Troubling Nights Ahead
17th of Vhalar, Arc 717
When she had first started doing her duties as steward, Velaine Krome had imagined that she need only concern herself with the needs of the household. What food they were serving today, how much money they could afford to throw all those lavish parties her mother so fervently adored – all the simple logistics. The young woman had not expected to be swamped with the troubles of the baronies.
Servants had now realized that whenever they would knock upon Jersey’s study to deliver reports of whatever was happening in their barony, they would simply receive a screaming order to leave or be escorted out by her father’s increasing number of bodyguards. Her mother outright refused to deal with him and seemed to have no interest in stepping up as a baroness. To put it simply, it had fallen into her lap to deal with the matters of their barony.
She should be grateful, she supposed. After all, Velaine had been looking for the chance to prove herself in the eyes of the duke. But as she flipped through the reports of missing people, the young woman had no doubt that she would get a massive headache wadding all through this mess. For the past bell, Velaine had been reading through a list of disappearances happening in the villages. They seemed to be increasing day by day. From slaves to travelers to citizens, no one seemed to be safe from these attacks. People were unhappy enough that their baron was cruel, with now their own people were disappearing?
Things do not bode well for her family.
A knock brought her musings to a stop and she called out to whoever it was to come in. “Lady Titania, I have urgent news for you.”
Velaine recognized the voice. The green-eyed servant was usually tasked with delivering messages to her family. Sophia Krome had picked the man specifically, claiming that she didn’t want a her messages being announced by ghastly-looking peasants.
“What is it, Cormag?” she called out as she spared a brief glance at the figure before looking back down at the papers.
The man’s green eyes widened a bit. He always seemed surprised whenever she mentioned his name, as if even after a dozen times, he couldn’t quite grasp the idea that the lady had remembered his name. Velaine had gotten similar reactions from the servants countless times since she had returned. Her parents had not been the most pleasant masters, making it all too easy for her to make them view her as a kind woman. A name here, a word of gratitude there. It didn’t take much honestly.
“Only one of our slaves returned from the market, my lady. He said they were attacked.”
Her heart paused as Velaine finally turned her attention to the servant. “What?” The young woman could not help noting Cormag’s cut lip, but paid not much mind to that. “Our slaves wore the mark of House Krome. No one should had the nerve of taking them.”
Cormag bowed. “Perhaps you want to question the slave, my lady, the one who has returned?”
“Yes, very well. Where is right now?”
“He’s resting in the slaves’ quarters. I shall bring him to you, my lady.”
Velaine shook her head and rose from her seat. “No, the man is injured. I have no trouble walking to the quarters. Take me to him.”
Servants had now realized that whenever they would knock upon Jersey’s study to deliver reports of whatever was happening in their barony, they would simply receive a screaming order to leave or be escorted out by her father’s increasing number of bodyguards. Her mother outright refused to deal with him and seemed to have no interest in stepping up as a baroness. To put it simply, it had fallen into her lap to deal with the matters of their barony.
She should be grateful, she supposed. After all, Velaine had been looking for the chance to prove herself in the eyes of the duke. But as she flipped through the reports of missing people, the young woman had no doubt that she would get a massive headache wadding all through this mess. For the past bell, Velaine had been reading through a list of disappearances happening in the villages. They seemed to be increasing day by day. From slaves to travelers to citizens, no one seemed to be safe from these attacks. People were unhappy enough that their baron was cruel, with now their own people were disappearing?
Things do not bode well for her family.
A knock brought her musings to a stop and she called out to whoever it was to come in. “Lady Titania, I have urgent news for you.”
Velaine recognized the voice. The green-eyed servant was usually tasked with delivering messages to her family. Sophia Krome had picked the man specifically, claiming that she didn’t want a her messages being announced by ghastly-looking peasants.
“What is it, Cormag?” she called out as she spared a brief glance at the figure before looking back down at the papers.
The man’s green eyes widened a bit. He always seemed surprised whenever she mentioned his name, as if even after a dozen times, he couldn’t quite grasp the idea that the lady had remembered his name. Velaine had gotten similar reactions from the servants countless times since she had returned. Her parents had not been the most pleasant masters, making it all too easy for her to make them view her as a kind woman. A name here, a word of gratitude there. It didn’t take much honestly.
“Only one of our slaves returned from the market, my lady. He said they were attacked.”
Her heart paused as Velaine finally turned her attention to the servant. “What?” The young woman could not help noting Cormag’s cut lip, but paid not much mind to that. “Our slaves wore the mark of House Krome. No one should had the nerve of taking them.”
Cormag bowed. “Perhaps you want to question the slave, my lady, the one who has returned?”
“Yes, very well. Where is right now?”
“He’s resting in the slaves’ quarters. I shall bring him to you, my lady.”
Velaine shook her head and rose from her seat. “No, the man is injured. I have no trouble walking to the quarters. Take me to him.”
