The Rules of Blood-Volume Two ; Chapter 15 (231) - Socks and Strategy
“To our health,” Lucien cheered, raising his glass filled with a dark brown liquid in the air.
To which Blanc and the Daughter raised their glasses before taking a sip.
“Aah,” Lucien exhaled, satisfied after chugging down the liquid in his glass, “I fear I needed that.”
“As long as you do not go overboard, Patriarch,” the Daughter said, taking the wine-filled glass from her lips.
“I know,” Lucien sighed, placing the empty glass on the table, “My wives will kill me if I get drunk again. Do Celine and Miyanna do the same to you, Blanc?”
Blanc shook his head, smiling as he tapped the glass, “I do not really like alcohol, it makes me lose the sense of time and reason.”
“Best stay away from it then,” the Daughter added.
“More for those of us who need it,” Lucien chuckled, a slow, sad chuckle, “As we get to experience the sadness the High Monarch felt in his life.”
“What do you mean?” Blanc asked, curious.
“In these three weeks, I have travelled a lot in order to plan some things out for the future,” Lucien began, “In a city near the Archivum Civitas, I met an old woman begging on the street asking me to buy her socks.”
“Socks?” Blanc frowned, not understanding the correlation between the two.
But then, Lucien continued, “Yes, *laugh* socks, a simple pair of woolen socks. No food, no money, she wouldn’t even take it if I offered a silver coin. All she wanted was a pair of socks. Amazed by it, I went ahead and bought her a few pairs. When I offered them to her, she took one of them and denied the rest, no matter how much I insisted. When I have asked why go all this way to deny me, she answered with her life story, on how she was a widow, her husband and sister-wife dying due to a sickness decades ago, and how she raised all the children they had in a small cottage outside of town, but then, as her children began leaving one after one, with nobody left to maintain it, the cottage slowly broke down, before someone, on the night the High Monarch died, threw a torch setting the cottage ablaze, almost killing her. That’s when she lost everything she had, including all her woolen socks.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Blanc muttered, saddened by the story.
“People tend to hate most those who have less than they do for some reason,” Lucien shrugged, “But then, right before I left, she grabbed my arm and said, ‘Do not be sad for me, child. My house burned when the High Monarch died, but soon after, more and more burned down. Many died, including those who burned my own. It’s a whisper in the wind, the sadness that brought the High Monarch to kill himself, his suffering, that now brings suffering to us. So do not suffer for me, child. Go, live life and smile while you are capable of smiling.’ The wisdom she spoke with touched my heart, and it remained stuck in my head.”
Blanc fell silent as Lucien’s story concluded, and it persisted for over a minute before Lucien jumped out from his seat, placing his foot on the table.
“I am also wearing one of the pairs the old woman refused,” Lucien grinned as he showed it off to Blanc and the Daughter.
Blanc's eyes widened in shock at the suddenness of Lucien's outburst.
“Th-they’re nice,” Blanc stuttered.
“Right?” Lucien grinned as he returned to his seat.
By the time he poured himself another glass of the dark brown liquid, downed it in one gulp, and sank back into his seat, the grin had vanished, replaced by narrowed, sharpened eyes.
Blanc couldn’t help but straighten his back at that sight, knowing that the reason he was summoned here for was now underway.
“You mentioned during the Concord that you had a request for me, Lucien,” Blanc began, “One that you fear might affect our future.”
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“Yes,” Lucien nodded, “A difficult request, one that might take you a while to complete.”
“Can you give me more details?” Blanc asked.
“It involved our guests, Velakia, and the threat the Kingdom Isles of Iskahul can mean to us if she were to stay here longer,” Lucien sighed, “Fighting ourselves, the Ulveth Kingdom to the west, and the Kingdom Isles of Iskahul along our shoreline would really spell our doom.”
“Couldn’t we send a letter to their kingdom, letting that King and Queen of theirs know she is fine?” Blanc wondered.
To which Lucien shook his head, “All our attempts are intercepted by the Iron Line.”
Blanc turned to the side, looking at the Daughter, “Couldn’t the Order do it?”
“We cannot,” the Daughter shook her head, “There are no representatives of the Order on Iskahul, as they consider us… witches and a bad omen. But Patriarch, what is your plan really?”
