Siege

this beast that you're after will eat you alive (iii)

The air was suspended with the tension in the room.

She knew it would be hard to believe. Especially for her siblings born out of love and kindness, and who's known nothing short of those. Betrayal is a heavy, unfamiliar word for them. But for her, she's a bit too acquainted with the idea of it.

She felt their distance. She felt her stand out among them. She was already tainted by the cruelty of the world beyond the walls of their home. But her siblings had not.

"Keres," called Eli with a cloudy gaze, "I know you have always been the smartest sibling among us, however..." he sharply inhaled, "What in the damnation are you talking about?"

She did not say anything further and opted to just show them. She picked up a rolled parchment, the one she rummaged in the attic. The parchment was revealed to be a world map. She laid it out after clearing the tea table as everyone followed her every movement. She extended her index finger to the northern region.

"See here, if mother and father's trip to the south was not publicly announced, who could've heard it? And more so, who could've organized an ambush if not from someone on the inside? Nobody else knew when the duke and duchess left and should they, they'd only see too late because the carriage is already moving..."

She dragged her fingers down and stopped at the path to the capital, their eyes following her fingers, dangerously focused and intent.

"But the ambush was already waiting ominously for our parents. Who else knew aside from us—their children? Do remember, Aunt Amarantha dined with us when we agreed on the date and time. And it was after Levi and I were given permission to take over our civil affairs, the authority was stripped from her; the wound still fresh."

Carmilla stood up from her cello and walked over to the window, turning her back on them, visibly uncomfortable with the thought of betrayal. Levi sighed. Eli was still not convinced.

"What if Amarantha falsely trusted someone? What if she was merely taken advantage of?" Eli mused. "I do not want a family feud, sister, and I want to give her the benefit of the doubt..."

"It is among the possibilities," she acknowledged, "however if we put ourselves in her shoes, the possibility of her doing this herself is higher than someone else doing it for her. What would their motive be? Amarantha has plenty. From the start, she had to beg and basically kiss father's feet to get on his good graces, just because she was a distant relative from late ancestors that betrayed our clan."

Levi and Eli faintly nodded, remembering those times. "And in the years that passed, she earned his full trust and started all kinds of shady business right under our noses, using the duke's power. The most recent was the mine incident."

Keres intentionally paused and waited. She observed her siblings' expressions and demeanor.

From beside her, Levi continued, "She used our miners to dig a tunnel through the mountain as an excuse for mining ores. And that mountain..." He frowned.

"Is a mountain that protects us from any possible infiltration from our neighboring continent, the Phopis Kingdom. Either she wanted to use the tunnel to flee after committing treason or she is a spy from the other kingdom and wants to let them in through the tunnel," she finished and pulled out the other rolled parchment. As she laid it out, the siblings saw it was a document. And not just any document...

"Is that a declaration of inheritance?" Eli pointed out. Carmilla's shoulders flinched as she turned around to read the document.

She gasped in horror. "No..."

But Keres already nodded. "This certificate states the inheritance of authority of the duke should he pass. From father, Norman Philip Trivith, to Lady Amarantha Trivith. It has Amarantha's signature but not father's—thus makes this an incomplete but not void document."

Their faces were grim. Lilith was the youngest among them, but even she was old enough to know how significant and life-changing that document could be. In simpler terms, their father's heir would be Amarantha and not Levi if that document was signed by both parties. It would be a nightmare. Silence lingered as the air turned heavy.

"We were almost deprived of our inheritance," muttered Carmilla, "had Father signed this, Amarantha would be the next duke and not..." her wary eyes turned to their oldest, "you, brother."

Levi spared no emotion on his face, but his clenched fists were enough of an indication of the fury he was bottling inside.

"And so, the plot thickens," drawled Keres, letting the heaviness of her words linger in their minds. "Had Father signed this, Levi's position would be compromised and the future of our region down the same path, like Carmilla said. Amarantha's intentions are not as pure as we thought. It only made sense too, if the ambush was prepared beforehand and nobody else knew until the day they left. She left a few days before father and mother did. Now, she's highly likely on her merry way to her escape route... I recommend mobilizing our cavalry to the tunnel she dug and checking for any recent activity."

Levi sharply inhaled as he placed his arms on his waist and turned around to look out the window.

The rest were just as speechless. It did not help that their sister sounded firm and confident with every word she said. Keres sternly met our eyes before pulling out the map once more. She pointed to the place their parents were reportedly ambushed.

"If my calculations are correct and if she stayed at her home during the ambush, her goons would've taken half a day to reach her manor," she explained and lightly dragged her finger up north, until the foot of the mountain where Ridgethorn stood and where the region's capital town resides. "And assuming they have wagons and horses, a full day at least to reach the mines where their tunnel is dug."

She dragged it again and stopped at one of the mountains along the coast of the region, tapping lightly. "And finally, board a boat to sail across the northern seas and eventually reach..." she meaningfully trailed off. She did not feel the need to finish it, seeing multiple pairs of brooding crimson eyes. Finally, her siblings saw the danger looming.

The crow that fled Eli's shoulders returned and stayed by the windowsill, its head craning brashly inside the room. The stillness of the siblings was oddly frightening.

Lilith's gaze went beyond the crow on the windowsill as she saw a flock of crows occupy the lonely sky and dive with their jet-black wings. There were seven crows and the eighth, who was on the windowsill, joined them shortly. It gave them one last look before returning to its flock. At that time, a flock of eight crows flew by the grieving manor...a fascinating coincidence.

Eight crows are a symbol of a looming sadness.

More? We've already had enough, though, she thought. A bitter smile tugged the lips of the little girl. Mayhap it is our due misfortune, for having lived a privileged life thus far.