Chapter 403 (2/2)

“And—if you fine lords will excuse ,” Chamberlain Geoffrey said in his deep voice, “what part does the disappearance of Sovereigns Orlaeth and Kiros Vritra play into this rebellion? One hears all kinds of strange rumors” His sharp eyes narrowed as he watched ested that Seris has soolden-eyed man from the Victoriad”

I was ready for the question—and theabout his appearance, seely from nowhere, at the Victoriad There were also those who suspected he had soh official sources had claiic accident with an artifact fron Kiros is currently in chains beneath Taegrin Caelu n Orlaeth, well…” Here, Seris wasn’t quite ready to let the full truth out, fearing that, should word get back to Agrona, it would somehow help him disable her defenses “Just know that he has been incapacitated, but not killed”

The gathered highbloods stared around at each other, their expressionswithin the spectrum of incredulity Ainsworth shi+fted in his seat Frost leaned back in his chair, causing it to creak Umburter picked a sliver frousted

“What does Seris ith us?” Maylis asked She was reclined back in the wooden tavern chair, one leg crossed over the other, her fingertips fiddling at the golden hilt of a dagger

Seabrook barked out, “Soldiers, obviously,” before I could respond

“No, she needs legitimacy,” Ainsworth said in answer, the first words he’d spoken since my arrival “Support to establish that this is more than an upstart rebellion meant for a sudden and violent end”

“But is it?” Wolfru to Frost for support

The athletic older ood question While I am not so cowardly that I would refuse to say aloud that this continent has extensive problems, the reality is that we are ruled over by literal deities We’ve all seen endless broadcasts of the wreckage the asura attacks left in Dicathen And the High Sovereign has many such Vritra at his co entire arainst that”

Grabbing the nearest chair, I turned it around and sat down, lad you’re aware the castles we all live in are made of sand” This proclalances and ly crafted and beautiful, perhaps, but standing only because a Sovereign hasn’t yet decided to knock it down What good is your blood if, for even the ht, an irritated, irrational God can wipe it aith one breath, then have forgotten you entirely by the next?” Read f-irst at l i g h t-n o v el r e a-d e ror !g

Frost shi+fted in his seat Maylis went still, her body carrying the tension of a coiled spring despite her relaxed posture Umburter looked down at his hands, his face pale

“And yet,” I said n hasn’t shtered Seris, and every day another city in Dicathen falls, taken back by the people of that continent His control is already slipping”

I focused on Seabrook, and the others did as well The pluolden-eyedaround Alacrya slitting Sovereign throats Because it is he who has been single-handedly retaking the continent of Dicathen, just as it was he who burned the military encampment to the north of Victorious”

Exeter let out a lohistle “So it’s true then? Ascender Grey is Dicathian?”

I nodded “He arrived on our continent to master the Relictombs And he has succeeded”

Maylis let out a shocked scoff “But what does that even mean, Caera? To master the Relictombs?”

“Simple” My lips curved in a nonchalant smile “To master the Relictombs means to master aether”

This was one of the hardest parts Seris wanted these people to see Grey as soiven everything I’d seen hih, it was difficult for me to think of him that way

“In all your ascents have you ever ate anywhere they want in the Relictombs?” I asked, still focused on Maylis

“That’s ihlord Frost, have you ever seen an ascender spontaneously receive a new rune without a bestow the word around in hisits implications

“I have,” I said siravitas “Because I ascended alongside Grey through s, and aze was very far away, but across the table fro intently at rin Caelum told me—”

“You mean the Wraiths?” I asked, and all eyes turned to him He shrank in on himself nervously “Tell theaze darted all over the table as he took in a deep breath, obviously steeling himself for whatever else he had to say “He said, well there were ruroup of Wraiths”—he whispered the word “Wraiths”—“was destroyed on the other continent”

“But the Wraiths are a fairy story, a—” Umburter started to say, but Wolfrum cut him off with a violent shake of his head

“They’re not! The Redwaters, they”—he sith some difficulty—“wanted me to be one, when my blood manifested Only…” He trailed off

Seabrook cleared his throat, so that this Ascender Grey killed them?”

“It’s true,” Ainsworth answered in Wolfrum’s stead “I had men in that battle, one of themthe eneic was unleashed in the distance, but then a golden-eyed man appeared and thren a Vritra horn for all to see, and Scythes Melzri and Viessa retreated with a bow”

“They bowed to the man?” Chaain, the table broke down intoand cross-chatter, but this tier

“You all saw for yourself what he did at the Victoriad,” I said when the noise had quieted down “Alone, ar theer I expected soner couldn’t possibly lead Alacryans, or that we’d just be replacing one authoritarian deity for another, but, to ht battle groups e teleporters were deactivated,” Lord Exeter said, his low voice now soft “They all shared the saave them a choice, multiple tiht groups of cowards to me,” Seabrook huffed

Exeter’s scoas a violent, nearly physical thing

“I’ve heard the same from several others,” Ainsworth pointed out, his focus also on Seabrook “Apparently our eneentle with the lives of our men than our own leaders are”

I stood suddenly, stepping around ht hand trailing along the table’s edge “Do you knohat the asuran word for our kind is?” No one answered “Lessers”

