BK1 Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

The inside of the young Duke's tent was immaculate. The floor was smoothed without a bump, by earth summoners, probably. A rack of sabres was neatly placed to the left, their metal glinting under a floating Aether light hung at the centre. The light illuminated the space we could see; the back of the tent was cordoned off by a rattan divider hiding what was beyond. In front of us was a desk made of earth and wood. The wood was melded into the solid earth so hardened it could have been stone. Papers littered the table beside a large skin map; on the map were small wooden figurines placed in various places. I didn't know what their purpose was.

I stilled, and Rian squeezed my hand as iridescent purple eyes followed us into the tent. The young Duke sat behind his desk, his hands folded as he leaned his elbows on the stone hearth. I found myself gulping at his stare as it pierced us. All we could see of his face were those purple eyes. His mask was different to the one I had seen at my execution. Metal covered his chin up to his nose; rivets bolted to connect the top helm on his nose bridge. A gap separated the two pieces for his eyes to inspect us. Some of his cheeks peered through the gap as two large pieces layered at the sides of his eyes, ending in a point above his forehead. It didn't have the same horns as my last life; maybe he would get that mask later.

What drew my attention, however, and made my mouth gape was the floating box hovering above the head of the young Duke.

Vishka's Guidance System

Azriel Kamil Elkart

Likeability:???

He had a likeability meter!? Seriously?? But I have never met this man; I had no history with him for this to make sense. I was not acquainted with Azriel in any of my lives unless you counted chopping my head off. So is that why he counted? Because he had been someone who had killed me once?

Vishka, please, this has to be a mistake.

A thump in my side made me close my mouth as Rian nudged me. She cleared her throat and saluted the young Duke leaning down onto one knee with difficulty. I shook myself out of my haze and copied her etiquette keeping myself balanced as I rested my left hand on my right shoulder. Unfortunately, it hurt, so I didn't perform the action as gracefully as I had intended.

"Rise", Azriel's voice was slightly muffled behind his metal mask; its deep tone was strong enough to bypass it.

"Who are you?" He asked as we struggled to get back up.

"I am Lady Rian Thornfax, daughter of Earl Thornfax of Talbour" Rian introduced herself with such elegance I would have found it difficult to believe she was in pain right now.

"I am Lady Lynette Heversham, daughter of Viscount Heversham of Talbour" I widened my eyes as the question marks of Azriel's likeability meter suddenly blurred. He narrowed his gaze to me, but I couldn't tell what that may be for. It was impossible to read him in that mask.

"Heversham?" He stated, his tone hinting at surprise. "I did not think the Hevershams had a daughter who wished to join the army."

"My sister, Kara, indeed does not wish to join the army", my voice wavered; how did he know such detail about my family?

"And you desire differently" he leaned forward, his eyes flickering over my sling and the blood on Rian's leg.

"Lord Cavendish", Azriel called before I could respond. The tent flap opened, and the older guard who had spoken to us on our arrival appeared.

"Yes, young Duke" The guard saluted and lowered to one knee as we had done.

"Bring one of the Thornfax's here to identify this girl", he ordered, and the guard stood bowing his head, leaving us as quickly as he had arrived. I saw Rian tense at his command.

"Just how did you get separated from the Trainees," Azriel asked, his voice curious. The deep purple cloak he wore gently slipped off his shoulder as he moved his calloused hands. Purple was the signature of royalty, so I wasn't surprised to see his cloak mirrored that. Azriel was the lightning dragon, the second cousin of the Empress. His statue and prowess as a summoner were well known.

"The horned Baildon", Rian answered. As the daughter of an Earl, it was etiquette that she spoke rather than I unless I was addressed directly.

"We were ambushed by it during your attack, young Duke. We were caught trying to avoid it and fell down a cavern which opened after it dislodged the earth." Rian explained.

"A cavern?" Azriel's eyes glittered with interest. "There is no such cavern I know of on this route."

"I suspect it has been buried for some time", Rian dipped her head. "It likely would not have been discovered without the horned Baildon."

"I see; I will have to investigate it when we return to that point" he nodded in thought.

