You Think I Won't Talk?-Chapter 684

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27th of Syvusk, two days ago on the dusk of the first night of Fehuh — At the borders of the Frotschter Empire.

"Has the report to the Palace been sent?"

"Not yet. I was planning to send it once I finished dinner."

"Don’t forget to do it. Otherwise, we will be in trouble."

"I know, boss. I won’t forget." — The man while sitting at the table with a few other guards said relaxed.

"It’s not like anything happened anyway so it should be fine." — Another one said.

"Our duty is to inform even if the only thing we saw was a bird pooping. Finish your dinner and send the report!" — The chief said, annoyed at the lack of seriousness in his men.

Just as the men mumbled, no oddities had been found at the borders. Nonetheless, keeping their guard was a must.

"Chief, you don’t think we could be attacked in the middle of winter right?"

"Yes, boss, everybody knows that is more of a suicidal strategy than a winning one."

"You do not know what an enemy may have up their sleeve. Keep thinking like this and it is your death that you will meet."

Such naivety in the younger guards had the chief concerned and annoyed. And that night little could it matter how he planned to change their mindset.

Bells started ringing. Confusion at the sudden battle that popped in front of them... and running steps inundated the watch towers and walls.

"Hold them back!! Don’t let them trespass!!" — The chief yelled, aware that the numbers of the enemy would wipe them up sooner than later. — "Jacob! Have you sent the alarm to the palace!!!?"

"B-boss! The message birds are all—!!? Boss!!"

No way to inform of the invasion would be allowed. The advance of the evil had been too well planned for those innocent to prevent or survive.

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28th of Syvusk, second day of Fehuh — Noverrne’s Household.

"... No report to help send back to the Palace? Are you certain?" — Clemente asked after hearing the news from one of his servants.

"Yes, my Lord. None from any of the watch towers in charge of Noverrne’s name."

"By now at least one should have arrived... It’s noon already."

"I fear so, yes... perhaps... something prevented them from sending it on time."

"No. That’s illogical. The orders were clear." — Standing to watch the snowy outside, the conclusions about the news came to him. Worried for it was obvious something big was approaching if fourteen reports were amiss. — "Send someone to the Palace. By now they must have already figured something is off, however, it is best we still report to His Majesty."

"Yes, immediately, my lord."

"... do it quickly..." — Clemente, this time, ordered more ominously. — "And tell the men to pick up their blades."

"?... Sir?"

"It’s already too late to take our time." — Turning around and grasping the sword special to his name, Clemente rushed. — "Quickly do as told! We must do what we can!"

The silence he heard was too calm for it to be of the falling snow. Unknowingly, the lackeys of the witch had made their way too far into the Empire without alarming its guard successfully.

"Father! Where is Mother!? You need to hide!"

"Sniff... oh, Clemente, our son..." — Next to his mother’s mattress, Dolton languidly turned, holding the woman’s hand. Stained in red with the corpse of a maid lying on the floor a few steps next to himself. That one called Carol, the one closest to his Mother and so trusted by the family.

"..."

"My Norma is not... your Mother is no more... sniff..."

"... what... what happened...?"

"Carol... this knife in your mother’s chest... I don’t understand, son...! Why would she do this to my loved Norma...! I should have listened to her...! She said it..... sob... to both of us Clemente...!!"

— I feel like something has changed... Carol has been acting strange. Cough... Son... my dear..... I fear something is upon us... —

"..."

— Do listen... do as you feel is best, my precious child. If I am correct..... I.... Cough... might not... —

"My Norma is no more... with us... sob..." — Dolton’s broken heart, stabbed the son’s apparently cold stance. The image of the imminent danger was still a fact but also was the scene of his mother’s end right in front of his eyes. Treason was confusing him... the feelings overwhelming him into numbness.

"... F... father." — Breathless in pain, Clemente managed to say feeling the natural streams flow down his cheeks without being conscious of it. — "You must leave."

"?... what—sniff... what are talking about at this time...?"

"An army, if you look outside you shall understand. Fast. You must hide, otherwise—" — Following his father’s walk to see outside Clemente persisted, interrupted by the gasp of the former Duke.

"How in the world? Has the guard failed to announce such a mass?!"

"Father, there’s no time."

"... what is it that you plan to do, Clemente?" — Although in shock by his life’s partner’s death, Dolton said crying along with his son. — "The men we have will not hold them back. Not for long. You know this."

"I already sent someone back to the Palace. I pretend to stay and fight back." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"That won’t do. You go. I am staying."

"... what? You cannot. At your current state—"

"Don’t let another word come out of your mouth, young man. Not too long ago I was the Duke in this household. The sword you wield I also did... Time is running out. Forget the Palace, you must leave for Orland’s first. If that mass made it here, once you get there you will be in time to warn him. If you do, if the man you sent to the Palace doesn’t make it at least with Orland something might change the game."

"But if I do... Father... you might..." — Biting his lip, Clemente’s helplessness struck him deeply while knowing it was certain that once his horse left the Noverrne’s lands to take him to Sylfinnier’s... none of his parents would remain to welcome him back.

"A duty is a duty, son... You must go... I am to stay with your mother. She wouldn’t hide even if she was still here."

"... indeed."

"Go. Take the sword and don’t loosen up in its hold. Make sure to live for you are mine and your mother’s greatest pride, my gentle son." — Holding Clemente’s head so he could pray for his safety, Dolton kissed the now tall man’s forehead, glad of how he was raised and how well he knew his parents’ nature. — "Don’t look back. Take your mother’s treasure with you... Promise to stay alive... You must give us grandchildren so we can laugh above, my loved Clemente."

"... y... yes, father..." — He nodded anxiously, holding his father’s hand after many years as he saved the treasure in his pocket.

"... good... go now. Don’t forget who you are." — Turning him around, Dolton pushed the son’s back. Saying another word so he wouldn’t look back as he rushed out of his parents’ chambers. — "Stay safe! Yield the archaic gem, Clemente! Don’t doubt that the past supports your future!"

Telling on his way out to follow the former duke’s orders to the knights, Clemente started a hurried travel. Remorse filled him up as no time to mourn nor hug a lost mother was allowed and his goodbye to a father lacked the words of love he wished but couldn’t say. The snowy weather helped him disguise the sadness with trembling coldness and in his heart’s pocket the unknown treasure was saved and hugged by his hand. Convincing himself that tears and pain should be spilt after doing as he was raised to protect.

"I must make it in time... the Empire might be in great danger if even Mother was attacked."

Without rest, taking the most direct route, at least a day it would take him to reach Sylfinnier’s lands in common circumstances. In the meantime, his home would be wrecked and burned... and as his father foretold... the man sent would not make it to the palace just as those sent from the very Palace would not make it to the houses of the high nobles.