Chapter 61 - Aftermath

Chapter 61: 61 - Aftermath

The Healer pressed two fingers against Adrien’s ribs and immediately found the spot that made him suck in a breath. "That one," Adrien muttered as faint mana gathered around her fingertips.

"I noticed. Two cracked ribs, heavy bruising, and enough internal swelling that you should avoid doing anything stupid for at least a day." The woman sounded too calm.

Margaret stood nearby with her arms folded. "I’m surprised you managed to stay on your feet against someone like Gaspard."

"They say I’m difficult to kill." Adrien coughed into his fist and felt another stab of pain through his side. "I’m starting to think people are taking that as a challenge."

Margaret murmured something under her breath. Adrien’s Draconic Senses caught every word anyway.

"Princess Margaret, I heard that." He turned toward her, and she looked mildly surprised.

"I said being difficult to kill doesn’t mean you need to keep testing the theory."

"Fair." Adrien adjusted his position carefully. "Though, honestly, I’m more surprised you’re here. I expected Vikir to reach someone in Valebrand. I didn’t expect you to come all the way to Greymoor."

Margaret looked slightly pleased with herself. "Then you should probably thank me. Your soldier wasn’t getting very far with those documents before I found him."

Vikir gave a respectful nod. "Her Highness intervened before the officials could take them from me, my lord. Without her, reaching the Crown Prince would’ve been difficult."

Adrien looked back at Margaret. "Then you have my thanks, Your Highness. Sincerely."

Margaret accepted that before looking toward Ariane.

"I’m glad you’re alright. From what Vikir told me, you’ve had a worse few days than most." Ariane seemed caught off guard.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I was luckier than I probably should’ve been." Before Margaret could answer, Evelyne appeared from the western defenses.

There was dirt across one sleeve, but her attention went directly to Adrien. "How bad is it?"

"Painful, but manageable," the Healer replied. "Two cracked ribs, several bruises, and some internal swelling. He should recover well as long as he rests and doesn’t get hit by another Five-Star today."

Evelyne exhaled. "Good. That’s better than I expected after seeing you go through that barricade."

Adrien looked offended. "That’s all I get? I survive Gaspard twice and your reaction is ’good’?"

"You are alive, conscious, and still arguing with me, so yes, I’m satisfied." Evelyne’s expression softened. "Once I’m sure the fighting is over, I’ll have time to worry properly."

Aurelian approached from the royal line a few moments later, and Evelyne straightened. "Your Highness. House Clairmont owes the Crown its thanks for arriving when you did."

Aurelian stopped at a respectful distance. "From what I’ve seen, another few minutes would’ve made those thanks considerably less useful."

"Probably," Evelyne admitted. "Still, you came." Aurelian seemed to hear the weight behind those words.

"I did." Aurelian gave a slight nod. "We can discuss everything else after the wounded have been seen to."

Garrick arrived before the conversation could go further, his armor scratched and blood marking his face.

"How bad was it?" Adrien asked.

"Seven dead confirmed. Nineteen wounded badly enough to need a Healer or several days in bed, and another twenty-six with lighter injuries." Garrick paused. "The western defenses are nearly gone, two prepared positions were lost, and the Wardens are almost empty."

Adrien glanced toward the broken road. "But Greymoor held."

"It did." Garrick’s tired expression eased slightly. "Another half hour and I can’t promise I’d be giving you the same report."

Around them, the Royal Guard had already started bringing order back to the battlefield. Arquenay officers were separated from ordinary soldiers, manifested weapons and armor were dismissed into Inventories, while normal weapons were stacked under guard.

Names, Paths and ranks were recorded one by one. Aurelian raised his voice enough for both sides to hear him.

"Anyone who manifests a weapon from this point forward will be treated as hostile. The wounded will still receive treatment, but everyone else remains under Crown custody until their involvement has been reviewed."

Nobody argued. With Gaspard defeated and Royal Guards surrounding them, there was nothing worth arguing about.

A few minutes later, Gaspard was brought past them with two Royal Guards on either side. His hands were restrained and his weapons gone, but the anger on his face remained.

He slowed when he saw Adrien. "You think you’ve won?"

Adrien glanced toward the hundreds of disarmed Arquenay soldiers. "You brought an army to my home, failed to take it, tried to kill me twice, and now you’re the one in chains. I’m pretty comfortable with the result."

Gaspard’s face twisted. "Clairmont will fall eventually."

"Maybe." Adrien met his eyes. "But you won’t be there to see it."

The guards moved him on. Aurelian turned toward one of the Royal commanders almost immediately.

"Send word to Valebrand. I want Crown forces moving on every Arquenay holding before sunset. Seal the main estate, secure the treasury and military stores, and take control of their records before anyone has time to destroy anything."

The commander nodded, and Aurelian continued. "Any remaining officers are to surrender peacefully. His family is to be placed under protection and questioned, not harmed. Block their teleportation access and put guards on every major route."

Aurelian glanced toward the captured army. "Gaspard brought most of his fighting force here. His territory is practically undefended, and I’d prefer it stays that way."

The commander left. Adrien watched Aurelian for a few seconds.

’He didn’t come here only to stop Gaspard. He came ready to dismantle the entire house.’

Margaret remained nearby while the Healer finished securing Adrien’s ribs. After a while, she looked toward Vikir with faint amusement.

"Your man caused quite a scene in Valebrand, by the way." Vikir looked almost offended.

"I wouldn’t describe it that way, Your Highness. I was trying to deliver the documents."

"Two guards were holding you while an administrator tried to take them."

"They were being unreasonable," Vikir replied, earning a small look from Adrien.

"So you followed my instructions exactly."

"I was told not to hand the papers to the first person who asked, my lord. Several people asked, and none of them were someone I trusted to act."

Margaret looked toward Adrien. "He is remarkably stubborn."

"That’s one of the reasons I sent him. Why did you decide to help?"

"I heard your family name being shouted near one of the entrances, so I went to see what was happening. Once I read what he was carrying, ignoring it wasn’t really an option."

Adrien nodded. "Then I owe you more than a thank-you, Your Highness."

Margaret smiled. "I’ll remember you said that. You may regret giving me permission to."

By late afternoon, the battlefield had quieted completely. The wounded were inside Greymoor, the Arquenay soldiers remained under guard, and the first reports confirmed Crown forces were entering Arquenay territory without serious resistance.

Adrien had just finished arguing with the Healer about whether he was allowed to stand when Aurelian approached again. The Crown Prince stopped a few steps away.

"Lord Adrien. When your Healer is finished with you, I’d like a word in private."