"The great Lucy Shorterux, daughter of Lady Torgenn, legendary Lady Wickshire, A Thraine; does not know who she is," he said to her blank face, as he laughed so hard, if he was unchained, he would have sprawled on the ground with laughter.
"I know I am a Thraine, I know it is important. My mother was a Thraine, and my mother made her identity known. I know that Thraine blood only passes between females and that no one is sure how a person is named one; after all, it has skipped many daughters. I never declared myself one, so how did people assume I have been titled Thraine? There are many Thraines, I could just take a trip and ask them; after all, they are well-known people. But that does not matter to me, I want to know why those that employed you strive to kill off my mother's lineage?" Lucy asked and the man was dumbfounded.
"It is understandable that you do not know much about the Thraine lineage because, your mother died too long ago but, you seriously don't care about being a Thraine? Whoever named you one, clearly made it known that you are one of them and you don't care what they might have planned for you? You expect me to believe that?" the man asked.
"You have not answered my question," Lucy reminded him.
"Who said the reason your mother died and being a Thraine is not connected?" the man asked.
"I've always suspected so. I know it is the people from the Harnian gate that had a hand in this. They enlisted your service through the help of one of the four clans on Other-side. I know you are just one of their pawns. What I wish to understand, is what they told you about me. No sane person even at the brink of death would take up the job you did. I need to understand, why now? They have been quiet for years,"
"Lady Wickshire, I was told to do anything to kill you, anything," he reminded her solemnly. Lucy understood his point. He is a martial artist; he could just self-destruct and take her with him.
"But you won't. You must have suspected something was odd about this. Your organization wanted to rise in popularity, that is why you took this deal. Even if they told you nothing, they must have given you something to make you take such a risk. Still, you must have already guessed a lot about me through interacting with them. Even with that much power in your hands, you cannot use it. So tell me, what did you learn about me?" she said and he paused.
"You don't want the power they handed to me?" he asked.
"You did not answer my question. All your suspicions; lay it out and we will put it together. After all, who better to clear your suspicions than the one the suspicion is about?" she said and he was silent for almost a minute.
"The Thraine family is powerful, alright. The way I see it, the only reason why they use people to act instead of coming themselves, is because of the Thraine family. Something about you Thraines is keeping Other-side away. I know Other-side is powerful, powerful enough to make ancients look like ants. They hand out precious and powerful artefacts easily, as though their forest are not growing trees but artefacts..." the man chuckled.
"I remember the first time I saw an inscribed spirit armour. I stared at it with wonder, yet a man who was not even as powerful as I said it was just something sold in the market places. Ha ha... they are so powerful they could have raided This-side and crushed us. Someone from Other-side, our martial artists of the same rank would not even stand a chance. If they are that powerful, why do they stay away? I always wondered why those that crossed over here in disguise, would never enter a Thraine territory. They avoid citizens of the Thraine territories like a plague. It makes me wonder whether you Thraines, are the only reason This-side is still standing," he said but, Lucy remained silent.
"I guess I should not ask you; you don't know much about it. You could, but as you said; you don't care. During your mother's time, they did everything to enter Juhntt and kill her. You, I think they were just watching. Now, they want you gone. Whatever you and your mother have, it's Thraine related. You should find out more about this," he chuckled. Lucy got up and turned to leave.
"What will you do with me? I killed your nanny," he said and Lucy paused.
"Oh, you will die. But before you do, you will repent for your sin," Lucy said.
"That power they offered me. You want it..." he laughed.
"That power? That power is called a spirit lantern. And that was just a copy, not the real thing. This copy, you could not even control; the real thing would be beyond you. You are useful; that lantern has bound itself to you. It may be fake, but it has a shadow of the real thing. You are still useful," Lucy said and left.
The shadow guards saw her come out and hurried to lock the door. One of them knelt before her.
"What should we do with him?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said causing them to pause.
"He is of use, so he will remain alive. Let him feel relaxed, he has no idea how painful his usefulness would be. Since I cannot kill him yet, that Beaumont household; it's time I vent some of my anger," she said solemn and left. Her voice was so soft, an exact opposite of the dark words that left her lips.