In the Great hall of a slumbering castle a grandfather clock Chimes Midnight. Lord Tristian Grey lay sound asleep in a canopied four post bed ; His soft snores continued as the clock’s sound echoed on. The walls of his Great chamber were lined with Vibrant Red and Blue tapestries slowly moving in the breeze of an open window along the East side of the chamber. The largest and heaviest tapestry stood opposite his bed displaying a Large Blood Red Flaming Ring of fire positioned within the middle of the ring was a gold embroidered lion’s head. At the clock’s last chime of Midnight, the Man shifted in his sleep only to doze right back into a soundless slumber.

 

At that same Moment a shadowy figure slides through the halls of the castle, through the great hall until he found the room he was searching for. Pausing in the doorway of the sleeping man’s chamber just as the final chime comes to an end; His feet barely making a sound. The shadow of a man slips into the room, not until he reached the bed where Tristian lie asleep did a single sound emit from this ghost of a man. After confirming the man asleep is indeed Tristian Grey, the cloaked figure knocked lightly on the bedside table to awaken the sleeping Lord.

  

Slowly opening his eyes to peer up at the mysterious man standing above him. Jolting upright in his bed to look at the intruder hovering over him. The man was wearing all black covering every inch of his body including a dark hood casting his face into shadows making it impossible to see. The clocked man pulled out a letter from inside his robes and hands it to Tristian. The letter was written on thick parchment and sealed with Teal Blue wax imprinted with a unique crest.

  

Letter in hand, he began to ask the messenger who he was, but, before the Question could even form on his lips the hooded man was disappearing like a calm breeze through the doorway leaving nothing but the slight sway of tapestries behind him. Puzzled Tristian examined the letter a bit closer. A Wave of nostalgia washed over him as he ran his thumb across the blue seal, so much like the shade of blue on the tapestries lining the walls of his chamber. The crest stamped into the wax was one he’d never seen before. Yet, there was still so much familiarity to it. The memory of a beautiful woman in the castle’s garden tugged at the corners of his mind as he stared at the blue circle. A forgotten since of longing began to form within. It had been years since he’d thought about his missing wife, Vivien. The thought was far to painful after finding the clothes she was last seen wearing floating up the river near the castle. He had accepted her fate. After many years of pushing the painful memory deep down to be forgotten until now. Wondering what this letter had to do with his missing wife and who the mysterious man was that delivered it, Tristian began to carefully open the scroll with careful fingers. ‘The effort someone put in to making sure this letter was delivered unseen and specifically to me must make the contents of this letter of high importance’, he thought as he slowly unrolled and smoothed out the parchment. 

Tristian began to read:

 

My Dearest Tristian, 

It’s been so long. I hope the World is treating you well in my time away. I expect you have not forgotten me, for I have not forgotten you. I know it’s been years and for that I am very sorry. I had to do what I did, to protect myself and you. You will understand once we are reunited once more. I’m in grave need of your help in the Far Eastern Valleys. Please My Dear, meet me at the Labyrinth’s Inn in the city of Deadstar exactly one fortnight from when you receive this letter. I anticipate the moment I shall see you once more. Safe Travels My Love. 

P.s. I really hope Fermont did not scare you upon delivering this message. He can be quite intense at times. 

~V~

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The Letter was signed V. It had to be from Vivien who else could V be? Deep in thought he looks around his Chamber, eyes falling on the large tapestry centered opposite his bed. Gently Laying his hand at the bottom of the gold embroidery he decided to start packing to the journey. He called to his Chamber maid to gather the necessaries for the travel East.  

 

The trek to Deadstar is about a three days ride if the weather stays clear. Two tan horses with white scattered spots trotted up the gravel to the Lord waiting in the bailey. So lost in thought he did not notice the horse draw carriage until the coachman began speaking to him. The coachmen hopped down from the carriage and greeted his Lord “Good afternoon My Lord! Seems an odd time to be taking a trip don’t ya think?”  

Shaking his head to pull himself back out of his mind, He turned his attrition to the odd little man that would be joining him on this journey as his servant and driver. Tristian didn’t want to many people to join on this trip seeing that he had no idea what the East had in store for him. “And why would you say that?” 

“Well sir there’s a mighty big storm a brewin’ and it’d sure cause a lot of problems during travel to be caught in it” The man responded as he continued to ready the horses and carriage for travel. The little man finished up what he was doing and opened the carriage doors. “There ya are My Lord. Get Comfy because it’s sure to be a rocky ride with this storm.” Just as the man finished his sentence A loud roaring crash of thunder echoed throughout the realm. “My name’s Milo if ya need anything. I’ve got all the provisions needed plus a little extra due to the storm needed to get us to Deadstar.”  

 

As Milo began to close the Carriage doors, Tristian said a quick Thank You before falling back into his thoughts. Of course, there is a storm on the way. This journey couldn’t be a smooth one. Of course not. It was laughable to think that the trip to find his missing wife was going to be easy. With Vivien nothing was ever smooth. As images of Vivien, hooded figures, and Lighting swirled through his mind Tristian began to fall asleep. 

 

The carriage bounced along the rocky dirt road, while Tristian dozed in and out of sleep for almost a full day. Only to be woken up by Milo with his meals. The Sharp sound of thunder followed by the bright streak of lightening jolted Tristian awake. Through the sound of heavy rain, he could here Milo trying to calm the horses. The storm must be getting bad. We’re going to have to find someplace to settle for the night. It was a dark and gloomy sight out the carriage window, Thick dark Cumulonimbus clouds screamed out angry tears and loud wailing clashes of thunder followed by bight strikes of lightening illuminating the normally beautiful Rolling hills in the distance. Starting out at the invisible horizon longing for home; I haven’t seen a storm this bad in decades it’s as if the gods are screaming for help or for punishment.  

