Chapter 13, Deep Shadows

  Ancestors Honor, Ancestral Home of House von Schwarzwald

  After a week of travel, Elizabeth’s group had made it to Ancestors Honor, the seat of power for House von Schwarzwald, a mysterious place shrouded in rumor and shadows. But as they left the forested area that obscured the castle. Here, Grand Duchess Ida von Schwarzwald oversaw her family and the lands they controlled, serving as the spiritual advisors of the other Wolf.

  Ancestors Honor was a strange-looking castle, with a stone base several feet off the ground, with the rest of it being made from wood and ceramics. The castle's central tower extended upward by eight floors, with sloping roofs extending out from each floor. The ceramic tiles that comprised the roof tiles were a beautiful dark green while the building itself was painted white. Adjacent to the central tower were two smaller towers with four floors to them, connected by walled courtyards.

  The group passed through the gates and into the castle proper, and to the confusion of everyone instead of wooden walls, they were surrounded by paper screens and bare wooden pillars spread out at various intervals. All the screens had beautiful depictions of forests, streams, and mountains on them. Servants stationed at various intervals moved the screens out of the way as they came by, only to close them behind them when they had passed. Like the von Schwarzwald, even the servants of the palace hid their features from them. Elizabeth was not sure if it was because they too suffered from the family’s curse, or if they just did not want to offend their master’s by walking around without concealing themselves while the von Schwarzwald had to cover up. Isa brought them to a waiting room, and with them still under her spell forced them all to sit completely while they waited. It was at this point that Isa decided to pull Sir Frederick aside and speak to him in a private room.

  Isa took him far away from his companions to the western tower passing through the garden that lay in the open courtyard between the two towers. The flowers were immaculately arranged with cherry trees and shrines to the von Schwarzwald ancestors scattered throughout. The duo crossed over a koi-filled pond via a wooden bridge, and in the pond below Sir Frederick could see beautiful multicolored fish looking up at him, expecting to be fed. The duo left the garden and entered the western tower, where she led him to a private room, with only guards being present to make sure the area remained secure.

  Once they were alone, Isa took off her hood and veil to reveal her true face. Like Madeline, her eyes were wideset, but after that, the similarities ceased. More than any other Arc-Blood family, the von Schwarzwald bloodline stood out, and blood magic did a doozy on the body. Isa had pale corpse-like skin, her hair looked like wet clumps of blood, even if it was dry to the touch, and her eyes themselves were pools of pitch black. There was a constant stream of blood-red tears coming from her eyes, not because she was sad, but because of the magic in her blood.

  “Showing your face Isa, you haven’t done that in a while. Your still as cute as ever I see.” Sir Frederick was unfazed by her appearance.

  Duchess Isa's stern look transformed into a smirk, “You could always find the beauty in what is hideous, Freddy.” A foreboding look came across her face again once again. “You shouldn’t have come back Fredreich, not after what you did.”

  “I held to what I believed in, that I would not withdraw on the Kingdom simply because we didn’t get our way through brute force. If given enough time and pressure, the Bluegrass Valley could have been returned to us, we need to wait for the day when the King dies, and his children throw out their shrew of a stepmother. Each prince and princess are sympathetic to our cause, I could have rallied them, there was no need for any more bloodshed.”

  “We fought four wars, won four wars, and were denied our prize every time, nobody had the patience to wait.”

  “Which is why I left, because I chose to honor the virtue of the Wolf, the virtue of Unity. Through unity, the many are made into one. Through Unity, we find strength and power. Through our ancestors.”

  “You speak of virtue, but what of the virtue of Duty? What of your duty to your family? What of your duty to me, your betrothed? I gave you my heart, my love, and even my maidenhood on the promise that one day you would marry me, and we would be together forever. When you left, you never even bothered to say goodbye to me, did my heart mean so little to you?” Duchess Isa's face was now a mixture of fury and tears.

  A look of sadness came across Sir Frederick’s face. “What I did to you was wrong, I was afraid of how you would react since Oathsworn aren’t allowed to have spouses which meant no matter what our engagement was off. I thought it would get easier with time, but it did not, it only got worse. Not saying goodbye to you was the biggest mistake of my life.”

  “Second biggest, right after your departure in the first place, though number one goes to your decision to return home. Your uncle has been busy, when your grandfather dies, he will make his move for the seat of Archduke, and he has been using your tarnished reputation to discredit your sister, the now rightful heir after your abdication. Katrina’s also not too happy with you, and you know Katrina, she does not forgive, neither do I, though my fury is a more passive and patient one, she will just bash your head in with her morning star the moment you step into the Wolf’s Den.”

  “The Wolf must march in defense of the Kingdom; our grievances must be cast aside to fight for the greater good.”

