Head buried in his hands, Lord Urdurel weeps for only the third time in his life. The first time he was just fourteen, watching his parents murdered. The second time at forty-seven, when his beloved first wife; Dulcetta died and now at forty-nine.
Looking up at Commander Aglet, his blue eyes burning with tears and anger, his mind finally clears.
Dulcetta’s mysterious death, Hetzabah’s sudden appearance, Briefadel’s birth and Lamenta’s murder… it was all connected. Now, in this moment of clarity, it all becomes obvious; Hetzabah had just used him to gain power for herself and her mewing baby boy but it was Dulcetta and Lamenta who’d paid the ultimate price.
“What do you mean, ‘Hetzabah’s left the castle?’. Send a couple of your men to her chambers and drag her to me!”
Castilian Aglet steels himself before responding.
“We went to her chamber immediately after you discovered her halving of Lady Lamenta’s guard but she’d already left in a hurry. Such a hurry that she’d abandoned your infant son in the arms of his wet-nurse.”
Lord Urdurel stops at this news. His son; Briefadel. He’d strangely felt nothing but resentment when Hetzabah became pregnant immediately on their wedding night and he felt nothing for the boy now. Still, he was an innocent and not responsible for his Mother’s crimes.
His eyes suddenly dry and his voice icy, he gives a new order.
“Select a squad of your twenty best men and have them join me, fully armed, in the courtyard. I’m going to find her myself and make her pay for every atrocity she’s committed against me and our people.”
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