Chapter 10; Permission To Continue?

Part 2

The Bremingade Tales

Chapter 10; Permission to continue?

/The Rolan Manor.

Keran slammed his gauntleted hands on the table. He, along with Lothar and Rothrin, was in the Lord’s room. Theren was beside her father, who was standing at the very head of the table ‘Tell me everything, now.’ He said. He looked at Theren, and from what she could tell, with an eye of sleight anger, yet he seemed slightly curious.

She was a great liar…

No I can’t… Although… I could tell him I overheard that Altheas was here, and decided to visit him… Krilin’s grave how am I to explain how I know where it is? Ah! I can tell father I persuaded Sir Muriel, even father knows how he fancies—

‘What’s taking so long, woman?!’ Keran asked, with full eyes of anger now. Theren began to tense up, she was taking too long.

‘I… look father,’ What was she to do? Lie and tell him something very risky, or run another risk by telling him the truth… 

‘I… was visiting him.’ She said, raising her chin, sharpening her eyes with confidence.

‘Visiting him? Who was the man with you? I do not recognise him as one of my own.’ Father was speaking of Isolde.

Theren was a great liar, but sometimes she’d crumble in her nervousness, especially during a family confrontation.

‘He was one of the guards at Lynese’s palace, in Onsroad. I was visiting him, as a friend, and sent my guards back and took one of the Crocodiles employed—’

Keran slammed his hands down on the table yet again, ‘NONSENSE!’ He screamed, ‘Child, you are very adroit, but you forget I have known you since the only lie you could make was in two rhyming syllables!’

‘Listen to father,’ Rothrin calmly said, causing Keran to cock his head back and look at his tall, slender son who had his arms folded behind his back, ‘Tell him the truth, sister.’ He formally said. Why did Rothrin act this way these days? Always uniformly dressed, hands behind his back, serious and focused on his work only, nothing else. Thirty years old already, yet he wasn’t even married! He’d been betrothed once before, but that marriage failed, as for Nathanial, he had never laid his eyes on a woman, even though he was the most sought after Rolan. Although for Nathanial, it was always about his expeditions and his work, nothing else.

But Theren didn’t let her thoughts overflow her. The young lady gathered herself, and simply decided to tell the truth.

‘Eleven years ago, a group was formed by the Council of Kaandor,’ she said, taking a breath, ‘A group of spies. They worked on four separate, extensively long cases, and disbanded eight years ago, rendering their tasks complete. It was the most efficient spy system to have ever existed. 

‘Heartbroken as I was, I kept Altheas in mind. When I’d news that he’d joined the Council, I felt terribly betrayed. During my studies as a scholar, I’d learned that a passion of mine was taking care of the smaller matters of our kingdom, incognito. Checking the systems, invasions, and form of people. A spy. I gathered a group together four years ago and trained them to be the most efficient spies in the kingdom.’ All her memories of forming this group flashed in front of her eyes, and soon after she saw angry eyes staring down at her, and her brothers both in shock. 

‘Father, I need to talk to Altheas. Please.’

Father slowly closed his eyes, and looked down towards the table, slowly tapping the fingers of his left hand on it, rhythmically. 

‘Theren, you tell me that you are running a group of spies in my kingdom, without my knowledge, betraying me for all these years, and now you want me to allow you to meet the most dangerous non-Wielder there is in all the planets? This is the audacity you have to display to your father, THE LORD OF LOAZER?!’ 

It was true.

All that the guards spoke about these days, everything her older brother said. Father was beginning to lose his temper, and no matter where he was, he was always accompanied by his wine. Still, his outburst frightened Theren.

‘Father, please! My spies are the most efficient! Do not take away my operations from me—I beg of you not to!’

‘You visited, the most dangerous man, with only one man by your side, and—’

‘Two!’ She said, still wondering where Shen had gone in the middle of it all.

‘I saw only one man there, stupid child,’ Father said, receiving a goblet from a paige whom he’d signalled to a while back, taking a gulp of the wine.

‘You are the most precious thing that I have, yet you go unguarded, unarmed, to Altheas, of all men? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FEKHIN MIND CHILD?!’

