Beyond the Veil of Yonder (Book 1)

28. The Storm (2)

Lord Harold took it upon himself to approach Lord Wyard, William's grandfather, to share the devastating news. Lord Wyard had always clung to the hope of reuniting with his beloved daughter, deeply regretting his past mistakes and even willing to welcome the commoner Owain as her husband if it meant having her back.

The news shattered him, but when he learned that his daughter's eldest child, William, had survived, a glimmer of hope reignited. His wish had finally come true: he had a rightful heir to inherit his castle and lands. Eager to meet his grandson, the elderly lord planned a visit to Lindor Castle. Unfortunately, fate intervened, and he passed away before he could make the journey to Aradon.

Having formed a close bond with Edward and seeing Lord Harold as family, William chose to stay in Aradon rather than journey to Valtharia to claim his inheritance, Daurleigh Castle. Lord Harold, recognising the deep connection between the two boys and genuinely fond of William, decided to adopt him, ensuring William's status in Aradonian society would be equal to Edward's.

"Why adopt?" Lord Harold's wife, Lady Esther, requested a private conversation in a secluded room of Lindor Castle after learning his decision. She barely contained her irritation, fixing her husband with a piercing gaze.

"It is decided, Esther." Lord Harold's firm voice left no room for objections. "William will bear my name and be raised as an equal to Edward."

"A commoner's son can never be equal to our boy, Harold!" She gasped in indignation. "We have many occupations in our castle. William could groom horses or learn a trade..." She spoke nervously, her hands gesturing. "I think we've done enough for him. He should be grateful for what he has!"

"Enough, Esther!" Lord Harold's eyes blazed. "William is of noble birth—his mother was a noblewoman, and his grandfather a respected lord!"

"Why not send him to Valtharia?" Lady Esther asked, wringing her hands as she walked across the room.

"He belongs here now, Esther. We are the only friends he has left."

"Do as you please," she said, fighting back tears, "but ensure he gets no part of this castle. I will not have him inherit anything, not while I live! He's half-Valtharian, and we both know that filthy nation cannot be trusted! He could cheat Edward out of his inheritance once we're gone."

"William cannot be blamed for his blood..." Lord Harold retorted, then added after a moment's hesitation, "Very well, William will not inherit, but I shall make certain he has sufficient means to establish himself in noble society."

By chance, William walked past the room and overheard their conversation. When he realised they were talking about him, he stopped to listen. But what he heard only made him feel worse. 'My blood is tainted... I'm tainted... ' Why was he born at all? An aberration of nature, a rarity that shouldn't exist.

Hot tears streamed down his face as he gazed at his reflection in the mirror. There was nothing that set Aradonians apart from Valtharians, but society had already labelled him an outsider, a stranger who could never truly belong. The harsh truth hurt his heart.

His parents had loved each other, but he had never imagined there was such a deep divide between the two nations. Later, he read about the terrible things each nation had done to the other in the past. Each side had twisted the truth to justify their actions, fuelling more hatred. Now, he didn't know who to trust.

William wondered if it would be better to move to Valtharia, but the thought of navigating life in that unfamiliar place was daunting. And there, he'd probably just be another Aradonian, a despised outsider.

While Lord Harold officially adopted William, granting him the noble Lindor name, he did not extend the same inheritance rights as he did to Edward. Rumours spread among the Aradonian elite that William's lineage was not purely noble, and, worse still, that he had Valtharian ancestry. Some even claimed there wasn't a single drop of Aradonian blood in his veins, which was untrue.