The inquisition concluded less than a week later. Tenara seemed rather ill at ease as she left his manor, but Drake suspected that was because she was now more certain than ever that Prince Varnath had destroyed the blood pact tablet. The fact that she didn’t share her suspicions with him also suggested she believed Drake had nothing to do with it.
Since Drake couldn’t lie... supposedly... and he was the only witness to the battle beneath the silverwood, save for Sachi, concluding that Prince Varnath had found and destroyed the blood pact disc before Drake killed him made sense. Suspicions might linger, but Drake had already proven to the noble court he could not use doublespeak... through Westin.
His only worry now that was one of Lord Redbow’s former thralls might come after him to avenge their lord. Even so, Drake doubted it. Given how much of an asshole Redbow had been, Drake doubted anyone had followed him willingly. Still, he’d be careful.
Drake hadn’t revealed that Lord Redbow had gifted Prince Varnath his blood pact, or that Prince Varnath had used that blood pact to enslave the kromian elders and even his little brother. It was possible the inquisitors could learn that, but they would have to interview Prince Lorel to do so. Drake imagined the prince would want to keep that fact to himself.
Still, it was only once the inquisitor and her capital guards had passed out of sight around a corner of the road leading to the capital that he allowed himself to relax. As difficult as it was to accept or believe, he had gotten away with it. He now stood without any immediate threats or enemies. He could finally relax... and mourn his mother.
He still had her study to explore. He imagined there were countless books and journals in there that would give him insight into how she and manor lords before her had run the place. With luck, he’d even find a magic artifact or two.
He didn’t fear the study as he once had. Yes, his mother had died beside it, but it had also been her private sanctuary. He knew he could still open the doors, and he’d discovered on one such trip that the remains of Lord Kest’s spider demon were gone.
Demons apparently vanished back to the underside after they were slain, so at least he didn’t have to clean up the place. With the demon gone and his mother’s ashes strewn throughout the silverwood she’d loved, her study remained intriguing. It was, in some ways, a memorial to Marissa Hughes.
Other than whatever he’d broken in the demon fight, his mother’s study was exactly the way she left it when she traveled to Earth to protect him. She had used her rarity, ward weave, to create the unique ward that prevented anyone from entering the study save Drake. The only person he had invited inside so far was Lydia.
So what was he going to do about Lydia? Since they’d discovered their mutual feelings in his bedroom, the inquisition had kept them busy. He’d been tempted to sneak another kiss or a little more since he knew he could now, but somehow, they were never alone.
It didn’t seem like Lydia had engineered that. Dealing with the complete collapse of the blood pact, managing the interviews of over seventy people, and catering to Tenara’s every whim had taken all of their time. He didn’t think Lydia had been avoiding being alone with him... but he did remain uncertain as to where they would go next.
Yet as Drake stood on the front steps of his manor looking over his garden, his fog-cloaked trees, and his distant road, soft footsteps announced his steward’s arrival. He knew her soft footfalls well by now. He also knew she’d come to find him, specifically.
He glanced at her. “How do you think that went?”
“The blood pacts truly are gone,” Lydia said quietly. The wind caught her hair and lifted it just enough, leaving it spiraling off into the wind the way he loved.
“Are you sad about that?”
“No.” She looked at him once more. “I imagine you aren’t either.”
“Prince Varnath was a piece of shit, but he had at least one good idea.”
“So you believe he destroyed the blood pacts? How?”
“I don’t know,” Drake lied. “I just know the inquisitor was really interested in the chamber beneath the silverwood. You said it’s almost as ancient as the Eidolons, right? A being of immense power? What if the blood pacts were tied to the silverwood in some way? Could that be why Varnath came after the silverwood? To destroy the blood pacts?”
Her lips quirked. “You seem to be answering questions instead of asking them.”
Drake decided not to push this any further. “Just speculating out loud.”
Lydia looked to the road. “Regardless, we stand now in an unprecedented age.”
“So... what does that mean to you?”
“The authority of manor lords, at least as it was, no longer exists.”
“So should I step down now? What if we took a vote as to who should lead us?”
