Chương 53: Ch 52: Servant

Many say there is nothing more important than family. That is false. The family's name itself, its legacy is what's most important. Grand Duke Morrow Solomon walked out of the room. He'd likely already spent a bit too long hidden away and needed to have dinner and prepare for the next day. He gave his homunculi a salute as he left, and received one in return. He then left the study and headed into the library with a final thank you to his silent sentinel before returning to the manor proper.

He passed by a few of the maids completing their cleaning for the day as he made his way back to his chambers. Melissa brought him his nightly meal and shortly after he found himself tired enough to sleep. The next morning passed uneventfully, with the civic plans he'd made along with Feist and Vantus proceeding smoothly in his absence. The locals were grateful for the work restoring the roads, aside from a few that complained of the loud noise and disruption of their usual walking paths and wagon routes.

Once he was done he went to the church, having Melissa wait at the entrance as he approached. Most churches remained open for men and women to take shelter from the elements or simply pray and reflect. Sometimes there would be a priest present, but with Hinds still ill and Luterne in Etling it was free of priestly presence. Threen was staring straight ahead without moving, seated in a central pew. In the light of the church his pale skin seemed to be almost glowing, making him look oddly celestial.

Solomon sat next to him, his walking stick placed firmly in front of him.

"I received your letter."

"Thank you for coming."

"Of course. I had a few more questions for you about my uncle anyway." He tapped his cane once on the ground.

"What's the problem?"

"I am concerned for the wellbeing and safety of my mistress, Dame Pryor." Solomon sat forward, frowning.

"Why? What's happened?"

"Nothing has happened as of yet, but I am concerned about what may happen. Her family will be visiting soon for an extended stay."

"And you feel they're dangerous to her? When I spoke she didn't seem to be concerned about them aside from being upset with them for not visiting her often enough."

"Dame Pryor is a very kind soul. She always sees the best in others." Solomon had a strong disagreement with Threen's assessment based on his interactions with the woman, but he let Threen continue.

"Her children frequently ask her for money to support them. In the past requests would arrive from them almost weekly. Recently they seemed to have found some success and so the requests have ceased, but along with their request to visit there were many mentions of having an interesting opportunity to share with her. In my experience with them, that means money."

"Does she usually comply with these requests for money? She seems quite capable of handling herself, kind soul aside."

"She has a particular weakness for family. She can find no fault in them and always give them funds when asked."

"So the danger is financial rather than physical?"

"For now, but I fear it may escalate. While my lady has never refused to pay them when asked I feel the sum they will request will be large enough that she will need to refuse in order to keep herself in comfort. It is only thanks to my ability to maintain the manor myself that she has been able to maintain the level of leisure she currently has. If she refuses the request her family may seek alternative means, such as inheritance."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Solomon placed the handle of his walking stick against his chin as he thought through what he was saying. Threen didn't seem to have the best grasp on Dame Pryor's character, so it was possible he was exaggerating the danger her family posed to her. Still, Solomon wouldn't want her to be at risk. He rather liked the woman, and knew she was an invaluable resource when it came to the history of Moonfallow.

"I will do what I can to help. However, there is a price for my assistance."

"Yes?"

"I have several questions I want to ask you. Questions about the manor, about my uncle, and about you. If you answer them truthfully and to my satisfaction, then I will do all I can to safeguard Dame Pryor." He would do so anyway, but there was no reason to not get something out of it. Threen nodded calmly.

"Okay." Solomon smiled.

"Are you a homunculus?" Threen stayed still for a few moments, the mana within him starting to pulse and shift wildly.

"Yes." Solomon nodded, it was as he'd suspected.

"Victor created you?"

"Yes."

"All of his servants were Homunculi?"

"Since we came here, yes."

"When you told me you met him in Lindal, was that a lie?"

"No. He built us there while in the midst of other research."

"How were you made?"

"I don't know all the details. I know that my skin is that of a pig and my hair is that of a horse. Some parts of me are stone, and others gems. I believe the process to make a homunculus like myself and my fellows was exceedingly complicated and time consuming."

"How did my uncle really die?"

"I do not know. He had all of us wait outside of the manor due to the arrival of a guest. I saw no one arrive, but there were terrible sounds from the manor for hours. When they ceased we all entered to find him dead. There were no marks on his corpse." Solomon frowned at that. He'd seen indications of a magical struggle, but what they were describing sounded far more significant than what he'd seen.

"What happened to the other homunculi?"

"Once we finished transporting Victor's corpse, the mana within them faded and they all buried themselves before dying."

"But yours didn't?"

"No. And I do not know why."

"Do you know of the repository? Of the Arcana?" He shook his head.

"I have never heard of either. Master Victor rarely spoke to us unless it was to give orders. He did not think of us as thinking or feeling beings." Solomon nodded again, thinking about what Threen had said.

"Are there any hidden chambers within the manor?"

"There is one in the library. I was never allowed entrance, but others were made to work within it or assist with experiments."

"What was Victor doing in Lindal? What kind of research?"

"I'm not certain. By the time I was made I believe it had been mostly completed." Solomon nodded and leaned back in the chair.

"Thank you. I may have more questions, but they can wait for now. When will Dame Pryor's family arrive?"

"They plan to be here in four months. Some are in Etling, but others are in the capital."

"Understood. As we get closer we'll come up with a plan. I won't allow her to come to harm." Threen stood and gave him a low bow before walking quickly out of the church. Solomon stayed for a few minutes longer, spinning his walking stick as he considered what Threen had told him. He believed what he'd said, as his mana had calmed once he'd begun talking. It was a shame his uncle hadn't been the type to speak out loud or talk to inanimate objects, otherwise he likely would've been able to learn a lot more from him.

Still, knowing that he was researching something in Lindal, all of his servants were homunculi, and he'd been killed in some kind of magical confrontation that had left a corpse without wounds… That wasn't worthless, and he'd gained the information with a promise to do something he'd planned on doing anyway. He pushed himself to his feet in the pew and began walking out, nodding at Melissa who was reading a book in the corner as he approached.

She quickly closed the book and tucked it away in her jacket before opening the door for him. He walked out to the carriage and stepped inside. Every day was a new challenge and a new mystery. Melissa went to retrieve her book from her pocket when she stopped.

"May I ask what Threen wanted?" Solomon hesitated. She usually didn't pry, but he supposed the situation was rather curious. He couldn't blame her for wondering at the details.

"Dame Pryor is expecting some visitors in a few months. He's a bit concerned about their character and was hoping I may be able to help in someway."

"Can you?"

"Yes. And I will." She nodded, satisfied with his answer, and retrieved Murders in the Moonlight from her jacket to continue reading.