Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 6: A Sliver of Moon

274 I.C.
Balindos
Caegoroth Kingdom
Cor Wresgoth Estate

The stars burned bright over the carriages of the Glunornth family. The sliver of moon that was visible seemed lonely and isolated. The family headed toward the Three-Lands Inn in the town of Gilstoth in four carriages. The first three carried the children and servants. The baron and his wife were in the last. The Glunornths left the party after the Quinriths, and the baron was unhappy about it. He hoped to beat them back to Gilstoth to get the best rooms in the inn. Unfortunately, Lady Glunornth's conversations always ran much longer than her husband wanted. He kept giving her the look, but she just ignored his attempts.

The quiet town was on the border of the Glunornth, Quinrith, and Wresgoth lands. None of it was built on the Wresgoth estate, but was built right on the borders.  A small river divided the town from the Wresgoth estate, and an ancient stone bridge connected it. The town was built on the two barons' lands, and was often a point of contention between them. They were the two ruling officials in the town, and they often had disagreements concerning the administration of the town's affairs. The town was a farming community and its economy was based on produce and livestock. There was a large market as well with goods from every part of the southern provinces.

The baron's carriage was rolling along behind the others on a smooth, well-trodden grassy road. He was quite irritated because of his wife's failure to end her conversations so they could leave. "I don't know why you ignored me, Nelitha! Now we are going to have to stay on the second floor. You know how much I hate that!"

Nelitha sat across from her husband, highlighted by the low lamp light inside the carriage. She wore and unconcerned look on her face. "I'm sorry you have gotten yourself so worked up. After all, I was trying to further your business holdings."

"I don't care! You know how I feel."

Nelitha appeared hurt. "You know how much I care about it. I hate it when you say that to me. So what if you will have to sleep on a bit harder mattress."

The Baron spluttered a reply, but Nelitha cut him off. "Don't take that tone with me, Urgul, I will not stand for it!"

"But!"

"Hush. I've had enough," Nelitha ordered. "That is the end of the conversation. If you cannot see that I was doing you good visiting with the merchants, then you are blind by your selfish stupidity."

Urgul growled under his breath, but he did not return to the subject. There was a good ten minutes of silence between them as they both boiled about the other. Finally, Urgul spoke, "So what do you think of our new neighbor?"

Nelitha's eyes fixed on him in her calculating way. "I think he is arrogant, but he is a prosperous, powerful man. He obviously knows politics, manners, business, and customs, but there is something about the man that I don't like. Maybe it's that slut of a woman he has playing his piano for him. I noticed a number of the little bitches hovering around."

Secretly Urgul thought about Mira entering the dining room, slowly walking across to the piano, and he strained to recall her scent as she passed by him. He thought about her body and the many possibilities. "You are right, my dear," he said as he noticed Nelitha's gaze burning into him. He made a mental note to begin eating less and get some exercise.

"And another thing, he has a very cold side. I could see it in his eyes."

Urgul pondered what she meant. "He was a duke from what I understand. Denounced the foreign king. He obviously has some courage and willingness to face death. Cold is a part of being a noble."

Nelitha huffed, "Not in my estimation. The man gave me the creeps."

"He has amazing wine though!" Urgul said hopefully, "And that cheese was just amazing."