Chapter 200
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 200
Chapter 200
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
The face of his sister, who just a moment ago was spitting venom without any restraint, turned pale in an instant.
Varkas did not realize he was holding her by the neck until he faced that expression of panic.
He felt the cold sweat break out on her sun-baked, tanned skin, so he lightly pressed his thumb against his sister’s racing pulse while whispering in a faint voice:
—It seems that your ability to assess the situation is extremely deficient.
He did not exert considerable force; even so, his sister’s face turned the color of the earth in the blink of an eye. It was a reaction worthy of a spoiled young aristocrat who had never faced a physical threat in her life.
Varkas twisted the corner of his lips ironically and continued in a dry, emotionless voice:
—Even though you saw with your own eyes how far your brother is capable of going for the sake of that woman you insult, you still ignore the rules of behavior.
—B-Brother……
—You must understand that my indulgence has limits, even if my father spoiled you to excess.
Her reddish-hued eyes flooded with tears from the shock.
Varkas looked at her without an ounce of pity and added in a deliberate tone:
—If you dare to insult my wife once more, you will pay the price. You had better behave yourself while I continue to treat you as a member of my family.
Lina swallowed hard, and a shiver ran down her neck, which had tensed like stone.
He withdrew his hand and then directed his stern gaze toward the servants and castle guards who had gathered near the back door, dictating his orders in an icy voice:
—I order that the young duchess be confined to her room as well. Take her to the independent pavilion immediately.
The soldiers surrounded Lina instantly.
Varkas observed the scene with apathy and turned around to leave, but a voice laden with resentment erupted behind his back:
—Why do you take her side to that extreme?!
He turned around again and saw his sister’s face flushed a bright red, on the verge of bursting into tears from helplessness.
She raised her voice sharply, unable to contain her rage:
—Because of that woman, you almost died! Everyone said you would never wake up. You have suffered a terrible betrayal, brother!
The echo of her sharp voice resonated throughout the esplanade.
Varkas clenched the knuckles of his fingers, which trembled subtly, and confined himself to contemplating his sister’s face in silence.
It seemed that Lina read the terrifying latent fury in that gaze, for she staggered backward while gasping for air.
Varkas let out a sigh full of weariness:
—You really do not understand words, —he muttered between his teeth, and then nodded his head toward the soldiers—: Take her away immediately. And do not allow her to take a single step out of her room until I authorize it.
Lina tried to protest, but the soldiers quickly restrained her, as if seeking to protect the young duchess from a worse punishment.
However, the girl, who did not understand their intentions, continued to scream at the top of her lungs.
Varkas left all that clamor behind and crossed the esplanade.
Upon leaving the back garden, he saw his escorts waiting at the entrance of the inner wall; only at that moment did he remember that he had to attend the assembly of the council of notables of Calmore.
He raised his head to calculate the position of the sun and then issued an order in a formal tone:
—Cancel all afternoon commitments. Send a messenger to the meeting room.
—Are you feeling unwell, my lord? —asked the company commander with a worried look, for he knew well that the Duke overexerted himself with an exhausting schedule before having fully recovered.
Varkas shook his head with indifference:
—I heard that the Duchess’s wolf has disappeared. It is possible that it has slipped out of the castle. Deploy the soldiers and search for it.
The man blinked in astonishment, but soon understood the gravity of the situation and ran toward his subordinates.
While the commander transmitted the instructions, Varkas moved along the outer wall.
If that beast had truly managed to elude the eyes of the guards and leave the castle, that meant there was a secret passage hidden somewhere in the wall; and perhaps she also used that passage to enter and leave.
Upon reaching this conclusion, Varkas clenched his fist tightly.
If a secret passage appeared, the accusation of heresy that weighed upon her would gain even more weight, and the testimonies claiming to have seen the Duchess at the pagans’ meetings would gain greater credibility.
He brought his hand to his forehead as he felt the sensation of having his brain cauterized with a red-hot iron intensify.
Suddenly, a question assaulted him: why was he trying so hard?
That woman did not care about anything.
She did not care about him.
Not even about herself.
It seemed that nothing had value to her except that wolf pup.
Varkas let out a dry laugh.
He thought that perhaps it would be better if that wolf disappeared forever; wouldn’t he rid himself of an additional headache with that? What was the point of searching for it and returning it to her?
Varkas looked at the cloudy sky with eyes clouded by exhaustion, but soon regained his composure.
Even if it was not at her request, he could not leave that beast loose.
If ‘Kan’ caused any trouble, the blame would fall on her, and it would be he who would have to assume the responsibility of amending the matter. With an ironic laugh at himself, he resumed his deliberate steps. He intended to leave the castle to inspect the forest of ‘Armond’; there was no other place where that beast could hide.
He crossed the inner wall and headed toward the north gate, when he felt a strange movement near him.
He instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and turned to examine the surroundings.
He saw a huge silhouette pass like an arrow through the bushes of the small garden arranged near the castle church.
He pursued that colossal silhouette immediately.
He made his way through the dense undergrowth, and before him appeared a small courtyard located behind the church.
As he crossed the place with long strides, he stopped suddenly; he saw a small broken tombstone placed at the back of the orderly backyard.
Varkas approached and noticed the presence of a pile of withered flowers accumulated around the tombstone, so he frowned.
There was no inscription engraved on it, but it was polished with care, as if it were constantly looked after.
While he leaned down to touch it in silence, he heard a rustling near him.
Varkas turned quickly, and his face hardened upon seeing the gray wolf standing in the middle of the thick undergrowth.
The wolf was completely soaked, as if it had been submerged in water; its gray fur, heavy with moisture, seemed to turn black, while clumps of mud clung to its paws.
Varkas stood up cautiously.
The wolf observed him motionless, and he felt a strong murderous instinct emanating from its eyes, so he took a step back and pronounced the beast’s name:
—Kan.
At that moment, the wolf pricked up its ears and lowered its head slowly.
Varkas examined it carefully and continued speaking in a moderate tone:
—Your mistress is looking for you. It is time for you to return to her side.
The wolf stared at him for a long time, and then turned its head toward the tombstone.
Varkas narrowed his eyes as he noticed flashes of sadness pass through the beast’s blue eyes for an instant. A deep suspicion invaded him; this animal not only seemed intelligent, but it gave the impression of experiencing joy and sorrow exactly like humans.
Was it truly a Dire Wolf?
There were not many cases of domesticating monsters as pets, so he did not know if this creature’s behavior was normal or not.
While observing the wolf with eyes full of suspicion, he extended his hand as a test.
Chapter 200
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
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