CHAPTER#15:More trouble

He sat on his high chair in the great stone hall adorned with tapestries that were designed to tell the tale of the conflict between the holy beings and the demons. However, humans despised both. They were mostly sewn in reds, blacks, and whites. There was a hint of yellow and green and blues with brown. Such things weren't ordinary back in Amenécer.

The hall was empty. The only other companions were the fire torches that lit the hall and the crescent moon peeking through the windows. The wooden shutters were open and the wind sighed and entered the hall making the flames dance. Erebus sat alone. He had enough complaints as the weather grew more chilly. The townsfolk complained about the harbor being destroyed by yet another meaningless battle. His territory seemed to always welcome troubles from every direction.

Jafar brought the tray of hot leek soup and blood sausage for a change.

"Master, fretting over things like these will do you no good. You need to visit the Imperial Palace or they will cease to provide us with an adequate budget for the territory let alone the troops."

Erebus let out a deep sigh. And looked up into Jafar's sharp black eyes. A hint of orange light reflected into him from the fire torches. It was warm inside due to the springs from hell seeping and flowing through the hard stone and granite walls.

"And they use the soldiers I train for their purpose?" he asked with the same frown he wears mostly after a new batch of troubles arrived.

The soldiers and assassins both are trained under his supervision. The demon emperor bestowed him the title of commander. Though only for a show. Erebus knew he could do nothing but train the raw boys and shape them up into war machines used against humans and Amanécerians. This was only to receive an ample budget from the palace to survive and to gain intel within the military.

He looked worn out. There was a fresh wound he received on his torso in the latest battle. He struggled to sit upright on the uncomfortable chair made of metal and wood and muttered some curses.

"Have you received any letter from that bastard?" he inclined back as the wound throbbed while the pain engulfed him making his mind numb.

The physician had prescribed a regular change of bandages with some herbs burned and mixed for an ointment. Luciana had been found in her room with a seamstress and maids taking measures for the wedding dress. Though they did not consider it but Jafar and his sister Mina a young maid of sixteen who was appointed to serve her had insisted to at least make had a wedding dress with a brief ceremony to make things a little memorable in this dull citadel. He looked at her and then at Luciana who nervously refused by convincing them that she was in her wedding dress when she departed from Amanecér.

"You mean those tatters you were in?"Erebus raised a brow in suspicion.

She blushed embarrassed and told him that it was her nightgown at the time he abducted her.

Hearing this he remained silent since anyone could tell that he was not well-versed in choosing clothes. It was Jafar's job to take care of his wardrobe.

"Besides did you think that dress would remain there? The looters might've sold off that dress and jewelry studded with those gems."

"Master, and the wedding rings?"

"And what do we need that for?"Erebus snapped irritably.

"You need to provide proof sir."

"Isn't the marriage contract enough?"

"I'm afraid not. You should at least spare some respect for the enemy empire. After all your bride-to-be comes from a land where they have certain customs."

Luciana could not understand what to make of this reply. Was it a compliment or an insult? But she dared not protest against them.

"Here master."Jafar placed a stack of yellow papers atop the small polished wooden table beside the chair.

He picked up the sheet and briefly went through it without reading.

"What's this?"

"The cost of a few dresses, some shoes, and jewelry for the future lady, "Jafar replied.

"This couldn't get any worse. I've got mouths to feed here and you hand me over a report of something useless as this?"

"Master, I did say you ought to be grateful that she does not complain like most noble women who spend lavishly."

"I've had enough of this."He rose from his seat and slowly walked down the wide grey stone steps of the great hall.

"At least have some soup master," he called out to Erebus.

He paid no heed to his words and slammed the heavy wooden door behind him.

He walked brusquely into the hallway that was covered with similar tapestries and carvings of ancient language on the walls.

It was snowing outside by then. Heavy snow clouds had covered the grace of the moon. He passed by different rooms until he heard a voice singing a soft melody.

And after that a brief laughter. "She is with that child." he realized.

He stood there inclining for a moment listening to the melody that resumed.

"Mother is here~ Mother is here~

Don't worry I will stay by your side~"

And the melody continued until no more voices were to be heard. "Does she love to sing that much?"He wondered what it meant to have a talent other than shedding blood. He'd watched her turn pale at the sight of blood. Even though she was pale enough to begin with. He left when a maid appeared with a set of clothes that were the size of a small child.

"What's this?" He asked the maid about the clothes she was holding.

"The lady requested some clothes for the boy."She answered.

"Where did these come from?"

"The lady asked for some old clothes and redesigned it with her maids."She replied and bowed.

"A fake princess sewing?"He muttered.

"Pardon?"She asked.

"Nothing."He replied and left.