Chapter 493: For The Days To Come (2/2)

I felt in to flush red and turned away under the pretense of looking at the dwarven lords Once, I would have given just about anything for such support fro time, I would have smiled politely at such words only to spit on theh…

Nearby, writhing vines pinned a group of dwarven soldiers to the ground Even as I noticed it, the vines began to unravel, snaking their way down into the ground Tessia Eralith landed between htly in the wind of her own et back to their feet, twenty others had surrounded the lined up with the rest of those who’d participated in the protest

“The soldiers were a part of it as well?” I asked, unable to suppress my surprise

Tessia facedaround her like the vines she’d conjured It allow fro her forehead, and her jaas tight, as if she were trying to hold back a grimace of pain or concentration

“Poor choices aze drifting to the side

Before I could think of anything to say in response, Co up He stopped with his hands outstretched, not quite touching the sides of her face “Tessia? Are you all right?”

“Fine,” she said, saze flicked to me, then back to Virion

Behind the pair, Arthur floated down fro in the middle of the dwarven ranks A couple of dwarves in blue battlerobes pushed through tosoical aid

My attention was snapped back to the pair of elves in front of me Virion had just asked me a question It took a couple of seconds for his words to sink through

“Um, yes, we’re all well, of course Thank you, Commander Virion And you, Lady Tessia” I nodded deeply, a respectful gesture but not quite a bow “I’ couldn’t have been h”—Arthur was shouting at soround, and Tessia’sinto a discoain”

She focused on so quickly toward us fro portals The Alacryans froone

Uriel led the way as he and the others attempted to intercept Seris She didn’t break stride as she waved them off “Go to your fao to Central Dominion or Sehz-Clar instead But choose quickly We won’t be waiting here to see the afteredy”

Seris paid them no further attention as she approached me Her red eyes flicked over , but they returned to lad you’re safe, but there has been a change of plans I need you to go through to Central Dominion immediately Many of those now there were not meant to be, and instead of a stately procession, we’ve just duidan City without warning”

“And the Sehz-Clar portal?” Corbett asked, having come to stand supportively beside ain looking past us to Arthur

I couldn’t help but turn to look as well: he was hovering in front of the dwarven lords and Lance Mica, wreathed in a down at them I could only make out one of every feords, but still the hairs on the back of my neck stood up

“I’ll leave immediately,” I said To Corbett, I added, “Please check on Seth Milview and Mayla Fairweather Invite both to coidan, if they wish We can help theo once the shter,” he said in answer His hands twitched as if he wanted to take hold of mine, but he held himself back

I nodded firmly, my jaw set “Father Seris”

There was no need for further instructions I kneas needed of h the inventors, exoforht for the central portal, which was still active Far down the highway, the second prison had been opened, and the first of those contained within were starting to pour out Unlike the stately procedure of the first group, these people were rushed and desperate, bu to for to join Bairon, as already present a the Alacryans Mica Earthborn hurled past just behind him

I paused only briefly to collectScythe Dragoth and his double agent, Wolfrurona had still been in power The conflict in front of us had seemed nearly unwinnable Each act had been one of desperation Noas returning to a continent suddenly free of Agrona The Vritra were gone The entire power structure of our continent hadthe rapid beating of ht of the cavern was al I found myself in on the other side Cries of pain and despair resounded out of the shadoashi+ng over shouts for order and attention The only light in thecame from the open front doors, which were draped with broken chains and hung listlessly on their hinges; they’d been s froidan’s great library, ht as I approached the open doors Although the lobby was full of breathless, weeping people, few took notice ofout into a fine, sunny afternoon, I found the street outside full of bodies pressed together Mages in black and crimson had cordoned off the street from both sides Their weapons were bared, and nited their runes to channel spells

I was unsurprised to see Justus leading the conflict; he stood nearly nose to nose with a well-groos so spittle sprayed the young man’s face

“—nearly died at the hands of Dicathian barbarians and have returned hohlord of the Denoir blood, you gawping little leech! If you don’t letthe entire lot of you with your own guts, I’ll—”

“Justus Denoir!”

The crowd parted around reat uncle, his face blood red, a vein bulging at his teive us, Lord Kaenig,” I continued, holding eye contact with Justus The tension of the last few minutes melted away I stepped into myself, into the command and authority I’d been trained to wield like a weapon “Ahblood is in control of the city?”

The young , s in my direction “Ah, Lady Caera A voice of reason in all this h his wavy blond hair and stepped out of the line of guards, brushi+ng past Justus My great uncle bellowed and took a swing at Walter frouards lunged forward and caught him by the arm Two more piled on, and Justus was sla stones

Nearby, Melitta screamed at them and a dozen or more unarmed Denoir foot soldiers channeled their mana The reaction was iht to bear

“Please, tell yourup to Walter, who had turned to look down at Justus Some of those ere trapped in the street were already retreating back into the library to escape what could turn into a bloody confrontation “There has been h violence already, especially between Alacryans”

Walter took his ti people, all of whoather here, you are the reainst Dicathen”

I took a , unsurprised, lean from those who arrived before me

“As you’ve already sur has taken custodianshi+p of Cargidan until further orders are received fron,” Walter said smoothly in his rich baritone “With most operations in the Relicto to recuperate, the city is in an uncertain state at the htfully “I understand your plight of course, Lady Caera, but we do not have the manpower or resources to deal with these people They are siht to dump them into our city You will stay here until—”

“Your people have been allowed to co him off “And I can assure you, there won’t be any additional orders frorona He was defeated in Dicathen That was the shockwave you describe—”

“Lies,” Walter said, the back of his hand snapping toward h my head in the instant I had to react Every one of the Alacryans who had just coe, butsome level of shock from the blast that had struck them Some couldn’t reach their mana at all, still, while the rest eak and in no condition to fight Most of the es in Alacrya were likely in a similar state

Walter had casually assu asp, I brought him to his knees His soldiers started to esture to stop They hesitated

Leaning down slightly, I held his gaze “Send word to your highlord Convene every noble in the city We will need every soldier at your disposal Over a thousand Alacryans will coh that portal today, and it is up to us to assure they get hoanize as many tempus warps as we can Can I rely on your assistance in this matter, Lord Walter?”

The man sed visibly “Of course, Lady Denoir,” he said, unable to contain the harsh edge of pain that crept into his words

I released hi his twisted wrist He shot a look at one of his ht perhaps he was going to shout for ic, ready to defend myself if necessary

Instead, he said, “Send word to ees in need of assistance”

He looked back at htly pale, but I was focused beyond hireat uncle up He may be an awful old ass, but he, like the rest of these people, has been through a hell not of his own race”

I clenchedh as I turned back to the library’s dark interior More people were beginning to appear on the receiving platfor or be pushed back out the doors

The lines of the Kaenig an to spread out Calls for cal down their faces as they regarded the Alacryan city or the Basilisk Fang Mountains nearby Others shouted their good cheer, and for the first time I noticed the many cloistered faces that stared down at us from townhouse s all up and down the street

Everywhere I looked, I found faces twisted with hope, fear, fatigue, and jubilation

I took in all these emotions, on display both from both those newly arrived in the city and everyone who’d been no doubt bound to their houre out as happening

How one?

More importantly, I considered just how much work there was to do to build our nation back up in the Vritra clan’s absence Each step would be made even more difficult by those who refused to see the truth…the need for change

Without fully an to plan for the hours, days, and weeks to come