Chapter 159 - : The Northern Estate
Amon returned home before midnight.
Barely.
Kayla was waiting in the sitting room.
Again.
The moment he entered, she looked toward the clock.
Amon followed her gaze.
"I said tonight."
"You did."
"And it's still tonight."
"By eleven minutes."
"Eleven minutes is sufficient."
Kayla stared at him.
Then looked past him.
"No one followed you?"
"No."
"No injuries?"
"No."
"No ancient entity hiding inside your body?"
Amon paused.
"No."
"Good."
She stood.
"How bad was it?"
"Depends on perspective."
Kayla's expression flattened.
"Amon."
"House Moonstone awakened."
She became still.
"All of them?"
"Not all."
He explained the banquet while they walked upstairs.
Marcus.
Linda.
Vela.
The various manifestations.
The Lunar Network.
His own Lunar Sovereign ability.
The command function.
The old covenant.
Severin.
By the time Amon finished, Kayla had stopped walking.
"He was supposed to kill Ciara."
"His line was."
"That wasn't what I said."
"He said he won't."
Kayla stared at him.
"And you believed him?"
"No."
"Good."
Amon continued toward the bedroom.
"But I believe he understands what happens if he tries."
Kayla followed.
"That is slightly more reassuring."
Ciara was already asleep.
Amon checked her anyway.
Nothing unusual.
No silver markings.
No bloodline reaction.
That made sense.
She was the source of the event.
Not one of its recipients.
Kayla watched him.
"So what does Lunar Sovereign make you?"
Amon looked at her.
"Apparently the center of the awakened bloodline."
"That sounds political."
"It shouldn't be."
Kayla laughed.
"You have relatives."
"Unfortunately."
"It's political."
Amon sighed.
Tomorrow would prove her correct.
Again.
He slept only a few hours.
By morning, the Moonstone family administrative hall was surrounded by carriages.
Amon saw them from half a street away.
Dozens.
Representatives from every branch currently inside the capital had gathered.
Some because of the northern estate hearing.
Most because of what happened the previous night.
The awakening had spread faster than any rumor from the Silent Night.
People wanted answers.
More importantly, they wanted to see Amon.
He entered through the main doors.
The hall went silent.
Amon stopped.
Nearly two hundred people filled the chamber.
Too many.
He looked toward Marcus standing near one wall.
Marcus smiled.
"You've become popular."
"I preferred the Night Crawlers."
"I believe you."
Amon continued forward.
People moved aside.
He felt the awakened members immediately.
Connections appeared throughout the hall.
Some familiar.
Others new.
Apparently several Moonstones who had not attended the banquet had awakened later during the full moon.
Interesting.
Amon did not investigate.
Today had one purpose.
The northern estate.
Darius stood near the central council table.
Elena beside him.
Miraclad sat among the senior elders.
Severin occupied the opposite side.
The King had not personally attended.
Good.
Instead, a royal magistrate sat near the head of the chamber.
Theron stood behind him as Crown witness.
Amon frowned.
"Why are you here?"
Theron looked offended.
"Good morning to you too."
"The estate hearing concerns old formation holdings."
"And?"
"The Crown asked me to assess the property transfer."
Amon accepted that.
He took the empty seat facing Darius.
No one asked him to sit.
No one objected either.
The magistrate opened a thick document.
"This hearing concerns the inheritance claim of Lord Amon Moonstone over the northern Moonstone holdings previously assigned to his father, Lord Arcturus Moonstone."
Amon's eyes narrowed slightly at his father's name.
He said nothing.
The magistrate continued.
"The holdings include three townships, associated agricultural lands, two iron deposits, one dormant mana spring, forest territory, the ancestral northern residence, and all attached structures except those specifically reserved under Crown charter."
That was more formal confirmation than Amon had previously received.
Good.
"The claim was suspended following Lord Arcturus's death due to unresolved succession concerns and administrative objections from the main Moonstone council."
Amon looked toward Darius.
The older man did not meet his gaze.
The magistrate continued.
"Lady Miraclad Moonstone filed an ancestral review blocking transfer three days ago."
All attention shifted toward Miraclad.
She stood.
"I withdraw the review."
Whispers spread through the hall.
The magistrate looked at her.
"Entirely?"
"Entirely."
"No substitute objection?"
"No."
"Reason?"
Miraclad looked toward Amon.
