CHAPTER IV: AN UNENDING CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midnight had passed when Marcus returned to the estate of House Kalgaren. The corpses of the thieves already disposed of, Marcus had spent some time washing away the blood on his armor and it glistened under the light of the moon. This was not the first time the brothers had slain people within the city walls since their return and they had always been careful not to leave a single trace for the Temple Knights to discover. Risky as it was, night in the city fabricated shadows for the brothers to cast themselves back in and areas like The Brume provided the most perfect area of freedom for righteous slaughter. The poor in the The Brume were too fearful to talk lest they wished to be dragged into the darkness and consumed by the Vale Brother's reprisal. Word amid both the knights whom patrolled the area and the poor souls living in The Brume infamously spread about screams in the night and the disappearance of few.
The temperature had dropped and Marcus no longer had an interest for the night. Though unknown to all on what he and his brother had become, the brothers were still men and like all walks of life, they needed rest. Dreams while sleep were now non-existent to Marcus for the nightmares that clouded his mind and forced him to wake up in cold sweat were frequent and became nothing new. Now, only a few things kept him from fatigue and none of them considered good.
Ignoring the existence of the guard at the estate's entrance, Marcus casually opened it's doors and quietly walk in. Inside, Marcus was greeted by one of the house servants whom requested that he saw Lord Viarre for an urgent matter at once. With the usual blank expression on his face, Marcus ventured down the hallway that would lead to Lord Viarre's chambers in a hasty pace. Once in his lord's chambers, Marcus glared at the two dragoons standing inside before making his presence known to the retired knight with a quick kneel and a slight bow of his head.
"I have come as you asked, my lord."
Though he did not directly make eye contact with them, Marcus was well aware of the two knights of House Durendaire that conversed with Lord Viarre in a nervous matter. The line of House Kalgaren had always been prominent allies with House Durendaire since the founding of Ishgard and Marcus had served House Durendaire numerously in the past. Shifting his steel colored eyes to the knights, Marcus stared with great interest at one who's wounds from unknown origin were being dressed by another of House Kalgaren's servants. The injured Durendaire elezen was battered and suffered a deep gash that stretched from his right shoulder all the way up to his neck.
Turning his focus to Marcus, Lord Viarre lifted a hand to signal the knight to rise and looked at him with a bleak expression that matched the mood of the scene.
"It seems that not even in the night can one hope for a few hours of peace. That, however, is a lie to the reality we face as a people of Ishgard. Marcus, the knights before you have been tasked on a search for a missing caravan southwest of Dusk Vigil. Heretics had ambushed them and wiped out their party save for these two who by Halone's will were fortunate to escape. The fate of the caravan lies with the same as the slaughtered knights."
Marcus returned his gaze onto the survivors and the hyur knight who suffered less injuries than his elezen compatriot stared back with anxiety and weariness.
"They surrounded us on the hills and spared no quarter. We were outnumbered, Ser Marcus, three to one."
"There is also talk of a greater dragon in the area as well." said Falorgeant, crossing his arms and leaning on one of the chamber's many bookshelves like usual.
Marcus turned, staring questioningly at Falorgeant and then to Clarielle who still dawned a hooded cloak since following the oldest Vale earlier in the night.
"Marcus, you remember Falorgeant and Clarielle?"
"Yes, we've crossed paths after my brother and I returned to Ishgard months ago."
"Excellent. Marcus, I would see these heretics dealt with swiftly and be shown the justice of Halone. You will be departing with Falorgeant and Clarielle in two suns to Western Coerthas. Though I trust your ability to handle such problematic issues, I will not take any chances by sending you alone. Falorgeant and Clarielle here are dragoons of exceptional prowess and they have been charged by Ishgard to investigate the matter."
"Has my brother returned from his task yet?"
"No, though it should be anytime now. When Xydane returns, I shall send him to meet up with all of you with much haste."
"Very well. It shall be done, my lord."
And with that said, Marcus turned to leave and as he walked past the dragoons, the knight of House Kalgaren scowled at them with suspicion and distrust. Falorgeant stared back, taking a step forward to watch Marcus disappear into the hallway and likely back into his own quarters to retire for the night. Once Marcus was out of sight, Falorgeant turned to Lord Viarre with a dire expression and said, "When all of this ends, I shall find out if your knights truly have done the unforgivable."
