Chapter 20.2

Sir Parmenter brought up his concerns. "Your Grace, we have yet to align the crystal. It will take significant time for us to properly set it up so that you can speak to Duke Renold. We could maybe connect it to the Verglas estate for now?" His arguments were valid and he aimed to help, but no, that wouldn't suffice.

"Have no worry. I have used the Flameheart crystal in the past, I can figure this out. First connect to Verglas, then continue from there. Please set down the crystal and I will try." Two of the knights moved over a pedestal, placing it between her and her weapon master. The mages obediently placed the crystal on it, after which Eirwen went to work.

She had used enough communication crystals in the past to know roughly how they worked. They used each other, relaying messages rather than reaching out directly. The easier methods provided were simply meant to call upon the prepared relays. And with this one untethered, she could reach out easily. Within twenty counts, the desired connection became active. The image of a servant became visible to all. Flustered, the woman bowed. "Ah, the Duke has retired for the night. How can I be of service?"

Eirwen turned towards Sir Wigbeorht, while tweaking the communication so that all of them became visible on the other end. To his credit, the man barely hesitated before speaking. "I am Sir Wigbeorht, representative of the crown. In the name of the crown, call for Duke Renold and Comte Denmane at once! It is a matter of the highest urgency!"

With large eyes, the servant bowed and rushed away, her image leaving the range of the crystal. Eirwen noted the similarity with what her weapon master had called manifesting. With that thought in mind, she manipulated the crystal, making sure both sides faced a better image, one that even showed a see-through version of their surroundings. Behind her, she heard breaths hitch in response to her handiwork.

Sir Wigbeorht wryly spoke. "I am extremely impressed, your Grace. Given your skills, I understand fully why they say only a Verglas can halt a berserking Flameheart. You even managed without violence today." His words were rude and on the edge of unacceptable, especially given how he didn't properly acknowledge the nameless as nameless. But she knew better than to fall for that provocation.

"I wouldn't know, unfortunately. I was kept away from facing him in the war, and even then he never truly went berserk. Even today, he still managed to control himself. That is why there are survivors." She looked Ranulf straight in the eye as she said that, noticing the shiver as he realised he could have been bleeding out or deceased already. 

Silence fell at that, allowing her time to split her focus. Part studied the crystal more, making sure to use its untethered state to learn its secrets. The court was very careful with hiding the involved techniques, but tonight's events had left her an opening. Another part of her focus studied every little detail of the weapon master's manipulation. With the close attention she paid to her enemy and to those behind her, as well as keeping up the crystal's connection, she could feel this was nearing her limits. No choice but to leave observing the entire estate to her knights.

After what felt like an eternity, both the Duke and the Comte appeared. They hailed Sir Wigbeorht, then addressed Eirwen. "Your Grace, may I ask what Verglas needs so urgently?"

She pointed behind them with a movement of her chin, while manipulating the crystal to also show both weapon master and Ranulf. "I fear, Comte Denmane, that your son used corrupted magic to try to assassinate me today. His accomplices are in captivity or deceased, but he remains here for you to decide his fate."

Comte Denmane turned in shock, not knowing what to say. Duke Renold narrowed his eyes at the claims. "May I ask how exactly, and what proof can be provided?" Eirwen could tell her knights didn't like that answer, but she understood directly. She was effectively asking for permission to kill the child of one of the Duke's underlings. That was already a big ask even with solid evidence.

She sighed. "It was A Final Mercy, meant to entrap me in an eternal sweet dream. We broke free and confronted your son, who gloated. Afterwards, we broke the dream and took the culprits into custody. But I fear that only leaves a testimony of a dream regarding the Baron's involvement."

"May I?"

Go ahead.

Her weapon master spoke, all the while never letting the Baron out of his sight. "If you will excuse me my interruption. It is true that a dream is hardly reliable evidence. I have no doubt that if the two of us were to independently testify to the dream's contents, that would suffice, but that is far too personal."

With both Eirwen and Sir Wigbeorht listening quietly, the other side of the crystal had no choice but to pay heed while the weapon master continued. "So let us focus on what we know for a fact. Knights and mages of four delegations met up here to perform a corrupted ritual. All three mages were corrupted, as confirmed by Sir Parmenter, who is an honoured court mage. And your son has corruption in him, though Sir Parmenter couldn't guarantee whether this originated from himself."

