Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.
~ Voltaire
"What happened?! How did Ronan become like this... just how?!" Rehan Kalver exclaimed in grief, his entire form shook as he sobbed unconsolably.
The casket of Ronan Kalver had been moved into the estate of the Duke of Kalver and the bejewelled casket was placed upon a platform in the audience hall.
The audience hall was now occupied by the knights and warriors who had escorted the body as well as the highest authorities of the Dukedom of Kalver.
Kneeling before the bejewelled casket was the figure who had led the procession riding atop a pure white steed, the figure's hood had been dropped down and the visage of the figure could finally be seen.
Long tresses of a deep red shade spilled down the figure's back and all over the floor behind the figure,
A heart shaped face with perfectly positioned features, smooth ebony skin and eyes of glowing gold,
Those golden orbs were a perfect replica of the Duke of Kalver's as well as that of Ronan and Rehan Kalver,
This figure was an overwhelming beauty, a beauty that was said to be otherworldly, a beauty that stood out above all others in the Kinouri Empire, a beauty that could cause the downfall of nations,
Her name was Weylyn Kalver, third child and only daughter of Duke Raego Kalver.
"Weylyn... speak, who killed Ronan?! Who dared harm your brother? The House of Kalver must repay this blood debt!" One of the warriors of Kalver exclaimed in a fierce tone,
The eyes of the warriors of Kalver were ablaze with vengeance as they stared in grief at the deceased body of their young lord and future Duke.
The Duke of Kalver was quiet, however all could feel the murderous aura that poured off of him in waves as he awaited a response from his daughter who had left for the mission alongside her eldest brother.
"Sir Ronan Kalver fulfilled his duty as an Imperial Blood Knight. His Imperial Majesty has declared that the House of Kalver receives the highest honors of Dukedom, this general arrives with the imperial decree..." The head of the retinue of imperial guards announced,
However the head of the imperial guards was cut off mid speech by a tone deepened with grief.
"Father, brother, this daughter of yours can only bring back my eldest brother in this condition... this unfilial daughter deserves death." Weylyn Kalver cried out in a voice thick with grief and pain,
She tried but failed to swallow down her sobs as she turned her fierce and hateful gaze on the imperial guard who had just conveyed the Emperor's orders.
"His Imperial Majesty may save his honors! The Kalvers demand he returns us Ronan's life! I Weylyn Kalver of House Kalver demands that bastard returns my brother's life!!" Weylyn Kalver roared fiercely, her voice thick with hatred and loathing.
The words of Weylyn Kalver stunned her father and brother as well as everyone present within the audience hall,
Weylyn Kalver had outrightly insulted the emperor of Kinouri, a crime deserving of the death sentence.
"Weylyn Kalver! You dare disregard the authority of His Imperial Majesty?! You are courting death!" The head of the imperial guards exclaimed in a deadly tone,
However the wild and fierce gaze in the eyes of the Weylyn Kalver revealed she was beyond caring.
"Death?! I Weylyn Kalver am a warrior of House Kalver, born and bred upon the battlefield, I do not fear death!"
"If His Imperial Majesty wishes to take my life, tell him to show himself and face my blade! I shall offer his blood upon my brother's altar!" Weylyn Kalver snarled in a deadly tone as she rose to her feet battle ready,
Her killing intent burst forth, filling the audience hall with her oppressive aura, the aura of a true blooded warrior of Kalver.
"Treason!" The head of the imperial guards roared, drawing his sword along with the rest of the warriors who had joined the procession,
Although not all of the warriors were of the Imperial Guard, even the Knights who had been close brothers in arm to knight Ronan Kalver were completely loyal to the Emperor of Kinouri and would not stand a direct slight to him, much less an act of treason.
The Duke of Kalver who had been driven into shock by the words of his beloved daughter finally regained his bearing.
"Weylyn! You will restrain yourself girl!" The Duke of Kalver ordered his daughter before turning his gaze to face the warriors and Knights who had their swords drawn and aimed at the raging Weylyn Kalver.
"This is the territory of the Dukedom of Kalver and I am the Duke of Kalver, even His Imperial Majesty would think twice before drawing a sword in my presence."
"Sheathe your swords this instant! I shall not stand any further dishonor in the presence of my deceased son!" The Duke of Kalver commanded in a terrifying tone.
Duke Raego's tone forced all the warriors to obey immediately, sheathing their swords and bowing in apology,
There was not a single person within the Kinouri Empire who did not know that the revered Duke of Kalver was not a man to be trifled with.
