On the anniversary of his mother's death, Shaun stood in the courtyard again. The sun was rising, covering the ground in golden light. He knelt where his mother had fallen, running his fingers over the cold stone. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of blooming flowers, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in his chest.
"I'm sorry, Mother," he whispered, his voice shaky. "I should have been stronger. I should have protected you."
As he knelt there, something shiny caught his eye. He dug into the dirt and felt something metal. Pulling it out, he saw a small badge with an engraving of a roaring lion surrounded by flames. The metal was old and worn, but he recognized the symbol immediately.
Shaun's heart pounded as he turned it over in his hands. This… this is the clue I've been waiting for.
He had seen the symbol in his lessons—it belonged to the Kingdom of Valtheris, a land of mercenaries and warriors. His mind raced as he gripped the badge tightly. Without hesitating, he ran toward the manor, excitement bubbling inside him.
Shaun burst into his father's study, holding up the badge. "Father, look at this!"
Aldric looked up from the maps spread across his desk, his face tired. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows in the room. The smell of old paper and ink filled the air, mixed with the faint scent of coffee from a cup sitting untouched beside him. Maps of Eldoria and nearby kingdoms covered the table, marked with notes from years of searching. His red, weary eyes narrowed as he took the badge and frowned, turning it over in his hands.
Geralt stood near the bookshelf, watching closely. He didn't say anything, but his sharp eyes showed he was paying attention.
"A Valtheris badge?" Aldric's voice was flat, almost uninterested. "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Shaun's excitement faded for a moment, but he pushed on. "I found it in the courtyard, where the fight happened. It must have been left behind by the attacker."
Aldric's eyes narrowed. "The courtyard? We searched that area completely. How could we have missed this?"
Shaun shrugged, his thoughts racing. "Maybe it was buried deeper, or maybe no one thought to look for something like this. But it's here now, and it's a clue."
"Clue to what?" Aldric's voice was quiet, but his grip on the badge tightened.
"That a Valtheris mercenary was here," Shaun said, his heartbeat thudding in his ears.
Aldric leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Valtheris… a kingdom of mercenaries and killers. Why would they attack us? We've never had trouble with them."
Shaun hesitated, then spoke carefully. "They sell their skills, don't they? Someone could have hired them."
Aldric's eyes darkened. "You think this was a contract? That someone paid them to attack us?"
Shaun nodded. "It's possible. And if it is, this badge might lead us to whoever is behind it."
Aldric stared at the badge, his thoughts spinning. For the first time in years, he felt a spark of hope. "If the attacker came from Valtheris, this changes everything. I'll go there myself and find out the truth."
Geralt, who had been standing quietly in the corner, stepped forward. "My lord, if you go to Valtheris, it will cause suspicion. A noble from Eldoria suddenly appearing in their lands might be seen as a threat. They could even take it as an act of war."
Aldric frowned, frustrated. "Then what do you suggest? We can't just ignore this."
Shaun stepped forward, his voice steady. "Let me go."
Aldric's head snapped up, his eyes widening. "What?"
"Let me go," Shaun repeated. "They don't know my face. I can disguise myself and move through Valtheris without drawing attention. I can find out who did this."
Aldric's expression hardened. "Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."
Shaun met his father's gaze, determination burning in his eyes. "I'm not a child anymore, Father. I've trained for this. And if there's even a chance this badge can lead us to the person who killed Mother, I have to try."
Aldric opened his mouth to argue, but Geralt spoke first. "He's right, my lord. Shaun is capable, and he won't attract as much attention as you or any of our men."
Aldric hesitated, looking between Shaun and Geralt. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders dropping. "Promise me you'll be careful."
Shaun nodded, his heart set on his goal. "I will."
Geralt added more details about Valtheris. "Valtheris is unlike any place you've known," he warned. "Strength rules there. Mercy is weakness. If the man who carried this badge was a Valtherian mercenary, then he was no common soldier."
Shaun listened carefully. "Then I'll have to be cautious. I'll disguise myself as a traveler or a merchant. No one will suspect anything."
Aldric's face softened, but worry still clouded his eyes. "Valtheris is dangerous, Shaun. Their laws are strict, and they don't trust outsiders. If you get caught…"
"I won't be caught," Shaun said firmly. "I'll be careful. I'll blend in. And I'll find the answers we've been searching for."
At dawn, Shaun stood at the manor gates, a bag on his back and a sword at his side. He looked back at his home, his heart heavy but determined. I'll find him, Mother. I promise.
Aldric stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Shaun's shoulder. "Come back alive. That's an order."
Shaun met his father's eyes, determination shining in them. "I will."
As he rode away, Aldric watched until he disappeared into the distance. Be safe, my son.
Aldric let out a slow breath, rubbing his forehead as he looked at the badge again. "This changes everything," he muttered. He didn't like the idea of Shaun going alone, but he knew his son was right—this was their best chance to find answers.
But he couldn't just leave it to fate.
"You heard everything," Aldric said without turning around.
A man in a hood stepped forward. "Yes."
"I need you to follow him," Aldric said. "Stay out of sight. He mustn't know you're there."
The man gave a small nod.
Aldric's fingers tightened around the badge. "Protect him. No matter what."
Without another word, the hooded man disappeared, leaving Aldric alone with his thoughts. Be safe, my son.