Tyrant's Obsession With The Heiress-Chapter 37: Strategising The Next Targets

Orpheus regarded Siegmund as perhaps the most trusted and closest of his generals.

If such a thing was possible for a brute like Orpheus Van Merikh, he adored the man as one would an elder brother.

If it were anyone else who dared to ask such a question, Orpheus would have roared till their ears bled.

But coming from Siegmund, he valued the man's words for what they were worth.

"That is something for me to be concerned about," Orpheus replied, his tone calmer now. "Rest at ease; the lady does not impede my judgement, my ambition, or my thoughts. I am, as you have always known, Orpheus Van Merikh."

There was nothing more to say to it.

It was the ending of a statement with no further arguments.

Orpheus glanced at each of his generals nostalgically; they were men who had fought beside him for many years and some perhaps since he was old enough to wield a sword.

Such men were as hard as stone, powerful, and loyal.

And in the treacherous dark times they lived in, such traits were a rarity.

With a final glance around the table, Orpheus bent over the aged vellum map that was held down my weights against the massive oak tabletop.

It was time to resume their business.

"Now," Orpheus said, setting his battle mode off and taking on his leadership persona.

He completely disregarded Hendrix's cooling corpse a few feet away as Siegmund took the task of dragging the dead man out of the hall.

"Grimholt Bastion has already been acquired by us and now we have secured Moonveil," Orpheus stated, tracing routes on the vellum map with his unsoiled hand. "The next goal is Inas Meryth Castle to the Southwest and we will make for Dreadmoor Keep as well."

"Dreadmoor?" One of the generals said questioningly, leaning forward on the table. "Aye, it is quite a small castle."

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Since earlier, the generals and knights were on edge. Neither of them knew what would make Orpheus tick enough again to gorge out someone else's throat.

It was a bold move to be asking questions.

Yet somehow, their liege did not react as they would have expected.

"As small as she is, Dreadmoor will serve as an efficient outpost," Orpheus explained without looking up from the map. "Lyall will be sent back to Grimholt Bastion once we have acquired Inas Meryth. He will handle the militarisation of Grimholt."

Lyall didn't make any comments as he usually did. Oddly enough, there was a flicker of something akin to disagreement in his eyes, but he simply nodded.

It would seem the man was not entirely pleased with his placement this time.

But why? That was the question.

"Caelum will commandeer Inas Meryth once she is captured and Gilghard will rule over Dreadmoor," Orpheus completed, finally glancing up from the map. "Are there any questions?"

"What of Moonveil?" Lyall questioned, his gaze hard like stone. "There is still the matter of the mythical beasts and your original goal here, my Lord. I take it; that was not put at the bottom of the list of priorities."

And there it was.

Lyall's backhanded way of making his point.

Orpheus knew his second-in-command was making a jab at him for losing sight of his original goals simply because of a lady.

But not just any lady. His soon-to-be wife.

Orpheus calmed his nerves, resisting another outrage that was bubbling in him.

Unlike Hendrix, he needed Lyall.

"Moonveil was to be commandeered by Hendrix, but for now it will be my charge." Orpheus stood up straightly. "And I have not lost sight of my original goal here. That matter is to be dealt with by me alone; are we clear?"

Lyall didn't bark out another backhanded reply. He simply leaned back in his chair with a dutiful nod.

The men around knew what the two spoke of, and it was, to say, quite concerning since their liege suffered from something dark that could very well consume him.

But no one said a word.

Instead, they huddled closer to the table to listen to the plans of conquest from their liege.

*******

Lady Karina had not seen Orpheus that night, nor into the next day.

Quite frankly, she didn't wish to see the man at all. Yet some part of her wondered why he hadn't yet visited her chambers.

She remained within her chambers as she was ordered to, kept company by Kairie and Lady Drosera.

The three ladies minded their time by knitting or indulging in board games Sir Gerald had brought back as gifts for his daughter from the country of Espanaria.

And in the early evening hours of that night, Lady Karina shared her conversation with Orpheus with Lady Drosera with regard to the woman's husband and son.

It was to be expected that Lady Drosera would drown in sorrow and shed more painful tears.

But now, at least she was made certain of their fate.

And as Lady Karina soothed her dear friend from her woes, she didn't dare share with her Orpheus' declaration of marriage.

For she herself was still bewildered by the whole affair.

And sharing it with Lady Drosera would be an entirely different affair.

The sweet rose broken by brief would break out into a rage.

And the more Lady Karina thought of the prospect, the more unsettled she became.

But she suppressed those thoughts, knowing full well she was the only pillar her people could rely on.

And one couldn't find support with an unsteady, cracking pillar.

There was still the matter of their precious beasts that was very well within Orpheus' reach.

Deciding to pause mid-knitting, Lady Karina drew her friend's attention.

"Forgive me for bringing this matter into light when you are grieving, darling," Lady Karina started with an apologetic tone. "There is something important we must deal with."

Lady Drosera lifted her head up from the board game, her eyes bloodshot and weary from tears.

Lady Karina spoke in a hushed tone, wary of the fact that the Van Merikh knights may very well be lurking outside her chamber doors.

She explained the ripe opportunity of the upcoming harvest and her journey with Orpheus to recruit more labourers.

And depending on who the man allowed to remain behind to guard the Keep, it could be a chance for Lady Drosera to wander into the sanctuary of the beasts and move them to a safer location.

"Now you are the one speaking madness, Rina," Lady Drosera commented, her gaze bitter. "Where will we even move them to? Why do we not use them against Van Merikh and his men?"

"Because that has never been our way," Lady Karina remarked sternly, standing up from her rocking chair. "Moonveil's beasts were never born and bred to war."