Fable - Ask The Disappearance of a Murderer

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Leander Urahil

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While the Urahils were wealthy enough to own a grand estate in the city of Vel Anir, when it came to significant business, the family went to Vel Sondor to discuss in privacy the matters that Felix found so important. It was the home the twins grew up in before being thrust into the Academy, and Leander hadn't been here since his arrival as an initiate. Now a graduate, he fully appreciated the Anirian city that was part of his namesake. In Anirian fashion, it was protected by large, thick walls. The stone was pale through the centuries of sunlight beating down on them. Gold would decorate these grand walls, and the gates would open wide. These gates hadn't closed in a century, and sometimes Leander wondered if they could anymore.

Only a fool would lay siege to the home of the Sondorkommans, the knights known for being willing to do anything for Vel Anir. Only a fool would risk the wrath of the Urahil bloodline, comprised of soldiers, captains, and commanders. The war stories of Urahils and Quillons, of Bierhals and Gradels, all of it cumulated to one lesson: do not go against those with warlord in their blood.

The carriage quickly came from the main road to their gilded estate, made of white stone and adorned in navy and gold.
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He watched the Guards that made their home here, many coming from here. They may have worn the crimson of Vel Anir, and even Felix wouldn't have made them dress otherwise despite his delusions of grandeur, but there was something in their eyes that kept them different from all the other guards. They were trained how those without magic were trained, under the tutelage of the greats that the Urahils sent out to their King--

"Republic," Leander mumbled under his breath. He still forgot it was that, even if it felt like nothing had changed. His enemy was never Vel Anir or the Monarchy, it was his own brother who had called this meeting. Those invited would wake up knowing they were invited one morning, and they would know the rules: only them, no lover, no wife, no bodyguards. They would not be allowed to tell anyone, and somehow, he would know if they had. His pale gaze watched a female guard train to learn how to fight and defend when smoke bombs were used. He found it to be in bad taste that the smoke came out red, wondering what the point was. To help desensitize her to blood? By her age, she should already be used to blood and carnage, bone and gristle, flesh and deformity.

Many minutes later, the carriage came to the estate's door. The long road was another warning, showing all the future guardsmen and knights to display their long lineage and ilk. It would have unnerved Leander, but with his dreadlord title, he felt secure. Only when he stepped out of the carriage, in finery that would please his father more than his brother, did he feel a dull dread. He looked over his shoulder, watching the coachman lead the carriage to the stables. They all would stay the night; this dinner was not an affair that granted brevity.

"Dreadlord Leander," Captain Capucine greeted him coldly at the door, using her rank against his. Leander figured Felix was sleeping with her, too. He liked to sleep around with powerful women so he could remind them that it was fleeting, that compared to him, they would always be weak. Leander wasn't sure why they kept coming back. "You'll follow me to the reception room. Dinner is not yet ready." A maid opened the grand, knotty alder door, and they did not close it until Leander was a few feet inside. He stared at the grand staircase, the portraits of all the Urahils before him who bore grand titles. Some wore heavy armor, others wore military uniforms, but they all shared the blonde hair that had their naysayers point and whisper of incest.

He was led up the stairs and felt comfortable putting his hand over a rail that appeared gold but felt more like iron. Much like the unity the Urahils and the cadet branches showcased to all of Vel Anir, it felt performative. Leander didn't release his sigh of contempt. He would have plenty of time for it, after all, family dinner was about to begin.
 
In the reception room already would be Ysvain and anyone else that had already arrived. The attire he wore was sharp and of good quality - the minimum expected of the Urahil for this occasion. His breeches especially seems to be of a fine material for comfort and breathability.

Upon Leander's arrival, Ysvain stood and gave a small bow in greeting.

"Cousin Leander," he said with a smile - regardless of their history.

"My congratulations on your graduation and ascension to Dreadlord," Ysvain told Leander.
 
"Yes, congratulations are in order." Perrine Urahil strode into the room moments after Leander had arrived, dressed back in her usual fashions before she had begun wearing her fashionable wardrobe she had made to wear during the hours she served as Proctor at the Academy. As of late, her spirits had picked up now that missions were becoming less of a burden upon her. It appears that the battlefronts were holding some weight, not needing the immediate assistance of a Healer. It meant the medics were doing their jobs, and well at that.

