Chương 54: Book 2 | Chapter 54: Four and Ten

"No matter what happens, do not fight him."

"What…?" The young man looked up at his father while the war bells began to ring.

"But you always said our house does not surrender!" His father's hands trembled as he fastened the young man's cloak.

"I was wrong." The young man stared at him, confused. He had never heard his father say those words before. But then… the shouting started below.

"The Black Deer has crossed the river!" The young man ran to the window, but his father grabbed him before he could look.

"Listen to me," his father whispered.

"If the gates open, you kneel. If soldiers charge, you kneel. If your uncle calls you a coward, you kneel. Do you understand?"

"But… why? We should fight!"

"No!" The father grabbed his son's head and turned it to the window… …and there, far outside, a red fire flashed through the rain and split the gate open as if struck by a god's arrow.

"Because the Black Deer will only ask three times," the father whispered.

"He has already asked the Marquis twice." [One year before the Month of the Black Deer.]"I… I think it is doing something!" Enel's face was currently inches away from a pot of boiling water, and it was not only him. Lamb, Tiny, and even Guinevere surrounded the pot and stared as the steam went up.

"D-did we solve it, M'lord?!"

"It… is it actually fucking working?!"

"Language. But I do believe it is doing something." They watched as the steam made the fog around them clear. But… they also watched as the fog swallowed the steam not even a second later, even curling around the iron pot. Yes. The four of them were inside the Dark Forest. And as if mocking them, the fog even swallowed the fire and took it out.

"Ah! It did that on purpose!" Tiny backed away, pointing at the smoke from the wood.

"The Veil is definitely mocking us!"

"Interesting," Guinevere wrote something down in her book.

"Is the Veil conscious?"

"Psh. Of course, it is. If you two have been here before Enel beat the living shit out of Blakwud, you would know the Veil has a mind of its own." Enel's eyes widened as he covered the pot.

"I… did not do that. And… maybe the water was not hot enough?" And Lamb looked at him listlessly.

"Since when did you learn to lie? You've been spending too much time with the small tit, M'lord."

"I told you not to call me that!" Tiny pointed at her.

"And M'lord is right. Maybe it was not hot enough." Guinevere shook her head.

"It was already boiling and letting out much steam."

"... Maybe it should be more boiling."

"That is not how boiling works."

"Then we proceed with my idea!" Tiny pulled out a large wooden board from behind him and raised it over his head.

"We fan away the Veil!"

"No," Guinevere said immediately.

"I have read that someone had already done that. A warrior of the Fifth Depth who specializes in wind spells."

"What?! Then why did you not say anything when I shared it?!"

"I read it after."

"Pft."

"Why are you laughing?!" Tiny pointed at Lamb again.

"You have not shared any idea even once!"

"I will leave the thinking to those who actually know how to think."

"... Did you just admit you're stupid?"

"What did you say?!" The group's voice echoed through the Dark Forest—but unlike four months before, it was not only the corrupted trees that heard them. There were now dozens of other people there, too. Tents had been raised near the edge of the Dark Forest, where a small camp had been built around the old warning signs. They erected a barricade with soldiers watching the outside, shielding them from the roots and vines that continued to slither their way to harm them.

Axe had even slowly moved all of his things inside one of the tents despite the others telling him it was a bad idea—but alas, the old man said it was easier to collect wood if he lived beside the trees. The Dark Forest had become quieter since Enel made his oath with Blakwud. Quieter, but not exactly safe. The roots still moved sometimes when no one was looking. The black leaves still whispered.

And every now and then, a vemon would come crawling from between the trees, only to be met by arrows, spears, or Lamb sprinting at it. Several months had passed since the forest had stopped attacking Widow's Wall, and still, Enel had learned almost nothing.

"Uncorrupted spirits of the Veil," he said, clasping his palms together.

"If you can hear me… please move the fog if the boiling water… someone is coming." Everyone turned their heads to where Enel looked, and not long after, a rider from Widow's Wall rushed through the path between the barricades, his horse nearly slipping on the mud.

"M'lord!" the rider called.

"M'lord, Lady Mira says you are going to be late!" Enel stood.

"Late?" The rider looked at him, then at Lamb, then at Tiny, then at Guinevere. His eyes grew slightly wider.

"All of you." Tiny slowly lowered the wooden board.

"Late for what?" Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The rider stared at him. And then, all four of them froze.

"Oh," Enel whispered.