"Weylyn, you shall seek His Imperial Majesty's pardon for your disrespect. Kneel!" Duke Raego Kalver commanded his daughter who still maintained a battle stance,
Although the Duke was baffled by the unruly actions of his daughter who was the most reasonable person he knew,
The Duke knew he had to pacify the situation at that moment before it escalated beyond his control,
For Duke Raego Kalver, loosing one child was already too much, he could not afford to loose another to treasonous accusations.
"Father! I would rather die!" Weylyn Kalver cried out in a heart wrenching tone, turning her pleading gaze to Duke Raego Kalver.
Duke Raego narrowed his gaze sternly, glaring at his beloved daughter with a fierce expression.
"Kneel!" Duke Raego roared in anger, his tone daring his daughter to disobey him.
Weylyn Kalver dropped to her knees and lowered her head in submission, it was clear she respected her father greatly and did not dare disobey him.
"Now speak! For what reasons do you make such accusations against His Imperial Majesty?!"
"Knowing the loyalty of the House of Kalver to the imperial house, for what reason do you utter such dishonorable words?!" Duke Raego Kalver asked sternly, however the fierce gaze in his eyes had already disappeared,
Duke Raego could not bear being harsh to his precious daughter for even a moment.
"Lynn... answer father's questions." Rehan Kalver encouraged, although tears still rolled down Rehan's eyes,
Rehan Kalver had also been shocked by the accusations made by his beloved sister and was desperate to know just how their brother had passed on.
"Father and brother knows not how my brother died... our Ronan took his last breath in my arms!"
"Our Ronan's blood seeped past my armor and soaked my robes! I could do nothing as I watched him die! I could do nothing as the cold hands of death snatched him from us!"
"My sword was useless! My knowledge was useless! My skill was useless! My status was useless! While my brother gasped for breath... father, this daughter of yours was useless!" Weylyn sobbed out, her form trembling.
Weylyn's words drove the entire audience hall into silence as the members of House Kalver once again broke into sobs at the heart breaking words of their young miss.
Rehan Kalver hurried to the side of his little sister, pulling her into his arms to comfort her uncontrollable sobs whilst Duke Raego Kalver lifted his gaze upwards to reign in the tears threatening to drop out of his eyes as his heart clenched in pain.
"I Weylyn Kalver of House Kalver has served His Imperial Majesty with my life for the past 16 summers of my existence."
"I was born into the service of His Imperial Majesty and I have been faithful to my duty. My brothers Ronan and Rehan Kalver have also served His Imperial Majesty all their lives, the entire House of Kalver has served loyally and faithfully." Weylyn Kalver began again when her sobs had calmed down.
"On that night, the consort in waiting had been kidnapped on her return to the imperial palace and His Imperial Majesty summoned the warriors of House Kalver and Knight Kalver."
" Sir Ronan and I rode out with the other warriors to answer His Imperial Majesty's call, Sir Ronan Kalver sensed the ambush before it happened,"
"Aye, our Ronan was always outstanding like that, father knows it too." Weylyn Kalver sobbed bitterly as she spoke, her voice trembling.
"Sir Ronan Kalver sent me ahead to scout father, I saw for myself the ambush prepared and reported the same to Sir Ronan Kalver and His Imperial Majesty." Weylyn Kalver took a deep breath in before she continued speaking.
"Sir Ronan Kalver advised His Imperial Majesty to take a different route."
" A longer route, Yes...but Sir Ronan swore to save the consort in waiting even if it took a longer time, who in the Kinouri Empire knows not the significance of the promise of a Kalver?"
"Just who? My brother swore to His Imperial Majesty and pleaded His Imperial Majesty to heed his words!"
" We did not have enough men to confront the ambush, I had already reported this to His Imperial Majesty, but His Imperial Majesty was adamant... the rescue of the consort in waiting could not wait a moment longer."
"His Imperial Majesty led us straight into the ambush, we fought a good fight... the warriors of Kalver, the Imperial Blood Knights and the Imperial Guards, we fought our best and we did win, however not without a cost." Weylyn Kalver paused at this point, grabbing Rehan's robe in a tight grip to steady her breathing.
"A spear was hurled father! At His Imperial Majesty who was the target of the ambush, the consort in waiting had only been a decoy...Sir Ronan Kalver noticed the attack first...." At this point, Weylyn Kalver seemed unable to continue,
She broke down into sobs, however she did not need to speak anymore as all in the audience hall already understood her meaning.
"Brother shielded His Imperial Majesty with his own body." Rehan Kalver said in sadness, holding his sister tighter to his chest.
Duke Raego Kalver was silent, the words of Weylyn Kalver was a bitter-sweet revelation,
Ronan Kalver had died in the most honorable way a knight could, he had sacrificed his life to protect his liege,
However at the very same time, the sad fate of Ronan Kalver was one which could have been avoided.