“If we did, everyone would vote for you. All here follow you and will continue to do so. We are blessed among manors in that we were prepared for this change.” She took a deep breath, then smiled at him. “Thanks to your leadership, we are uniquely prepared for the turmoil ahead. That, and the favor of the noble court, puts our manor in a powerful position.”
“Sky changed her blood pact, too. Long before I did.”
“I’ve suspected as much since you did the same. Is it right for you to tell me that?”
“I don’t think it matters now that we know blood pacts are gone for good. I told the inquisitor what I did when I arrived. I’m not in chains and on my way to be executed.”
She shook her head as she pressed her upper arm against his, warm and close. “Your reckless nature will never cease to concern me.”
“But I’ll always have you there to bail me out if I get in over my head, so we’re good.”
Neither of them said anything for a good while. It was enough to enjoy the silence, the break from the tasks involved in running a manor, and the closeness. He liked being close to her with nothing to do and no one trying to kill them. Then, Lydia eased away.
“I also have news from Skybreak Manor.”
Drake glanced at her curiously. “Did I miss a call from Sky?” He hadn’t checked the mirror today, but he hadn’t been expecting one.
“No. I received a missive from Lady Skybreak. It concerns... a delicate matter. She suggested I relay the news to you when you were ready to hear it. While I do not know if you are ready now, I see no reason to delay.”
Concern rushed through him. “Is Sky okay?”
“Lord and Lady Skybreak are fine. There is no threat to Skybreak Manor. This is simply... a change in the manor that Lady Skybreak believed might concern you, and one she prays will not negatively impact our alliance.” Lydia took a deep breath. “Lady Skybreak believed it best if she delivered this news before rumors arrived. With confirmation the blood pacts no longer exist, Lord Skybreak has publically taken Karth as her concubinus.”
Drake blinked at what sounded like gibberish. “Her what now?”
“Her unmarried lover,” Lydia said.
Drake stared wide-eyed as he processed. So Sky was... and Karth was... and they were... what? A rush of past encounters crashed through his head like a horde of bulls.
***
“So?” Drake asked. “What do you know about Karth? Can he pull his weight if he’s the only manor lord we can rely on at the cabal?”
“I know very little about his skill in politics,” Samuel said. “The only thing I can say for certain is that he is a childhood friend of Sky’s. My spies suggest they were inseparable as children, and that while Karth eagerly took the blood pact at sixteen to serve the former Lord Skybreak... Sky’s mother... he always intended to serve her instead.”
***
Drake considered getting up and pacing, but that could make him look nervous. So he sat. Valentia chose to remain standing. He finished a full plate of meat and was just thinking about grabbing a second when Sky finally marched from the hall leading to her bedroom.
Her gaze met his immediately. Instead of remarking on the way he was lounging in a chair by an empty plate, she merely inclined her head. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was having a difficult conversation.”
Drake belatedly scrambled for a napkin to wipe what he expected might be meat juice from his chin. “It’s fine. You put out a nice spread. I always appreciate a nice spread.”
Sky strode right to where several cups of mead waited. She picked one up, chugged it like she’d just lost a whole game of beer pong, and then grabbed the second. She chugged that one as well, then set the empty cup down as Drake looked on in surprise.
Kari, standing by her bedroom, was looking increasingly embarrassed by her manor lord.
Having satiated what was apparently an incredible thirst, Sky grabbed a third cup of mead, slid a chair out from the table with one boot, and sat down. She then picked up a knife and cut into a slash of venison with force Drake would charitably describe as intense.
What the hell had she and her mother been arguing about in there?
The door to the room Sky had emerged from open again, but it was not Lady Skybreak who emerged. It was Karth, and he was dressed in what looked like noble clothing. As he noticed Drake, his eyes widened noticeably.
“Lord Gloomwood?” The man’s greeting sounded almost accusatory.
Drake eyed him up and down. “Hey, Karth. Looking good.”
“What are you doing here?” Karth demanded.
Drake grabbed another grape. “Having lunch. You?” He popped it into his mouth.
Lady Skybreak—Viktoria—emerged from the hall not long after, looking as composed as she had looked at today’s cabal. At least one of them looked composed. Still, as Viktoria’s gaze swept first to Karth and then her daughter, her composure flexed.
