The King's Gamma (#Wattys2024)

Ninety two

Harley's POV:

"If you don't mind my asking..." the King started as he eyed all the berserkers around. "Why is this fact less known? The last part you mentioned?"

"A bloodline of berserkers usually stays close together. We kill the ones who lose their minds, and care for those who fall ill until their lifespan naturally reaches its end. We announce their death immediately after they turn twenty-one so that it is not discovered. My youngest son was fortunately one of those who died early. His partner died before he could meet her. He was met with her grave when he finally found her."

"Why are you telling us this?"

"Because the Duchess of Havenhell is a berserker. The first of our kind to ever hold a position so high. We are usually used as dogs on the battlefield. As she is a member of a Ducal household and has control over a Duchy of her own, if she were to suddenly disappear after she turns twenty-one, there will be many questions and investigations, and our entire family will be implicated. At the end of the day, if she does not find both her partners in the next few months, this is the reality the Kingdom will be faced with. You have seen for yourself how involved she is and how capable she is. If a figure of her bloodline and character suddenly dies, what would happen?" This was one of her uncles speaking this time.

"We are soldiers. Beasts that are to be used in warfare. We do not settle in pretty castles with dainty titles. She was born into it and had no choice but to protect her inheritance. But that does not make her any less of a beast like us."

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. "Enough. Dinner should be ready. We should go eat."

They all stood up, filing out of the meeting room in silence. It was obvious that the news had caused some form of shock for all of them. 

I stood and watched them leave for a moment before I turned to look at Dennis who was standing at my side as usual. His expression as stoic as it usually was whenever he was plotting, he watched me as well.

"You would never have told us, would you? You intended to end the war and find them, or disappear without saying anything?"

Yonis and Fenrir returned to the room as well. These three men had been the ones who raised me. They were more of a father to me than the man who shared my blood. All three of them had similar expressions. 

"Where will you be going?" Yonis asked, his sharp eyes watching me closely. 

"You're taking one of us with you at least?" Fenrir sat down at the table again.

I looked at the map against the wall. "Nautica. Then Trellis."

"And when you find them?"

"Not if?" I smiled at the certainty in Yonis' voice. 

"If has never been in your vocabulary. Only when and how."

"That depends. If they have similar positions in their countries, it would be difficult to drag them off without starting a war."

"You will be using a different name, I assume?"

"Considering both Trellis and Nautica are hostile towards us, announcing my name and title would be problematic, yes."

"Will you be going without a vassal?"

"Yes. Nautica has been keeping an eye on the Duchy because we are closest. We will have a young woman double as me in the Imperial Capital city while my father runs things. You will be guarding her. I have arranged to join the next merchant migration and my documents will reflect that I am an orphan boy."

"A boy?" Dennis' eyebrow lifted questioningly. 

"Don't worry about it. Let us go to dinner before they come looking for us."