satin and silk, his title of Lord had been stretched
across every part of his person. “And this is the man I
am to thank?” he turned to Brenin.
“Lord Arring,” said Brenin in a low tone as he saw
Harris and Librye approach. Brenin was nervous, he
knew Harris’s opinion on many of the lords of
Cronnin and was not sure how he would react. “This
is Harris Bearwood, the new HCC to the crown,” he
introduced.
Lord Arring clearly did not see the spite in Harris’s
eyes as he held his head low. “Lord Arring,” said
Harris with a low grumble as they came to the bottom
of the stairs.
Librye remained close to Harris’s side, she could
see the look on Harris’s face, and she did not like it.
She reached out and held his hand. Harris broke his
glare as he looked to Librye. “Be nice,” she softly
whispered.
“It’s a pleasure,” said Harris, his mood instantly
changed.
Lord Arring stepped closer, he was at first a decent
gent, a seemingly kind man, but he twisted as he glared
towards Harris. “Who would’ve thought, a commoner
such as yourself, taking a rank like that.”
Harris gritted his teeth, he could feel his blood
boiling, but he could also feel Librye’s tiny hand
tightening.
“Why so rude?” asked Harris with his brows
raised. Harris felt odd, the words he spoke did not
seem like his.
“I simply point out a fact,” stumbled Lord Arring.
“A fact that needn’t be spoken,” replied Harris, his
brows curled down. “I understand that you would be
grateful, after all you were vastly unprepared for the
attack on Blodmoor,” he stepped closer, Librye’s
hand remained clutching his, “which begs the question
of what happened to the funds that were released to
your lands, to hire the correct defences?” Harris
looked down, unable to think of where the words were
coming from.
“Harris, please,” said Brenin wanting Harris to
stop as he stepped forward.
Before Brenin had a chance, Ryan, who had been
listening to every word, stepped forward. “He has a
point, my lord,” he came closer. Councillor Adamar,
Bart and Gurrand stepped from the council hall. “If
you wish to explain, then please, we are free to hear
your fair explanation,” he said with a high tone.
Harris stood silent. “My people were struggling for
supplies, we’ve had to use most of the funds to
support those in need,” said Lord Arring, his story was
unconvincing, knowing that Blodmoor was one of the
richest places Cronnin had.
“I shall leave this to you, gentlemen,” said Harris,
he looked around the hall to the gathering council, “I
have a sweetbread to collect.” Harris and Librye slowly
began to walk past. He leant towards Afie, his brows
were raised, and smile was wide. “Could I get you
anything?”
Afie gave a smile to Harris, a sparkle in her eye
pleased him. “You have given me quite enough,” she
softly said as she looked back to the panicked Lord
Arring.
As Librye and Harris left through the palace
courtyard, Harris could not help but say to Librye,
“That was the strangest thing ever, please don’t ever
put words in my mouth again.”
Librye laughed. “It worked though, I saw, Harris.”
Harris stopped, he looked to Librye who turned to
him, “I saw you wanted to hit him, to kill him
possibly,” slowly, she walked towards him, “it would’ve
gotten you in to more trouble, I simply saved you the
hassle.”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles, Librye,”
replied Harris with a low tone, he did not seem
annoyed, he was protecting her.
Librye slowly walked towards him. “I know you
better than you realise, Harris, I have seen the days
you wear a smile, but you’ve hardly slept that night.”
Harris parted his lips as she walked towards him.
“You smile through the pain, standing upright,
refusing to fall, walking through all the madness of this
world,” she raised her brows, “even crawling through
some. You shouldn’t have to do it alone.” Her voice
became filled with the pain she had seen in him, so
many times. “I am here for you, Harris, I am here for
us all.”
Harris furrowed his brow towards her, his mouth
remained parted. “They do not sound like your
words, Librye,” he softly said, a quiver to his voice sent
shivers through her.
Librye replied, “Because Aranwa wishes to send
you that message.”
Her words crushed him, the goddess, Aranwa, was
something he had not heard for a long time. Harris
stepped closer to Librye, he crouched in front of her.
“The gods did not start this war, you can tell her, I
will end this, I’m never alone, Librye, I have a world
on my side.”
Chapter Fourteen Short Drop.
“You’re working too hard,” said Librye as she made
her way from the doorway in Harris’s chambers.
“I keep telling him that,” said Maple, as she placed
another pitcher of water onto his desk.
Harris glared towards Maple. “You’re the one
keeping me here!” he argued.
Harris looked to Librye; a wide smile grew. He
looked at the bright sunlight pooling into his window.
