Chapter 32 4. Old Bitch
After eating his fill in the dining area, Dacus returned to the spire where he had lived before.
There was a spiral staircase behind the door. The edges of the stairs were lined with mirrors, and one could see the top of the spire directly from the door. He closed the door, drew out his noble curved sword, placed it across his chest, took out his flintlock pistol, turned on the safety, and walked up.
The top room is spacious and the interior furnishings are unique and distinctive. It has only one window with bars that can only be opened when you are inside the tower.
I glanced at the table and saw it was spotless, indicating that the waiter cleaned it regularly.
Dacus checked the room, made sure it was safe, and went into the bathroom to run water for a shower.
"I think I've passed this level, but I didn't run into the family's law enforcement champion, Kesley, and the young master, Newker. There's no need to worry about the clan mother. She must be studying dark magic at the top of the tower."
Lying in the bathtub, Dacus let out a long breath.
"Stay a few days and find an opportunity to escape. This cousin is still the same. He should be 25 this year. He was supposed to complete the trial and return to join the Black Ark raid, but the trial was delayed for half a year. He only returned after the Black Ark left. At that time, everyone thought he had abandoned the outside world. Clan Mother Annasara performed several sacrifices and divinations before she realized that he was fine."
"What about the promised love between fathers and sons, and the quarrels and treachery between brothers? After all, the Hell's Disaster family has stood tall in Duruchi society for five thousand years, and they have their own advantages. Newker's uncle was defeated and killed, and there has been no further conflict within the family. It can be said that there is harmony and a happy family. After all, the family's law enforcement championship is no joke."
Five thousand years ago, the head of the family was the husband of the clan mother, Anathara. He led his troops and died in battle at Tal Anlek in Nagaryth. His brother then seized power and was killed by Anathara and Morathi. After that, the Hellbane family, like the Corrupted Heart family of Karonde Kal, became one of the few Nagaryth families with blood ties.
"Go to bed!"
The next day, the weather was clear and the sun was very red, like a glowing tomato.
Dacus was still sleeping on the bed, and a sound came from the crystal ball on the bedside table next to him.
"Good morning, Master. Master Newker has informed you to come to dinner."
The voice of Butler Dia came from the crystal ball. When Darkus heard the name Newker, he immediately lost all sleepiness.
"Holy crap! Newker! What's going on? Why would this old bitch come to me?"
Daxus jumped up, packed up his clothes and went downstairs. Butler Dia placed a sword in front of him and instructed him to follow him to the study.
Butler Dia led the way and whispered, "Young Master Newker just learned that you're back and wants to see you."
A cold sweat broke out on Dacius's forehead, and his legs began to tremble slightly. This wasn't adrenaline, but simple tremors. He walked, thinking, "The lifespan of the Warhammer elves is only a little over a thousand years. I don't have the skills to deal with a five-thousand-year-old Druki. I usually avoid him."
After a while, they arrived at the door of the study. Butler Dia knocked gently, and a voice came from inside: "Come in."
Butler Dia turned around and gestured. Daquus took a deep breath and pushed the door open. After entering, he closed the door, took a small step forward with his right foot, touched the ground with the tiptoe of his left cheek, raised his hands flat, and bowed his head in greeting.
"Good morning, young master!"
After Dacus came in, Newker stopped eating, looked up at him, and saw that he had his hands raised. He said, "Don't be nervous. Come and sit down and have something to eat."
Dacus lowered his hands, slowly walked to the dining table, sat down, and looked directly at Newker, who looked middle-aged. He sensed a sense of dignity and composure, as well as a subtle hint of aging.
Newker said slowly, "Don't be nervous, eat."
Darkus lowered his head, picked up the cutlery, and began to eat. His hands were shaking slightly, and Newker saw it all. He took a few bites, his mind a little confused, and he didn't know what he was eating.
"I heard you swindled an Asur village?"
"Yes, we were lucky. Ryan of the Takia family tricked the main force of the village out."
"Heh, luck? Not many Duruchi would want to attack their cousins during the Haxie Trial Voyage. The dignitaries in the city were really crazy last night. There hasn't been a war in almost five hundred years, and it's been a long time since so many cousins appeared in Clarkalond."
Newker stopped eating, wiped his mouth elegantly with the napkin around his neck, then leaned back in his chair, folded his arms and looked at Daquus.
Dacus also stopped eating, put his hands down, looked at Newker, and didn't respond. He didn't know how to respond.
"You have become the chosen one of Morayg Heg, the Prophecy Weaver?"
