Chapter 453 (1/2)
Chapter 453
Chapter 451: Changes II
Just now
ARTHUR LEYWIN
As I led Sylvie and Caera back into the throne room for what felt like the tenth time over the last two days, I couldn’t help the flash of annoyance that passed through ons were already there, but Charon and Windsom hadn’t arrived yet I could tell by Edirith’s soain, been fruitless
The other Wraiths, which, if Sylvie’s vision had been correct, included at least the reroups, had melted away entirely
‘It seeone hohts ‘They are certainly out there biding their tiainst Charon and Etistin’
Charon had assigned three dragons to help search Etistin and the surrounding area He hadn’t actively hampered my work in any way, but he’d ic conference and outright refused to allocate more resources to the effort
‘It’s alis ’
Sylvie shook her head as she scanned the faces of the other dragons with care ‘No, I think they genuinely believe that the threat is minimal That their very presence will prevent it They aren’t stupid, they understand their orders and the danger presented, but they can’t accept that danger as real A lifeti atop the very peak of power and authority in Epheotus has convinced them that they’ll be victorious noin your heads again, aren’t you?” Caera said, her voice low, as she paced at uilty look “Sorry, force of habit”
Caera waved off the apology, her gaze drifting to the three dragons “I ih”
“I don’t want you to feel unwelco if you’d like to return to the Alacryan caons—“I know you haven’t had the best experience with theave me a wry smile “I’ve been sent here by Lady Seris as a representative, so putting my personal experience aside, I’ll stay to fulfill that duty”
We slipped back into a strained quiet until Charon arrived a fewinto the throne room as casually as if he were out for a leisurely afternoon walk Curtis Glayder was kept pace at his side and gave h not particularly friendly, hen he saaiting
“Still no sign of any more Wraith activity,” Edirith confir to attention “With all due respect, sir, I think we’re wasting our time”
Charon stopped and smiled, his hands clasped behind his back He nodded as if he’d expected this news “It seems your execution of their scout has ended this threat, Arthur You’ve scoured half of Sapin by now With the ele in their benefit, I think it’s safe to say that the Wraiths have called off this attack”
“We can’t know that, but…” I let out a breath, expelling soht”
That, of course, was the problem with visions of the future Elder Rinia had tried her best to drill the fact intowhat they foretold, carried with it its own inherent dangers
“Besides, the search has started to draw attention from the population,” Curtis chimed in “People have noticed your presence, Arthur, and it is generating all sorts of worrying rulanced at Curtis, re the Glayders deaths had pushed ret it With no way to knohen the attack was going to happen, delaying risked allowing that future to beco some trap could have cost me days, even weeks, of valuable time Once I’d actually discovered the Wraith scout, it was too late to do anything but give chase
‘Don’t be too hard on yourself,’ Sylvie thought ‘Hindsight may be perfect, but even visions can’t help us see all outcomes’
‘Ah, well, you knohat they say: the soldier who never is added
I’ht back
Regis swirled aroundwith a, really, I just wanted to feel included since we’re doling out little wisdoh and turned my attention back to Charon
“Now, Arthur, I had hoped we ht have some time to speak privately You’ve kept yourselves so busy, I’ve barely had any time at all to speak with an to counter, stopping ht to Etistin just yet, but I think the city can live without you and Sylvie for a few hours”
In the end, all I could do was agree
Edirith was sent back to his duties, and Curtis bid us all farewell as he hurried off to so his arless chatter about the state of the city and the continent, what he thought of everything froossip
The drawing room he led us to was unnecessarily opulent, clearly a holdover from a time before the war The defensive structure of the city and palace was old chaance The furniture looked as if it had rarely been used, the plush rugs were as bright as if they’d been woven that very e open fireplace burned e of dirt or ash on the white surfaces
Windso quietly as we entered He had given up on atte to force Sylvie’s immediate return to Epheotus, but I was certain he had already reached out to his master for instructions If Kezess attempted to force the issue…
Well, I wasn’t exactly sure what I would do yet
I still hadn’t gotten a read on Charon, as either reasonable or just more patient and less obvious in hiscertain on than of a blowhard like Vajrakor, and yet heally
If he is driven by soain a lot by working alongside hi at his back
Loyalty was already proving to be a difficult probleate In particular, Kathyln and Curtis Glayder occupied a worrying position Specifically, I was uncomfortable with just how close they already seemed to Charon and his soldiers
‘Already?’ Sylvie sent, responding to hts ‘Reons’ powers of persuasion are far more potent than most humans can handle’
‘They do seeis added in reference to the Glayders
We’ll see, I sent back
“Lady Sylvie, I apologize that this Wraith situation has delayed our chance to converse properly,” Charon said as he closed the drawing room door behind us “I’ve looked forward to an opportunity toof your survival You are looked at as a bit of an enig the clan…and that was before recent events”
I let Sylvie take the lead in the conversation I knew I had been pushi+ng back too hard these past few days, trying to force equilibriuons Sylvie was better positioned to speak on equal footing, capitalizing on her relationshi+p with Kezess, but only if I held myself in check The link between ouroff each other’s knowledge with each response
“That was made pretty clear to htly as she moved around the room and admired the decor “Kezess insulated , but I didn’t on and basilisk—born outside of Epheotus and bonded with a huined in Epheotus, or so I was told”
Charon’s srined “True, if perhaps not a polite way to phrase things There were rip on you I think you would have found your clan quite receptive to your presence, had it been allowed Still, in the end, it only enhanced your mystique” He chuckled airily, then sobered “When it was learned that you had…passed, well It was quite a blow to the Indrath clan”
I listened intently, absorbed in their conversation I hadn’t given ht of Sylvie She was e and being granddaughter of the most powerful asura in Epheotus was always a distant afterthought
“As you can see, the ruerated,” Sylvie said, a note of hu away fro what had happened after she sacrificed herself for iven ht tohonest” She leaned against the back of a couch and shota war”
Charon cleared his throat “Please, make yourselves comfortable We have much to talk about, and there is no need to be so forh-backed chair with golden leaves embroidered up and down the arms
Caera sat stiffly at the far end of the couch, away fro her own body like a shi+eld I sensed Caera relax irace
Regis chose thatfrom the soft shadows around e of the couch Not being able to help hi in ly
Windsom, who stayed by the fire, pretended not to notice
Charon inspected Regis thoughtfully “Sentient acclorite born of aether,” he mused “The three of you are just as unique individually as in a group, aren’t you?”
“So, have you thought of proper contingencies regarding the Wraiths?” I asked, sitting on the edge of a plush chaise lounge “Even if they’ve retreated from Etistin and called off their attack on you, they’re certainly still in Dicathen” Considering my words carefully, I added, “Who kno roup”
Charon see, “If the Wraiths attack uardians, directly, I a the apprehensive look on rona bills these Wraiths as his ‘asura-killers,’ and no doubt they are capable by lessuran standards But I assure you, I am not the prey they were bred to hunt”
“And the dragons out on patrol?” I asked, crossing my arms “How many do you even have? It doesn’t see to let your own people be picked off one by one?”
Charon nodded slightly as I spoke “I do appreciate the danger there, and I will adjust the patrols to ensure my kin move in pairs Should the need arise, they can retreat and call for additional reinforcehtly “Does that satisfy you?”