Verita - The Guardian of Darkness

45 - A Noble's Weapon

Elanthin waved her hand to say I don't care much for the protocol anyway, so spit it out. She was tired and looking forward to her bed, which meant she was in no mood to entertain any of these people above the bare minimum necessary.

The noble woman straightened her back and, with conviction, said: "How does Your Majesty intend to deal with the monster attack in the capital?"

Blinking at the stranger, Elanthin wondered if the Gratian nobles hadn't heard from their king that the investigation was still ongoing – and that it was lead by Aetrian, not her.

"As they happened on Gratian ground, His Majesty's people will lead the search. You'll have to ask him about the gory details yourself."

"Forgive my bluntness but will Your Majesty really not get involved in any way? Aren't the monsters Veritan business?"

The way in which the pudgy-looking noble had emphasized  her last words was enough to make Elanthin wary. This wasn't a friendly encounter to chat about the newest findings.

"I wouldn't know what you're trying to imply but all who can hear me", Elanthin raised her voice until it echoed through the marble entrance hall adorned with colorfully clad Gratians, "should know that I intend to keep my part of the treaty as does His Majesty. I will aid the investigation on Gratian ground if I'm asked to."

Since she'd had her hands full with the Plain's business and her attempted assassination, Elanthin wasn't surprised that Aetrian hadn't requested her assistance with a matter he was fully capable of investigating himself.

"I couldn't have understood that right, Your Majesty", cried the noble with a face painted with faked surprise. "How could Your Majesty do nothing for Gratia unless you're forced to help by the treaty's conditions?"

Elanthin didn't even know the name of the house this insolent noble belonged to but now she'd have to find out. They were likely to be related to the Grace.

"You're right – in that you've misunderstood my meaning."

Her fingers itched for the chance to draw her swords and make a scene; just enough that none of these nobles would ever raise their voices against her again. But Elanthin knew that this place wasn't comparable to the Plains just as these Gratian nobles weren't similar to the Veritans of high status. If she intimidated them with anything but words, she wouldn't live to hear the end of it.

Even though their words are just as sharp and harmful as my new blades, thought Elanthin with a twinge of grim amusement.

"You'll have to excuse me now. The hour is late and I'm expected by His Majesty", she ended their talk courtly. Her choice of words wasn't completely coincidental; and truly, she could watch the noble woman's round eyes widen for a second before she curtsied a little deeper than before.

Some misunderstandings could be beneficial for her after all.

Elanthin couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from twitching, while she climbed up the main staircase to enter one of the palace's magic doorframes. All that was left today was to hope that the next portal would take her where she wanted to go.

#

When Elanthin set foot into her chambers, she wasn't greeted by the ambient crackling of a fire in complete silence but low voices conversing with each other.

"What are you doing here? Haven't you seen enough of my face for one night?", she asked the taller one of the familiar figures.

Myrel, who was a head smaller than both Elanthin and her visitor, only received a nod, as it wasn't strange for the maid to be in her lady's bedroom to prepare the bed and fire.

"I was worried how you were holding up", said Aetrian. He hadn't changed out of his simple linen robes yet, looking like a servant who had mistakenly stumbled into the Silver Ivy rooms.

"Why, what ..." Her voice trailed off as she remembered their trip – and the unwelcome information they'd overheard. "They did seem rather convinced of what they were saying."

"We can't deny that they've delivered the only explanation so far for why you've survived the poison", said Aetrian in a low voice.

"So you consider it possible?" Elanthin blinked at him. In her head, she'd told herself that it could've simply been the senseless rambling of a bunch of lunatics. "That the Deep is calling for me?"

"It's a hypothesis which we haven't disproven yet." His voice was calm but there was a softness in his eyes which made Elanthin feel even worse than if he'd simply delivered his opinion coldly.

The shock came somewhat delayed, as there'd been no time to process everything in the shabby tavern or amongst Gratia's rude nobles. Safely arrived in her chambers, however,  and confronted with Aetrian's pity, Elanthin had to sit down by the fire after receiving bad news for the first time in her life.

According to the Children, she didn't just bear the Deep's traces but the Deep had become part of her? Or rather, she was part of the Deep for as long as she was carrying its stolen darkness. Did that make her one of those monsters?

"I can't imagine what's going through your head right now", said Aetrian, as he took the steaming cup out of Myrel's hands and offered it to Elanthin himself.

Elanthin didn't want to admit to him that her thoughts were one big, thorny mess right now. She rather focused on the hot drink in her hands, which smelled suspiciously sweet – as if someone was trying to mask the hard liquor inside.

After seeing her sniff and scrunch her eyebrows, Aetrian nodded. "Yes, yes, you're right, this isn't just cocoa. You can have herbal tea instead, if you want."

Instead of an answer, Elanthin put the cup to her lips and took a big sip, while Aetrian dismissed Myrel. The mixture of chocolate and liquor irritated her throat but it also loosened her tense muscles. She let her shoulders circle with a grateful smile towards Aetrian. Whatever this not-just-cocoa-drink was, she liked it.

"Thank you. I feel better, now that my muscles are starting to thaw."

"If not, I could've massaged them for you."

She was caught somewhere between exasperation and resignation. It bothered her how easily those inappropriate remarks rolled off Aetrian's tongue, when they made her loose her footing – something that not even the commander of her royal guard managed to do often while sparring.

"That's a bit much", she snapped at him. "You're a bit much in general."

He nodded in apparent agreement without reacting to her rude tone. "On that topic, have you thought about my question?"