Chapter 115: Family Secrets
Lucard reached Silver Ash House in the afternoon.
The front gate was more guarded than before. Two Marovain guards stood outside, and two more watched from inside the courtyard. They did not relax until they saw his face clearly. One guard quickly opened the gate, while the other lowered his head with the careful respect people gave to dangerous guests who had become impossible to treat like guests.
Lucard entered without asking any questions.
The house felt different from when he had left. There were more people inside the walls now. A few Ash Wolf mercenaries stood near the training yard, keeping their weapons low and their movements careful. They were not prisoners, but they were also not comfortable enough to act like invited soldiers. Marovain guards watched them from the other side of the courtyard. Neither side had drawn blades, but both sides were close enough to do it quickly.
That was acceptable.
It meant Jenny had not been careless.
Near the garden, Brant Ashwolf was sitting on a wooden chair under a silver ash tree. His face still carried the weakness of illness, but the dying color had left him. His shoulders were straight again. His breathing was rough, yet steady. He looked like a man who had crawled back from the edge of a grave and was angry at the grave for wasting his time.
Lysa stood beside him.
The moment she saw Lucard, her eyes changed.
Relief came first. Then embarrassment. Then something softer that made her look away for half a breath before looking back again. She had met him as an enemy, tried to kill him, misunderstood him, insulted him, cried in front of him, watched him save her father, and then heard far too many stories about what he had done in Gravehold. None of those things made him easy to understand. They only made him harder to hate.
Lucard noticed the blush on her face.
He ignored it.
That was the safest thing to do with useless emotions.
Brant tried to stand.
Lysa quickly held his arm. "Father, slowly."
Brant waved her hand away but did not fully reject the support. He rose with effort and bowed his head toward Lucard.
"You returned."
Lucard looked at his face. "You are not dead."
Brant gave a rough laugh. "Because of you."
"Because dying was inconvenient."
"For you or for me?"
"Yes."
Lysa stared at him. "You cannot even accept thanks normally?"
Lucard looked at her. "Thanks are not medicine."
Her face warmed again, half from irritation and half from the fact that she was relieved enough to be irritated.
Brant did not seem offended. If anything, he looked more certain. Men who spoke too sweetly after saving a life usually wanted something hidden. Lucard’s cold honesty was not kind, but it was easier to weigh.
"I spoke with Lady Jenny while you were gone," Brant said. "I told her Ash Wolf is willing to serve House Vardros under oath."
Lucard’s eyes moved toward him.
Brant continued, "She did not accept. She said House Vardros would not take a mercenary company into its name until she spoke with you."
"Good."
Lysa frowned. "Good?"
Lucard walked past the gate path toward the main house. "It means she is thinking."
Brant watched him for a moment and then smiled faintly. "Your family has changed more than I expected."
Lucard said, "Not enough."
Before Brant could answer, the main door opened.
Jenny came out first.
Jake ran out from behind her before she could stop him.
"Brother."
Jake crossed the courtyard fast enough that Peter, who had been standing near the door, almost reached out to catch him by habit. Lucard stopped walking and let Jake come to him. The boy did not throw himself into Lucard’s arms like before, but he came close and looked up with bright relief he failed to hide.
"You came back."
Lucard looked down at him. "You are repeating yourself from last time."
Jake nodded seriously. "Because you keep leaving."
"That is fair."
Jake’s face brightened even more because Lucard had admitted he had a point.
Jenny reached them a moment later. She did not run, but her eyes had already done so. She looked at Lucard’s face, his hands, his clothes, and his posture. He looked clean enough. No open wounds. No heavy weakness. No fresh blood. That let her breathe properly for the first time in three days.
"You were gone too long," she said.
"I returned."
"That is not an apology."
"It was not meant to be."
Jenny pressed her lips together, but there was no real anger in it. She had spent three days waiting while trying to act like the person everyone could lean on. Jake needed calm. Brant and Lysa needed answers. Peter needed orders. Marovain guards needed boundaries. Ash Wolf men needed watching. She had done all of it, but the moment Lucard returned, the tension in her shoulders loosened.
Peter stepped forward.
He looked fully healed now. His face had color. His body no longer leaned to protect old wounds. The healing potion, rest, and proper food had finally done what pride alone could not. His sword hung at his waist instead of in his hand, but he stood ready.
"Young Master," Peter said.
Lucard looked at him. "You are healed."
"Yes."
"Good. Start training again tomorrow."
Peter paused. "I thought you might say something like rest one more day."
"You thought wrong."
Jake looked at Peter with sympathy. "Training is hard."
Peter looked at him. "You will likely join me."
Jake’s sympathy died immediately.
Jenny looked at Lucard. "We need to talk after you rest."
"I do not need rest."
"You travelled for three days."
"Yes."
"You should eat first."
"I can eat after."
Jenny’s face hardened. "Lucard."
He looked at her. "If the matter is important, talk now. If it can wait until after food, then it is not important enough."
Jenny stared at him for a second, then sighed. "Fine. We are talking now."
Jake raised his hand. "I am coming."
Jenny looked at him. "Jake."