THE EXILED LORD

The Grimstone Quarry was a land of exiles, a place where men were discarded like trash, left to rot under the merciless sun.

Thieves, traitors, murderers and all sorts of filth found its way here.

Some had lost everything, others had never had anything to begin with. Still yet there were those like Elliot Grant who were once powerful but now reduced to nothing.

Elliot, once one of the wealthiest businessmen in Cinderfall City, now stood, his head bowed before a towering figure, his knees covered in dust.

His expensive suits were long gone, replaced with rags that reeked of sweat and shame.

“Lord Luca Ashford ,” he whispered, his voice trembling as he spoke, “I have completed my punishment. The quarry’s toilets… I scrubbed them all, my Lord, please, have mercy, forgive me.”

The man he spoke to was none other than Luca Ashford, he sat in an old chair carved from stone, one leg lazily crossed over the other.

His piercing gaze locked on Elliot with cold amusement, the mere sight of him made grown men tremble.

“You put sugar in my tea, Elliot .” Luca Ashford’s voice was calm, almost lazy, as though talking was too tiring for him, he continued; “Did I ever ask for sugar?”

Elliot flinched on hearing this, still trembling he uttered; “I… I thought it would improve the taste, my Lord.”

Luca Ashford exhaled, eyes narrowing. “Did I ever ask or complain that it wasn't up to my taste?”

Elliot’s entire body shook as he bowed lower. “No, my Lord.”

Before Luca Ashford could say another word or give a verdict, a quarry worker burst into the chamber, panting heavily.

“My Lord! It’s Night Stalker and Skull Crusher… they’re fighting again! No one dares to intervene or stop them!”

The silence that followed was suffocating because those two names alone sent chills through every worker in the quarry.

Night Stalker and Skull Crusher, well their strength was monstrous, their savagery unmatched in the entire quarry, only one man was their nemesis, other than him they feared no soul.

Luca Ashford rose from his chair calmly, his movement was slow and deliberate, yet it carried dominance and command, it was like the storm had awakened.

“Let’s go see them, now shall we?” he muttered.

*****

The quarry workers had gathered in a wide circle, forming a shaky perimeter around the angry brawling criminals.

Blood stained the ground as they were both engaged in a serious fight.

Night Stalker, who was a mountain of muscle with jagged scars, had his massive hands wrapped around Skull Crusher’s throat.

Skull Crusher, on the other hand was lean yet wicked, he had buried a makeshift dagger into Night Stalker’s side which made the scene even more bloody.

The fight should have been a spectacle for everyone present there, instead, horrid fear gripped every man in the crowd simply because Luca Ashford had arrived.

He stopped in the center of the ring, arms crossed, his gaze was stern and commanding.

“The both of you… three days on the flagpole.”

A collective shudder ran through the crowd.

The flagpole was the highest point in the quarry pointing directly to the harsh sun, there was no shade, no food, no water.

Three days up there was a death sentence for most men.

Night Stalker and Skull Crusher turned, their bloodshot eyes meeting Luca Ashford ’s.

“You can’t be serious,” Skull Crusher growled loudly.

Luca Ashford smirked and said; “Would you rather fight me instead? It’s been three months since I’ve had a good warm-up.”

Hearing this, Night Stalker’s lips curled back into a smile, his fists loosened, Skull Crusher, on the other hand despite his rage, stepped back.

Then, in unison, they both forced the most pitiful, forced smiles imaginable.

“We’ll take the punishment,” Night Stalker muttered.

Luca Ashford didn’t reply, he merely turned and walked away.

The crowd dispersed instantly, knowing better than to linger around, for fear they might get punished too.

Luca Ashford stepped into his office, but the moment he did, he felt the presence of someone who didn’t belong there.

A woman stood near his desk, her back to him, examining the only relic of his past which was a ceremonial blade resting on the wall.

When she turned, for the first time in a long time, Luca Ashford felt the faintest hint of nostalgia (yearning for home).

The young woman was none other than Marina Ward.

The nation’s strongest female warrior, and the pride of the Ward family.

A woman as sharp as the sword she wielded, she looked vibrant and beautiful even with less effort.

“You’ve changed, Luca Ashford,” she said, crossing her arms.

Luca Ashford closed the door behind him and said;

“You’re far from home, Marina. What do you want?”

Marina’s emerald eyes gleamed with contempt as she retorted; “I am here to break off our engagement.”

There was silence and then laughter, it was cold and empty.

“I figured as much.” Luca Ashford walked past her, pouring himself a glass of wine. “Go ahead.”

Marina frowned, expecting resistance, perhaps even a hint of sorrow, but there was nothing, just apathy, no emotions.

“That’s all you have to say?” she asked.

Luca Ashford swirled the wine in his glass and uttered; “Were you expecting me to beg?”

Marina clenched her fists and blurted out;

“The moment you were exiled here, you became nothing. I have no interest in marrying a discarded man.”

Luca Ashford chuckled without the slightest bit of interest in her words, he uttered; “Then we’re in agreement.”

For a moment, Marina hesitated. She had expected a reaction or at least some form of resistance.

Instead, Luca Ashford made her feel… insignificant.

“Goodbye, Luca.” Her voice was sharper now, as if she were trying to convince herself she had won.

She turned and walked away, but Luca Ashford didn’t bother to watch her leave, he just sat there sipping his wine with no care in the world.

As soon as Marina left, a letter arrived for him.

The envelope bore a symbol Luca Ashford recognized instantly, it was the emblem of Space Company.

His eyes darkened, Dorian Ashford was the one who sent the letter, but why?

Upon opening it, he found out that the letter was brief, and every word carried weight.

Luca Ashford, it is time for you to return to Cinderfall City. You are to marry Amelia Thornton .

Luca Ashford ’s grip on the letter tightened.

‘Marriage? This should be interesting.’ He thought.

And to think he was just missing home.

A slow smirk spread across his lips, for the first time in years, his exile had come to an end.