Silas's screams grew louder, echoing through the stone walls as Valen approached the door of his cell.
"Cut it off! Cut it off, please!" Silas begged, his voice riddled with desperation, as he pleaded to his tormentor to end the agony.
The door swung open with a sharp creak, and Valen stepped inside. His expression remained unmoved, cold as he surveyed the scene, ignoring the anguish that filled the room.
"Get out, Cregan," he ordered, his soft voice was cold and commanding. The man, engrossed in the task of flaying one of Silas's fingers, paused for a brief moment, the blade hovering over raw, bloodied flesh.
Cregan gently laid the blade on the table in the corner, its surface gleaming with fresh blood. He reached for a bloodied cloth, wiping Silas's blood from his hands with slow, deliberate motions. The sound of the door closing behind Cregan echoed ominously through the cell, amplifying the sense of isolation and dread.
"I think that sound will result in my breaking," Silas muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with exhaustion. His breaths came deep and slow, his ribs pressing further against his skin with each strained inhale.
Valen stood in the corner of the room, his eyes scanned every spot of blood splattered around it thoroughly.
"Why would you protect someone who leaves you here for a whole year?" Valen exclaimed in anger. "The same man who costed you all the happiness you crave like oxygen."
"Funny, Cregan asked that too." Silas forced a chuckle. "I've thought of killing Erik my whole life, it wouldn't make me feel better, it would not bring back the ones I loved that died because of him. It wouldn't undo the harm he's done to us, we're too far gone for that. I'd break an oath for nothing."
Valen sat on the ground, he leaned his back against the dirty stone wall the dust quickly overcame the whiteness of his shirt. "I killed and buried Valen Ardentis the night he made us burn Runnel Hill Cavern. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the floor, reimagining the atrocities he committed on that night. "How many people do you think died because we fell in love? So many I can't remember some of their faces or their names."
"Neither of us came back from Runnel Hill the same person, this torture will not break me. Reliving that night again will. I think the death of our family would be a mercy. But it will not be because of me." Silas spoke softly as a prickling warmth travelled across his eyes. It blurred the edges of his sight, he fought desperately to keep his tears at bay.
Valen got up to leave. He walked limply to the door and knocked on it twice, he turned to his brother who was already staring at him attentively.
"I'm sorry little brother." He said somberly as he bowed his head trying to avoid locking eyes with Silas.
Silas shook his head slowly. "I don't blame you. I can't."
The door creaked open slowly, Cregan stood at the threshold, his face was calm but grim with purpose. His muscular arms balanced a tray with a set of new tools, neatly organized to torment Silas. Valen looked down at the tray before looking up and interlocking eyes with him.
"Give him a break, Cregan." Valen said calmly before walking off not daring to look back.
"W-What?!" Cregan stuttered in shock. "For how long?"
"I don't know, maybe until someone tells you not to." Valen answered still not looking back.
Valen paused for a moment as he entered the throne room, feeling the stares of a hundred expectant eyes upon him. The walls stretched high above, adorned with rich green and gold tapestries, each one depicting a majestic lion standing triumphantly atop a rugged mountain peak. The lion on their banners was said to represent and resilience Sunlight filtered through tall, narrow windows, casting sharp beams across the polished floor. Reaching the foot of the throne, Valen stopped, then inclined his head, showing the reverence expected of a son and a subject.
"Mother," he greeted, his voice steady yet respectful.
Eliza Calabar looked down from her perch at him. He hands gracefully ran through her thick mane of pure white, that fell gracefully on her shoulders like a ray of moonlight. Her age was difficult to pin point she looked far younger than she actually is. Some may say she was the most desirable lady on the planet. He mesmerizing eyes remained fixed on her son, her indigo pupils shimmered as she was in a deep thought.
"What bothers you, Val?" She inquired gently.
Valen started slowly to walk up the steps, stopping halfway.
"We still cannot locate the Ardentis atomics, if we're going to hold the Citadel we need them. How else are we supposed to instill fear into the vassals who already won't acknowledge your ascension to the throne."
"They fear the Ardentis more than us and each of them think they're entitled to sit the Sunforged Throne. What of your brother?" She asked firmly. r.
Valen shook his head slowly. "He knows nothing."
Her tone went flat and emotionless.
"Then he needs to die." She said coldly. "He is a rightful heir."
A loud shout could be heard approaching the throne room desperately. As it neared it started to sound clearer.
My lord! My lord!" The desperate cries echoed through the hall just before the throne room doors burst open, slamming against the stone walls with a resounding clang. Cregan stumbled in, nearly out of breath, his face smeared with sweat and streaked with dirt. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, mingling with the grime on his chin, but still, he managed to hold himself together long enough to kneel. His hand pressed to his chest in a show of respect, though his shoulders heaved with the effort of his journey.
"My lord," he gasped, voice hoarse as he looked up. "The Ardentis boy is escaping." Cregan fell flat on his face shortly after saying this, revealing the knife in his back. His breathing faded slowly. He was dead.
The guards in the room looked at each other uneasily, while Eliza hyperventilates.
"What are all of still doing here?" She said in a loud demented cry as she caught her breath. "Find him now! I want him dead!"
"What are you doing, Silas?" Valen asked under his breath as he walked off behind the legion of guards that exited the room.