“Karth,” she asked, “don’t you have a patrol to complete?”
The seasoned ranger flinched like he’d been struck and glanced back at Viktoria. “Yes. Of course. I’ll go do that right away.” He looked to Sky again, features tense, but she was still staring at the table as if she intended to burn it to ash with her eyes.
“Right.” Karth met Drake’s gaze. “Good to see you again, Lord Gloomwood.”
Drake simply nodded. “You too, man.”
***
Sky’s exceedingly intense gaze remained locked with his. She obviously expected an answer to her unexpected marriage proposal, and the longer he took to give one, the more annoyed he suspected she might be. Was she... really?
“Lord Skybreak,” Viktoria said quietly, “now may not be the time—”
“No,” Drake said. “I’m not ready to marry anyone, at least not right now.”
Sky’s intense posture incrementally relaxed. It seemed he had chosen the correct answer, though... damn. He had also spoken honestly, no matter how much sense Samuel and Lydia and probably Viktoria thought a marriage between them might make. He wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready, and there was no need to rush into anything.
“Obviously, I understand the strategic advantage of such an arrangement,” Drake continued cautiously. “Both Samuel and Lydia have briefed me on all the benefits.”
“As my mother has with me,” Sky said. “As if I wasn’t already well aware.”
***
With Lydia at his side, Drake made his way to the front of the caravan. Sky’s rangers had gathered there, and Sky and Karth spoke in low tones. When Sky caught sight of Drake, however, she said something to Karth. He nodded and touched her arm before slipping away.
Sky smiled as he approached. “You really came to see me off?”
“It felt rude not to,” Drake said. “Is that unusual?”
***
“Holy shit,” Drake said ruefully. “I really should pay more attention.”
Lydia lightly touched his arm. “I’m sorry if this news upsets you.”
“It doesn’t. Not now. It’s just... wow, talk about a diplomatic incident.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thank goodness Anna decided to go flower picking, because otherwise, I would have stepped on a rake the size of Florida.”
“A rake?” Lydia asked curiously.
“Never mind.” He glanced at her. “Thanks for delivering the news. Please put together a letter for Lady Skybreak and let her know she doesn’t have to worry. I appreciate her keeping us informed, and I’m glad Sky and Karth are... comfortable. Sky has had my back as long as I’ve had hers, so our alliance? It’s as strong as ever. Make sure Sky knows that, too.”
“I will, lord.” Lydia now looked considerably more at ease.
“Is that why you came out to speak to me?”
“No. There is another matter I wished to discuss, though I will admit the news from Lady Skybreak did make my discussion more pertinent.”
Drake frowned. “Now you’ve got me even more curious. What’s up?”
“Since I learned of the dissolution of the blood pacts, I have considered your suggestion from when we spoke before. In your bedroom. Circumstances are different now.”
As he remembered their earlier conversation, about how difficult it would be for them to date because of the blood pact and the expectations of a manor lord, he compared that with this news about Lord Skybreak. Lydia’s favorite manor lord, other than him, had just openly shacked up with her favorite blood thrall. Was Lydia... really?
Drake turned to face her and found his loyal, beautiful, and courageous steward smiling up at him with a good bit of the sly humor he’d always enjoyed. He grappled for focus as he noted how the sunlight lit her silky hair. He couldn’t get ahead of himself.
“This is about doing the co-manor lord thing?”
“Without blood pacts, the option of merging them as a negotiation tactic no longer exists. As you said, there is no precedent for this. Now that we must forge our own path forward as a manor, I see no reason I could not stand beside you... as your Lady Gloomwood.” She stared at him with suddenly uncertain eyes. “So... is that still your wish?”
“Hell yes!” Drake slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He didn’t care who saw them doing that. “At my side is exactly where I want you to be. As my partner, my equal, and my date.” He squeezed her. “We’re dating first.”
As Lydia slipped her arms around his waist, she sighed happily and pressed close. “I would very much like that. Still... I do have one more question.”
“Ask anything. Seriously. Open book.”
“Do you wish me to join you as a leader of Gloomwood Manor because you believe I will make a good manor lord, or because you’re eager to take me to bed?”
“Lydia, I think you would make a fantastic manor lord. I always have.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I am glad to hear that.”
