"It is beautiful here, and I want to, Lumi, but again, it is undecided for now. It depends on what happens. Before I can make any move, they must release me of my duty there." Lonewolf's explanation was purposely vague; however, Laelliandir picked up on his little hint. "We'll save this talk for another time. I hate thinking about it, especially in my leisure time." Bella and Luminear were accustomed to Lonewolf's elusive answers. If he wanted to keep something private or hidden, they'd learned long ago there was no point in pushing him. He would not talk unless he wanted to.
"Well, while you're here, I intend to give you a haircut. Long hair doesn't suit you," Bella offered. Lonewolf flung his head back, letting his long brown strands swing upon his back.
"Aye, it is getting old. I figured I'd try it a bit longer, but I don't think I like it. Gets in the way too much."
"That man you used to run around with in the Freelands. The fellow named Icaz, what was he like?" Laelliandir purposely brought this up hoping to put Lonewolf on the spot and catch him in a lie, but Lonewolf was not fooled. Fortunate for him, his lies to Luminear and Bella were a close enough match to the ones he'd told Laelliandir.
"You don't want to know. He was insane!" Luminear blurted out. "He still gives me nightmares."
"That mad man looked like he was sixty or seventy, but he said Luminear, him and me all had the same mother? Aye, he was crazy. Fostered us for some time and called us special. He was so far gone I'm sure he would have killed us one day. His mind was broken,” Bella agreed, then went on the offensive against Laelliandir again. "Lonewolf did us all a big favor by bringing him to King Casen to rid the world of him, even if it wasn't intentional. Too bad Casen was equally disturbed." Laelliandir was aware Bella and Luminear didn't have all the information he had, and he had no plans to tell them more. Mostly the stories added up. As Laelliandir continued to block Bella's strikes, he kept looking back to Lonewolf wondering if he could trust him.
"Too bad, indeed. I'm sorry about your luck with lunatics. Both of you." Laelliandir explained.
"Thanks," Lonewolf spoke up. "Or was that just for the girls? Bella! Look at you go. How did you get that good?" he cheered on Bella's relentless strikes against Laelliandir's steel, twirling and whizzing in and out. She continued to press Laelliandir further and further back. Luminear kneeled close to Lonewolf and whispered.
"This is where she gets sloppy. She gets overeager and slips up every time." Lonewolf saw the flaws in Bella's fighting Luminear had described in a whisper. While Bella was lightning fast and seemed to have complete control over Laelliandir, she was overconfident and impatient. Laelliandir maintained a calm demeanor and reflected everything she threw at him. On and on it continued, sparks flying from their steel until Bella once more went for a killing stroke after ramming Laelliandir's sword out of her way, going for the back of his neck. Again, Laelliandir dodged the blow and brought up his hand, shoving back upon her chest. As she stumbled back, he leaped toward her with his sword and clashed against hers, before circling around it repeatedly until she lost her hold and he sent her steel flying in the air disarming her. Bella could do nothing but watch as her weapon flew from her grasp. Luminear squinted her eyes as Lonewolf sighed.
"It's not over yet. Bella remember what I taught you!" Lonewolf shouted. Laelliandir had no intention of continuing the fight, but thanks to Lonewolf, Bella kept going. She maneuvered her body past Laelliandir's sword and tried to bash his wrist with her own to disarm him. It didn't work. Laelliandir pulled back his sword, not wanting to continue. Reluctantly he decided to go for the win, and at least get his sword under her neck. He lunged forward and swung at her neck intending to stop before hurting her, but by the time his weapon came upon her, Bella did something he had not expected. She raised her arm where a dirk she had kept on a wristband slid out, and she used it to block his sword. As soon as his brand met with her knife, she jumped forward kneeing him in the gut and sending him stumbling backward. In no time at all, Bella glided through the air to tackle him, bringing them both on the ground. Bella threw her knifed hand toward Laelliandir's neck, only to be caught by his arms. The two were so focused on their fight neither noticed how worked up Lonewolf and Luminear had become. Luminear cringed and cheered while Lonewolf shouted Bella's name in a chant. Laelliandir used both of his arms to pry Bella's knifed hand away from his neck and pushed it over his head and into the grass, which brought Bella's face inches from his.
