CHAPTER 119: ELINA GLIMOR [3]

A woman descended into the torchlit corridor, wearing emerald silk.

Her dark hair was perfectly arranged despite the journey, and her green eyes took in the scene with the kind of analytical precision that missed nothing.

"Mother, they hadn’t given their real names yet, and the younger one." Elina spat to the side.

"He acts like this is all entertainment."

"Mmm." That was Selene’s only response.

"They are completely unhinged."

They reached the cell door.

Selene looked through the bars at the two figures inside—Alaric now sitting casually on one of the pallets, Fredrick standing with his arms crossed.

Selene sighed deeply.

"Yes," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "They are absolutely terrifying."

Then she turned and gestured to the nearby guard.

"Open the door."

The guard hastily unlocked the cell.

Selene moved deeper into the cell and settled onto the opposite pallet with practiced grace, her emerald silk dress arranging itself around her like liquid shadow.

Her gaze locked onto Alaric.

Who then opened his eyes, and smirked, raising his shackled hands with theatrical flourish.

"Quite the welcome."

She studied his face, the dirt streaked across his cheek, the dried blood on his shirt, the way those damned shackles made his wrists look smaller than they should.

Something tightened in her chest. But she pushed it down quickly.

"Well," she said, voice dry, "When I sent you away for training, this wasn’t quite the homecoming I had in mind."

"But you seem to have enjoyed it."

"Well, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the tour," Alaric agreed, then glanced meaningfully at Elina. "Though the speaking skills of our guide could use some work."

"Still," he continued, crimson eyes dancing with amusement as they moved between Selene and Elina, "It’s not every day one gets arrested by such a beautiful lady."

Elina stood frozen in the doorway, golden eyes wide as she watched her mother sit casually in a prison cell conversing with supposed criminals.

Alaric raised his shackled hands, jingling the chains with theatrical emphasis.

The grizzled guard stepped forward immediately, key already in hand.

The shackles fell away with soft clicks, iron clattering against stone.

Then the guard moved to Fredrick next, releasing the old knight’s shackles.

"Feels better now" Alaric said as the iron fell away, rubbing his wrists.

"Mother," Elina’s voice came out strangled. "Do you... do you know these men?"

Selene’s emerald eyes never left Alaric’s face. "Know them?" A pause. "I suppose you could say that."

She let the moment stretch, watching her daughter’s confusion deepen.

"Elina, meet your new brother. Alaric Glimor—also heir to House Glimor."

Alaric smiled and gave a little wave with his newly freed hand.

"Hello, sister. Lovely to finally meet you properly."

Elina’s mouth worked soundlessly, opened. Closed. Her face went through disbelief, shock, then something close to horror as the implications crashed over her.

"I don’t think I need to introduce Elina to you," Selene continued dryly. "I assume you’ve already deduced who she is."

"The efficient young lady who arrested me? Never would have guessed." His grin widened as he continued tilting his head.

"Though the family resemblance is quite striking. Same tendency to give orders, same disapproving expression."

"This is..." Elina started, then stopped, visibly trying to process. "He’s the heir?"

"Yes." Selene rose from the pallet, brushing imaginary dust from her skirts.

And turned her head to the old knight.

"Sir Fredrick, I apologize for the rough handling."

The man just shook his head.

"It’s fine my lady."

Then Elina again looked at Alairc. "You’re... but you were fighting guards! You destroyed half the square!"

"In my defense," Alaric said reasonably, "They were beating children."

"You could have identified yourself!"

"Where’s the fun in that?"

"You—" Elina’s face had gone bright red. "You just stood there and let me arrest you like some common criminal when you could have—"

"Could have what? Ruined your authority in front of half the town?" Alaric tilted his head.

"You did exactly what you should have. I was impressed, actually."

"Don’t." Her voice shook with anger. "Don’t you dare patronize me."

"I’m not." He stood, brushing straw from his clothes. "You maintained control, protected House interests, and followed proper procedure."

"Stop talking to me like I’m a child!"

"Then stop acting like one." The words came out sharper than he’d intended.

Elina’s eyes blazed, she was ready to explode.

But Selene intervened raising a hand.

"Enough. Both of you."

She then rubbed her temples with her fingers.

