Chương 83: Ashfast

Andrin kept his expression neutral, gaze fixed beyond the carriage window as it rolled through the elevated avenues of Caer Virell's High Tier. Lanternlight glimmered along tiered balconies and arched bridges of pale stone, the city's upper spires cutting dark silhouettes against a smoke-veiled sky. Wealthy estates and guild manors passed in orderly procession—ironwork gates, sigiled banners, guards in lacquered plate. There were many thoughts pressing at the edges of his mind. He did not voice them.

He did not allow them to surface in his expression.

"Mommy, why couldn't Vorthalor come with us?" a small voice asked from within the cabin.

"I think he might've been tired after the trip and deserved a chance to fly off on his own and rest," Veralyth answered lightly.

"Isn't that right, Elaria?"

"Technically, yes," Elaria replied.

"However, the primary reason is that my estate is warded against aerial and direct assaults. Those protections have been dismantled around the Ember Courts, but I have not done the same there."

"Oh."

"The same applies to Sablewatch Hollow, no?"

"I suppose it does…"

"Did you not consider this?"

"…Not everyone's mind is in the gutter thinking about war all the time, okay?" A quiet giggle followed.

"Mama, Mommy always makes funny faces when you talk to her like that."

"Wha—Serel, whose side are you on? You little rascal." The giggle dissolved into panicked laughter.

"No, stop!" Andrin allowed himself a slight turn of the head, watching from the corner of his eye as Veralyth tickled the child seated beside her while his Keeper sat opposite them. It might have been an ordinary scene—were these ordinary people. But the woman tickling a child across from him was the Ashborn Ascendant, Veralyth Mournvale. And the child was her legitimate daughter. And, if the claim was true, also the legitimate daughter of Elaria Valecrest. He didn't truly understand how that could be.

It defied every precedent he was familiar with. Yet he had never known the Flamebearer of the Covenant of Flame and Keeper of the Pyric Oath to lie. His gaze lingered a moment on the child's bright face and the unguarded smile on Mournvale's, then he returned his attention to the passing streets. His impression of the Ascendant had shifted rapidly in the span of a single half hour. Until now, he had known her only through formal exchanges and distant observation on the battlefield.

Stories of her feats did paint her as bold—reckless, some said—and his Keeper had occasionally muttered about her in a tone that suggested equal parts frustration and familiarity. But he had never seen Veralyth smile the way she did now. He had never seen her emote much at all. In fairness, he had known her far less than Elaria had, and perhaps even less than the soldiers who spoke of her in barracks and camps.

There were stories that suggested her character had been tempered over the years and that she may have been significantly more spirited in the past. Perhaps this was simply a returning facet of her personality. Regardless of the circumstances, it wasn't his place to indulge in rumor or speculation concerning the Marked Ones. With that said, he had still been taken aback when he learned the… extent of the closeness between this woman and his Keeper.

It was fortunate that he'd long ago learned how to stand beside figures of consequence without speaking about the things that should remain unspoken. Had he been one who tended toward idle talk, though, there was no doubt in his mind that the entirety of Caer Virell would currently be in uproar over the revelation that the Flamebearer and the Ashborn Ascendant shared a clandestine child. No—it wouldn't be limited to the city. Word would spread across the dominions. To the front lines against the Unraveled.

To the bastions of the eastern marches. To the southern ports of Thornequay. Barring the Tribulations themselves and the upheavals they birthed, this may very well be one of the most astonishing revelations in the past decade.

"Mama, help—!" The cry snapped him from his thoughts. He turned to see Serel half sprawled across the carriage seat, twisting away as Veralyth slipped a small silver pendant from around the girl's neck. With terrifying precision, the Ascendant threaded a filament-thin strand of Resonance into the charm, even as her other hand continued its assault on the girl's side.

"She took my Wick!" Serel protested between breathless laughter.

"I'm just making sure you remember what happens when you cross me, little lady," Veralyth said with a shameless expression. Andrin stared. The contrast with the woman he had once seen on the battlefield unsettled him more than he expected. He also found himself questioning whether this was truly someone his Keeper would be close to. He glanced toward Elaria. She was watching the scene with a faint crease to her brow, though it didn't quite read as frustration. Exasperation, perhaps? Was she used to this?

"Is there any need to confiscate the Wick, Mournvale?" she asked evenly.

"Of course there is. This is called leverage for the future," Veralyth replied.

"My mother kept a stash of these things. I'm simply continuing the tradition. Trust me. In ten years, you'll be glad I did."

"Mommy!" Serel protested. Veralyth laughed.

"Alright, fine. You win. Here." She returned the pendant. Serel immediately clutched it, then scrambled out of her seat to sit beside Elaria instead, sticking her tongue out at Veralyth. The woman… returned it with equal maturity. Andrin faced forward again, dismissing the questions before they could take shape. He wished his Keeper patience and luck in what lay ahead.