  It was at this point a third voice joined them. “An admirable if foolish position to have now. Tell me, what duty does the Wolf have to the Lion if the Lion abuses the Wolf? You talk of unity, but the throne broke faith with us first. If you want unity, then have the Lion return what is, by right, ours.” A screen door was removed and a shriveled-up elderly woman who bore a strong resemblance to Isa entered, though blood seemed to be pouring from her ears and mouth as her eye sockets weren’t just colored black, they were black voids through which a literal waterfall of blood poured out. The woman's mass of straight bloody hair was tied up in a bun behind her head. Once again, despite appearances, the blood was not wet and did not stick. The woman's robes were ornate and drenched in heavy perfume, free from any bloodstains.

  Sir Frederick remembered his manners. “Grand Duchess Ida, you honor me with your presence, I have to speak to you.” The Grand Duchess Ida von Schwarzwald was not amused and cut him off.

  “You shouldn’t have come back Friedrich, you’re only going to make a bad situation worse. Tell me, why should I not have Isa use her magic to bind you and your friends here for all of eternity? For a master of blood magic like Isa, it wouldn’t be that hard.” Despite its many names like ancestor or bloodline magic, the magic practiced by the Schwarzwald was blood magic of the most potent variety.

  It was the practice of this art that led to their ancestor being driven from the Isles of Silk and Steel in the first place before joining up with Arthur and his army, where she would then founded her bloodline and enact the blood bond that would see every true von Schwarzwald blessed with her magic, and her appearance. This rule also applies to those who married into the family, with those who marry out having their appearance appearing like a normal human.

  “I would hope that you wouldn’t do something like that, the Kingdom needs to be saved from destruction, this Lich is powerful and deadly, not to mention his minions are nothing to scoff at. Zarathustra has an alchemist with him who created an acid that dissolved through Wall Visalia like it was nothing, and there is only one alchemist I can think of capable of that feat who was banished to the dark wastes.”

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  A dark look came over Ida’s face. “Yes, I know about Ludwig, I knew it was a mistake showing him mercy via exile after what he did to his sister, I should have just killed him then and there.”

  “But you did not, and now that sociopath is in league with this invading lich. You and your family bear some responsibility for what has happened, at the very least, you should march in defense of the Kingdom.” Sir Frederick had found the lever he needed to get the von Schwarzwald’s aid, even if Ida and Isa were now giving him the most terrifying of death stares.

  “Very well Friedrich, we will take you to the Wolf’s Den for the gathering, but don’t expect us to plead your case. Ludwig can be dealt with at any time, but sooner or later he will need to be dealt with to expunge this stain of shame from the family.”

  As Isa was preparing to lead Sir Frederick back to his companions, he heard a young and soft voice call out, “Mommy, are you home, I heard you.” Sir Frederick’s blood ran cold, as a little Schwarzwald girl, no more than three, walked over to Isa. Isa let out a sigh and picked her up.

  “Yes Sweetie, I’m home, were you good for grandma?”

  “She didn’t terrorize me, so I count that as good.” The Grand Duchess tussled the little girls’ blood like hair.

  “Isa,” Sir Frederick asked, “who is that girl’s father?” Sir Frederick felt his heart sink to his stomach, because he already knew the answer.

  Isa, with as much venom as possible that she could put into her voice, answered, “Who do you think Minna’s father is?”

  “It was only one time?”

  “That’s all it takes Freddy, that’s all it takes.” Every word Isa spoke dripped with venom as she held his daughter.

  Minna, being too young to understand what was going on, asked her mother, “Mommy, who’s that man?”

  Isa, softening for her daughter, responded, “He’s no one my little gem, just a bad man who made a very stupid choice, and now he has to live with it.”

  “Isa, you should have told me about my daughter, I would have,” but before he could finish, Isa interrupted him.

  “You would have what, have vague knowledge of a girl whose oaths would make sure you had no connection with, maybe send her a couple of chocolate coins and a doll for her birthday every year? You cloak yourself in righteousness and self-importance, playing the martyr for scum who don’t care about your ideals while hurting those who did love you. I was going to tell you that I was pregnant, but then you left, and you never even said goodbye.”

  Minna, still not fully comprehending what was going on, could still sense that this strange man was making her mother upset, so she scowled and tuck out her tongue defiantly at Sir Frederick. Isa handed Minna over to her mother. “Come, Sir Frederick, I need to get you back to your companions.”

  Sir Frederick was led back to his companions who were sitting together, drinking tea and eating a Schwarzwald delicacy known as mochi. Even when the von Schwarzwalds lost their memories a millennia ago like everyone else, their strong spiritual connection with their founder helped them hold on to the traditions of a homeland they had forgotten even existed.

  “Good news friends, we're going to the Wolf’s Den to convince my family to save the Kingdom.” There was no enthusiasm in his voice, as he had been shaken by the revelation that not only had he abandoned his betrothed, but his unborn daughter as well. None of his companions appeared optimistic about that prospect and gave him wary looks. Sir Frederick knew he deserved that, he had made a misjudgment by bringing them here, but he would do his best to make it up to them. He had to, the Kingdom needed to be saved, no matter the cost.

