Sir Carrion stood dumbfoundedly stewing in his own anger for a mont before turning on his heel toward the door. The court generally cleared relatively fast after adjournnt, but this ti the courtiers had quite a bit to talk about. None seed to be moving toward the door.
I hurried to follow Sir Carrion out. The Queen would want to make sure that Carrion did not do anything else foolish on castle grounds.
As I passed Gella, I caught her eye. I sent a look of apology in her direction. She graciously smiled as she gave a slight nod and motioned out the door. Orders were orders. After all, she was here under her father's command. I'm sure she understood.
Carrion quickened his pace as he left court. Pulling out a pair of riding gloves that matched his ornate attire, he stretched them over his slender fingers. I think the task was ant to be used as a reason to not focus on my presence. I do not want to be here either, buddy.
Sir Carrion hastened toward the stables only to find a group of n milling about that were not the stable master.
"I need my horse!" Carrion announced to the group, hoping soone was actually working for the unseen man.
"Get in line!" A man shouted, his back turned toward Sir Carrion and myself. As he turned and saw and Sir Carrion his face went white. "My apologies Lord Holden! Sir Carrion!"
This seed to set off Sir Carrion's anger yet again. His face turned red. I was not sure if it was because he would have to wait or if it was because his na fell second behind mine. Either way, pride would be his downfall if he did not check himself.
A few young won who clearly saw the last petition, tumbled out of the castle in a giggling hoard. Tact was not their strong suit.
"There he is!" One girl almost shouted before another round of boisterous laughter. I turned to face them and they quieted at my deadpan expression.
In a huff, Carrion bolted toward the castle gates, unable to patiently wait for his turn at the stables. It seed as if we were going to walk to his family's estate. Fine by . Maybe it would give him a chance to cool down.
I was wrong. Carrion's fury seed to grow as he rushed ho. I could only imagine he was replaying what happened in court in his head over and over again. His mutterings and mumblings to himself only beca more staccato and gruff.
"Foolish", "Arrogant", and "Undeserving" were so of the few words I could decipher from the crazed ramblings. If I t this frenzied Carrion in the street, I might have thought he needed an asylum.
As we rounded the corner to his family's estate, the main house could be seen past a large training area used for sparring. In this wide expanse next to the stable, the Swordsman from the clan of wolves was found. Lord Bleddyn sat next to a large table attached to the stable where it seed he had gathered almost every weapon his family owned.
Knives, swords, daggers, and even a mace were strewn about in front of Carrion's father. The Swordsman slowly picked up the next armant and cleaned it thoroughly before setting it neatly in a more organized line on the far side of the table. Lord Bleddyn seed to not register our approach. He seed to be enjoying the mindlessness of a familiar task.
"Where have you been?" Sir Carrion almost scread at his father. Lord Bleddyn jumped at the query. He definitely did not notice us. His glassy eyes seed confused by the question.
"What do you an? I.. I made it to the Council eting." Lord Bleddyn answered without confidence. He looked at for confirmation. I nodded. He had in fact made it there.
"I needed you in court and you just disappeared!" Carrion raged, not bothering to consider his father's fragile state. "Not that you have been there for much since you found out my mother is still alive. Worthless father."
Carrion seethed the last two words out in an eerily calm tone. An involuntary shiver slithered down my spine. Loud, demanding anger I could handle, but this level of contempt unnerved .
"What did you say, boy?" Lord Bleddyn's forr fire seed to be sparked anew. "How dare you disrespect ! I've built this life for you. I've fought to keep you safe, to honor your mother's mory, to keep this country out of evil hands and you will never know my pain. You do not know the pain it causes to find out the enemy is your own family, your very own blood," Lord Bleddyn gestured to his son as he was on the verge of tears. He broke his gaze with his son to collect himself staring at the ground.
I knew that his wife's reappearance had shaken Lord Bleddyn. I did not realize to what extent it broke him.
"Wrong, Father. I found that out today." Sir Carrion let the words hang in the air. "I proposed to Princess Alina and was rejected because my Swordsman was not there to allow to renounce my clan."
Lord Bleddyn's head perked up at this new information. "Good," he responded almost automatically.
"Good?! That is all you have to say?" Carrion bellowed.
"Yes. I have lost your mother twice now. What makes you think I would allow you to leave too? To renounce your family? Besides, if you cannot abide by the traditions of Ensis, you have no chance at becoming part of the royal family. Do you think you're better than everyone else?" Lord Bleddyn challenged.
"I'm destined for greater things than you!" Carrion retorted, starting to take off his glove. I stood tall, hoping I would not have to break up a familial fist fight.
"Greater than ? I am the Swordsman for the Clan of Wolves!" Lord Bleddyn shouted, standing to his full height and squaring his shoulders.
"Not for long." Carrion seethed as he threw his glove to the ground.
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