Lord César's office looked much as I rembered it: luxurious and expensive. There was his wooden desk, the little seating area with two couches and small wooden table, and the alcohol rack that took up an entire wall. Lord César himself waited for us in his little sitting area. He held a small glass filled with an amber liquid. Whiskey, I assud.
When our group entered, following right behind Arturo, Lord César turned to face us. He froze for a brief mont when he saw everyone, before raising an eyebrow at .
"I see you've made so new friends since we last t, Lord Gabriel," he said in a dry tone. "Great."
I gave Arturo a brief glance. I found it amusing that these two reacted in the sa way when they saw our group.
"Well, one of them is a familiar face," I said, gesturing to Anna. "May I introduce my fiancée, Lady Annabelle Thorne of House Thorne?"
Anna crossed her arms and glared at Lord César. He blinked her in surprise.
"Wait, isn't she…?" he started to ask, before trailing off. "So, you dressed up as a woman and she dressed up as a man?" He paused. "Well, I'm not one to judge another's preferences."
I had a feeling Lord César misunderstood sothing. Anna and I weren't perverts… You know what, nevermind. That was a lie. We were. I resisted the urge to sigh.
"This is Lord Dominic Ironward of House Ironward," I said, gesturing to the man himself. "He's a new companion of ours."
Lord Dominic, of course, was hiding behind Kiki.
"Ah, so this is the reclusive son of House Ironward," Lord César said, his eyes gleaming with interest. "I'm surprised you managed to recruit him. He always refused to see anyone from my House whenever we tried to see him."
I shrugged, before grinning at Lord César.
"I have my ways," I said.
Lord César's expression grew wary.
"So I see. Ah, but where are my manners? Please, sit down."
Most of our group sat down opposite of Lord César, while Leroy and Kiki stood behind us. Anna and Cally sat beside , while Lord Dominic sat at the end of the couch, putting as much distance as possible between himself and everyone else. anwhile, Arturo stood behind Lord César.
"May I offer you a drink?" our host asked, holding up his glass of whiskey.
We all shook our heads.
"I think it's best if we got down to business as soon as possible," I said.
Lord César nodded.
"Very well," he said. "I did as you suggested and searched for the succubi that you claim are in Eastwatch." He frowned. "I found them. You were right. It wasn't even difficult." He gestured to Cally. "Thanks to your friend's spell, we were able to see through their concealnt with ease."
I leaned back and crossed my legs, lacing my fingers together.
"Does this an you're willing to work with us now?" I asked.
Lord César hesitated.
"To be honest," he said. "A part of wants to silence you and cover all this up." He held up his glass of whiskey and studied it. "No matter what happens, House Sandstrike's reputation will suffer. Hiding it all seems like the best way to protect my House."
I snorted.
"For a ti, perhaps," I said. "However, sooner or later the truth will co out. I already sent word to the Church of the Sun. If this matter isn't dealt with by the ti they arrive, House Sandstrike will not survive. Either the church will purge everyone in your House, or your House's enemies will take advantage of the situation to bring you down. Your House's best chance at survival is getting rid of the rot infesting Eastwatch. Not only will this prove to the Church of the Sun that you aren't colluding with demons, but it will prove that your House is still strong." I leaned forward a little. "You know this already. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be here. So why are you hesitating?"
Lord César took a mont before responding.
"It may surprise you to hear this, Lord Gabriel, but I love my family," he said. "I don't want to see any of them hurt. If I agree to work with you, I'll be working against them. At least, I'll be working against my grandmother and father." He gave a self-deprecating smile. "I'd rather avoid that, if at all possible."
"It isn't possible," I said. "Lady Isabel is too far gone." I paused. "However, it may be possible to save your father. I don't know how deep Lady Isabel's influence runs. Regardless, with ti and effort it is possible to free him from her grasp."
Lord César frowned.
"I don't think my grandmother is influencing my father at all," he said. "Rather, I don't think she's using demonic magic on him. After our last eting, I talked with him. He seems lucid and in control of himself. Nothing like my grandmother's doll-like thralls."
