A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 14 : The Truth

 A lot of people need to be thanked. I have had several unpleasant experiences the past month and Many of you came forward to help me in turbulent times, even though it wouldn't have hurt you to do otherwise. Special thanks to @starxtreme , @ayame980 and @koulini who constantly supported me. One day, I hope to give back a small bit of what you have given to me. As always, thank you to all my readers. May you learn and be happy for it.

The truth is concealed. The truth is known.

The truth is horrible. The truth is incredible.

The truth is fact. The truth is a nightmare.

The truth will come and haunt you. How will you fare?

Ërastir was cold. It had been cold to Teylin for a while now. The snow had begun to fall and the entries on the wall wore warm clothes underneath their armour. Fires were set at strategic locations and suddenly, the Kitchen became the most comfortable place for working men in the Castle. Teylin's own men couldn't leave their playfulness bidden to do so. Thus, they found a copy corner near their post and stood there for the rest of their watch. Teylin did not have the time to do that. All his life was a cesspool.

He prayed his suspicion would be proved wrong. He hoped against hope, but all for naught. Asteryn was behind the capture and subsequent torture of Joe. Perhaps even more. Part of him didn't want to know, but he cared too much.

The night was a dark one. There were few guards present in the halls that connected directly to the courtyard, probably because the wind blew so in those spaces. Joe walked alongside him. Together, they had to ask the King a few questions.

The evening was uneventful. Asteryn called Teylin to inform him that his father had been taken care of. He was resting in the private quarters and was under the King 's protection. Teylin would have questioned him right there had it not been for all the swords watching. Night would be different though. Ërastir would be asleep. Dark nights for dark deeds. It was Joe who rediscovered the entrance.to he secret.passage that led to the King 's chambers. Joe was a master at such things. He could uncover secrets where none seemed to exist because he radiated an aura of unimportance. Nobody would notice him and those who did would pass him off as harmless. That was his advantage. He struggled out the secret of an alternate entrance to the passage from a very drunk(and now very sorry) member of the private guard of the King, who were entitled to certain secrets.

The duo were dressed in dark colours. Teylin wore a dark green that covered his armour well. A knife was strapped to his knee. This was how he was going to approach Asteryn. Asteryn, his friend. Asteryn Greatsbane, his King. Asteryn ,the liar. The only things that mattered now was answers and actions.

The mechanism to the entrance was almost too obvious. It was a wonder that many others did nit find their way into the King 's chambers. Once the spike of an armoured Knight was tilted a few degrees to the left, the door gave way. Joe closed the door behind them. The Knight would automatically restore itself. Well built but poorly planned. Clearly, not much thought went into the making of secret passageways in Ërastir. For a master like Joe, it would take two days to expose nearly all of the place's secrets.

The passage was narrow, though it was tall enough for both of them. They proceeded without a light as they couldn't bring one without arousing suspicion. Joe led him though and he was better than any light could be. The going was not quick, but they certainly didn't stumble. "Mind the stairs." Joe said from right in front of Teylin. Sure enough, the stairs presented themselves before his feet. As far as Teylin could figure out, the passageway went parallel to the main stairwell of the King 's Tower.