Chapter 333: The Harrowhold Question

Darion didn’t blink. "I am perfectly safe. Leave us. Remember my order: everyone stays inside, nobody causes trouble. I will address the settlement in the morning."

The guards bowed quickly and backed out of the room, closing the heavy doors behind them. Now, it was just Darion, Seren, Marrick, and the silent undead.

Darion didn’t waste time with pleasantries. "What exactly is happening with Harrowhold?"

Marrick swallowed hard. He kept his head bowed. "It is... complicated, my lord. Harrowhold is effectively leaderless. The previous leadership structure was shattered by Vrethka. Dross’s influence created massive instability."

Darion listened without interrupting, his expression neutral.

Marrick continued. "Harrowhold isn’t simply waiting for someone to take the throne. Different people are likely competing for control. Some are loyal to my father’s old guard. Others are simply trying to protect themselves. Without someone taking control quickly, the territory could fracture. It could descend into a civil war of a dozen different factions."

Marrick finally lifted his head, his eyes meeting Darion’s. "I don’t want to fight you, my lord. I don’t want revenge for my father. I want to serve you."

Darion raised an eyebrow.

Marrick spoke quickly now, his words tumbling out. "Harrowhold can become part of your growing territory. I want to rule Harrowhold under your authority. I don’t want to pretend to be an independent king anymore. I would serve as your governor. Your vassal."

He gestured toward the walls of the palace. "Think about how the Emperor of Valvanos rules. Territories retain their own rulers, but they remain beneath the greater authority. The Emperor is above everyone. The local rulers govern their own lands, but the Emperor has the final say."

Marrick took a breath. "I offer you the same relationship. I know Harrowhold. I know its people. I understand its territory. I can rebuild what was damaged. You don’t need to waste your time personally governing every village. I can do that work for you. Harrowhold’s armies, resources, and territory would ultimately belong to you. I would simply be the person administering them."

Darion didn’t immediately answer. He leaned back in the throne, studying Marrick with cold, calculating eyes.

Something about this was almost too convenient. Marrick was being incredibly submissive. Only recently, Harrowhold was an enemy. Now its former prince was practically volunteering to become Darion’s subordinate. Darion knew people didn’t normally surrender power that easily.

He wondered: Is he genuinely afraid? Is he genuinely loyal? Or is he simply trying to survive? Is this some kind of temporary arrangement? Could he betray me later once Harrowhold becomes stable again?

Darion understood that accepting Marrick meant taking a risk. But rejecting him could also create unnecessary problems. Darion didn’t actually need to personally govern Harrowhold. He needed someone who knew the people and the place. Marrick seemed like the right one. The fear and respect he had for Darion might actually be enough to make him not try anything stupid.

If Marrick was useful, he might as well use him.

Darion looked at Marrick. "You can rule Harrowhold."

Marrick’s eyes widened with relief, but Darion wasn’t finished.

"But there is one condition. Loyalty." Darion leaned forward, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "You aren’t receiving independence. You are receiving authority because I am allowing you to have it. Betray me..."

Darion paused, letting the silence suffocate the room. The air seemed to drop ten degrees.

"Betray me, and I won’t just kill you. I’ll erase your name from history. I’ll burn Harrowhold to the ground so thoroughly that no one will even remember it existed."

Marrick’s face went pale. He knew Darion wasn’t joking. The man sitting on the throne had killed the ruler who defeated his father just recently, slaughtered an army, and conquered a settlement in a single night. He wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

"I understand, my lord," Marrick whispered. "I swear it. I am yours to command."

They sealed the arrangement with a handshake. The moment was simple, but politically important. Darion had just acquired another territory without needing to fight for it.

Seren remained mostly silent throughout the discussion. She watched Marrick carefully, her hand resting near her bow. She also watched Darion. She could see that Darion wasn’t simply accepting Marrick because he was being nice. He was already thinking several steps ahead.

Before ending the conversation, Darion asked about the territory itself. "Who is currently governing Harrowhold? Who controls its soldiers?"

Marrick explained that Dross had already installed people in positions of authority. "Those individuals are currently controlling Harrowhold. They are effectively Dross’s people. Since Dross is now dead, their position has become much weaker. But they still have the soldiers. The people of Harrowhold have little choice but to follow whoever currently controls the territory."

Darion realized something important. He didn’t need to fight an entire kingdom. He simply needed to remove the remaining leadership that Dross installed.

Darion smiled. It was a cold, predatory expression. He had already decided what tomorrow would look like.

"Tomorrow," Darion said, "we go to Harrowhold. The people Dross placed in power will be removed. You will then take your position. Harrowhold will become properly aligned under my rule."

Marrick bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord."

Darion’s internal realization was sharp. Vrethka was supposed to be the problem. Instead, conquering Vrethka has opened another door. He now has an opportunity to secure the entire southern region. He didn’t need to conquer Harrowhold through another massive war. He could simply remove the remaining hostile leadership and install someone loyal.

Darion looked around Dross’s throne room. Just hours ago, this belonged to an enemy who planned to destroy Percvale. Now Darion controlled it.

He thought about Percvale. Then Vrethka. Then Harrowhold. The pieces were suddenly beginning to fit together. Vrethka was his. Harrowhold would soon be his. The entire southern border was beginning to fall under his control.

Darion leaned back against the throne, resting his chin on his fist. He realized that he came here simply trying to stop an attack on Percvale. Now he was walking away with two territories.

He looked toward the heavy wooden doors of the throne room, his mind already mapping out the march to Harrowhold.

Darion had secured Vrethka. Tomorrow, he would secure Harrowhold. The southern border was his.