15 Break The Ice

A great silence formed in the room. Von as well as the general held his breath, waiting for Sophie's reaction. She looked deep into Norgard's eyes, as if she wanted to rip his heart out with her bare hands. Von felt a chill run down his spine just witnessing that look, and was glad it was not directed at him. Before anyone could make a move, a woman of medium height and fullness entered from the doorway. She had several wrinkles and her white skin was sagging, and her gray hair showed her old age. Her face was one of immediate astonishment when she saw all the blood on the floor. But her reaction was not like the expression of a normal person. She just walked in dodging her limbs and knelt beside Samantha, looking at Norgard in a disapproving tone.

-Governess Nicoletta, my apologies for the inconvenience. - Norgard walked over to Sophie and took the folder from her hands.

- No need to apologize, Norgard. -Sophie replied dryly. Von raised his eyebrows when he realized that this was no ordinary maid, there was a certain intimacy between the two. -I've cleaned up a lot of your messes.

- General Chasseur- Sophie spoke in an indecipherable tone, but Von noticed the slightly venomous tone on her lips. - When will you explain?-

- If you wait for the cleaning. - Norgard looked at Nicoletta, who returned his disappointed look.

- They don't have time for that, father. - Samantha spoke in a tearful voice.

-Come on, general. Get the material and come with me. - Sophie's voice was cold as a blade, she didn't look into the eyes of Von or anyone else. She walked between the bodies with mastreia and stopped beside Von. - You too, dog.

-I will not obey someone who doesn't follow orders! - Norgard said loudly, almost shouting.

- And I'm not going to stay here smelling the dead! - She lied with a quick response. Sophie didn't mind standing there in the middle of the room that had been wet with water and blood, the truth was that she wanted to stay away from any contact with the general, but that couldn't be done since her curiosity had been inflamed.

-I see that you are not the sadist that everyone thinks you are.

Better than killing your own wife! - She retorted as she flicked her father's eyes.

She felt a hand touch her shoulder and the tension in her body went away at the same moment. She looked at that cold, long-fingered hand, twitched and tensed further as she recognized Von's hand, withdrew it stupidly as she left the office.

-Sophie always gets what she wants. - Norgard spoke before casting one last glance at Samantha. - Nicoletta, take care of Samantha. Let's go, Von.-

The two left behind Sophie in silence. Von was trying to understand everything that had just happened. He recapped the information he had digested, Samantha had turned into some sort of freezing mage, Sophie and she had a sister and that was the new mission. He tried to connect the dots, he knew there was a connection with this bizarre transformation of Samantha.He felt sorry for the young girl, she was so beautiful and seemed to be progressing as much as the "diplomat" of the Chasseur family. He also thought about Sophie's anxiety. She must have been restless, she had to talk to her before she exploded.

They made their way to a room on the second floor of the mansion, a typical basement with cobwebs and everything else. There was a solitary lamp that illuminated them and furniture full of dust. One of them was a table with the routes of the seas and behind it, a map of Verulian on the wall.

- You can start by explaining. - She took the black folder from Norgard's hand and threw it on the table, causing the dust to rise. She heard Von cough and looked at him quickly with a look that could even be considered worried under the circumstances.

- I will explain the mission of the two of you and then ask any questions you wish. - the general opened a desk drawer and took out a thick red pen. - The objective is to reach the Lovic tribe. It is not one of the official tribes of Crebeci, but it is a Crebecian tribe nonetheless. Yes, you will go to Crebeci. You will follow the path of the mountains, pass by the Zemisk river and the Bohlil swamp! You will not have an easy time of it with the snow beginning to fall more heavily at this time. I just want you to get Blair Rudra out of the main house, the Agmundr house. Ten years old, white with black hair and blue eyes. It shouldn't be too hard to convince her to come. - He scratched out with his pen the map of the route. He opened the folder and gave each person a copy of Blair Rudra's photo. He took a folded sheet of paper and opened it, laying out a map on top of the routes. - This is the map along with the floor plan of the house. That isolated room is where you want to get to. Blair is locked in there. There are fifty soldiers, armed and wearing armor from head to toe. You don't want to fight them, you will be massacred if you do. I want you to wear warm clothes that will allow you to escape without difficulty. You will use a peculiar form of transport. I hope you know how to ride. On the way there you will have a night break at a hotel called the "Hosim Hotel", and on the way back you will not be so lucky and it will be a ten hour ride. Your mission is to bring Blair Rudra back to Cerminian territory safe and sound. -

- I refuse! - Sophie protested as soon as Norgard had finished speaking. - You have fooled me my whole life. You hid from me that I have a... sister! How can I trust you? -

- That's not the point, Sophie. I didn't know I had another daughter until the High Command told me. This is also a state-mandated mission and you as a good soldier will carry it out! -

- Otherwise I'll be branded a traitor? - she laughed. - I want to hear your story with Abigail Rudra before I say no. -

- Right. - Norgard swallowed dryly and started walking in circles around the basement. - Almost eleven years ago I went to Crebeci as a Cermina diplomat. I stayed... A week at most in those icy lands. I remember exactly every house, every tree, every person. But, as soon as I got there, I met a beautiful woman. Don't get me wrong, the marriage to Veronika was already more than failed and it was not easy to resist the charms of this beautiful woman. - He laughed bitterly, remembering what Abigail Rudra looked like. Her black hair stood out in the snow, her white skin was so cool, and her eyes so white, yet so vivid. - She was never something that there was much importance, being honest. It was just an affair, there were no lost promises or even hope, so much so that Abigail Rudra was married. - He finally declared, looking at Von, hoping he understood what he was saying. - Now I want you to go to Crebeci and see this only as a rescue, not as a challenge to your values, Sophie. -

- To put my values aside? I can't put such an offense aside, that's for sure. I can't stand being a dog, or even a puppet! -

- It's not about you, Sophie! The world doesn't revolve around you, and you know that better than anyone! Now, grow up and behave like a Chasseur, otherwise you know where the door is. - Norgard said, feeling a pang in his heart, but his anger was greater. He walked out the door, slamming it hard and making Sophie angry.

