The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 154: City with curses

Chapter 154: City with curses

’Something is wrong with that child!’

Hex couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It was more intuition than a conscious thought but he believed his intuition.

"There is no record of Ericka’s husband or lover. Where did this child pop out from? Who is the father?" Rayos wasn’t convinced.

Hex didn’t think he would be convinced, even with a record as proof. Rayos wouldn’t allow the Viscount’s inheritance to slip through his hand easily.

"Are you perhaps the father?" Rayos pointed at the inconspicuous man behind Solos.

Hex followed Rayos’ finger and looked at the person he was pointing at. The man had an average face and could easily be forgotten, though Hex recognized him.

’Wasn’t he one of the finalists in the tournament? I remember he was with the twins after the battle with Ronan.’

The man became flustered. Everyone’s eyes were on him. "N-No Sir. I-I am Edwards Maine of Fallenstad. I am but an average man serving the lady."

Edwards barely finished his sentence when Solos spoke up.

"I am the father!"

The moment Solos’ words fell, the hall became silent. Even those with a penchant for gossip didn’t dare to utter a word.

Hex didn’t watch Rayos’ darkened face. His attention remained on the child. The child didn’t blink or look away. No sound or noise attracted his attention. He kept looking toward Hex. To his dismay, he couldn’t tell if it was the light or reality, but now and then, he noticed a golden glint flicker in the child’s eyes.

’I can’t walk up to them and demand to examine their child, can I?’ Hex lampooned. It would answer his doubts but even he wasn’t so rude.

’Ericka was part of Clannad’s team. They helped the Dawnbringers. Does that mean the prince is involved too? Or is it part of their plan to have the prince vouch for her and her child? Grandpa, is this also part of some conspiracy?’

His grandfather, regular as he was, sure spun quite a few strings, pulling so many events together. All for what?

’Wait! All for what? Wasn’t their goal the Divine Lord? What if...?’

He immediately looked at the child. He was still looking. A little smile hung on his lips. ’Is it a smile or a smirk?’

Rayos and Solos quibbled about the honor of the royal family but it held no interest for Hex. Rather, if his suspicion was true, a more pressing matter needed to be investigated.

Hex controlled his emotions and looked away from the child. His senses still felt the child’s gaze on him. His heart he was convinced it either was the Divine Lord or had something to do with it.

"Enough!"

Right then a roar shook the hall. Even Hex’s mind went blank for a split second. Some people cried out in fear. Some passed out.

Theonin Tauriel, the Duke of North, glared at the princes, causing both to step back.

"Cry about your honor and rights in front of the king. I am not here to waste my time on a family feud."

Theonin turned to Rayos. "A child can’t be put on trial. He can’t defend his honor. The way I see it, split the deed. Proclaim the child as Baron and give him half of Fallenstad. The other half can be put as a reward."

His glare overwhelmed both princes. Their nod reminded Hex of bird chicks he had seen in the mountains, fighting to quickly get most of the worms from their parent’s beak.

Thanks to Theonin’s irritated interjection, the issue was resolved.

In total, there would be deeds of three baronies up for grasp. But to most, the deeds were consolation prices. Their actual target was to be noticed by the factions. Hex was the opposite. He resolved to reach first place so he had the best chance to claim what belonged to him.

"Let’s speed things up," Rayos grumbled. He didn’t seem happy with the interruption and interjection. But there was nothing he could do about those.

"Now, everyone is surely interested in knowing what the competition entails. If you are thinking about an arena battle then you are mistaken.

Like I told my young friend over there - he pointed at Hex - the titles and lands belong to those we serve the kingdom. A battle will entertain us but won’t serve the kingdom.

The young heroes of the north should focus on freeing this part of evil!"

Rayos passionate speech worked. People got hyped. Hex saw Tarquin grab his sword’s hilt as if he would storm off as soon as the prince was done.

’What evil is he talking about?’ Hex mused. He glanced towards the child, wondering if there was a bigger evil than that child with an innocent face. ’Does he know?’

"What evil are you referring to?" This time it was the Commander who spoke. "Ridden the north of evil.is what the Hawks fly out to do. Is the prince implying we aren’t doing our jobs well?"

Unlike the Duke, the Commander didn’t roar. His voice remained calm but one look at his eyes and everyone knew he was annoyed. They pitied Rayos. One wrong word at a moment like this and the north would lose its governor on the day he was welcomed officially.

"That isn’t my intention at all...sir," Rayos rectified hurriedly. He would rather offend the entire hall than the Commander.

"The Hawks flight keeps us free. I don’t doubt that for a second. But an evil remains on our land and in our hearts." He paused before finishing his words. "I am talking about Notresol."

A commotion burst out in the crowd. Even the Commander looked stunned.

’Notresol? The city that made the baron famous and the Witch infamous? Isn’t it a ruin now?’ It amused Hex that Rayos referred to the old capital of the north as an evil place.

Rayos waited for the room to calm down before he proceeded.

"A few months ago, we received news that the baron defeated the Witch, once and for all. For almost twenty years no one dared to enter the ruins of that city. But with the main culprit gone, we should examine and freely enter the city, ridding ourselves of all the grief it caused to many.

Every Knight wishing for glory, title, or a Heaven-sent chance can enter the city and kill the evil. Points will be rewarded based on the number of evil vanquished and terrain cleared."

’Interesting. I can enter and try to get that Frost Dragon. At the same time, I can train my skills and acquire resources.’

His eyes fell on Ericka and her child. "I just hope they don’t start something new."