“But getting you naked is also high on my list.”
“I see!” She laughed as she pressed her cheek against his chest and clutched him tight. “I want to chide you for being so forward in public, but...”
“You like it.” He rubbed her back.
“That is one possibility,” she agreed softly.
After a moment of holding her, Drake kissed the top of her head. Arms still wrapped around him, she made a contented noise that was absolutely adorable. Then he touched her chin, and then he was kissing her like he had in their bedroom. That was nice.
He didn’t need to overdo it. They had all the time in the world to get used to this. With her in his arms like this, he was perfectly content. He wasn’t alone.
“What happens next?” his Lady Gloomwood asked quietly. “I don’t understand this new world. I only know I am happy you are in it.”
He eased her back just enough to stare down at her. “I’m ready to see my mother’s study. I think I can do that now... so long as you’ll come with me.”
Her smile faded, but the compassion that followed assured him it was only because she was sharing his loss. “I will always stand at your side, lord.”
He poked her. “Good, but calling me lord all the time stops now that we’re co-manor lording. The others can still call me lord if they have to, but from now on, you don’t.”
“So how do you wish me to address you... Lord Gloomwood?” Combined with her breathy tone, her intense gaze now had him transfixed.
“When we’re around others, if you have to address me by name, you can still call me by my title. But in private, you can call me...”
“Clint?”
“Drake.”
“Drake,” Lydia agreed softly. “Is this to be a nickname?”
“It could be. I do like hearing you say it.”
“Then we shall explore your mother’s study as co-manor lords... Drake. And the next time a challenge arises for our manor, our people, we will face it together.”
“Like we always have.”
“Not quite.” Lydia smiled coyly. “I now intend to make some changes of my own.”
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading, folks! I hope you enjoyed the ride. Since this will be the last post in this story for the immediate future, this author's note will be a bit more lengthy than normal.
This chapter marks the end of "Book 3" of this series, but not necessarily the end of this story. I originally had three main arcs in my mind that led to the title (Rise of a Manor Lord), and I wanted to tell the story of how a guy who just wanted a six pack and some ****ing donuts could grow into a bold leader with the fervent loyalty of his manor, the respect and gratitude of the noble court, and a bright future.
While Drake is still young by manor lord standards, his victories, the favor of the capital, and the destabilization and changes in the other manors have the new Lord Gloomwood and his people in prime position. Drake has also amassed an arsenal of rarities (through both his thralls and blood vials) that he can wield with an hour or so of preparation, which means, for the time being, he's also largely secure in his own domain. Finally, the addition of Kel and his ferals to the silverwood (as well as his plans to ally with at least one zarovian tribe) means his army is going to grow even more powerful as he builds alliances, especially now that he knows what the silverwood can do.
With the defeat of the kromian army and the destruction of the blood pacts, Drake had arguably reached the point where his "rise" is complete, which is where his story will end for the time being. I'm currently working on several other projects and won't be back to this world for some time, but that's not to say I won't revisit it in the future. There's a lot of questions still unanswered, and several mysteries that would be fun to explore. I just need to find the time and motivation to put those adventures into print.
For now, I plan to toss the occasional short story set in this universe up on my Patreon's Reader tier, both small vignettes of Drake's new life and stories from the POVs of other members of Gloomwood Manor. By design I confined this story to Drake's POV, but I've enjoyed telling stories from the rest of the cast as they struggle to make sense of their strange new lord. I plan to do a few of those just for fun, and plan to post the next "short" in this universe on the Reader tier of my Patreon in March 2024.
My next project (another trilogy) is tentatively scheduled for Q4 of this year, and will be going straight to Amazon KU. While it is another fantasy series with an ensemble cast, it has a more serious tone than this one. That said, if you've enjoyed my writing in this series, I hope you'll keep tabs on me and check out the new series when it's released. The best way to do that is a become a free follower on my Patreon, where I'll continue to post updates on my new books and monthly short stories set in the worlds of my currently published series.