"That was… today?" And as if to answer him, they heard the bells of Widow's Wall begin ringing peacefully from outside the forest. The four looked at each other again, then started running. They left the Dark Forest through the opened path. And there, just right outside the forest, was a new wall being erected. Well, perhaps it was not new, as the workers were only building on top of the Old Wall that had long been destroyed decades ago.

The soldiers and workers all stood up straight upon seeing Enel and the group, but he quickly motioned for them to relax as they continued to run. And soon, Widow's Wall stood ahead of them. And it no longer looked as miserable as it once had. The broken gate had been replaced with thick timber reinforced by iron. Beyond it, new scaffolds climbed along the walls. The old stones had been cleaned and patched, some fully replaced.

Then farther out, where the mud had once been empty, men and women were already laying the first lines of what would become the new roads. Blackwood banners hung from the towers, and beside them were Lorran banners. Enel slowed for a moment when he saw them, still not used to the sight. Workers shouted at one another from the scaffolds. Merchants pushed carts through the streets. And the refugees were now being offered jobs and building their homes outside the wall, extending the barony. It was… alive.

"Where is that boy?!" And as soon as they entered, they heard Mira's voice cutting through all the noise and chaos from all the way to the manor.

"Well then…" Lamb immediately turned away.

"Guinevere and I never left the manor today." Guinevere looked at her.

"But we did?"

"For both our sakes, M'lady." Lamb grabbed Guinevere by the shoulder and started dragging her away.

"Spend more time with Tiny and learn how to lie. Let's go. Go!" The two of them quickly walked off in another direction, leaving Enel and Tiny standing by the gate. Tiny looked up at Enel.

"We… should also sneak in?"

"Good advice. This is why you are my Hand." But before either of them could actually take a step, three servants rushed toward them from out of nowhere, each one carrying clothes, towels, brushes, and a look of absolute horror.

"M'lord!"

"Please do not move!"

"Why are you covered in mud?!" Enel gazed down at himself.

"We were in the forest."

"It is your coming-of-age ceremony!"

"Yes," Enel said.

"I remembered."

"And not to mention your engagement!" Tiny tried to step away, but one of the servants threw a folded coat at his face.

"Ack!"

"You too," the servant said.

"Lady Mira said you are not allowed to enter looking like a street rat." They dragged Enel and Tiny across the streets while working on them at the same time. One servant tried to wipe mud from Enel's cheek. Another started brushing his coat. The oldest servant reached up with a comb and tried to pull it through Enel's hair… but the comb snapped in half. Enel winced.

"Sorry." The servant looked at the broken comb in her hand, then slowly put it away and pulled out another… but that one snapped too. Tiny, who was now half inside a formal coat and being spun around by another servant, clicked his tongue.

"Use a metal comb," he said. The servants continued to wipe Enel clean, and soon, they reached the front of the manor. Several people gathered near the steps. Some were villagers, some were workers, and some were… pilgrims Enel did not recognize at all. A few of them were kneeling quietly, hands clasped together as they whispered prayers. Enel's steps slowed when he saw them, and the prayers stopped as soon as they noticed him looking. For a moment, no one moved.

Then Murek, the kaniin who seemed to be leading the pilgrims, lowered her head even further.

"Oathrunner," she whispered. Enel's chest tightened. He wanted to say something… but what? But before he could even open his mouth, however, the oldest servant grabbed his sleeve.

"No time, M'lord." Enel was pulled inside, and the next several minutes happened too quickly for him to understand. He was pushed into a back room. His muddy clothes were stripped away. A basin was brought, and people started bathing him. Someone tried to brush his hair again and wisely stopped before another comb could be lost. As for Tiny, well, he was taken to a different room. By the time they were done, Enel barely recognized himself in the mirror.

He wore a dark formal coat with black and red threading along the sleeves. The collar sat high against his neck, and beneath it, a deep red shirt showed only slightly. His hair had been tied back as much as anyone could manage, though several golden strands had already escaped and fallen near his face. … And the mark on his collarbone had been covered. Still, Enel could feel it there. Tiny stepped out from the other room a moment later, wearing a smaller formal coat.

"You look good," Enel said. Tiny looked up at him, then blinked.

"M'lord…"

"What?" Tiny pointed at him.

"I look like a peasant compared to you even with this coat on." Enel sighed. But it was the truth—the servants who had previously been dressing him clasped their hands together near their mouths, staring at him in disbelief. Tiny waved both hands at them.

