✦[ Chapter Fifteen ]✦
Viserys awoke to a cold sensation. He was lying on a bed he did not recognize, without armor to protect him, nor a sword to wield. His hands were bound with strange shackles. Suddenly, he noticed his young master, Idian, beside him, unconscious. He leapt toward him, but a calm voice pierced his ears:
"Where do you think you're going?"
He turned quickly, tense, to find Fairndil Altherion, the First Minister—the very man Martin had long praised for his skill in combat—standing before him.
Viserys stepped back angrily:
"What have you done to the young master? Why hasn't he woken yet?"
"He is still under the shock caused by my power," Fairndil replied, then added:
"Ah… Martin's son! That explains why Rosaria was holding him."
Viserys furrowed his brow.
"The kingdom… I must return to the kingdom!"
Fairndil raised an eyebrow mockingly:
"No, you must tell me where your master is."
"Do you expect me to betray my master for a killer like you?"
"I did not kill anyone. All I did was abduct you and your young master."
Viserys shouted in anger:
"I know what you did during the Millennium War! Martin longed to take your head for what you did… How dare you erase an entire village as if it never existed?"
Fairndil smiled before replying:
"I gave them a choice… to live or die. They chose death."
Viserys growled with fury, grinding his teeth.
"By attacking our kingdom, you have broken the covenant of the alliance you swore!"
Fairndil let out a mocking laugh:
"The alliance? It was merely a trick that allowed us to gather ourselves after the losses we suffered. Do you know what prevented us from achieving our aims during the Millennium War? We lacked human cunning… and now, we have that—and more."
He stepped toward Viserys, eyes narrowing cunningly:
"Now, knight, I want you to tell me everything you know about your allies… What forces has the Vampire Queen gathered? What army has the Demon King prepared? And what are they seeking? Tell me about Wise Gilmedon's plan, and the manuscripts of the Crippled Tunnel… in detail."
Viserys' voice rose in defiance:
"Betray my kingdom and our allies who stood by us? Be your right hand? You are despicable, just as Martin said! You will not have this, even if you kill me here and now!"
"Kill? Who mentioned such a thing? Enjoy your stay tonight, for tomorrow, you will be taken to one of the darkest places you will ever see… you and your young master."
Fairndil turned to leave but paused at the door, adding in a cold tone:
"This room is not just a cell… it is surrounded by the sealing magic of the Gate Lord, Morn Doro. Those shackles seal the spell as well. You will gain nothing from trying to escape…"
Then he vanished into the darkness, leaving Viserys with the echo of his final words, and a question repeating in his mind:
"Where will he take us tomorrow?"