Something Immortal

47: The House of Perova

Som studied the portraits, a painting of a young druid, dressed in the scholar's robe but the face was the same one he saw back at the Sage Lake Crossing—those sunken cheeks, dark circles around his hooded eyes...

"Who did the painting?"

"One of our own," Marko explained. "Is it the same person, Som?"

"Yes," he admitted, then he turned his attention to the other druid beside this person. "This...is the last envoy that we sent. Is that why you asked me before, at the ball?"

"I told you I was curious about him."

"If you know him then why did you ask that night?"

"We don't know him that well," Mica answered for his brother. "According to your brother, he disappeared."

Som averted his face. "I do not know him."

"Strange that you don't know a lot of people considering you're the Jarl's brother."

"I've lost my memories in childhood," Som said, but now he wasn't certain of this. Kali remained unusually silent but he was watching the exchange closely, standing by the window of the room with his hands behind his back.

"Your brother said he disappeared," Mica continued. "But we think he was killed."

"And you think my brother is covering it?"

Marko sighed. "We don't know exactly why your brother is covering it but if you want our opinion, it must be the same reason as to why Saanvi's mother does not want to get involved with you and Kali. Anyway, this man was introduced to our father as your previous envoy's chief advisor."

This was Irin's current position, Som thought. "...and his name is Aster Fay?"

"According to our father."

"How did he know about the members of the Perova clan? And why did they retaliate against the rest of you?"

Marko leaned back in his seat. "The House of Perova was headed by a man named Igor Perova, they were of noble race and they've always wanted to take over the seat of power from the Ivanović. The next leader that inherited the title of Khan is Zoran and he was seven years of age when he took over. Igor was not delighted about it, and you can imagine his aversion towards the decision to hand over the crown to a child. But..."

"But?"

"But the strigoi council, which includes our father, felt it sensible to keep the lineage intact. It has been settled that our father, Sir Valko, should assist Zoran in running the kingdom. Igor was against it. He rallied against the council, against Ivanović, basically against everyone. A civil war threatens to disrupt the peace, but it was impeded and he was sentenced to treachery where he was found guilty, and his family was stripped of their title and position. Igor did not take it well. He...He committed suicide that day."

Som was stunned to hear this. "And the whole house of Perova?"

"Our father thinks that they will not stop until they can avenge their family member. It has always been that way with our race. The tradition of revenge killings, blood feuds, vendettas...the Perovas felt like they were persecuted incorrectly when they were just trying to look after our race. But our father thinks that Igor Perova's always wanted to be the first one to break free of the Peace Treaty, so he convinced the council to banish the whole house."

"Your father sacrificed them to keep the peace."

Marko's expression was conflicted and Mica looks uncomfortable. "You have to understand, Som, the history of strigoi has always been dark. Our race used to betray other races just to survive. We once tried to rule this world just like all those other races by sacrificing others and we even annihilated a lot of bloodlines in history. Our father is trying to change that. He is trying to break the stereotype. Can you blame him for wanting to do so?"