Sea of Lies

Chapter 12

1719

A horse drawn carriage bumbled down the road. Denis sprung up from the rocking chair on the front porch. He opened the front door and yelled up to his mother before running down the stairs.

His father climbed out of the carriage. He pulled the Oadrium behind him down by the arm. Denis stopped in his tracks and looked him over. There was cloth wrapped multiple times around Elijah's face, his wrists and ankles were tightly tied together, and his clothing had ripes in it that bandaged scars showed through.

"How was your trip?" Denis asked hesitantly. His father glared at him. Denis noticed a long bandage that went from just below his eye to his chin.

He ignored his son's question and pulled Elijah to the back of the house. He opened the wood shed, shoved Elijah inside, and walked over to the anvil. He moved it inside and tied Elijah to it.

He shut the door and pulled down the piece of metal that kept it closed. Denis stepped to the side as his father stormed away to the house.

Denis' mother was inside. She greeted him and took his hat and coat to hang up. She held his face and looked at the bandage.

"What happened?" She whispered. Her husband lowered her hand. He stared over at Sub in the other room, dusting off things on the mantel.

"I ran into some problems." He muttered before going into the bathroom. He removed the bandage and looked at himself in the mirror. There was a large gash that was freshly healing. He noticed his son behind the door.

"No one likes a spy." He sighed as he pushed the door open more. Denis stepped into the bathroom, his eyes locked on the scar.

"Did you get into a fight?" Denis asked. His father leaned against the sink and crossed his arms. He stared down at the floor.

After a moment of silence, he shut the bathroom door and sat on the edge of the tub, holding his head in his hands.

"I've created a monster." He blurted out.

"What do you mean?"

"That—thing." He dragged his finger along the scar on his face. "That thing is a bloodthirsty monster. The things it's capable of..."

"You are not scared of it...are you?" Denis mumbled. His father's head shot up.

"I'm not scared of it." He said. "I'm terrified." He stood up and walked over to Denis. He put his hands on his shoulders and bent down to eye level.

"Whatever you do, son. Don't underestimate them. Even the one out there cleaning up after you could kill you in an instant."

1730

There was a knock at the door. Denis looked up from the map and walked over. He opened the door and shuttered slightly as cold air rushed into the room.

"Captain," One of his crew said. "We've arrived."

"I can tell." Denis shivered as he wrapped his arms around himself. "Get the crew ready to dock." He shut the door again and went over to the closet to get a coat. He went back out on the deck as the anchor was dropped.

"Jodie and Cain, you come with me. The rest of you wait here." Denis ordered as he climbed off the ship. He looked around at the kingdom. Almost everyone wore heavy clothing to deal with the cold climate.

The castle's high peaks stuck out through the town. The three were stopped as they approached the main gate.

"Can we help you?" One of the knights asked.