The room was all to familiar, these are the halls from which I once gave order. From which the map table was used for our council to debate events and gather a clear and overall path forward. Fates of opposed factions decided, lives of those who plotted against us came to judgement. Contracts for all manner of working given out. I had negotiated alliances, listened to fellow councillors on whatever cornerstone of business or war they controlled. The rooms used to collectively live, drink, feast and rest.
It once Housed a secret circle who ruled over Bree. Its rich history had seen Children grow and live and eventually became the House of Midnight itself. Only now it has darkened, dust had settled, spiders nested their webs in plain sight and myself, tied to a chair to which I had done to so many before me.
The arrow was still in place. The painful reminder that I had not seen my final day. The discomfort of it only guised by the notion that Bree has not yet finished with me. My focus struggled for some time but eventually revealed to me that I was guarded. The same guards who took orders from Julian and of course the fiend himself could not stand to be absent from his prize.
I would not allow his victory to last. My words flowed out in mockery to him only to serve greater punishment on myself. His iron gauntlets caused me pain and protected him from even so much as a bruised knuckle.
Eventually he tired and left me to be nursed so that I could endure further pain later. I could think for awhile but the red cloak strongly clutched in my hand served as indication as to the only reason why I remain alive. They cannot find the girl.
Laiani turned out to be a hostage worth taking. My one advantage was clung on to by my unconscious hand. The fighting spirit of my former self holding on for a final go at it. My advantage would have to be played out with precision. The plot played out in my mind as their nurse removed the arrow from my leg and tended the wound. A clear hatred for doing so as I believe this girl would rather me be dead.
The plot was not simple. I had to tolerate whatever pain they inflict upon me long enough to gain attention of a councillor, I had no doubts that Faustino would appear sooner or later. He would see my torture as a more personal challenge than a mere task of gaining information. He would wish to see if he had power over me. He would not gain pleasure from it though, more like the challenge a wolf would offer its pack leader as an attempt to see which is the stronger beast or to take the rank for itself. Julian had provided me with everything else I needed, his desire to torment me was his undoing.
Had he killed me himself or spoke nothing of his ideas, I would be sat with nothing but the girls location. Time was not on my side for they was sure to find her shortly and that would leave me for dead. The seeds of doubt would need to be planted.
It was not long before Faustino appeared and took away the gags that prevented me from speaking. He knew that no torture he could give was nothing I had not dealt myself time and time again. On occasion, we had both shared the torture of others for the good of our house. We both knew what each other was capable of. We both knew the depths each other would go. It was an equal game and each knew how and when to attack and counter.
Though he and I both entertained his efforts. I further knocked his will by telling him I left the girl bleeding and only haste would save her. This part was a lie I needed to give him, she was in no danger and eventually would be found, I had no reason to bring her further harm but I would not submit the location of the girl until I was free.
He pressed my wounds for time after, going direct for the girls whereabouts. He thought time was not on his side and I had to maintain that. I would distract him with what Julian had told me. He would hear none of it at first, a testament to his keen will to save his own kindred yet I would press him none the less, enough to display my words held truth and not the desperate ramblings of a man facing his own death.
Eventually Faustino faltered. I had never seen this in him before, at least not in these conditions. A crack in his wall was a blessing as I admit, my own defences only moments from an end. Though I do not believe I got through to him alone. Knowledge or concerns regarding Julian already existed within Faustino's mind, whatever the case, Faustino knew I had gained some ground and took that as his queue to exit for some time.
A short lived proud moment as he left the nurse and her instruments to do as she pleased with me. Gagged once again, she clearly took no interest in what information she could gain, mere pleasure in carving her designs to my flesh. This lasted for some time and only overcome by my display of boredom or dominance in turn, raising my chin and looking down on her as if she was nothing to me taught her she was only standing guard and nothing more.
Faustino made his return, giving a final attempt at Laiani's location. He would believe she was be nearing her death and must decide a fate of this game soon. And so he did what was needed to protect his kin. A trait that lacked in my new found enemy, Julian A final surprise was laid out to me. Faustino requested I help the house rid itself of Julian, once and for all.
His back had straightened, his fellow kindred as curious as I and to strengthen his word. He cut loose all of my bindings. Weak as I was but no longer bound, I knew I still had to get out of the halls. Yet this act of revenge I could not ignore.
Even if it was not my own revenge, Julian has always served as a self concerning poison in the House. Although I have no longer the regard to rejoin their ranks and no doubts are spared that Faustino could well be laying a trap to capture me again once Laiani is safe. The terms are acceptable and I was allowed to walk free in exchange of the girls location.
They concerned themselves only of her rescue so I could easily make my exit and I wasted no time in doing so nor did any of the house prevent me. Though injured, weak and still no more than a hundred strides from my own door. Faustino had me placed on horseback so I my leave with haste.
Released, free and still alive. The promise I had given to Julian before his attempt on my life had played out as I had predicted, as I told him it would, bar one factor, that I would come for him in return. That I would extract my revenge. That I would punish him for his failings towards the House. For his selfish greed over the traders of Bree, the militant tyrant who holds no heart over the people he crushes to save a coin. This Gondorian, holding what is not his to keep. For view of the House, he has no loyalties to them. For Bree, who he, a man of Gondor has no right of ownership in the town. And myself, for not destroying me when chance offered its hand.
This revenge, I cannot take alone. A direct attack would mean I would be out matched by his troops and archers. I am to aged now for the shadows so assassination will not mean victory. His coin outweighs mine with ease so I cannot hire assassins or daggers.
Julian is out matching me in every way but I must make even the battle field. I must be surgical in my plans. This revenge would not happen tonight, it would not be soon but it would come. I will starve him of his coin by taking out his trading caravans. Strip him of his troops one by one all the while seeking out alliances whom would find interest in his removal. Breemen alone would stand against him. I shall raise my own army and support and take from him everything that is loyal to him as he did so to me and he will know his death approaches and it will be the image of my face that follows him out of this existence.
By the time I had distance enough to know I was not followed, my thoughts had already wondered from what I must do and became dominated something else entirely One more task remained for the evening, I must speak with Ilaru.
