"And I'm the one speaking of fables.."
Vandorr said as Doric waved the surprised guards to opened the front gate of the castle for him. Soon they walked in, it was hard to know whether it was Vandorr's appearance or the fact that Doric was walking alone without any guards that surprised the people who saluted and walked past them.
"Believe me when I say we Christians live by faith... You don't have to blame yourself" Doric responded as he forced smiles and waved at intervals at people who saluted him. "The priests of Andorra must be notified. I can't have an unnecessary war spun out of nonsense and pure coincidences like this one" He said again at the speed of his feet. They had been walking briskly.
"Who did you say you came to see again?!" He stopped and faced Vandorr as they stood in the middle of an hallway close to a beautiful hanging garden. "I don't recall telling you but if you must know, I'm here to see Hemrick Shall" He replied in a manner of cool. Doric shook his head and scoffed "Are you crazy?! If you had met with him, all of these would mean nothing!! You seem to not know how close Hemrick is to the Lord Bishop" he said as he continued to walk on with Vandorr following close behind.
"Ha! Gaius! You're here. Any ways you could help me with a messenger to deliver a letter to Andorra..." Three men had appeared at the end of the hall dressed in nicely fitted noble dresses. "Of course your grace and while I'm doing that, shall I have the guards escort this man out of here" one of the men spoke, he couldn't have been more than thirty five, he had no beard or moustache but his hair was blonde with penetrating eyes on his smooth and young face.
"Gaius, I'm afraid not. Vandorr is my guest and you will acknowledge him" Doric said with a wide smile forming on his face. Gaius bowed a little but continued to stare at Vandorr with contempt and a lust to kill. Vandorr seemed undaunted, he knew why Gaius wanted to kill him. It hadn't been up to ten years since he was accused of sleeping with Elena, his wife but of course it was not mere accusation as it was actually true. Elena had exposed him in order to save the life of her brother Illiric who Gaius had held in ransom as he had been hearing tales of his wife sleeping around.
Soon they entered into a room, a living room and in no time just like he had requested, a messenger had walked in. Doric had brought out a pen and blank parchment and had started scribbling something in it "Here you go! You must hand this over to Flair Gurhum, not anyone but him!" He said as he handed over the letter to the young man who bowed and turned to leave closing the door behind.
"Don't you think it best that I held onto that?!" He said again pointing at the pendant hanging from Vandorr's large hand. Vandorr hesitated for a minute. "I'm sure we will find answers from Andorra that can help you solve whatever it is you're looking for" Doric said again trying to make him trust him. "I think you should for once hit the nail on the head. These people around you mean harm to one another. I know that Hermis Serth isn't great of a man but you should find out what conspiracy lurks in the shadows" Vandorr responded empathetically.
"You're saying I should investigate..?! I must be truthful, I'm really curious about it myself. Vandorr you have my word. We shall get to the bottom of this but it must be done with no soul knowing about it" Doric said in a manner of whisper. "I shall have my mouth sealed by fate then but now I must take my leave.. It was nice seeing you again, Governor" Vandorr stood to his feet and bowed a little.
"Where can I find you if I need to?!" Doric said in a manner of sympathy. "The Indie manor, I'm afraid Lady Celiona must stayed there until the unrest is clear" Vandorr responded turning to leave. "You never told me you were with Armando. How's he?!" Doric turned his face away to hide his empathy. Vandorr had noticed it but decides to ignore, he knew how much Doric cared about Armando. "I think you should try to visit one day while you carry on your wagon duties. Right now I should get ready for an ambush already set up by Gaius Michander, he's not much but a predictable ass" He heaved a sigh.
"You did sleep with his wife. The consequences..." Doric let out a mocking laugh and waved him to go. He had been right, he hadn't walked more than a few minutes when a group of soldiers had surrounded him. "The nameless man is back. Your courage amuses me, stepping in here after all you did" Gaius had walked out from behind the surrounding soldiers.
"Amuses me myself. I once went hand in hand with an original one time" Vandorr said trying to hold in a laugh. He could already sense fear in the soldiers as they looked at each other in astonishment. "You think this is a joke?! I control the military here, I can have you killed right now" Gaius said at the top of his voice. "I think not, because if you could you'd have done so a long time ago" Vandorr replied him and started walking towards the wall made to hold him back.
"It isn't over Vandorr Bresk!! You'll pay for what you did!!" He shouted that his voice echoed down the empty hall they were in. Vandorr scoffed and waved without looking back and walked away.
"Any new thing?! We've been waiting on you!!" Celiona had approached him as he stepped into the Manor, it was the famous Indie manor, one built by Armando's grandfather Lucius Indie, a renowned man who was known for his philanthropic act, he helped the poor and fought for their justice, hated the caste and segregation that thrived in the country and did all he could to fight it.
The Indie's were known as "Thieves with Thrives" just as Celiona had called one time and it was only because of one thing. Lucius Indie wasn't born as a Noble, he was born poor, bred in a poor family but was determined to be a member of the noble families. It was said that he had travelled far and wide but soon got his luck when he helped the Jabbarabs fight in their war. He was gifted tons of gold as reward for his exploits and as a wise man which he was, he came back to the country and invested his coins and ever since have they been nobles.
