Elden Ring: Putrefaction of Gold

Black Raven of the Night Pt 2

When they returned to Stormveil, Godwyn was greeted by one of his soldiers, who went by the odd name of Rick. He was an ordinary, quiet chap who inexplicitly knew Queen Marika personally and seemed to have for a long time. No one knew from where, only that if Marika came to Limgrave, she and Rick often had lengthy, casual chats.

Rick informed Godwyn that some important guests waited for him in the throne room. This puzzled the young prince, as he had neither invited anyone nor had there been any requests for an audience. Tiche offered to stay behind, as she was meant to meet with Kristoff shortly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tiche asked when she noticed Godwyn was still pale.

"I'm fine," said Godwyn.

For whatever reason, Godwyn's heart beat rapidly still from his encounter with Shabriri. He hadn't the will or patience to deal with guests, so he planned to have them leave as soon as he could.

When he pulled the doors open to the throne room, he was surprised to see the guest was Blaidd. He talked with Kenneth, who listened and nodded with his hand under his chin.

"What are you doing here?" Godwyn asked.

"Mistress Ranni had decided to come," said Blaidd.

"Ranni? Is she here? Where is she?"

"In your bed-chambers resting for the time. She wasn't feeling well. And you don't look so good yourself. Anything the matter?" Blaidd asked.

"I'm fine... I wasn't expecting you."

"Fair enough. We didn't exactly come here, announced."

"I think I need to lay down," said Godwyn as he sat on his throne.

"If only there were the time. I fear what brings the princess and her shadow here is paramount, " Kenneth said.

"Very well. What is it?"

"Malenia is missing," said Blaidd.

"Missing? How? When?"

"That's what we're hoping you could tell us. You're her guardian, after all."

"Well, she can't get very far. Did you check the wild gardens?"

"Of course. I even caught her scent there. Of course, she wasn't. And quite frankly, that place gives me the creeps. Strange smells all about there."

"She and Miquella have a secret hideaway."

"We already looked. Again, nothing. Not even a scent. We can be certain she didn't run away either. My tracking led me eastward, but unfortunately, I lost the trail just outside the gate."

"She was taken?" exclaimed Godwyn. The thought of it was horrifying. Malenia was a helpless child, and her condition was mainly kept a secret. Any mortal snatching her up didn't just risk her life but also their own.

"And there was one other scent you found, was it not?" said Kenneth.

"Yes. Radahn's, along with his horse, was all along the same trail," said Blaidd.

"He has her?"

"I suspect more like chasing the person who does," said Blaidd.

"It doesn't make sense. Radahn just crossed the border into Caelid with a funeral," said Godwyn.

"A funeral, you say? Who passed away?"

"I'm not sure."

"Then it's obvious I should go at once and find out what he knows," said Blaidd.

Godwyn began pacing back and forth, trying to think if there was anything that he might have missed that could be helpful, but he had already told everything. "Has my mother done anything?"