Chapter 40: Chapter 40: We Discover a Threat From the Past

Today is definitely a day to get revelations, because I have a full stomach, stuffed with crumpets and jam and sausage and peppers. And tea and cider.

“My mother’s first husband is alive?”

Hans Lammermoor hugs Lightning so tightly that she squeals to get him to loosen his hold. Honestly, I don’t blame him. Right now, Lightning is the only family he really has, apart from the servants who love him.

I look directly into her eyes. [He needs you now.]

[PLEASE. You do not have to explain a bonded beast’s duty to me.] But Lightning softens and licks Hans’ face. He rubs his chin against her fur. [I will always be here for him. That…that…FEMALE he calls his mother has hurt him for the last time.]

My analytical mind puts the pieces together. [If he is still alive, maybe that is the reason Hans’ father stays away so much?]

Lightning lets out a full-throated growl. [I will kill her. I will at least claw her ridiculous gowns to shreds. Even Lobo does the bare minimum for her now. He is trapped.]

I grow in return. [Not for long. We need to get him to Mistress Minette.]

The System has a new task for me.

[NEW QUEST: Break Lobo’s beast bond with Lady Lammermoor and transfer it to Minette Riddlehoeven. +30 XP]

WHAT? That would almost help me level up and acquire Telepathy with Kaline. Of course, this happens to be my most dangerous quest yet! Crossing Lady Lammermoor is inviting death and destruction. But I want revenge so badly that I can taste it.

Kaline strokes Lightning’s fur. “Oh, Hans, I am so sorry.”

Hans is on the verge of exploding. “Sorry! Everyone’s sorry! Everyone pities me. And what has that ever done?”

My Kaline doesn’t take his anger personally. Vedette is nodding, her eyes flashing with outrage. She looks like she suspected all this. Maybe she’s picked up on hints from Minette and Lamant. Vedette is socially aware and observant, which is why she and Demos are such a perfect match.

“Easy, boy.” Niall sounds firm but sympathetic. “It will do no good to lose your head. Your parents’ mistakes are not on you. But you have a choice. And you have friends here.”

Hans hugs Lightning and stares off into the distance. “My mother is…well…I don’t understand this. Why would she conceal that her first husband is alive? Why would she work with him to steal beasts, when this is the worst thing that you can do in the beast taming world?”

Unthinking, Kaline blurts, “Because your father is–”

Vedette stomps on her foot. Hard. Gussie conveniently falls down and makes a great show of picking herself up. I chew on Kaline’s sleeve.

Hint taken. Finally. Kaline blushes, and massages her aching foot. “Oooh. My foot cramped.”

“It’s my furniture,” Niall confesses. “It’s not meant for humans.”

“Then we can sit on the floor.” Kaline slides down, holding me.

Going with the flow, Hans and Vedette sit on the floor too.

“What were you going to say, Kaline?” Hans prompts.

“Oh.” Kaline thinks fast. “I was going to say that your father must miss you very much.”

“Yes,” Vedette says, squeezing Kaline’s shoulder in approval. “When will he return?”

Hans’ eyes light up. “Interestingly, he mentioned in his last letter, before all this occurred, tat he might be back before the month is out. And back to stay for a while.”

“Oh, Hans!” Kaline’s squeal of joy warms my heart. “I hope he stays for a long time. Maybe he can finally make things right.”

Niall nods wisely. “If anyone can, he can. But in the meantime, Hans, you are the man of your house. Even if your mother holds the title and is mistress of your house, you are the sole heir. You are the future of your house.”

Demos gives an “uff.” [That is why he must never know that he is not Lord Lammermoor’s son. Kaline is a sweet girl, but she’s naive here. Hans must take over the house, otherwise his mother and her first husband will try to seize power.]

The intricacies of this whole situation make me think of medieval royalty and also the Medicis. [But they can’t do that, can they? It’s all about bloodline, isn’t it? Even if Lady Lammermoor is married to Lord Lammermoor, she’s a fraud. She’s probably still married to her first husband. Which would make her marriage to Lord Lammermoor a fraud.]

