Alfred fell asleep in his mother's arms that night, as he often had when he was younger. When he woke, she tried to figure out what was wrong. He told her it was stress. She didn’t pry any further.
His mother was a blessing to this house. He would do everything he could to protect her. That was why he chose not to tell her about his discoveries. Either she had no idea, and she might endanger herself in trying to find out, or she did know. Alfred refused the acknowledge the latter.
A few hours later, he found Victor by the kennels. He was hand-feeding an old dog in a separate cage. The younger dogs jumped and barked in excitement as he approached. Filthy animals. Victor didn’t notice him. Torment twisted his face.
“Victor,” Alfred said. Victor scratched the old dog behind the ear and turned to him.
“Oh, hey Al.” His voice was oozing sorrow. He sighed. “Listen, bro. I don’t think Bear is going to last much longer. He’s in pain. We’re going to have to… Do you want to say goodbye?” Bear was Victor's childhood dog. Alfred knew he was given the pup when he turned six. Making the dog… almost twenty? That was impressive. Alfred, too, was gifted a dog when he was six. But he didn’t care for such things. Still, he felt obligated to visit him now and then.
His pup, Althae, was named after an elven scholar. He was the one leaping the highest. He smiled at the dog and scratched it through the kennel. Slobber covered his hand. Then he patted Bear on the head, who half-heartedly licked him as well.
“He lived a good life, Victor. You have treated him well. I… am sorry. I know he meant a lot to you.” Alfred wiped the slobber on the grass. Victor sniffed, then wiped a tear from his eye.
“Thanks, Al. Come her.” Victor pulled him into a half-hug. Alfred didn’t resist, but he stiffened.
“Vic- Brother. I think…” Alfred braced himself. This was a good excuse, but he didn’t like manipulating people. It was too easy and always left him feeling ashamed. But, he needed to talk to Victor alone. “I think we need to clear your mind. Bear deserves a good last meal. Fresh rabbit.”
“Are you saying what I think you are?” Victor had a glimmer of hope in his eye. It broke Victor’s heart, but he pushed on.
“Will you show me how to hunt, Brother?” Alfred prepared himself. Victor whooped loudly.
“Right now? Yeah, ok, let’s… oh man, I’m so happy right now. Let’s get ready!” Victor jumped in the air, ran off, and beckoned Alfred to follow. Victor spent too much time with the hounds, it seemed. Alfred couldn’t help but smile. Victor’s enthusiasm was infectious.
Minutes later, Victor had tracked down Travis.
“Travis! Friend, I need you to do me a favor.” Victor had an arm around Alfred. Alfred gave him a friendly wave.
“What can I do for you, son? Oh, hey, Al.”
“Listen, we are going hunting. Rabbit, for old Bear’s last meal.”
“You two are good men. Don’t worry, Vic. I’ll pass on the word. Folk will understand.” Travis slowly, but smoothly, pulled Alfred aside. “Al, you’re doing a good thing. Vic’s been wanting this for a long, long time. Have fun.” While Alfred’s father was away, Victor tended to the business of running the Manor. He was willing to drop that to spend a few hours in the wilderness with Alfred. He wasn’t sure if it was commendable or not.
Two hours later, they were alone in the wilderness. They found a place to rest a mile from their destination, a good spot for hunting rabbit.
“I am really happy you came out here with me. Thanks.” Victor took a swig from his flask.
“It… is past due,” Alfred replied.
“Listen, bro. I know… we’re only half brothers. You know that. That doesn’t matter to me. We are brothers, purer than full-blood. Brothers hunt together.” Victor handed him the water flask. Alfred took it. He was never comfortable with his brother's… forward affection. It never clicked for him. It was loud and illogical. Almost alien to him.
“I… thank you. It truly means the world to me. I am loved… by you. By my mother-“
“Our mother. She’s mine too, part of the family.” Victor said without hesitation. This world didn’t deserve him.
“Our mother. I know you’ve been wanting me to get closer. To open up. It’s just difficult.”
“Listen, we all need our time. I’m sorry for being so… pushy.”
“No, you are right. I should be more social. I find it hard to trust people. I never know how they will treat me. As a child, a rival, an investment. Even a threat to their ego. I have seen them all.” Alfred said. He was sincere. This must be why Victor was so set on the hunt. To get away from everything and to just… be. It was much easier to be honest with yourself when only the squirrels watched. Victor moved to eye level.
“Listen, Al. You can always trust me. And Mom, Travis, Laoise, Wesley… we are a team. A family, in spirit if not name.” He gave Alfred a serious note. His eye twitched slightly and he added, “Dad… too.” Alfred began to tear up. This wasn’t the plan. He wasn’t supposed to make what he was about to do hurt more.
