Chapter Text
“Emmanellain de Fortemps, you have shamed and dishonoured your House. You have brought disgrace to your family name. Do you acknowledge your fault?”
“Yes, my lord.” Emmanellain’s words were barely audible. Edmont bit back the instinct to tell him once again to stand straight and speak up. The boy had never proved himself a man by word or deed; to Edmont, he was still a child. Spoilt and lazy. And now this! Edmont’s eyebrows drew together as he continued.
“By the power vested in me as head of the House, be it known. You shall leave House Fortemps this day, and go to a place of my choosing, there to remain until I give you leave to return. Do you acknowledge and accept your orders?”
Now the boy was actually looking at him. Shock and something else, maybe a bit of anger, played over his features. The bruise on his jaw where Thancred had punched him was nicely purpling. “What about Honoroit?” he asked at last.
“He shall remain here and when he has recovered, he will be given new duties. Perhaps without a squire, you will learn to make something of yourself.”
Behind him, and to his right, the Count heard his eldest son mutter, “…finally.” Unkind, but true.
“Do you acknowledge and accept your orders?” Edmont repeated.
For a moment, he thought the boy would defy him. Then his head went down again and the shoulders slumped. “Yes, my lord.”
“Go pack. Your escort will meet you out front in two bells.”
“Yes, my lord father.” he turned to leave and then looked back. “Where are you sending me?”
“Gridania.”
Edmont let out a long breath of tension as the door closed after him. Exiling the boy would serve multiple purposes. Most importantly, it would get him out of the way, which would allow the ever-fickle populace of Ishgard to forget just who ordered that arrow loosed. In a year, likely less, the entire sorry incident would be a thing of the past. And while he’d never admit it to anyone else, it was a relief to know that he’d not have to deal with him until he allowed him to return.