Drawing another deep breath, Varkas stood up with a hardened expression.
“I'll summon a healing mage so your condition can be examined.”
“I don't need one.”
“If you don't promise to receive proper treatment, I won't leave.”
Suddenly, Varkas's tone became rough.
Staring at him with tearful eyes, Talia finally nodded.
“Fine... just please go.”
The muscles of his jaw hardened.
The man stood motionless for a long time, as though he wanted to say something, before finally turning around.
Soon, the sound of the door opening and closing echoed, and silence descended like a ruin.
Listening to the steady sound of his footsteps, Talia eventually curled into a ball and closed her eyes.
She was unbearably tired.
Tired enough to wish she would simply melt away and disappear...
* * *
Flocks of hawks circled over fields painted with the colors of autumn.
Several of them swooped gracefully toward the ground.
Their destination was the carcass of a breeding stallion torn apart by wild beasts.
It was the trace left behind by wolves that had appeared unexpectedly before dawn.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties. But I hear the ranch suffered considerable damage.”
Watching a gray-brown bird of prey tear flesh from the horse's ribs, Varkas turned his gaze toward the gently rolling hills.
Beyond a collapsed stone wall lay three or four mares.
Their throats and bellies had all been ripped open.
Following his gaze, Daren let out a deep sigh.
“At least the Nornrek stallions are safe. I suppose we should be grateful for that...”
“Has a hunting party been assembled?”
“The guards have been searching Armund Forest since early morning, but the beasts disappeared without a trace. It seems they're led by an exceptionally clever alpha.”
“Double the number of trackers and station guards around the ranch and the outskirts of the village.”
Holding Tork's reins with a leather-gloved hand, Varkas gave his orders in a heavy voice.
Daren immediately signaled to the men behind him.
“You heard His Grace. Deliver the orders to the troops at once.”
Two soldiers vaulted over the broken fence and ran toward the fortress.
After surveying the damage once more, Varkas headed toward the village.
The small settlement north of Kalmor was bustling with people who had come to see their new lord.
Ignoring them completely, he walked along the gravel road while Daren, following quietly behind, carefully opened his mouth.
“One troublesome thing after another lately. As if those Zram raiders growing more active weren't enough, now even wolf packs are causing chaos.”
“......”
“I know Your Grace is troubled with so many misfortunes after the succession ceremony, but please take care of yourself. Your complexion hasn't looked the same recently.”
Walking silently, Varkas suddenly stopped and looked back.
Thinking he had offended him, Daren immediately lowered his head.
“If I overstepped, please forgive me. I was simply concerned for Your Grace's wellbeing...”
“Do I look tired enough to warrant such concern?”
Varkas asked while touching his chin.
After studying his face for a moment, the man scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“You've seemed unusually sensitive these past few days. I thought perhaps you haven't been sleeping.”
Frowning, Varkas resumed walking and answered with something like a sigh.
“It seems I've caused concern. I'll pay more attention.”
Indeed, for the past several days, he had barely managed three or four hours of sleep a night.
And it wasn't solely because of the mountain of official duties.
Turning his head, he looked up at the castle standing atop the hill.
The midday autumn sunlight poured over the massive structure where she was staying.
That woman is probably still shut up in her room.
Suddenly tasting something bitter and metallic in his mouth, he ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek.
Blood was seeping from flesh he'd bitten with his molars.
It had become a strange habit recently.
Scraping the ragged flesh inside his cheek with his tongue, he swallowed the metallic liquid.
As the scent of blood brushed past his nose, unpleasant afterimages rose before him.
Feeling the strange heat stirring inside his stomach, Varkas furrowed his brows and roughly raked a hand through his hair.