Duke Renold stroked his chin as he thought that true. Then he observed the weapon master in detail, now noticing the shredded grey clothing. "I see. May I ask for your identity?"

Without turning around, the weapon master replied with a flat tone, an instrument that allowed him to avoid having to sound submissive. "I am but a nameless weapon master serving Duchess Verglas. That said, before I forfeited my name and offered her my life and neck, I was called the Seventh Duke of Flameheart."

Both Duke and Comte looked shocked, while gasps came from their present servants. Duke Renold managed to compose himself first. "I see. So the rumours were true, the Duchess spared you."

His response sounded a bit cynical. "I wouldn't call it that. She has publicly condemned me to live on and see how these territories are better off without the man that I served for far too long." A quick mental assurance to Eirwen made clear he meant that statement purely for their onlisteners. He understood just fine why she had given him that punishment.

Silence fell once more, until Comte Denmane found his courage. "I fear that your testimony sounds credible. And given the company he kept, and that he hid them, I have little choice but to accept your accusation. Still, will you let me speak to my son?"

A mental inquiry came her way and she confirmed. Slowly he withdrew his flames, allowing the Baron to regain his ability to move and speak. She noticed he left embers behind, which would allow him to strike hard and fast if still needed. It was subtle, though, so she doubted even the Baron would realise.

Ranulf snarled at them all. "Really, father? You would take the word of nameless trash above that of your own son? You'll listen to a damsel who spent all her time in her ivory tower dreaming of fairy tales, thinking her true love will return to her? You sniffling pathetic idioti-"

"Enough." The very instant the Comte spoke that word, the weapon master paralysed Ranulf. Hiding his surprise to the forced silence, the Comte turned to Eirwen. "Your Grace, is there any way you could let me come to you?" He sounded reluctant, knowing it wasn't an option but desiring it anyway.

Eirwen shook her head. "I am truly sorry, Comte Denmane, but that is too great an ask. You should know how dangerous it can be to restrain a corrupted mage. We cannot ask you to endanger yourself on your way here, but a secure ride will take at least eight days. A single day would already be complicated, but over a week is far too great a risk for you to bear the price of."

Thanks to the enhanced manifestation, she could see the heartbreak in the man's eyes. But there was conviction too. "I understand." He turned to his son. "You blithering fool. Nameless, kill him." Without a moment of hesitation, fire burst forth from within, engulfing the entire body in white flames. So quickly did Ranulf burn, he couldn't even scream. Intense heat battered Eirwen and the others, and then it was gone, leaving naught but ash and a horrid smell behind.

Comte Denmane turned back to Eirwen, his eyes now hard. "I may be but a Comte, but I still outrank a nameless. Let it be known that my son died by my command. I will be in contact to offer proper compensation to all harmed by his foul deeds. And since he spat on a nameless man of honour so much, he will be an honourless nameless without a grave. I will strike him from our records, for he was unworthy of a name."

He turned back to the weapon master. "I thank you, and I hope that even in condemnation, you find a new name to live by. A man like you deserves a better fate, unlike my son. May we meet in better times." The man moved away, his movements stiff, betraying how much his composure was faltering. Wordlessly, Duke Renold nodded at Eirwen and broke the connection.

On their end, Sir Wigbeorht also said his goodbyes, before he and his company left. Sir Caerbychan and the doorguards exchanged knowing looks, before they led everyone away from the room. Closing a curtain in the corridor, even with an open doorway the room was still somewhat closed off, offering Eirwen as much privacy as they could.

Her breathing faltered as the realisation set in that all threats had been eliminated. At last, she could release her feigned composure. She stumbled a few steps forward, reaching out and taking hold of the shredded clothes on his back. Her head bowed down and he quietly turned around before embracing her. Her fists resettled around his clothing, while he gently placed her head against his chest.

He had no words to comfort her with. Even now, he didn't fully know what she had gone through before, so there was no way he could pierce through her pain with just a single phrase. But his presence almost was enough as she shook in his arms, panic and tears fighting for control over her body. He had no answer, except for holding her close, to make her feel as safe as he could. She wished it could suffice. Maybe one day it would. Just not today.