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FallenreaperThe day's end had arrived and the last rays of sunlight were growing dimmer every minute. The various candles in Duncan's chamber had already been lit, illuminating the room. There was a chill in the air and Duncan wished that he had asked his servant to light the fireplace. It would appear summer had finally ended and Autumn had begun; the days were getting shorter and the weather colder. As usual Duncan was sat at his desk with a bottle of wine open on the table. Duncan's drinking habit had increased even more so of late, however given the circumstances that was to be expected. Aurelia hadn't been the first lover he had lost, but that didn't make dealing with her demise any easier. The door to his chamber opened, judging there was only one person in the keep who would dare enter the kings chambers without knocking first Duncan knew who it was immediately.
"Drinking alone brother" Isabel said with a smile as she walked up to his desk with a smile "A dangerous habit to get into"
"Well I'm not drinking alone anymore am I" Duncan said with a weak smile as he offered his sister the bottle. Isabel took it from him before pouring it into a empty glass that was on the table and took a seat. "What brings you at this time sister"? Duncan always enjoyed talking to his sister on his own. It was the only time he ever saw the more pleasant side of her personality. While most of the De Reimer family had issues with trust, Isabel took it to an extreme. Only when she was with her family did she feel she could let her guard down.
"I wanted to see how you were. I knew Lady Aurelia was close to you, but you never told me she was a lover" Isabel said half sympathetic half hurt. She didn't like it when her brothers kept things from her, however she knew that her feelings were not the priority right now. "I hoped I could help you in someway"
"I fear there isn't much you can do sister" Duncan said as he took another drink from his glass "Aurelia is dead, and all we can do is avenge her. Not that vengeance means much for the dead" Duncan replied glumly
"Perhaps not. But it means something for the living, and if finding the culprit helps bring you peace I will do everything in my power to do so" Isabel said as she took a large gulp of wine from her goblet, drinking half the wine in one go.
"Thank you sister. Though it may not bring me peace, I know vengeance will definitely make me feel better" Duncan said with a sadistic smile. He knew this for a fact. "If you don't mind I would prefer not to talk of Aurelia any further tonight" Duncan said as he continued to drink. In response Isabel finished the second half of her wine in one go before pouring herself more from the bottle. Isabel had the habit of 'gulping' down wine rather than sipping it. Duncan had no idea why she did this but for some reason he found it amusing.
"I understand brother. Though if you don't mind me asking, why do you trust Lady Lanaya so much? From what I gather you hardly know the woman and now you are placing her on the high council. I would deem such a move foolish"
"I do not trust Lady Lanaya, I simply know she was not responsible for Aurelia's murder. For a start she was in Alenius when the murder took place, as well as the fact she had nothing to gain from Aurelia's death" Though this was only part of the truth. What had really convinced Duncan was how Layana reacted that night in the crypts, the pain in her eyes and voice was genuine, he had no doubt about that. "And given how close she was to Aurelia she will be just as determined as I am to find whoever was responsible". Isabel nodded her head though it was clear she wasn't convinced. Duncan decided it might be in his best interest to change the subject. "So dear sister, I take it you are looking forward to your marriage" He said teasingly. Isabel's face turned sour
"Exhilarated" She replied dryly "I cannot wait to be wedded to some Wulfrick Churl. I suppose I should be thankful I am the one who gets to keep the family name" she sighed "not that I would have agreed to the marriage otherwise. Tell me do you know which Wulfrick I am marrying, I haven't been informed yet".
"Cerlina tells me that you will be marrying Smaragdus's youngest; Goodwin. From what I hear he isn't all to happy with his family for marrying him off" this piece of news caught Isabel's attention
"Interesting. Perhaps we can use this to turn him against his family and 'convince' him he has more in common with his new family than he might think"
"Indeed, hopefully we will be able persuade him to view himself as a De Reimer. And if not well, you only need to see him on formal occasions" Duncan finished with a smile "besides your not the only one getting married, Patrick will be married to Naomi Blackwell once this war has ended. From what I hear about the Blackwell women, our dear brother may have finally of met his match" He said as he laughed alongside his sister. This had been the first time he had laughed since Aurelia death.
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Duncan and Isabel continued to talk until they finally finished the bottle of wine. With that Isabel stood up, a little bit shaker that she had been when she first came in. "I believe we have spoken for long enough, I shall retire to my chamber for the night"
"Very well sister. And thankyou, for everything" Duncan said with a tipsy smile. Isabel nodded in response before heading towards the door. Just before she left however an item located atop one of the rooms dressers caught her eye, and she picked it up with curiosity. As Duncan glanced over he saw it was the mace that mercenary captain, Claus, had given to him on his coronation day.
