Chapter 25 - Fenric's Chosen

Once Arthur had left The Cat's Cradle, Fenric sent Alan to notify the city guard while he waited with Mara and the freed prisoners.

"Captain, I think these two are alone!" Mara called out from a few feet away.

He turned to Mara and saw her standing beside two children. One was a young girl no older than Arthur, and she held the hand of a younger boy beside her.

Fenric walked over to them and put on a cordial smile as he knelt down so that his eye line was parallel to theirs. "Hello, my name is Fenric. What're your names?"

"I'm Cassia..." The young girl whispered, refusing to meet Fenric's eyes. "This is my brother Cinto."

"It's nice to meet you two. I'm sure your parents are very worried about you." Fenric pointed to Mara. "This nice young lady is Mara, and she can bring you home if you want. Do you remember where you live?"

"Mom is d-down there." Cassia's voice trembled as she pointed back at The Cat's Cradle.

Fenric looked to where she had pointed and sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that, Cassia. What about your father?"

"H-he died when I was l-little." Cassia replied as tears began welling up in her eyes.

"Is there anyone else who might take you in? An aunt or uncle, maybe?" Fenric asked, but Cassia shook her head as the tears began to fall.

"I know it's hard to stay strong, Cassia. I lost my dad when I was about the age of your brother Cinto. My mother didn't want me anymore after that, so she ran away and left me all alone.

Luckily, someone found me as I lay starving and sick among some rubbish in one of the capital's back alleys. He taught me many things, but the most important thing I learned from him was how to survive and fight for what I wanted.

As I grew older, I wanted to help others as that man had once helped me. So I followed in his footsteps and started my own mercenary company. I named it Fenric's Chosen. Do you know why?"

"Mm-mm." Cassia hummed and shook her head.

"It's because they're the family I chose for myself. Almost everyone in my company was once in a position similar to yours. Some lost their parents, and some, like Mara here, were better off without them. But, no matter the circumstances, they found the family they lacked in Fenric's Chosen.

It won't be easy, and you'll be put to work around the camp, but if you want to come with us, you'll learn how to read, write, and defend yourselves. Then, once you're both old enough, you can choose to join us or seek out your own path in life with what you've learned. What do you think about that?"

Cassia hesitated for a moment as she looked at her younger brother before nodding.

"Good." Fenric smiled and patted her head before turning to Mara. "Bring them to the camp and make them a hot meal. I'll send Alan behind you when he arrives."

"Yes, captain~."

After they left, Fenric thought about the deal Arthur had offered him and hoped it was true. He had lost too much of his new family over the years and wanted nothing more than a safe place for them to grow.

A mercenary's life wasn't easy, but in Fenric's eyes, it was far superior to the alternatives available to an orphaned commoner child. They'd be lucky if starvation was the only injustice they faced before their inevitable death, especially in a big city like Munn.

The cruelty within the hearts of men is on full display when they believe there won't be consequences for their actions. And you'd be hard-pressed to find someone in Ollerin to hold them responsible for actions taken against an orphaned commoner.

Fenric shook his head, chasing away the terrible memories of his youth. Thinking back on his short conversation with Cassia made him realize just how abnormal Arthur was. They appeared to be around the same age, yet looking back, it felt like he was talking to a grown man when speaking to Arthur.

"Sharper than he looks, huh?" Fenric repeated the sentiment Baron Iken had spouted earlier.

It wasn't long after Mara left that Alan returned with a few dozen guards. They took control of the area and began searching the tunnels below while Fenric and the prisoners gave their accounts of the story.

Fenric wasn't surprised when the guard captain ordered him to Revan manor. In fact, he was counting on it as it was an opportunity for him to earn some favor with Edward Revan.

Despite his agreement with Arthur, he was painfully aware of the fickleness of nobles, so it wouldn't hurt to make some new connections just in case his deal didn't work out.

After running into Arthur in the manor halls, the city guard captain raised his fist to knock on the marquis' office door. However, the door swung open before his fist could reach it, and a beautiful woman came storming out from within.

She stared at them for a moment as if surprised by their presence before they quickly made way for her to pass. According to Fenric's memory, the woman was likely Elyria Yor, Edward's second wife.

Fenric made it a point always to research the names and appearances of lords and ladies if he was going to stay within their territory for an extended period of time.

It gave him an idea of what to expect and kept him from accidentally insulting a noble without realizing it. It was just one of many hoops commoners needed to jump through to conduct business with Ollerin's nobility.

Edward caught the commotion in front of his door and beckoned them inside. Then, after a brief introduction and explanation for their visit by the guard captain, Edward ordered them to leave.

"Not you." Edward's monotonous voice rang out as Fenric turned to leave.