“It is layered. We cannot give them too much stuff for free out of our own goodwill,” Lucien replied, “First, I want Velakia and her protectors to aid Blanc in rescuing Sera of Blood Denegis out of the hands of Blood Seraph. If they do that, they will receive our help in sending them back to their Kingdom by having you and Sera take them to a place close by from where my men can pick the three up before you two return to my Domain.”
“Father-in-Law, they do not look that strong, what if-”
“Patriarch,” the Daughter interrupted Blanc, rising to her feet, “Lord Blanc has just a few hours ago become an… important ally to our Order, we cannot allow harm to come his way in such a foolish and risky manner.”
“An important ally, you say?” Lucien asked, turning to face Blanc, who nodded in agreement, confirming the Daughter’s words.
“Patriarch,” she continued, “Even if no harm comes his way, our Order might need Lord Blanc’s help in the following months, and I’m sure you cannot give your word that no delays might happen even if he might return by that time.”
“Did Celine and Miyanna agree with this?” Lucien asked.
“I assume they did,” Blanc replied, “As they spoke with the Daughter after I left the room.”
“They did give their agreement,” the Daughter confirmed as well.
“But even if that were not the case, how confident are you in Velakia’s strength, Lucien?” Blanc wondered.
“She is Royalty, Blanc, and her protectors are nothing to laugh at either,” Lucien explained, “I verified their strength and can vouch for it wholeheartedly, and you did not notice their strength because of the artifacts Velakia wears as earrings.”
“If that’s the case,” Blanc sighed, “Then I am fine with doing this. I wish to see my sister rescued as well, but I will need to get stronger before I even leave this place. We have a thousand gold with which we want to buy Raw Vita for the five of us, me, Celine, Miyanna, Lune, and Kael.”
“I will make sure to add a thousand more that you can use for your own,” Lucien added, “Is that enough assurance for you, Blanc?”
“To accept, yes,” Blanc nodded, “But there are more things to be discussed beforehand, because I want assurances, Father-In-Law, I want you to promise me that I will be back in time to see the birth of my children.”
“That’s too far,” the Daughter shook her emotionless head, “Three months or the Order will go against the plan.”
“We have something that Blood Seraph wishes for,” Lucien explained, “Something that would surely make things easier and quicker for you, Blanc, surely in time for you to witness becoming a father. Unfortunately, we cannot send an army with you as it would be dangerous, which is why I wish to send a small and strong party that can travel fast and unseen.”
Blanc nodded, satisfied with the answer, although he was now worried about what Celine and Miyanna would say.
“As for the Order’s request, I cannot promise less than three months, as unexpected things may happen which would delay this in ways that cannot be predicted,” Lucien continued, “But please, tell the Order that in exchange for patience and assistance for as many months as it takes, we will make it possible to have Daughters in Iskahul.”
“That’s a bold statement, Patriarch,” the Daughter muttered, “You are saying that you have the ability to change millennia of culture?”
“I am not Lucien of Blood Maroux for nothing, Daughter. I have my ways,” Lucien grinned, “But please, tell your Order this and see if we have terms.”
The Daughter gave a faint nod, then sank back into her chair, her unblinking gaze locked onto the floor, where it remained, undisturbed, for over fifteen minutes, regardless of the conversation Lucien and Blanc were still having.
“And you are certain that would make Blood Seraph give Sera up?” Blanc wondered.
Lucien nodded, after chugging down another glass of alcohol, “Most likely, but if not, it will still give you enough time to take Sera and run away.”
“I hope you are right, Lucien,” Blanc sighed. “I want to be here for Celine and Miyanna.”
“I know you do, and I promise I will keep your family safe as if it is my own, in the meantime,” Lucien nodded, “You are doing me a great favor by getting rid of the Princess of Iskahul from our Empire, that way, we can focus on protecting the mainland without worrying about what lays beyond the waves.”
Before Blanc could open his mouth to reply, the Daughter blinked rapidly, before speaking.
“We have terms,” she said.
“Wonderful,” Lucien grinned, already drunk.
Volume Two ; Chapter 15 (231) - Socks and Strategy
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