Starshadow Castle

Ludvig was unceremoniously deposited into a cell of the dungeon and Sonja left him to stew for a while. She and Zane went to the warden's office, and someone was already waiting for them there.

Dahlia Blackheart was Zane's half-sister. They had the same Dragon mother. Zane's parents were in an arranged marriage. They were together long enough to give birth to him, and then they split up. Later, his mother married Dahlia's father, an Eoduun/Huaesek from Undirheim. They had two children, Dante and Dahlia. Zane didn't hate or blame his mother. He didn't disdain his younger siblings or his stepfather. His father seemed perfectly happy being single, not in a hurry to remarry. 

Dahlia had an unusual skill inherited from her Huaesek grandparent. She was able to control her humanoid form. Dragons could affect their humanoid forms, but it took a lot of energy, so they usually didn't bother. Dahlia was different. She had the ability of metamorphosis. At will she could change her body shape, features, colors, etc. She had naturally white hair, yellow-ish eyes, and slightly dark tan skin. She usually kept these features, but seemingly on a whim, she could switch between male or female, masculine or feminine.

Usually, she dressed quite androgynously, in leather and light armor pieces. She kept her white hair long but pulled in a ponytail at her nape with bangs framing her face. She was female presenting at the moment, with her boots on the warden's desk as she reclined in the chair.

Dahlia wasn't part of the military corps. She tried when she came of age during the early part of the Hunter Wars. She didn't like the rigid command structure, so she quit and became a freelancer, a mercenary. Her main client was her brother, but instead of following orders, now it was just fulfilling requests.

Sonja glanced at her. Her presence explained where the evidence came from. With her skill at metamorphosis, she was a master of disguise. She'd been helping with this investigation for over twenty years.

Dahlia was unusually solemn. "I'm sorry," she said. She didn’t need to explain what she was sorry about. Everyone in the room understood.

Sonja shook her head. "Don't worry about me. I just don't know how to tell the children," she said. She then dismissed the subject mentally. "Did you send for a Truthcaller?" she said to Zane.

Zane nodded. "I sent for one when I sent the report," he explained. He knew Sonja. He had no doubt that she would sit on this report and ignore it. She was a woman of action and would get things done soon.

Sonja nodded. Even as fast as a Dragon could fly, it would still take a while for a Sapphire Dragon to make it to Myrkir from Isaz. Isaz was the northernmost continent and Myrkir was the westernmost continent. She took a deep breath. "I'll go talk to him," she decided. "Stay here," she told them.

Dahlia held up her hands, expressing silently she had no desire to get in the middle of that conversation. Zane frowned but he didn't argue.

Sonja made her way back to the cells. Ludvig was pacing and yelling every now and then in his cell. He snarled when he saw her enter the outer cell on the other side of the bars. "Sonja Starshadow! Why have you locked me up? What will the children think when they learn you locked their father in the dungeon," he said. He knew her weakness. That was her children. The tough as nails Duchess of Starshadow was a softy when it came to children, especially her own.

Sonja's face became even colder. "What will your children think when they learn you've been plotting to kidnap the Grand Duchess's children? Was Chrystianna your next target? I've been over it a thousand times in my head and I cannot figure out how you benefit from this," she said.

Ludvig made an ugly face. "Even if I did any of that, why is it bad for me? If there are no Silvermoons, who is next in line? You! Then you're in charge and I'm the Grand Duke consort!" he declared.

Sonja paused in utter bewilderment. She rubbed her forehead. "Dunderhead. Absolute dunderhead," she grumbled. "That's not how it works, idiot!" she shouted.

Ludvig flinched. "No. If there are no more Silvermoons, who will be Grand Duchess?" he asked. He blinked a few times. 

Sonja shook her head. She knew he wasn't the brightest, but did he really not know how their society works? "Firstly, like what happened during the Plague in Isaz, a child from another branch of the family will be found and brought up to renew the role. Secondly, even if that is how it worked, Elektra Sunfyre is the same rank as me. Thirdly, even if the ranking changed, the entire Conclave would have to vote on it," she explained impatiently.

Looking at his confounded face, it seems as though he really never realized that. She narrowed her eyes. If her husband really was this ignorant, there was no way he masterminded a kidnapping plot in order to overthrow the Grand Duchess. 

"Who told you that would happen if something were to happen to Chrystianna?" she asked. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him.

Ludvig blanched but tried to hide his expression. "What are you saying? I thought that was how it works! I planned it. It's not my fault the Gods intervened," he said stubbornly. "Nothing happened to her or her brats. You have no reason to lock me up. Let's just divorce and I'll go home to my sisters," he suggested, regaining some of his young master's arrogance. He had no doubt his sisters would take him in.

"You are a Justice. You should know the laws better than me," she stated.

Ludvig scoffed. "If you make this public, what about the children?" he asked, trying to pry her weakness again.

Sonja shook her head. "The children will be hurt by your actions, but they are Starshadows. Who will dare judge them for someone like you?" she sneered. 

Disappointment came upon her. "A Truthcaller is coming. Your official interrogation will begin soon. Someone will bring you breakfast and clothes," she said. She turned sharply on her heel and left the cell. She just could not deal with him any longer.