For Felix to summon them all, it often left a sour taste in her mouth that she would be subjected to his presence, when the last she had met with the Urahil taking charge of the family affairs had been when he ordered her to become a Proctor. Unsure how exactly he swindled her to be stationed there, it gave her the opportunity to watch the twins. Now that they were graduated, earning the title Dreadlords each, she wondered if he would now inform her that her services to the Academy were no longer needed.

Perrine arched a blonde brow as Ysvain, forgetting that the Urahils were still enrolled at the Academy. As Proctor, she barely crossed paths with the younger Urahil, but this year they would begin to take Etiquette lessons with her.

If Felix allowed her to leave her post, she would not have to teach another class that claimed they did not need manners.
 
Odessa had barely stepped out of her own carriage when she felt the weight of her family name pressing down on her. The ride to their home was a blur of flickering memories and disappointment. She was sure today would be no different than any other day in the comfort of her family.

She had only agreed to come because there was no disagreeing with her eldest sibling. If he called, you were expected. No questions asked, no declining the invitation. She balled her fists tighter, fingernails digging into her flesh as she walked alone through the front door. She'd never paid any mind to the 'no plus ones' rule until now, until she wished more than anything for Rhidian to be by her side through whatever inevitable shitshow was going to occur.

She twisted the ring on her finger, the one that allowed her to feel, and wondered if that was the cause of her unease as she hesitated in the doorway of the reception room.

"Perrine. Ysvain. . . Leander." Her voice was devoid of any warmth as she greeted them. Her nose crinkled as she forced herself through the threshold and took a seat. The air was thick, smelling of dust mingled with something else she could not quite place. She wondered if that had been how it always smelled and she never noticed due to her dampened senses.
 
With a swish of her gown that probably cost more than the castle that the Anirian royals lived in, her elegant legs took her past Perri and the cousin to both Leander and Odessa. Without a word and without any magic, she managed to tug the twins into a tight embrace.

"My darlings," she fussed over each, plopping light kisses on their cheeks.

True concern lay in her glacial gaze.

"Are you two being fed enough? You always look far too thin."

A tsk left her lips as she held onto them longer even if they started to squirm to get out of her embrace.
 
Kora Urahil found her dress much too tight. Her mother had insisted Kora's corset be laced as tight as possible without breaking a rib, and even now Kora could have sworn she felt a rib or two flex as she breathed in and out.

She wondered the whole carriage ride there what on Earth her purpose was in coming to this thing. Family sticks together she supposed, but she was only 17 and an initiate. Power was something taken very seriously in this family and power was something she did not have a lot of. Yet, her mother liked to say.

Kora was just as blonde and beautiful as every other Urahil, her mother had made sure of it. The only thing she wasn't was tall and thin. It was something her mother griped about constantly, but she would sigh dramatically and acquiesce that at least Kora had an ample bosom and backside, features men apparently found attractive.

Kora personally found it all rather exhausting and instead of going to some family dinner she'd much rather be wearing no gown and no corset, curled up with just her blankets and a book or two. But no. She had to fight and heal and put on a pretty face because she was a Urahil and that's what they did.

She followed her mother into the house. Kora barely spared a glance at the splendid picture, she had already seen it more times than she cared to admit and besides she thought it over the top and tacky. Just like her dress.

She could hardly make small talk, let alone breathe, so she settled for a vague, self-important smile her mother would approve of as she followed the haughty woman into the reception room where her cousins were waiting.
 
Leander was uncertain why cousins would be invited— especially a cousin that he did not enjoy and another that he found to be more of a nuisance than an asset. Strangely enough, he found Ysvain and Kora to be interchangeable in that regard. Were they siblings? He couldn’t remember if they were or not; after all, they should just be grateful that he even remembered their names.

“Of course I graduated.” He puffed out his chest, showcasing his might in his the way the muscles in his neck flexed, taut and thick. “Was there any doubt that I wouldn’t?” Leander would’ve gloated more. He was ready to recount his trials, to remind everyone how easy it was with the republic in place. But then came Oraya, fussing over him, telling him he was too thin despite him towering over her and his bicep being larger than her thigh. He flushed, though one of them could have assumed it was just another sunburn along his nose.