Finally, while I'm not doing doing an official AMA or anything, I'm definitely going to be replying to comments from folks on here as much a I can. So if you have any remaining burning questions about the story or how things played out, I'm happy to try to answer them.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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The inquisition concluded less than a week later. Tenara seemed rather ill at ease as she left his manor, but Drake suspected that was because she was now more certain than ever that Prince Varnath had destroyed the blood pact tablet. The fact that she didn’t share her suspicions with him also suggested she believed Drake had nothing to do with it.
Since Drake couldn’t lie... supposedly... and he was the only witness to the battle beneath the silverwood, save for Sachi, concluding that Prince Varnath had found and destroyed the blood pact disc before Drake killed him made sense. Suspicions might linger, but Drake had already proven to the noble court he could not use doublespeak... through Westin.
His only worry now that was one of Lord Redbow’s former thralls might come after him to avenge their lord. Even so, Drake doubted it. Given how much of an asshole Redbow had been, Drake doubted anyone had followed him willingly. Still, he’d be careful.
Drake hadn’t revealed that Lord Redbow had gifted Prince Varnath his blood pact, or that Prince Varnath had used that blood pact to enslave the kromian elders and even his little brother. It was possible the inquisitors could learn that, but they would have to interview Prince Lorel to do so. Drake imagined the prince would want to keep that fact to himself.
Still, it was only once the inquisitor and her capital guards had passed out of sight around a corner of the road leading to the capital that he allowed himself to relax. As difficult as it was to accept or believe, he had gotten away with it. He now stood without any immediate threats or enemies. He could finally relax... and mourn his mother.
He still had her study to explore. He imagined there were countless books and journals in there that would give him insight into how she and manor lords before her had run the place. With luck, he’d even find a magic artifact or two.
He didn’t fear the study as he once had. Yes, his mother had died beside it, but it had also been her private sanctuary. He knew he could still open the doors, and he’d discovered on one such trip that the remains of Lord Kest’s spider demon were gone.
Demons apparently vanished back to the underside after they were slain, so at least he didn’t have to clean up the place. With the demon gone and his mother’s ashes strewn throughout the silverwood she’d loved, her study remained intriguing. It was, in some ways, a memorial to Marissa Hughes.
Other than whatever he’d broken in the demon fight, his mother’s study was exactly the way she left it when she traveled to Earth to protect him. She had used her rarity, ward weave, to create the unique ward that prevented anyone from entering the study save Drake. The only person he had invited inside so far was Lydia.
So what was he going to do about Lydia? Since they’d discovered their mutual feelings in his bedroom, the inquisition had kept them busy. He’d been tempted to sneak another kiss or a little more since he knew he could now, but somehow, they were never alone.
It didn’t seem like Lydia had engineered that. Dealing with the complete collapse of the blood pact, managing the interviews of over seventy people, and catering to Tenara’s every whim had taken all of their time. He didn’t think Lydia had been avoiding being alone with him... but he did remain uncertain as to where they would go next.
Yet as Drake stood on the front steps of his manor looking over his garden, his fog-cloaked trees, and his distant road, soft footsteps announced his steward’s arrival. He knew her soft footfalls well by now. He also knew she’d come to find him, specifically.
He glanced at her. “How do you think that went?”
“The blood pacts truly are gone,” Lydia said quietly. The wind caught her hair and lifted it just enough, leaving it spiraling off into the wind the way he loved.
“Are you sad about that?”
“No.” She looked at him once more. “I imagine you aren’t either.”
“Prince Varnath was a piece of shit, but he had at least one good idea.”
“So you believe he destroyed the blood pacts? How?”
“I don’t know,” Drake lied. “I just know the inquisitor was really interested in the chamber beneath the silverwood. You said it’s almost as ancient as the Eidolons, right? A being of immense power? What if the blood pacts were tied to the silverwood in some way? Could that be why Varnath came after the silverwood? To destroy the blood pacts?”
Her lips quirked. “You seem to be answering questions instead of asking them.”
Drake decided not to push this any further. “Just speculating out loud.”
Lydia looked to the road. “Regardless, we stand now in an unprecedented age.”
“So... what does that mean to you?”
“The authority of manor lords, at least as it was, no longer exists.”
“So should I step down now? What if we took a vote as to who should lead us?”
