The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 171

## THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 171

### Chapter 171

### THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)

Thanks to greatly hurrying their pace, they managed to reach the plains of Norden much faster than anticipated.

Varkas emerged from the forest of Argand, composed of millions of oaks, and guided three hundred of his warrior riders across the vast fields.

How much time did they spend riding in that manner? Beyond the horizon, a massive city appeared surrounded by sand-colored walls, with large and small villages formed around it.

Varkas spurred his horse toward it in a single impulse, and began to examine the surroundings leisurely as he advanced along the dirt road, where wooden buildings and scattered domestic orchards were lined up.

The inhabitants of the territory, who were pulling weeds from the orchards or thinning out the crops planted in early spring, took off their hats in a sign of respect.

Some children gathered at one side of the road gazed at the riders mounted on their enormous warhorses with looks full of admiration. It was a scene that, at first glance, overflowed with tranquility.

Varkas examined the faces of the inhabitants with narrowed eyes and then directed his horse straight toward the city gate. At that moment, the guards stationed atop the watchtower blew the horns with a long blast to announce the news of the Grand Duke’s return to the entire city.

—We welcome your return!

The instant he crossed the city gate and entered it, a deep voice resonated above his head.

Varkas looked up as he caught sight of a robustly built young man striding down the steps connected to the wall, and frowned.

The man approached him with the agility of a leopard, flashing a jovial smile while his hazel eyes shone with intelligence.

—News has reached us that the war is about to end. You have gone through many hardships all this time, brother.

Varkas examined him thoroughly with a gaze that possessed a particular gleam.

Since Lucas was on a military campaign in the northeast region when Varkas passed through Rydego Castle the last time, it had been nearly a year since they saw each other face-to-face like this.

Varkas dismounted with a leap from Turco’s back and gave a light pat on the shoulder of his brother, whose stature now rivaled his own.

—I barely recognize you.

—I have spent the whole day under the scorching sun, so the tan has darkened my skin —Lucas laughed, joking with him—. It seems that you, brother, have lived avoiding the sun’s rays. Your skin is as white as that of the people from the north.

Varkas ignored his joke and pulled the reins to step aside from the main road, clearing the way for the knights lining up behind him to enter.

As the riders entered the city one after another, he inspected the checkpoint.

—Did any particular problem arise during my absence?

—Nothing beyond what was written in the last dispatch you received, brother.

The young man shrugged his shoulders and spoke as if the matter were of no importance. However, his jovial face harbored a strange tension. He sighed with annoyance before continuing.

—Although, it is likely that a misfortune will occur soon. Regarding that animal my sister-in-law raises…

Lucas spoke in a complaining tone, but noticing Varkas’s gaze, he quickly corrected the title:

—Due to that animal your wife raises, the entire city is in an uproar.

—The dispatch stated that my wife is suspected of heresy because of that beast —Varkas murmured with a voice completely devoid of emotion.

Lucas looked at him sideways, then let out a sigh of relief and scratched the back of his neck.

—The vassals exaggerated a bit. To be more precise… it would be correct to say that she is being criticized because she incites heresy.

—And what is the difference?

—I mean that those who suspect your wife is actually immersed in heretical ideas are very few. It’s just that some ignorant people are prattling strange things because of that beast —Lucas said, as if trying to defend her.

Varkas, who held the reins and walked slowly along the main road, looked at him with narrowed eyes.

—What is it that they are prattling about my wife?

—That…

Lucas paused for a moment as if organizing his thoughts, and then continued speaking rapidly:

—Isn’t your wife a figure who draws attention by nature? And on top of that, she walks around accompanied by a wolf the size of an ox… Since that sight is highly impressive, some inhabitants have begun to link the matter with the legend of Teramir.

Varkas, who thought she was only being criticized by the believers of the Empire’s church simply for raising a beast, stopped in his tracks.

—Do you mean they believe my wife is the spirit of the earth or something of the sort?

—Those who truly believe in that are a minority, probably —Lucas said in an uncertain tone—. But… what is certain is that your wife is inciting the local beliefs of the East. At least, that is what they think in the Grand Cathedral.

Varkas directed a gaze as cold as ice toward the imposing tower of the Grand Cathedral that rose in the west of the city.

Lucas observed this sideways and continued with his explanation in a calm tone:

—The conflict intensified since last spring, after your wife showed up at a festival celebrated outside the walls. As soon as the inhabitants of the villages saw the Grand Duchess appear alongside the wolf, they raised a great fuss as if the incarnation of Teramir had manifested. Since then, the entire city resonates with the story of the young and beautiful Grand Duchess and the giant wolf. And this…

—Seems to have provoked the priests unnecessarily —Varkas intervened coldly.