I was going to say “null and void,” but that sounds too much like my law student past.

[Exactly, cub. You’re getting it now.] Demos’ ears wiggle. [So, Hans wouldn’t be anyone’s heir if that comes to light. And the house would fall into scandal. It’s a fine house. Before all this happened, everyone respected them. Including our house. Yes, if their house disappears and Lady Lammermoor and her first husband take it over, they won’t be recognized by the beast tamers. So, it means one less competitor. But I’d rather have the noble House of Lammermoor, with its true lord and true heir, around to fight us, because beasts love fighting. Not mindless bloodsport, but fighting for victory. Fighting for survival. Fighting for honor.]

[Well, look at you, giving a speech like a human.]

But even as I say that, I’m full of pride. My buddy Demos is based. He understands what beast taming is all about. We are not slaves, or the equivalent of Roman gladiators forced to fight. We’re more like sumo wrestlers. Or racehorses bred to run. Or Klingons. Pick your analogy.

In the human world, the video game is set up so that the beasts are the stars. That’s why players get to play as the beasts. The idea that Viscount Rossa has, of liberating us, shows that he’s all about ego masquerading as justice. He doesn’t really care about the beasts. Exhibit A: his house is disgraced. Trust me, if they were successful, he wouldn’t be trying to “free” the beasts.

A thought strikes me.

[Hey, Demos…is Viscount Rossa related to Lady Lammermoor’s first husband?]

A pause. Demos scrunches his bear snout, thinking.

[Oooh, intrigue.] Gussie lives for this sort of thing. [Maybe he IS Lady Lammermoor’s first husband! The Rossa family is disgraced and no one’s seen them about in years, from what I’ve been hearing.]

Demos’ jaw snaps shut in shock. [GUSSIE! How did you figure that?]

I have to rein in my reaction. [It’s brilliant! Demos, you have to somehow tell Vedette.]

It makes sense, especially if you read Agatha Christie novels and short stories. Agatha Christie is the queen of surprises and disguises. Sometimes, the culprit is someone masquerading as a lord, a lady, a maid, a nurse, an average village man, and so on.

I lay out my law school logic, beast style. [It would be simple for Lady Rosabel’s first husband to disguise himself as Viscount Rossa when no one’s really seen the viscount in years.]

Demos rubs his nose against Vedette and stares into her eyes while minutes tick by. Vedette’s eyes pop, and she looks up. “Demos has just said the most interesting thing. Apparently, he got this flash of brilliance from Gussie and Blaze. Viscount Rossa could, in reality, be Lady Rosabel’s first husband. No one really sees anyone from the Rossa family these days.”

Niall whistles. “See, these beasts are to be cherished. They understand more than people do.”

Kaline hugs me and strokes Gussie’s wing. “I knew they’d figure it out.”

Hans scowls, looking like he might rage out of control, but Lightning burrows into him and refuses to budge. Sighing, Hans relaxes, releasing his aggression.

“If my mother has known about this all along, and if she conspired with ’Viscount Rossa’ to do these abominable things, then I want her exposed.”

Niall holds up a petite hand. “Patience, Young Master. Best to wait until your father has returned. You may be the man of the house, but your father is the legal master of the house, and everyone adores him. You will need his strength and moral character against such vile treachery. I am sorry to say that sort of thing about your mother.”

Hans’ face is a thunderstorm. “Since I hardly know my mother anymore after all of this, she seems like a stranger. That said, she is still the woman who gave me life, and I will not move against her. For now.”

Kaline leans her head on his shoulder. “You have us. And the servants of your house. And Lightning, most of all.”

Lightning gazes into Hans’ eyes with such adoration that I feel a flicker of jealousy, but I kill it. Hans needs her.

The System updates:

[New Quest: Unmask Lady Lammermoor and Viscount Rossa as the beast thieves. +20 XP]

That would help me level up completely! I have to do it. Interesting that this is worth less XP than getting Lobo away from Lady Lammermoor, but maybe that involves more magic. Or maybe, just maybe, Lobo is the key. He must know all of Lady Lammermoor’s secrets.

We have to save Lobo first!

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