“If we did, everyone would vote for you. All here follow you and will continue to do so. We are blessed among manors in that we were prepared for this change.” She took a deep breath, then smiled at him. “Thanks to your leadership, we are uniquely prepared for the turmoil ahead. That, and the favor of the noble court, puts our manor in a powerful position.”
“Sky changed her blood pact, too. Long before I did.”
“I’ve suspected as much since you did the same. Is it right for you to tell me that?”
“I don’t think it matters now that we know blood pacts are gone for good. I told the inquisitor what I did when I arrived. I’m not in chains and on my way to be executed.”
She shook her head as she pressed her upper arm against his, warm and close. “Your reckless nature will never cease to concern me.”
“But I’ll always have you there to bail me out if I get in over my head, so we’re good.”
Neither of them said anything for a good while. It was enough to enjoy the silence, the break from the tasks involved in running a manor, and the closeness. He liked being close to her with nothing to do and no one trying to kill them. Then, Lydia eased away.
“I also have news from Skybreak Manor.”
Drake glanced at her curiously. “Did I miss a call from Sky?” He hadn’t checked the mirror today, but he hadn’t been expecting one.
“No. I received a missive from Lady Skybreak. It concerns... a delicate matter. She suggested I relay the news to you when you were ready to hear it. While I do not know if you are ready now, I see no reason to delay.”
Concern rushed through him. “Is Sky okay?”
“Lord and Lady Skybreak are fine. There is no threat to Skybreak Manor. This is simply... a change in the manor that Lady Skybreak believed might concern you, and one she prays will not negatively impact our alliance.” Lydia took a deep breath. “Lady Skybreak believed it best if she delivered this news before rumors arrived. With confirmation the blood pacts no longer exist, Lord Skybreak has publically taken Karth as her concubinus.”
Drake blinked at what sounded like gibberish. “Her what now?”
“Her unmarried lover,” Lydia said.
Drake stared wide-eyed as he processed. So Sky was... and Karth was... and they were... what? A rush of past encounters crashed through his head like a horde of bulls.
***
“So?” Drake asked. “What do you know about Karth? Can he pull his weight if he’s the only manor lord we can rely on at the cabal?”
“I know very little about his skill in politics,” Samuel said. “The only thing I can say for certain is that he is a childhood friend of Sky’s. My spies suggest they were inseparable as children, and that while Karth eagerly took the blood pact at sixteen to serve the former Lord Skybreak... Sky’s mother... he always intended to serve her instead.”
***
Drake considered getting up and pacing, but that could make him look nervous. So he sat. Valentia chose to remain standing. He finished a full plate of meat and was just thinking about grabbing a second when Sky finally marched from the hall leading to her bedroom.
Her gaze met his immediately. Instead of remarking on the way he was lounging in a chair by an empty plate, she merely inclined her head. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. I was having a difficult conversation.”
Drake belatedly scrambled for a napkin to wipe what he expected might be meat juice from his chin. “It’s fine. You put out a nice spread. I always appreciate a nice spread.”
Sky strode right to where several cups of mead waited. She picked one up, chugged it like she’d just lost a whole game of beer pong, and then grabbed the second. She chugged that one as well, then set the empty cup down as Drake looked on in surprise.
Kari, standing by her bedroom, was looking increasingly embarrassed by her manor lord.
Having satiated what was apparently an incredible thirst, Sky grabbed a third cup of mead, slid a chair out from the table with one boot, and sat down. She then picked up a knife and cut into a slash of venison with force Drake would charitably describe as intense.
What the hell had she and her mother been arguing about in there?
The door to the room Sky had emerged from open again, but it was not Lady Skybreak who emerged. It was Karth, and he was dressed in what looked like noble clothing. As he noticed Drake, his eyes widened noticeably.
“Lord Gloomwood?” The man’s greeting sounded almost accusatory.
Drake eyed him up and down. “Hey, Karth. Looking good.”
“What are you doing here?” Karth demanded.
Drake grabbed another grape. “Having lunch. You?” He popped it into his mouth.
Lady Skybreak—Viktoria—emerged from the hall not long after, looking as composed as she had looked at today’s cabal. At least one of them looked composed. Still, as Viktoria’s gaze swept first to Karth and then her daughter, her composure flexed.
