By the time I reach home, it is late and there is barely any movement even in the servants quarters.
Poor Ada, my maid would probably have stayed up for me. I ring for her to help me clean up and dress the wound on my arm still split open and leaking fresh blood.
I tell her I fell off my horse and landed hard on a broken, sharp twig. Although, I think we both know no twig can cause this much damage. Even so, she doesn't question my story. Instead, she quietly cleans the wound and suggest I see a physician in the morning in case the wound becomes infected.
I consider asking for her assistance to bathe as my dominant arm was now practically useless since she had bandaged it tightly, but feeling guilty for how late it is, I dismiss her after she undoes the pins from my hair.
"Are you quite sure milady? I could help you dress for bed, I don't mind" she says eagerly.
"Thank you Ada, but I'll manage."
She nods curtly, as she leaves.
"Ada" I call after her. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone. I woudnt want mother to fuss or cancel any of my classes"
"Of course" she says bowing her head slightly as she turns and leaves.
I wait till I hear her soft footsteps faintly disappear before I pull out the letters. I am about to open them when a sharp knock sounds at the door. Rolling my eyes, I shove the letters into the drawer of my dresser.
"Yes?" I call to whoever it is.
"Did you get it?" Weylan says as soon as he closes the door behind him.
"Yes, but I was unable to retain them." I say.
"You were caught?"
"No, but I was followed. I burnt them as soon as I had the opportunity."
"So he doesn't know it was you."
"I hope not." I pause, considering the way Brycen stared after Tyron and I. I couldn't quite place the expression Brycen had. Suspicion? Jealousy? Hopefully the latter. "It was a narrow escape."
My eyes widen when I suddenly realise I had left Weylan's horse near the village. I tell him as much but he waves me off, saying one of the servants already found her.
"So the information didn't leak?" He says relieved as he sits in my arm chair across from me. "And, I assume you now want your story?"
"Yes." I say straightening. I never really expected him to come clean so soon. In fact, I assumed he would find some excuse to put off telling me until his trip. Unless of course he already prepared what he was going to tell me, some diluted version of his story.
"Well Jordyn, you're not a child anymore and I think it is time you knew. He shifts slightly in his seat as if still contemplating how much to tell me. "The truth is, Helen is your mother, but she isn't my mother."
I blink longer than I should, not quite registering his words. Helen was our mother, she had loved us and cared for us, for him. She read us both stories on stormy nights when we couldn't sleep, she encouraged him to take an interest in politics and warcraft. She took an interest in his life as much as she did Terence.
"What?!" I say in disbelief. "You have her sharp nose and blue eyes"
"My mother also had a sharp nose and blue eyes, Jordyn. You've just described 60% of the Korinthian population." Weylan says, rolling his eyes at me as though he has had this conversation before.
"But why hasn't anyone bothered to tell me till now?"
"Well, father decided that the less people who knew about it, the smaller chance it has of becoming public knowledge. In fact he'd probably skewer me for telling you"
"But what does this have to do with your illegal exchanges?"
"Well, legally speaking, when father passes on, I will inherit nothing."
I exhale a long breath, leaning back onto my dresser, bewildered.
"I am bastard born, Jordyn. I cannot inherit anything." He goes on. "Father can provide for me so long as he is alive, but after that, when Terence inherits everything, I will quite literally be left with nothing."
"Does Terence know?" I say.
"Not yet, father doesn't see it fit to tell him just yet"
"Wait, so that means, father was unfaithful to mother" I say, not exactly surprised but still disappointed.
"It was one mistress. Well, at least as far as I know" He shrugs.
"How are you not upset by all this?" I say, I am confused, betrayed and hurt. I must look it because Weylan's expression turns solemn and he stares at the ground.
"I did not mean to burden you with this Jor, but I hoped in knowing this maybe you will find away to understand my actions."
"You mean excuse your decision trade illegally?" I say, jaw tightening. "I saw the seal, Weylan. It was foreign, I know it is from Mazzenik." Mazzenik was the kingdom at war with Durrac. Mazzenik upholded ungodly virtues and customs which was one of the main reasons Korinth refused trade with them.
"I must survive, Jor" There is nothing apologetic about Weylan now. He speaks to me in a matter of fact way. "I was born to a family of power and wealth. Do you really think I will allow myself to ever settle for less."
"Will it be worth it if you are caught?" I ask
"I wont be. I can take care of myself Jor"
"Cant you trust that Terence will look after you?"
"He cannot, and I cannot expect him to. His son will inherit the lands and title of Lord Rosenberg. He will probably be able to afford me a small fortune, if he is so inclined to do so. We both know our relationship with Terence is...complicated."
"Then I or whoever I marry will ensure you're taken care of" I offer, but as the words leave my mouth, I realize how naïve and foolish I sound. Weylan is the son of Lord Rosenberg, a man with an insatiable appetite for wealth and power and I'd be a fool if I didn't see how dominantly that hereditary trait manifested itself in Weylan, more so than in any of us. Weylan would much sooner be whipped to death than live a life of dependancy on Terence's good will.
Weylan smiles at me kindly, seeming truly touched by my offer. He knew that I had dreaded the day I would wed. It would be the day I lost my freedom, my independence, my will. In Korinth, marriage was a binding contract in which the man would always have the upper hand. It corresponded with the religion of our land which stated that a woman's role was to be a wife and to always submit to her husband whether his demands were sound or not. Marriage in Korinth meant women may not leave their husbands under any circumstance, unless they allowed it. The husband could be abusive, mentally unstable or a drunkard and still, a woman had no right to leave him.
For me to offer to get married to ensure Weylan's welfare was no small sacrifice.
He pulls me into a hug. "I'm a big boy Jor, I'll be okay."
A tear escapes my cheek though I don't exactly know why. Nothing has changed, Weylan was still my brother and there were decades to think about his future, but even so, I felt as though I had stepped through a looking glass.
I lie awake, unable to fall asleep as my mind whirs with what I now know about my family. I have so many questions that need answers but I was too exhausted and I'm sure Brycen didn't exactly want to get into all the details right then and there.
I did not even read the letters after Brycen left. Part of me feels guilty for outright lying to him but the other part will never fully trust him. I shift again into a more comfortable position and then give up, pulling the covers off altogether.
I may as well know now what were in those letters even though my I don't particularly feel like processing anymore new information. My head which was light and dizzy has now become a throbbing headache. I lift the seal gently and open the letters.