The Savage

Part 1: Chapter Twelve: Thrayd

It was late, the candles had long been lit and the low burning fire needed tending. Hours had passed since a servant had been in to check on her. Thrayd had dismissed her gaggle of ladies long ago, having need of her privacy. Now she sat quiet and alone in a high backed leather chair before the hearth, staring into the small flickering flames. She was weary.

One of her personal scouts had returned that morning with news from Duthaichi. The usurper was an unknown. A man who called himself Mehdoc. He was moving the fauns out of Duthaichi and was selling them on the slave market in Jadida and Kallistos.

The day had been spent in coy conversation with Daear's most powerful elite. An entire day of trying to extract information while verbally dancing around the subject. Meeting after meeting had been fruitless. Undoubtedly someone in her court had a hand in this new slave trade, but who was reaping the rewards? Either no one was or collectively they were all hell bent on keeping it to themselves. Thrayd disliked the notion that so many would be willing to keep secrets from her. She might have been angry, had she not been so tired.

Thrayd wouldn't have admitted it, but since the Faun's arrival, she had found herself exhausted often. Trouble plagued her from all fronts. Her grandsons were out of control. It took everything Thrayd had to corral them, even now Llewellyn was spending time with the Duthaichi Princess and Davyth had blatantly ignored her warning and was carrying on with Rhodri. Their father's fits of aggression were becoming more frequent. Steffan's instability was all too familiar to Thrayd. His father had behaved the same, in the beginning, but she couldn't worry about that now. She should go to bed, so hopefully, she might wake with a clear mind.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, "Come in." she croaked.

A castle guard hesitantly came in, "Secretary Gawain requesting an audience."

While Gawain was Steffan's private secretary, his main responsibility was espionage. He hired, implemented and managed dozens of spies on behalf of the Crown and the Wren family, and he answered to her and her alone.

"Show him in, show him in!" Thrayd responded impatiently.

Gawain entered, ledger in hand, fingers stained with blue ink. "Your grace." he said with a low sweeping bow.

Thrayd gave him a slight smile, genuinely relieved to see the balding man. "Have tea sent in." She ordered the guard.

"Something stronger, if you don't mind." Gawain added as the guard left.

Thrayd gave a disapproving look, but nodded. "You're very late." She criticized.

"My most humble apologies, your grace," Gawain replied, taking a seat across from her, "the King takes to his bed later and later."

"Yes." Thrayd replied stoically.

"His temper seems more tested as of late." Gawain went on cautiously.

"He would improve with a pleasant distraction." Thrayd said, folding her hands together. "Find a suitable option."

"Yes, your grace."

"What else? What have you learned?"

"Well, your suspicions, your grace, of your court are incorrect. It is Kallistos that is involved with the business in Duthaich." Gawain said in a hushed eager whisper.

"Damn them!" Thrayd spat angrily.

Gawain nodded his head solemnly, "All the information I have gathered comes from Kallistos and Haemon's court. It is Kall ships and Ulki men that Mehdoc commands."