Verse XXXIV Shadows

"My name is Io, and I'm here to see Miss Shirley. Io pulled a document from his bosom and motioned it to the two guards. "By order of the Duke, from today onwards, all of you will be under my command for the time being. ”

The two guards carefully read the document and its signature, and then returned it to him. Although they did not speak, it was clear that their demeanor had acquiesced to Io's words.

"Is Miss Shirley upstairs?" asked Io.

"Yes. One of the guards replied. "On the third floor. ”

"What about the second floor, are there so many people?"

"The second floor is empty. Lyle interjected.

Lyle followed Io through the gate. However, he stopped on the second floor and did not go up to the third floor. He stood at the top of the staircase, where he couldn't see the details of the upstairs, but he could hear the voices of the upstairs clearly. That's enough for him. In fact, he didn't even have to occupy this position, because Io didn't have any intention of keeping it secret at all, and he spoke quite loudly. Maybe the entire second floor can be heard.

"This can't be! Lord Duke promised me to come ......," the voice that had once made Lyle afraid to speak was frightened and hurried for the first time. To tell the truth, hearing this voice speak in this tone, Lyle felt a burst of indescribable joy.

Stinky bitch, you have it today, too!

"I don't know if he promised you anything," Io's voice sounded smug. "But the document he signed is not fake, is it? ”

"This thing...... I've got it done. You don't need to come at all, it's enough for you to write a letter. ”

"Lord Duke is impatient with the speed at which you swallow slowly. Io replied. "So I was entrusted with solving this problem once and for all. As fast as you can!"

"But this thing was done by me from the beginning......"

"Not anymore. There was a calm, almost cruel tone in Io's voice, which contrasted sharply with the other's panic. "I know about your relationship with the Duke, but that's not a reason for him to put up with you. The Duke needs to complete this plan as soon as possible, instead of watching time pass and find nothing. ”

"I've already reported to him on my progress!"

'It's clear he's not happy with the progress. Io said. "Miss Shirley, admit it. The Duke asked me to come over and solve the problem in the quickest and quickest way. ”

"Do you know what the consequences of this will be?"

"Whatever the consequences, it looks like the Duke doesn't mind. Io replied. "If you mean the Countess Marianne, I have to warn you. I know a lot more about her than you know about her. The reality is: Lord Duke needs money, a lot of money, and he doesn't have time to wait. Your plan is good, but it's not fast enough. ”

This sentence became the last sentence of this dispute. There was silence upstairs, and although Lyle couldn't see the details under the stairs, he could imagine the expressions of both parties at this time. It's a shame he couldn't witness the woman being deflated - Lyle knew his position well and knew what he had to do. The woman was deflated, and as long as she had not been thrown from her high throne, she was not an object of contempt and humiliation. Now it is the best and most relieving result for him.

After a few more moments, Lyle saw Io coming down from above. At this time, Io's face was full of smug and arrogant looks. There is no need for anything else, this look alone makes it clear who the winner is.

"Let's find a place to settle down. Lyle offered to suggest. "I know there's a nice hotel in the city. ”

"I remember when I left...... Forget it, don't talk about this. Well, now that I'm here, I'm definitely going to stay here for a while. It's not bad to stay in a hotel. Io pondered. "But I've been out of here for a long time, so go have a drink and tell me what's been going on here in the last few years. ”

It's not something that takes too much time. So later in the day, Lyle accompanied Io to one of the most exclusive hotels in the city. For these places, Lyle has always been familiar.

As mentioned earlier, Io was originally a local, and he and Lyle were friends who knew each other well. He had been away from here for many years, and when he came back this time and met an old man, a friend from the past, it was natural that there were many, many things to say. From the changes in the city in recent years, driven by commerce, the marriages, activities, and property of the squires and nobles in the vicinity, a series of stories such as the stories. As time passed, the topic of their conversation naturally shifted to Ashrufat.

"So, my two cousins have found a husband?" Io asked with a sneer after hearing Lyle's detailed introduction to the matter.

"It seems so. Since the Countess Marianne ......"

"Is there a mercenary of unknown origin? Well, I also have to admit that only among mercenaries can you find such a person who is not afraid of death on the one hand, and does not believe in evil on the other hand. A true and best choice...... I also married two ...... at a time."

"What do you mean...... Isn't it that simple?" Lyle heard the overtones in the other's words.

