Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 32: Finding home in Critic Arley

Chapter 32: Finding home in Critic Arley

Forenoon

Conan marched into one of the places he dreaded most in search of Hound, he had contemplated leaving without a word but decided against it as the mansion was not a place to take so lightly, but he had to leave.

"Hound... Hound you have a visitor!" his voice thundered around the small niche, he knew Hound was around as he had watched him walk back in from wherever earlier.

"Okay I’m leaving because I’m cold, you reckon you could come out now" he tried to reason with the invisible Hound

"I have important information if you have no cravings for it, I shall take my lea..."

Bound suddenly appeared behind Conan "Let’s hear it"

"Shit! Shit Hound I’m a fucking knight!" Conan exclaimed, his eyes wide

"Then don’t get terrified this quickly" Hound advised

"You should refrain from pulling shit like that" his face slightly paler than they were when he’d stepped in

"You got important information on what?" Hound redirected

"Aren’t you eager to say who instead of what?" he was back to his playful self, his eyebrow wiggling

"Conan" There was an edge to Hound’s voice as he warned Conan

He rubbed his palm over his arms "Can we go somewhere warmer?" but Hound didn’t budge

"I’m leaving Critic Arley" he broke into the prolonging silence

"You are not a fucking news writer, can you try hitting the nails in the bull’s eye?" Hound bit out, his tone heavy with criticism

"Talking about writers, I’m leaving for Critic Ishelm" As Conan continued he lost Hound’s interest further

"Alright" Hound moved around his small space that was unsurprisingly filled with daggers and swords, there was even a shard of a mirror with blood on its edge, lying passively on a rag

"I will stay till I find who I’m looking for, I need you to follow the Lord for his own protection and also stay away from the Statham’s we have bigger problems, the emperor is too quiet for us to simply relax and wait for an attack, we need to be ready but I have to find her"

"The muckraker?" Hound watched as Conan replied to his question with a nod

"Do not go to the Statham’s anymore" he repeated but Hound blatantly ignored him

"Does the Lord know you’re leaving ?" his question

Conan frowned "Yes he does and please watch the people who come inside the house, I don’t trust those new girls" he was very skep

"Don’t get bewitched" Hound warned as he turned around to head into his lair

"They’re not witches" Conan protested, strong on his defense

"Whatever you say" Hound yelled from inside

Conan scowled before walking out of the eerie niche, he had a few things he’d go to his home to pack and he’d be leaving for Critic Ishelm.

He would have to find whatever awaits, he just hopes it’s not the dead body of hue favourite writer because then hell will break loose.

*****

Statham estate.

Noon, Hallway.

Julius on his steps downstairs caught sight of his daughter almost exiting the house, fully clothed, which commandeered him to ask

"Where are you going to?"

"I need fresh air" she retorts without glancing his way, she knew it was her father.

Georgina came out of a door next to them with a plate of biscuits in hand, her walk gracious as she headed for a seat silently, they had all seen each other at breakfast earlier.

"There is no tea party or a soiree I heard of" he countered, taking hold of a frown

As a result, the marchioness stood up to meet them where they stood, she placed her palm on his arm affectionately drawing his attention to her "Julius let her stretch her legs, she has been couped up in her room for days, she needs this" his frown had settled at the sight of his beautiful wife

"Where shall you go?" He asked sceptical, his eyes still on Georgina

Liza frowned "I have friends Father"

"I’m sure you do" he nodded in agreement, now turning to her "You shall get in the cart with me and I will drop you off wherever it is you want"

"No! Father I’d go alone" she exclaimed, "I don’t want some of my friends to know of which house I emerge" she concluded, hoping her reason was good

"As suspicious as that came, I do not have time to argue with you, I will be coming back late today" he informed, looking at the door

"Goodbye darling" Georgina said, but Julius spread his arms, inviting her for a hug Georgina would never refuse one so she strolled into his arms with a small smile, his scent keeping her calm and making her feel safe.

"I love you" he whispered into her hair.

"Mmmm..., me too" she replied before stepping out of his arms with a lingering look in her eyes as Julius turned, heading for the door.

His small frown met Liza and she also narrowed her eyes wondering what was happening with her mother.

*******

Critic Ishelm

Afternoon, a noisy compound.

A young woman in a sack-coloured dress, messy black hair in a tight bun, her ocean blue eyes held mirth and experience, she hastily walked to the bank of a slow-flowing river for minutes before turning to the presence she had sensed behind her for a while

"I’m done" she admitted "I’m going to Critic Arley tonight" Her admission didn’t appear to shock her partner as he moved to stand next to her.

"That is not safe, Helena I believe you stay here where we can all protect each other" he advised, his voice so warm, it dripped honey.

"No Jacob, I don’t protect anybody, I only bring trouble and risks" Helena’s eyes became glossy as she quickly looked down

Jacob, older and scrawny looking felt horrible for making Helena think so of herself, she was different even amongst them but she was family to him nonetheless "But you’re family and we shall fight together "

"Jacob, let me go please, this isn’t where I should be"

"People in Critic Arley don’t practice magic!" Jacob spread his hands, his hands wide with panic and sadness

"But they wait for magic, they collect magic, they see magic yet criticise it, it just shows how ignorant they are not cruel, Jacob, they’re just stupid" Helena pointed out.

"And you’re foolish for believing all that, Lord Theodore would be the first to hang and burn you if you ever get caught" Jacob was convinced Theodore kills magic practitioners for the fun of it, he was just as twisted as their Emperor.

"Then I would avoid him and his people"

Helena nodded, her eyes shining with determination, she added "Also, I’m going as a well enough lady, so then they won’t suspect me, I look like an easy target than a witch that they call us"

"That is what we are" Jacob defended

"But they don’t mean it in a good way, witches are evil, magic practitioners are lost, dangling on the dark side" Her explanation didn’t naturally sit well with Jacob so he ignored it.

"Will you continue to trend?" He asked, his eyes curious.

"That’s the magic Critic-Ishire lives for" she claimed, looking up to the sky, dropping back her gaze to his face she continued

"I can’t deprive them of it" her smirk filled with so much life and hope for a better life ahead.

Night.

Helena and Jacob entered the night to get her into the largest city in Critic-Ishire. Jacob looks back at the children and adults walking around the compound before nodding his approval, he follows Helena to a wooden that looks ordinary until he pulls it open and a path in the forest appears.

Helena squared her shoulders, and looked back at her home before turning to head out. Critic Ishelm had been where she lived all her life but it has never been home, no one was actually hers and she only brought trouble, that she knew, so leaving would be a relief for the people of Critic-Ishelm, she is going to Critic Arley to start a new life.

A life where Helena isn’t a nuisance but an acceptance.