Fenric looked back and pointed to himself with his brow raised. "Me, lord?"

Edward nodded and waved his hand at the other guards as if lazily shooing them away. His cold violet eyes stared into Fenric's as if frozen in place until the room was finally empty sans the two of them.

"I wonder what my son offered you to dare lie so blatantly before a marquis of Ollerin?" Edward asked as if pondering his thoughts aloud.

Fenric was taken aback. He hadn't gone into great detail in his report, but he did mention Arthur's presence, mirroring what Arthur had told him in the hallway moments prior. He began to suspect he had been set up, and this was simply the method Arthur had chosen to get rid of him.

Fenric opened his mouth to speak but stopped when Edward raised his hand.

"Despite my son's intelligence, he is still young and has little experience with the world outside these walls. Because of that, he often overestimates his intelligence, believing no one would question him due to the childish manner in which he portrays himself.

However, once you learn that fire is hot, you can only blame yourself when you get burned. I happened to have discovered my son's intelligence long ago. Therefore, should his childish act trick me, it would be due to my own negligence.

If you saved him from the altar as you both claim, how did he get such a wound on his arm? I counted three parallel cuts as he stood where you stand now.

I don't think I need to explain to an imperial-sanctioned mercenary how many claws reside on an abyssals hand. Still, I am curious how my son's arm remained intact after coming into contact with one.

And before you dare lie in my presence again, know that I have been aware of my son's status as a third circle mage for quite some time."

Fenric was relieved that it didn't appear to be a setup to have him killed. Yet he was still unsure of what to say. He had promised Arthur that he would keep quiet about his ability, and Fenric's word would be meaningless if he told Edward only an hour or so after making such a promise.

"I won't ask again." Edward announced as he began to tap his fingernail onto his desk rhythmically.

In the few short interactions Fenric has had with Edward, he knew him not to be a man to make empty threats. Edward would likely charge him with a crime and have him swiftly executed if he didn't speak up now.

He'd be lucky if the man didn't pursue Mara and Alan after the deed was done. That was the impression Edward had left in Fenric's heart. Facing such an end, Fenric spoke.

"...When I arrived, the Agelians within the chamber were already dead, and the young lord was in the process of freeing the prisoners. However, I don't think he knew that killing the Agelians so close to the altar would complete the ritual resulting in the portal opening.

Nine abyssals were released, and while my men and I were busy, one managed to escape and charge at the young lord. He managed to put it down with the help of his guard Foster while we dealt with the others."

Fenric felt ashamed of himself after he finished speaking. He didn't like going against his word, even if it seemed as if Edward already knew of Arthur's ability.

The incessant tapping of Edward's fingernail filled the quiet room as Edward appeared to think to himself for a while. "...Since he didn't have you killed for discovering one of his secrets, that indicates you've come to some agreement. What is it?"

"He agreed to grant Fenric's Chosen land that would remain untaxed for four years in exchange for ensuring his safety."

Edward's listless expression that he always wore remained unchanged, yet he quietly released a noise that sounded somewhere in between a scoff and a pleased laugh. "Heh... Did my son tell you where this land is located?"

"No, lord. He only mentioned it was colder than Revan and implied there would be Minaan worshipers there."

After Fenric's response, the room filled with tapping noises once more as Edward returned to his thoughts.

Edward's finger stopped. "Whether you're aware of it or not, you'd do well to remember the precarious circumstances you've placed yourself in. Since you've chosen to serve my son, it's best you do so wholeheartedly, as your life is now directly linked to his."

Fenric tilted his head, confused. "Lord?"

"That's all the advice I have for a mercenary, be glad I even said as much." Edward grabbed his quill and a piece of parchment before scribbling something down. "Now, for the crime of lying to a marquis of Ollerin, you and your mercenary group are hereby forbidden from entering the territory of Revan in the future.

This sentence will come into effect when you depart Revan in your march south to Bern. Therefore, it would be in your best interest for you and your men to avoid making trouble for the duration of your stay, as I won't be as lenient should you appear before me again."

Fenric remained frozen in place, trying to process what he was hearing. While being banished from Revan wasn't of any consequence, he still couldn't believe Edward would come to such a decision over something so insignificant.

Edward looked up from the parchment, noticing Fenric still hadn't left. "In case it wasn't immediately clear, this is where you leave."

Fenric snapped to and hurriedly bowed before exiting the room. Over the years, he had met all sorts of people, but he had never encountered anyone quite as bewildering as Edward Revan.

Edward's vague warning made it seem as though he had unwittingly taken a side in a conflict he knew nothing about. Fenric was aware Arthur wasn't favored as heir to Revan, but it appeared there was more to the story than the rumors let on.

He took a moment to shake off the strange encounter before heading down the halls in search of Arthur's room.

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