"Out, out. You have seen enough of the young lord. Any more and we must start charging." The servants quickly bowed and left, though two of them looked back before closing the door. Tiny turned to Enel with a grin.

"You think I can sell these clothes?"

"Ask Sir Ulric."

"Psh. The old man would probably not even notice." The two talked a few seconds before finally stepping into the hallway. Soldiers stood along the walls, dressed better than Enel had ever seen them. Some were Widow's Wall men and women, others wore Lorran colors. They straightened the moment Enel appeared. One by one, their conversations withered until only the sound of his boots and Tiny's smaller steps followed them through the hall.

And at the end of the hall stood a pair of doors that had not been there months ago. They were new, and carved on them was Blakwud's face.

"Let me, M'lord." Before Tiny could even move, a voice bellowed from the other side.

"Lord Enel of House Blackwood! Heir of Widow's Wall! Hero of the West Camp! The Oathrunner has arrived!" The doors opened. Light spilled out first, and then music, the voices, and the smell of food. It was a banquet. The grandest Widow's Wall had ever held, but as Enel stepped inside, the noise faded. One by one, everyone turned to look at him. There were nobles from smaller houses, merchants, knights… strangers. Too many strangers. He would have liked it if there were more villagers from Widow's Wall there.

"He truly is only four and ten?"

"That is the boy?"

"The Oathrunner…"

"Gods. Look at him." Enel heard all of them, and he wished he did not. Still, he walked forward with Tiny at his side, each step making the room quieter than before. He smiled at them as he was taught… and that seemed to only make the gasps and whispers worse. At the far side of the hall, Robert and Mira stood together. Robert's eyes were wet before Enel had even reached the center of the room, and Mira's smile trembled no matter how much she tried to hide it.

Duke Gawen stood beside them, nodding with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Lady Guinevere of House Lorran! Lamb, Hero of Widow's Wall!" Enel and Tiny both turned at the herald's words. Guinevere entered first. She wore a dark blue dress with silver thread at the cuffs and collar, simple compared to what some noble ladies wore, but her beautiful face was enough to carry her. Her hair had been gathered neatly, and she carried herself with the same calm expression she always had. Beside her was Lamb. Tiny's mouth opened slightly.

Lamb wore a deep green dress with a short mantle over her shoulders. Her hair had been combed, somehow, and tied back with a ribbon.

"Wow…" Tiny whispered.

"You actually managed to look like a lady."

"Fuck you." And with two words, the lady was gone. Enel laughed softly, then bowed his head.

"My ladies."

"Ack. Ew." Lamb's eyes narrowed.

"I will punch you." Enel laughed again, then gently reached for Guinevere. She looked at Enel's offered hand for a moment. Then she curtsied, placed her fingers on his palm, and stood beside him.

"My lord." Enel smiled.

"My lady." Together, they walked forward, and the hall could only watch them in awe. When they reached Robert and Mira, both Enel and Guinevere bowed. Robert clutched his chest at that, while Mira pressed her lips together, trying very hard not to laugh or cry. Perhaps both. Then they bowed to Duke Gawen. Gawen stared at them for a moment, then exhaled through his nose.

"Well," he said, loud enough for the whole hall to hear.

"That is enough standing around like corpses. The boy has turned four and ten. He should be eating!" A few people laughed carefully.

"And as agreed by House Lorran and House Blackwood," Gawen continued.

"I officially acknowledge the engagement between Lady Guinevere of House Lorran and Lord Enel of House Blackwood. May this union strengthen both houses, the region of Woldmarch, the duchy, and Aldwyn itself." The clapping began lightly, then grew. Enel glanced at Guinevere. She did not look uncomfortable, but her eyes were moving through the room, watching everyone watching them. Then Gawen smiled… and Enel quickly felt uncomfortable.

"And if anyone here objects to this union. Speak now—no!" Gawen spread his arms.

"No, no. Do better than speak. I am officially opening a gauntlet right here!" he raised his voice even louder.

"Challenge the Oathrunner, and if you win, I will hear your objection before everyone present. Fair, no?" The hall went quiet after that, and Enel turned slowly toward him.

"Your Grace?"

"There will, of course, be a stake. A fee to participate," Gawen added, winking at him. Robert covered his face at the duke's antics. Mira… did not seem to mind at all. Gawen then looked at Tiny and raised his thumb. Tiny grinned, and then looked across the hall for Ulric, who also raised his thumb as their eyes met. Enel stared at Tiny.

"Was this… your idea?"

"M'lord. We are rebuilding a barony."