Chapter 41

"But when you have the competence to ease a smile upon the face of a weary wayfarer, why would you not use that gift?"

~

The Untenanted Cottage of Jehu,

Town of Hazenvale,

Kingdom of Tristendyre,

The first Phrinight of the Second month,

XXI Year of Regency

Jaycob leaned forward, closer the diligently working Lady Minerva and lowered his voice to say:

"It appears the family was expecting this 'accident'."

The Physician looked up to meet his eyes. "How do you claim so?" asked she, unbelieving.

The cunning Archer shrugged before he offered explanation, "It is only a surmise based on demeanour. I reckoned so, for the lady of the house was evacuating her cottage with the child and requisite possessions in tow."

Lady Minerva stared pensively at him as he spoke before diverting her attention back to the case, sparing Jaycob Oreius only her ears.

"The tempers appeared tensed. They may have expected to escape the fire had this young one not retraced her steps for the souvenirs", he continued, eyeing the scalded doll and the broken portrait of the family, wherein were four persons.

The man that was speaking curiously scrutinised the picture in which there was another lad much older than Elise whom he had not met in the duration of this brief encounter.

In fact, the company did not make any ado of missing this other child either.

It did not seem likely that he was abroad, for the family could not have afforded to finance such an event. Had he passed from some fatal misfortune at such young an age?

The Chief of Artillery frowned in contemplation.

"That is strange indeed. Perhaps, once the woman has awoken, you shall be able to inquire of her", said the Physician and Jaycob nodded before rising to his feet.

The Physician was far too hard at work to pay him any heed and the Archer decided to utilise the opportunity in progressing with his intentions.

"There is still a great deal I wish to inquire of you, young man", said Lady Minerva and the masked lad in reception nodded, "Yes, M'lady."

As he passed the ransacked tables of the room that was being the medical office, whilst making his way to the room allotted to Missus Xavier's recovery, the seal of Nathan that had been rusted and lying there forlorn was swept from its forsaken perch and into the Archer's pocket, subtly without notice.

He stepped into the other room to find the lady sitting up, holding her head in her palms. It was truly impressive that the young boy had managed to awaken her from the dreadful slumber.

Jaycob leaned against the frame of the door and crossed his arms. His head was only a few frinzes short of reaching the lintels.

The man cleared his parched throat and earned the attention of the couple: the mother and Aldric.

"Your daughter is in no condition that causes fret. She is safe and your concerns needn't scatter", he offered, in his means of calming the perturbed woman.

She nodded, but did not dare to lift her gaze and meet his dark and masked eyes. "I believe that there are a few questions that you are indebted to answer me for?" asked he, quirking a brow.

The lady nodded and began to speak, "I deeply do apologise, Sir; I have nothing beyond my sorry state to offer you in recompense."

Jaycob strode inside and gave himself a seat before the lady of Mister Joab Xavier, as he commenced the deluge of questioning. He turned to Aldric and gestured for him to leave and the young lad respectfully departed towards Minerva's aid.

"Now, what of your husband's business are you aware of?" asked he, eyes trained on the elderly woman who was fidgeting.

"We have been slaves to poverty for all our lives and needed means to earn. My husband's education in the craft of potions and arts had not found means to prosper and he was to carry on little jobs. He is entrusted with lighting candles every night, as you may already know... However, in recent times, he has been completely engaged and working for various nights past, even until the moon sets. He is in a secret service of the Government, but I know not the nuances of his whereabouts", she confessed to him, eyes continuously upon her hands and lap whilst she spoke.

Jaycob heard the Royal Physician's voice call for juice and the little boy in her charge leaving to bring what was bid.

"Do you believe this new found profession of Mister Xavier's is entirely clean and righteous?" asked Jaycob, paying more attention to her disposition than her words.

The lady remained silent in guilty pondering before her hesitant answer was said: "I presume it is not, for it is office to the Government. Most of the husbands in our village are employed so. This occupation has been theirs for various years."

"Ah", said he, leaning back and making himself comfortable, resting an ankle against his other knee. "So you are aware that he is in wicked deeds under-earth."

The wife of Mister Xavier began weeping, like she could not rein her conflicted emotions. "Sir, I beg you, kindly pardon our transgression against you", she pleaded, her voice exiting her parched throat in percussions.