“Thank you. Victor… I… I need to tell you something.” Alfred hesitated. Victor only waited. How would he react? Victor was strong, but also emotional. He took a deep breath. “I found your mother.”
For a long moment, no one said anything. Alfred looked at Victor. He wore his shock and confusion plain on his face.
“What?” There was so much packed into that question, that Alfred could hardly parse it all.
“I had to tell you… out here. I’m sorry.” Alfred said. Victor stumbled back and landed on his rear.
“Are you sure… how?” Victor knew Alfred wasn’t a trickster, prankster, or liar. He took him seriously every time they spoke. Alfred could see Victor's world spin around him. “What?”
“I’m sorry,” Alfred whispered. Victor scrambled towards him and grabbed his hands.
“Al, what are you talking about? It’s been twelve years. This is impossible.” Victor's voice shook.
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“I’ll show you. But, you cannot tell anyone. Not until we know what’s going on. Back at the Manor.”
“The Manor… okay. Alright. Let’s go.”
They jogged back to the manor but had to take a break sometime later. Alfred wasn’t used to exercise. Victor looked as though he had too much energy to burn. Out of nowhere, he strung, nocked, and fired his bow in one motion. With a faint squeak, the arrow hit its mark. A rabbit. Well, at least they did get Bear’s final meal after all.
When the manor was in view, Alfred slowed them down.
“Victor, here is what we need to do. Trust me on this. We just came back from the hunt. We are sweaty and dirty. We will indulge in the baths. We won’t actually bathe.”
“Why the secrecy? What’s going on?”
“You need to see it for yourself. Just trust me.” Alfred told him. Victor looked at him in the eye. He nodded.
“Should we… maybe bring someone else?” Victor was hinting at something unspoken. Neither brother distrusted their father. But he wasn’t exactly an open book. There were also rumors from the Brine War. He never listened to those rumors.
“Travis. I think we can trust him.”
A short time later, they found the woodsman napping in a Travis-sized nook in a tree. A favorite spot of his. Victor convinced him to come with one serious glance.
They came across his mother on their way to the bath.
“Oh, hey boys! I heard you went out! Did you have fun?” She asked them. Victor had a strange look in his eye.
“We did, Mother, but now we’re heading to the bath, is it available.”
“It is, but Laoise is I’ll. I can get one of the girls to fill it for you?”
“It’s fine, Mom. Just means we get more time to bond.” Victor had recovered and flashed her a smile. She beamed at them.
“Have fun! But not too much fun, don’t be late for dinner.”
A short time later, the three of them were in the bath. Water was heating in the boiling room, to keep up appearances. Alfred made sure to get them each a candle.
“What’s this about, Al?” Victor asked him.
“Wait, we’re not taking a bath?” Asked Travis.
“We are not.” Replied Alfred. He walked to the secret door and opened it. Travis and Victor blinked. Then Victor nodded slowly. “Did you know about this?”
“I did, sort of.” Victor sighed. “I knew there were secrets here. A secret way into Father's library. I just didn’t know where it was.” Victor had a troubled look on his face.
“I didn’t.” Added Travis.
“Come on.” Alfred led them into the secret passage.
They traveled through the dark passage, not saying a single word. When they arrived at the stairs, Alfred gestured forward.
“Down there. Make your conclusions. I… hope they are not the same as mine.”
He let them lead. The prisoner was silent. His jaw opened and closed as if trying to speak. He was too stiff. Travis didn’t say much, but he observed. He was a witness. Another voice, in case this went wrong. Alfred couldn’t bring himself to follow Victor and Travis further.
A tear fell down Alfred’s cheek when he heard Victor's sobs. Travis came back sometime later.
“He’s… he’s going to need a moment,” Travis said. Alfred nodded. When Victor came back, his eyes were sunken. He had a dark scowl on his face.
“Let’s get out of here. We need to… figure this out. Come on, my room is pretty quiet.”
When they made their way back to the secret door, it was closed. Alfred made sure to keep it slightly ajar. Someone knew they went down there.
Victor’s knee jumped up and down as he sat on his bed. His hands were clasped together in front of his face. Travis stood, and Alfred was seated in a chair.
“What are we going to do?” Travis asked. “That was… that wasn’t right.”
“I don’t know. We need to talk to Dad… or go to the king. I don’t know.” Victor said, a tad frantically.
“That was twelve years ago… how long has this been going on?” Alfred asked.
“I, uh, well…” Travis said. “Let’s just say, I burn a lot more wood than I cut. Always have. Never questioned it.” They were all quiet for a while.