“I think you’re right, how about a walk in the gardens?
I’m yet to see them properly.”
Her smile grew, she loved the gardens, and knew
he would as well. Harris and Librye made their way
from the tower and towards the gardens. The bright
sun brought the sweet scent of the lavender and
rosemary lining the paths, rose bushes lined behind.
The beautiful sight was strange for Harris.
“I’m still shocked at how clean the whole place is,”
he commented as he made his way with Librye
towards the meadow.
“That was my first thought as well!” she excitedly
said.
He was relaxed in Librye’s company, although she
was only a child, they often shared the same thoughts
and feelings.
“Where would you like to go?” Librye asked,
excited that Harris was finally in the gardens with her.
Librye skipped in front of him, turning as she did. She
was always excited to see the gardens. “Where would
you like to see?”
“Meadows, the temples perhaps?” asked Harris
undecidedly. Librye walked in front, Harris walked
with her. He was not usually one to be seen with
children, but she reminded him of himself as a child.
Her innocence was slowly being removed by those
who would use her as a weapon. He simply wanted to
keep her exactly as she was.
Harris saw two of his guards, returning from the
kennels. Both were sweating in the summer heat as it
beat down on them. As they came close to Harris and
Librye, Librye passed them.
However, Harris heard one of the guards as he
muttered with a snigger, “The new palace sitter.”
Instantly the sniggering stopped as Harris removed
a front dagger, he swung the guard around with his
throat and locked his head with his forearm, he held
his blade close to his throat.
“Hold your fucking tongue,” he warned with a
whisper close to the guard’s ear.
Librye ran towards them. “Harris!” she shouted.
The guard shook. “Apologies, sir,” he begged, his
eyes closed with anguish, sweat began to fall from his
brow. Harris glanced to Librye; his teeth were gritted.
“Please,” whimpered the guard. The guard seemed
baffled. “It was just a comment, sir, please, I meant no
harm.”
Harris released his grip allowing him to stand, he
placed his dagger back in its holder. “You are very
fucking lucky, boy,” Harris snarled, “on your way.”
With a huge sigh of relief, the guards left. “At least I
know what they’re saying about me now,” he
commented with a twisted smile.
Librye still looked horrified. “Would you have
killed that man?” her broken voice unhinged Harris.
“No,” he shook his head. He continued walking
towards the lane to the meadow. “I’m simply asserting
my authority.”
“What if I wasn’t here?” she wondered.
Harris took a deep breath. “Fist fight? I would’ve
pelted shit out of them, then carried on, I suppose.”
“But that’s not you anymore.” Librye seemed to
know more about Harris than she was letting on.
“What do you mean?” his eyes began to narrow
towards her.
Librye stopped skipping ahead, she walked by his
side. “It isn’t you now, Harris, you know yourself, you
are closely watched in the gardens, Connor’s fate was
because of a mistake he made, he thought he was
right, it was a single mistake, that is the cost of a
mistake here.”
Harris felt a shiver down his spine, his stomach felt
weak. “Connor was vastly different, his was not a
mistake, it was a choice, he chose to work with the
Atlanti. Besides, I have not changed that much, Tiny
One.” They continued towards the lane. His voice was
low, a deep feeling of shame seemed to fill his voice.
“Please, Librye, don’t ever think you know me, the
things I’ve done, the things I still do…”
“Are for a reason,” she interrupted. “I know what
you did, Harris.” Her haunting tone seemed to shake
him further.
Harris lowered his eyes, the lane to the meadow
no longer seemed so inviting. “One day, I will be
judged, I’m willing to take whatever punishment is
coming my way, for every mistake I’ve made.”
Librye continued walking by his side. Her silence
began to weaken her as she glanced up to Harris.
“Why do you have so many?”
Harris looked down, he looked to the daggers he
was still carrying and swords to his side. “What?
These? they all remind me of something,” he replied
with a wide smile. Librye widened her eyes, waiting for
an answer. “I was told to teach you, take this as a
lesson, when you’re me, around every corner, there is
someone wanting to see you dead, each one of these
reminds me, if I travel a dark road, I can only take so
many corners, eventually, I’ll run out,” he seemed to
be holding a whimsical humour, but it was lost on
Librye. “The world is filled with bad people, Tiny
One, trust few, watch everyone, and always carry a lot
of protection.”
Librye could not help but smile, she understood
his wit, he was the only one who seemed to treat her
like an adult. “I am a weapon,” she softly said.
