Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 38: 38. Betrayal Pt 1

Read chapter 38 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

38. Betrayal Pt 1 I am Gavin, 29 years old, Captain of the Royal Guard of Arcadia. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/0c350be4-57f7-44d5-b0f3-fb035934c42b TAP TAP TAP I’m just about to head out for work, having finished my morning routine, when a sharp knock at the front door draws my attention. I approach the door with mild annoyance. Whoever it is wasn’t expected, and now they’re at risk of making me late. I unbolt and swing the door open and— SMACK. The moment the door opens, a gloved hand thrusts something toward my face—a metal disc with a yellow crystal embedded in its center. I barely register it before instinct takes over and I swat the object away. My strike knocks both the disc and the hand holding it into the doorframe with a dull thud . With the obstruction gone, I finally see the owner of the hand: a man in a dark, hooded cloak. It’s the kind of obvious getup that shady nobles mistakenly think grants them anonymity, while completely ignoring that it makes them look like someone clearly up to no good. The stranger barely has time to register the pain in his hand before drawing it back with an “Ouch!” and cradling it, and groaning through his gritted teeth. By then, I’ve already drawn the mithril dagger from my belt and leveled it at his throat. “What is this?” I snap, irritated by both the rude intrusion and the creeping sense that this stranger is about to throw off my entire day. “Argh! Relax, ruddy hell, boy… it’s me—your father.” The man pulls back his hood, revealing the very unwelcome face of my estranged father, Lord Cromwell. My temper flares. This is the man who cast me out of his family for the crime of outshining my older brother. And now here he is, knocking on my door like it’s the most natural thing in the world—as if he wasn’t the one who once screamed that I should never darken his doorstep again. And yet, here he is. Darkening mine . “What do you want, Lord Cromwell?” I ask, loading the title with as much venom as I can muster. “Put the weapon away and invite me in, son,” he says, eyeing the blade hovering inches from his face. “I’m your son now?” I raise an eyebrow. “No.” “Gavin, how can you still be angry with me? I only did what was best for the domain.” He tries to sidestep the blade, but it moves with him. “I heard your domain’s population has been dropping nine percent year over year.” “The domain has just been shedding dead weight, son. Unproductive peasants, nothing more,” Cromwell says, trying to sound dismissive while still shifting uncomfortably before the dagger pointed at his jugular. “I also heard you took a loan from the Royal coffers. And that you requested a deferral on your tax payments this year.” I tisk sardonically and shake my head slightly. “Doesn’t sound like things are going too well for ya, My Lord .” As much as I hate him, I have still always wished the best for the people of the lands I grew up in, and have maintained a steadfast curiosity about their status ever since I left— was made to leave . It helps that I happen to be friends with the King’s master of coin—a man with perhaps less discretion than he should have. From what he’s told me, the Kingdom’s finances are in dire straits thanks to some highly questionable expenses from Lord Fobos and a handful of domains running extreme deficits. “It’s about a threat to the Kingdom,” Cromwell says, trying to sound serious, but merely coming across as whiny. “Invite me in.” “Then take it to the King. He’s the one I answer to. Not you.” “The King has been compromised, Gavin!” he blurts, more frantic than I’ve ever seen him. He’s clearly under tremendous stress, but it doesn’t spark any sympathy. If anything, it makes me smile, just a little. “Compromised... how?” I ask, unimpressed as I finally return my dagger to my belt. My hands are more than capable of dealing with anything he could possibly muster, and they would make far less of a mess than the blade would. “He’s under a mind control spell. A powe