“Karth,” she asked, “don’t you have a patrol to complete?”
The seasoned ranger flinched like he’d been struck and glanced back at Viktoria. “Yes. Of course. I’ll go do that right away.” He looked to Sky again, features tense, but she was still staring at the table as if she intended to burn it to ash with her eyes.
“Right.” Karth met Drake’s gaze. “Good to see you again, Lord Gloomwood.”
Drake simply nodded. “You too, man.”
***
Sky’s exceedingly intense gaze remained locked with his. She obviously expected an answer to her unexpected marriage proposal, and the longer he took to give one, the more annoyed he suspected she might be. Was she... really?
“Lord Skybreak,” Viktoria said quietly, “now may not be the time—”
“No,” Drake said. “I’m not ready to marry anyone, at least not right now.”
Sky’s intense posture incrementally relaxed. It seemed he had chosen the correct answer, though... damn. He had also spoken honestly, no matter how much sense Samuel and Lydia and probably Viktoria thought a marriage between them might make. He wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready, and there was no need to rush into anything.
“Obviously, I understand the strategic advantage of such an arrangement,” Drake continued cautiously. “Both Samuel and Lydia have briefed me on all the benefits.”
“As my mother has with me,” Sky said. “As if I wasn’t already well aware.”
***
With Lydia at his side, Drake made his way to the front of the caravan. Sky’s rangers had gathered there, and Sky and Karth spoke in low tones. When Sky caught sight of Drake, however, she said something to Karth. He nodded and touched her arm before slipping away.
Sky smiled as he approached. “You really came to see me off?”
“It felt rude not to,” Drake said. “Is that unusual?”
***
“Holy shit,” Drake said ruefully. “I really should pay more attention.”
Lydia lightly touched his arm. “I’m sorry if this news upsets you.”
“It doesn’t. Not now. It’s just... wow, talk about a diplomatic incident.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thank goodness Anna decided to go flower picking, because otherwise, I would have stepped on a rake the size of Florida.”
“A rake?” Lydia asked curiously.
“Never mind.” He glanced at her. “Thanks for delivering the news. Please put together a letter for Lady Skybreak and let her know she doesn’t have to worry. I appreciate her keeping us informed, and I’m glad Sky and Karth are... comfortable. Sky has had my back as long as I’ve had hers, so our alliance? It’s as strong as ever. Make sure Sky knows that, too.”
“I will, lord.” Lydia now looked considerably more at ease.
“Is that why you came out to speak to me?”
“No. There is another matter I wished to discuss, though I will admit the news from Lady Skybreak did make my discussion more pertinent.”
Drake frowned. “Now you’ve got me even more curious. What’s up?”
“Since I learned of the dissolution of the blood pacts, I have considered your suggestion from when we spoke before. In your bedroom. Circumstances are different now.”
As he remembered their earlier conversation, about how difficult it would be for them to date because of the blood pact and the expectations of a manor lord, he compared that with this news about Lord Skybreak. Lydia’s favorite manor lord, other than him, had just openly shacked up with her favorite blood thrall. Was Lydia... really?
Drake turned to face her and found his loyal, beautiful, and courageous steward smiling up at him with a good bit of the sly humor he’d always enjoyed. He grappled for focus as he noted how the sunlight lit her silky hair. He couldn’t get ahead of himself.
“This is about doing the co-manor lord thing?”
“Without blood pacts, the option of merging them as a negotiation tactic no longer exists. As you said, there is no precedent for this. Now that we must forge our own path forward as a manor, I see no reason I could not stand beside you... as your Lady Gloomwood.” She stared at him with suddenly uncertain eyes. “So... is that still your wish?”
“Hell yes!” Drake slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He didn’t care who saw them doing that. “At my side is exactly where I want you to be. As my partner, my equal, and my date.” He squeezed her. “We’re dating first.”
As Lydia slipped her arms around his waist, she sighed happily and pressed close. “I would very much like that. Still... I do have one more question.”
“Ask anything. Seriously. Open book.”
“Do you wish me to join you as a leader of Gloomwood Manor because you believe I will make a good manor lord, or because you’re eager to take me to bed?”
“Lydia, I think you would make a fantastic manor lord. I always have.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I am glad to hear that.”