I shook my head.
"She must have so hold over him," I said. "Otherwise she wouldn't be able to control House Sandstrike from the shadows like she does now."
Lord César nodded.
"I agree," he said. "However, I don't think it's demonic magic." He paused. "I haven't seen my older brother in months."
"Lord Benicio?"
Lord César nodded.
"Yes," he said. "The last ti I saw him was just before the disappearances started happening. I haven't heard from him since. Father said Benicio was training in seclusion. However, given the timing, I suspect my grandmother has him and is holding him hostage."
I considered Lord César's words. It made a certain amount of sense. When I t with Lord Sandstrike, he didn't look like Lady Isabel's thralls. Instead, he seed in control of himself. If Lady Isabel was using demonic magic to influence him, it was a subtler kind than enthrallnt. However, it was also possible that Lady Isabel was holding Lord Benicio hostage and using him against Lord Sandstrike.
The latter would be more convenient for us, because it ant we could recruit Lord Sandstrike to our side if we rescued Lord Benicio. That ca with its own set of troubles, but it would leave House Sandstrike stronger overall. The ultimate goal here was to ensure Eastwatch's survival. A strong House Sandstrike was our best chance at that.
"Assuming this is true," I said. "Does this an you want us to rescue your older brother?"
Lord César nodded.
"That is my condition for this alliance," he said. "Find out if my grandmother is holding my brother hostage. If so, rescue him and free my father from my grandmother's influence."
Anna snorted.
"I'm surprised that you're willing to go this far for your brother," she said. "From what I heard, you two aren't close."
Hmm, I think I heard sothing similar, though I hadn't given it much thought. It hadn't seed relevant at the ti. More the fool .
"Besides, if sothing happens to your brother, wouldn't that make you the heir?" Anna asked, giving Lord César a mirthless smile. "Unless you're satisfied with just being the spare."
Lord César glared at Anna.
"You may be from House Thorne, but that doesn't give you the right to speak such careless words," he said in a heated tone.
Anna laughed.
"Then tell I'm wrong."
I glanced at her, wondering where she was going with this. A part of wanted to interrupt her, and keep her from jeopardizing our alliance with Lord César. However, I decided to hold back and trust her.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"You are wrong," Lord César said. "I love my brother, simple as that. Yes, we don't get along. In fact, we don't even like each other. However, you don't have to like soone in order to love them." Lord César clenched his jaw. "As for being heir… Yes, I would beco heir if sothing happened to Benicio, but that's not what I want. I want to beco heir by beating my brother, by proving I'm the better choice. It ans nothing if I beco heir by being the only option available."
As he spoke, Lord César grew more and more passionate. I looked at him in surprise. This was the most unguarded I had seen him since we t. There were depths to him that I hadn't realized existed. I always just thought he was a cad who enjoyed flirting with young ladies.
Anna leaned closer to .
"I think we can trust him," she said.
Lord César and I both blinked at her, before speaking at the sa ti.
"You were testing him?" I asked.
"You were testing ?" he asked.
When we finished speaking, the two of us glanced at each other before looking back at Anna.
"Of course," she said with a scoff. "For all we know, he could've been working with his grandmother and this was all an elaborate ruse to draw us out."
That made a certain kind of sense. I gave Lord César a questioning look.
"I may not have many principles, but I do have so, Lord Gabriel," he said, answering my unspoken question. "I would never work with a demon summoner. Nor would I ever work with soone who would harm Eastwatch's interests. I love this city. It is my ho." He paused. "Although, given the circumstances, I understand the need for caution." He gave Anna a hard look. "I'll forgive you this ti, but don't say such words again."
Anna smirked at him, but didn't respond. For so reason, I had the feeling that she goaded him to annoy him. Yes, she wanted to test him, but I didn't think that was the only reason. In fact, I didn't think it was the primary reason.
