the Prince. A young, forsaken lad who made the pilgrimage from the north, burnin with desire to fix his home. And, on his journey, he found pawns and knights and bishops and rooks to come along, men and women who, by sheer happenstance, retired in places conveniently en-route.

...

I wish, before all this is over, Ill have a chance to sit down with the woman and talk. More and more, I grow suspicious that she concocted the entire plan. I just... want to see the eyes of someone so convinced of something shes willing to sacrifice her name for all of the history.

... if you wish to talk to the Queen, M said after a momentary silence. Shes two counties over, currently visiting Viscount Var and his wife.

Hoh? Sylas eyes lit up with deep want. How far away?

Maybe six-seven days with horses? M replied. With little rest.

Will she still be there by the time we come?

As far as I know. Shes scheduled to be there through the entire Winter Festival.

Winter Festival?

Annual ball that Viscount Var hosts in name of his dead daughter.

... interesting, Sylas mumbled, stroking his chin. She didnt account for us making the journey through the winter, it seems. Im looking forward to seeing her expression.

Uh...

Im as blind to the geography of this place as I am to your attempt to kill me.

Khm...

Surely, youll lead the way?

Of course, M replied, smiling hastily. Would you like to rest first, or...?

Rest is for the dead, Sylas replied. Lead the way.

As you wish.