House Veraxus

The civil war had divided the entire kingdom, with lords on the west battling the lords on the east, while Princess Stephania van Irata was rumored to fight both sides. Veraxus and Lythan were geographically in the center of the kingdom, and we were bordered in the south by the Mountains of Demune and the Mezerai, which provided the only safe destination for anyone fleeing the war.

Thousands of more refugees had fled and found Lythan their new home. The meadows were overflown, and I reluctantly opened the plains by the forest for the new refugees due to the dangerous monsters that still rummaged through the trees. My original plan was to keep the refugees in Lythan, but I had to use Veraxus land eventually. Though I ruled over the County of Veraxus, it was dishonorable in the most to do my own bidding without the blessing of the former Countess.

I realized that I had not spoken a word or sent a single letter to Trishia to offer any condolences or comfort since my return. I believed that my heart was not ready to confront her after failing to save her beloved husband, her daughter, and her grandson. I was not ready to accept her pain along with my own. However, as I slowly emerged back to reality, I finally understood that the pain was neither of ours to hold onto by ourselves.

“Dearest Lady Trishia,

I write to you with utter sorrow and contempt for my lack of manners. I want to hear about your current emotional condition, and if anything could be done for you to help feel comfort through this difficult time.

I want to express my feelings of loss with you. We both have lost our beloved families. I have spent months in deep depression blaming myself for being unable to save our family. I sincerely apologize for my weakness. My shame knows no boundaries.

Please write back as soon as you can.

Your Son, Rytus.”

As I wrote this letter, the memories flashed before my eyes. I saw the pool of blood under the stone pillar, Laila and Issac’s pale, lifeless faces, and Count Ulises’ pained breathing. He called me his son, regardless of my failures.

Not a half-day after I sent the letter, I received a reply from Trishia.

“Rytus,

Come meet me at the keep.

Lady Trishia”

With the new road improvements, I was able to travel to the Veraxus Keep in a partial half-day. The guards fully expected me and opened the gates. They seemed especially solemn.

I saw Trishia at the top of the staircase with the same dress she wore at the wedding. My breath was taken from me in that instance. I suddenly had a memory of the wedding, the conversation with her, the dance with Laila, the music, the joy, everything. Everything had hit me at once.

I fell to my knees with tears flowing like a waterfall after spring had come to melt the ice. Trishia scrambled down the staircase and fell to her knees, dirtying the dress, and embracing me. We both spent what felt like weeks embracing and sobbing. The powerful woman before me had also lost everyone she loved. I felt both of us trembling after the sobbing was over.

“Rytus, would you like some tea?”

“Of course, Mother.”

Over tea, we both sat in silence for a long moment. The sun had fallen to twilight, and then it had fallen below the horizon.

“Ulises loved you as a son, even before you married Laila.” She took a sip of tea and cleared her throat. I recognized the mannerisms that Laila had inherited. “When you lost your father and mother, do you remember when that servant delivered you a basket of pastries and wine? It was from Ulises. You see, he also had lost his father and mother at a young age too. The House Veraxus was some of the most well respected military families, but they were kept a secret. His father and mother were assassins during the Perseus War.”

This surprised me quite a bit. I had known for the longest time that the House Veraxus was respected and feared by the nobility, but I had thought they were expert historians or explorers from Ulises’ book. Perhaps this was why they were considered the King's shadow.

“Their last mission was to search and kill the Princess of the Kingdom of Yurga. She was known as the Secret Daughter, the bearer of the Imperial Crest.” She took another sip of tea.

Another shocking revelation. I had not realized that House Veraxus was deeply involved in historical conspiracies.

“Unfortunately, due to their kindness towards a child who was only 10 at the time, they took her and disappeared.”

“That is extremely shocking. Officially, we were taught that she ran away after the caravan was taken to The Capital.”

“Yes, it was to cover the acknowledgement that King Maxus I wanted to kill the girl, and also to cover the involvement of House Veraxus. They were able to hide the daughter with the tunnel people, who were loyal to the House. Sadly, King Maxus I had caught on and executed both of them, and shortly, all other House members were hunted down as well. Ulises was 18 during this time, and he had just been betrothed to me. Ulises was the last of the House left alive due to my father’s protect.”

