Chapter 14

When we arrived home, I introduced Astrid to my family and told them about her background. They looked quite calm outside but I know that they were racking their brains upon hearing Vitlaus Burvis' name. I told them that I have already hired her and even gave her a Moon brooch, the insignia of House Castellan.

The moon brooch's design was a sword that passed horizontally through a crescent moon. It was made of a special black metal that doesn't change color even if processed with diamonds adorning it. The design signified the promise that House Castellan will protect the Elleveire Kingdom against anyone who would harm it and keep it's people safe. In return, the gods and goddesses blessed the Castellans with tremendous powers. This had made House Castellan become known as The Sword of The Kingdom and the power behind the King.

Father agreed to let Astrid work for us without further questions to her background. On the other hand, Athy was still intent on interviewing her to know which position she would fit in.

Mother and Athy were both sitting on the sofa inside father's study. Father was on his desk, looking through some papers with Uriel and I acting as his assistants.

"Have you ever worked before? What position?" Athy questioned her.

"I was a mercenary before my lady." Astrid replied. "My position was a long distance combatant."

We all looked at her surprised. Athy turned her head to look at me questioningly before facing Astrid again.

"Ehem," Athy cleared her throat before proceeding, "then are you applying for a fighter position? Do you wish to become a part of the Knights of Noktis?"

"I would prefer to work as a maid my lady." Astrid answered forwardly.

"Have you ever had any experience working as a maid before?" Mother queried.

"I had worked as a cleaner for Vitlaus Burvis before he injected me with elf blood, besides that, I have been a mercenary." she answered.

"You said that you lost your memory, but it seems that you remember you past quite well." Athy proded.

"My memory starts at the laboratory my lady," Astrid clenched her hands into fists. "anything before that is blank."

"How long did you stay with him?" Mother asked her softly.

"My earliest memory was waking inside a cell by men, who I learned were guards later, telling me to hurry up and clean. I was one of the girls chosen to clean his resting place inside the laboratory." Astrid's forehead creased as she tried to remember as much as she could. "I couldn't remember who I was or my age, I only deduced that I was fifteen at the time of experiment because everyone else were fifteen. I also remember being called 'red' by the other captives and guards because of my red hair." she pointed at her head which made Athy's eyebrow raise in question.

"Your hair is black." I pointed out skeptically.

"My hair was originally red, my lady, it was blood red but I had the other escapee change the color to black before we separated." she explained.

"There are other escapees besides you?" Athy probed.

"Yes my lady, about ten of those who were injected with other kinds of blood revived the same time as me." Astrid answered.

"Where are the others now?" Athy asked with genuine curiosity.

"We all went our separate ways to avoid being captured again if ever Vitlaus Burvis noticed we revived after dying." Astrid answered fear evident in her eyes.

"Is he really strong?" I asked. "That Vitlaus Burvis guy?"

"I never saw him in a fight my lady, but I did saw him break the neck of a thrashing wild demon beast by hand." she shrugged. "I reckoned from that, that he is."

"I wonder who would win in a fight between us." Athy smiled. Somehow her smile sent shivers down my spine and Astrid visibly shuddered seeing it.

"I doubt he would stand a chance against you." Father raised his head to smile at Athy. "I'd bet that just those Orcs of yours would be more than enough to dispose of him."

"We won't know until he actually comes to pick a fight." Athy's smile faded and she shrugged before looking at Astrid again. "When you were a mercenary, what weapon did you usually use? What ability do you have?"

"I used a bow my lady." Astrid answered. "My innate ability is water control but with the elven blood was added, I was able to navigate my way around forests and would never get lost."

"Where is your bow now?" I interrupted which earned me an annoyed sigh from Athy. I made a face at her since she was not facing me.

"I lost it when I came with the kidnapped children from the south my lady." she answered.

"I see." Athy pondered for a while and we all waited for her to continue her interview.

"I will place you as a maid temporarily until we complete our hiring. Your duty would be to serve our mother as her maid in waiting." Athy decided.

"You notice those shadow-like servants working right now, right?"Athy asked pointing at the door and Astrid nodded. "Those are spirits I summoned from the underworld to serve us for the meantime. You would be working with some of them who I have appointed to serve my mother as well. They cannot speak as they can only speak the language of the underworld, but they can understand what you say. You will be their head and may order them about what to do, but be warned, they are ordered to kill anyone who would attempt to hurt my mother. No questions asked."

'Athy does not talk like a five year old girl.' I thought to myself. I smiled awkwardly at Uriel when our eyes met and father shook his head with a sigh. 'I guess we were thinking the same thing just now.'

Astrid closed her eyes and took a deep breath, most probably to calm herself, before looking Athy straight in the eyes and answering. "I understand third young lady."

"Good." Athy smiled sincerely this time. "Welcome to House Castellan."

Astrid stood up and bowed deeply to us.

"Thank you for your kindness." she answered holding back her tears.

'Astrid cries easily.' I slightly smiled to myself. 'A forty-six year old crybaby.'

Mother stood gracefully, her bright blond hair flowing down to her waist, and stood in front of Astrid taking her hand in hers. "Please take care of me Astrid." She said softly.

"Yes, my lady" Astrid answered nodding her head.