Tristan

Grytia – Late Autumn

Tristan didn't get a chance to savor the fact that the campaign at Brynhal didn't last for more than two silver moons, which meant he could quickly return to Grytia and stay at Alina's side.

At first, he sensed that something was amiss when he returned to the castle and did not see Klara in the great hall, greeting him like she normally would whenever he returned from war. Unless if Sophia had given her other orders, which was most probably the case.

And then, when he went to Alina's chamber, he realized that something truly terrible had happened...

He barely opened the door and took one step inside. Only to stop in his tracks and find his heart freezing as he saw the anguished expression on her face. The first thing that came to his mind was their child, and his eyes instantly fell towards her belly, which he found quite fuller than the last time he remembered. Reassured that their child was obviously fine, he finally found his voice.

"What's wrong Alina?"

The next moment, he found her rushing towards him and hurling herself into his arms.

"Alexander!" she sobbed, a heart wrenching bitter sob that made Tristan shudder. "He's gone!"

"What do you mean gone?"

"Sophia... ordered her guards to sell him... away! They cut off his tongue and –"

A loud crash exploded behind them.

Tristan turned around at once, just in time to catch a glimpse of Jared's white wings disappearing outside the door.

"Jared stop!" Tristan called as he chased after him. But Jared had already reached the other end of the corridor, and in an instant he spread his massive wings and took a dive down to the great hall.

Tristan cursed beneath his breath as he ran at the top of his lungs, sprinting down the stairs to catch up with Jared. He finally reached the foot of the stairs, when he heard smashing sounds and screams coming from the great hall.

"Jared!" he growled, straining his legs as he ran faster, until he reached the hall entrance. And his heart froze.

Jared had always been notorious for his vile temper, but what Tristan witnessed now was something he had never even imagined before.

The furious dragon was already halfway through the hall, swinging his massive war sword around, slashing whatever met his blade. Tables crashed and lanterns shattered against the floor. Ornaments and sculptures burst and smashed. Tapestries were ripped apart and stone crumbled off the pillars and walls.

Slaves cowered in the corners, whimpering and trembling in horror. And at the main table Sophia was standing with wide eyes, her ladies in waiting shivering behind her. Four royal guards stood before her, their swords raised and their legs shaking, while Jared came at them like a storm.

"Jared!" Tristan finally caught up with him. But he barely had a chance to stop him, when Jared suddenly thrusted his sword forward, piercing the guard who stood in the lead.

His blade rammed right through the guard's open mouth, and out through the back of his head. Jared's eyes bulged as he glared at the impaled guard, and after a long moment of staking him in midair, the sharp hiss of his blade followed as he pulled it out, and the guard's body thudded onto the ground.

Stunned silence filled the hall, only interrupted by the muffled whimpers of slaves and ladies in waiting, and the gurgling sounds of the dying guard.

"Jared put down your sword," Tristan ordered, his voice shaking both in horror and fury.

But Jared did not comply. His sword remained raised before him, its wide blade glistening with the wet blood of its earlier victim, now aimed towards the Princess.

"Jared, you are raising your sword against Her Royal Highness!" Tristan growled. "I command you to get down on your knees at once and to drop that sword!"

Jared turned around towards Tristan, his blade still raised high and his eyes still glaring. For a fleeting moment Tristan thought that Jared was going to strike him too, only to find him slowly lowering his blade, finally complying. But the moment his knees touched the ground and his sword left his hands, Sophia's three remaining guards charged at him, their own swords raised.

"Stop!" Tristan growled. "Nobody touches him!"

The guards halted, though they kept their blades pointed dangerously towards Jared, fully cornering him.

"Sophia, ask your guards to step back," Tristan said, not taking his eyes off Jared who was still panting and shaking with fury.

"He dared raise his sword against me," Sophia finally spoke, her voice strong and steady as if nothing had happened at all. "And you want me to ask my guards to stay back?"

But Tristan ignored her question. He only continued to watch the scene before him in utter shock. Sophia's remaining guards still circled Jared, while a large pool of blood had grown beneath their dead leader. Jared knelt unarmed, shaking and panting heavily, unquenchable rage still burning within him.

"Jared, I want you to go back to your chamber," Tristan ordered.

"What did you say!" Sophia snapped. "He raised his sword against me and you are simply letting him go?"

"Silence!" Tristan warned.

"What he did is punishable by death!"

"I said silence!"

"He is sworn to my father and myself, and yet he raised his sword against me. He committed high treason!"

"Damn it woman I said silence!" Tristan roared, his eyes glaring at the Princess.

"You will not raise your voice at me," Sophia glared back at him.

"And you will not speak another word without my permission," Tristan hissed. "I am your husband and Lord of this castle, and I command you to remain silent."

Tristan realized he must have made himself quit clear, for Sophia did not dare speak a word after that. Even her guards stood helpless, their swords shaking within their hands.

"Now, ask your guards to put their swords away and to step back."

"Do as my husband says," Sophia simply ordered, her head raised high with unfaltering confidence, and the guards complied at once.

"Jared, back to your chamber. And leave your sword here," Tristan ordered.

