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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Mar 30, 2011 8:15:11 GMT -6
Lethenir was back inside the walls of the place he'd spent nearly his whole life. Though he left for only a few days about six months ago, he couldn't help but return. He questioned the validity of his actions upon returning. Although he informed his 'father' about the plan of attack that the 'mercenaries' he'd hired were going to enact and saved the lives of the servants in his home, this also meant that Lethenir's 'father' was saved as well. Lethenir was not fond of his male parentage in the least. Even after coming back of his own will and saving the entire estate from certain destruction, Lethenir had been punished for leaving and was given no praise for his helpful information.
His place in the household had changed since then, though. It seemed as though Warren Zettz, who is Lethenir's father, either feared or respected Lethenir now. It wasn't as simple as Lethenir having earned said fear or respect and then received it in good standing. Zettz appeared to be disgusted the more he thought of his son gaining any form of power in the house. Still, he no longer treated Lethenir as a servant and instead took him as a guest.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Mar 30, 2011 8:25:29 GMT -6
Lethenir knew what it was like to be Zettz's servant, though, so he showed kindness to the servants that were forced to complete requests of the castle's guests. He would make sure they got extra food if needed. He let the weary servants rest in his room while the others tended to Zettz. Even the guards, who he'd fought and killed three of before, looked to Lethenir for assistance when they got into a tough spot.
Zettz knew of these things, but he said nothing for a while. Tonight he asked for a private meeting with Lethenir, and one of the guards had mentioned something about being asked to remove the young man from the castle. Lethenir knocked at the chamber door of his father with unease. He was wearing his cloak and had all his valuable possessions on his person including his sword. He was ready to leave if asked by the castle's owner, but that had not occurred yet.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 8, 2011 23:48:23 GMT -6
He walked down the corridor to Zettz's chambers. He was calm and solemn. He was expecting this be at least a little unpleasant. He could think of why he felt that way. It was more of a hunch or a gut feeling than anything, but it was a very strong bit of intuition. Still, he would not disrespect his 'father's' wishes for fear of losing any ground he might have gained in Zettz's mind. When he reached the door in question, he gave a courteous two loud knocks. He waited in silence for some sort of notification of his presence.
"You may enter," came the familiar voice of Zettz from the room in question. Lethenir did as he was permitted and opened the door. He casually moved into the room and closed the door behind him. "What is it that you wanted of me, Duke Zettz?" Lethenir would not call this man father. Not after what he'd done to his mother.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 9, 2011 20:35:38 GMT -6
"My debt to you for informing me of those cretins' attacks is now paid in full. I know you've been smuggling food and supplies to my servants and knights, and I've had enough of that foolishness. It is time for you to leave for good." Zettz expression was quite intense, almost angry even.
"I will not stay if you do not want me. Before I go I have one final question. What will you do when they stop taking orders from you?" Lethenir's words seemed to ignite something within the Duke that could only be described as shear hatred. Lethenir remained cool despite what he knew was about to come his way. He recalled the rumors that the Duke himself had dispatched all of the bandit and mercenary leaders from before on his own. Perhaps now was the time to test that rumor...if the Duke really had lost his patience.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 9, 2011 20:36:16 GMT -6
"What did you just say to me, you peasant-blooded piece of trash?!" Zettz was undoubtedly furious at the implications of the question and not the question itself. Still, his anger was undenyably apparent. The Duke stood up from the chair next to his bed and stormed over to Lethenir, getting directly in his face. "They all fear me too much to do anything of the sort. They know what happens to those who defy me. Just like those traitorous sellswords I disposed of."
"You? Wield a weapon? I've never even seen a weapon in this entire castle save for what your guards have." Lethenir was still not convinced that the Duke had actually gotten rid of the leaders of his opposition. If he had done so, then Lethenir would have no chance of beating him. What Lethenir did know of sword fighting was barely enough to let him escape the castle before. Fighting someone as strong as Zettz claimed to be would end in Lethenir's death outright. He knew that for certain.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 9, 2011 20:36:57 GMT -6
"Yes, boy. That's because I don't wield a weapons," Zettz stated as he turned away from Lethenir and ferverously moved over to the shelf of books next to his desk. He pulled out an old tome with strange symbols on the cover. "This is what I use to fight. Elder Magic is the tool I use to destroy those who oppose me. Those fools who thought to take my castle all fell victim to it as well. They didn't know I could fight at all, and I caught them all off guard. They were brave and sought an audience with me one at a time, thinking the one who took me out would have my seat as duke of this castle. And one by one I defeated them all before they could lift their blades."
Lethenir was quite impressed, and, although he didn't want to admit it, a bit fightened. He had not known that Zettz was a practitioner of dark magic. This changed the dynamics of their potential battle entirely. Seeing as the bandits were from the area that Duke Zettz ruled over, the leader's probably weren't extremely strong. They were probably just a bit stronger the their underlings. Still, Zettz took them out before they could even ready their weapons. No doubt because Lethenir warned him of the planned attack Zettz had taken the initiative and didn't give the potentials threats time to become a problem. "So what will you do with me gone? You're getting old, Warren. When you pass on to the hereafter, what will become of your land and castle?"
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 10, 2011 0:43:50 GMT -6
"What business is it of yours what I plan to do with my land and title when I die? I'm certainly not giving it to some bleeding heart who knows nothing of the world like you." Zettz piped off as he opened the tome and flipped through the pages.
Lethenir kept his eyes trained on Warren's hands and mouth. If he muttered a seemingly unintelligible word or made some abnormal gesture with his hands Lethenir would have to move with great has or risk being torn asunder by the dark spell written in that tome.
"It's true that I am both of those things, but in my short, young life I've already garnered two things from the people you call servants that you never could. I have their respect and their gratitude. Because I treat them with respect as equal human beings and because I came back to protect them from you and those thugs you almost mistakenly hired."
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 10, 2011 0:57:47 GMT -6
"You were going to protect them from me? Hahaha... Boy, you're even more foolish and clueless than I thought. Your sword, which you had no training with to start, was confiscated by my guards and is in the chest under my wardrobe over there." Warren snickered at Lethenir. He couldn't help but put on a smug grin as he laughed at the young scoundrel.
"I can protect them, and I have been this whole time I've been here. When you showed them cruelty I comforted them and aided them. When you gave them little to no food I ordered the chef to make extra for me to distribute, and then I praised the chef for his mastery of the culinary arts. They want me to be in this castle. Pity it's the one thing I can't do for them." Lethenir sighed, completely ignoring the fact that Zettz had scoffed at him so.
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Post by Lethenir Vanether on Apr 10, 2011 1:14:11 GMT -6
"Enough, boy. Leave my quarters this instant or face the full might of my magic." Zettz had become frustrated again. This time it was likely because his heckle at Lethenir fell on apathetic ears. Lethenir had the blade with him on his person and he had training with the sword. His training was basic and the blade was light and not designed for direct combat, but he possessed both weapon and training just the same.
"There is one more thing I can do for them to ease their suffering. I can't do it without your help, though, Duke Zettz. That's because you have to do something to ensure that my final act to help them was executed correctly." He stood at the door, his hands still hidden by his cloak as they had been when he first entered the room. His left hand rested on the handle of the short sword that hung from the right side of his waist. These next few moments would decide whether or not Lethenir and Zettz either lived or died.
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