179: Interlude Corin

Corin paced in his private alchemy lab, glass vials scattered across the floor. The events at the marketplace did not go as he had planned. For over forty years, he had a grip on this city. No—this kingdom. Never had people questioned him when he requested something, let alone told him no.

Not even the king!

And yet, not only had this boy disrespected him in front of the populace, he said he would run to the king and have him barred from coming to the royal dinner. This was ridiculous, and he would not let them forget it.

“Aiden! Get in here,” he yelled.

A middle-aged man wearing a soft brown robe, with greying short dark hair, entered, carefully trying to step around the broken glass and random puddles of liquid on the ground.

“Yes, my lord?” he said, bowing.

“Why has no one taken the job yet?” Corin growled.

There was an awkward silence while Aiden took a deep gulp before responding.

“Um, well, you see, uh… well, no one will take the job. They claim the risk is far too much,” Aiden stammered out.

Again, there was a silence as Corin glared at Aiden, his arms shaking at his side, before reaching out, grabbing a jar, and throwing it at him, catching him in the shoulder. It shattered upon impact, but Aiden knew better than to move, even with the blood slowly trickling down his face from an errant piece of glass that had cut him.

“You call yourself a son of Valrith, my son! And you cannot even complete a task! This whole family is a joke. This is why we’re losing control. I set you a simple task. It’s not even to kill the boy, just to rough him up, intimidate him, and you cannot even find some lowlife in the slums willing to do it for coin. You’re pathetic!” Corin screamed.

Aiden stood still, his head bowed, blood now dripping from his nose.

“Get out of my sight!” Corin yelled.

Aiden didn’t wait to be told twice and scurried from the room, his hand in his pocket already pulling out a health potion to deal with the small cuts on his neck and face.

Looking around at his destroyed lab, Corin seethed with rage before storming out the door. Aiden was long gone, not sticking around to get another round, but standing outside was a servant, already bowing and shaking.

“Have that laboratory cleaned before I get back, or I will have you testing potions by nightfall,” Corin yelled, not even looking at the servant.

It was a mostly empty threat, as he’d never remember the faces. Why would he? They were here to serve him. His entire house was, so why couldn’t they perform a simple task?

A soft voice spoke from behind him as he stormed down the hall.

“Lord Valrith, sir, you have Lady Belwyn here to see you,” she said, her face to the floor as she held a deep bow.

“Finally, some good news. Bring her to my study, and hurry,” Corin barked.

Corin was glad to see he still had some allies in this city. Maybe she’d have people who were reliable enough to do a simple task.

Sitting behind his desk, he waited for his visitor, his leg bouncing under the table, still incredibly annoyed, but he needed to put on a show—stay calm.

There was a knock at the door.

“Enter,” he called.

The door opened, and in walked Lady Belwyn, wearing a green dress with a military symbol pinned to her chest. Corin noticed two guards of hers standing just outside the door as she shut it behind her.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As she sat down, her expression was, as always, an impassive, stony mask. Corin was never able to truly discern Marie’s expressions in meetings like these.

“Afternoon, Corin. I heard you had a run-in with our new friend at the marketplace,” she said, and even Corin could tell there was mirth behind the tone.

“Don’t tell me you’re siding with the little shit,” Corin growled.

“Calm yourself, old man. I’m here, am I not?” she said.

“Well, what are we going to do about him? He’s throwing things out of order and breaking the status quo. It’s bad for business, though you’ve seemed to have done alright out of it,” Corin said.

“Of course. I was never foolish enough to put my name to paper when it came to Havenel’s business, and as for the boy, what is there to do? He had a dragon visit the capital, claiming it owed him a debt. My own people heard it and witnessed it. That’s no rumour,” Marie countered, sitting back in the chair as a cup of tea appeared in her hands from a storage ring.

“I’m obviously not going to beat the boy up myself,” Corin snapped back.