Chapter 315- Honorable Houses

Honorable Houses

Young Master Cleft knelt alone in the large hall. Even in this late summer night, the coldness from the hard stones penetrated and chilled his bones. The hanging torches did little to aid in comforting him since they spaced out too few and far.

With a weary groan, the timber doors finally opened to allow the entry of a small procession. The wizened leader whose lush golden hair had aged with time to thinning snow stepped towards the lone high chair.

Behind him, a burly figure in his prime sporting yellow-hair along with a slender grey-haired man followed to stand at either side. The accompanying elders of the clan positioned themselves on either side of the hall while gazing at the kneeling teen at the center. The arriving occupants did little to fill the vast expanse of the stone hall. The hanging torches cast their wavering light onto the solemn shadows.

After what seemed to be an eternity, the seated figure harrumphed and snorted.

"This old man has carried the glory of Clan Cleft as left by his ancestors. Now I live to bear witness that my grandson has cast our face into the muddy bogs..."

Casting a furious glare at the bowing straw-haired teen, he continued

"Our clan has always maintained the quota of four Sersens who have pledged absolute loyalty. Fortune had blessed us five years ago when your uncle joined their ranks a few months before old Gim passed. With the wealth we saved, I had hoped to launch an expedition to allow another member of our family to try their luck. Who knew, just before the Ancient House competition no less, that my grandson would send a precious Sersen to his doom."

"Grandfather, I..."

"Halt your tongue! You dare call me grandfather?!"

The old man leaped from the chair with his face contorted in rage.

"Have you forgotten the responsibility that comes by holding the title of an Ancient House? Should those vile demon beasts ever threaten the walls of this city, our oath is to either defeat them or perish along with the city. To uphold our titles, every Ancient House sends family members to serve in the Military or supports mercenaries in scouring the Pass. Because of this showing of good faith and honor does the Military and even the Tower shower us with little favors."

"Then isn't it our responsibility to ensure that houses who don't deserve this title be booted out..."

Pa!

A grizzled haired man strode forward and slapped the teen on his face on hearing his words. Scowling at the toppled boy holding his cheek, the man retreated to the side before speaking.

"You dare question the patriarch while in the midst of punishment? It seems like I have been too lenient to this son of mine."

The white-haired patriarch raised his hand. In form and character, this grandson of his excelled among the others within the clan in the same generation. Unfortunately, the show of favoritism seemed to have clouded his young mind. Shaking his head the patriarch sighed and then reseated himself onto the engraved chair. Exhaling slowly, he quelled his anger so as to clear his thoughts.

"Boy, it looks like pride has squeezed out the past lessons from your head. Understand this lesson well. Every Ancient House has no time to dabble in each other's business. The only focus I or the other leaders have is to strengthen our clans so as to defend this city when summoned. As a young master groomed to one day where you might hold the position of patriarch, it is high time you graduate from playing children's games with your friends."

"But..."

"Hmph, I really doted on an idiot. Why do you think the challenges for the titles occur without any objections by any house? Deep down every patriarch who lives in Frost City knows the terrors inside the Pass. They also know the very survival of the city depends on power. Even I would rack up and leave this mansion when defeated since the city is protected by someone more capable. As for those challengers who think that only wealth and honor awaits them when they earn this title, hmph! Wait until the North Pass has problems. Then they will know how we bleed for the Empire."

The old man grumbled from his chair while locking eyes with his grandson. As a leader of an Ancient Noble Clan, he was well aware of the wily ways of most nobles. Those from the ancient houses, however, rarely placed the welfare of the city above their own. Like most Ancient Houses, he also maintained relations with those old nobles who once held the title of Ancient Houses. Even if relegated to working-class nobles, true ancient houses maintained their pride and honor of rising to always fight for Frost City in times of need.

"By your actions alone tonight, you have abused a powerful Sersen whose sole responsibility was to keep you safe. You will pay the price to support him and any family members during your lifetime. I also hope you learn from this lesson. Chose your friends wisely otherwise you will not even know when you have fallen off a cliff. You should grasp by now who pointed your fat pride against Clan Willow. The disciplinary Elder will now cast your punishment..."

Young master Cleft remained with his head bowed while hearing the charges and punishment mettled out. His heart trembled since he knew the harshness of his penalty stemmed from the loss of a dedicated Sersen. Not even his grandfather nor father would object to this sentence.

When the winner had been announced for the last battle, he nearly lost his honor in wanting to kill the victor. Only because of his ingrained training as a noble of clan Cleft did he manage to control himself. On the defeated journey home, and the impending punishment at the loss of a mighty Sersen did his mind wander in contemplation. The words of his grandfather clarified the pulsing thoughts of doubts since he now knew he was a simple pawn.

