Realm of Monsters - Chapter 692: House of Morrigan

Chapter 692: House of Morrigan

  Save for the encounter with the children, Stryg’s journey with the others was uneventful. Beatrix led them through several residential districts, each more imposing and wealthier than the last, until they came upon a massive castle that loomed over everything in its vicinity.

  Freya whistled at the imposing sight. “So this is where the Warlord of the East lives, huh?”

  “This is my family’s castle, yes,” Beatrix said.

  “So do we just walk in through the front gate or—?” Stryg let the question hang in the air.

  “This is a stealth mission, we are not trying to gather attention. Especially the warlord’s,” Gale reminded them.

  “I dunno, I think he’d be happy to see me,” Belle said.

  “You’ve met my father?” Beatrix asked.

  “No, but my mom is kind of a big deal here,” Belle said.

  “You’re mom?” Beatrix frowned and looked the dire vampire over. She couldn’t think of any vampire that was particularly a ‘big deal’ in Murkton. Then again, she had called Stryg cousin. Was she related to the Veres? Kithina had called her an Ashe, though.

  “Yeah. Lots of orcs in Murkton worship the scarlet gods, but all of them honor Bellum,” Belle replied.

  “Bell…um…?” Beatrix whispered, her yellow eyes widening as she stared up at the nonchalant vampiress.

  “Yeah. You know, Guardian of the Realm? Goddess of War? Patron of orcs? Daughter of Solis? My mom?”

  “Your mother is—? You’re not a dire, are you?” Beatrix asked.

  “No. I’m a titan,” Belle said.

  “A titan?” Beatrix had heard her say something of the sort while on the boat, but she had simply chalked it up to a reference to her height, not an actual walking myth come to life. Beatrix swallowed hard, “You are a god?”

  “Goddess. Well, more like a demi-goddess. My mom always calls me a godling, though. Stryg and I are sort of like baby titans, but don’t tell anybody,” Belle whispered the last part.

  “Haah…” Beatrix was beginning to consider the implications of having two divinely powered infants traveling with her on what was supposed to be a discreet mission.

  “I know, I’m still getting used to it too,” Nora patted Beatrix’s shoulder sympathetically.

  “Belle, didn’t you say your mother was heading to Murkton? She might already even be here. Do you want her to know you disobeyed her and snuck out of Hollow Shade?” Kithina asked.

  “Ah. On second thought, maybe I’ll just stay back here,” Belle said.

  Beatrix shook her head. “No, you’ll just draw attention if we linger in the streets too long. Besides, I never planned to take the front gate. Follow Me.”

  She led them down the street towards the back of the castle, where an outer wall protected the Morrigan’s private gardens. “This way.” Beatrix stepped through what seemed to be a solid wall, only for the illusion to break, revealing a postern door, guarded by one of the largest orcs Stryg had ever seen, a dire no doubt. He was as tall as Belle, maybe even a little taller.

  The guard drew his bastard sword before Beatrix had taken two steps. “Stop where you are or I’ll have your head.”

  “Relax, it’s me,” Beatrix removed her hood.

  The guard relaxed his grip. “Miss dai-Morrigan, what are you doing here?”

  “Trying to get into my home,” Beatrix replied.

  “Ah, of course, but… I was under the impression your father sent you to Hollow Shade with Lord Ivander? What are you doing here? And who are your companions?”

  “If I wanted to answer a million questions, I’d have walked in through the front gate. My reason for being here is between me and my father, your master.”

  He straightened up and stepped aside. “My apologies, Miss dai-Morrigan.”

  Beatrix pricked her thumb with her dagger and smeared the blood on the postern’s doorknob. A couple of red and brown sigils lit up, followed by an audible click.

  The guard nodded, satisfied at her accomplishment. “Have a good day, Miss dai-Morrigan.”

  Beatrix motioned with her head for the others to follow. After they had all entered the gardens and were certain they were alone, the group breathed a sigh of relief.

  “For a second, I thought we were going to have a repeat of that port town on our hands,” Freya said.

  “Don’t remind me,” Tauri grimaced.

  “That guard was huge,” Kithina said.

  “I could take him,” Belle shrugged.

  Callum chuckled, “I imagine you could.”

  “Don’t worry, he won’t be any trouble,” Beatrix reassured them.

  “Are you sure that guard won’t alert anyone about our presence here?” Kegrog asked. “I don’t want to get shot in the back.”

  “The postern door is enchanted to only open for a member of House Morrigan. The guard knows I’m not some impostor and if we’re all wearing these cloaks, he’ll just assume we were on some secret mission for my father,” Beatrix said.

  “An assassination mission,” Belle said excitedly.

  “We aren’t assassins,” Kithina said.

  “But we are on a secret mission,” Stryg replied.

  “Which is what exactly. I mean, I know we’re here to rescue Miss Tauri’s brother. But how are we going to do that?” Nora asked.

  “We’re almost at my private chambers. We can work out more of a plan when we get there,” Beatrix said.

  After leaving the gardens, Beatrix led them through a series of vast halls, each lined with intricately designed carpets. Tapestries of orcish victories hung from the walls. The group came across several servants, many dressed with collars, but when they saw Beatrix, they quickly bowed their heads and stepped aside.

