Rallon slept on, letting his wife handle things as she willed, trusting her absolutely as he did in all things, even with his very life, which no one else alive could say, save perhaps Cynthia who had long since earned her place under her father.
Rose was wise. her husband was not only keen but even in his subconscious was aware of the words about him and when she defended him he smiled gently stroking her hair and giving her a bit of a tender squeeze.
He was just letting himself drift fully into sleep when Thea nudged his head. "Brother...there is someone to see you..." he opened one eye to glare at her but then opened both when he saw how pale and afraid she was. He gently pushed rose away and stood crouching before his sister. "What troubles you little one?"
Thea gulped. "It's Uncle...."
Everyone in the courtyard froze and Cynthia whimpered ducking low. Uncle was their Uncle Silas, their father's estranged brother. He had long claimed the Governorship of York should have been his as the most worthy of the two, though younger and less able. he had also claimed divine privilege of any and all of the girls seeing it as his duty to keep Granger blood pure. Though they had never been alone with any of them, each of them girls had been warned of their Uncle and each of them had their own reasons to fear him.
Thea likely the most as when Lord Granger had fallen ill Silas had come and tried to steal the girl away from the family, only to be stopped by the Lady Granger, Cynthia and a furious Lord Granger. Thea had taken a bad beating that night and had been shaken to her core, only her father's kind hand and words having stilled her fears enough to let her sleep. That image of her father would always be with her and her sisters. Despite his illness he had risen from what would be his deathbed to rescue one of them and he would have for any or all of them. They knew only Rallon and James had captured that same goodness and this was why they trusted and loved their brother so.
Now this was confirmed for instead of growing angry he pulled Thea into a tight embrace and kissed her cheeks. "No my love. We have no Uncle."
'But Rallon-"
He stilled her words with a finger. "What did mother say about such things?"
She blinked not understanding but one of the others spoke. "Anyone who betrays family are themselves betrayed."
Rallon nodded. "And?"
"And such traitors no longer share our blood."
Rallon nodded again, again kissing Thea and hugging her tightly. 'Now my dear you will stay here and keep Cynthia company. I will see to Silas."
He stood and pointed at Rose at which point Cynthia lay back down crawling to her mother laying her head on her lap while Thea sat by the pair still scared but without the chilling fear she had been in.
Rallon walked out of the garden shedding his shirt and weapons, kicking off his boots. Amelia gulped nervously while Jane touched her sister's shoulder. "He..."
Amelia nodded. "He..he is severing ties."
The elder girls looked at each other very frightened, while the four youngest, the three having joined Thea with Rose, looked around with fear but without comprehension. Amelia looked at Rose knowing she would know.
Lord Granger had had to deal with many false claimants both to his role and his daughters and sons, and had developed a peculiar but effective method of handling them. He would strip to his breeches and meet them thus appareled, refusing to give them the honors and kindness he was capable of, then would explain them in very clear terms that there remained no connection between them in anyway, in many cases having records adjusted to fully sever the relationship. The reason this was so frightening to the elder girls was also simple. The rage it caused their father to enter to achieve this level of action was utterly terrifying. Amelia and Jane had seen their father, a powerful fighter in his own right, hurl a man out of his study window into the fountain in the garden, several yards away.
This was but one of the reasons they were afraid but the chiefest was still Silas himself. they knew Rallon would protect them but Silas had always managed to survive whatever happened to him and had constantly sent them gifts and requests, often along with filthy letters telling them in detail what he would do to them. Their mother had kept each letter, despite her own rage and had sealed them in a special box with instructions to either Rallon or James. The girls did not know of any of this, least of all that Rallon had found the box, along with other items, in the ruins of the Granger manor, and was taking his mother's orders as he would have if she were alive. In matters of family her word had been divine orders with no room for argument or disobedience.
Recalling this Rallon had special orders for Silas. He was taken to the front garden, well away from the girls and nowhere within the house and given a small but polite tea while he waited.
He was left to wait for ten minutes while Rallon made arrangements, then the Lord of york sauntered out to his Uncle yawning and clearly giving no respect. This wrankled Silas but he was too well mannered to begin the meeting by shouting.
Rallon flopped into the chair across from Silas. Silas glowered waiting to be addressed but Rallon ignored him taking some tea and a small snack and having at it. Silas waited another ten minutes while Rallon drained the tea and ate all the treats then finally he snapped. "Have you nothing to say to me boy?!"
