Chapter 34 Strange man
Lucien's steps back to the tower were calculated.
The thought of Isabella curled on his bed, sleeping from exhaustion, made his hands tremble.
Even as the king, he was slightly shaken from all that had happened in the last few hours. Yet, he knew more was to come.
It was not over yet.
The guard stationed at the door, bowed slightly before announcing his presence to the room.
“Your Majesty.” The elders bowed slightly as Lucien waved his hand, urging them to sit.
He glanced at the spot where Blackburn had just been beheaded. It was sparkly, with no indication of what had transpired some few hours ago.
The chattering in the hall had stopped as everyone looked at Lucien, wondering what his next step would be, Lord Sloane included.
“What we have witnessed here today, is one of a kind.” Lucien began, his voice firm.
“This has never been recorded in our history before. Never.” He emphasised the last word.
With each new sentence, Lucien's voice grew louder until it reverberated across the entire room.
“This is not the first time a King’s mate is from an unwanted clan. But this is the first time that an active elder in the clan had plans to frame the King's mate and executed them.”
He paused, studying their faces. “The power left to the elders of the clan made Blackburn unchecked.”
He turned to Harlan who was in a corner, his face still set in a scowl as he watched the proceedings.
“Lord Harlan,” Lucien growled. “You've just committed a punishable offence by killing an elder of the council.”
Murmurs erupted within the hall and quietened down almost immediately.
“What do you say?”
Lord Harlan cleared his throat hastily before standing up. “I know you all expect me to be filled with regret because I just killed a top elder of the Council, but I am not and I will not plead my case.”
He took some steps forward.
“I have been a bad parent and I want to make it right.” His voice broke and he inhaled deeply.
“We all sat here and watched as Isabella Thorne was humiliated and more or less imprisoned on a matter she had no hand in. And then you sit on your high horses and ask me why I killed Blackburn?”
His face was fiery. “I have no regrets whatsoever. Actually, I do have one.” He stopped. “I regret that I killed him in haste. He should have suffered for his sins and I will gladly do it again if given the chance to.”
The hall was eerily quiet, with most members of the council nodding silently.
Lord Harlan turned to Lucien. “With all due respect, Your Majesty. You have a son.”
Despite knowing where Harlan was headed, Lucien went against himself.
“You know how it feels to be a parent, and I know that you will protect him with everything you've got.”
He turned around as he walked slowly to his seat. “I have failed Isabella Thorne once. I will not fail her again.” He said and sat down.
Lord Sloane's sigh was heavy. Just like Lucien, he knew that Lord Harlan had just placed them in a difficult spot.
The right thing to do would be to strip Harlan of all his rights and earnings as a Council member for his actions, but the noble thing would be to let him go.
“Your Majesty!” Sloane called, resignedly.
“Very well then, Lord Harlan.” Lucien began. “This court has heard your defence…”
“That wasn't a defence on my part, Your Majesty.” Lord Harlan interrupted. “I'm not pleading my case. I'm only fulfilling my obligation.” He pointed out.
“Very well then, Lord Harlan.” Lucien continued, ignoring the man. “This court has heard your defence.” He paused slightly, daring Lord Harlan to interrupt him.
“We have heard your defense and frankly, some of us agree with you.” Lucien tried to ignore the image of Isabella's teary face appearing in his head.
“What you have done was/is noble, considering the situation and we have decided to pardon you.”
Isabella would have his head.
“However, we ask that you refrain from making wild threats against the families of Lord Blackburn.”
Lord Harlan curled his lips in disdain.
“Lord Harlan?” Lucien's voice rose.
“That can be done, Your Majesty.” He said grudgingly.
“Good.” Lucien nodded in approval. “Lord Blackburn will be buried tomorrow by Sunset. And he will be accorded all his rights earned as a long-serving Council Member.”
He rose, and the members of the Council rose, bowing slightly as Lucien exited the hall.