Frost watched ated the scarred tabletop as if it were a battle er bouncing around the other highlords Seabrook was silent and brooding, U lost, Exeter so forward on the table, tapping his lips with one finger as he conte that had been said Maylis wore the stoic expression of one who had looked into the face of death often and fought for everything she’d ever had

“To the Vritra, there is no difference between the e and the lowliest unblooded unadorned To them, you are all lesser, and that is all any of us will ever be And as lessers, our lives are only as valuable as what they can be traded for, sacrificed for A commodity” Read f-irst at ReadNovelFullco now Seabrook’s cheeks had flushed red as wine

“Seris is not content to let the lessers of this world be burned as fuel for a war of asuras I aht to ensure you are not so misused” Frost’s hands clenched into fists A silly, drunken smirk stretched across Wolfrum’s face “Even if you will not,” I finished somberly

The words settled over the table like a heavy snowfall, blanketing everyone and dulling all other noise Even the inn’s barrooh the silence, I felt the from down the street

No one else had sensed theht the sudden tension in er “What is it?”

“Mages—powerful ones” I scanned the faces, all tensed like silk hoppers about to spring as they waited for ive me any further indication of their support; that mo men revealed how the perception of power had shi+fted within the rooan toLord Umburter threw a cloak around his shoulders, and suddenly I found er able to focus on hih plain, the cloak was enchanted so that ht off of hiical accouterments to keep theate each one by one

Pulling the door open slowly, I peeked into the hall before leaving the room There was no one to be seen, so I hurried toward the back door Halfway there, an arh mine Surprised, I started to pull away, then belatedly realized it was Maylis

Grinning, she grabbed a bottle of soainst the wall, pulled the cork with her teeth, and took a long quaff When ave a throaty chuckle and said, “What? We’re just a couple of old friendsfor a drink in these uncertain ti to pour the liquor intofro, ent out the door, not quietly, but with Maylis kicking it open and cheering into the cool night It still sh the storm had let up while I’d been in the inn

Arht

“You know, Caera, I’m pretty surprised your blood neverslightly “Of the Vritra-blooded kids I was paraded around in front of, you seeuilt through my insides, but this was a truth Seris and I weren’t ready to tell anyone yet “I’h, surprised and disappointed would probably describe their disposition natures stopping somewhere around the inn My mana was still suppressed, and I could sense that Maylis had taken the same precaution

Maylis chuckled and handed o did yours hblood Tre e puddle “And I’m not surprised After I manifested, I spent so in Taegrin Caelu poked and prodded by about forty different researchers Whatever they were looking for, though, I o, they sent me on my ith a new naot properties and estates and servants and…well, it’s quite the change”

“But you still go on ascents,” I stated, certain by her reaction earlier that she was no stranger to the Relicto s-lutely I’ to sit on my ass for the rest of my life” She suddenly peered at uy You two had a lot of alone ti e reason “I only saw the broadcasts, but he seeo red in the face as I realized what she was insinuating “Maylis! You really do have a lot to learn about being a highblood…”

But h harder

We continued on like this for a few blocks, then Maylis releasedus Pity, I wouldn’t have an to protest “Anyway, I’ain soon, Caera It see here in Alacrya”

“I hope we can rely on Highblood Tremblay for support,” I said formally, then, ’ isn’t the word I’d choose for the ti thehed, loud and carefree “Always so focused, as I said Farewell, Caera” She spun away and began taking long, purposeful strides “Oh, and of course, don’t die,” she shot over her shoulder before dipping into the shadows of an unlit street

Thea wary melancholy into its place “I can only do my best,” I said to myself, then turned and hurried toward the back-alley tee of Sehz-Clar, outside the asura-powered shi+elds Re ad f-irst at ReadNovelFullco h I couldn’t be certain if they’d been there before and I’d missed them, or if they’d just appeared I didn’t hurry my pace, but kept up a steady nature wasn’t overwhel their presence, or just a scout or spy sent to track es apprised of my location

After a couple of minutes, Ihtly-packed residential area with liht

After ure stepped around the corner, they found scarlet steel at their throat I peered into the shadows under their hood, but it was too deep and too dark, hiding their features

“Don’t move,” I ordered “State your name and purpose immediately”

They were motionless, their hands out to their sides From beneath the hood, a husky, raw voice said, “Can I uess it’d be too late for uess I can”

I felt my features pinch into a confused frown as theme?”

Slowly, hands raised up to the sides of the hood, pulling it down to reveal an older ray hair and an unkeure stated, his eyes nearly crossing as he tried to look at the point ofthe na, only partially remembered “To what pleasure do I owe such an unlooked-for visit froht?”

“I could hardly stand to see you playing patty cake with those prissy, over-pruned nobles” He chuckled, and his glassy eyes went dark “It won’t be enough, lass No, if you want to foment a rebellion, you need to look a lot lower”

I withdreeapon but didn’t stow it My mind whirled with questions, but I held back, still reserved I didn’t know this man well, and had only his tenuous connection to Grey for assurance

“Continue”

Alaric grinned, showing off yellowing teeth “You need friends in low places, and nobody’s got more friends, and none lower, than me” He hesitated, and there was a twinkle in his eye “And my service will only cost you a bottle of mead for the walk”