Chapter 51
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
TYNAN
The room was filled with knights in flying suits ranging from light gray to nearly white.
The din of hundreds of voices sounded like raging water.
Multiple chandeliers lit the spacious ceremonial room where the clan took care of its business.
If the white clan’s traditions were even remotely similar to my own clan’s, this meeting would either formalize the succession of a new clan leader, or erupt in chaos.
The lives of thousands of people depended on this meeting, and the results could never be called in advance.
There were always many parties that wanted to change different things and the discussions could continue well into the night.
I shifted my eyes to old Rutherford. The coward had made a secret pact with the council and tried to poison Alina. The breach at the wall had been staged in order to pull me away from the castle and separate us. And I nearly bought it. I almost lost her because I left her alone.
What if he and his first knight had been successful? What if I was too late?
I clenched my jaw. He should have known that even if I was rotting in the ground, I would claw my way out just to wrap my decaying fingers around his feeble throat.
His watery eyes kept darting in my direction, as if he knew exactly what was on my mind.
I could barely contain myself as I watched him sitting in one of the chairs just below the platform where Alina and I sat.
The old man looked frail and sickly. A light tremor did not allow him to lift his head.
But his pathetic state would not change the way I felt about him.
If I ever got the chance to make him pay, I would do it without a second thought.
People in Alsaard were skeptical about Sage’s experience in the capital and his position as the head seer. None of his stories landed well. At least the white clan had more common sense compared to the people of Darragh.
“Respectable sirs, the gods want me to give you these reasons, and prepare your magnificent clan for future prosperity . . .” Sage was interrupted.
“You’re full of shit!” someone shouted.
“We need to wrap it up, before a fight breaks out.” Alina leaned toward me.
“Get him out of here!” another knight shouted.
“The gods don’t care about any of us. They surely didn’t talk to you, you ol’ drunk!”
Multiple voices joined in, and a half eaten apple flew dangerously close to Sage’s face.
Sage hurried to climb onto the platform.
“Tough crowd. I delayed as much as I could,” he muttered.
“You did great. Thank you.” Alina praised him and that was enough for him.
“Of course, milady.” Sage moved down the platform and stood off to the side.
From the corner of my eye I saw movement.
Alina’s maid climbed the stairs to stand behind her chair.
The girl looked much better compared to when I last saw her.
She may never know just how lucky she was that the group I sent to get temple water had returned earlier in the morning. Without it, she would have died.
“May?” Alina turned toward the girl.
“Milady. I apologise, I couldn’t attend to you earlier.”
“Are you feeling alright? Shouldn’t you be resting?” Alina’s eyes were warm and full of concern.
That was why she was so universally loved and respected. She did not wear any masks. She genuinely cared about people, shared in their concerns, listened to them, understood them.
“Milady, if it’s alright with you, may I stay? I have never seen the ascension of a new clan leader.”
Alina glanced at me. “I’d rather you take care of your health,” she said.
“I feel so much better, milady, thank you. But, if you permit, I would stay only for a few minutes.” May responded.
“I suppose there’s no harm in that,” Alina agreed.
I raised my hand, and slowly the entire room calmed down. All eyes shifted to Alina and me.
“People of Alsaard, we are here to determine the future of your clan.” I raised my voice.
Just as I anticipated, the people were not happy. For them, I was an imposter from the clan of traitors, a murderer, a nobody.
At that moment, I caught a glimpse of Augusta. She was looking down at her hands. She was pale and visibly nervous. That was not a good sign.
Would she be able to handle her own clan? Dozens of power hungry men would want to take her position. Did she know what she was getting into?
I found Denis in the crowd and gave him a sign.
All at once, the black clan warriors dispersed around the room.
I may not have the delicate touch needed for politics and court affairs, but I knew how to control a crowd.
Almost immediately the balance in the room shifted.
Just the mere presence of my heavily armed black warriors cooled the tempers of the white knights.
“Your clan leader challenged me for my title. Fate has spoken. I took his life. Alsaard and every neighboring free town is under my rightful control.”
A wave of displeasure rolled through the crowd. My muscles tensed, I could feel the wild energy building in the air.
“I have decided to delegate the day-to-day business of the clan to the next of kin of the same bloodline.”
“And who would that be?” One of the knights raised his voice.
I glanced at Denis who immediately moved toward him.
Before I could respond, Augusta stood up. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her eyes shined brightly as she turned and looked over the clan. Quietly at first, and then with more feeling and power, she addressed them.
“Brothers and sisters! My family has protected these lands for generations. I watched my father govern the clan and put his life on the line to ensure the safety of all people. As years went by, new challenges arose. As we speak, monsters are surrounding our water supply and preying on the wild life outside the walls. Under my care, I swear to protect everything that has made this city the greatest in all the dragon lands. Our supplies stocked and stored, our gardens producing, our loved ones safe. Help me rebuild this community and address all the threats, preserving our way of living. I ask for your trust, and for your support.”