"The question the review was intended to resolve has already been answered."
The magistrate frowned.
"What question?"
"Whether Lord Amon's branch remained suitable to inherit the ancestral estate."
Amon almost laughed.
That was one way of phrasing it.
"And your conclusion?"
Miraclad's eyes settled on him.
"More suitable than anyone else currently alive."
The hall erupted.
Several elders began speaking at once.
One slammed a hand against the table.
"This is absurd!"
Another stood.
"You cannot make that determination alone!"
Miraclad calmly sat.
"I didn't."
The elder frowned.
"Then who did?"
Miraclad looked around the chamber.
"Blood did."
Silence returned faster than expected.
The previous night's events carried weight.
Amon leaned back.
Useful.
The magistrate cleared his throat.
"If the ancestral review is withdrawn, the remaining matter is administrative."
Amon looked toward him.
"Then finish it."
The magistrate gave him an irritated look.
Amon waited.
The man returned to his papers.
"Before recognition can be finalized, the current administrator may raise financial or structural claims concerning maintenance performed during the suspension period."
There it was.
Amon looked toward Darius.
His uncle stood.
"The main family has maintained the holdings for six years."
"Yes."
"We repaired roads."
"Good."
"Protected the towns."
"Expected."
"Paid guards."
"With money from the holdings."
Darius's expression tightened.
A few younger Moonstones laughed quietly.
Amon continued.
"You collected approximately nine hundred thousand gold."
Now everyone became interested.
The magistrate looked sharply toward Darius.
"Nine hundred thousand?"
Darius glanced toward Marcus.
Marcus found the ceiling fascinating.
Amon almost smiled.
Darius exhaled.
"The gross revenue was approximately that amount."
"Maintenance?"
"Three hundred and twelve thousand."
Amon looked toward Marcus.
Marcus nodded once.
Close enough.
"Then six hundred thousand remains."
"Five hundred and eighty-eight thousand."
"Fine."
The magistrate frowned.
"Was this revenue held in trust?"
Silence.
Amon looked toward Darius.
The magistrate's expression worsened.
"Lord Darius?"
"It was reinvested into main family operations."
Murmurs spread again.
The magistrate slowly removed his glasses.
"You used suspended inheritance revenue for general family expenses?"
Darius's jaw tightened.
"The main family remained responsible for the branch."
Amon laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
"Responsible?"
He leaned forward.
"Interesting word."
Darius stared.
Amon continued.
"When my branch needed support, the main family called itself separate."
"When revenue appeared, suddenly we were united."
Several people looked uncomfortable.
Good.
"Yesterday you offered repayment through assets."
Darius nodded reluctantly.
"Four commercial properties."
"And the warehouse district property."
The magistrate looked between them.
"Has this agreement been documented?"
"No."
Amon answered.
"Do it now."
Darius frowned.
"Amon."
"We already negotiated."
"Informally."
"You said accepted."
The hall became quiet.
Darius knew denying it would make him look worse.
He exhaled.
"Fine."
The magistrate called for a clerk.
Documents were prepared.
Amon read every line personally.
Four commercial properties.
One warehouse district property.
No retained management rights.
No hidden debt transfers.
No shared ownership clauses.
Good.
He signed.
Darius signed.
The magistrate sealed the agreement.
"Financial dispute resolved."
Amon looked toward Darius.
"One problem gone."
His uncle looked exhausted.
The magistrate returned to the inheritance document.
"Does any recognized branch maintain an objection to Lord Amon assuming full control of the northern holdings?"
Silence.
Then someone stood.
Elder Ruvan.
Amon remembered the name.
One of the people Marcus had warned him about.
Ruvan was broad-shouldered despite his age.
Gray hair.
Dark ceremonial robes.
No visible silver manifestation.
Interesting.
"I object."
Marcus sighed from the wall.
Amon looked toward Ruvan.
"Reason?"
The magistrate corrected him.
"I'll ask the questions."
Amon shrugged.
The magistrate looked toward Ruvan.
"State your grounds."
"The northern ancestral estate belongs to House Moonstone collectively."
Amon almost became bored immediately.
Ruvan continued.
"It contains family records, burial grounds, inherited techniques and artifacts belonging to more than one branch."
That argument actually had substance.
Amon listened.
"Transferring unrestricted control to one branch would endanger communal heritage."
The magistrate looked toward Amon.