Did Anna have so grudge against Lord César? Perhaps he seduced a friend of hers and this was her way of getting back at him. Given his reputation, I wouldn't be surprised.
"Do you know where your brother is being kept?" Cally asked. "Or at least an idea? I'm not opposed to rescuing him. However, if it would be too difficult to rescue him now, then I say leave it for later. We can always rescue him after we deal with Lady Isabel and the succubi."
Lord César nodded.
"As long as he is rescued at all, the timing doesn't matter," he said. "And I do have so idea as to where he is being kept." He held up a hand. "However, I won't share anything more until you agree to rescue him. Otherwise, let's end this discussion now and I'll attempt to rescue him myself."
I mulled things over for several monts.
"At least tell us where you think he is being held," I said. "We'll make our choice based on what you tell us."
Lord César frowned and didn't say anything for several monts.
"Fine," he said.
Lord César walked up to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a rolled up piece of parchnt. He returned to the sitting area and placed the parchnt atop the small table before unfurling it.
It was a blueprint for a building. I studied it for a mont. At first I thought it might've been for Sandstrike Castle. However, it was too small for that. Instead, it looked like a blueprint for a mansion or…
"Is this your family's villa?" I asked, looking up at Lord César. "The one where your father imprisoned your grandmother?"
He nodded.
"I believe my grandmother is holding Benicio there," he said. "I also believe that this is where she brings the people she kidnaps."
I frowned.
"Why the villa?" I asked. "Why not Sandstrike Castle?"
Lord César shook his head.
"There are too many people there," he said. "Soone would've noticed sothing by now. Sure, my grandmother could've silenced any witnesses. However, that cos with its own set of troubles. I haven't heard of any of the servants or retainers disappearing or acting strange." He paused. "Well, except for the ones attending to my grandmother."
I wasn't so sure about that. Lady Isabel had access to a number of the invisibility bracelets. She didn't know how to use them to their full potential, but she knew enough. Bringing people into Sandstrike Castle without anyone else noticing would be child's play. However, keeping them there was another story, so Lord César's theory still held potential.
"anwhile," Lord César continued, tapping the parchnt. "The villa is both large enough and secluded enough for my grandmother's needs." He looked up at . "My grandmother also replaced all the servants there with those loyal to her and her alone. I didn't think much of it at the ti, but after everything you told …"
He trailed off, though I understood his aning.
"How far away is the villa?" I asked.
"Not too far," Lord César said. "Just a few miles north of Eastwatch. It's located near a secluded beach. My family used to go there often, before… Before my father betrayed my grandmother."
A lancholy suffused Lord César's words. It sounded like his family had been closer, once upon a ti, before Lord Sandstrike stabbed Lady Isabel in the back. It would be easy to bla him for everything, since his betrayal led to the current situation. However, I believed it was more complicated than that.
For Lord Sandstrike's coup to have worked, he would've needed support from most of the rest of House Sandstrike. Collateral families, vassal families, retainers, etc. Lady Isabel must've done sothing egregious to turn that many people against her. That, or she almost led House Sandstrike to the brink of ruin. Those were the two most likely reasons.
"Do you know why your father usurped Lady Isabel's position as the head of House Sandstrike?" I asked. "This may be relevant to the current situation."
Lord César frowned, before shaking his head.
"Everyone involved in the matter has kept their silence about it," he said. "There are rumors that my grandmother committed a grave sin, but that's it. I don't know for sure."
Lord César sighed, before rolling up the blueprint.
"Now then," he said. "Enough questions. Do you agree to my condition or not?"
I glanced at my companions. Each of them gave a faint nod. Well, except for Lord Dominic. He stared at the blueprint in Lord César's hands, his eyes burning with a fiery intensity. Kiki held a hand on his shoulder. I had a feeling that if it hadn't been for her, he would've already tried to snatch the blueprint.
"You have a deal, Lord César," I said, turning to face him again. "We'll investigate the villa and try to rescue your brother." I paused. "In fact, if possible, I'd like to rescue the other prisoners as well. Assuming you're right, of course. Can you help us with that?"
