CHAPTER V
A few days later...
Lord Viarre stared outside his window as he has always done when he wanted to think. In a time long ago, he would gaze outside to admire the beauty that is of Coerthas and Ishgard despite the deadly nature of both weather and beast. He once thought of beauty but now, it was just a time for thinking. His old features forced a slight frown as an attendant made her way into his chambers.
"Lord Viarre? The Dragoons from Ishgard requests council with you. They say it pertains to their search?"
Lord Viarre's face quickly lightened up, his frown disappearing as he turned to walk down the steps from his desk while the afternoon sun shined in and dust particles floated gracefully.
"Ah, yes. Let them in."
With a quick bow, his attendant disappeared outside the chamber and into the hallway. Lord Viarre stood quietly with his fingers interlocked behind his back. The plated armor of the Dragoons sounded their approach as they came into view from the hallway. Falorgeant and Clarielle entered and bowed low; Lord Viarre gestured quickly for them to rise.
"So... what news have you?"
Falorgeant looked to Clarielle and nodded before he returned his attention back to the veteran knight. "We found proof, Lord Viarre, proof that the Vale Brothers are still alive."
"And what did you find?"
"Underneath the mountains that surround Ishgard to the west was the body of a dragon. The weapons that each brother was known to wield was buried deep into the dragon's flesh. It seemed that during the Dravanian attack, the brothers and the dragon fell down the cliff."
Lord Viarre only nodded and continued to patiently listen.
"In the middle of our search, a dragon ambushed us from the mists. The dragon itself was destroyed and only served as a nuisance to our investigation."
"It wasn't until after the fight that we discovered tracks - dried blood, Lord Viarre - that seemed to lead west outside of the mountain gap and into the open canyons. From the looks of the footprints, one of the brothers was injured but we are certain they survived."
Lord Viarre inhaled deeply and exhaled a breath of relief. "This is... good news indeed. I never believed their deaths. I prayed to Halone but I continued to worry. Your search; however, has finally granted me peace of mind."
Falorgeant and Clarielle looked to Lord Viarre slightly puzzled. Clarielle crossed her arms to comprehend the older elezen as she readied the question that both Dragoons had been meaning to ask.
"Lord Viarre? We knew that... you had known the Vale brothers for a time. May we ask what your relation was to them?"
Hearing Clarielle's question made the Lord frown and his eyes slowly drifted to the ground. He turned his back to the Dragoons and slowly made his way toward the massive decorative window which had always been a place to gather his thoughts. Lord Viarre exhaled again but this time, his breath carried a hint of sorrow.
"Many years ago, when Marcus Vale stumbled into Coerthas, he ran across a knight by the name of Ser Joellaut*. Joellaut had been wounded by a wyvern and using a broken spear, Marcus killed the beast and thus saved Joellaut's life. Ser Joellaut and another knight known as Sigmund the Red* served a young Inquisitor named Maulcrioux*. Out kindness for the lost young man, Maulcrioux offered Marcus another chance at life by swearing fealty to him as a knight. Two winters later, Marcus' younger brother Xydane would also be admitted to knighthood and service to Ishgard."
As Falorgeant and Clarielle listened, their expression softened.
"Maulcrioux saw potential and he was right. The brothers grew older and they became fine knights indeed, even earning quite a fierce reputation as well. You see... Maulcrioux was my son... and he was murdered almost two years ago. Ser Sigmund the Red and Ser Joellaut had also died in service to Ishgard. The Vale brothers are a living memory to my son."
Falorgeant's mouth was slowly agape as he tried to find meaningful words to say. Nothing came out and he was astonished from the story. Instead, he closed his eyes and bowed.
"I thank you for telling this story. It had always been a mystery to many of us as to the origins of the Vale brothers. I also grieve for your lost, Lord Viarre."
"It seemed like a lifetime ago."
"They all served Ishgard proudly. I... want to think that in the end, it's what all of us want."
"Yes. In the end."
And with the words said and done, Falorgeant and Clarielle turned to leave, their figure disappearing outside the room. Lord Viarre exhaled yet again for the news of the Vale brother's survival brought comfort into his aching soul. As the dusk particles continued to float in the room, so too did the light. On the other end of Lord Viarre's chambers was a single large painting hammered into the cobblestone wall. The painting was the group portrait of three young elezens - Maulcrioux, Sigmund, Joellaut, and two younger hyurs - Marcus and Xydane Vale.
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* For those of you familiar with Xydane's stories from the past, you would remember Maulcrioux, Joellaut, and Sigmund from the RP and story events of 'The Faces of Mercy,' 'Day to Day' - the rescue of Erik Mynhier, and the RP event 'Thunder in the Heavens.'