  Zarathustra’s Tower

  A week had passed since they had begun their journey up the Coastal Pass. Six of the Seven Gates had put up stiff opposition, that combined with attacks from their rear and the sea had dwindled their forces, though they were still the mightiest host in the Kingdom. Zarathustra knew from Ludwig that the duchies north of the Barrier Mountains would be hesitant to march in defense of the Peacock, with the Wolf being the most prominent due to the current animosity between them. The Galdwin were rallying their forces in the Royal Lands, but they too would be swept away.

  The Arcanos of the Moth and the Holy Warriors of the Owl would be wildcards in the campaign ahead, though Zarathustra was certain he could accomplish what he needed to before they mustered their forces. The lands of the Owl were mountainous and hard to navigate while the Moth were cautious by nature and were most likely assessing the situation before committing their forces. This left the smaller duchies, most of whom resided in the north, like the fierce MacPherson of the Stag, the patient Grec of the Cardinal, or the loyal von Richter of the Hound, but they were insignificant compared to the Great Duchies All these things and more were on the minds of Ludwig and Cornelia as they sat together for lunch, discussing their plans for dealing with Elizabeth’s family.

  “I don’t want to drag this out, they’re going to suffer a fate worse than death when you devour their souls, so there’s no reason to make them suffer before then, quick and clean deaths should do the trick.” Ludwig, while bitter, was not cruel by nature, not against those who had never wronged him. Ludwig's family was another matter, but they would be dealt with in time. They had their blood magic, and he had alchemy.

  “Fair enough, though it takes a few days for me to digest a soul, they’re not going to have a pleasant experience once they’re in me.” Cornelia had something else on her mind, a matter she wanted to bring up with Ludwig. This had been building up for a while, ever since Ludwig made his choice, but with their situation getting more dangerous, everything had come to a head. “Why Borguta, why did you choose that Ma-Grib girl over me when you knew I had feelings for you.”

  Ludwig let out a loud sigh “Cornelia, this is neither the time nor the place for this discussion, I have no obligation to explain the matters of my heart to you.”

  “And what about the matters of my heart, we’ve worked together for years, we discovered Zarathustra together, does that mean anything to you?”

  “We do have a good professional working relationship, and we make a good team, but Brunhilde enflames my passions and inspires my mind, I want to be better for her, to make her happy. To me, you are more like a little sister, someone I need to look after and care about, but not in a romantic way.”

  Furious at this, Cornelia began to draw upon her necrotic power to rip Ludwig to shreds, right as Borguta/Brunhilde came in, this time in her human form.

  “Ludwig my love, I believe I have a breakthrough, this form may now be able to last for twelve hours.”

  A furious Cornelia stormed out of the room, ripping the soul out of an unlucky human slave girl who had crossed her path.

  “Ludwig, what was that about?” Brunhilde was confused, and scared, at what had happened.

  Ludwig had a painful expression on his face, which softened when speaking to her. “Nothing my love, Cornelia just has some feelings that she needs to work through. I’m glad to hear about your breakthrough, I can’t wait to see if it lasts.”

  Back in her room, Cornelia sat holding the writhing soul in her hand, she could hear the poor girl cry out for mercy, to be released. Cornelia did not care; she was in a bad mood, and she needed a snack. Cornelia swallowed the slave girl’s soul, regressing to her younger teenage years, contemplating what she was going to do next.

  Cornelia did not want to hurt Ludwig, either directly or through Borguta. One, it would be obvious who was behind it, and two, she cared for him too much to hurt him like that. Despite her earlier petulant behavior, she knew that she would have to grow up and accept that Ludwig wanted nothing to do with her. It was not a pleasant realization, but it was one she had to come to terms with. As she lay in bed, wallowing in self-pity, Zarathustra’s forces broke through the Seventh Gate of Heaven, the Horde of Zarathustra was now in the northern half of the Kingdom of Lions.

  Chroniclers Notes

  The relationship between Cornelia and Ludwig has always fascinated me. Humans shouldn’t last long in the Dark Wastes, let alone meet up with each other. However, not only did Ludwig survive his initial banishment, but he managed to find and recruit Cornelia before it was too late. Ludwig saw her potential, and seeing the chance to socialize with another human, took her under his wing.

  Cornelia, on the other hand, saw that this was the first positive experience she had with a human being. The acceptance and respect from the Ma-Gribs who hired them was nice, but she always preferred Ludwig’s praise. Ludwig helped her develop her powers and her identity, to come into her own. As he accepted himself as a member of the renegade Alchemical Order, the Order of Antimony, she accepted herself as a bearer of a Divine Shard of the goddess of death.

  Unfortunately for Cornelia, Ludwig always viewed her as a younger sister and was never going to return her romantic affections. But it does speak well of Cornelia, that she did not hold a grudge against Ludwig, or Brunhilde the Ma-Grib who desired to be human. In time, Cornelia might have found someone for herself, but time was never on her side.