Before accepting his penance, however, he steeled his heart although his body shivered. The loss of the Sersen solely occupied the previous discussions of his grandfather and elders because of its importance. There remained one issue that also ranked high on the priority list but which they had not yet been informed.

His burly uncle standing beside his grandfather might be a Sersen but he usually focused on training and increasing his Sersen abilities. His grandfather and father, however, possessed reputations as well-known copper-pinchers among the Ancient Houses. They would suffer to eat week-old rock bread rather than let it waste. By their honor and miserly conduct, Clan Cleft could achieve the wealth required to prepare for a demon beast expedition.

Gulping down his saliva from entering a dry mouth, young master Cleft cried out.

"Patriarch, I have sinned and sent our clan on the path to ruin."

The old man raised his hand on seeing his grandson kowtow heavily onto the stone slabs. On each rise, his heart softened on spotting the growing bruise on the bleeding forehead of his grandson.

"Halt! The discipline matched the charges. Although we have lost a Sersen, my Cleft Clan is not weak as to fall into ruin. Strive and grow stronger for our clan."

Young master Cleft watched the disappointed face sitting above him and then cast his eyes to the side in shame.

"Grandfather, no Patriarch, punish me. Besides the loss of a powerful loyal Sersen, your grandson has accumulated debt."

"Pshaw! Merely a few gold coins between frivolous boys. Nothing to speak about. Which noble never wagered a few silvers."

The old man waved his hands. He had also been young and brash in his time.

Young master Cleft knew firsthand than his grandfather then and now were two different entities. Reported gambling losses by his generation usually ended up being withdrawn from their allowances. Recalling the thick stack of signed parchments walking away with that boisterous fatty nearly caused him to retch.

"Forgive me, patriarch but it is like this..."

Old Master Cleft slumped onto his chair seemingly aged by a few decades. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the beaten teen lying in the center of the hall. Noticing the pitiful eyes peeping from the swollen face, another rage of anger erupted from within. Clenching his red palms that participated in the previous beating, he hollered,

"Slan! Beat that wretched son of yours again! Beat him! His actions last night have sent my Cleft Clan into the brink of poverty! How will we open our doors when those nobles and clans come knocking for their coins? What idiot sends his friends to wager while bearing the costs? Whether we lose our honor by denying their claims or pay the debts to empty our coffers we have lost all face."

He grimaced on recalling the narration by his unfilial grandson. Staring swords at the teen, he spluttered while suppressing another wave of anger.

"Well! Well, you have really forced this old man to live forever because no way in hell can I die and so come face to face with my ancestors. You had better pray to the heavens that this will merely be a joke between foppish young nobles..."

***

At the gathering of the family meal in the morning, the servants brought back the early morning gossip from the markets. Most of the news revolved around the princess who kept to herself within the forgotten palace. A few reported on the price of corn and flour which remained stable despite the rumors of a single merchant clique who controlled it from the shadows. The farmers in the market also primed themselves on the unexpected bonus this year from selling fermented Indigo Mellons.

As the elder in control of information-gathering casually shared the reports across the table, he paused and then cleared his throat. A look of discomfort like that of a constipated man ran across his face and body. The action did not escape the narrow yet sleepless eyes of the tired patriarch.

"What else, out with it."

He snapped.

The short bearded elder coughed before continuing with his eyes shifting from the glaring leader to the parchment in his hands.

"The main gossip this morning on the streets and in the market centers around the astonishing happenings at the Caressing Inn. The well-known spendthrift hailing from Seastone City unexpectedly won a considerably sum of gold in wagers placed between young masters. The whole city knows he intends to ride around on his carriage tomorrow to collect his winnings from delinquent young noble masters who refuse to honor their agreements by tonight."

The elder coughed while keeping his eyes glued to the scroll.

"The servants also reported that a lot of merchants and commoners plan to tag along with that procession so as to view those so-called honorable nobles. Incidentally, this morning a messenger from the Davis House arrived to inform us that his patriarch plans to visit us this morning. From the discussion with our young master last night, it seems like the young master Davis was one of those who placed a losing wager of a thousand gold coins under his instruction..."

Patriarch Cleft spurted out the precious tea he only savored during the morning. Instead of weeks to spread, this gossip appeared to have blazed across the night like wildfire. Curse those servants and their loose tongues at that debauchery inn.

"Drag that brat out of his penance, see if I don't beat him to death today! Ahhh!"

****