Chapter 329: Guests (1)
In the Castro residence, Tyrion stood from afar, watching as Penelope gave all her attention to her pets. He had unknowingly added one more being to fight for Penelope’s attention.
"Would you like me to get the other puppy from the litter?" Damien asked, assuming it was what was on Tyrion’s mind.
"No. Our home would be overrun with pets if I got her another so soon. Has Aiden sent any word about what I tasked him to do? It’s important he finishes this task soon," said Tyrion.
"I have not received anything from Aiden or anyone else, but Aiden isn’t the kind to fail you. He will return with good news," Damien said, certain it would come soon.
Tyrion looked ahead of Penelope at her new guard, Brendon.
"How is Brendon faring as a guard? I heard he trained with her father and the duke’s men when he was growing up. Do you think he’s the right fit to watch her?" Tyrion asked, yet to make up his mind about Brendon.
"He is skilled. I am pleased to see he isn’t just using his father’s name, and his loyalty to the duke’s family pushes him to protect the lady with his life. For now, he is a good fit. Should he do something foolish, I will bring it to your attention," Damien promised.
"Good," Tyrion replied, his attention back on Penelope.
Tyrion decided to let Penelope enjoy herself with the pets a little more, so he walked away before he could be noticed.
Whilst Penelope was busy, it presented a good time to look into what was recently found about the murders.
On his way to the study, Tyrion was stopped by Winston.
"Winston, why are you so out of breath?" Tyrion asked, puzzled by Winston’s state. "Is there a fire to be put out, or is there trouble?"
Winston placed his right hand on his chest, taking a deep breath. He couldn’t think of a time when he had to run this fast.
"Your Highness, people are gathering at the gates, yelling out indecent names for you and the lady, as well as asking that you go outside. They speak of you being a deserter," Winston spoke fast, catching his breath after.
Tyrion changed course for the front doors.
This matter needed to be dealt with before Penelope heard of it.
"How many are there?" Tyrion asked, his pace fast.
"The guard didn’t say, but from what I saw, it looked to be ten men and a few women. What on earth would possess anyone to come here like this and at this hour? What should I tell the guards?" Winston asked, following closely behind Tyrion.
"You won’t tell them anything since I will go out to speak. Do what you must so that my wife is distracted. Tell Damien, and only Damien, of what occurs," Tyrion instructed Winston.
Tyrion soon walked alone as Winston hurried off to find Damien. He walked outside to find that there was a group outside his gates, and a faint chant was heard.
Tyrion took his time walking toward the gate. The unwanted guests were lucky that he was gracing them with his time.
As Tyrion got closer, the chants became clearer. The chants only ceased when Tyrion stood before the gates.
"If you wish to see tomorrow, I advise you to go home and not come here again. Think of your loved ones, if you have any. Go," Tyrion urged the fools before him.
Tyrion gave them kindness they didn’t deserve, only because it wouldn’t be a pretty sight to have blood stains right before his gates. It would give the town guards reason to lurk around.
"You have abandoned this kingdom!"
"I have not abandoned it if I still stand here," Tyrion replied, lazily flicking his gaze to a man who coward under his gaze.
"You have left the throne for a woman!"
Tyrion sighed, bored with the reasons they were angry "And you left the comfort of your homes to yell at a man. Who has paid you to do this?"
Tyrion noticed how some of the people on the other side looked at each other like they had been caught.
While many were upset that he turned his back on the throne, those people whispered amongst themselves where they wouldn’t be heard by the palace or town guards.
It was dangerous to speak of the Castros, yet here this group of people was being so bold as to show up at Tyrion’s gates.
"I will double what they have paid you if you reveal who they are, and I will save you from spending the night in the palace dungeon," Tyrion presented an offer.
Robert, a humble farmer, stepped forward to address Tyrion. "We were not paid to come here. We have all gathered our courage to come here and speak of what you have done. Should we not return home, our families were informed to tell the town guards."
"It doesn’t interest me who you will send for. Either you accept my offer to speak of who employed you, or you leave my land. My kindness will end shortly," Tyrion warned the group.
"We will not go anywhere, and we were not employed to come here. A royal threatening the people is quite a sad sight. What has become of you, Your Highness? There were plenty of women around the town for you to wed. You have abandoned us for-"
"Speak poorly of my wife, and I will have your tongues sent to your families. As your prince, I am being merciful by giving you the chance to leave. Don’t waste the one chance you have. Leave," Tyrion ordered the group.
Tyrion turned his back to the crowd and said, "Kill anyone who continues to stand on my land after I have warned them."
Robert laughed at the prince’s threat. "Your Highness, " he said, spreading out his arms. "We will not go any further than this, or will you claim all the land here as your own because you are a prince?"
Tyrion smiled, happy to school the fools.
"This land and the mansion that sits on it were a wonderful gift from Duke Collins. I admire the way he builds his home so his gates aren’t on the edge of his land. Where you stand allows me to kill all of you and not suffer any consequences," Tyrion said, the guards aiming their guns at the time of his explanation.
Robert looked down at where he stood. Tyrion couldn’t be telling the truth.
Just a little bit more, and his job would be completed.
"Your Highness, we, the people, still love you. We still wish for you to be king, and there is time for it to change," Robert said, repeating exactly what was said to him. "We know it is the harlot-"
"Gather them," Tyrion ordered the guards.