Chapter 488 Creatures Of Instinct

Chapter 487: Creatures of Instinct

Lyria’s POV

"Was t-this all c-caused b-by the s-storm t-too?" I asked aloud, unable to conceal my wonder.

"In part," Duke Valenridge replied. "But by no means in the greater part."

I looked towards him with some curiosity.

"As you know, I had occasion to explore the town yesterday, and I observed that several of the buildings bore the marks of battle."

"S-sword m-marks?"

"Claw marks, Your Highness."

I stared at him, waiting for him to say more, but he continued upon his way as though he had spoken of nothing of any particular consequence.

"You forget that, though propriety has tempered our conduct, we remain at the last creatures of instinct. Nor is swordsmanship permitted within this kingdom, save to those of noble birth, or those in training to become knights" He paused then added. "And guards."

"B-but m-mercenaries c-carry them," I ventured.

Duke Valenridge glanced towards me.

"Are there, then, no rules that are broken?" he asked. "Pray tell me, Your Highness, have you ever seen, or so much as heard it reported, that a mercenary had engaged in a sword fight within the kingdom?"

I searched my memory with some diligence, and in all honesty I could not recall ever having heard of such a thing.

"N-no," I admitted. "B-but w-what of p-pirates?"

He laughed softly at that.

"Pirates, I fear, exist no longer, whatever you may have been led to believe."

My brows rose, astonishment plain upon my countenance.

"The greater number of the families who once lived by such means were absorbed into Blackmere when my ancestors were granted the dukedom, and relinquished that manner of living altogether."

"That i-is q-quite s-shocking," I said, "and y-yes, c-contrary to w-what I b-believed, it s-seems. B-but then w-why is s-swordfighting so r-restricted? There w-was a p-part of the s-selection p-process where you c-candidates d-demonstrated y-your p-prowess with w-weapons."

"And are we not all nobles?"

"W-well, y-yes, b-but..."

"One cannot say precisely wherefore it is restricted," he answered. "It is simply a rule which people follow."

He stepped over a fallen piece of timber, and offered me his hand across it. I took it, and released it again the moment I stood safely upon the further side, a circumstance he marked with the faintest curve of his lips, though he forbore to remark upon it.

"There are those who break it, of course, and there are those who have no interest in doing so. For who requires anything so affected as swordplay, when one might instead permit one’s nature to emerge, and battle without restraint?"

I considered his words.

"S-so the l-law r-remains m-mainly b-because p-people c-care l-little for it, f-for they are s-stronger e-either w-way."

"Precisely so."

He turned a corner.

"Mind your step. This ground was treacherous when I passed it yesterday."

I nodded, and placed each foot down with greater care. The earth had grown uneven and damp, and I gathered my skirts a little, that they might not drag through the mire.

It was only then that I perceived Duke Valenridge was leading me away from the town. At least, that was how it appeared.

Beyond the ruined houses stood a long line of trees, their branches forming a dark margin against the sky. The farther we walked, the quieter the town became behind us, until I could hear nothing but the wind among the boughs, and the soft fall of our own footsteps. In the palace there was always some sound to be heard, a rustle of silk, the closing of a door in some distant corridor. Here there was only stillness, and the steady presence of the gentleman at my side.

I glanced at the Duke.

"D-do you h-have p-plans to k-kidnap m-me, Y-Your G-Grace?"

"Now, curious wolf, had that been my purpose, I should have accomplished it a good while since."

"I d-doubt t-that."

His lips curved faintly.

"Do tell me, Your Highness, what was your design in selecting the members of your team?"

"D-do you h-hate that y-you are on m-my t-team?" I asked him.

"Have I afforded you any cause to suppose that I do?"

"I w-would n-not know, Y-Your G-Grace. After all, y-you are the one a-avoiding m-me."

He appeared genuinely startled by my words.

"Whatever should lead you to such a notion?"

"Am I w-wrong, t-though?" I asked. "Y-you left J-Jim’s h-home as though I h-had set you on f-fire. Then, when I t-tried to c-contact you, you had g-gone for a w-walk with D-Duke T-Thorncrest. And w-when you c-came back, you a-avoided m-me."

I told him.

"It was n-not u-until I a-announced that y-you would be w-working b-beside me that you f-finally g-glanced my w-way. D-do you d-dare d-deny it, Y-Your G-Grace?"

He regarded me for a moment, and then he stopped walking altogether, his gaze fully upon me.

"I was not avoiding you, curious wolf," he told me.

I gave him a look of the deepest disgust, for it was the worst falsehood I had heard in recent memory. His lips twitched at that, and then he spoke.

"Do you know, you are remarkably expressive? It is one of the qualities in you I find most endearing."

The words were spoken with such carelessness that I was almost persuaded I had imagined them.

Then he sighed.

"Yes, I was avoiding you. But it had nothing whatever to do with you."

"T-that i-is d-difficult to b-believe," I replied.

"I had a great deal upon which to reflect." He regarded me quietly as he spoke, his voice a soft murmur. "And you, curious wolf, have a tendency to distract me whenever you are near."

"M-me?" I asked, in genuine shock. "H-how?"

"That is for me to know, and for you to find out. And now that I have given you an answer, would you give me one of my own?"

"B-but you d-did n-not g-give me an a-answer," I argued.

"Did I not? Or is it that you do not find the answer justifiable?" he asked, with a tilt of his head.