Chapter 33: ~Inquisition.~ (1/2)
***Norfolk, Sarn-Valley***
Gods!
I swear, this child is killing me!
Over the centuries I thought I had become a really wonderful mother. But here I am helpless!
“Daddy will be done with his work soon! So please stop crying, mommy and daddy will play with the little princess soon. No need to cry, here look. Isn't that an interesting doll?” I wave Sera's doll around in her field of vision to distract her from crying.
We are in our bed chambers and I am waiting for my husband. Please! Be done with your work soon!
Sera isn't impressed. I had screaming children, who had the strangest reasons for crying. But this one is the first who is only satisfied when both of her parents are in front of her.
And she is cheating! That trembling jaw and the tears look simply too miserable!
“I am done with work today!”
Snap. The mouth is shut. Smile. Grin. The transformation is abrupt and complete. She hears Ascathon's voice and everything is fine. I cover my face inside the pillow beside Sera. We are lying together on the bed.
“You are late! She cried for three hours straight! My ears are still ringing.”
“Sorry. I couldn't help it. The construction of the new ship needs much of my time. No matter how good some of the new workers are, there are things which I have to teach myself. My techniques are unfamiliar to them. So how was your day?” He sits down beside me and lets Sera play with his hand.
“The shipments of raw materials are helping our economy a big deal. Fingulf wasn't stingy. I think that we can call our principality independent by now. The defence already proved itself, so we can slowly start to think about dealing with the other powers. The Phenex Empire is bothering me. Are you sure that you got everything out of the prisoners?” I look at Ascathon and start to play with Sera too.
“I picked the highest ranking ones apart myself. They had orders to capture us. There is no doubt about that. The question is why the Immortal Empress took an interest in us? Maybe she got word that I started the spy hunts?” He shakes his head.
“There are so many spies and assassins around. It isn't strange that she found out who uncovered her activities. But why capture us? Anyone could have uncovered her spies. It makes no sense to pay so much special attention to us.” I smile at Sera.
“Unless she suspects us to be more than we seem to be. Do you smell that?” He pulls a grimace and I take Sera to clean her.
“Don't tell me that you don't...”
“I know! Just clean her up. I will open the window for a while, even if it gets cold.” He interrupts me and steps on the balcony.
I take my time with cleaning Sera who is strangely silent. Hmm. Shouldn't she scream because papa isn't in her sight?
When I am done, I find Ascathon on the balcony. It is a spacious one with a length of ten metres and a depth of about five. So I wrap Sera into a fluffy blanket and join him. “You will catch a cold if you don't cast elemental protection.”
“Schhh... we have uninvited guests. Be sure to keep Sera safe.” An icicle forms in front of him and he flicks his fingers towards the shadows in the garden under our balcony.
The shard of ice follows the command fast and disappears into the shadows. I step backwards, closer to the entrance, while activating my battle aura. Assassins again? They didn't try anything for quite a while.
For a second nothing happens. Then two shadows run towards us and jump onto the big balcony without much effort.
Ascathon steps in front of us and a shimmering barrier appears in front of him. It's not like I needed any protection. He is overdoing it.
“Quite a strange way to greet the Inquisition.” One of the dark figures speaks and throws the icicle from earlier in front of Ascathon's feet.
“I greet trespassers how I deem it fit. Whoever it may be.” Ascathon's voice is cold and dark.
“No need for such ill feelings. We just took a look around your principality. I must say that I never saw so many laws violated until now. Especially those 'railguns'. They alone give us enough justification to execute you on the spot.” The rough voice breaks a little because of a coughing fit. “I hate this land. The cold creeps into your bones, regardless of the protection spells you cast.”
“It's unavoidable if you sneak through the darkness for an entire night.” Ascathon has a happy tone now.
“In any case. We must take you with us. Someone like you can't be allowed to do as he pleases.” The second dark figure begins to move but several icicles start to form around Ascathon.