Tale of Four

”Hyman.” Roderick waited for everyone to funnel out of the room before approaching his old friend. Hyman gave a passing glance at the old warrior before sighing and leaning backwards, grabbing his forehead in annoyance.

”What is it, old man?” Roderick gave a playful smirk and looked him up and down, getting a grin from Hyman.

”That brat. Lord Limb.” Roderick said with a deeply distrustful tone. Looking at Maxwell and Ralph, Hyman waved his hand, dismissing Roderick’s concerns that they may say anything to outsiders, ”He’s a Kinslayer, old friend.”

”Give me the proof before you make that accusation.”

”Can we drop the pretence when alone?” Hyman narrowed his gaze and sighed, nodding, ”No one needs proof to know that he killed his mother and siblings. Girls and boys. Kinslayers are fated to suffer terrible fates, but that is not my concern.”

”I didn’t expect you to worry so much about the deaths of children, Roderick. How long has it been since you took on the role of a Rabid Dog?”

”Everything I do for you and your family isn’t out of pleasure. Granted, I may enjoy killing a fat oaf, but I have never ordered the death of children, even if they end up getting caught up in my actions.” Rodericks said without a change in tone, neither apologetic nor proud. ”I say this as someone who has taken charge of your unsavoury work; he cannot be trusted.”

”Red is the Hand of the loyal,” Hyman said, the Limb family motto, getting a deep frown from Roderick. ”That meaning isn’t lost on me, nor should it be on you. He will kill for me out of loyalty. We both know what he will do when he leads the raiding force, but even if it is vile, it is also an effective way to keep those sand rats at bay.”

”Do you think I care if he leads a bunch of criminals to rape and murder some rats in a desert?” Roderick lifted an eyebrow, scratching his beard, ”My concern is why? There is soemthing wrong with him. Any man who can murder his family must be too far gone.”

”Will you get to the point?” Hyman ordered, slowly getting annoyed.

”We need to understand why he is doing these things? Leading the raiding force is dirty, but necessary work. Soemthing he knows. If he does well, he may not get honour, but he will expect soemthing in return.” Roderick took a deep breath, ”I simply want to know why? You say never trust a Blackwell, I have the same issues with him.”

”Roderick.” Hyman rose and let out a large groan, ”You said that yourself. He is too far gone. The man wishes for blood and wants it in the most harrowing way possible. Why else would you take criminals with you?”

”Is that what you truly think?” Roderick countered, ”I have men who relish their work. I make sure to keep those men nearby so I can do what is necessary. He doesn’t have the same feel to him. Soemthing is wrong with him, yes, but it’s not sadism nor a lust for blood. I am disgusted by a man who kills for fun, but a man who kills his siblings to make sure he has uncontested power, they terrify me. His request was the first move in getting more.” Hyman chuckled.

”Are you worried about losing your place as my right hand?”

”I’m afraid of the thing that is pretending to be human, your grace.” Roderick’s eyes sharpened, ”I do not understand him, and I want you to understand why I am fearful.”

”Be scared of him, Roderick, but do not worry too much. My instincts haven’t worsened after so many years. He poses no threat to me, but wishes to curry favour.” Resting a hand on Roderick’s shoulder, he smiled, ”I find him disgusting, but I need men like him. Someone broken enough to kill their own mother is a valuable tool that is hard to find. He has already proven he can handle the worst that needs to be done, and is smart enough to do it in a way that leaves behind no proof.” Roderick went to speak again, but Hyman stopped him and carried on, ”If you’re this scared, keep a watch over him. Make sure he doesn’t reach too high, but don’t take action unless it directly affects my or my children’s lives. Am I clear?”

Roderick thought for a moment, and grinding his teeth, he nodded and backed up, ”As you wish.” Halfheartedly, he turned around and left. Hyman’s smile fell, and turning to his sons, he spoke.

”What’s your opinion of Lord Limb?”

