The Four Swords

Chapter 45: More Secrets

"Your wife was killed by the Autarch?" My jaw hung slack. So much for my plan of only talking when asked a direct question. This was too much for me to take without a question or two.

"I believe so," Lord Bleddyn responded. Maybe it was just me, but that didn't sound convincing enough to justify hunting someone down to kill them.

"Lord Bleddyn, what makes you believe that? Did you see it happen?" The King's mood shifted yet again. I could not keep up with all the changes, but at least this one wasn't full of rage.

"As you all know, I was a traveling merchant before I started training for the Sword Canidea. It was the year of Princess Alina's birth. My twins were only about 6 months old at the time," Lord Bleddyn shared. These facts seemed to be the easiest to share.

"My family traveled to the capital city to sell wares in celebration of the Princess's birth. We sold many things, but that year truffles were in high demand. Amaryllis could spot them from miles away," Lord Bleddyn stopped. His eyes looked dazed. Happy memories could be seen floating across his expression.

"What does any of that have to do with losing your wife?" King Caderyn cut to the point.

Lord Bleddyn's face darkened. The happy memories faded and sorrow filled his eyes.

"A week after the Princess's arrival, my wife went out to fetch more truffles. She usually left early in the morning and returned with the goods before the midday meal. That day she never returned." The twin's father cleared his throat. His story was not one he seemed to share openingly, considering these men were some of his closest companions and knew nothing of it.

"My friend, I understand the pain in your story. I'm sorry that you went through that. I am not sure you can blame the Autarch though," My father tried to gently explain.

"I'm not finished, Lord Jacob. When Amaryllis did not return, I went searching for her. I found... I found something unbearable." The grieving man closed his eyes as if not to see the image again. " I found a charred corpse. Fragments of my wife's clothes were barely recognizable."

I looked at the faces of the men around the table. Lord Garrison could have punched something. His distress at the story made his fist ball and his expression set firm. King Caderyn looked a tad sick. The idea of charred flesh could make anyone queasy.

My father's expression hit home for me. I could see the tear that did not dare trickle from the corner of his eye. Stoicism generally ran deep in him. My father loved my mother in a way that storybooks would envy. If he lost her like that, I'm not sure how he would continue.

The thought of marriage crossed my mind again. If I needed to look for an example to model my actions as a husband, I would not look to the King. I had other strong men to study. Men who could keep their tempers under control and show compassion for another husband's loss.

"I searched the area for any sign of who could do such a thing. I found scorch marks nearby. Ones that resemble the cobblestone along the parade route." Lord Bleddyn's face became tight. His thin lips were almost invisible behind his beard.

None of the meeting members wanted to push Lord Bleddyn with more questions. The man seemed to be barely holding back a sea of emotions.

"I could not even bring back a body. I dug a grave nearby and buried my wife under a willow tree." The man's misty eyes seemed to remember where he was. He collected himself, leaving tears unshed.

"Even if it was not directly the Autarch, only someone from the upper echelon of the Norads might recognize Amaryllis from her stories." Lord Bleddyn's conviction in his voice lessened. Maybe all his emotions were overwhelming, but something seemed wrong.

"The Autarch," He spat the words with malice. "Is the reason my children grew up without a mother. I have built my life around being able to protect my family and others from that monster!"

It made more sense now. I always wondered how a traveling merchant gave up that life to become a Swordsman. It was possible but unlikely, especially with the clan of Wolves.

The clan of Wolves passed their sword through challenge. There was a ritual to it that I never witnessed, but I read many of the histories around it. The challenger throws down his gauntlet. If the Swordsman picks it up, then the challenge is accepted. The winner of the challenge becomes the next Swordsman.

In the early days, the challenge was a battle to the death. Some factions within the Wolves still thought that it should still be that way. It did make the transition to power much smoother when the last leader was not in the picture.

A merchant training to defeat a Swordsman seemed impossible. My training started early and I still could not imagine defeating my father in a head to head match where his honor and position were on the line.

"I understand your struggle, Lord Bleddyn," King Caderyn finally broke the silence. "I will consider your request, but you will not leave with the first wave of men."

Lord Bleddyn's face grew red. "How can you.. I will not..." the twin's father took a deep breath and remembered how he was speaking too. "My King, please make your decision quickly."

"Maybe we should give the King the rest of the night to think on this matter," Lord Garrison smoothly tried to end the meeting.

"That sounds like a good plan," my father encouraged.

"Indeed," Lord Bleddyn's reply stretched out awkwardly long. Was he trying to decide something?

"One last thing, my friends. Tell no one my story. The twins know very little of it. I don't want them hearing it from someone other than myself," Lord Bleddyn pleaded.

I never pegged Lord Bleddyn as a man with so many secrets. Cali and Carrion deserved more, but they would not hear it from me