Lucas nodded his head.

—Not only the priests; most of the devout believers of the Empire’s church in Kalmore think that your wife is bewitching the ignorant farmers. Furthermore, the corpse of a person torn apart by an animal was recently discovered in the northern region of Rydego Castle, and rumors began to spread claiming it was the work of the Grand Duchess’s beast. The atmosphere among the people is exceedingly bad in every sense.

Varkas, who had listened to the tale in silence, let out a slight, contemptuous scoff.

—Haven’t there been many incidents of people attacked by wild beasts due to wandering carelessly outside the castle? On what grounds do they spread such rumors?

—They are not entirely unfounded rumors. The deceased person…

Lucas cut his words short and looked around.

The main road buzzed with citizens who had gathered to witness the great lord and his knights, who were returning after half a year. Although the surroundings were noisy and everyone kept a certain distance so that the conversation would not leak, Lucas lowered his voice to the minimum:

—The corpse that was found belonged to someone who served your wife. You know… that healer your wife brought from the imperial court.

Varkas’s face tensed.

Immediately, he recalled that middle-aged mage with gentle features who was always at his wife’s service.

Lucas continued speaking with gravity:

—That healer was found with his neck torn apart by an animal. For that reason, everyone suspects your wife’s wolf. However, we have not been able to conduct even a formal investigation because your wife has defended it fiercely.

—Is there no one who actually witnessed what happened to that healer?

Lucas shook his head.

—It appears that he left the castle alone at dawn and suffered the accident. Everyone agreed that they did not see that woman all day.

Varkas remained silent, fixing his gaze on the imposing fortress of Rydego Castle that stood at the northern end of the city.

Based solely on Lucas’s words, it seemed as if all circumstances were turning against his wife.

Varkas pressed the space between his eyebrows with the tips of his fingers, then gripped the horse’s reins and advanced with a firm step through the busy thoroughfare.

—First, let’s return to the castle. I must see that beast with my own eyes.

Lucas and the knights followed him in silence.

Varkas left the congested area in the blink of an eye, and guided his mount across the vast plaza.

After advancing for a time through the slope and the gentle steps that led toward the north, the water moat surrounding Rydego Castle appeared. He crossed the drawbridge directly and passed through the massive arched entrance.

—Welcome back, Your Excellency the Grand Duke!

As soon as he entered the courtyard connected to the training area, hundreds of vassals ran toward him.

Varkas did not even cast a glance at them and headed with long strides toward the main palace. Finally, the imposing fortress that shone with a sand color rose right in front of him.

—You have gone through many hardships on your long journey, Your Excellency. You have arrived earlier than anticipated.

The instant he handed Turco’s reins to the servant and prepared to cross the entrance of the foyer, the white-haired butler came out hurriedly along with the servants.

Varkas bypassed the formal words of greeting and broke directly into the main topic.

—Where is the Duchess?

The butler swallowed hard and replied with a trembling voice:

—The… Her Highness left for the spring area around noon.

Varkas, who was about to enter the foyer, stopped and looked at him:

—The spring area?

—Since the wolf Her Highness raises is greatly affected by the heat… she heads to the spring area daily since the beginning of summer. It is likely she will return within an hour.

Varkas shifted his gaze toward the walking path connected to the back of the building.

—How many servants did she take with her?

—That… because Her Highness the Grand Duchess deeply dislikes having the maids follow her…

—How many are they?

—The guards you assigned with her are the only ones who follow her discreetly —replied Lucas, who had followed him, intervening in place of the bewildered butler.

Varkas narrowed his eyes.

This meant that woman carried the responsibility of looking after that animal alone, which was said to have grown to reach the size of an ox.

Varkas shook his hair brusquely and headed directly toward the back garden.

—There is no need for you to follow me.

He firmly stopped Lucas, who was attempting to accompany him naturally, and then crossed the walking path with long strides.

After passing through the small garden designed behind the castle, a small forest of dense bushes and trees appeared. And there, Varkas spotted the guards who remained standing, leaning their backs against the trees, so he fixed his gaze on them.

He had strictly entrusted them not to take their eyes off her even for an instant. And seeing them turning their backs, distanced from the target they were supposed to protect, was completely far from his instructions.

He grit his teeth and approached them.

At that precise moment, the sound of a crystalline laughter blended with the breeze.

Varkas, whose body tensed as if he had been paralyzed, turned his head slowly.

Among the dense leaves, the sun’s rays of early summer fell heavily. And amidst the flashes of that radiant light, Talia was laughing.

### Chapter 171

### THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)

Chapter 171

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