"Got held up My Lady but I've news. I'm afraid you might be staying here a little while as we must investigate what happened to you, someone might be out there to get to you and until when this is over, you will return to your daughter" He answered reassuringly. Celiona bowed her head, the excitement on her pretty face had dimmed. "She must have grown now" she said coldly.
"Ten years, so I've heard..." He held her by the shoulder pulling her close for a hug as she sobbed into his big arms. "My mother must be doing a good job this time..." She said amidst her tears. "Marionetta is your mother?!" He asked afterall Doric mentioned such a name earlier. "Yes, She is" she replied. "Then you have nothing to worry about..." He pulled her away so he could see her face.
Celiona wiped away her tears. "And how's Gwen treating you?!" He asked as they walked through the large green garden that surrounded the beautiful Manor. "I don't think she likes me, She kept complaining about how the first and second class Nobles have destroyed the economy of the city and I know she's talking about my father, afterall he's the chief accountant" She said again this time without tears.
Vandorr laughed, he saw her to be a smart person. She was right, Gwen really hated the First class Nobles, always criticized their effort even though they were really great people but he knew why she disliked them. It was because of a certain woman, Miranda Yerx. Women had a funny way of doing things and it was yet amusing that the reason for the detest was that Miranda dressed better. A sign of inferiority complex that Vandorr had always reminded Gwen of but she ended up always insulting him as well calling him nameless, afterall he was no noble and no one really knew his origin.
"And the sisters?!" He asked her again letting go the thoughts that raced his mind.
"Lovely I must say. They take me as one of them!!" She beamed excitingly.
"Back are you?! Come it's been ages since i tested your archery skills" Armando had called from a distance, he wasn't in his thick coats anymore, this time was wearing nothing more than a white shirt, pair of black trousers and boots. He had a bow on his hand, a bunch arrows hanging from a case strapped on his back. "I shoot arrows better than you shoot guns, Armando.
There's hardly any need for debate" He replied him with Celiona walking with him. "I want to come along, if you don't mind" She beckoned after them as they eagerly walked away.
"No, you can't" Armando said spitefully. "Because you think a woman couldn't shoot, is it not?!" She lifted up her white gown in order to revealing her running legs.
Vandorr winked Armando, a gesture that he had to let go of his opinion. Celiona wasn't one to give up and that was even based on his own assumptions. She grabbed the bow from him, pulling out an arrow from his back almost immediately.
"Let's spice things up" Vandorr said taking up a piece of ceramic plate that laid in the green field they were already standing on. Without hesitation, he threw it a distance and with a whooshing sound the arrow had left her tight grip, streaming through the air with precise force, it hit the plate right in it's centre arch design.
"You know how my mother loves her ceramics.... You've just started a war with that woman when she finds out her plates can hold her soup no longer" Armando sighed and flushed with embarrassment. Celiona had handed him the bow and walked away with a smile. "Where'd you learn to shoot?!" Vandorr ignored Armando's last statement as he faced Celiona.
"My brother taught me how to.... Claude" she replied with confidence. "Ha! Of course the strong headed son... Gaimme and Thomas prove to be better" Armando scoffed. "You know them?!" Vandorr asked.
"Vandorr, I know you wonder how I couldn't recognize her but you see, dames from the Nobles aren't supposed to be seen in public not until their marriage but the men can do what they like" Armando had shot an arrow that hit a target piece some distance away.
"Reggie and Luciana aren't allowed to go for public gatherings until marriage but of course I can go on expeditions with you" He said again. "Yea, especially the Yeti of Zoroboa.." Vandorr laughed. "It's true Vandorr! I fought a Yeti during my expedition to the icy mountains of Zaroboa!" He said with a feat.
"The cause of the ruckus..." A thick male voice had resounded from behind them. Vandorr recognized it "Calques Van Stromme, the man of the house!" He said smiling even without looking back to see who it was. "The nameless man from nowhere!... Never imagined seeing your face again" The voice had said again this time Vandorr looked back. It was Armando's father, son of Lucius Indie.
"Father--"
"Armando, patience..." The man said again even without taking the slightest glance at his eager son. He was an older version of Armando except with white patches growing on his dark brown hair and moustache. He looked away from Vandorr, down at the strange feminine gender that stood between the men. "Celiona Serth, how do you do?!" He said calmly, streaming a gentle smile almost immediately as he held up her hand.
"You don't seem surprised...." Vandorr said hiding his own astonishment. "C'mon Vandorr, I've seen things that has dropped eyeballs, I don't think this is worth that yet. Armando, You seem to have become more of man.... Might just be able to carry the family name afterall" Calqués pulled his black gloves and dipped them in his black coat pocket. He still hadn't looked at him.
"Father, Forgive me.." Armando bowed a little hiding his sorrow. "Only weak men beg, be strong is what I ask. Marrying a woman like your mother would kill you if you remained as soft as a sponge" Calqués said holding Armando's shoulder and stirring him as if to wake him up.
Armando's eyes brightened up as father's gaze caught his.
"Vandorr, you shall tell me of the tale that trailed after you during these past few days" Calqués said again but this time walking towards the red brick two storey building. "Your father loves you..." Celiona broke the silence that had followed. Armando flushed with embarrassment again, taking up his bow and arrow in bid to continue his practice. "Why don't we step into the house, Lady Celiona, while we leave Armando to do his thing" Vandorr said with a smile and soon they had walked into the building.