Chapter 93: Silver Ash House
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Celia stepped beside him. "You are letting him live."
"For now."
"Because of Adrian?"
"Because of what Ravencroft still knows."
Celia looked at him. "About the attack on House Vardros?"
"And why Jake was wanted alive."
Celia’s face changed slightly. "You think there is more?"
"There is always more when cowards take risks."
She looked toward Ravencroft’s disappearing group. "Then you will use him."
Lucard looked at her. "He is already used. I only need to decide how long he remains useful."
Celia did not answer. The more she learned how Lucard thought, the more dangerous he became in her eyes. But strangely, it also made him clearer. He did not act from blind anger. Even when he killed, even when he insulted, even when he seemed reckless, his mind was moving ahead.
That frightened her.
It also pulled her attention in a way she disliked.
Robi returned after giving several orders to his guards. The captured Velkhur knight was taken aside under heavy seals. The bodies and weapons were recorded. The broken formation marks were being covered and destroyed under Lucard’s direction. Lucard made sure nothing useful remained for Marovain mages to study too deeply.
Robi noticed that.
"You are careful with your secrets."
Lucard said, "Careless people become lessons for others."
Robi smiled faintly. "And you prefer teaching?"
"I prefer surviving."
"Survival with you seems very expensive for everyone nearby."
"That is their problem."
Celia gave him a side look. "You say that while standing beside the people who protected you."
Lucard looked at her. "And I protected your uncle."
Celia paused.
Robi laughed softly. "He has you there."
Celia looked away.
Robi then became serious. "Lucard, you should not stay at the inn anymore."
Lucard turned toward him.
Robi continued, "Too many people know where you are. After what happened here, every spy in Gravehold will watch that place. I have a house inside the city. It belongs to House Marovain. You and your family will move there tonight."
Celia looked at him. "The Silver Ash House?"
"Yes."
"That house is reserved for important guests."
Robi looked at Lucard. "He has become an important problem."
Lucard asked, "You are lending it?"
"I am giving it to you."
Celia’s eyes widened slightly.
Robi raised his metal hand before she could speak. "For helping me settle an old debt."
Lucard studied him.
Robi smiled. "Do not worry. This gift does not reduce the Ten million gold coins I still owe you."
"Good."
Celia muttered, "He did not even pretend to be touched."
Robi said, "That is why I said it early."
Lucard ignored both of them.
Robi continued, "The house has walls, a small courtyard, servants’ rooms, storage space, and a private back exit. It is not a manor, but it is safer than an inn. Marovain guards can protect it without attracting too much attention."
Lucard nodded. "Useful."
Celia crossed her arms. "That is his thank you."
Robi looked amused. "I noticed."
Then his tone darkened.
"But understand this. When House Velkhur learns that Garran is dead, they may not come with letters. They may come with soldiers. Garran was only a side branch elder, but he carried Velkhur blood and rank. Dorian’s death was one thing. Garran’s death is another. They might send investigators, mages, an army unit, or someone from the main line."
Celia said, "We need to inform the family immediately."
"I already will," Robi said. "Emergency couriers will ride before night fully falls. The regional Marovain office must prepare. The branch must be sealed. Witness statements must be gathered. The captured knight must remain alive. His words will be important."
Lucard said, "The escaped mage will carry Garran’s version."
Robi nodded. "Yes. That means we move faster."
Celia looked at the lower road. "Velkhur will claim we planned everything."
"They were already going to claim that," Lucard said.
Robi looked at him. "True."
Lucard’s voice remained calm. "Now you have a better claim. Garran came armed, used forbidden power, brought hidden fighters, and attacked during a meeting. You have witnesses, prisoners, and Ravencroft’s written statement coming."
Robi’s eyes sharpened slightly. "You already arranged the shape of the report in your head."
"Yes."
Celia looked at Lucard again. "Do you ever stop planning?"
"When my enemies are dead."
Robi laughed. "Then for our sake, I hope you remain surrounded by useful people."