“Do you think mom knows?” Alfred ventured.
“No.” Victor snapped. “That’s impossible. She couldn’t.”
“I saw the prisoners. In a black carriage, at night.”
“Father’s deliveries. He gets them every year or so. But… the one time I saw them he told me it was alchemical supplies. Nothing to worry about. I didn’t see what came out of it.” Victor said.
“I go home, at night. I didn’t know.” Travis added. He lived in a small cottage not far from the manor. “But, I have seen the black carriage.”
“Maybe… he’s trying to cure her?” Victor suggested. “Like, maybe she got a weird tree curse and he’s, I don’t know, testing ideas?”
“Maybe,” Alfred said. “The question is-” There was a knock at the door.
“Not now,” Victor called. The door opened anyway. Wesley poked his head in.
“Apologies, but your mother is asking about you two. She baked a pie.”
“Wesley, good. We need to ask you-” Victor began but Alfred kicked him in the shin and shook his head sharply. Wesley knew too much. If anyone knew about the secrets of this place, it was him. “Nothing. We will be down in a moment. Thank you.” When Wesley left, he whispered, “Let’s talk about it later. Father should be home tomorrow morning. Meet me in the garden tonight.” Their father had gone to Vocaunt to attend a funeral. Someone he fought with in the war.
Dinner was… awkward. They ate together, which was a rare occurrence. Their mother tried to start conversation, but it always died down. She could read the room well enough to not push. The pie was a delicious rhubarb pie, though it was slightly doughy in the center. It was clear she was doing this for Alfred. To keep pushing him out of his shell.
He loved her for it, but the timing was inconvenient.
After thanking her for the pie, he retired to his room. He needed to think.
His father was clearly experimenting on people with alchemical infusions. He had the alchemy skill from his family name, a gift from the king along with the deed to this land, but he didn’t know much about it. Infusion sounded like a horrible experience. Based on the state of the prisoners, it was a death sentence. And Victors mother… she had undergone the same process.
The worst thoughts danced slowly in his head. He was slowly perfecting this process. Getting closer and closer to… something. The changes to the prisoners were not as extreme as Victors mother. She had become a full sized tree. The others will still human sized.
That and alchemy tended to vary wildly from both alchemist and imbiber. Two alchemists using the same process and ingredients still made different potions. He didn’t know how it worked, but would one day.
They had two choices. Confront their father first, and get his story, or go to the king and get the law involved. Neither solution was good. If his father was innocent, the king may not see that. If he was sacrificing people and was confronted… he was willing to turn his first wife into a tree. Would he be willing to do the same here? And if he was tipped off and ran, that would leave the manor without a lord. There were too many factors to consider.
He worked on his spells until he felt it was time, then went for the door. It didn’t open. He checked his lock, but it was unlocked. He tried again. It didn’t budge. It felt as though the door was locked or barred. He had never been locked in, even as a child in trouble.
He kicked and knocked at the door, yelling for help.
“Young master?” Came a voice. Wesley. Alfred’s stomach dropped.
“Wesley. I demand you open my door.”
“I am afraid I cannot do that, sir. Recent events have… led to misunderstandings. Please wait tight until your father gets home.”
“WESLEY, open the door. You are risking your job.”
“Get some rest, young master. Your father will speak to you soon. You will understand everything.”
Alfred continued to kick and demand. But, it was no use. He cast his force spell and the door didn’t budge. It wasn’t powerful enough.
He took a calming breath, then sat down. He needed to work through this logically. There was a solution. He just had to find it.
Alfred
True Name: Alfred Varnsach [Family name, Skill Alchemy]
Soul: Mortal
Genseed: Human [ 3 Str, 3 Dex, 3 Con, 3 Int, 3 Wil, 3 Cha; Standard Size]
[Class] Level: 3
Attributes (0/3):
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 5
Constitution: 5
Intelligence: 10
Will: 5
Charm: 5
Feats:
Knowledge: System Knowledge
Knowledge: Fledgling Mage
Act: Vile Concoction
Act: Devotion [layered feats]
Skills (0/4):
System Aptitude: 1 [Source: System Knowledge]
Alchemy: 1 [Source: Varnsach family name]
Attribute Boost: Intelligence (+2)
Spell Craft: 1
Construct Capacity: 1
Copy Construct: 1
Pause Construct: 1
Notable Natural Skills:
Research: Apprentice
Biotraits (0/0):
Disease Resistance [Source: Vile Concoction]
Known Magical Components:
Engines: Force, Control, Sense
Drives: Efficiency
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