ABH - CH 36.5 - Interlude Five - Deciding Factor

A/N: Sorry not sorry, i do not plan when I leave off on a terrible cliff, it just happens :P

Interlude Five

Deciding Factor

Rise of Winter, Week 5, Day 5

“Halt!” The Duke commanded, pulling on the reins of his horse and coming to a stop. 

Behind him, the whole contingent rushed to stop—a feat not so easily accomplished as they had been rushing to the border of Nemo and Dawn full speed ahead. With a large number of collisions, eventually they all were still and corralled around Duke Frederick. 

Frederick was the only member of the Nemo Ducal family present, but not for lack of care or desire. He had banned the remainder of the family from approaching the dungeon—he knew only the name of [Nemoan Martyr] and [Nemoan Protectorate], but the Duke was aware of old wounds that lifted from him the moment his granddaughter had left her Affirmation. It did not take away all the pain he felt, he still had the creak of millennia-old bones, but the new fissures caused by the injury to his knees?

Those were gone. 

Freddie had taken them upon herself. 

That much he had surmised, even if she never said so outright. The Duke had told her to keep the specifics to herself, and Freddie had obliged. 

Frederick was not under the misconception that it was an order she was forced to follow. It was one she chose to follow. As with everything his granddaughter had done after Awakening from her Slumber. 

She was not entirely changed, not truly. She still treasured the family, still hated sitting still, still had the underlying passion for life. But there was something different about her after her Awakening, something fierce and injured both. But it mattered not what had happened. If Freddie did not wish to share the truth of it, then he would not force it out of her. Freddie had shown the family her dedication the moment she Awakened and rushed to them. 

Had shown her willingness to at least hear their arguments—even if she would not be following their words. 

Duke Frederick stood stock still, staring off at the distance before turning to the dungeon masters and priests, the lords and ladies, the knights and assistants. And then, he declared:

“Under the authority of the Duke of Nemo, from this point on, your highest priority is to protect my life. The Heir to Nemo is linked to me, soul-bound. And I will not see my granddaughter perish before I can rip her out of the dungeon myself.”

Around the Duke, there were hushed whispers, mostly said by those from Oberon. The First Princess herself had a hard expression on her face. The Duke knew the use of the term ‘soul-bound’ would bring trouble to him. But they could not know the truth. 

They could not know it was granted by a Divine. One of the Ancients, at that. They needed to think it was a mundane thing, something enforced by a Skill of the [System]. Something that was impermanent. 

And above all else, they could not know the reason why the other Nemos were not allowed near the dungeon. 

Or why Freddie had been sent with months of rations.

“We continue!” The Duke yelled, his voice carrying over the winter wind to reach every member of the contingent. “Void Knights, encircle me!”

The Void, along with the other Lords and Ladies of Nemo, took positions circling the Duke. The noble heads were close, mere feet from their liege lord, whereas the knights were spread a bit further out. A few of the stronger knights were interspersed throughout the nobles—close enough to protect the Duke from treachery—but most kept their distance. 

The Dungeon Master and his apprentices watched as their protection dwindled and the man grew red in the face, as he opened his mouth, a heavy hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing tightly. Beside him, the First Princess shook her head. 

“Me and mine will protect you on the journey,” she said, her voice heavy with reproach, though the Dungeon Master was unsure if it was for him or the Duke. 

Shutting his mouth, the man nodded. There would be no arguing with the Heir to Maeve. Not from a man sworn to her family line in ways the general populace could not fathom. 

“We must hurry, Your Highness. Every moment the dungeon is allowed to grow is a moment closer to consciousness.”

Princess Ophelia nodded. “Sirs and Dames, encircle us. I will personally be overseeing the protection of Lord Dungeon Master.”

Around the princess, knights in armor of golden hues got into position. 

Then, they continued on their journey. 

It was a race against time. 

-

There was a laugh, small but true, as a being watched a girl rushing through a stone corridor.

It had no solid form, not quite, but it was getting there. 

Every moment it grew closer to finishing its fifth floor. A Divine number. A number of Power.

-

There was a scream, of fire and flame, of ember and ash, and a light appeared. It wanted to burn the world away. It wanted to destroy everything in its path. 

It was a being of anger, of rage and rampage, but it was still young. 

Still a flicker of desire. 

Still unformed. 

Still without a name.