"Response?"
Amon thought.
"The burial grounds remain accessible."
Ruvan frowned.
"To whom?"
"Moonstones visiting ancestors."
"Records?"
"Anything belonging to another branch can be copied."
"Techniques?"
Amon looked toward him.
"If your branch owns one, prove ownership."
Ruvan's expression hardened.
"And artifacts?"
"Same answer."
The elder clearly had not expected compromise.
Amon continued.
"I'm taking control of the estate."
"Not erasing the family."
Miraclad's eyes sharpened slightly.
Amon looked toward the magistrate.
"Write permanent ancestral access into the transfer."
The magistrate nodded slowly.
"That is reasonable."
Ruvan immediately changed direction.
"The dormant mana spring..."
"Mine."
Amon's answer came before he finished.
Several people laughed.
Ruvan's face reddened.
"The spring historically supplied the central family during emergencies."
"Then the central family can purchase mana from me during emergencies."
"You would charge your own family?"
"Yes."
Ruvan stared.
Amon added,
"At a discount."
Marcus laughed loudly this time.
Even Miraclad smiled.
Ruvan looked around.
He had lost the room.
He slowly sat.
"Any further objections?"
The magistrate asked.
No one spoke.
Then Severin stood.
Amon looked toward him.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Severin's faction had been responsible for preserving the child-killing covenant.
Everyone now knew.
His authority had taken a major blow overnight.
Severin looked toward Amon.
"I do not object."
That surprised several people.
He continued.
"But I request one condition."
Amon's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
This time the magistrate did not correct him.
Severin looked toward the old records kept at the northern estate.
"The suppression chamber remains sealed."
Amon became still.
Miraclad's expression changed.
Amon noticed.
"What suppression chamber?"
Severin looked toward her.
Miraclad closed her eyes briefly.
"You didn't tell him."
"No."
Amon stared between them.
He disliked discovering relevant information inside hearings.
"Explain."
Severin answered.
"After the covenant was created, the family built a chamber beneath the northern ancestral estate."
"For what?"
"To suppress the Moonstone bloodline if another reawakening became uncontrollable."
The room became quiet.
Amon did not react immediately.
This was not another cosmic mystery.
It was directly connected to what they had already uncovered.
Manageable.
"What can it do?"
Severin answered.
"If activated fully, it can weaken the bloodline manifestation of every Moonstone connected to the ancestral network."
Marcus frowned.
"Every Moonstone?"
"Within sufficient range."
"How much range?"
"At its peak?"
Severin looked around.
"Possibly the entire kingdom."
That was significant.
Amon thought carefully.
"You want it sealed because?"
"Because after last night, that chamber is either our greatest safeguard..."
Severin looked toward Amon.
"...or the easiest weapon anyone could use against us."
Good point.
Amon looked at Miraclad.
"Agree?"
"Completely."
Amon nodded.
"The chamber remains sealed."
Severin relaxed slightly.
"Until I inspect it."
The relaxation disappeared.
"Amon."
"I'm not promising never to touch something beneath my own estate."
"You don't understand the mechanism."
"Then I'll learn."
Severin looked ready to argue.
Miraclad interrupted.
"That's reasonable."
He turned toward her.
"You cannot..."
"Severin."
Her voice hardened.
"The days where one branch keeps half the family's history secret are over."
Silence.
Amon almost smiled.
Progress.
The magistrate looked confused by most of the conversation but wisely continued.
"With the addition of permanent ancestral access and recognition of the sealed chamber's protected status pending inspection..."
He raised the document.
"...does any branch maintain a legal objection?"
No one moved.
The magistrate placed the royal seal against the parchment.
Light flashed.
"Then by authority of the Crown and the recognized inheritance laws of Veyne..."
Amon watched.
"...the northern Moonstone holdings are transferred in full to Lord Amon Moonstone, effective immediately."
The seal completed.
Done.
That was it.
No attack.
No surprise claimant.
No ancient voice.
Amon had simply won a legal dispute.
Strangely satisfying.
The magistrate handed him the document.
Amon took it.
[Territorial ownership recognized.]
The system appeared unexpectedly.
Amon's eyes narrowed.
He had not expected a system response.
[New territory under Master's direct authority detected.]
[Sign-In locations available within territory.]
Amon stared at the notification.
Then dismissed it.
Later.
Not now.