Vera turned her attention away from the tiny traitor gremlin currently glued to Elaria's side, making faces at her, and looked out the window as the carriage rolled to a stop before a large, dark-stone gate. It stood at the edge of a cliff at the far end of the High Tiers, overlooking the wide sweep of the river far below. From up here, it looked more like a dull ribbon cutting through stone than an actual body of water.

"Where here?" Vera asked, leaning out of the window to peer past the gates. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"We are," Elaria confirmed. Serel immediately abandoned her attempts at making faces and scrambled over to the window as well, excitement lighting her up—only for confusion to follow a second later.

"Huh? Mama, where is it?"

"The Ashfast isn't visible from this vantage," Elaria said.

"Wait, and you'll see why." Vera glanced at her, also feeling curious. From what she understood, Elaria's estate in Caer Virell had originally been one of the holds of the direct Ashward line, and Elaria had later repurposed it into her own residence. That backstory had led Vera to expect something prominent—another towering structure among the High Tiers. But there really wasn't anything. The carriage was waved through the gates by a lone guard in soot-black armor and guided along the cliff's edge.

Only then did Vera realize why she hadn't seen the estate yet. The road dipped. It curved into a narrow, winding descent carved into the cliffside, hugging the rock and running dangerously close to the drop. The wheels creaked over stone that looked barely wide enough to accommodate them, and the river far below seemed to tilt closer with every turn. Eventually, the cliff face opened into a vast hollow, and she caught the first sight of bleak stone walls and towers rising from within it.

"Waaah…" Serel breathed. She turned to Elaria, eyes wide.

"Mama, it's inside the cave!" Elaria inclined her head.

"It is. The Ashfast was constructed before many of Caer Virell's outer districts, when the city faced threats its broader defenses could not yet repel. It remains one of the most defensible holdings in the High Tiers." Serel pressed herself closer to the window.

"Wow…" Vera took in the sight as more of it came into view—a castle embedded halfway into a natural cavern, the mountain arching over it like a protective vault. There was something primal and inherently striking about a stronghold built like this. She would still choose Sablewatch Hollow any day of the week, but if she had to go off of just outward aesthetics? This place might have hers edged out by a narrow margin.

The carriage rolled across a stone causeway that carried them through a gate tower and into the Ashfast proper. They emerged into a broad courtyard, half sheltered beneath the cavern's overhang and half open to the last stretch of evening light. The shadowed half was illuminated by rows of emberlights set along the perimeter walls. A small army of servants in soot-black uniforms stood waiting when the carriage came to a stop.

"Lady Valecrest." An older bald man with a neatly groomed mustache that curled faintly at the ends bowed deeply as he stepped forward.

"We extend to you our deepest welcome home. I have personally overseen the adjustments you requested and ensured the grounds have been kept in proper order during your extended absence."

"Good," Elaria said.

"Thank you, Bernhard."

"Certainly, my lady." Vera glanced at Elaria.

"Extended absence? How long has it been since you were last here?" Elaria paused.

"Half a year, perhaps?"

"Four seasons, actually, my lady," Bernhard corrected smoothly. Vera stared at her.

"You haven't visited your own home for that long?" By this world's calendar, that was nearly two-thirds of a year.

"I have not," Elaria replied.

"Keeper Valecrest has devoted her time to the fronts and to Flamehold Virell so that she remains prepared to respond at a moment's notice, Lady Mournvale," Andrin said.

"She has had little opportunity for personal matters. The lives and safety of the Covenant depend upon her as its Flamebearer."

"And we are deeply grateful for the sacrifices she makes," Bernhard added with quiet pride.

"We could not be more honored by whom we serve." Behind him, the gathered servants nodded in agreement. Elaria looked between them with an impassive expression, though Vera got the feeling she didn't particularly enjoy the praise.

"Leaving that aside," Elaria said, "Bernhard, this is Veralyth Mournvale. And this is my daughter, Serel." She gestured first to Vera, then to Serel. The girl's earlier excitement had dimmed. Faced with a crowd of unfamiliar adults, she edged slightly behind Vera and Elaria. Vera had noticed that Serel could be quick to warm up to people, but she was often shy at first—especially when it came to groups. Bernhard's gaze shifted to Serel. His expression softened as he bowed again.

"Young mistress, welcome. We stand ready to serve you in whatever you may require." Serel blinked, clearly uncertain how to respond. Vera considered the man. Did he know that Serel was her daughter as well? If so, he was being very professional about it. But so was Andrin. Maybe that was simply the kind of discipline Elaria expected from those who served under her. When Serel didn't respond, Bernhard's smile simply softened slightly before he turned to Vera and bowed.

"Lady Mournvale, it is an honor to make your acquaintance. Many of us here owe our lives to your deeds. Please accept our personal thanks. If there is anything you require during your stay, you need only ask." Vera blinked, caught off guard by the directness of it. Behind him, a couple of the servants suddenly looked openly emotional. She glanced at Elaria again. The woman met her eyes for a moment, studying her.

