Page 122 of A Simple Truth

“Where are your manners, Liriya?” I snarled, giving her an aggravated glare, as she took a seat on the windowsill across the spacious room. But the bird didn’t care as her snarky caw-ing echoed off the poorly decorated walls.

I pulled out the small letter attached to the lifeless carcass, breaking the fresh wax seal with skilled precision, my eyes momentarily skimming its content. “How peculiar.” A half smile crept up my lips. “Turns out, our dear Lord Inadios didn’tappreciate me burning down all his mines and ports.” The bird chirped with approval, and I theatrically bowed. “I agree, it was a nice touch if I do say so myself. If I knew war was so entertaining, I would've started it sooner.”

Without a warning, Zora and Orest barged into the room. My short-lived smug smile was begrudgingly replaced with an annoyed one at their condemnatory looks.

“Fucking hell, Gideon!” Zora scowled, her eyes scanning the blood-spattered room. “Ever heard of cleaning up?!” She released a hiss at the minced bodies, or at least, the pieces that resembled human bodies, scattered at her feet.

“It adds to the boring décor,” I carelessly answered as the remains of the previous North Keep occupants rotted around the room.

“You need to deal with him,” Zora seethed to Orest, giving him a look.

Before he could say something, I loudly decreed, “Nobody needs to deal with me, dear cousin. I am perfectly fine doing things on my own.”

“The room begs to differ,” Orest calmly objected.

“Sorry, mother, I’ll clean up when I feel like it,” I sneered sarcastically.

“They didn’t all have to die, Gideon.” Zora cringed as she stepped over the body of some servant. “At least you could’ve incinerated them and not just chopped them into pieces. So unnecessary, dramatic, and barbaric.”

“In the moment, it just felt like the right thing to do.” I shrugged. “Fetch me a new hawk, Liriya,” I commanded the bird, and she swiftly departed.

“I am getting tired of you wallowing in the Numb,” Zora frowned at me, but I didn’t care. In fact, I didn’t care about a single thing. “Snap out of it or I will bring Finn here.”

“That sounded like a threat, Zorianna, and I do not appreciate being threatened.” I narrowed my eyes at her, letting my silver flames flicker, reminding her precisely who she was in the presence of.

“Oh, fuck off, Gideon. I saw you shit your pants growing up. You think you can scare me with your little flames? You forget that I was queen of the Numb. I spent years in it, doing things I regret. Do not repeat my mistake,” she pleaded with a tone that mixed firmness and concern.

“The difference between you and me is I do not feel remorse. I do not regret things. Take a look around.” I motioned with my hand to the rotting carnage covering the furnishings and floors. “This is just the beginning. I will baptize Esnox in blood, not because I want to, but simply becauseI can.”I stared back at her.

“Awww, look at me, I am such a scary and mean Emperor. I am trembling in fear in your presence.” Zora mocked me, pretentiously raising her arms up. “Get over yourself. You sound like nothing more than a butthurt teenage boy.” She crossed the room, stepping over a few other bodies, until she reached the blood-stained chair by my table. Dressed in full armor, Orest followed suit, stifling his smile as he watched her angrily kicking hardened limbs to make space for her to sit down.

But my eyes were on Orest, seeing his lingering gaze on my Commander.

Gods, the way he looked at her, even now. Even after all this time.

My heart ached at that look. Pained memories echoed, even through the muffled depth of the Numb.

“We have established holds on the Stenth village, and the Dunwich town lords have paid their dues and given the territories to us, acknowledging our rule. By tomorrow morning, Rivershore and Bullmar will fall. Rivershore will give out after maybe an hour or so, but Bullmar will fight. They’ve beenpreparing, building strongholds. Then, the few other villages in between are mostly fishing towns. They will hand over their rule once we arrive.”

I listened as Zora gave her report.

“We will have to change the lordships in Rivershore,” Orest commented and I nodded, acknowledging what he implied.

“Any more mages coming forward?” I inquired.

“Nothing yet. We have issued decrees that magic is now allowed, though I doubt any mages will come forward anytime soon. Not after twenty years of us hunting them, and Destroyers betraying them during the last war.” Orest responded. “The ones that have survived this long are a lot more cautious and will wait it out until the dust settles and it's clear what side we are on.”

“Any sign of our dear Queen?” Zora questioned, noticing the map and the dead hawk on it.

“Nothing...” My jaw tensed. “Our beloved Queen carries on in her shadows, which makes me question, what is it that we are missing?” I stared at the map. “The rest of the generals have also yet to make their move. I always knew they were subpar, but nothing at all? Seems rather underwhelming.”

“Maybe they suffocated from all that ash. They say it’s still snowing ash in the Rock Quarries.” Orest smirked.

“Our dear Inadios had to move out,” I chucked the stolen letter to Orest. He quickly scanned it and passed it over to Zora to read.

“Maybe I’ll move in instead. I always liked that manor. That upstairs bathroom: white marble, gold, and the stained-glass windows were glorious,” Zora added, giving the letter back as I resealed it.

“You were only there once.” I rolled my eyes. “It was just a boring bathroom.”

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