Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Standing behind the window, watching his eldest and third sons bid farewell to the dignitary from the Church of the Dual Mothers and the esteemed grandson of Lord Ailish from the House of Ailish, the patriarch of the Stark family, Casbin Stark, turned and walked out of his study.


As he made his way down the corridor, he overheard the conversation between his eldest and third sons at the corner leading to the great hall.


"Tony, you must be mad. Do you not know who he is? If any harm comes to him, do you understand the kind of retaliation our family would face?" That was his eldest son's anger, but Casbin felt it was being blown out of proportion.


Chapter 27: Track in Time