Ash-colored Despair (5)
Lucas grimaced as if he had swallowed something sour.
Since the rumors about Barkas's marriage arrived, my sister seemed to have gone crazy. Raina, who always harbored secret hopes about Barkas and Ayla, hastily cobbled together some kind of ridiculous romance in her head. And in this fictional story, Talia Roem Girta played the role of a rare villainess who separated the lovers.
Raina's eyes sparkled with the same stubborn fire as when she first tagged along with the mounted warriors to hunt the manticore.
- We'll see! - she said. “I’ll make this woman get out of here myself!” We will save our brother from the witch from the house of Talen!
I wonder what kind of nonsense is in her head if Longboat Raedgo Siekan suddenly seemed to her like a poor fellow who needed to be saved? Sometimes he wanted to open her skull and see what was inside.
He silently picked up the cape from the back of the chair.
“Well, well, try,” he said.
- So that’s how it is? Do you want to run away and leave me alone?
“Didn’t you see how your brother wrapped her head up?” I don't want to fall out of favor with the future Duke because of something stupid.
- All these are her insidious tricks! Raina spat furiously. - Didn't you hear? They say that women of the Talen family can use witchcraft to draw the soul out of men!
Raina was practically foaming at the mouth.
“She probably pretended to be poor and weak to arouse pity!” My brother just couldn't pass by!
Lucas just shook his head. There is no use talking to her in this state.
He sighed heavily and turned to the door, but his sister screamed again:
-Where are you going?!
- Ride a horse! - he said. “We need to get some air, otherwise we can’t breathe here.”
-Are you crazy?! Did you forget that there’s a reception coming soon in honor of your brother’s return?
But he didn’t even look back and walked out.
Servants were bustling about in the central hall, carrying luggage.
Pale-faced workers, clearly from the central provinces, carried massive boxes to the far end of the hall, and the servants of Raedgo Castle carefully opened them and made inventories.
Just looking at the contents made your eyes widen.
“Looks like the rumors about her extravagance are true.”
After running his eyes over the clothes and jewelry that filled the chests, Lucas walked further into the street through the back door.
He was about to head straight to the stables, but then he noticed people on the training ground - they were Wolfram spearmen accompanying Longboat.
Recognizing a familiar face, Lucas turned towards them.
- Tyrone!
A man, sipping wine and wearing only a loose tunka, looked over his shoulder at him.
“Ah, second young master,” he said in his usual lazy tone, wiping his lips. - How are you doing?
“Bored to death,” Lucas muttered, plopping down on the steps near the training ground. He snatched the bottle from Tyrone and downed it in one gulp.
- What's in the capital?
“As expected, everything is upside down,” the warrior answered calmly, without even raising an eyebrow at Lucas’s familiarity. “After this, the Marquis Oristein and almost all the conservatives became agitated. Sir Siekan worked hard to calm them down.
- And the first princess? Crown Prince?
“I haven’t even seen the princess.” They say she doesn't leave her chambers. And no wonder - she was rejected on the eve of the wedding... Until a new groom is found, she is unlikely to appear in public. And the Crown Prince...
Tyrone frowned and clasped his hands over his chest, searching for words.
“Although he was very angry, he took the situation surprisingly calmly. Apparently, he decided that it was better to pretend that he supported this marriage agreement in order to preserve the alliance with Siekan. It's more profitable for him.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
- Suddenly. I thought he would rush to the East with war to avenge his sister. There are rumors that he is ready to do anything for the sake of the first princess.
When the boy frowned, remembering the stern face of the crown prince he had met in the capital several years ago, Tyrone laughed.
“Even a pig will settle accounts before the authorities,” he grinned. “Yes, they say that the Crown Prince dotes on his sister, but is she dearer to him than the throne?” It seems that he is much more worried not about the humiliation of the first princess, but about the fact that he may lose his support among the nobility.
Lucas frowned.
Although he himself studied for several years at the academy of the capital, he still could not come to terms with the values of the local nobles.
In the East, family ties have always been placed above all else.
Yes, Raina sometimes annoyed him, but if something like this happened to her, they would not hesitate to go to war to wash away the shame.
He suddenly felt sorry for the first princess. Betrayed not only by her fiance, but also by her own brother...
Maybe Raina is right? Do women with Talen blood really possess that dangerous magic that can blur the boundaries of fidelity in men's hearts?
He remembered the dark blue eyes hidden under the hood. The eyes, like living gems, flickered with a muted light. No, not even the best lapis lazuli could match their depth.
The attempt to pull off the hood was purely instinctive - the moment their eyes met, his hand moved of its own accord.
He asked quietly:
- How do you like the second princess? What kind of person?
There were deep lines on Tyrone's face. He thought for a moment before answering:
“I personally spoke to her only once, so I can’t say for sure.” But... as they say, her character is not easy.
- Worse than Raina?
“Well, I don’t think anyone can outdo the lady,” he grinned.
But there were still slight wrinkles in the corners of his eyes - it seemed that he was not entirely sure of his words.
Lucas felt his curiosity flare up even more. What kind of woman is this, if even such a quirky guy as Tyrone winces at the mere memory?
- What about your appearance? Is she really that beautiful?
The question came up on its own. Tyrone, who was reaching for the bottle, froze and looked sideways at him, as if thinking about something.
Lucas felt an unpleasant twinge in the pit of his stomach. He, trying to hide his awkwardness, began to scrape his heel on the ground.
Tyrone hesitated, drank the rest of the wine in one gulp and casually said:
“Enough to become a problem,” and, after thinking a little, he added with a mysterious expression. “That’s why Lord Siekan hides her away from everyone, right?”
* * *
When she opened her eyes, deep night was already gathering around her.
Talia, breathing heavily, squeezed her throat with her hand - it seemed as if someone’s invisible fingers were squeezing her neck.
Trying to get rid of this sensation, she ran her nails along the skin, then blindly felt for the lace at the head of the bed and pulled sharply.
Soon the door creaked.
Thalia slowly turned her head. Recognizing the familiar silhouette, before she had time to realize it with her mind, she felt her body relax, as if it were the first to recognize him.
- Leg cramp? - Barkas asked, leaning over the bed and lighting the lamp at the head of the bed.
Talia sighed heavily and shook her head.
- I just... felt thirsty. I wanted to call the maid.
His gaze narrowed. He didn't seem to believe her.
Longboat touched her forehead with his palm, checking the heat, and then briefly ordered the late maids:
— Bring medicine from the healer.
After which he poured her water and handed her the vessel. Such unceremonious disregard of her words caused irritation for a moment, but she, still touched by the way he hurried towards her, silently took the cup.
One sip of cold water and the fog in my head cleared slightly.
Talia set the bowl down and slowly looked at him with clear eyes.
The longboat threw on a wide cape over a tight-fitting tunic - the kind that men wore in these parts.
The unfamiliar outfit involuntarily excited her.
She surreptitiously glanced at the outline of his chest, clearly visible between the open skirts of his clothes, and immediately lowered her eyes, frowning.
-What kind of outfit are you wearing? Kind of strange.
-...This is the traditional clothing of the East.
- Don't wear that again. It doesn't suit you.
It was actually going pretty damn well though.
The man, usually dressed formally, looked unexpectedly relaxed in this loose outfit. His usually reserved appearance now seemed defiant. And that was precisely what irritated her.
She said with emphasis:
- It looks extremely obscene. If you walk like this, your vassals will stop respecting you. So don't wear it anymore.
Longboat looked at her face silently, and then nodded slowly:
- Got it.