  It didn’t take long until Beatrix stopped in front of a pair of large double doors, carved from a grey wood. Ashen wood from the trees of Stryg’s home. He’d recognize the color and grain anywhere.

  Beatrix fished for a key and unlocked the doors before quickly ushering everyone inside, then closed the doors behind her. Her private chambers were vast, with a waiting room the size of a commoner’s house. Several open doors lined the room, leading to a bathroom, bedroom, study, a small personal library, and a meditation chamber.

  “Ooh, this is nice, even for me,” Freya grinned.

  “You’ll all be safe here for now,” Beatrix said. “The servants will probably inform my father soon enough of my arrival.”

  “What will you do when Lord Morrigan finds out?” Callum asked. “Won’t he send guards here to fetch you?”

  “That’s why I plan to confront my father first. Tauri, Gale, and I already discussed a plan,” Beatrix said.

  “When was this?” Stryg asked.

  “You were sleeping or whatever it is you do with that book,” Beatrix said.

  “Maybe stop using that book so much, hm?” Gale gave her ward a dry look.

  Stryg ignored it and glanced at Beatrix, “So what’s this plan?”

  “I tell my father the truth, or at least most of it. Uncle Ivander was killed by a Sylvan archmage.”

  “That much is true,” Stryg nodded.

  “I’ll tell my father the Katags sent me back home, fearing for my safety, alongside several bodyguards, all of you. So long as Stryg doesn’t show his face, I think we can avoid suspicion.”

  “Yeah, he does stick out a bit, doesn’t he?” Kithina chuckled.

  “Always have,” Stryg muttered. “Okay, then what?”

  “Then I come in,” Tauri said. “I’m going to find my brother. I’ve been here before, I know my way around the guest’s wing. If anyone asks, I’ll say my father has sent me as the leader of Beatrix’s guard. And that I have a message for my brother.”

  “Which will give you a perfect chance to meet with Lucas and get out of here,” Stryg said.

  “Exactly. But we still need Beatrix’s help to sneak out without any trouble,” Tauri said.

  Beatrix nodded. “Unfortunately, knowing my father, he’ll have his spymaster interrogate me over dinner and try to find out everything that happened these last few days. Plus, my father will no doubt invite Tauri and Lucas for dinner too, they’re family.  Our best bet to leave this place will be tonight, after everyone is asleep, save the guards.”

  “So what do the rest of us do until then?” Stryg asked.

  “Wait here in the meantime. The servants will bring you food. You can use any of my rooms to rest, read a book, or meditate? Anything you like, really. Just stay here,” Beatrix said.

  Tauri kissed Stryg on the cheek, then turned to Beatrix. “Okay, ready?”

  She inhaled deeply and nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

  “Beatrix,” Stryg called out. “Remember our bargain. If you betray me…”

  “Do not worry. I very much enjoy living,” Beatrix bowed her head. “If you’ll excuse us.”

  Tauri gave Stryg a reassuring smile before following Beatrix out the door.

  “I’m going to go to sleep,” Nora yawned. “That boat was terrible for my back.”

  “Hey, guys, she’s got wine over here!” Kithina shouted from the study.

  “Ooh, what kind?” Callum hurried after her.

  “I’m gonna take a bath.” Freya smirked at Kegrog, “Care to join me, big guy?”

  “I, uh… I think I’ll go have a drink or something…” Kegrog’s scarlet face darkened to a deeper red.

  “Maybe next time,” Freya winked and sauntered into the bath.

  “I’ll join you!” Belle said excitedly.

  Freya stumbled, “Wait, what?”

  “I love taking baths! We can talk, catch up, tell stories, it’ll be so fun!” Belle said.

  Freya winced, “I mean, I’m not sure—”

  “Come on, let’s go.” Belle picked up Freya with ease and tossed her over her shoulder.

  “Wait, somebody—!” Freya looked at Stryg for help, but he didn’t see what was wrong. Goblins took baths in the river together all the time.

  The door to the bath slammed closed, leaving Gale and Stryg alone.

  “So, wanna talk about what happened with those couple of kids back there?” Gale asked.

  “What’s there to talk about?” Stryg asked.

  “After the port town, you told me that if the people of Murkton were the same as the orcs of that town, then they all deserve Lunae’s wrath. I don’t blame your decision and I don’t know if the people here are any different from those orcs, but today I saw how you were with those children… And I thought maybe you don’t hate orcs. I think you just hate the ones who hurt your people.”

  “I never said I hated all orcs. Tauri is an orc. And we’re here to save her brother.”

  “True, but you did use to hate Tauri.”

  Stryg cracked a wry smile and scoffed lightly. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “You know,” Gale’s voice grew solemn, “Lunae does hate the orcs. She hates all of Murkton. If the Sylvan attack this city, win or lose, it won’t just be soldiers from both sides who suffer. It’ll be children like the ones we met today.”

  Stryg sighed and leaned back on the wall. “I know,” he muttered.

  Gale gave him a sad smile. “Well, I’m going to go meditate. I’ll be here if you need me.”