All Chapters of House of Ash and Gold: Chapter 11
- Chapter 20
23 chapters
Chapter 11: The Scribe’s Book
After the silent oath, Cael kept to himself for two days. He still took his usual place at meals and showed up at the practice yard when called, but otherwise he vanished into the quieter corners of the house.On the morning of the third day, Edric summoned him without looking up from his own plate."You're useless with a blade and too soft for the yard," Edric said. "Fine. Go sit with Master Renn and learn something worth earning your keep. If you can count, at least you'll be less of a disgrace."That was all, no explanation or room to refuse.Cael didn't argue. In fact this worked perfectly for his own plans.He only nodded once and rose while Jorlan snorted into his cup.By the time he reached the scribe's counting room, Master Renn was already hunched over a ledger, quill scratching. He didn't even glance up when Cael arrived."Sit," Master Renn muttered after a long pause, still writing. "If you're going to waste my air, boy, at least keep your hands off the ledgers until I tell
Chapter 12: Humiliation at the Yard
The hum still lingered in his chest the next few days, like a low thread of music no one else could hear.It carried him through the days' morning meal, through the dry barbs Jorlan tossed across the table about "soft hands" and "quills where his sword should be." Even when his father's voice cut the room. "We'll see if you've grown enough muscle to stand on your own feet now."When Edric rose, he only pointed toward the yard."Today," he said flatly. "We'll find out if all that scribbling has made you any sharper."And that was that.Cael swallowed his last mouthful of bread, pushed back from the bench, and followed Edric into the yard.The cold air stung his cheeks. The sun had only just cleared the ridge, but already the clang of steel rang from the practice circle, loud enough to draw servants to the windows and a few idle guards to the fence.Jorlan stood in the yard already waiting.A padded jack was laced tight over Jorlan's shirt, the cords pulled almost to snapping. Steel bra
Chapter 13: The Broken Blade
The yard was quiet at night. Too quiet for a place that bore so much noise by day.Cael eased the door shut behind him, muffling the faint creak with the edge of his sleeve. The moon hung low over the ridge, spilling just enough light across the packed dirt of the training circle to see without a torch. He pulled the practice blade from where he'd hidden it under the fence and stepped into the ring.The air was cold enough to sting his lungs, but it didn't slow him. It woke him.He rolled his shoulders, shook the stiffness from his arms, and planted his feet in the center of the circle.Here we go again.The past three nights had blurred together, all of them like this. And yet he came back every time, because each night he could feel himself… changing.He began slow at first, moving through the drills Matilde had taught him long ago. The sword still felt heavy, but not nearly as bad as it had that first morning in the yard with Jorlan. That morning, the blade had dragged his arms dow
Chapter 14: The Starlet’s Spark
Frost still clung to the stones when Cael woke before dawn.His body ached, not the raw ache of overuse but something more dull and satisfying. He dressed quietly, pulling his heavier tunic over his head and lacing his boots.The Veil still hovered at the edge of his mind, as it had every night since showing him the shimmer in the yard. No longer just a curiosity, it was part of him now. But this morning, he didn't go to the yard.Instead, he cut through the narrow servants' walk, past the kitchens where the scent of baking bread hung thick in the air. His boots scraped faintly against the flagstones as he passed under the arch toward the stables.Jorlan would still be asleep. Good.Better to keep his brother from noticing where he spent these odd morning hours.The stable smelled of hay, dung, and damp leather. Horses shuffled in their stalls, snorting clouds into the cold.And there he was.The boy.Thin, all narrow shoulders and awkward limbs, hair the color of dirty straw. He was
Chapter 15: The Business of Wheat
The scent of parchment and ink always clung to the scribe's tower.Cael was beginning to like it.He climbed the narrow stair two at a time, the quiet murmur of voices drifting down toward him. Just short of the landing, he stopped, pressing his palm on the wall to listen.Two men. Not the scribes, their voices were rougher and sounded like merchants."…told you the crop would fail," one said, sharp with irritation. "Frost came too early and the rain too late. They say it's worse in Dorvale, whole fields blackened before harvest.""And?" the second replied, calmer. "That's why we raise the price. Supply dwindles, price rises. Common sense."Cael narrowed his eyes."Common sense?" the first scoffed. "You say that now, but the merchants' guild is already sniffing around. Two of their men were in Alne last week, promising cheap foreign grain. If they manage to undercut us once, we're finished."The second man exhaled through his nose before speaking. "If they do bring in foreign grain, w
