Thauma: The Black Souls

Twenty

When morning broke, Lord Torian was about to split a rock in half with his blade when Captain Aon Courville intercepted him.

"You'll need ten Torians to slice that rock slightly, my lord".

"I can do it", he expressed croaky.

"Something troubles you, my lord?" asked Aon.

He noticed the wood logs piled up next to the drinking well ready for a fire. Torian has been lumbering all morning.

"I'm fine", was his only reply.

The water drops on the grass mimicked diamonds. The murky barracks near the wall that leads to the outer ward hosted the royal family for training sessions with Captain Aon yet Torian was the only one that showed up.

"It appears that no one is coming. The night before drained your brother and cousins".

Then, with a loud blow, Torian sliced the stone in a half. In disbelief and silent, Captain Aon called one of the squires nearby. "Go get Lord Silo, Lord Vik and Lord Sean immediately at the Solar. I'm going to search at the dining hall. They are late for training".

"Yes, captain", responded Barlex Lorinton.

Barlex was under the weather. He had too much beer the night before and he hasn't got the chance to vomit enough. Nevertheless, in exhaustion, Barlex trotted to the second floor of the Solar, and strolled door by door of the royal private bedrooms searching for at least one of the lords. Barlex was genuinely fearful. Captain Aon told him to literally wake them up like if they were his children, like little boys that had too much sleep.

He couldn't find anyone that could point him to their respective bedrooms, but he didn't need to. He discerned a door opened slightly inward. It was unlocked and exposed.

"Hello? My lord?"

No response.

"Captain Aon asked me to get you". Barlex waited for an answer. "He's not answering. He is probably still sleeping", he whispered to himself.

He saw the disaster of books and scrolls he had all over the floor. The curtains of his bed were closed, but the balcony curtains weren't. Barlex kept calling him and only silence replied. He took courage and walked in.

He surveyed the bedroom and tiptoed through the room guessing whoever was inside did not hear him because he was on his balcony since it was opened. But there was no one outside. Where the hell are they? Barlex wanted to leave. He felt like an intruder. Or they might even confuse him with the murderer. But he forgot to search his bed. Barlex was determined to leave, but he needed at least to peek into the bed. And so he did.

He moved the bed curtains to the side slowly to not wake him up, however, as soon as he gazed upon the bed, he tumbled back in a gasp and almost fell to the floor. His hand covered his mouth holding the vomit that has been inside for too long.

The inert body of Lord Silo laid dead on a pond of blood unfiltered by his bed with a broad hole on his chest.

***

The King of Anharth ate a steak with scrambled eggs, lewake tea and buttered bread along with his nephews in the domed dining room while the death of a man was unnoticed. It was Lord Toxar who broke the news of Lord Silo's death breathless. After Barlex vomited on the floor, he ran off back to Captain Aon Courville. Aon at first did not believe the "useless squire", but he knew there was an unfound murderer and ran with Barlex back to Silo's bedroom. And indeed, a lifeless body laid on the bed. Captain Aon did not dare speak with the King, thus he found Lord Toxar on his turret. Lord Toxar had to see it as well and it wished he never did. Breathless, he drifted to the dining room wishing for the King to be alone, but he wasn't.