"You are superb," Laelliandir said as he smiled. Bella grinned back.
"I've been trained by the best." Again, Laelliandir fell under Bella's spell, but this time he acted on his feelings. He brought his head up to kiss her, dropping his sword and placing his hands around her. Bella released the grip of her knife, forgetting about everything else except for this man. Laelliandir rolled her over upon her back and kissed her once more before raising his head.
"I'm not shy," he insisted, for at that moment he really wasn't. Bella put her arms around his neck, but her grin did not leave her.
"Now, you aren't. Because I nearly beat you."
∞ ∞ ∞
"So, have you met any nice women in Nova?" Luminear asked as she turned to Lonewolf. She wanted to ignore the reality of her sister and friend rolling around in the grass kissing shamelessly before them. Lonewolf also looked away.
"Indeed. Lots of Novanian ladies there, but I can usually control myself from public displays of affection so feel free to visit." Lonewolf japed.
"Lady Luna!" Laella called. She and Albatros were walking the outer grounds and had come closer. Startled, Laelliandir and Bella stood up and adjusted themselves. Lady Laella and Lord Albatros walked closer to them before coming to a halt twenty feet away. Just as Luminear had predicted, Bella took her turn, feeling ashamed. Laella stood in her royal red gowns with her arms crossed. She glared at them all, even intimidating Lonewolf.
"Lady Laella…" Bella began, looking to Laelliandir for help. "We fell. We were sword fighting, and...”
"I was joking, Bella. If you will be kissing my son, then I get to have my fun." Laella remarked, expressing her lighter side.
"Mother. Have you no shame?"
"None," Laella said in jest, as she glanced at Luminear and Lonewolf next. "Lumi, Lord Wolf. Good morning." Lonewolf bowed his head as Luminear smiled and nodded to the two. "Lady Luna and Luminear if you would join a class or find something to do for the next few hours, we have a private counsel. We will take you two with us." Laella pointed to Lonewolf and Laelliandir, who both looked confused. To their knowledge, no meeting had been scheduled and not together.
"Mother? What is this concerning?"
"You know well enough. The counsel is in an hour, and I expect both of you to be there. Fifth floor in the dining hall. Come together."
"Albatros? Is he going?" Laelliandir asked his mother. Albatros remained silent, having no desire to be in the middle and doing as Laella instructed.
"Yes, and you better get used to talking in front of him. He is a part of this family now." Laella turned her attention to Luminear and Bella again. "You girls are too, and soon you will be welcome. Take no offense. Carry on. Just be there in an hour." Laella then turned back to Albatros. "Come, let's walk."
Shaken and unsettled, Laelliandir watched as Laella and Albatros wandered away. He knew this meeting had something to do with Lonewolf. He spoke to Bella, "Give me a moment." Then he ran after the two without waiting for a response.
"Mother. What is this?" he asked as he came to her side, talking low enough so as not to be heard. "A meeting and you aren't even going to tell me what it's about?"
"Yes. I need to know if we can trust this man, and I'm not spending the entire time my son is home worrying about what may or what may not happen. Cards on the table this morning. You go, thank Bella for her attempts at making my son a normal man his age. You need companionship. Then escort them on their way."
"I don't like this." Laelliandir ignored her comment concerning Bella.
"Me
either, but it has to be done. Don't fight me over it. Just do as I say for once, my boy." Laelliandir stopped where he was and let them continue without him. He then turned back once more to Bella, Luminear, and Lonewolf. The three seemed to be laughing about something. He had no answer on whether he could or should trust the man, but for Bella and Luminear's sake, he wanted to. If Lonewolf deemed unworthy of his trust, the only way for Laelliandir to keep his secrets would be to dispose of Lonewolf. And then there was the matter of the promise to the northerners he could not forget. Never in his young life had Laelliandir faced a decision that held such monumental potential consequences to himself and the people he cared about.