Lucard did not answer.
The sun was lowering by the time they finished cleaning the hill. The trap lines were broken beyond use. The materials were collected. The captured knight was placed in a guarded carriage. The Marovain wounded were carried carefully. Robi made sure the hill showed enough signs of Velkhur aggression, but not enough of Lucard’s hidden work.
When everything was ready, they began moving down Black Barrow Hill.
Celia walked near Lucard.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then she said, "The Silver Ash House is quiet. It has an old garden. Jake might like it."
Lucard looked at her.
She quickly added, "Children need space after fear."
"Do they?"
"Yes."
"Then give him a training yard."
Celia sighed. "That is not what I meant."
"It is what he needs."
"You are very harsh with him."
"I am preparing him."
"For what?"
Lucard looked toward Gravehold below.
"For the world."
Celia had no answer to that.
The city waited under the evening light. Its gray walls looked calm from a distance, but Lucard knew the calm was false. Messages would already be moving. Servants would be whispering. Guards would be changing posts. Noble houses would be choosing sides before they admitted there were sides to choose.
House Vardros would move into Marovain property tonight.
House Ravencroft would write its statement with a shaking hand.
House Marovain would prepare its defense.
House Velkhur would soon learn that another of its own had fallen.
Lucard looked at the city and felt the fire in his blood settle quietly.
A new house. A stronger body. A living prisoner. A frightened baron. A coming army.
He walked down the hill with Robi and Celia beside him.
The game had become larger. That was fine. Larger games gave larger rewards.
Gravehold saw them return before the sun fully disappeared.
The eastern gate guards opened the gate without asking many questions. They saw Marovain carriages, armed guards, sealed wagons, wounded men, and a bound prisoner wearing Velkhur armor. That was enough to make any normal guard remember that silence was a very healthy habit. One guard tried to look inside the first carriage, but Celia turned her eyes toward him from the window. The man immediately looked at the road and pretended he had only been checking the wheel.
The small group entered the city under heavy watch.
People stepped away from the street. Some hid behind doors. Some looked from upstairs windows with frightened curiosity. News had already reached too many ears. Everyone knew something had happened outside the city, but nobody knew the full shape of it yet. That made the fear worse. When people knew the truth, they feared one thing. When they did not know, they feared everything.
Lucard sat inside the carriage with Robi and Celia.
He did not look tired.
That annoyed Celia more than it should have. She had seen him stand on Black Barrow Hill, control a formation, face people stronger than him, and return as if he had only inspected a road. His clothes were dusty, his fingers still carried faint blood marks, and his eyes were calm. If she had not seen what he had done, she might have believed he was only a quiet noble son with a sharp mouth and poor manners.
Robi looked at the city road through the window.
"By midnight, half the city will know we returned with prisoners," he said. "By morning, every noble house nearby will have its own version."
Celia said, "We should send the statements before the rumors become too strong."
"I already sent the first courier from the hill," Robi said. "The second will leave from the branch. The third will ride directly to the regional office."
Lucard looked at him. "Good. Send different wording with the same truth."
Celia turned to him. "Why different wording?"
"Because if every report sounds exactly the same, enemies will say it was prepared before the event. Different reports with the same main points feel more natural."
Robi’s eyes lit slightly.
Celia stared at Lucard for a moment.
Then she looked at her uncle. "You are writing that down in your head."
Robi smiled. "Good advice is still good even when it comes from a troublesome mouth."
Lucard said, "Make sure Ravencroft’s statement reaches you before Velkhur’s people pressure him."
Robi nodded. "He will send it. He is too frightened not to."
"He is frightened now," Lucard said. "Later, someone may give him courage."
Robi’s smile faded. "True."
Celia understood the meaning. If House Velkhur sent stronger people, Baron Ravencroft might change his words. Fear could be replaced by a larger fear. That was why Robi needed his written statement quickly, while the slap still burned on his cheek and the hill was still fresh in his mind.
The carriage reached the Marovain shop first.
Robi stepped down.