Chapter 48: Heirs
Adam Desmond il Reinvelt and his team had reached Serenia.
They passed through the shattered roads of the city. People lugged sticks and
stones around.
The company of about 20 made their way through the streets. They kept their
identity on the downlow on purpose, acting simply as soldiers from the Duchy.
That, too, got them more attention than was needed.
"What terror has struck this place..." Adam remarked. As they were passing by,
Arlene, his younger sister, suddenly stopped. She noticed some old people
carrying a large number of stones toward broken buildings, and got off to help
them out.
"Here, let me do that."
"Miss Knight?"
She was wearing her visor, hiding her hair and her face, lest everyone know the
heirs of the Duchy itself were here. Yet, she helped people.
"Brother," she called over. "I’ll stay here with some of our people. It’ll be
better to hear things on the ground, too."
Adam thought for a few seconds, then nodded.
It was truly the best method to keep taking information from all sides, and no
one was better than Arlene to work with the people. She had her way around with
the public, that he was sure she would put to full use here, too.
Leaving 10 knights here, Adam strutted along on his horse to the lord’s palace
while Arlene stayed.
Adam’s eyes went over the ruins. From the ring road to almost all the way where
the Lord lived. It was all just debris, rubble.
Things were not looking good.
He finally reached the castle and went inside. Servants greeted him.
"Lord Reinvelt!" "Young Lord!" "T-the Young Lord has arrived!"
The steward of the house was the first to greet him. Even in this place, people
were in a strange, sad mood. Adam got off his horse and removed his helmet.
"My Lord," the steward kneeled. Adam quickly pulled him up. "Where’s Lord
Soren?"
"That..." the steward looked around, then sighed. "Certain guests have come
here. The CEF... they asked for an urgent audience right before you arrived. The
captain and vice-captain of the Reinvelt Knights are also with the Lord."
They were here, as Adam had thought. It had been almost three months since the
Duke had asked the Reinvelt Knights to reach Serenia and counter the insurgents
in the outskirts. It didn’t take them long to do that, and unfortunately, by the
time they finished, there was already an incident with Mafioso and then with the
CEF, making their return difficult.
Adam thought for a few seconds.
"What do these CEF bastards want?"
"Actually..." the steward, guiding Adam and company inside, started explaining
what had happened recently. From the demon incident to the suspension of the
Reinvelt Knights.
"What? Father asked them to stay low?"
"They were orders from the Prime Minister, young lord." The steward, Gary,
brushed his beard as he spoke to Adam. Despite the Duke’s level and Adam’s
status, almost every place in the Duke’s territory was like home to him. He
spared no effort in keeping the governance tight, and in return, everyone in the
North loved the Reinvelts.
"Take me to this room," said Adam. "I’ll attend this meeting, too."
Gary the steward looked stressed, but eventually sighed and guided him.
The group entered a large room in the Lord’s castle. As the doors swung open,
all eyes turned to them.
On one side sat the slightly stout yet muscular, middle-aged lord of the city of
Serenia, Soren. With him were Lady Nea Alba and Sir Dumas of the Reinvelt
Knights.
And on the other side sat some members of the CEF. A wizard, a man without any
limbs, and in their center a paladin.
They all immediately took to their feet. Dumas and Nea first, kneeling
immediately.
"We greet the shield of the North," Nea and Dumas said at the exact same time.
The others, too, including the CEF soldiers, kneeled and bowed.
"Rise," said Adam. "Lord Soren, I heard what happened."
"Y-young master Adam!" Soren yelped. He hopped over next to the noble. "You have
come. I can’t thank you enough."
Adam shook his head.
"I’ve come to help out. There’s little to do, you’ve handled the crises well."
He placed a hand on the lord’s shoulder. "We’ll figure out what to do next,
yes?"
Adam turned to the CEF, and they realized it was their turn. He looked at the
limbless soldier and the wizard. An incongruity filled him. The CEF really was
always like that.
"My Lord," the one at the center stepped forward. "I am Paladin Morphos of the
Corduil Elimination Force. It is an honor to be in the presence of the Shields
of the North, the Reinvelts."
Adam nodded. He was not one for pleasantry, but it was also not right to dismiss
it just everywhere. He looked to the limbless soldier.
"You guys have given many sacrifices, too."
"That..." Soren interrupted. "Sir Morphos here was explaining that very thing to
us right now."
"Lord Reinvelt," Morphos said. "If it won’t be too much trouble, may I ask you
to take a seat as well?"
The conversation that had halted for a minute resumed. This time, with Adam
sitting in the center as the head of the table.
The steward had brought some tea and refreshments. Adam didn’t even get the
chance to wash his face; this was that important, though.
"Our late Bishop, Lord Reed, led a charge of a small unit when he suspected the
source behind the corruption. A group of people from what we suspect was the
Torville Gang had been present."
Adam bit his lips.
The damned Torville Gang. They were the only part of the underworld that gave
the Dukedom any trouble, all thanks to their magic.
"Allow me to be clear: we do not think they were members of the Torville Gang
still. In fact, it would make more sense for them to be rebels... But, as with
Sir Reed’s charge, and as my two colleagues here confirmed..."
Morphos took a deep breath.
"The source of corruption, this time... is the Queen of Witches."
"What are you saying?" Adam muttered.
"My Lord, we have returned from that very place. Everyone except us is dead."
The limbless knight spoke this time. "The Grim Palace... is real."