Lord César nodded, before handing the blueprint. He then gestured to Arturo.
"None of my people belong to House Sandstrike," he said. "So they should be able to help you without alerting my grandmother. I can even arrange for so carriages to help transport the prisoners."
I nodded. That would be imnsely helpful. We didn't know what condition the prisoners would be, assuming there were any. Maybe they would be unable to walk. At the very least, it was best to prepare for the worst possibility.
"While we're doing that," I said. "I'd like your help with sothing. Lady Isabel and the succubi are at odds with each other. Our plan is to fan the flas so that they end up weakening each other, if not outright destroying one another."
Lord César nodded.
"Not a bad plan," he said. "What would you like to do?"
"Last night, we managed to capture and… interrogate a succubus," I said. "Thanks to that, we found out the location of their hideout. I'd like for you to sohow let Lady Isabel know without tipping your hand."
Lord César frowned.
"So you were behind last night's commotion," he said. "There were rumors that so kind of conflict occurred, though no one knew what had happened or who was involved." He shook his head. "Anyway, if the succubi know that you captured one of their own, then they might've already abandoned their current hideout and found a new one."
I mulled it over for a mont.
"I considered that possibility," I said. "However, I don't think that's the case. Rather, I think the succubi would set a trap rather than abandon their current hideout. Like Lady Isabel, they've also been kidnapping people. Unlike Lady Isabel, they don't have access to a convenient villa in a secluded location. They must've put a lot of work into their current hideout, and I doubt they'd be willing to abandon it right away." I shrugged. "Even if they do, it doesn't matter. As long as Lady Isabel finds the hideout, abandoned or not, that will further our goals."
Lord César wore a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Fair enough," he said. "I can do that. Tell where the hideout is and I'll make sure its location reaches my grandmother's ears."
I gestured to Anna, who gave the hideout's address. Lord César's gaze sharpened.
"Are you sure that's the location?" he asked.
Anna narrowed her eyes at him.
"Yes," she said. "I tortured the succubus myself to get it." She gave him a mirthless smile. "Would you like to see the corpse? I have it on ."
I gave Anna an incredulous look. Why had she collected Nico's corpse? And why was she using it to threaten Lord César, or at least intimidate him?
"No," Lord César said, looking a little disturbed. "That won't be necessary."
"Is there sothing wrong with the location?" I asked, moving the conversation along.
Lord César took a mont before answering.
"That place is an infamous… Not quite a brothel. Rather, it's more than a re brothel. It caters to all kinds of vices." Lord César made a disgusted sound. "Sex, gambling, alcohol, illicit substances, and so on. I like to indulge myself, but that place is filthy even by my standards."
Cally scoffed.
"Given how much you know about it, I'm surprised House Sandstrike allowed such a place to exist."
Lord César grimaced.
"We tried to eliminate it several tis," he said. "However, they always managed to slip away. After a while, they would set up in a new location. They're like a persistent disease."
Of course the succubi would set up a hideout in a place like that. They fed by tempting humans to indulge in their baser urges. A place that catered to every vice imaginable was like a buffet to them. Honestly, I'm surprised they bothered with kidnapping people. Why take the risk when their prey ca to them already?
"Well, perhaps this ti they'll be gone for good after Lady Isabel cos after them," I said, before I stood up. My companions stood up as well. "Now then, unless you have sothing else you wish to discuss, we shall take our leave."
Lord César shook his head.
"I'll have Arturo escort you out," he said.
"Um, Lord Gabriel?" Lord Dominic said.
I looked at the artificer. He gestured to the blueprint in my hand.
"May I?" he asked.
I sighed, before handing it over to Lord Dominic. A bright smile spread across his face.
"You have a good day, Lord César."
Lord César waved goodbye.
"And to you as well, Lord Gabriel."
With that, we followed Arturo out of the casino. Today was going to be a busy day for us. After all, we had a villa to raid.
Reviews
All reviews (0)