“But getting you naked is also high on my list.”
“I see!” She laughed as she pressed her cheek against his chest and clutched him tight. “I want to chide you for being so forward in public, but...”
“You like it.” He rubbed her back.
“That is one possibility,” she agreed softly.
After a moment of holding her, Drake kissed the top of her head. Arms still wrapped around him, she made a contented noise that was absolutely adorable. Then he touched her chin, and then he was kissing her like he had in their bedroom. That was nice.
He didn’t need to overdo it. They had all the time in the world to get used to this. With her in his arms like this, he was perfectly content. He wasn’t alone.
“What happens next?” his Lady Gloomwood asked quietly. “I don’t understand this new world. I only know I am happy you are in it.”
He eased her back just enough to stare down at her. “I’m ready to see my mother’s study. I think I can do that now... so long as you’ll come with me.”
Her smile faded, but the compassion that followed assured him it was only because she was sharing his loss. “I will always stand at your side, lord.”
He poked her. “Good, but calling me lord all the time stops now that we’re co-manor lording. The others can still call me lord if they have to, but from now on, you don’t.”
“So how do you wish me to address you... Lord Gloomwood?” Combined with her breathy tone, her intense gaze now had him transfixed.
“When we’re around others, if you have to address me by name, you can still call me by my title. But in private, you can call me...”
“Clint?”
“Drake.”
“Drake,” Lydia agreed softly. “Is this to be a nickname?”
“It could be. I do like hearing you say it.”
“Then we shall explore your mother’s study as co-manor lords... Drake. And the next time a challenge arises for our manor, our people, we will face it together.”
“Like we always have.”
“Not quite.” Lydia smiled coyly. “I now intend to make some changes of my own.”
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading, folks! I hope you enjoyed the ride. Since this will be the last post in this story for the immediate future, this author's note will be a bit more lengthy than normal.
This chapter marks the end of "Book 3" of this series, but not necessarily the end of this story. I originally had three main arcs in my mind that led to the title (Rise of a Manor Lord), and I wanted to tell the story of how a guy who just wanted a six pack and some ****ing donuts could grow into a bold leader with the fervent loyalty of his manor, the respect and gratitude of the noble court, and a bright future.
While Drake is still young by manor lord standards, his victories, the favor of the capital, and the destabilization and changes in the other manors have the new Lord Gloomwood and his people in prime position. Drake has also amassed an arsenal of rarities (through both his thralls and blood vials) that he can wield with an hour or so of preparation, which means, for the time being, he's also largely secure in his own domain. Finally, the addition of Kel and his ferals to the silverwood (as well as his plans to ally with at least one zarovian tribe) means his army is going to grow even more powerful as he builds alliances, especially now that he knows what the silverwood can do.
With the defeat of the kromian army and the destruction of the blood pacts, Drake had arguably reached the point where his "rise" is complete, which is where his story will end for the time being. I'm currently working on several other projects and won't be back to this world for some time, but that's not to say I won't revisit it in the future. There's a lot of questions still unanswered, and several mysteries that would be fun to explore. I just need to find the time and motivation to put those adventures into print.
For now, I plan to toss the occasional short story set in this universe up on my Patreon's Reader tier, both small vignettes of Drake's new life and stories from the POVs of other members of Gloomwood Manor. By design I confined this story to Drake's POV, but I've enjoyed telling stories from the rest of the cast as they struggle to make sense of their strange new lord. I plan to do a few of those just for fun, and plan to post the next "short" in this universe on the Reader tier of my Patreon in March 2024.
My next project (another trilogy) is tentatively scheduled for Q4 of this year, and will be going straight to Amazon KU. While it is another fantasy series with an ensemble cast, it has a more serious tone than this one. That said, if you've enjoyed my writing in this series, I hope you'll keep tabs on me and check out the new series when it's released. The best way to do that is a become a free follower on my Patreon, where I'll continue to post updates on my new books and monthly short stories set in the worlds of my currently published series.
Finally, while I'm not doing doing an official AMA or anything, I'm definitely going to be replying to comments from folks on here as much a I can. So if you have any remaining burning questions about the story or how things played out, I'm happy to try to answer them.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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