Darkus was suffocating, and cold sweat began to break out on his forehead. He began to think rapidly: "Oh my god! How did he know? Did the three Takia siblings sell me out?"
Newker stared into Dacus's eyes and smiled sinisterly. "Is it hot in here? You're sweating." He paused, then continued, "Last night, Kesley visited the three siblings. They held out until the very end, proving their loyalty to you. Afterwards, Kesley gave them something to drink, and they told him everything." He paused again, then continued, "After all, they're your followers. You can't kill them, right?"
What could Dacus say? Could he stand up and yell, scolding Newker for doing this? No kidding, he could only nod in agreement.
Newker continued, "These three siblings from the Takia family are quite good. I like them. They're better than their ancestors. Perhaps the hope of their family's revival lies in them. I hope you don't mind what happened last night. I was just giving you an insurance policy and teaching you a lesson. You must know that you are a descendant of the Hell's Disaster Family. Don't trust these Duruchi."
Daxus nodded in agreement.
"I have arranged for a dwarf construction team to help them repair their ancestral home. This is my reward to them."
"Thank you, young master."
Newker continued, "Are you full?"
Daxus shook his head and said, "No." Then he continued eating.
Newker was dodged for a moment. He looked at Darkus, who was eating, and raised an eyebrow before continuing, "Don't worry, I won't ask why you became Molayg Heg's chosen one. As long as you are a descendant of the Hell's Disaster Family, that's enough."
Daxus continued to eat with his head down, and he had almost finished everything on the table.
"By the way, what's with that lizard?"
Daxus knew he couldn't escape. He put down his cutlery, swallowed, looked Newker in the eye, and said carefully, "I have a magical ability that allows me to communicate directly with that Skink without any language barriers."
Newker nodded and said, "This is unplanned and your own business. Of course, you can make some requests to the family, and the family will do their best to meet your needs. Also, who knows about this?"
Newker's words were beyond Dacus's expectations.
"The Takia siblings, the beast tamer Kallion, the captain Dastan Coldeye, I'm not sure if Franais knows."
"It's okay, I'll let Kesley handle it. As long as they don't tell anyone, everything will be fine. And you need to practice your martial arts skills. You can't even beat a monkey, even though you're only an adult."
The term "monkey" reflects the arrogance of the older generation of Druki. When they were at the height of their power, humans were still primitive, indeed no different from monkeys. This arrogance persists, but the powerful still have to learn the monkey language. After all, you can't expect slaves to learn Elvish, right? It can also be used during sea raids. In short, it's a very divisive language.
"yes."
"What are your next ideas?"
"I want to spend some time in the forest farm on the edge of the Black Ridge Mountains."
Newkel looked at Darkus for a long moment, then smiled and said, "You're a little surprising. I thought you'd be on duty at the Ebon Claw like your brother, or out on an adventure, eager to go to Lustria. Okay, I don't have anything else to do right now, so if you want to go, go ahead."
"Oh, and there's one more thing. Last night, the head of the Thorn Family asked me to let his youngest son, who had just returned from the trial, serve as your escort."
Newker paused, then said sinisterly, "You have to promise me to keep him safe! This is very important! These powerful people in the city have been disobedient again recently."
Darkus pondered, "What the hell? Is he my retainer or am I his? How come it's the other way around? What is this? A political hostage?"
"Will someone assassinate him? Like Kane or something like that?"
"It should be, and it shouldn't be. He came back empty-handed from this trial, and his legs are a little off, but his father still loves him very much. His other five brothers and one sister are very unhappy about this."
Seeing he couldn't refuse, Darkius said repeatedly, "I understand, I promise! There's no place for the weak and cowardly in Naggaroth, but having a sloped foot won't stop him from becoming an excellent Cold One Dread Knight."
"Okay, this is a test for you. The Soul Claw is back. Planning to go to the market today?"
"Yes, go and look for treasures."
Newker's expression relaxed, and he chuckled softly. "Sorry, I've talked a bit too much today. I haven't spoken to the younger generation of my family in a long time. In that case, I won't keep you here. If Sovereign isn't enough, ask Dia for more. I wish you success!"
Dacus stood up, took out his chair and bowed to Newker, then slowly backed away. When he reached the door, he opened it and walked out backwards, bowing again before leaving.
Inside the house, Newker regained his majestic expression, stood up, and leaned against the window to think.
After a while, he saw Dacreus walking quickly across the garden, smiled and shook his head, then turned to look at the map hanging in the study, looking at Nagarythe northwest of Ulthuan.