”Creepy.” Maxwell said, staring at the door, ”I’ve spoken to him after the mysterious death of his family. There is just soemthing off about him. But as that old man said, it isn’t sadism, rather.... an emptiness.” Maxwell paused and rubbed his eyes, ”He doesn’t feel alive, I guess.” Hyman nodded and turned to Ralph. The lanky man looked up and took a deep breath.

”He’s useful, the same way Roderick is for father.” Ralph looked at Maxwell, ”You’re gonna need soemthing like that, Maxwell; just on a leash. As for him as a person, I don’t really care. When Max takes over, he will be a good person to have under his command. I’m of the opinion of making stronger relations.” Ralph sighed and listlessly stared ahead, ”A shame he killed his sister, I could have married her to secure it.”

Hyman nodded and closed his eyes, scratching underneath his bushy beard. For a moment, he thought before smiling, ”Maxwell. Listen to your brother.” Stretching, he swung up the large great sword and threw it over his shoulder, yawning, ”I’m going to sleep. Don’t disturb me.” The two watched him leave, and when the door slammed behind him, dropped their polite smiles, staring at one another.

”Do you honestly think I want someone like that serving me?”

”As I said. I don’t care what type of person he is. Don’t think I’m going to do what Roderick does for father. I’m leaving this place once you take over, unless necessary. The Valley doesn’t suit me.”

”Any ideas on who you will marry?” Ralph thought for a moment before shrugging.

”Lord Clover has a lot of children. If I can marry one of his trueborn daughters, that’s fine. If not, I can settle for his bastard, I heard she is rather beautiful, only beaten by her half-sister. Could get him to join our side of the war if I rush things.”

”And if that fails.”

”The Princess is quite beautiful, apparently. Or maybe Lord Sunflare’s sister, although she is a bit young right now. Personally, I don’t wish to marry into some minor family beneath us. Only one who carries a Great Lord’s Blood will do. God, it is annoying how so few are equal to us in the realm.” Maxwell smirked and shook his head.

”Good luck. Just don’t marry into the Carters or Blackwells.”

”When Lord Carter accepts a marriage between our families, the sun won’t rise.” The two shared a small laugh, ”As for the Blackwells, nah. I heard the heir is another Lady, but those people give me the creeps. Soemthing is weird about them.”

”You met one?” Maxwell asked, hearing news he had never heard before. Ralph shrugged and looked out the distant window.

”Lady Blackwell. Saw her during a feast held in her land when I was around there. Had nothing better to do on my journey, so I stopped by. I don’t know what it was, but there was soemthing off.” Maxwell’s gaze turned serious as he looked to the ground. To others, instinctual feeling could be brushed off, but for his family, it had been how they had survived generations, their instincts becoming more important than their own vision soemtimes.

”Never trust a Blackwell, as father says,” Maxwell said, getting a nod from Ralph.

”It is more true than you can ever know, Max.” Ralph sighed and leaned backwards, slouching over the table and looking towards the ceiling. ”It’s a shame?” Maxwell raised an eyebrow at his brother’s annoyed tone.

”A shame?” Maxwell asked

”Yeah.” Ralph replied, sighing, ”Lady Blackwell, despite everything my instincts told me, was rather beautiful. A mature kind of beauty and rather enticing. To marry her daughter would have been nice.” Maxwell threw a swift punch into Ralph’s arm, making him look at his brother with a betrayed look. ”Why?”

”You think too much about blood and looks, you fool.”

”I already made it clear I won’t marry her. I think I would be the first Alkaris to betray my instincts if I went for it.” Maxwell sharply glared at his brother and sighed.

”Just hurry up and get married, Ralph. You’re taking too long.” Ralph rolled his eyes.

”You are older and unmarried.” Max narrowed his eyes and looked at Ralph, his brother, lowering his gaze.

”I am betrothed, Ralph. We will get married once she is better; until then, I will wait.”

”Sorry, brother,” Ralph said with a soft voice.

”I know you meant no harm by it.” Standing up, Maxwell groaned and stretched, ”I’ll see you tomorrow.”