Jared rose to his feet, his chest still heaving and his eyes still glaring at Sophia. And next he spread his massive wings in a threatening display of power, creating a little whirlwind within the hall, before he took off and flew away.

"You had no right to sell one of my slaves and dismiss my stewardess during my absence," Tristan turned to Sophia with a dark scowl.

"And you had no right to let that traitor go without punishment."

"Jared is not a traitor."

"He raised his sword against me."

"He did not touch you. Whereas you maimed his lover and sold him away!"

"And I could have as well killed him if I wanted. Still that does not give Jared the right to defy me, the Royal Princess he had sworn to protect! He must be severely punished."

"And punished he will be," Tristan said. "But as Lord of this castle I will be the one to decide on his punishment, not you."

"If my father hears of this –"

"Your father has bigger problems to worry about at the moment and he will certainly not get involved in such trivial matters."

"My life being threatened by your own guard is not a trivial matter!"

"Your life was not threatened, dammit! All he did was just give you a little scare, and he will be punished accordingly."

"Give me a little scare?" Sophia scoffed. "He killed a royal guard!"

"Who well deserved it. Your royal guard should have thought of the consequences before he dared lay a hand on Alexander."

"He was acting upon my orders."

"Then you hold the responsibility of your guard's death," Tristan said before he turned to look at Sophia's head lady in waiting, who seemed to turn a few shades paler as his eyes locked with hers. "Katrina, I believe Her Highness had a long day and is probably feeling tired now. Please escort her to our chamber."

"Y...Yes, My Lord." Katrina curtsied clumsily, her legs obviously shaking beneath her pastel mint dress.

***

Tristan entered Jared's chamber. He was still shaking with fury, his wings still spread behind him, his nose still flaring.

"Jared, you are to leave the castle tonight."

"My Lord?" Jared looked up at Tristan in horror. Then he dropped to his knees and gathered his wings behind him as a sign of submission. "My Lord, I have sworn my life to you. If you no longer have need of my services..." He paused and looked around him in search of something, before he reached for a dagger lying on the table behind him. "If you have no use for me, then... you may take my life." Jared handed Tristan the dagger. Tristan accepted the dagger without a word, only to simply put it back onto the table.

"Don't be ridiculous Jared. I am not dismissing you from your services. I am simply asking you to find another place to stay. After what you have done today in the great hall, I cannot let you remain in the castle. Sophia wants your head. And I want you to keep it. So it is better if you leave."

"Are you letting me go, unpunished?"

"Banishing you from the castle is punishment enough. I do not believe you really intended to hurt Sophia."

"Of course not My Lord. I was... I was not aware what I was doing."

"And that is why you had better leave." Tristan put his hand on Jared's shoulder and sighed. "As for Alexander, I need you not to worry. We are going to find him."

"My Lord?" Jared looked up at Tristan, his hazel eyes sparkling in a way he had never seen before. Were those tears? Tristan knelt before Jared and held both his arms.

"I promise you Jared. I will not rest until I have found Alexander."

Jared's eyes shone further, tears threatening to fall, and Tristan found himself pulling him into his arms.

It often felt awkward when Tristan hugged Jared, not only because Jared was extremely huge, but also because of the feelings he knew Jared held for him. Tristan was not a fool. He had known Jared ever since they were both boys of fifteen. He had known how Jared always looked at him when he thought that Tristan did not notice. He knew precisely why Jared had chosen to serve him as a personal guard, following around his every step. He knew Jared's preferences, and he knew that what he felt for Tristan was more, much more than pure friendship.

But both of them knew that whatever Jared felt for Tristan was impossible to be returned. Tristan had always loved women, and he loved them very much. Of course he loved Jared too, but only like he would love an older brother. Jared's loyalty and devotion were too precious to lose, and so Tristan played the ignorant fool, who had no idea about Jared's feelings. Because he did not wish to ruin that wonderful friendship they shared.

"I'll call for Edward to help you pack," Tristan said as he let go of Jared and looked him straight in the eyes. "We'll find you a good place in the city. Meanwhile I will start sending men to search for Alexander. Don't worry. We will search every house and workshop in Grytia, and even outside Grytia if necessary. Trust me I will not rest until I have brought your boy back. Even if I need to search the whole of Engeldom."

When Tristan left Jared's room, he was met by the most unexpected sight of Edward holding Cylia between his arms. But what surprised him even more was Cylia's shaking body. Even Cylia was crying? Well he couldn't blame her. He knew that she had always been very fond of Alexander, ever since he used to be an entertainer at Magnus's tavern back in Vausterland.

Tristan cleared his throat, causing Edward and Cylia to break the embrace at once. Cylia turned her face away in embarrassment while wiping what he assumed were tears. Edward kept his head lowered, his ears visibly blushing.

"Edward, good that you're here," Tristan said formally, pretending he had not taken notice of their awkwardness. "Please stay with Jared and help him pack."

"Pack?" Edward raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Yes, I am asking him to leave the castle," Tristan stated before he turned to Cylia. "And Cylia, you'll come with me to the slaves market. We are going to look for Alexander."

******************

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