Chapter Sixteen
Plot Against the Throne
I n the late morning, Laelliandir, Lonewolf, Albatros, and Laella gathered for counsel in the dining hall on the fifth floor. This location Lonewolf remembered well, being as it was the spot he'd watched Icaz transform into Casen's body. It was also the place where he had poisoned many people, a memory he would prefer to put out of his mind, but sitting in the same halls made forgetting impossible. At the head of the table sat Lady Laella, her fire-red hair dangling down upon her shoulders. Laelliandir, dressed in his formal white apparel, took the seat at the opposite end of the table, while Albatros, in red robes, and Lonewolf in black, sat across from each other on each side.
"Why have you called us together, mother?"
"I first want to announce that Albatros is up to date on everything. I'll say right now that there is not a matter that concerns this house or city I do not share with Albatros. He is wise and was a consultant to Queen Offedius of Lamisdoria for many years. I trust him, and that is that," Laella explained to her son, not really caring about Lonewolf's opinion. Laelliandir looked at Albatros and then back to his mother.
"You aren't respecting the difference in our opinions here. Excuse me, and I mean no offense, Albatros, but the situation both of you are in is nothing more than a forced contract, Mother. Albatros, I am sure, would like to return to his home. It's not wise to tempt him with secretive information that could be used to barter for his freedom."
"No, my lord. I also have a code of honor. I took an oath not only to Laella but to myself and my native queen. There is an understanding I agreed to and respect. I did not ask to be a part of any inside information about this house, but I will not reject it if it betters my perspective and enables me to protect it. If you wish, I can step out of this meeting at any time." Albatros finished.
"All you need to know is I trust him. Do you think me not wise, son? Remember, it was not just your father and uncle that taught you to fight and reason. To doubt my decisions is to doubt yourself." Laelliandir heard the truth in his mother's words, and even though he did not approve of her judgment, he had no valid argument against it, so he kept his silence.
"I wish my mother had been so blessed," Lonewolf added. Even though he came across as sarcastic, he was actually jealous. He'd always envied children who had grown up with two reliable parents, as he had never experienced it himself. He figured this was partially why he was so attached to Luminear and Bella, but Lonewolf didn't often contemplate his reasons because it reminded him of what a weak parental figure he'd become.
"Lonewolf." Laella addressed. "You have information on my son, myself, and other things that make me ill at ease. I'd prefer killing you than looking at you because you put my entire family at risk. That is another reason Albatros is here. Try one thing, and he'll bring down his ax across the table and split you like a melon. I don't like threats, but I will match yours. One difference. My threats are not just pretty words." Albatros lifted his arm and patted his shoulder where his ax handle could easily be seen.
"Understandable. I explained I only wanted help, and we can help one another." Lonewolf kept a sharp eye on Albatros.
"We could send your body to the North for payment. With allies like that, I am sure we would overthrow the Overlords in good time," Laelliandir argued.
"You would turn me over to make King Edward happy? The person they seek is dead. I was a lapdog. I was nothing, but a hired hand taking a mad man's orders to keep Luminear and Bella alive. They verified that much. Without me, that man would still be alive, and they would be by his side somewhere, and likely being tortured. If anything, I'm a champion to them, and Cassenneth wants someone to blame." Lonewolf looked around the table, feeling as if he was now on trial for his life.
"You are a hero now?" Laelliandir mocked.
"Laelliandir. Stop." Laella demanded then turned to face Lonewolf again. "I don't feel comfortable doing business with you. You did not come here to do us favors, regardless if you claim you have."
"I've laid out a perfectly fine stratagem."
"It was a threat you presented and no offer at all. We work with you, or you turn us in. We kill you or try to make it look like an accident, then the Overlords are on to us. If we trust you are going far away and allow you to take Luminear and Bella with you, you would likely go right back to Magwhen. They want to stay here, or at least Luminear does, and Bella won't leave without her. You came here presenting the information you have knowing you are untouchable, which makes me want to kill you even more. So, we are left to work with you against the throne," Albatros said, surprising Lonewolf and Laelliandir. In their experience, the minotaur kept his own counsel.
"You speak minotaur. Well said," Lord Laelliandir replied, impressed.