"Some of those in my employ are people you once saved. Strictly coincidence." Vera wasn't quite sure what to say to that. She looked back at Bernhard and the others.

"I… see," she said.

"You're… welcome? And, uh, thanks in advance."

"Of course, Lady Mournvale." Bernhard bowed again. The rest of the servants followed suit in perfect unison. Vera looked back at Elaria, but the woman had already shifted her attention elsewhere, settling a light hand on Serel's shoulder as she stepped forward.

"Bernhard, give me a summary of the progress."

"My lady." Bernhard straightened, one arm folding neatly behind his back.

"As you requested, with the assistance of Adjutant Keeper Khedun, a full security audit of the grounds has been completed. Watch rotations have been adjusted to maintain constant coverage. The perimeters have been reinforced. And a training courtyard has been sectioned off in accordance with your request for a…

'conditioning zone.' In addition, we have interviewed several tutors for the young miss, and Forge-Master Fausto has been contacted regarding commissions, pending final specifications." Elaria nodded once.

"Excellent. And the eastern wing?"

"The sealed rooms have been reopened and restored, though renovations remain ongoing. It may take a few more days."

"Understandable. Well done."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Wait, hold on," Vera interrupted. Elaria looked at her.

"That's… a lot," Vera said.

"What, are you preparing for a war?" Elaria arched a single brow.

"We are at war. The Silence still threatens our lands."

"Not what I meant. It's not like that thing's going to ignore the rest of Caer Virell and single out your house specifically. But everything he just listed made it sound like you're bracing for some local warlord to march up here and start a siege tomorrow."

"Those preparations were for Serel," Elaria said. Vera's eyes widened.

"For Serel?"

"Yes."

"Not just the tutors?"

"No."

"What about the conditioning zone?"

"For her training."

"And the commissions?"

"To have proper armor and a sword forged for her." Vera stared at her for a long second, then pinched the bridge of her nose and exhaled.

"And the renovations? Don't tell me you're remaking an entire wing just to build her a personal little death colosseum or something." Elaria frowned.

"I am not you, Mournvale."

"Wha—How am I the one more likely to do something like that?" Elaria simply looked at her. Vera threw her hands up.

"Fine. Sure. I get it. Just let the record show that I was never advocating giving our daughter a pointy weapon designed to stab things." A few of the servants' expressions shifted—just slightly—at the words 'our daughter,' but most remained perfectly composed.

"I like pointy things, Mommy," Serel said, maybe a bit too proudly.

"That's great," Vera replied.

"Who doesn't? I just want it clearly documented that I can't be held entirely responsible for this development."

"Do you object to the preparations I have made here to accommodate Serel's presence, Mournvale?" Elaria asked. Vera sighed.

"No. Not exactly." She looked down at Serel for a moment, then stepped closer to Elaria. Don't you think there's more to setting up a place for a kid than just making sure she can train here? Elaria's eyes narrowed slightly as the meaning of her words carried through Resonance alone. She held Vera's gaze before turning back to Bernhard.

"Regarding the renovations, did you procure everything I asked for?"

"The request was somewhat vague, my lady," Bernhard replied carefully, "but we did prepare a number of things a child might enjoy. We hope they will prove suitable for the young miss. Naturally, if there are any adjustments she desires, we are more than willing to accommodate them." Vera looked at him, then back at Elaria.

"Oh. Sorry." She'd assumed, for a moment, that Elaria's focus had been purely on 'training' Serel. That hadn't sat entirely right with her. But as long as it wasn't excessive…

"I have no intention of making such decisions without your input," Elaria said. She glanced down at Serel, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder.

"…And the same applies to you." Serel's focus moved from her over to Bernhard and the buildings beyond him.

"Mama… can I see?"

"The inside?" Elaria asked.

"Mmm."

"Of course." Elaria turned to Vera.

"Do you wish to see it as well?" Vera eyed Serel, then shrugged.

"Why wouldn't I? I'm curious what you've set up for her."

"The eastern wing is not only being renovated for Serel. I had a section prepared for you as well." Vera paused.

"…Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You wish to remain close to Serel, no?" Vera was quiet for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Thank you." Elaria simply dipped her head, looking away.

"It is nothing. More importantly—" her demeanor seemed to sharpen as she looked back to Bernhard, "were you able to locate the other item I inquired about?"

"Ah." Bernhard's composure wavered just a fraction.

"Do you mean… the doll?" Vera's smile stiffened.

"Yes," Elaria said.

"I'm afraid we did not find any such representations of you, my lady. At least none that fit the descriptions you provided. However, if it is something you wish to have, we could commission one—""No, that will not be necessary." Elaria's gaze returned to Vera.

"That was all I wished to know." A cold sensation slid down Vera's back. Was that woman ever going to let that go?