- Accept the mission and don't complain. - Von spoke for the first time in a harsh tone. - It's not just about you. Or you and me. Or even your sisters. It's a mission and we must fulfill it.-

- What the hell? - Sophie frowned and stared at him with her arms crossed.

- I can't say you're fighting with your father over nothing, but letting personal issues get in the way of a mission is unprofessionalism. - He also crossed his arms and stared at her with an irritated look.

- Are you saying that I'm not a professional? - Sophie's gaze became somewhat more angry.

- You can interpret it any way you want. - He looked again at the photo of Blair Rudra. - But we're bringing this girl here. - Some of Sophie's anger subsided when he said the word 'we'.Her heartbeat quickened a little, but Sophie chose to ignore it. -Stop being so proud!-

- I'm not proud! - Her heart rate sped up even faster at the comment. - I'm just defending myself. -

- You should stop before you end it all. - Von said, ending the conversation and also leaving the basement.

Sophie swallowed hard, and then sighed, remembering the last sentence. She hated to admit it, even more so under these circumstances, but Von was right. She left the basement and went to her room, lying on her bed and processing the information. She had a sister... A sister! A younger one who probably didn't even know the Chasseur family existed! She didn't know if she could trust Norgard when he said he didn't know of her existence, from a man who kills his pregnant wife you can expect anything. Only she didn't understand how Samantha came into the story. Of course she was also her sister but... She had become a kind of ice mage. Although they always fought, she didn't hate Samantha. Sophie felt such a pity for her sister that the only thing that would motivate her to go was just to kill the bastard who had cursed her. Until Von spoke up, "You should stop before you end it all. " She quickly understood what he was getting at. It could end all the love she felt for her father, even if she didn't show it. It could end everything that stood between her and Samantha, even though she had a huge barrier that protected her from her sister, Sophie and she were sisters and she believed that family was something she should endure. It could end with something that hadn't even begun: Blair Rudra. And it could end with the "us" that Von had talked about. It was really that time that she should clear up the unresolved issues and stop being so proud. She threw her weight up and stood up, willing to give something new a chance. She walked to Samantha's room, looked through the open door and saw her staring into the mirror. Something stirred inside Sophie, it wasn't disgust or anything like that, it was just resentment. What looked more like a hairball than saliva got stuck in her throat, like words that were never spoken. Sophie knew it was too late to apologize for anything she had done. But, she felt obliged to go and check on her sister, even though there was something in her throat. - It's been a while since I've stepped in here.- she said, knocking on the door. Samantha immediately looked at her with a surprised expression and Sophie went to her, standing behind her as she looked in the mirror.

- Of everyone in this house you are the only one I expected not to see here. - She spoke, still in a crying voice.

- I... - That damned thing in her throat was holding back her words, not letting her get her feelings out. - Things are hard here, you know? -

- I can't imagine how. - Samantha spoke dryly, but Sophie knew she didn't mean it that way.

- yes... - Sophie hinted at touching one of the strands of Samantha's hair. Her hand stopped in mid-air, folding her trembling fingers inches from the strands.

- I'm not going to bite you, Sophie. - She spoke in an amused voice while trying to smile. - You can open up to me.-

- I don't think that's necessary. - Sophie looked at her hand in the air and turned away again.

- You will, won't you? - Samantha stopped looking at herself in the mirror and gave her a tender look. Sophie felt a warm sensation in her body, and inevitably smiled.

- Of course. - She continued walking to the door and gave Samantha one last look as she returned her attention to the mirror. - You're still beautiful. - She whispered softly before leaving, but Samantha had heard, and the first smile was born on her frozen lips.

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There was no sun, but the clothes Von and Sophie were wearing roasted them.Sophie was wearing a brown wool turtleneck sweater and a black overcoat. Her pants were a black legging covered in wool and she wore a brown high-top boot. Von was dressed in dark colors, but he was not all in black. The pants were wool and a dark gray, almost black. The boot was lined on the inside made for walking on ice, and he wore two large blouses and a moss green scarf that covered him to the belly. Before a blouse was a black hooded sweatshirt that hid his brown hair. They looked at a brown horse that was wearing some sort of blanket before the cell, the poor animal was also cold. Von turned his body towards the mansion and saw Norgard casting him a welcoming look, as if telling him good luck. He looked at Sophie riding her horse and couldn't hold back a laugh. -Don't you want me to command? - He sneered as he watched her lightly sway the horse's reins.

- No.- She paused to think and laughed. - we'll switch later. Now get on. -

Von realized that this was not a request, but an order. He picked up the backpack that was on the ground and put it on his back. He climbed on his horse and looked at Sophie in front of him. He opened both hands and slapped them hard on her thigh, making her jump. He laughed when he realized that she was tense and withdrew his hand, placing it on her own thighs.

- Not that I like the idea of having you behind me. - She said as she pulled the reins and got the horse moving.

-I confess that I don't mind the sight at all. - Von finally said as he looked at Sophie's well defined silhouette. "He just wants my body, he's a freak!" Were the Sophie's thoughts before she started the horse to go faster while Von laughed.