“Anyways, as I was saying,” Leander cleared his throat. “The exam was easy. They don’t push initiates like how they did years ago. Nothing exciting even happened in ours.” He grinned. “If a rogue dreadlord would have shown up I’d have him floundering about like a fish out of water. As long as you can do some sort of magic, the Academy passes you on, as if that’s what makes a dreadlord. A true dreadlord is someone without fear, someone who’s willing to fight with their fists if their magic can’t be utilized. A true dreadlord doesn’t sit back and let someone else walk all over them just because they think that’s the only way to survive. A true—“ The doors opened without warning.

The man of the hour strode in. Like everyone else, he was immaculately dressed. Everything he wore suited him, it was designed specifically for him and for him alone. His hair was white, styled up and away from his forehead and ears. It was modern, and perhaps too young for him, but his skin was youthful and so he could get away with such a thing without being mocked.

Then again, who would dare mock Felix Urahil?

Leander’s throat went dry, constricting around his Adam’s apple. He didn’t say a word and instead he averted his gaze.

“Welcome. I am glad you all could make it. You’ll have to forgive Amoux, he was unable to come” Felix smiled while he spoke, crystalline winter blue eyes radiating an icy glimmer. There was no warmth, and there couldn’t be. Everything about Felix was cold: from his white hair and even whiter brows, from how every pore on his pallid skin was small and tight and without a single bump to mar his complexion. He was not muscular, instead, his frame was pointed and sharp like a icicle, but it did not give the impression that it would be easy to snap him in half.

If Felix had ever given off such an impression, then Leander would have tried it— and surely, the many enemies of Felix Urahil would have tried as well. But that was the thing with Felix, he was untouchable, with some invisible patron that punished anyone who got in his way.

“I’ve called you for dinner tonight because I have an announcement.” For a moment, Leander stiffened. “Not about any engagements,” Felix continued, though he turned to Ysvain and Kora. “Perhaps in a few months I will have a suitable match for my cousins.” Captain Capucine came to Felix’s side, whispering something in his ear. It wasn’t lost on anyone in that room the strange dynamic of a captain playing maid to Felix. “Excellent. You may leave. Lock the door after you.” His smile grew wide. “Everyone in this room won’t be leaving until morning.” He turned, paused, then looked over his shoulder.

“Come with me to dinner.” Felix left the room, warmth entering once more. After a moment’s pause, Leander followed after his eldest brother, moving down the familiar corridors and down the stairs and into another set of halls before they arrived at the dinning room. Its high windows, bright silk banners, and gleaming silver candlesticks conveyed the atmosphere of a time older than anyone in that room, everything steeped in a tradition that they followed despite it not being close to anyone’s heart.

Felix sat at the head of the table, furthest away from the roaring blaze inside the fireplace at the opposite end of the table. Ysvain and Kora would be sitting closest to the fire, though the long wooden table extended well beyond them so that they would be comfortably warm without sweating.

To Felix’s left would be Perrine, to his right, Oraya. Leander would take his seat next to Oraya, in between her and Kora. Odessa would be sandwiched by Perrine and Ysvain. Once they were all seated, someone would come around with red wine, another person would have a bottle of white, both going around the table to offer their drinks until each glass was filled. Then a door would open, the first course coming out.

Salt and brine would enter the room, causing Leander to scowl.

“I hate oysters.” He muttered under his breath.

Ysvain Urahil Perrine Urahil Odessa Urahil Oraya Urahil Kora Urahil
 
Perrine could not help but feel on edge as she sat to the left of Felix. A server helped her with her chair until she comfortably sat upright, sparing her cousin a look before turning her head to the left, where Odessa sat.

"We have to stay here until morning."
She hid her frown, but it could be heard in her tone. "Trust Felix to trap up with food and wine and family for company."

The Healer's attention glanced to Leander for a brief moment, giving him a sympathetic smile. Will he eat the oysters anyway to make Felix happy? Or go hungry this round of course?

"Have you tried it with the seasoned salts, Leander?" Perri motioned for a server to get her the small wooden pot with the salt, using the small spoon to lightly sprinkle it over her oysters before her. "Odie?" She offered before having the server pass it around the table.