Shadow of the Abyss

A/N: Sorry for the lack of an update, but Hurricane Beryl left us without internet/power. I just got back internet last night, and it's hella spotty. I'll make the chapters up when we get power; my generator can't handle my computer, lol.

From the look in his eyes, Adrum Faytal was prepared to tear off Altair's head if it were the last thing he'd ever do.

"Now then, Lord Areon, if you'd be so kind. Why don't you tell us your point of contact?"

The shedding of tears from the Viscount did not garner pity. The men of the North who had lived as a part of the Nier Dutchy had all been fiercely loyal to the Dukedom. The love they'd held for the Duke, both new and old, could not simply be measured despite the passage of time.

'But it was that very love that forced the Imperial Family to weaken our forces." He glanced at the Imperial Tutor, finding his current expression amusing. It wasn't every day he had the chance to check a Transcendent. He smirked, returning his eyes to the Viscount.

"It…It…It was Lord…." He paused, his silent cries becoming ever more evident. " Lord Lukcar Malvgrave,"

In the silence, it was Marquis Killian Tovakin who stomped forward, a tendril of viens spreading down his forehead. He slapped him hard enough that teeth were sent sprawling from his jaw and again and again until chunks of flesh were torn from his mouth.

"Lord Killian that—" The Tutor started but was stopped when a Blade of Transcendent energy appeared in Killains hand.

"Hold your bloody tongue!" The Marquess demanded, flushed by rage.

The Kingdom of Kilsidor had only two dutches: House Nier, which controlled all of the North, and House Malgrave, which held the reins of the South. Other smaller nobles, bannermen, and merchants controlled the East and West.

And no northern man held any love for any member of House Malgrave.

"I see…" Altair whispered lightly, loud enough for all with enhanced senses to hear. "Now it makes sense. Isn't the current king married to a Malvgrave? Could there be some relation?"

Hard, cold, unfeely eyes found the Imperial Tutor, who seemed to have eaten a bitter bug.

"Watch your tongue, boy!" Adrum Faytal snapped. "I will not have you implicating the Imperial Family in any folly!"

"The Malvgrave's swore an oath!" Shouted the Countess, her words echoed by the lower nobles. "And it was ratified by the Imperial Family!"

"Speak, Child!" The Old Duke's booming voice thundered, quelling the voice of noblemen and children alike.

"Grandfather," Altair cut in, a piano wire-thin smile playing at his lips. "This isn't the place to force an answer. Especially if the Imperial Family is involved." he glanced at the Imperial Tutor. "Seal your core, or face an early death. Even if you are a transcendent, not even you can escape so many of us."

"I am the Imperial Tutor!" he roared, but it fell on deaf ears.

"And you are in the North." Said Altair coldly.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

****

"What a mess," Altair said after he'd waved off all his guests. Plenty wanted to stay the night, and under normal circumstances, House Nier would not hesitate to offer hospitality. Still, with the threat of the Imperial Family and House Malvgrave, they could not risk the safety of their Young Master. Continue reading stories on empire

"Did you know all along?" The Dutchess asked softly. "Did you know the imperial family was involved?"

"I had an idea, but when the Imperial Tutor showed up unannounced, I knew it to be true," Altair revealed, "And soon so too will all the Realm."

'The King holds Adrum Faytal in high regard." she said, lifting a goblet to her lips, tired and oddly cold in her own house.

"Do you know the function of all nobility?" Altair asked her, looking out at the empty hall, which was being tended to by the servants. "It's to serve the king. One man can't do anything. So, he breaks up his power and his authority to create families of those he trusts. The king's left and right arm are Nier and Malvgrave. King Silos is not foolish enough to go to war.

Perhaps he might have when I was asleep. But not now."

Corsant didn't understand, turning an eye to him. "What do you mean? How are you relevant?"

"The Old Nox was soft, wasn't he? Too soft to be any ruler, too noble for all the other nobles to respect." he tapped the table. 'This gathering wasn't merely to reveal the hidden scheme of the imperial family. It was to reveal a certain level of authority that was absent. Silos will surely send a letter we will ignore.

He'll then be forced to send an envoy, or Adrum Faytal will burn in a pyre of flames in a month's time."

"You can't do that!" Corsant had to say. "If we do that, we'll risk the fury of the king."

