Varcola - Arnfried's Journal: Gilpean 7th: Tales of Blood & Darkest Seduction

And more

Gilpean 7^th,

The Baroness was to visit me next, awakening me from my slumber. Asleep on the same chair that she had caught me dozing upon the last we spoke.

“T’would appear that you have taken a liking to this room,” She remarked politely if without the sort of warmth that anyone else might have uttered those words.

“Oh my lady, I am sorry seems that I fell asleep whilst waiting for you,” I murmured sleepily utterly shocked and bewildered by her sudden arrival in the library. Once more the window was open, when I had expressly closed it ere I had seated myself, before the unfinished record. “When did you arrive?”

“But a moment ago, brother,” She assured me at once.

Embarrassed, for I had the sense that she was lying to me, and did not much like the notion that she may have observed me as I slumbered.

“You really ought to take a seat, while I close that window,” I offered eager to escape her scrutiny for a moment, and happy to let her read through the record compiled hitherto this moment.

There had not been much progress made in that regard, though there was enough was the hope to distract her if briefly so.

In this matter my apprehension was rewarded with her making various comments regarding her melted away, the longer we discussed the history of her kindred. In time she was to remark, “Thy history of my family is quite remarkable, though if I may continue I should like to discuss with you the next generation after Mihaela and her sister.”

This startled me, so that I blurted out before I could stop myself, “But what of her latter-years? Last we spoke; she was still a young woman, one who fancied the invading Arns.”

“Indeed, she went on to wed him but briefly, wherefore he sought to establish himself as Jarl of the island, this she would not allow.” The Baroness stated without a great deal of emotion, shrugging her shoulders indifferently though there was a hint of bitterness in her voice. “He also wished to name his son by his previous marriage heir.”

“What happened next?”

“She turned once more to Captain Adam, to aid her which he did by slaying the youth.”

“The Captain seems to have certainly been loyal to her.”

“That he was, until…” Now her voice changed and darkened with hatred, “He turned upon his Baroness, claimed that his conscience could no longer abide the weight of his sins. So that he sought out the Jarl and revealed all to him, to which the man renounced his love for her and sought her destruction.”

“He betrayed her? Astounding, I had no suspicion that such may have happened,” I lied, though some of the surprise was genuine. How could any say that such a betrayal could inspire shock in any? Given the life the lady had lived was hardly surprising, it was merely a matter of how soon it had come about.

“Yes, though driven away, the Baroness was to depart into exile to the isle of Abanvoal with the lady aided at a later date by the current baron’s ancestor.” She explained, “Her reclamation of the island was to see her have her former lovers executed.” The dryness of this fact was almost mumbled as the lady showed little interest in the topic. Bewildered I might well have pursued it, if it was not for her declaring, “It happened that in the time of her granddaughter Mihaela, the castle was to be burnt down.”

“How so?” I interrupted, to which she smiled thinly.

“Those people who lived in the villages that dot the isle of Teufelburg rose up, just as the grandson of Bjǫrn arrived to press his claim to the island. They allied together, and rather than throw down the gates they were to set the keep ablaze, in a fit of rage. Outraged by this monstrous act, the Baroness was to command what knights of hers remained to chase them away, and when even these men betrayed her, she was to have her servant leave for the isles of Abanvoal, and for those lands near the shore where the eastern port is located. It was thereupon those lands that she secured the aid of the ancestor of the current mayor, who hurried to her rescue. The lady once assured of her rule once more, and the heir of Bjǫrn hounded out from her lands, dying with his children seized by Mihaela.”

“This is quite the tale!” I remarked rather confused by why the lady should find little joy in the telling of it.

“Hardly, it is a tale of dishonor and folly, on the part of Bjǫrn and his heirs, who had no claim to the isle, none that was legal in nature that is.” To these words I had no argument. In Valholant law triumphed over all else, after-all.

“What I wish to speak to you of, at present is of the Duke, and his role in the kingdom,” She said abruptly, keen it seemed to change the subject.

Pleased to be reminded of the true mission appointed to me, by the Chancellor on behalf of the Duke and Emperor, I could not help but feel irritated by this sudden change. Fond of history, to have the legs torn out from beneath me so to speak, in so brusque a fashion displeased me greatly.

