Editing Tears of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Mirage:History (section)

==Chapter 15:  Jauffrey’s Story==


As they headed down the road, Mirage turned to Jauffrey, “So, Jauffrey, I hope you’ll enjoy traveling with us, even though you’re our servant now.  You could’ve refused – we would’ve understood.”  


He smiled, “My Lady, it’ll be a pleasure leaving that woman behind.”


Caleb sighed, “I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of her.  Why do you hate her so much, Jauffrey?  I mean, I despise her for trying to kill my wife, but why do you hate her?”


Jauffrey sighed heavily, looking very sad, “It’s kind of a long story.  But, since my new masters have asked it of me, I suppose I can’t refuse.  She was my first employer, back when I was alive and she was nothing more than a noble’s sorceress.  I was, in essence, her butler and most trusted confidant as well.”


Jauffrey sighed heavily and continued, talking a bit faster as though he wanted to get his story over with quickly, “You see, being a butler is a very time honored tradition.  I was bound by oath never to tell her secrets, even in death.  But, my oath wasn’t good enough for her.  I fell in love with one of her maid-servants and secretly took her as my wife.  And, while I never discussed my mistress’ business with her, the Green Lady became suspicious of me.  You see, I was the only one who knew her true nature as an exalted of the Stars, and about her later dealings with Walker in Darkness.  So, one day, after her nature was discovered by her peers, she believed I was behind it.  She poisoned my wife and young son, and stabbed me in the back when I found their bodies.  I guess that’s why I liked you both from the start – you reminded me of what I had lost.”


Mirage and Caleb gasped in horror at his story.  Jauffrey just sighed, “It gets worse.  She made sure I kept my oath by putting a curse on me so that my spirit could never speak at all.  That way I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone about her secrets of the past.  


However, after she killed me, Walker in Darkness became curious as to why and summoned and bound my spirit to him.  Still, though he did break the curse on me, being a man of my oath, I wouldn’t tell him any of her secrets – even under torture.  He was so impressed by my loyalty to my oath; he kept me as a servant as well, knowing I would never allow myself to divulge his secrets either.  And, now I’m bound to you both, and yes, your secrets are safe with me.”


“Wow.”  Mirage said, still shocked by the story, “But, why didn’t you ever kill the Green Lady for revenge?”


He sighed, “Because Walker in Darkness forbids it, and I’m afraid to try.  She’s both powerful and manipulative.  Should I ever try and fail, I know she’ll use that forked tongue of hers to have him believing it was all some plot to try to overthrow him!  With her at his side it’s no wonder he’s so paranoid.  But, he believes she has prophetic visions so he’ll put up with her as his councilor to keep that asset.”


Caleb groaned, “And, Mirage, having real prophetic ability, is now even more of a threat to her.  I hope she doesn’t find out, she’s bound to try to kill her again!  I hope that she doesn’t have any spies in his midst…”


Jauffrey shrugged, “Hard to say.  I’m just glad to finally have that harpy bitch out of my sight!”


Mirage grinned, “Well put!”