"When he was commissioned kill you, he truly had declined, but he was forced with coercion. He was given this night as the final attempt against your life and if otherwise, that our family will wordlessly perish", she managed to expel her words between sobs.

Jaycob watched, feeling moved and awkward, for a weeping woman was not one he had signed for that night.

The Archer needed the information and thus, listened; but the art of dealing with the burst of uneven feelings that accompanied was not of his talents. However, he did not showcase is lack of adeptness, lest he appear hostile when the lady was finally trusting enough to pour the contents of the truth.

"He could not even eat his meals in such long time", said she.

Jaycob nodded, "I see." Regardless of his indifference, it truly was a difficult and heartrending sight when an old person wept.

"We could not recover ever since Melvyn was taken from us; and with this next, Joab told me to flee with the child to the hills if he did not return by this nightfall. I was devastated, for I hoped he would come safe, but he did not", said she looking at him with much remorse.

Jaycob shed consideration upon everything she mentioned in deep contemplation. It was clear that she knew, for her defensive disposition towards him at first encounter seemed as cautious as to suspect his overpowering her husband.

"Is Melvyn of your family?" the Archer enquired.

"Was, yes. He was our first son and he was robust and skilful, much like you. Then, he had learnt the art of brewing elixirs and potions from his father. He was first to obtain the secret job, but they hunted Joab out as well. And thereafter, Mel had refused to commit murders that he was commanded to.

Hence, they had him killed when he placed his letter of resignation from the troop. Their secrets are never to escape, but my husband had been part of the organisation at the time", said she, arms upon herself like the reliving of memories was excruciating.

"Mel was even betrothed to be married and we were all of happiness, but the joy was stolen from us", the woman finished, her face forlorn.

"He did what was right in withstanding", said Jaycob while the taste of his own words was sour against his tongue, for he was none akin to such frankness himself.

The lady nodded. "I merely wish my husband would have withheld himself as well, but our lives are downtrodden and he is our sole bread-winner."

"Are you aware of who may have ordered him to sever me?" asked Jaycob.

The woman shook her head. "I am afraid I do not know, but it may not be imperatorial, for there was much conflict and confidentiality even amidst the group whilst this was entrusted upon my husband.

He was to withhold this order to foredo you from even my knowledge, but he only told me of all after the weeks of his lack of appetite was followed by this afternoon's instructions to us to take immediate flight. I gather that it was this fire that he had warned us against."

The chief Archer took her further words into pondering and asked her, "When was he instructed to take my life?"

Missus Xavier paused in thinking for a moment before responding: "It must be quite some months now."

Jaycob received the information and gauged that it must have been orders of the Arch Eccleissor alone and not the Regent, for the latter had requested much benefits of the Royal Archer.

Further, he considered how the Village of Lyrishveil had only seen birth and growth after the Principal reign of the Regency. The Kingdom had believed that the small hamlet was built not in stone for such mineral would call for an inflated outlay.

However, it seemed greatly that the village was infested with persons forced into employment in the underground although most were working in great inclination toward their foul occupation.

And for the folks that toiled, but with conviction against the wickedness, there were such fires to threaten them into submission.

It aligned with his reasoning as to why the stone construct was not adopted: it was be-cause the mineral did not amuse flames as wildly as wood and brick.

"Thank you for the words", he said, shifting his manners to one that would leave the room.

As he moved, the tall man felt a frail grasp against his palm. He looked down to see the old woman's hands holding his, whilst she cried.

"I truly beg your pardon on my family and my own behalf, Sir; you have rescued our lives. I may have been destitute this single night, had you not stepped in and granted your favours. I pray my daughter's life be salvaged, for I know not what fates may have behoved my husband", she wept these words and Jaycob's cold heart saw compassion.

He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to discern whence Joab Xavier was.

The decision was clear: if he was still reclined in like place as he had gauged when he was in the Secret Cell, there was heavy chance he was dead.

Jaycob did not expect an option of otherwise, but oddly, when his talent began its art, he felt the man still in those under-ground chambers but wresting against the chords that bound his body.

The Archer looked at the woman whose heart had suffered much too great that eve and said:

"He is not safe, but he is with breath."

~