 

As a flash of lightening Zig Zags across the sky turning it a deep sea of purple and indigo, the pointed silhouette of a near by castle comes into view. Leaning out the window as rain pelts his face Tristian yells to Milo. “I saw a castle near by we better stop and see if we can take up shelter there for the night. This storm is to strong to keep going.” Milo soaked down to the bone yells back in agreement. His words not more than a mumbled bunch of sounds over the wailing winds of the storm.  

 

The Castle looked Ominous as it’s massive silhouette grew closer into view against the ever-darkening sky. Staring out the window, Tristian began to wonder who lived in this castle. Its very strange I’ve traveled this road may of times and I’ve never noticed this castle before. It is quite an extravagant castle. I surely would have noticed it on a clear day. Having made this journey countless time before Vivien’s disappearance. More memories began to swim into focus. The long trips with his loved Wife to visit he sister Lady Caterina. Unlike Vivien who was petite and quiet. Caterina was tall with luminous blonde hair down to her knees always kept in half up by a braid. She was ladylike but with a tough attitude. Perhaps these qualities are why she was chosen to marry the king Thettalos Taillard and not her sister. The thoughts of his missing wife produced a large range of mixed feelings within the lord. Best not think about these things now. There is still a two days ride till deadstar and the more pressing matter of riding out this storm in doors. I surely hope who ever lives here won’t mind a little company for the night. Tristian thought as the carriage entered the castle courtyard.  

 

Coming to a halt in front of large stone steps leading up to large oak wood doors centered with two large gold knockers. Tristian takes in just how massive this castle really is as his footstep echo throughout the hallow arched entrance as he quickly mounts the worn stone steps making his way to the shelter of the entrance way. Reaching the oak wooden doors, he gets a closer look at the gold door knockers responsible for creating the shimmering golden hue across the smooth surface of the wood. They were a very particular design on he had never set eyes on before. Each identical to the other, a full circle used as the actual knocker intertwined into the bottom two points of a five-point star, and a crescent moon cradled between them interloping through all but the top point of the star. Tristian was so intrigued in examining the detail of them he jumped when Milo began talking behind him.  

 

“I’m sorry, Sir. Did I startle you? Those are some crazy knockers don’t ya think? Almost scared to know with em.” The sentence came out in short huffed sentences because the short little man was hauling up some of the more important things from the carriage, so they didn’t get wet in the storm. It was quite a job due to the massiveness of the stone steps he had to climb. 

 

“Yes, they are very strange indeed, Milo. But, we shall knock. What sense is it to just stand uncomfortably in this cold entrance way.” Lifting the gold knocker as high as he could then letting it drop down onto the doors making a loud heavy clang. “Odd, I don’t think anyone is here.” Using all his strength Tristian pushed open the heavy wooden doors. With a heavy breath he managed to get the door open enough to walk through. “Phew! Who needs doors that heavy? It’s as if who ever lives here is trying to keep the world out. Or, something in…” The thought of some creature residing in the dark walls of this castle sent chills up his spine. 

 

“Let’s not think about spooky creatures living here, Sir. Not with this weather.” Tristian looked down at his companion, Milo was visibility shaking uncontrollably. “No need to worry yourself Milo. No one would waste a castle of this magnitude on some locked away creature.” Still Shaking Milo simply nodded.  

The stone castle looked as if it had stood empty for years. Dust clouds puffed around their feet with every step. The foyer was a short walk lined with maroon carpet. It was bared except two brass pots holding rose plants residing on each side of the hallway. Stepping into the light of a large fireplace on the far right-hand side of the great hall, Tristian took in his surroundings. Lining the left-hand side of the hall were large floor to ceiling length windows each one looked like a framed photo of the seemingly never-ending storm. Walking towards the warmth of the fireplace Tristian began to lay the outer layer of his clothes on a small engraved bench positioned in front of the hearth.  

 

The fire appeared almost magical with sparks of green and yellow glittering across the charred logs while flames of red and blue preformed a hypnotizing duet to the music of crackle and pop. Lost in the fires enchanting performance Tristian failed to hear the approaching man from the other side of the hall. If it wasn’t for Milo’s squeak of terror he would have stay trapped and warm in the fires embrace.  

Placing his hand on Milo’s shoulder for reassurance, Tristian saw the slim figure of a man storming towards them. The man had flowing chestnut brown hair down to his shoulders; Based on his sun kissed copper skin he wasn’t from around here. The crease between his eyebrows creating a very unwelcoming look grew deeper and deeper as he approached. “Who Are You?!?! and What Are You Doing in My Home?!?!” The man’s voice was much deeper than except each word coming out with foreboding authority. 

 

“I’m sorry, Sir. My name is Lord Tristian Grey, and this is my companion Milo. We are headed East when this storm rolled in. It is far to strong to try and ride through it. We happened across your castle and were wondering if you’d be so kind to permit us a night stay. We will be gone by first light.” Being the lord of the West Tristian expected this man to recognize him at any moment. But the man just stared at him in a questioning manner. A cold gust of wind blew in through the still cracked door chilling him down to the bone, or maybe it was the cold calculating look this stranger wore as he contemplated his answer. Regardless, of the reason Tristian did not want to be in this stranger’s piercing gaze any longer. 

 

Waiting for the man’s response Tristian began to observe the rest of the Great hall. The whole hall had charcoal colored stone floors. A large Dinning table stood the width of the wall containing the large windows. A few feet away from where they stood he noticed on both sides of the colossal fireplace a huge deep emerald velvet tapestry with the same symbol as the door knockers stitched onto the center, the simple appears to be a family crest of some sort. But, who’s? and who is this man? The longer they stood in Silence the more questions arose in Tristian’s mind.

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Still Editing some more. But this is a nice Sneak Peek!