Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 210: Scene CCX

Following his cousin as he took a seat before the vast map displayed on the wall, Aslak blankly walked to a nearby chair. Staring at the same map his cousin observed with concern with wide yet confused amber... for only one thought conquered his soul.

“..... I can’t go.” — Lastly, in the settled quiet they established because of the circumstances’ severity, Aslak said almost softly. Causing the eyes of the King to drift away from the map to lay on the standing Archduke.

“... What do you mean you can’t go, Aslak?”

“... I... I can’t leave Ewelina.” — Meeting the excruciating gaze of his cousin, Aslak stated.

“......”

A moment was taken by the King to stay composed, yet the patience was not to allow such anymore.

*CrAsh!!*

“What do you mean... you can’t, Aslak?... It’s not a matter if you can or not. You HAVE to. Who do you think Sortnafeigr belongs to! Huh?! Have you forgotten the Lord of those lands is only yourself?!!”

“I’m not going. Ewelina will refuse to follow me and I’m not leaving her here. I can’t leave her-”

“I TOLD YOU IS NOT A MATTER IF YOU CAN OR NOT!!!”

“...”

The fury Jollveld was demonstrating was proper of the blood flowing in his veins.

As if two close beasts had turned on one another, the King and the Archduke now stood before the other, instinctively menacing to the other, glaring and growling, alert for an attack could come in a whiff of the wind.

“Fhh...... Today... Aslak, today you killed the princess of the Kingdom aiding ours... Now... word has come that the songs of the earth are gruesomely threatening the life of your people. The people who my ancestors also belonged to... And yet...” — Jollveld’s temporary self-control felt his blood boil speedily the more was told, breathing in, trying to keep restrained his rage, unsuccessful for in the eyes of the savage no remorse could be found. — “And yet you say... You say you can’t leave because of your wife?!”

“... That’s right.”

“... Aslak... Aslak, Aslak... hahaha... You seem to forget all of these matters involve you.”

“...”

“Herklain’s troops may take some time arriving for sea is in between, yet do you think the earth will wait for you to fix things with your wife before swallowing Sortnafeigr?”

“...”

Seeing how impassive Aslak remained to his sayings, Jollveld straightened, wearing the same impassive expression the Archduke showcased while the King stated facts about his situation.

Jollveld’s impulsive rage then suddenly subsided, inhaling measurely searching peace within, for now, he was to reason with the unreasonable one by telling the truths Aslak’s instincts recognized yet could not accept.

“... Do you think what happened with Ewelina is even fixable?” — Liting in the savage the flare of hurt rage Jollveld continued indifferent to the consequences. — “Do you think she will easily forgive what you’ve done?”

“Stop talking, Jollveld.”

“Only a moment ago, it was as if tears of blood were falling from your eyes. You said you lost her! Doesn’t it show how even yourself knows how broken your marriage is?!”

*Bang!*

“Shut the fuck up! Say one more word and I’ll forget the speck of blood we share!!” 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“..... Do you think... killing me and letting your people die... will please your woman?” — Recklessly, the King did not give a step back before the hand that lifted after knocking down the nearby chair, fighting the urge to grasp and strangle his neck, staring right into the eyes of the furious Aslak to sow some forced reason in his aching soul. — “Do you think it will help you earn her forgiveness?”

Aslak’s clench of his jaw came along his hand’s. Lowering it as the words of the King could be found truthful, yet saying no word to it for he refused to get to a decision where he was to be away from the fated lung taking his breathing away...

“...”

... and his gaze lowered only to blankly ponder in his confusion, which would not be left alone by Jollveld.

“Do you even know your wife?”

“... Shut up.”

“You must want her to hate you more while acting like this.”

“KGh! SHUT UP!! I KNOW!! JusT...!! Just shut up, Jollveld...! I know...”

“...”

“I’m... I’m too aware... that what you’re saying’s the truth...” — Giving finally a step back, the pain came back to conquer Aslak’s countenance. Drawing away from the cousin he did not want to hurt even if enraged... for the brotherhood they shared did exist in Aslak’s depths and could not get himself to harm one he did respect. — “Was I to let everything die... Ewelina’s gaze would never fall on me again... She might care for Sortnafeigr even more than I do.”

“Then why are you leaving aside everything that’s important? If you aren’t to kill me now, Herklain’s king will come for my and your head either way. Do you think Ewelina’s will be safe?”

“...”

“And even if Herklain is stopped successfully, letting Sortnafeigr to be swallowed... then where is she to return once she finds it in herself to forgive you?” — Pacing towards the Map craved in the wall, Jollveld spoke without looking in the eyes of the troubled Aslak, tracing with his hand the bit that signalled the start of the Archduke’s territory, that even once their ancestors took over the Kingdom, decided to keep it a mystery for those living in the North, protecting the deep roots from rotten hands. — “... If Sortnafeigr is swallowed... where will you find a path to the core... and ask for her womb to bear your children?”

“... what if... even as I succeed convincing the core... it’s not my children she will bear...?”

At such pathetic mumble Aslak uttered, Jollveld’s ears could not believe the words heard until his turn allowed meeting the disgraceful sight of a dejected cousin.

The grind of the King’s teeth was hurtful to his nerves and yet... even as the frustration mixed with his heart’s softness... he was not to keep his discontent from the man’s knowledge.

“... Are you listening to yourself? You’re a disgrace for Sortnafeigr... For any who values the roots they came out from... you’re no more than a pathetic excuse of a coward crying around for what may happen even if terribly ignorant!!”