Rian hesitated before continuing. "There were remains of a temple in the cavern, young duke; runes were carved into the stone of its walls I had never seen before."

"Intriguing. Did you record any of them?"

"Yes, young Duke, I made etches of them on some of my scrolls" Rian glanced at me and bit her lip. "There was also…" she paused, and I felt my pulse rocket. Was she going to tell him about the memory stone?

"There was also a strange demonic beast in the cavern", she finished, and my heart calmed down.

"What did it look like?" Azriel asked, his eyes glancing at me as well. It seemed he had caught Rian's hesitation.

"It was a large beast with dog-like features that survived by eating craven bats. It had a water core and was a difficult foe. We were lucky to beat it."

"Ah, that sounds like an Agiluf. You, indeed, were very lucky to survive it" Azriel leaned back in the wooden chair he was using. "How did you get here from the cavern?"

"We found a route in the cavern that led outside. Then we traced our way back on the surface until we came across the tall reeds blocking our path."

"The prairie expanse," Azriel informed us.

"Yes, young Duke. We traversed the prairie expanse until we encountered a group of summoners."

"Whilst riding Kreshna?" Azriel raised his eyebrow, and we both stilled. Vernan must have given that bit of information.

"Yes, young Duke" Rian shifted her stance nervously.

"I am curious how you managed that feat. It takes trained stable hands to capture and train a wild Kreshna to use as carriage pullers, let alone ride one" The tone of his voice changed as he laced us with suspicion. "How did you do that?"

Rian opened her mouth and then closed it as she tried to think of something to say. I watched her panic and sighed. I couldn't ask her to hide this; it was my action that was raising his suspicion.

"Young Duke, may I speak?" I asked, and he turned his attention to me.

"You may"

"I have experience with Kreshna and used that knowledge to our advantage in a bad situation. You may check with my brothers to clarify this, but I have ridden Kreshna since I was a child."

Azriel's surprise from his body language to my words made me hold back my body's urge to flee. He looked at me with a gaze that made me squirm, and the silence that followed only made me more anxious. The numbers in his box blurred even faster.

"Young Duke", Lord Cavendish interrupted us, saving me from Azriel's response. "Lady Albertine Thornfax is here", he called from behind the tent flap.

Azriel pulled his eyes away from me. "Allow her in."

The tent flap flew open, and a woman of medium height, brown braided hair and features similar to Rian's urgently rushed into the tent. She made to run towards Rian but stopped herself and quickly saluted, lowering herself to one knee; her cloak was deep green.

"Young Duke, this girl is my sister Rian. I can confirm her identity," she fidgeted in her position.

"Very well, you may leave. I know all I need too from her."

"Thank you, young Duke!" Albertine brightened quickly, standing and enveloping Rian in her embrace. Rian moaned with a heavy sigh and patted Albertine's back. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Albertine hugged her harder. "We thought you were dead!" she pulled back and cupped Rian's face in her hands. "You look terrible. Did you eat enough? Did you have water? My gosh, you must be exhausted. Come on. I'll get Imran to heal you up in no time."

"Sister, please, stop fussing" Rian rolled her eyes and meekly looked away from Azriel's amused eyes.

"I'll stop once Imran has healed you" Albertine took Rian's hand and turned to face the young Duke.

"If you will excuse us", Albertine bowed. She placed her hand on Rian's head and made her bow alongside her, so I followed suit and saluted.

Azriel waved his hand toward us. "You are excused."

We stood to leave, my heart settling and the pain in my shoulder throbbing in anticipation of being healed.

"Not you, Lady Heversham. I have more questions" Azriel's voice at my back sent dread into the pit of my stomach. Rian flashed me a look of concern, but she couldn't say anything. We had no choice but to follow Azriel Elkart's commands. He was the son of the Duke of the frozen South; his status was higher than ours.

Rian mouthed to me that she would be outside as Albertine led her away from the tent.

Leaving me alone with Azriel Elkart.

I held in my sigh and turned back to face him. His eyes didn't hold the same amusement they had for Albertine's care for her sister.