“He was boxing her in. Making her second guess everything. Was he violent?”
“Not at all. But from what Alia intimated he visited Perri’s chamber less and less, ensuring via sly words that the reason for their distance lay somehow at Perri’s feet. She was turning herself inside out trying to please him, yet he never came outright and faulted her. But nor did he ever seem happy with Perri’s actions or words.”
“Get to the meat of the matter, I sense you’re stalling.”
“As a new mother Perri had no time for visiting her kin. Alia sensed from her letters that Perri was a little depressed. So she decided to visit, to help celebrate the child’s second birthday. At first, everything appeared normal. Regal doted upon his wife and child. Perri appeared a little fatigued and harried, but nothing untoward for a mother of an active toddler. Regal claiming that seeing the sisters together made him realise how neglectful he had become of his own family, his brothers. Requesting Perri arrange a picnic for the Soutner males on a nearby cliffside. Food, drinks, games and prizes.”
“And when the big day arrived?”
“Perri and Alia were out for a gentle horse ride with the child. Thinking to surprise Regal with a welcome visit, they headed towards the designated picnic area.”
Brandth turned his entire attention to Talac, his friend’s demeanour nothing but grim, warning him he wasn’t going to like what he heard next.
“The tableau looked nothing but normal as they approached. A wagon full of food and wine attended by two servants. Regal’s six remaining brothers armed with crossbolts hitting practise targets set up on a nearby grassy area. Their host leaning against the trunk of an old oak tree off to the side, enjoying the shade, quaffing mead. The smell of ripe honey thick in the air was Alia’s first warning that something was terribly wrong. She advised Perri they should turn back, that there must be a hive somewhere nearby. But Perri insisted they warn Regal.”
“Gods.”
“The two gryfalcons dropped from the sky, with the sun behind them. One brother was just gone. Screaming, gripped in the talons of the male of the mated pair who promptly flew off, probably to feed their youngsters. The female, even bigger than the male, flew low over the field. Knocking one brother sprawling. Nipping one of the servants almost in half with her beak. Pandemonium. Alia determined to follow Perri. Remember, this was ten years ago, she wasn’t the Beast then, just a girl who loved her sister. Everyone was scrambling, frantic, but with no real cover available except for a few trees. What struck Alia though. With the Soutner brothers scrabbling to save themselves… and each other, was Regal. How he just stood under that oak tree and did nothing. She assumed he was frozen in fear. But Alia didn’t have that luxury, as the gryfalcon came around for another run. This time the bird managed to get one of the brothers, stabbing him in the back with her beak. The wash of her wings was like being in a hurricane, Perri and the child swept off their horse, and a good thing too, as the gyrfalcon’s claws ripped it from throat to rump three seconds later. Perri lost hold of the boy following their fall. When she looked up the child was running towards the oak tree, towards his father. Yet Regal made no move to fetch him, in fact, he seemed wielded in place. The gryfalcon settled on the ground, blocking the way, the child now running straight for it. Perri finally catching up, in time to push the child back and away, taking a swipe of the creature’s claws. Flung aside, rolling down a small incline, leaving the child alone to face the giant bird. It heaved itself skywards, claws coming for the baby, but Alia was there, batting them away with a stick she’d picked up from the ground. Too brittle and insignificant the weapon was torn asunder, as was Alia by the creature’s raking claw. Somehow it managed to scoop up the child.”
“Cruddy hell.”
“Alia had all but landed on a discarded crossbolt, coughing up blood, barely able to breath, she raised it and took aim as the creature left the ground, the baby clutched in its claws screaming its head off in terror. She said she’d never prayed harder, and perhaps the Deities above were finally listening that day. For the bolt took the gryfalcon in the eye. It released the child, but the fall was high, she heard bones break when he hit the ground but couldn’t move to go look.”
“That is not the end of the tale.” Brandth insisted, perhaps a little more adamant than was prudent. Given who he was speaking to, but Talac took no offence.
“The account now is second hand, what Perri told Alia occurred. Injured, the female gryfalcon flew away. Leaving behind destruction, death, and so much blood. Perri looked to her husband, who finally began moving, somehow managing to capture the reins of Alia’s abandoned horse. She assumed he was coming to her aid. Yet as he rode near, he didn’t slow down. Regal’s expression instead astonishingly flat, except for a brief flicker of disdain when his eyes met hers for a mere moment as he rode on by. He was going to help their son first, Perri understood. But after he passed by, an acrid smell assaulted her nostrils, reminiscent of the spray the Lair used to discourage the gryfalcons. Regal reeked of it. And it hit her. The honey. Regal had lured the gryfalcons to this place. And under the oak tree, remaining unmoving and smelling like he did, Regal had been the safest of them all.”
“What did the bastard do next?”
“He took the child and rode for the manse… to raise the alarm. Perri panicked. Suddenly all the times she’d caught a glimpse of something… other flicker for an infinitesimal moment in Regal’s eyes assailed her. She was badly injured, her sister worse… and those Soutner brothers’ still alive, worse still. Even if they were fetched, the Gloomenthrall sisters would be low on the Soutner Medic’s list. Perri decided in that moment that she and Alia needed to get to the Lair. The wagon carrying the picnic supplies had been anchored, the horses unable to break free. Perri commandeered the wagon, and somehow got Alia into the back.”
“How did they survive a day’s journey in their condition, reeking of blood?”
“They met a very capable mute boy on the road, headed to the Lair in pilgrimage. There was an unused jar of honey in the wagon. It was his idea to pour it on their wounds, to hopefully stick the skin back together and stop the bleeding.”
“The honey saved them? Please don’t tell me they were attacked again by the gryfalcons?”
“No. Luckily the narrow roads of the woods prevented the birds from being able to do much but circle overhead, following them. When they drew closer, they were able to signal the Lair that they were incoming, a band of fighters riding out to bring them in to safety.”
“Cruddy hell.” Brandth slumped against the nearest wall.
“Rumours spread. Of the four Soutner brothers that survived that day, one succumbed to his injuries within a month. Another took his own life two years later. Whilst a third suffered from debilitating nerves and night terrors. And then there was Regal. Golden, shiny, perfect, a man who’d even managed to save his son, snatching it from the claws of the creature personally. Or so the story he told went. But it seems his father was a suspicious man. He gathered his grandsons close, had them guarded. And promptly put Regal on a boat, sending him away to the secure and strengthen the Soutner trading interests in far off lands.”
“He banished him?”
“Effectively. But according to Alia the old Baron died of old age a short while ago, and his heir, a naïve lad, sent word for his uncle to come home, advising Regal would be welcomed there. Within three short months the young Baron was dead, along with his siblings, and a male cousin or two.”
“All hail Baron Regal Soutner.” Brandth spat in distaste. “But what about Perri, his wife? He never came to fetch her?”
“He never even enquired if she and Alia had survived and made it to the Lair. The Gloomenthralls cut all ties with the Soutners after that day on the cliff. They tried to get word of the child, but Regal took him into exile.”
“So, he just abandons her? His wife? She’s so insignificant he doesn’t even care if Perri’s alive or dead? That’s chilling.”
“I would imagine he thought she would only be a burden if she were to accompany him into exile. Besides, much easier for him to play the single mourning widower role, prey on the sympathy of others. Perhaps in Regal’s mind, after a time, that role began to seem real.”
“They’re isolated in those woods, maybe he thought she’d sequestered herself away for good, and that he was effectively clear and free. Cruddy hell. That bastard needs to die!”
“I agree whole heartedly, but Brandth, you know we’re hamstrung here.”