Chapter 16: The Heir and the Thorn
The Varissen banners hung limp in the courtyard, their colors dulled by dust and too many summers.Cael stood to one side of the gathered household, hands clasped behind his back, watching the gate.They'd spent the morning polishing the flagstones and brushing down the horses outside. Inside, the maids had cleaned the sconces and scattered fresh straw on the floor. But nothing could hide how worn the place looked, especially today.A hush settled as the gates opened and the Drevane banners moved into view, vivid against the weathered walls.Three carriages, lacquered deep and edged in brass, rolled forward in perfect sequence. Behind them rode six guards in matching cloaks, their horses well-groomed with tack glinting in the late sun.The first carriage stopped. A rider swung down, barked an order and as if rehearsed, the servants rushed forward to open doors and lower steps.The woman who emerged first didn't rush.Her gown was a muted gold that caught light in subtle flashes as she
Chapter 17: The Weight of the Yard
The morning was clear but cold, the kind of cold that seeped through even a padded jacket and lingered in the joints.Cael stood just inside the archway of the training yard for a long moment before stepping out, breathing in the damp air and the faint smell of dust and sweat.The yard was already alive. Squires striking at posts. Guards crossing blades. Servants carrying buckets to and fro between the barracks and the well.He folded his hands behind his back and took his usual place near the fence. Nobody noticed him which worked better according to his ideas.Her words still lingered.Your bloodline is cursed. It clings to things best left buried... Magic, isn't it?He exhaled slowly, watching two guards sparring in the sand. The word magic burned in his mind.Coming to think of it, what did she see? What did he see?The Veil shimmered faintly at the edge of his sight, threads stretching like spiderwebs across the yard, impossible to shut out completely.He blinked and they dimmed.
Chapter 18: Lessons at the Hearth
Cael hesitated outside the door. The faint smell of smoke drifted under the wood, mingling with something else — wine, most probably. From within came faint scratching of a quill and the soft rustle of parchment. He straightened his sleeve and then knocked."Enter," Edric called, his voice low and unhurried.The desk was covered in neatly stacked ledgers, ink pots, and seals. Behind it, his father glanced up briefly before returning to the page in front of him."So," he murmured, almost to himself, "the old man finally got you worked up enough to come knocking." Edric's tone was mild, almost bemused.Cael blinked at that. He stepped inside and let the door latch click shut behind him. He hadn't expected his father to sound… almost amused. He swallowed the first reply that came to mind."I thought it was time I spoke with you," Cael said.Edric's eyes flicked up again, eyes narrowing slightly. Not angry but more like sizing him up. His mouth curved faintly, and he leaned back in his ch
Chapter 19: First Steps and Tournament Stakes
The pouch in his sleeve weighed more than the coin inside. It felt more like acknowledgement, a sort of test, and a warning all in one.Don't disgrace yourself in the tournament.His father's voice was still clear in his head.In the Southern Duchy, tournaments were no idle sport. Every two years, the Duke of Leth hosted the Tournament of Rethmar — part spectacle, part proving ground. To the crowd it was entertainment, but to the noble houses it was reputation, money, and power decided in the open.Victors earned prestige, favors, and sometimes direct offers from wealthier houses. Defeat brought mockery, and repeated defeat carved deep wounds in a house's reputation.For House Varissen, once spoken of for its fighting strength, the tournament was more than a spectacle, it was a chance to prove they were still dangerous.The last time they had competed, they'd been eliminated on the first day. A second embarrassment would brand them as weak beyond recovery, while a strong showing could
Chapter 20: Grain Secured, Shadows Cast
They left the hamlet at dusk with the storehouse sealed, the Varissen crest cooling on wax across every sack. The old mill path led them back to the main road under a pale moon.Hoofbeats sounded ahead. There were four riders. Two wore the guild's copper sun on their cloaks, a tallyman was between them and a hired spear riding last.The lead rider lifted a hand. "Halt. We're bound for the south hamlet to assess spoilage and purchase grain under the guild tariff."Cael reined in beside Tarren, calm. "You're late. The stock is already under noble claim."The tallyman frowned. "Under whose authority?"Cael nodded to Tarren, who produced a folded slip bearing Varissen wax. “House Varissen,” Cael said evenly. "The seal has been applied, the witnesses have signed, and the reeve’s mark taken. Under guild law, a noble claim stands unless you can prove theft or tampering."The hired spear eased forward. "We can open and inspect.""Not without breaking our seal," Cael said. "That's a court matt