"A bit unusual for you to have this sort of thing in your room" Isabel said
"It was one of the few gifts from my coronation that I actually liked. Besides what with..." Duncan suddenly stopped mid sentence. After a few seconds pause he slowly stood up and made his way towards a clearly confused Isabel. He took the mace from his sisters hands as he studied the braided leather hoop at the end. He hadn't noticed it till now, but there was no mistake. The style of the braid was unique to only one person, and they had been dead for years.
"Drinking alone brother" Isabel said with a smile as she walked up to his desk with a smile "A dangerous habit to get into"
"Well I'm not drinking alone anymore am I" Duncan said with a weak smile as he offered his sister the bottle. Isabel took it from him before pouring it into a empty glass that was on the table and took a seat. "What brings you at this time sister"? Duncan always enjoyed talking to his sister on his own. It was the only time he ever saw the more pleasant side of her personality. While most of the De Reimer family had issues with trust, Isabel took it to an extreme. Only when she was with her family did she feel she could let her guard down.
"I wanted to see how you were. I knew Lady Aurelia was close to you, but you never told me she was a lover" Isabel said half sympathetic half hurt. She didn't like it when her brothers kept things from her, however she knew that her feelings were not the priority right now. "I hoped I could help you in someway"
"I fear there isn't much you can do sister" Duncan said as he took another drink from his glass "Aurelia is dead, and all we can do is avenge her. Not that vengeance means much for the dead" Duncan replied glumly
"Perhaps not. But it means something for the living, and if finding the culprit helps bring you peace I will do everything in my power to do so" Isabel said as she took a large gulp of wine from her goblet, drinking half the wine in one go.
"Thank you sister. Though it may not bring me peace, I know vengeance will definitely make me feel better" Duncan said with a sadistic smile. He knew this for a fact. "If you don't mind I would prefer not to talk of Aurelia any further tonight" Duncan said as he continued to drink. In response Isabel finished the second half of her wine in one go before pouring herself more from the bottle. Isabel had the habit of 'gulping' down wine rather than sipping it. Duncan had no idea why she did this but for some reason he found it amusing.
"I understand brother. Though if you don't mind me asking, why do you trust Lady Lanaya so much? From what I gather you hardly know the woman and now you are placing her on the high council. I would deem such a move foolish"
"I do not trust Lady Lanaya, I simply know she was not responsible for Aurelia's murder. For a start she was in Alenius when the murder took place, as well as the fact she had nothing to gain from Aurelia's death" Though this was only part of the truth. What had really convinced Duncan was how Layana reacted that night in the crypts, the pain in her eyes and voice was genuine, he had no doubt about that. "And given how close she was to Aurelia she will be just as determined as I am to find whoever was responsible". Isabel nodded her head though it was clear she wasn't convinced. Duncan decided it might be in his best interest to change the subject. "So dear sister, I take it you are looking forward to your marriage" He said teasingly. Isabel's face turned sour
"Exhilarated" She replied dryly "I cannot wait to be wedded to some Wulfrick Churl. I suppose I should be thankful I am the one who gets to keep the family name" she sighed "not that I would have agreed to the marriage otherwise. Tell me do you know which Wulfrick I am marrying, I haven't been informed yet".
"Cerlina tells me that you will be marrying Smaragdus's youngest; Goodwin. From what I hear he isn't all to happy with his family for marrying him off" this piece of news caught Isabel's attention
"Interesting. Perhaps we can use this to turn him against his family and 'convince' him he has more in common with his new family than he might think"
"Indeed, hopefully we will be able persuade him to view himself as a De Reimer. And if not well, you only need to see him on formal occasions" Duncan finished with a smile "besides your not the only one getting married, Patrick will be married to Naomi Blackwell once this war has ended. From what I hear about the Blackwell women, our dear brother may have finally of met his match" He said as he laughed alongside his sister. This had been the first time he had laughed since Aurelia death.
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Duncan and Isabel continued to talk until they finally finished the bottle of wine. With that Isabel stood up, a little bit shaker that she had been when she first came in. "I believe we have spoken for long enough, I shall retire to my chamber for the night"
"Very well sister. And thankyou, for everything" Duncan said with a tipsy smile. Isabel nodded in response before heading towards the door. Just before she left however an item located atop one of the rooms dressers caught her eye, and she picked it up with curiosity. As Duncan glanced over he saw it was the mace that mercenary captain, Claus, had given to him on his coronation day.
"A bit unusual for you to have this sort of thing in your room" Isabel said
"It was one of the few gifts from my coronation that I actually liked. Besides what with..." Duncan suddenly stopped mid sentence. After a few seconds pause he slowly stood up and made his way towards a clearly confused Isabel. He took the mace from his sisters hands as he studied the braided leather hoop at the end. He hadn't noticed it till now, but there was no mistake. The style of the braid was unique to only one person, and they had been dead for years.