Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 432: A Storm Foretold

Duke Valenridge, who had been standing beside Dorian, stopped at once.

He did not waste a moment upon explanation, nor did he offer any word of parting, though Dorian required none, for he too understood precisely why his lord had behaved so.

Duke Valenridge turned and made his way towards Lucian — or Lucke, as they had agreed to call him for the duration of this undertaking.

He had scarcely reached the line of carriages, one of which was even then being filled, when he noticed Robin standing nearby, a frown upon his face, alongside one of Lucian’s guards. Gilbert was the man’s name — lean of frame, with hair the colour of midnight. Gilbert noticed Duke Valenridge first, and his brow furrowed at once, though before he could utter a single word, Duke Valenridge spoke.

”How many yet remain to be conveyed?”

Gilbert blinked at the abruptness of the question, but answered regardless. ”Some thirty have already been accounted for sir, though there remain others who have yet to be brought here, or given medical attendance. Those whose homes lie farthest have, however, already been sent on ahead.”

Duke Valenridge gave a single nod.

”Hold off on conveying any further souls. The whole operation must be suspended at once.”

Gilbert opened his mouth to enquire why, but Duke Valenridge granted him no opportunity to do so.

”Where is Lucke?” He asked.

Ordinarily, he should have known this without the asking, the man possessing a scent as distinct to him as any signature. But all present had masked their scents for the purposes of this undertaking, and so such means of discovery were presently denied him.

Gilbert gestured towards the farther end of the gathering, where a considerable crowd stood beside a further line of carriages.

Duke Valenridge offered his thanks with a nod, and proceeded in that direction. He found Duke Aurelgrave amidst the crowd, standing alongside Aldric — Duke Thorncrest’s guard — the two of them occupied in sorting the commoners into their several carriages.

He reached him swiftly, and, without preamble, spoke.

”The operation must cease. There is a great storm approaching.”

Lucke frowned at him.

”A storm, you say?”

”Indeed.”

”And how can you be so certain of it? There may be no storm at all. The weather has given no sign of any such thing, not the whole day through.”

As though in answer to the question itself, thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance.

Duke Aurelgrave paused at the sound, then shook his head regardless.

”That may signify nothing whatsoever. The weather has offered nothing to suggest a storm before now. It cannot simply—”

Duke Valenridge leaned close, his voice dropping low, that none beyond their immediate company might hear him.

”I come from a territory where storms give no such warning as you describe. They do not announce themselves by any sign. They arrive of a sudden, without the least warning, and are upon a man before he has had time properly to prepare himself for them.”

”You, of all men present, ought to trust my word in this,” Duke Valenridge continued, his tone leaving no room for further argument. ”My own senses have never once betrayed me upon this matter. Whatever storm is presently approaching, it shall prove a considerable one. Rather than remain here disputing with me the signs and portents of a storm you yourself doubt is coming at all, we should turn our efforts at once towards finding shelter for these people. We must discover some means of housing them here within the capital until the storm has passed us by entirely.”

Just then, both gentlemen straightened, and turned as one.

Another voice had joined them.

Lyria.

Even with her own scent masked, they would have known her anywhere. They were drawn to her, after all — scent or no scent — and always, somehow, they perceived when she stood in their presence.

She spoke quietly.

”Evan is quite correct in this. I propose we suspend the o-operation at once.”

She looked towards Duke Valenridge.

”I claim no great knowledge of storms myself. But I do think we ought to place our trust in Evan’s judgement upon the matter.” Her wprds came out slow. ”He must, after all, be well accustomed to such things, coming as he does from the place he does.”

Duke Aurelgrave was silent a moment, and then gave a single nod.

”Very well. I concede the point. What, then, must be done?”

”First things first,” Duke Valenridge said. ”We have but a few minutes remaining before the storm is upon us — perhaps thirty, perhaps fewer still — which means we must work with both haste and precision, for a single error at such a time is like to cost us dearly.”

He looked between the two of them.

”We must aid Bennett in conveying any who yet remain about that building, and do so at once. Thereafter we require shelter, any place capable of holding a considerable number of persons. Though first we must reckon precisely how many stand in need of such accommodation.”

Duke Aurelgrave gave this some thought.

”I know of two places that may answer the purpose.”

”I have some myself,” Duke Valenridge said, ”though I must first confirm their availability. But again, we cannot proceed without knowing the full number requiring shelter.”

He paused, then continued.

”We shall have need of dry wood — a considerable quantity of it, that people might be kept warm. I suspect this storm shall bring with it winds of no small violence. We shall require also food, water, and warm blankets enough to see everyone through several days entire.”

He looked towards the sky above, his expression thoughtful, as though he read there some manner of text invisible to the rest of them.

”Whatever storm now approaches shall last, I should think, three days at the least, and five at the maximum.”

Lucke regarded him in silence, a frown upon his brow, though he uttered not a word.

Lyria, too, said nothing.

But she observed — she observed a very great deal. She marked how Duke Valenridge read the coming storm as though it were some book laid open plainly before him, how he spoke of wind, and warmth, and duration with a certainty that could spring only from long experience of such things.

Perhaps, she thought, there was rather more truth to his family’s history among pirates than she had first supposed though, she remained uncertain whether such a trade persisted any longer in these present times.

”If possible,” he continued. ”Every door and window should be shut completely. Barred, if that can be managed. For I doubt the capital has ever seen a storm such as the one that is about to come.”