I said naught at all, regarding this feeling of annoyance and instead stifled those sentiments in favour of duty. “But of course milady, the Duke Meinrad is a man of great prestige throughout the realm, and was instrumental in the Emperor’s election to his position. It is also, he who as good-cousin of his Eminence the Emperor has done much to bridge the gap between the Grand Divan and him. He has also fostered two of the Emperor’s daughters, thus his command in the matter of allegiance pledging is as good as that of his Eminence.”

“I see,” She said thoughtfully, “And the Duke is he an older man, or a younger one? Have you met him by chance?”

The question was an unexpected one. It ought to have been foreseen, yet for some reason the tale of the ancestress of Vârcola had lulled me into forgetting my reason for being here.

In truth as you well know Sieghild, we had met him though in my situation it was merely as the servant of Brother Benjamin. Serving as his secretary had never led to the Duke taking much notice of me, with this quest my hope to do so at long last.

Unsure of how to answer, I settled upon saying to her, “I have observed him in person, certainly milady.”

“Is that so? What of his age?”

“He is old milady, though he has sons and grandsons along with daughters and granddaughters,” I answered hopeful to assure her of the influence of his Grace, I boasted. “He has links via his siblings, their children, his cousins and several of his own children to all ruling clans of Valholant. His is the mightiest and most plentiful of all kindred, of the Empire.”

The disinterest that had entered her eyes at the mention of the age of the Duke soon faded and was replaced by a thoughtful expression when told of his kinsmen.

“What of the Duke’s invitation to court?” She requested reaching out one long-fingered, long-nailed hand that was reminiscent of the claws of a vulture. Passing it over, she was to read it at some length, startling me with her ability to read the letter with little difficulty. “I see, the Emperor wishes to have all the lords and clan-chiefs, and mayors of the Gernavian Isles pay homage to him.”

“Yes, and he is prepared to play host to all, by providing the castle of Vechgrăd or the monastery of Vechgrăn, whichever you should prefer.” I informed her pleased to have secured her assent to leaving for the mainland, “The castle Vechgrăd is to be found near the monastery which is just to the north-west and just outside the lands of the duchy of Adelburg.”

“I know where it is, young man,” She snapped a little more heatedly than expected so that her dark flaming eyes blazed with unexpected fire wherefore she saw me rear back so that she smoothed her expression at once. “My apologies, I am quite familiar with the location and geography though I have never visited that place before.”

Thinking it to have been a show of frustration at how poorly travelled she was, I apologized and remarked, “My apologies milady, how insensitive of me! Surely some compromise could be achieved, mayhaps Klove may go in thy place to pay homage? On account of your age, and all.”

“No!” The force with which she spoke was so firm and steely that once again I stumbled back a few steps. “He may not leave, for I require his presence at all times, to properly assist me in all matters.”

“Y-yes milady, if such be the case then it was foolish of me to propose otherwise.”

“Not foolish, but loyal I might daresay,” She said with sudden warmth patting me on the shoulder with a feeble old hand, her expression shifting to one of utter affection.

A small smile might well have escaped me, however it was at that moment that a sudden transformation overtook the Baroness’s face. It was not to remain fixed in place forever, yet it was nonetheless one of the most remarkable changes I had ever observed in any person, I had ever set eyes upon.

Her face changed from a cynical one, smiling almost smirking as might a vulture at its meal, or coyote at a kitten. It happened that it turned into an expression of such pure hunger and greed that I could only gape and almost trip over my chair to escape her.

When she noticed the change in my comportment, she looked up from where she had stared. Realizing how monstrous she had seemed as she loomed over me, desirous and predatory as might seem a beast, she pulled herself back with a sharp hiss of frustration. One that might have been torn from the lungs of a snake, or viper or so it seemed to me.

“My friend it appears that you have injured yourself,” Said Vârcola politely though her eyes still blazed with a dark luminous air that devoured all light and gave naught at all in return.

“Oh! This, yes it was over a bottle of ink that shattered when Klove startled me,” I explained keen to allay her concerns and my own, finding comfort in my own voice. “It was nothing, and he was most solicitous and cleaned the remaining shards for me.”

“I see,” She murmured quiet as the grave wherefore she said as though the thought had only just occurred to her. “If such be the case Brother Arnfried, I shall leave you, there is something that I must attend to that, requires my immediate attention.”

With those sudden words she disappeared out the door, at a brisk pace that could well have overtaken the swiftest of those ancient gods Hermes himself.

I write now in this journal to allay my own concerns, and to keep from trembling so fiercely did she frighten me earlier. I must confess that, at present Sieghild I shan’t wait to put my back, to this bleak place!