"And? Can we not sustain ourselves without the king's hand? Is our house not self-sufficient? As I said, Silos isn't stupid enough to challenge us outright. Plus, I gave him an out." Altair suddenly added, recalling the Viscount. "We don't have any proof of the Imperial Families hand in this matter.

Only a traitor's word."

"A dead traitor," The Old Duke said, sauntering into the hall. "I've had the guards place his body on the wall for the crows to peck at."

"Well, do the same to his entire family.'

The Old Duke and the Dutchess looked surprised. "You'd go so far? You gave your word," Corsant added.

"I gave my word not to have their family turned into whores and slaves. They'll still be killed. The head of House Vadica betrayed us. Even if mercy is an option, Malvgrave or the Imperial Family will send someone to wipe them out and blame us for it.

Claiming that we were the ones who sent assassins to wipe them out to cause discord among the ranks," he threw his head back, catching sight of Tasha smiling at him. "We can't let anyone else exterminate the Viscount. So…"

"I'll get my armor," The Old Duke declared, but Altair shook his head.

"You are past your prime, old man," he said half-jokingly, half-seriously. "Corsant and I need to do it. Tasha fetch me some armor and ready our garrison. I'm sure the other families are preparing to siege House Vadica before they can escape."

Elgar snorted. "I might be old, but I'll still kick your ass." He laughed. "Get up and bring honor to the house, boy!"

Altair hopped to his feet. "Of course, Grandfather. Corsant, have the MedArc on standby, just in case."

***

Within the medical ward, Corsant stepped in with a gloomy look. She stared at her sleeping son, brushing his head, before turning an eye towards the MedArc.

"It was Nox's doing, wasn't it? It was his demon."

The Medarc bowed. "His Devil, my lady, and yes."

"You knew," Corsant muttered darkly, biting her lip. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"To save the young master's life. Devils aren't bloodthirsty like demons. There sadistic. They like to play with their meat until they break. Had I revealed there was a sliver of Devil Qi in Noctis's body, then I fear what that Devil or her True Master might have done." he glanced at the Second Young Master and prayed for his swift recovery.

"Nox is using my son to threaten me," Corsant explained. "He means to use us to…"

"My Lady…. How much do you know of the Nine Hells?"

Corsant bit her lips. "It's part of the Viel in which you come from, right?"

"Yes… In a matter of speaking. It's a realm that holds nine monarchs, each realm possessing its nobles, economy, and infrastructure." He said, garnering attention from the dutchess. "My Lady, forgive me for saying this, but this isn't a battle you can win. Nox isn't threatening you. He's already won."

"Long ago, there was once a king for whom I worked for. Powerful, young, and naive, he foolishly made a deal with the Hells to the First Prince, Lord Seir. He wanted to create a Legion that never feared death nor felt pain. To do so, Lord Seir demanded his only daughter and a hundred years' time, which my King was more than willing to give since his son would take the throne.

A hundred years later, the daughter returned to her father's court, her maidenhood shattered by over a thousand demons and her belly swollen with seven children. Demonborn, children."

"Holy Ariandel!"

"She had borne all seven of them before the king, laughing before taking her own life. Prince Seir had granted the King his wish. The Seven Demonborne children were the conduit through which other infernal creatures, hellions, were created. But what His Majesty hadn't expected was that those very grandchildren were rearing an army to annihilate his kingdom.

It only took a year for them to grow into men, a year for them to gain control of the court, and a year to have all the imperial harem impregnated with demon children. They were all raped to death, forced to birth children until they could no more."

"What is the point of this story!" Corsant demanded.

"What I mean to say, my lady, is you would think the King was at fault. However, he was merely a sacrifice. For an enemy kingdom had paid the price of a thousand souls to have the entire kingdom sacrificed a hundred years before. That is how devils work. What you see before your eyes is merely an illusion of what they want.

If there is a devil beside Nox, a royal devil at that, ask yourself how many are involved in this scheme. The Duke, the Saintess, and who else?"

"Heavens…" The dutchess gasped, realizing the truth. "The saintess is involved!"

The Medarc sighed. "My Lady… When a devil is involved, the only part that wins is the hell. The same bastard that wished my Old King and his people dead were later slaughtered by the Infernal Creatures my king raised. The only man who won was Prince Seir."