The nobility taught us as children that House Veraxus honorably died in the Perseus War. The betrayal from the nobility boiled my blood. Also, the tunnel people? Why did this sound so familiar? I knew that Laila had helped with the trade problems using tunnels… So this might have been why Ulises knew about them. I wondered if he had direct contact with them from the details in his book. I also recalled that the letter the King read to us also mentioned the tunnel people who followed Princess Stephania as well.

“When we gave birth to Juliana, our first daughter, he was adamant on rebuilding the House. He spent years training her to become a powerful assassin. However, after she turned 12, Lucius’ son took her hand to be betrothed. They asked for King Theatus III’s help in that matter because Britis was, as you know, too unworthy for any lord’s daughter. The King was desperate to appease Lucius, probably from some form of blackmail. We were forced to marry Juliana to Britis with much shame. Ulises wanted grandchildren to train, but not with Britis. We originally wanted you, but we both know what you were going through at the time. The King was regretful as well, so his decree of marriage for you and Laila was his own way of apology.”

The King used me as a way to apologize for his dastardly mistake and his predecessor’s treachery to House Veraxus. It was just convenient for him that I became a hero for his sake. Despite this caveat, he had brought me to Laila, Ulises, and Trishia. For that, I was at least thankful to him.

“I have much resentment towards the nobility as you have, and as much as your father and Ulises had as well. I especially resent the Princess, who is obviously the Secret Daughter’s child. Due to her selfishness, especially with her damn crest, she took away my darlings.”

This statement was absolutely justified.

“Rytus, I love you as a son as well. I want you to know that this was not your fault. It was all the Princess’ fault. My precious Ulises, Laila, Issac, they have been murdered by a selfish little girl.” Trishia began sobbing again. I comforted her as much as possible.

After a few moments, she recovered from her justified moment of sorrow.

“Rytus, I have refugees at the border. I know that you have taken thousands of them at Lythan, but I do not want them on Veraxus land. There are disturbing rumors among the refugees. They claimed that the Princess saved them. A knight with a three-pronged helm, flying the First Era Imperium flag, had led them to safety with an army of bronze. I heard that the same knight was there during the Capital attack. If they claim that this knight is working for the Princess, then she was behind the Capital attack!”

There had been many shocking revelations in this conversation, and this was no exception. I took a few moments to think.

“Mother, based on your accounts and my information, I do not think that the Princess is spearheading this war.”

“What a preposterous statement. Explain to me why that is.”

“I have reason to believe that the Princess was not the attacker at the Capital. Those soldiers wore black capes, and they actively killed commonfolk. ”

I noticed that Mother was deep into thoughts. I also realized that only the people in the Royal Court knew about the fake Princess letter that declared war on the kingdom.

“Mother, I have one question. Who claimed that the Princess sacked the Capital?”

“A few weeks after the Captial’s sacking, a letter from a man, calling himself ‘S. T.’ sent a letter to all counties in the kingdom, proclaiming that the Princess attacked the capital. He said that due to the dangers of sending letters, he could not reveal his name and the lord that he serves. He also said that the lord he serves will be the heroes of this war and avenge the death of the King.”

“Mother, the same S.T. wrote the letter that the King read to us during the Royal Court! Whoever this S.T. is, he has a hand in killing most of the Royal Court. To add to that, there were 3 lords I could not account for: The King, the Prince, and the Duke.” I stopped for a moment to attempt to not reveal the last letter I received from my mysterious lover.

“Wait, Rytus! That means they survived, right? So what does that mean about the usurpers?”

“I do not know the answer to that. However, we both know that the Duke’s uncle was King Maxus I. The King and the Prince would have nothing to gain and everything to lose if this was their doing. The Duke, on the other hand, has a significant claim to the throne.”

“I heard that the Duke was extremely loyal to the King. I find this hardest to accept, but this is a possibility.”

“Sometimes, the closest allies are the closest enemies.”

“Your father stated the same long ago. I am glad that you inherited his wisdom as well.”

“Thank you, Mother. Now, to conclude this discussion, may you allow the refugees to set camp in the Veraxus lands?”

“Of course. If you lead the charge, I will follow your charge. However, you must be wary of this knight and the Princess’ army. Do not let your guard down.”