I scrutinized the faces of the high officials. They were not convinced, although they wisely kept their mouths shut. And even as Augusta continued, I heard one common expression among the crowd.
A woman to take charge of the clan?
Impossible!
A violation of all that is sacred.
A woman!
A woman!
A woman!
The fact that Talman was ruled by the Red Queen for decades would not change the narrow minded beliefs that controlled Alsaard.
“They’re not going to accept her!” Alina whispered beside me.
I clenched my jaw. While Alina was patient, and cared about the feelings of these people, I had no sympathy for any of them.
In the last couple of days, I lost one of my men, was poisoned, and they dared to try to harm my wife.
I wanted justice, and from where I stood, they did not deserve anything.
It did not matter to me that Alina wanted peace.
If the nobles of Alsaard did not accept change in a peaceful manner, there will be no peace for them, at all.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding,” I said slowly.
I could feel Alina’s eyes on me, as I stood and slowly walked down the set of stairs.
I glared at old Rutherford, but the coward would not meet my stare.
His snow white hands clenched the armrests as if his life depended on it.
The coward had no idea that I was not done with him yet.
I strolled between the lines of knights and black clan warriors.
“I didn’t come here to make deals. And I didn’t come here to force you to take care of your own people. No one can help you survive. Either you do it, or you don’t.”
The silence was deadly. People of Alsaard had not expected a ruler to speak so plainly, but I preferred to be direct.
If they refuse to accept a new leader, more lives would be lost, and this time, it would not be crawlers, or monster dragons.
The city would bleed out by a thousand cuts inflicted by their own nobility.
“If you don’t care about us, why should we follow your lead?” One of the knights raised his voice
I was about to tell them that I really did not give a fuck about their city when Alina stood up.
“People of Alsaard, we wish only to bring you peace, and to ensure you have all that is needed to get through this difficult time.
My husband understands how imperative it is that the white clan remains a strong society, and preserves its traditions, but it has to be with a new ruler who can bring order back to your land.
You must have already heard that we are on the brink of war, one that is deadly for all dragonborns.
On one hand, we are facing a disease that is only spreading further as more cities are being stripped of their resources and losing land.
On the other hand, there is a power hungry council that will do nothing to help anyone.
They don’t think about any of you. They don’t even want to try to defeat the disease.
They live in happy seclusion, looking down on everyone who is less fortunate. ”
I watched the rows of knights, many men nodded in agreement. I looked back at Alina. Her eyes were brightened by the force of her inner strength, the fire that burned hot inside of her. She was truly a creature from another world, and it would take me years to deserve her.
“I don’t know what fate has in store for us.
I don’t know if we can change things for the better.
But, I will tell you one thing, I don’t take my responsibilities lightly.
I will give my all to serve, protect and uplift the people of Talman.
Every clan. Regardless of their stance in the council, or their history,” Alina continued.
“Except for blues . . . they don’t deserve shit!” one of the males shouted.
“Every clan. Everyone has to be respected. That’s how we will stop the disease, and the crawlers. Together.” Alina was firm.
The crowd sounded like a roaring ocean, but at least it was not hostile any more. People were talking to each other, some argued.
Alina watched the row of nobles with the dignity of a queen waiting for her people to side with her.
“If Lady Augusta takes the post, we need to be sure that clan business will not be dictated by the capital.” One of the older males stood up from his seat.
“Everything in terms of governing your lands will remain the same as it was.” Alina raised her voice.
“She’s magnificent, isn’t she?” Sage stopped beside me.
I was about to answer when a deeply unsettling feeling pricked the hairs on the back of my neck.
I glanced at the shut doors. At the flickering light of multiple candles.
At the silhouette of one of the knights who shifted on his feet and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Something was not right. The beast deep inside of me roared.
I darted toward the platform. Behind me, the whole room burst into motion and noise. Flying furniture turned into shards of wood, glass shattered, and people screamed.
Someone had set off pyrosalt to create an explosion. I had only seen this technology used by capital forces.
It was a planned attack. We were trapped in a room that was built like a tomb with its reinforced walls and narrow windows. The perfect location for a trap to annihilate us all. Old Rutherford had planned this all along. I was stupid to believe that he would actually give up his title.
I was just feet away from Alina when a sharp pain pierced my back.
Alina’s eyes opened wide. They were of the deepest, warmest shade of walnut and chocolate with shimmering golden specs.
Her smooth porcelain skin glowed with a faint peachy blush on her cheeks, as if she had been painted by the greatest of artists.
She extended her arm as I kept moving toward her, needing to shield her with my body.
I was so close, I could almost touch her.
Then Denis stepped behind Alina and his bared blade reflected in the shimmering light.
He placed his sword right below Alina’s throat.
Several drops of her blood, red as rubies, rushed down her throat.
Her lower lip trembled, and I was ready to fight the entire world and the elder dragons till my last breath.
“Time to pay your debt, Darragh.”
To be continued . . .