Chapter 24: House of the Hearth

(Chapter 24 House of the Hearth)

Darkness was all Tempest could see as he voluntarily tied the blindfold over his eyes. The only sound he could hear was the gentle lapping of the water against the boat as it moved through the tunnel's waterway. The air was cool and damp, adding to the eerie, confined feeling of the tunnel.

'Was this tunnel built by the Fatui? No... This must have been constructed long ago, but it hasn't been used in years...'

Tempest thought to himself.

"Hand over your flintlock."

Tempest raised his head, recognizing the voice of Peruere.

"Right."

Tempest murmured as he grabbed the flintlock in his holster.

'I could just kill them both here and make a run for it... But something feels off about her. It's as if she's hiding her true potential. Even if I did manage to kill them both, it will only be a matter of time until The Knave finds out.'

Tempest gave her his flintlock with hesitation.

'Forget about it...'

Tempest thought to himself.

"Perrie, why do you think Mother wants to see him? Is he special or something?"

Clervie whispered to Peruere on her side.

"Clervie, this isn't the first time we've kidnapped someone."

Peruere replied to her.

"Yeah, but don't we usually do the talking? And-"

"I can hear you both."

Tempest said.

"Oh! Sorry! We usually knock out the one we kidnapped fir-"

"Clervie."

"Sorry! Forget you hear that!"

Clervie zips her mouth after Peruere calls her out.

"Hmph, I didn't know the House of the Hearth had such a lively pair. The child Crucabena brought I met was rather... Traumatized."

Tempest spoke as he thought about the boy who accompanied Crucabena when he first met Tempest.

"You already met Mother? And can I ask who this child you meant?"

Clervie asked Tempest, curiosity present on her face.

"I did, and she was rather alluring with her words. And the child? I think his name was Freminet."

Tempest answered both her questions.

"So that's why Mother took her on some 'trip,' she mentioned... I was so worried about him... Who are you anyway? That Mother personally came to meet you?"

Clervie asks her another question, Tempest tilts his head before speaking.

"Your friend didn't tell you? Well, I suppose it won't hurt to tell you myself. I'm Tempest Proudmoore of House Proudmoore, Mengsk Proudmoore's successor."

Clervie's mouth opened slightly in surprise, while Peruere watched their conversation with a hint of interest.

"House Proudmoore? The traitor clan?"

"Unfortunately."

Tempest replied to her.

"Well? Isn't it only proper that you both introduce yourselves to me now?"

Tempest asked them, curious to know who these two from the House of the Hearth were.

"Sorry, we can't do that. Rules, you know?"

"Is that so?"

Tempest's request was denied. After a short while, he heard the creak of a gate opening, and the boat jolted as it moved. A rush of wind hit Tempest's face, signaling that they had exited the tunnel and were now away in Poisson.

"Can I ask you another question?"

Clervie once again spoke to him.

"I suppose you can since I assume this trip might take long."

Tempest replied, allowing Clervie to ask another question.

"What does Mother want with you?"

"I suppose she wants me to be your colleague."

"Heh?"

Clervie became confused at Tempest's answer.

"She wants me to join the Fatui."

Tempest answered her.

"I refused, of course. I don't need help from people known for backstabbing others when their worth has diminished. I don't need her assistance, and I certainly don't need yours. I am enough on my own... I can do it without the Fatui's assistance."

Tempest replied.

"That's good to know..."

Clervie lowered her head, a smile slowly crept on her face.

"What do you want anyway?"

"Freedom..."

Both Clervie and Peruere's eyes widened at Tempest's response. Freedom? Was this person also being manipulated and controlled by someone? Freedom... It's something that both Clervie and Peruere yearned for most deeply.

"Freedom? What do you mean?"

Clervie asked him, but Tempest didn't reply.

"Tempest?"

Clervie asked again, her curiosity piqued, but Tempest remained silent. He seemed to have gone quiet, lost in his own thoughts.

Clervie and Peruere glanced at each other.

"Freedom..."

Clervie spoke quietly, her voice barely audible, ensuring that only she and Peruere could hear.

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After thirty-four minutes the boat finally stopped, it seemed like they reached their destination.

"Tempest, I'm going to tie a rope around both your wrists so we can guide you. Please, don't grab my wrist again."

Clervie asked him as she grabbed a rope.

"Right."

"Clervie, I'll do it."

Peruere approached Clervie.

"Alrighty then."

Clervie smiled, clearly Peruere was worried for her if Tempest were to suddenly grab her again.

'Clervie and Perrie, most likely their names. Perrie is probably the one with the white hair, and Clervie is the one with the pink.'

Tempest thought to himself as he felt his hands being bound together.

"Let's move, don't do anything stupid."

Peruere warned him.

"Right."

Tempest replied, and then he was gently pulled, signaling him to move. The three of them got out of the boat, with Peruere leading the way, Clervie bringing up the rear, and Tempest positioned in the middle.

After walking for a while, the two stopped at a door. Without being signaled to halt, Tempest accidentally bumped into Peruere.