"What do you think is going on? Do you really think that there is such a 'marriage contract'?"

The other party's hint was so conspicuous that Lyle's mind spun quickly.

"Could it be...... It's just a play, but why do you want to act?" Lyle couldn't figure it out for a moment. "Is it because of property?"

Twin sisters own joint property. If they marry separately, then it is natural that the family property must be divided into two parts. From the perspective of protecting ancestral property, it is not surprising that two sisters are married to the same man. In the great noble family, daughters were an important political asset, because the marriage between children was the best proof of the alliance between the two families. But in the homes of ordinary people who lack both ambition and strength, the daughter's marriage is much simpler.

After all, Lyle is a local, and he is quite aware of the two sisters' financial situation. They're not particularly rich. In fact, by the standards of the squire, their property was too small to be divided. If they are separated, it will be difficult for them to maintain their current standard of living. If you don't have money, you can't even count as a squire.

"Maybe. Io replied. "But I can tell you that that's not the point. ”

"Why what? I think it's very likely. After all, they're not particularly rich......"

"They have a lot more than you see. Io replied. "At least our Countess Marianne will surely bequeath her entire fortune to the two of them. ”

"So, our mercenary friend has made a big deal this time?"

"It's a big risk. Io replied. "My two cousins are witches!"

"Witches, you mean they can do magic?" This time, Lyle was truly amazed. "But if so, why should they stay here in Brassian, even if they themselves don't like to fight, the state's conscription will not let them go. The mage is a valuable combat power, and it must not be wasted or idle. ”

A fierce smile appeared on Io's face. "yes, for what?"

"Could it be...... That legend is true?!!" Lyle was shocked. "They're dark magicians, but...... At that time, the high priests of the church had come to their homes to pay a special visit to them. It's not just a rumor that turns out...... You've seen them use dark magic?"

"If I say I've seen it with my own eyes, I really haven't seen it. Io replied. "But I did come across ...... Something. ”

"What kind of thing?"

"What do you think of my swordsmanship?" asked Io suddenly. "If I'm not kidding myself, I was the best swordsman near Brasian at that time. ”

"That's true. Lyle replied. Most of this sentence is true, and of course there is a little bit of praise. In this era, fighting skills and bravery were always considered the basic qualities of a nobleman. And Io is in the area of Brassian, if not the most outstanding swordsman, but he is also one of the strongest people. This is mainly because he is born with a kind of hard ambition, which makes him unwilling to stay in this small country place for the rest of his life. From this point of view, Io and Lyle are two completely different people. Even if they were once familiar friends with each other, they would eventually go on two completely different paths.

"I had a conflict with my two cousins. Io said suddenly.

He did not elaborate further. But sometimes a lot of things don't need to be stated, and a lot can be inferred from the speaker's tone, expression, and content alone.

Lyle had seen the two sisters enough times. So he was speechless for a while. It is difficult for the average person to imagine how a petite woman could take down a man as strong as Io.

And, judging by the tone of Io's voice, it wasn't a specific battle in a specific environment. There are also many examples of the weak defeating the strong, but that requires specific conditions. It is well known that an ordinary person with a well-wound crossbow or a loaded musket can easily take out a good swordsman. But if you lose in this case, the loser will be very unconvinced. Io, on the other hand, was not unconvinced.

......

It's getting late.

It's the end of winter, but the night air is still very cold. Even on a windless night, the chill will unconsciously invade the clothes and penetrate the bone marrow. So when it gets dark, most people retreat back into their houses, relying on walls, doors and windows, and even adding fireplaces and thick quilts to keep out the cold.

There were no luxuries like fireplaces and firewood in the rooms where Ashrufat lived. However, he found that his body was very adaptable to the cold - although he could feel the change in the temperature around him, he didn't feel that it affected his body. Stiffness of hands and feet, nothing ever appeared.

What happened today made him feel very concerned, and it also made him sleep for a while. Before he knew it, he found that he had left the room and came to the courtyard next to the house. At this time, several hardy fruits and vegetables were cultivated here, but there were not many of them, so it can be said that it was a flat land.

The sky is gloomy tonight, and the stars and moon are hidden. However, the dark vision of this team of Eshurufat has no special effect. From a distance, he saw a figure standing in the courtyard. Although the distance was very far, he didn't know what the path was, and Ashrufat immediately recognized it as Hoshimi. He now seems to be able to tell the two sisters apart.