‘Father you know he would never harm me. He still loves me.’

‘No, he doesn’t, Theren. You listen to what I have to say, oh listen hard! He is no lover. He is a creature. He was born in the blackness of Arlonar, and raised to be entitled to the mantle of the Mace.

‘He is nothing better than a loathsome, vile dog, borne of thorns that spike the touch of Chronisc, that holds the mark of an Earthian Devil. He is an anathema to us all. The epitome of foul odium, of abhorrence! 

‘No, my dear daughter, this man does not love you. He never did. You claim to be the greatest of spies, and yet you foolishly visit him in plain sight with no protection! Might as well damn you, right here, right now!’

‘No father—’ 

‘I went through the eyes of Chronisc to the heavens Krilin bears and back, to gain the trust of this kingdom! I’ve beared your mother and you all as my family for more than thirty fekhin years, and I’ve lost one child to—’ Keran blinked and stuttered. He swallowed down his nervousness. ‘I cannot lose another, child. You are my only daughter. I can not allow you to proceed with any such business.’ 

Theren’s eyes were wide open at her father’s words. Maybe he was correct. It had been a difficult life her father faced. Sure, a drunk fool he may be becoming, but she has known none wiser than him. Maybe it was time to give up the title of Rean. Dissolve the group.

Ruin everything she’d worked for in the last six years just to fancy to her scared father’s wishes.

No.

She had very less chances to convince her father now, but she was not going to give up that easily. Her life revolved around the spy group. She refused all betrothals her parents offered her, so she could continue with Rean. Much like her father, giving up wasn’t her.

‘No.’ She calmly said. She broadened her shoulders, opened her eyes widely, calm and relaxed. She knew how to convince her father.

‘Yuron, Sajh and Izaak. Three vicers that we captured upon news that our spies brought us about two hundred vicers entering the D’Wani Sea. We captured them and extracted the information of their whereabouts. We are the ones who found out that Lord Sarrona has betrayed you and has done business with men in

Kaandor.’

Keran’s heart skipped a bit, Lord Sarrona being a traitor?

‘Two years ago, infiltrators from the Banished Lands were spotted by my team, all the way down in an expedition in Etathes and Eaginys. Hundreds of men making their way up to Northern Loazer. My men came running to inform you.

‘But all this was conveyed to me by my coverlord of spies, Sir Muriel! Never have I received word from anyone of your operations being the source—’

‘As much as I hate to admit it, father, Muriel has the top position of my spy group. As a knowledgable and clever man, his curmudgeon is one that I bear, for his returns are always reliable. But it seems he has in fact, betrayed me, by giving all our information to you. Any matter I thought to be of your concern, I advised him to tell you, the rest of our investigations hidden, to ourselves.

‘It appears clearly that Muriel manipulated my order to his advantage and came and told you everything.’

‘Why would the man do such a thing?’ Keran asked. He seemed to be intently listening to Theren, acknowledging what she had to tell him, finally considering it.

‘He is a bloody conniving little bastard.’

‘He can be quite a bearing at times.’

Keran took a large drink from his cup.

‘Do you want to take a walk with me, Theren?’

Odd request, but it seemed to her like he was going to build on something. 

Better not to deny it.

‘Sure.’

He smiled and nodded. ‘Rothrin, organise the Crocs for our task. Get them ready.’

Rothrin nodded.

‘Lothar just… take a seat.’

Lothar frowned.

‘Oh alright. Go help your brother.’

Lothar grinned and nodded. They both opened the large golden door and exited into the common area.

‘Oh, Lothar!’ Keran called out.

Lothar turned around with a keen and eager face.

‘Try not to get more than one person killed.’ Keran said, laughing slightly. Lothar whined and left jogging to catch up to his brother.

‘Father, they need wives.’

‘As do you, isn’t it Theren?’

‘Father! Please do not bring that up again!’ She said, laughing. She took his arm and let him lead her out.

Oh you stupid, fat, drunk man. If you don’t give me permission to continue, I will bend you to my will…

No.