"Next time you get the urge to play hero, try doing it somewhere that doesn’t end with me dragging you out of a cell."

Alaric gave a solemn nod.

"I’ll keep that in mind," though his tone lacked conviction.

Selene moved toward the door. "We’re leaving. Now."

They left the garrison. A carriage was waiting them outside.

They rode back to Glimor Manor. Alaric sat across from Selene and Elina, watching the outside roll by through dust-streaked windows.

Fredrick rode alongside with the guards.

The familiar sight of the manor’s towers rising against the evening sky brought an unexpected sense of relief.

Home, for better or worse.

As they pulled into the courtyard, Selene dismounted first and was already issuing orders.

"Margaret, prepare the guest suite for Sir Fredrick. Hot water, fresh linens." She glanced at Alaric. "You reek of blood and sweat. Your room is ready—bathe and change before dinner."

She smoothed her skirts and looked at Elina and Alaric.

"Both of you, come to my study in one hour. We have business to discuss."

And with that she left.

Elina also gave a sidelong glance to Alaric and left.

Fredrick shook his head and gestured, "Let’s head inside boy."

Alaric then just put his hands in his pocket and followed after him.

An hour later, Alaric entered Selene’s study feeling considerably more human.

Clean clothes, washed hair, and the absence of grime.

Elina was already seated across from Selene’s desk, her golden eyes still holding traces of indignation from their earlier confrontation.

Alaric took the remaining seat, observing both women.

"The Risvolk’s are long-standing partners in our easter mining operations." Selene began.

"They’re, forty percent of our eastern iron comes through their operations. We can’t afford to lose them." Elina said quickly.

"We can’t afford to keep them if they’re bleeding the merchants dry," Alaric countered. "Dead merchants don’t pay taxes or buy goods."

"You don’t know that," Elina shot back. "One incident—"

"One incident we witnessed directly. How many others do you think there have been?"

He leaned forward slightly. "Those guards knew exactly what they were doing. This wasn’t spontaneous brutality, it was a routine to them."

Selene’s fingers drummed once against her desk.

Elina’s jaw tightened. "Even if that’s true, we can’t simply abandon profitable partnerships based on speculation."

"It’s not speculation when I watched them try to extract hundreds of golds for a little debt."

"You have proof of the original amount?" She narrowed her eyes.

"I could tell the boy—"

"Worthless in any legal proceeding. The word of a street orphan against documented contracts."

Alaric just stared at her then leaned back and turned to Selene.

"How many complaints have there been? Against the Risvolks specifically?"

Selene’s fingers drummed once on the desk. "Several."

"Mother!" Elina protested. "You never mentioned—"

"Because I was handling it quietly. Which is now impossible thanks to today’s spectacle." She fixed Alaric with a look. "Though I admit their tactics have grown... excessive."

"Then we need to investigate properly. Send discrete inquiries to other merchant families in the region. Review the contracts Risvolk claims to hold. Document everything. Their debts, their collection methods, their actual contracts versus what they claim."

Selene nodded slowly.

"Very well."

She turned to Elina.

"I want you to review all our partnership agreements with them. Look for inconsistencies, unusual clauses, anything that might support systematic fraud."

Elina stood abruptly, her chair scraping against floor. "Of course. As you wish, mother."

She bowed stiffly and strode from the room.

The door closed behind her with perhaps more force than necessary.

Silence settled over the study like dust. Selene leaned back in her chair, emerald eyes studying Alaric with renewed attention, something in her expression softening just slightly.

"You’re changing a lot."

"Disappointed?"

"No." The word came out quieter. "Just... observing."

Their eyes met and held.

"The Academy entrance examinations would be in three days," she said, voice carefully neutral.

"Tomorrow is the last day for registration." She slid the papers toward him.

Alaric nodded, accepting the documents. "I’ll be there."

He stood up and circled around the desk, deliberately close.

Selene stilled, heart skittering.

"I should thank you," he said low and slow, "for the rescue. Very heroic of you."

"You’re an investment. I protect my investments."

He leaned in, the scent of soap and something uniquely him filling her senses.

"Just an investment?" he murmured. "Nothing more?"

Her breath caught. "Alaric—"

"Missed you too, Selene."

He straightened and walked out, leaving her flustered and alone, hand pressed to her chest where her heart hammered traitorously.