“Like I say, you’re more like me every day,” he
commented as they carried on walking.
“Tell me about Daru?” asked Librye, Harris
glared towards her, he did not want to turn her
completely into him, “you said it, you need to teach
me.” Her brows raised, awaiting his reply.
Harris gave a heavy sigh; he caught his hands
behind his back as they drifted down the path. “Daru
was my first love,” his smile grew, “in Xencliff, the god
Haridon, he is widely celebrated, I of course took
lessons in Haridon, the god of death and creatures, it
always fascinated me, that something as small as a con,
could kill hundreds.” His eyes widened as he spoke.
“Daru was a brown spider, she lived peacefully in my
room, until I left, and she escaped.” His love for the
spider, went far deeper than Librye realised. “It was
Daru who sparked my interest, another which sparked
it, was a spider which often came in on the banana
carriers, bigger than brown spiders, but deadly,
however, they had a side effect which led to the most
embarrassing death in men.” Looking down towards
Librye, he struggled to go on. “The banana spider,
became a favourite of mine and has been since, I often
use the venom in battle.” His voice seemed to lower; a
sound of shame spilled from him.
“You’ve used venom a lot, haven’t you?”
Harris sighed, he did not want to reply, but knew
he had to. “I know I have to teach you, Librye, but
teaching of poisons, venoms and other iniquitous sides
to Haridon, it would only burden your thoughts, it’s a
lesson you can hold for later, when you’re older,
perhaps?”
“I have to know, Harris, you were charged with the
duty; you need to teach it. Besides, I would rather
protect myself using venom, rather than having to
plunge a blade into someone,” she derisively replied.
Harris raised his brows, his mouth curled, and
head nodded to the side. “Very true, alright, how
about, I give you all the books you need, I’ll teach you
how to use them, correctly, in the meantime, the
strongest venom can kill in minutes, it’s from the
waters of Xencliff, called a sea wasp. The difference
between venom and poison, you can drink venom,
and remain unharmed, poison on the other hand, you
don’t stand a chance against.”
“Have you used it before? sea wasp venom?”
Her innocent eyes twisted towards Harris, he felt
numb, he was doing exactly what he wished never to
do, she was learning how to become a weapon.
Harris raised his brows, he looked down toward
her with his lips parted. “A few years ago, a book was
written, I think it was called, ‘from the shadows’ or
something similar, have you read it yet?”
Librye thought, she could think of no such title. “I
don’t believe I have.”
“Good,” he replied with a deep tone. “Don’t!” he
warned.
Librye smiled as she glared up towards him. “That
only makes me want to read it more.”
The woodland was an inviting change for the two
of them, it had been a while since Librye had ventured
into the meadow, there was a certain place she always
longed to be when in the meadow.
“I thought it was you,” said Dane as he stepped
from the side of the kennels. The wolves were silently
sleeping. “Bloody wolves been at it all morning,” he
came towards them, he held his hands up as he said,
“all of a sudden, poof! Silence, as usual, here you are.”
He leant down towards Librye; his smile widened.
“How have you been?”
Librye glanced towards the slumbering beasts.
“I’ve been well, Dane,” she softly replied, she turned
to Harris and introduced. “This is Harris, the newly
appointed High Chief Commander.”
Dane gave a customary welcome, bumping his
chest with his fist. “Of course, I’ve heard of you,” he
said with a welcoming smile. He had indeed heard of
Harris; however, he had heard more than most. “I
also hear you too have a way with animals?”
Harris laughed, he looked to the sleeping wolves,
Librye looked up towards Harris. “Harris, what is he
talking about?”
“The mabeara,” he softly replied as he looked to
Librye, his eyes softened as he crouched and looked
back to the wolves. “They have a gift, to tame bears,
their power over the bears don’t mean they’re better
than them, but the bears see them as part of them.
Xencliff, they have the same with wolves.”
“You’re being modest,” said Dane with a low tone.
Harris laughed, he stood and looked to Dane. “If
there’s one thing I’m not, it’s modest,” he said with a
derisive tone, “I know wolves well.”
“And elephants, lions, tigers, some of the biggest
beasts we have.” He looked to Librye. “Harris seems
to know them all, his gift reaches further than the
ability to tame wolves.”
Harris stepped towards the kennels; he could feel
the restful energy from the slumbering beasts. “My
ability with most animals, is no ability at all, it’s about
respect, show them you mean business, and anything
is willing to submit.”
Dane could not help but snigger, “Hopefully you
don’t see women the same way.”
Harris raised his brows. “Actually, I do,” he
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