"I surrender," Vencian said after weighing his options decisively. Eyes fixed on Mirel.
Quenya hovered above in front of him.
He could see in her eyes that she wanted to help somehow, but couldn’t find a way.
With a slight shake of his head he conveyed to her to not try anything for now.
"Good. Now dismount and drop your sword."
There was a mocking edge to Mirel’s tone that grated on Vencian’s nerves.
But he did as Mirel directed. He got down, removed the sword from his hips, and put it on the ground.
"Walk ten steps back and get on your knees."
There was not much Vencian could do in this situation. His best bet for salvaging the situation would be to catch them off guard.
But still, there were too many.
A man approached Vencian from behind, carrying ropes, likely planning to restrain him.
For a second, Vencian entertained the thought of using the dagger hidden in his cloak to catch the man off guard. However, the idea quickly vanished when he saw another man keeping him in the sights of a crossbow.
This time, there really was no way out.
So fucking close... Vencian thought, anger rising in his chest. He didn’t scenario one bit.
He felt the man coming up behind him to bind his arms. He let it happen. He surrendered completely this time.
Vencian heard a sound behind him. It was familiar in the worst way.
The man with the ropes stood still for half a second, then collapsed. An arrow jutted from the center of his head, punching clean through one eye.
In quick succession, Vencian heard more of them now.
The next to fall was the archer with the crossbow aimed at him.
Mirel looked around in sudden confusion.
Then came the charge, surging from the downward-sloping ridge.
Leading the group was a young man in armor bearing the crest of House Vicorra—a silver-winged moon etched across his chest, its sculpted surface catching the light like frost-laced feathers under moonlight.
Vencian recognized his face instantly.
Why wouldn’t he? The rider was none other than Jeriko Vicorra, second son of Caesar Vicorra.
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What happened afterward felt like a blur to Vencian.
He sat on a boulder nearby observing the men wearing Vicorra’s uniform, restraining all the guys who were just a moment ago surrounded him.
Some of the fallen still hadn’t been moved. The bodies were left where they dropped. Vencian’s eyes drifted over them, but didn’t linger.
Jeriko was giving instruction to a knight then he turned back and started coming toward Vencian.
Vencian opened his mouth first.
"Thanks." He said. He was genuinely in trouble there. The relief when he saw someone coming to his rescue cannot be compared.
"You were careless." Jeriko replied. His tone was harsh.
That’s the kind of brother he was. Angry but always concerned.
He’s the middle sibling, but his personality is nothing like Moses, who is calm, collected, and responsible, or Vencian, who was more charismatic, sharp, and intellectual.
He is someone who likes to stay far away from court and politics. Thinks he doesn’t fit there.
"Yeah. It was my fault. I underestimated the danger."
Vencian admitted. Given the situation their family is in, he should have made more necessary preparations for his trip to monastery.
"Still, I am surprised. How did you arrive here?"
"Coincidence. Scout saw movement ahead when we paused after rerouting from Thaleon. Expected bandits. Found you instead."
Vencian nodded. Jeriko’s reasoning to Thaleon barony was probably to weigh the loyalty of Baron Thalon. In these times of crisis, having allies no matter how small can change a tip in favor.
"You have something else to say?" Jeriko asked curtly.
"I do. And I think it’s very important for you to hear." Vencian said as he proceeded to explain the discovery of his investigation.
He told about his initial suspicion about Ortega, monastery and the war two years ago. The sudden absence of Abbot Sebastian, the betrayal of Matthias. Ortega’s kidnapping of Sebastian and his attempt to take Vencian to keep him quiet.
When he finished, he let the silence wash over him.
Jeriko stayed quiet for a while, then spoke with a clenched jaw.
"How dare those cunts tried to poison and kidnap you?"
He didn’t wait for a reply.
"What else do we know?"
"laauar Plains is our only lead. Delay, and they will relocate Sebastian. We can’t let that happen." Vencian tried to explain the urgency of the situation with quiet calm.
"How many men guard it?"
"Fifteen from what I know. We can make him spit out the rest." Vencian said gesturing with his eyes toward Mirel whose hands were tied behind and was on the ground.
"Alright. My men will see to it. Once they are ready I’ll lead the operation."
"Good. Although we don’t have much man power, I think these lots will suffice." Vencian felt grateful for this lucky coincidence. With Jeriko’s support he wouldn’t need to go to Thaleon’s barony. He can directly go to the Laauar Plains and get to the root of the truth.
"I’ll tell Amor to get you a better horse. He’s taking you to Moonfrost." Jeriko declared dismissively. Amor was one of his subordinate.
Vencian couldn’t believe what he heard. Go back home?
"Not happening. I am coming to Laauar Plains with you."
No one was more surprised than Vencian himself in this moment. This is probably the safest option for him. Get back to Vicorra estate, let the other go through the danger. If they fail, they fail. At least his life will not be compromised.
"I don’t doubt you, Ven. But I don’t think you’re in the right state to fight. The Ven I know wouldn’t have been surrounded by these 3rd grade mercenaries."
Jeriko’s word cut sharper than Vencian cared to admit. He doesn’t know that it’s not truly Vencian’s soul inside this body. His act of sending Vencian back home was just his way of showing care.
Vencian can understand that very well. Still, no matter how self-aware he was about the difference between him and the real Vencian, the thought of being compared to someone he is not irked him to no end.
"I can’t fight." He peeled the glove from his wounded hand. "But I don’t need to. That’s what you’re for. Let me come. I need to see it through."
I’ve come too far. I can’t stay in the dark and let someone else handle the work my life depends on, he thought. In the end, Vencian chose to pretend to be someone else—to live a stranger’s life in the middle of nowhere—for one reason: to have a better life.
If he decides to take the easy way out now and something goes wrong. He may not even get a chance to regret.
"Yes. And you can’t out-stubborn me, Jerry."
Jeriko’s eye twitched when Vencian used the nickname he couldn’t stand.
"Oh, you looking for a beating?"
"I remember last time when we fought. You already forgot how mud tastes like?
The real Vencian was a better swordsman than Jeriko. He pulled a memory from Vencian’s past to use as a bluff, not hesitating to take advantage of his achievements.
"Your hand wasn’t injured back then like it is now," Jeriko countered shamelessly, no longer caring about honor between swordsmen.
"I will tell mother you were bullying me." Vencian threatened with more shamelessness.
Jeriko’s face went deadpan staring into his brother’s eyes as if asking, ’Are you serious?’.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Your mouth is still sharp."
Vencian stayed silent.
"Fine. You can come."
Both stared at each other for a while and then burst into wry grin.