Rallon shook his head wiping the crumbs from his chest and wiping his lips clear.
Silas snarled. "You dare act with such disdain for me? your own Uncle?"
Rallon laughed. "My father was the only son his parents had."
"You insolent little shit how dare-"
Rallon chuckled. "My poor grandparents were blessed with but one son while they, like their son had many daughters. Sadly my many aunts did suffer the attentions of a beast claiming to be their family but he was both a mistaken fool and a filthy monster in dire need of death."
Silas flushed. No one had been supposed have known that he had raped his sisters and likely had attempted to rape both his own mother and his sister-in-law. Rallon clearly did. "When i last spoke to my grandmother she told me how her son had rescued her from the attentions of this same foolish monster, as he had my mother. Who also informed me of this monster's intent to do the same with my own sisters. Now my grandparent's, my own parent's and even my dear aunts, who I adored, have all predeceased my return home. I understand that this foolish monster has mistakenly taken their inheritance as his own. Fortunately i have rectified this with the proper authorities and will be distributing them amongst myself and my sisters as is my right and duty. Sadly this leaves this monster in a most uncomfortable state."
Silas' fists were clenched in rage but he said nothing.
"i also have evidence linking this monster to the deaths of my beloved grandmother and aunts. As well as my grandfather. meaning this monster is likely the murderer of no less than fifteen nobles of this nation."
"You lie! you have no proof!"
Rallon sniffed. "I have eyewitness statements, reports of the monster's whereabouts, numerous accounts of the monster's own confirmation of the acts, and a lengthy file of reports of the monster's collection and use of the inheritance. Which brings up another matter. The monster was wise enough not to sell land that was not his, likely in wait of my own death, but he has spent quite a bit of the fortune he received. i will require all of it repaid, with interest. Immediately."
Silas' face was now ashen as he twitched then shook his head. "i...You...I do not have that kind of money!!"
Rallon smiled coldly. "Ahhhh but the monster in question is worth that kind of money...collectively."
"What do you mean?"
"In his many years of deviance the monster has damaged many persons and families. In time they have gathered their courage and offered a quiet but lucrative bounty for certain portions of the monster's anatomy."
Silas shrunk in his chair as the guards moved in blocking his escape. Rallon continued to speak, now for the first time speaking directly to the man. "So my 'uncle' I am going to cash in those bounties. and rid myself and my family of your filth. You should have stayed in France."
Silas started to beg but Rallon lunged forward and grabbed him by the throat. "I have not forgotten what I saw and heard when i was younger Silas. Nor have I forgotten by ninth birthday."
Rallon had caught Silas spying on a bathing Rose and fondling himself, then later had caught him again trying to sneak into the room Rose was changing in, as she had been staying with the Grangers for a month during a trip to court. Rallon had beaten the crap out of his uncle even then and now more than two decades later, a full grown man and warrior Rallon was far more dangerous which even Silas could not deny.
Rallon stood lifting Silas with one arm. "Nor have I forgotten what my grandfather and father told me. I also remember how close you and William were. I killed him. And the others. Including Gregory. Now I am going to end the cycle of murder and rape you began. i suspect that you planted the idea in William's head in the first place. You were always a coward."
Silas tried to struggle, but his blows did nothing to Rallon who held his arm out at length and held out his free hand which a guard filled with a sword. Rallon swung the blade.
Ten minutes later twenty riders set off each with a well wrapped but still bloody package.
Rallon washed and returned his family calm and silent. Thea reached him first. "Where is uncle?"
He rubbed her hair. "We have no uncle dear one."
She blinked but slowly nodded. Now she understood. Silas no longer existed both in reality and never had in Rallon's mind. Such surety frightened her, yet also comforted her. Her brother was indeed a marvel to her. He would do anything for her or her sisters, and he did it without fear.
She followed him back to Rose and sat beside him studying his face trying to understand what he did then shook her head. "Rallon...how do you refuse fear?"
He smiled. "Survive your worst fear my love."
She blinked. She had certainly not expected that. "What was your worst fear?"
He laughed and kissed Rose. "Losing Rose and the lot of you."
Thea nodded still watching him.
Rallon left her to her thoughts as he cuddled with his wife and furry daughter.
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