Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Chapter 105

Dulce cleaned up and dressed up quickly, stepping out to find the room empty. He hadn’t expected Lady Valrena to arrive so quickly but it was the best outcome, the less time they spent in Threnval, the better.

He packed up his little trunk, expecting that they would be leaving soon. He only wore his dress shirt, tempted for a moment to wear his waistcoat instead; Threnval was really too hot.

When he was done packing up and getting ready, he sat at the edge of the bed he had made after getting out of it, waiting patiently. He wondered if they would still have to keep up pretenses about his humanity in Ashford, he couldn’t keep drinking from Kath’tan daily.

He didn’t have to wait long, Kath’tan and Lady Valrena stepping directly into the room.

"I’ll take you," She offered, "Then you can come back for the mage."

Dulce said nothing to that, still seated on his bed. For someone who didn’t even know the basics of magic, it was strange to be referred to as a mage by everyone.

Kath’tan had never been to Ashford before, so he wouldn’t be able to warp directly into the city, only to its environs. And if he could, he would warp with the Vampire as few times as possible.

"I’ll return," He said simply, leaving as soon as he came.

Unaware of the liveliness that High Lady Valrena had brought with her, Dulce sat patiently, his thoughts straying to his summoned Demons in his desert palace. Now that Kath’tan had met his mother and things seemed to be going well, he could once again ask the necessary questions.

He wasn’t kept waiting long, Kath’tan returning in a matter of moments. He rose to his feet at the appearance of the Demon, bracing himself for the disconcerting method of travel.

Dulce was so focused on being warped away that he didn’t notice Kath’tan’s intent gaze until the last moment. His eyes widened in recognition just as the room spun around them and they fell onto solid ground.

The room they arrived in was sprawling, yet looked lived in. There were paintings of the five suns hung all around the room, mostly at night when the suns were asleep. There were also weapons hung around the room, mostly axes of all sizes.

Valrena had been pacing impatiently when her son left her room, visible relief on her face when he returned. "Come I’ll show you to your room." She invited, heading for the doors.

It was jarring to come from the castle in Threnval where everything was done in red and gold to the generous use of color, at least in the High Lady Valrena’s rooms.

Kath’tan’s room was just as big, a reconstructed hammer in a glass case placed in the room. There were lattice doors that led to a balcony that were open, sunlight filling the room.

"I can have a room arranged for the mage, Dulce," Valrena offered.

"It’s fine. He can share mine." Kath’tan demurred.

"Would you join Grand Duke Yamra and me for lunch?" She asked hesitantly, lingering at the doors.

"I will," Kath’tan agreed, getting accustomed to the fact that as long as his mother was there, he would be fine.

"If you need me, I’ll be in my room." She said, leaving reluctantly, her hope that her son would come seeking her out written plainly on her face.

"I take it everything went alright?" Dulce asked.

"I told you to ask me a question a second time after I met my mother," Kath’tan said without needing to answer Dulce’s question, he reached out to take the Vampire’s wrist, pulling him close.

Dulce nearly lost his hold on his little trunk, needing to crane his head back to hold Kath’tan’s gaze. "Yes. Do you want to stay?" He asked again, his tone genuine.

He had only caught glimpses, but it was clear that Lady Valrena really cared about her son, and she was prepared to carve a space in her home for him.

"No," Kath’tan answer came easy, although he had admitted the complete truth to his mother far more easily, when it came to Dulce, it was caught in his throat. "We’ll leave after a few days."

"Is that fine?" Dulce frowned, concerned. "You only just met your mother."

"And I can just as easily come to visit." Kath’tan said wistfully. He could only accompany the foolish Vampire until his summons were undone, then he would have a place to return to, his mother’s side.

Dulce fell silent, but the tense expression he wore showed all of his thoughts. The Vampire would commit himself to undoing the contract as soon as they returned.

Kath’tan might be troubled if he didn’t know firsthand how foolish the Vampire was, and also how easily distracted he was. He leaned forward to kiss the frown off his face, pulling away shortly after before he was bested.

"I’ll go accompany my mother for a while before lunch." He excused, starting for the door.

Dulce was properly distracted, now wondering if the invitation to lunch had been extended to him. All alone in Kath’tan’s new room, he dropped off his trunk and curiously explored.

It was nothing like the room back in Threnval, it was clear that everything in the room had been picked out meticulously, down to the lamps on the walls and the curtains.

When he was done looking around, he drifted towards the balcony, presented with a direct view of the shimmering red sky and the blinding suns shining down.

Beneath him were houses neatly lined up, the castle looked to have been built in the heart of the city, and it wasn’t isolated by acres of land. Instead, it had been built like just another house in the sprawling city.

His interest wasn’t in the city or the castle environs, rather, it was in the sky. He felt the sweltering heat more because he had been well-fed since he arrived in the Hells but it wasn’t unbearable.

He was drawn to the suns, wanting to lay down underneath them and just stare at them. He got his wish somewhat, sitting on the marble bench on the balcony, peacefully enjoying the suns’ rays.