"Tsk, stop moving."

Peruere said.

"Right."

Peruere knocked on the door exactly four times before speaking.

"Praise the Archon Tsaritsa."

"Long live her Majesty."

Soon, the same code was spoken from the other side of the door. Tempest mentally noted this detail.

The door then opened, and once again Tempest was pulled signaling to move.

"Nikolay, where is Mother?"

Peruere asked the person who opened the door.

"She's in her office Peruere. Is this him?"

Nikolay glanced at the blindfolded and bound person that Peruere was dragging.

"Mm, let's go Clervie."

Peruere spoke, and Clervie nodded in response. They then guided Tempest to an elevator. Once again, Tempest bumped into something.

"Seven hells... Will you please warn me to stop moving when needed?"

Tempest grumbled in frustration, but Peruere merely shot him a disinterested glance, her demeanor unfazed. Clervie, on the other hand, couldn't help but chuckle softly at Tempest's discomfort.

"I can hear you..."

"Sorry!"

Clervie replied with a hint of amusement as she pressed the button that would take them to Crucabena's office. The elevator began its ascent, and she shot Tempest a sympathetic glance before turning her attention back to the task at hand.

'I wonder what they'll talk about...'

Clervie thought to herself.

Shortly after, the elevator chimed, signaling their arrival at the doorstep of Crucabena's office. The doors slid open.

"Mother, we've brought him."

Peruere said while they both bowed their heads.

Crucabena glanced up from the papers she was working on and smiled. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she took in the sight of Tempest, blindfolded and restrained.

"What a way to treat my guest. Please, remove the blindfold and the rope, my dears."

"Yes, Mother."

Clervie and Peruere spoke in unison. Clervie gently untied the rope from Tempest's hands, while Peruere removed the blindfold.

Tempest blinked a few times, allowing his eyes to adjust after being covered by the blindfold for a while. His gaze then darted to the person at the desk, her hands clasped together as she smiled warmly.

"Lady Crucabena... We meet again..."

Tempest said, his face as emotionless and unreadable as ever.

"Indeed we do, Young Lord, and just like I said, we meet again at my office's doorstep."

Crucabena smiled while tilting her head.

"Well? Don't just stand there, sit down."

Without hesitation, Tempest moved closer to her desk and sat down on one of the two vacant seats.

"We will take our leave then, Mother."

Peruere said as she bowed her head again. Crucabena's eyes darted from Tempest then too Clervie and Peruere.

"No, no, stay, you two. I want you both to meet your future colleague."

Crucabena said in a warm voice, but in truth, she was demanding them.

The two simply bowed in response and sat down on the vacant sofa to the side.

Crucabena's eyes then darted back to Tempest and spoke.

"I apologize for the way you were brought here, Young Lord, but I suppose we can overlook that, right?"

"Right."

Crucabena smiled in response.

"Good, well? Have you changed your mind, Young Lord?"

Crucabena asked him.

"I apologize, Lady Crucabena, my answer is still the same."

"Oh? And here I thought you were gathering allies at Poisson for your cause?"

Tempest got goosebumps over his entire body at Crucabena's words, but he hid it and kept his stoic face.

"I don't understand, Lady Crucabena. I was simply at Poisson because my Teacher wanted me to come."

"Oh? Did I get it wrong? But the paper here says you requested a meeting with Callas Caspar, correct?"

Tempest's eyes widened, and he began to grit his teeth as he saw Crucabena holding a small piece of paper between her fingers.

'There's a spy among the Spina di Rosula... Damn it...'

Tempest thought to himself.

"Do not fret, Young Lord. I assure you, I won't tell your Father, but why wait? You don't need allies Young Lord, you need me."

Crucabena said, pointing her finger to Tempest and then to herself.

"Today is like any other day, but tomorrow could be a new dawn for House Proudmoore. Young Lord, if you just say yes, I will support you unconditionally. You can become the new Duke of House Proudmoore, and you can finally be... Free."

Tempest lowered his head, he was stuck in a dilemma, while Crucabena smiled wickedly.

"I refuse... I alone am enough, I think said enough... I'm leaving."

Tempest stood up from his seat and began to move toward the elevator. In response, Clervie and Peruere got up from the sofa and unsheathed their blades pointing at him, warning him to sit back down.

"I didn't give you permission to leave, Young Lord. Even if you manage to defeat my top children here, with the press of a button, the entire House will be on your throat."

Crucabena said with a warm smile, as Tempest turned around to face her.

"How about we play a little game? If you win, you can leave, and I swear I won't mention anything that happened here. But if you lose, you stay and join the Fatui. What do you say?"

Crucabena suggested.

"You want a duel? Fine. Send out your top fighter or face me yourself."

Tempest declared.

"Duel? That's unexciting and too cliche, Young Lord, we will play something else."

Crucabena said as she retrieved something from her desk drawer and placed it on the table. It was a flintlock, but unlike ordinary ones, it had a cylinder capable of holding six bullets.

"How about we play Snezhnayan Roulette?"