The magistrate continued.
"Keys, property ledgers, administrative seals and current personnel lists will be transferred today."
"Good."
Amon stood.
Several people immediately began approaching.
Too many.
Questions.
Congratulations.
Requests.
One elderly woman wanted permission to visit the ancestral burial grounds.
Amon agreed.
A younger man asked whether awakened family members would be allowed to train at the estate.
Amon said he had not decided.
Three different elders wanted private meetings.
Amon refused all three.
Then Linda appeared.
"Congratulations."
Amon looked at her.
"Thank you."
She blinked.
"You can say thank you."
"Occasionally."
Vela joined them.
"Is there a training ground?"
"Probably."
"Can I use it?"
"I received the estate thirty seconds ago."
"So that's not a no."
Amon sighed.
Marcus approached laughing.
"You're accumulating followers."
"They'll leave."
"They won't."
Amon looked toward the room.
Marcus was probably right.
The previous night's awakening had changed how people perceived him.
That problem would not disappear.
Darius approached last.
The crowd gave him room.
Amon looked toward his uncle.
"What?"
Darius's expression remained difficult to read.
"For what it's worth..."
He paused.
"...the estate should have been transferred years ago."
Amon stared.
"Yes."
Darius almost smiled bitterly.
"You could make these moments easier."
"I could."
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Darius looked toward Marcus.
"My son appears to have developed an unfortunate habit of sharing private family matters with you."
Marcus's smile vanished.
Amon's eyes narrowed.
Darius continued.
"I won't ask what arrangements you've made."
"Good."
"But understand something."
His gaze became serious.
"Marcus is my heir."
Amon waited.
"If you pull him into a conflict with the elders..."
"He walked in himself."
Marcus nodded.
"I did."
Darius looked toward his son.
Frustration crossed his face.
Amon saw something beneath it.
Concern.
Real concern.
Interesting.
Darius returned his attention to Amon.
"The family is unstable."
"Less than yesterday."
"No."
Darius shook his head.
"More."
Amon frowned.
"The awakening did not solve our divisions."
"It multiplied what everyone can fight over."
That was true.
Darius continued.
"Half the family now believes your daughter represents restoration."
"Others are afraid of what you can do through the network."
"Some want you made formal head of House Moonstone."
Amon's expression flattened.
"No."
"I know."
"Stop them."
Darius almost laughed.
"You think I control these people?"
"You're supposedly the main family head."
"Supposedly?"
Amon looked toward Miraclad.
Then Severin.
Then the awakened members watching him.
Darius followed his gaze.
Point taken.
"I'll discourage it."
"Good."
"But eventually you'll need to decide what role you want."
"I already have."
Darius looked at him.
"Father."
Amon glanced toward the sealed inheritance document.
"Landowner."
Then around the hall.
"Anything beyond that is optional."
Darius studied him.
"You genuinely don't want the family."
"No."
"That may be the most dangerous thing about you."
Amon raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because everyone who wants power assumes everyone else wants it too."
Darius turned away.
"Someone who doesn't is difficult to bargain with."
Amon watched him leave.
For once, his uncle had said something useful.
The hearing officially ended shortly afterward.
Amon received the northern estate keys.
One administrative seal.
Three ledgers.
And a document containing the current personnel roster.
Marcus looked at the stack.
"Going there today?"
Amon considered.
The old records were there.
The suppression chamber.
The ancestral residence.
Possibly useful Sign-In locations.
But then he thought about Kayla.
Ciara.
His promise to stop turning every discovery into another immediate expedition.
"Tomorrow."
Marcus looked shocked.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"You're voluntarily waiting?"
Amon stared.
"Do you want me to change my mind?"
"No."
Marcus raised both hands.
"I support growth."
Amon left the administrative hall.
Outside, the morning sun had climbed high.
The northern estate officially belonged to him.
His father's land.
His branch's inheritance.
Recovered without bloodshed.
That mattered more than he expected.
Amon looked at the sealed document once.
Then stored it safely inside his coat.
Tomorrow he would visit the estate.
Inspect what Miraclad had hidden there.
See the ancestral grounds.
And eventually examine the suppression chamber.
But not today.
Today, he had something simpler to do.
He had promised Kayla he would stop disappearing every time a new mystery appeared.
So instead of heading north...
Amon turned toward home.
For once, the ancient secrets could wait until morning.