The Lull Before - Part 15.5
AN: I apologize for the horrible oversight on my part. In order to remedy this, I wanted to post what was meant to be Part 15. I do apologize ahead of time if there are any grammar mistakes, as I hurried to rectify my error and wanted to provide content for those of you who have already purchased the chapter. If there are any mistakes, please be sure to comment so I can fix them promptly. Thank you for your patience. <3
Prince Alfred appeared like a storm on the sea - swiftly and overwhelming. Nothing had changed of him, save the once composed expression, now freely transforming into a coalescence of volatile emotion. This was really no surprise - Baptist knew his master had a way of drawing out the deepest sentiments of even the most temperate men. But to see it on the General of the Frozen Army, the boy wasn’t sure whether he ought to be intimidated or distressed.
“Brother.”
The word came out not like a greeting, but rather a beg.
“Brother,” Heiko replied, his tone smooth, cool. Distant.
There was a quiet moment of consideration, a brief instant where the great general attempted to decipher the mystery he had grown up beside for seventeen years now. But, as all wise men knew when to throw in the towel, it did not take long.
His dark eyes flicked to Enri.
“Leave us.”
The kingsman hesitated.
“But my orders-”
“Dare to defy me,” Alfred asserted in a firm, stately manner. “And you shall reap the consequences that are bound to follow.”
But Enri was a stubborn man, who was far too comfortable as King Ingo’s right hand to take such a command laying down. Baptist wasn’t sure if it was his pride or his stupidity.
“By order of the king-”
“Gods grant him sense,” Prince Heiko cut in with a devious grin. “If he at all has brains that can hold it.”
“Indeed.”
The slave watched in absolute shock as Prince Alfred yanked the dirk from the sheath strapped to his leather belt.
“And so it shall be,” the magisterial man recited as he grabbed the front of Enri’s livery - a point of leverage for the whetted blade, now biting at the skin of his throat. “That for every act of disobedience towards the blood of Simo must be paid with the blood of disobedience.”
“Your Grace.” Enri sounded small compared to Prince Alfred.
“Is this an act of disobedience, Captain Enri,” Alfred continued, his body as still and unwavering as a sturdy oak. “Or is this a mere misunderstanding?”
“Of course,” the man replied, his voice now hoarse with strain. “It is but a misunderstanding.”
The great general remained steadfast for a prolonged moment more, before rescinding his weapon.
“Then you are relieved of your duties here.”
Prince Alfred sheathed his blade, waiting with a cold gaze as Enri made his way through the stables, back towards the servants’ entry.
He was a kind man, the slave was now realizing, though perhaps a bit awkward. Still, he was the kind of man Baptist would’ve liked to have as his own brother. If such were the case, he doubted very much that he would be a slave at all.
Not that he would ever dream of leaving Prince Heiko’s side.
“Little Ko, what has become of you?”
The boy’s master stiffened.
“There is something going on here.” Prince Alfred pointed to his own temple, though it was clear he was implying his younger brother’s schemes. “What possibly could come of divulging army intelligence to the Ilysians?”
“What does it matter, at this rate, Alfie?” Prince Heiko replied. “I am now an exiled prince. My word is no good anymore.”
“You deride me for my inability to see what is in front of me, Ko,” Alfred growled in frustration. “And yet you are the most mercurial person I have ever encountered! Not even the gods can match capriciousness!”
The unexpected nature of his volume hushed Prince Heiko, weighing his smirk down heavily.
“I want to help you, little brother, but I cannot if you do not explain to me what is going on. And you may call me dense, or dimwitted, or whatever clever barb that your immense mind can concoct, but it will not change me. It will not change what I can comprehend.”
He paused, eyes on his younger brother, as if awaiting a reply. When he received nothing, he pressed on.
“Tell me what tore your relationship with Ingo asunder.”
Prince Heiko shifted, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Alfie-”
“No divergences.” Alfred sternly intervened. “Tell me.”
“Your Grace,”
Rudolf’s voice seemed to stun Alfred long enough for his words to continue flowing without interruption.
“Indeed my lord is mercurial and capricious. And indeed, he shares no fond relations with the king any longer. But you are correct. His mind is clever and immense. And not an hour ago, you defended my lord’s honor in the throne room.”
“Speak plainly, Rudi.”
They must’ve truly been great friends at once, Baptist thought, for the captain’s words to have assuaged his indignation so efficiently.
“My lord acts the way he does for the sake of honor.” Captain Rudolf stepped forward, closer to Alfred, as if to have a more intimate conversation. “Ironically, my own honor binds me into silence. But I can say this much: all of your questions can be answered by that. Honor forced my lord’s hand in Ilyos. Honor tore asunder the relationship between the king and the prince. And honor is what keeps us silent.”
Alfred studied Rudolf, his gaze leaving nothing uncovered, nothing unseen.
“I said, speak plainly,” he replied eventually, but there was no fire behind it. It was quiet and passive, as if he was admitting defeat.
“Perhaps,” the captain continued. “This may offer some clarity. If I was given the chance to serve my lord all over again - knowing what was to become, knowing what disarray of events I would be carefully toeing around, knowing I would be forced to keep silent around my closest childhood friend - the moment to pledge my sword to him would not come soon enough. It has regrettably been a long while since you and I have been able to bond over drinks - or even bond at all. At least two years we have wasted living separate lives, but I can tell you this with great confidence. The friend I reveled with two years ago would be by my side now if he knew what I knew.”