"You make it sound so terrible that I'm offering you my help. Help that we all will benefit from. What a crime that is. I can draw out 20,000 soldiers. Present fictitious evidence on the rebellion's whereabouts and have the bulk of the Novanian forces emptied from Magwhen in time for an all-out invasion. They clear out, and the White Turban Rebellion moves in. You likely have a number of spies in Magwhen waiting for your order. You can bring down the gates and have the city in entire disarray long before your rebellion forces enter to overthrow the High King and Queen."
"And my uncle. We must remove all of them."
"Aye, and Neighraellium of course," Lonewolf added.
"What do you want for this little ruse? I don't see how you gain much. You're no native of Divox," asked Laella.
"I'm free to leave. No price on my head. You announce I'm dead. I'll change my name. They drop the bounty on my head, and I'm free. Everywhere from the south to the North gets to read in the press that Lonewolf is dead. I'll be free to live in Magwhen or Gargurthian or wherever I choose without looking over my shoulder, and I can see Bella and Luminear whenever I wish. They may leave the house of Javalla if they so wish too. They are adults by Divox standards. You can't keep them forever."
"They like it here, and you're pushing it if you expect me to lie to the world about you being dead."
"Laelliandir, what does it matter to you?" Lonewolf questioned.
"He's right. Drop the petty concerns and look at the overall results. It is a little price to pay," Laella agreed.
"I thought so. I haven't even tried to bargain for coins yet," Lonewolf added. Albatros grunted letting out steam from his nostrils.
"Don't push your luck," Albatros advised.
"Fine. I am keeping what I already own, though."
"What was your real name before Lonewolf? It is a rather odd name, and I doubt it is what your parents named you. What name would you use if Lonewolf was declared dead?" asked Laella out of curiosity.
"My parents were scum. I ran away the first chance I got. They called me Tom. Lonewolf? Well, let's just say a lot of the people I met after I ran away from home were not honest everyday folk. Most had an alias to hide behind. I'm partial to Lone so I may try to keep that and go with Lonely."
"Lonely?" Laella questioned.
"Yes. Lonely, which is what I will be unless we strike up a deal and make major changes to this damned country before it rots from the inside out with us in it." Lonewolf slammed his hand on the table then leaned back, propped his feet up, and put his hands behind his head, waiting for a response
. Laelliandir and Laella stared at each other for a few moments trying to decide what to do. When neither spoke, Albatros broke the silence again.
"There are few options. All of them have risks, but one has a higher chance of success. I vote going with Lonewolf. Put spies on him and make sure he keeps to the plan."
"Spy away. I have nothing to hide, but it might be hard to get them into the castle," Lonewolf bluffed hoping they would not send spies as Albatros suggested. If they bought his act, it wouldn't be the first time Lonewolf's don't-give-a-damn-one-way-or-the-other demeanor worked in his favor, but whatever the decision, Lonewolf would take his customary caution to the next level. He'd sleep with one eye open if that is what it took.
"Spies aren't the problem. That's part of the reason I don't trust you. I know you're latched on to my uncle." It surprised Lonewolf to hear this. He wondered how Laelliandir knew what went on behind the castle walls.
"I was under his watch for a year. It's not like I was free to go where I pleased during that time. Do you think I like your uncle? He's insane, and my condolences for your loss, but whatever venom Casen inflicted upon him has forever changed whoever he once was." Lonewolf lied in the most plausible way he could. He counted on the three of them wanting to believe him.
"When would this attack occur?" Laella questioned.
"I would need time to get word to my people, the loyalists, and spies to conduct a full measure operation. Lonewolf would return to Magwhen and report back here. Depending on changes and coordination, maybe a couple months on this end," Laelliandir said.
"Oh, longer than that. It was troubling to find out the minotaur of Lamisdoria were entangled in a war with the centaur. They would have come in handy," Lonewolf feigned disappointment when he had been pleased when he'd heard about that conflict. Laella and Laelliandir would not conjure a surprise alliance with the minotaur and ruin his plans. Lonewolf was good at pretending, and he applauded himself at only becoming an even better performer.
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