Sam was a few feet away from him. He'd recalled the young man back into his employ after his treaty with Isabella.
“Take me to Lord Casmir, Sam.”
The guard hesitated. “Your Majesty, are…are you sure?”
“Yes. Take me to see him.” Lucien's firm voice held no room for argument.
“Yes, My King.” He bowed hurriedly and walked to the Royal Infirmary.
Lucien walked behind him, murmuring greetings as he walked.
“We're here, Your Majesty.” He said, stopping in front of a heavily guarded door.
“Thank you,” Lucien muttered as he stepped into the room.
The smell of antiseptic hit Lucien as he scrunched his nose. He was reminded immediately why he hated the hospital.
“Look who came to see me.” Casmir's weak voice drew Lucien's attention.
“You're ready to have the last laugh?” He coughed as he tried to sit up weakly.
The attendant positioned in the room hurried over to him, but Lucien raised his hand, stopping her.
“Leave us alone, clear the room.” He said
She hesitated, the fright on her face evident. “My lord…” she turned toLord Casmir, but he merely waved her away. “I'll be fine.”
She hesitated, before leaving the room, closing the door gently behind her.
“I can still take you, you know.” Lord Casmir joked as Lucien helped him sit up.
“Not now, not ever.” Lucien's voice was tight as his eyes roamed over Lord Casmir.
“How is she doing?” He panted. Despite help from Lucien, sitting and talking was taking a tremendous amount of energy from him.
“Devastated.” Lucien's voice was tight.
“Ahh,” Casmir giggles, soon turning into another bout of coughing. He held his chest tightly.
“She's a gem.” He said that as soon as the cough reduced. He was wheezing. “You should take good care of her.”
“I know how to take care of my mate.”
“I heard Blackburn was killed by Harlan.”
Lucien merely nodded.
“It's not over. The battles, I mean.” He clarified when Lucien's eyes met his.
“What do you know?” Lucien's voice was almost pleading.
“That would be me giving you free tips.” He closed his eyes. “It's a shame I'm about to die. Would have loved to know how you would deal with this.”
“You're not dying.” The strain on Lucien's voice could be heard. “The best doctors are on site.”
Lord Casmir scoffed. “You should leave now.” He turned his face away.
Lucien opened his mouth to speak and closed it almost immediately as he walked to the door.
“Always take care of her. She is a gem.”
Casmir whispered to himself, his strength limiting him from speaking loudly, but Lucien heard him, loud and clear.
He stepped out, just as a wave of cool breeze hit him.
The attendant bowed quickly as she rushed back into the room.
“Let's go.” Lucien motioned to Sam.
They'd barely walked out of the gate, when her heart-wrenching scream filled the compound.
Unconsciously, Lucien shut his eyes as he slowed his movement.
“Rest easy,” he said looking up to the sky.
“I did exactly what you asked, now leave us alone.” Lord Harlan’s voice could be heard in his inner chambers.
“Leave you alone?” A voice retorted, laughing in amusement.
“I killed Blackburn. I almost had myself killed.”
“Yet, here you are, alive and healthy. Anyways, good riddance to Blackburn. He would have outed you.”
Lord Harlan’s voice rose. “He would have outed you.” He pointed at the strange man in his study.
“We are not done.” The strange man’s laugh travelled all over the room. “The war is far from being over.”
“What do you mean?” For the first time, Harlan’s voice trembled. “You promised to leave us alone.”
“I did.” He said simply as he picked up a book. “But I'm not done. At least not now.”
“And when will you be?” The question was foolish. Harlan knew, but he was at his wits' end.
“Oh c’mon, Lord Harlan. You know the answer to that question.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I regret having anything to do with you.” Harlan gulped fearfully.
“That's what everyone says. Yet, they are the ones who run to me for help. Just like you.” He stood up and walked confidently to the door.
He turned the knob before glancing back at Lord Harlan.
“Oh, and as for what I want, I want the Kingdom and everyone in it.”