Chapter 499: Firm and Lasting Alliances (1/2)

Chapter 499: Fir Alliances

ARTHUR LEYWIN

Veruhn’s spell pulled at the ocean water, which flowed upward in a single tentacle-like strea counterclockwise until a roiling sheet of living seawater hung in the air before us The water grew clearer and clearer until it was like looking in a mirror Between one breath and the next, thea

Instead of looking at ourselves, ere seeing through to so happily in his dotty way, gestured for lanced back at the procession that was to follow My is Behind them was Zelyna, as flanked by a dozenwithin the Eccleiah clan

Taking a deep breath to settle h the portal

The salt and brine of Ecclesia gave way to smoke and the sweet scent of mountain flowers A cheer went up from a crowd all around me

Before I could aze ed up by the scene to h balcony, and a brass rail was all that separatedcliffside that seereen and brown blur, devoid of detail or a sense of distance

“Lord Leywin” Novis of Clan Avignis, lord of the phoenix race, reached out and tooka political s

The city of Featherwalk Aerie and its people were an astonishi+ng sight

Dozens of phoenixes in their hues that connected various platforht clothes the color of fire and ornamented with feathers and leaves More than a few also wore featheredpunctuated the cheers, and bursts of flame shot overhead like fireworks

The city itself was built directly into the cliffside aht through the rock and into the sun Sos were treehouse-like roosts nestled in the branches of these trees, while others were carved into the cliff face or settled carefully within the folds of rock

Mom stepped out of the portal behind aped in utter surprise The crowd quieted only slightly as heads bent together and fingers pointed toward my family

Rai of Clan Kothan, leader of the basilisks, stood off to the side with a procession of noble phoenixes and basilisks He greeted nis went to roup was folded into the noble procession A young phoenix woman with citrine eyes and smokey, braided hair took h row after row of excited onlookers

“I certainly wasn’t expecting such a…vocal reception,” I

“No one alive can remember a time when a new race was na up at hter speaks the truth, but I’ll adrinned broadly as he reached out to take the hands of several phoenixes crowded against the rail to our right as we passed theer of Epheotus, both in the wilderness and the conference chamber I wanted you to see e really are, Arthur Who you are, now”

I considered his words in silence as the progression continued The sound of harps followed us, and then a soaring ether in song There were no words, but the song conveyed a sense of haretherness no less effectively for their absence

The procession delivered us to a huge semi-circular platform that extended out from a fortress of woven wood, dark stone, and ashen tiles that crawled up the cliffside An enor of black stones twenty feet wide

As we approached, the young wo me smiled and indicated the conical structure of dark wood “Please Light the fire, Lord Leywin”

I glanced around for some kind of tool but realized quickly that the phoenixes would have little use for such iht the fire witha in to float up from my scalp Taken by a round as well, pulling free of the young wo crohich had followed us through the city

“Thank you for such a war clear even through so much noise “My family—my clan—and I are honored to be here in your beautiful city While the addition of the archon race to the asuran family tree may be unprecedented, so will the prosperity to come for all asura”

The crowd roared I raised my hands out to my sides, and behindaround the dense fire-attribute mana in the atmosphere With aether, I drew thehot as it did, until—

The bonfire roared back at the croith an explosion of heat and light

My feet touched down on the snis and Kothan, along with their retinues, applauded politely, encouraging further cheering from the crowds of people

Seconds after the fire was lit, an to pour out of the fortress Tables and chairs levitated into place around the bonfire, massive trays and pots of food arrayed on the tables, barrels of wine set at their ends, and in what seemed like only a few moments, an enormous banquet had been laid out

“Please, feast and celebrate!” Novis announced to his people “Today e of unification between the asuran races!”

Grinning, he led the way into the fortress, the heavy charwood doors of which were held open by arain and guided ot an adht opposites attract?’ Regis asked, nearly bursting with eagerness ‘But this princess sure does attract other princesses, doesn’t he?’

Trying to ignore the fro Natural wood made up the arches and supports, while the walls were crystal-encrusted stone Thick rugs covered the floor of the grand hall, which had been arranged with a single long table running down the center A blazing fire crackled in the hearth, and a nu

Novis sat at the head of the table Rai sat to his left, while his daughter escorted ht hand I sat, and she bowed respectfully and turned to find her own chair

“I’ to be polite in front of the other lords

She snis, at your service, Lord Leywin” She spun, twirling the red and gold skirts she wore, and hurried to where a couple other young woether and giggled

Sylvie sat to ht, Mother to hers, and then Ellie Veruhn was seated across from us, next to Rai A mixed company of phoenixes, basilisks, and leviathans filled in the rest of the spots down both sides of the long table

As soon as the table was full, the servants burst into motion to facilitate a steady flow of food and drinks to the table The fare made the feast outside look like lunchtie I was pleased to see that a full tray was also brought to Regis, who lay by the fire and focused on absorbing aether fro, then encouraged everyone to eat and make merry The hall erupted with the sound of sainst plates

“This is impressive,” I said conversationally as I sareen berries They popped ina bittersweet juice that was still somehow delicious

Rai chuckled around a mouthful of charred meat “It is unfortunate that you chose to visit this old miser first” He pointed at Veruhn with the chunk of flesh in his hand “Your visits to the distant clan-homes deserve a certain amount of fanfare, Arthur Epheotus has a lot to offer you and your clan”

“Don’t be too hard on Veruhn,” Novis said, washi+ng down a oblet “I’y in a couple of days than we have in millenia”

At first, Veruhn appeared not to be listening After a few seconds, though, he said, “Those who do not learn their history are doomed to repeat it, lords” His mouth twitched with a suppressed sain rapidly

Rai, who seemed outwardly to be much more relaxed than when I’d met him at Castle Indrath, went on to chat about the expectations of ht He spoke first about the clan in general, speaking mostly to my mother and sister, then turned the conversation toward my role and expectations

“As a new clan—and race, for thatalliances will be essential” He stopped to chew, and when he resuerous to assuht now, your clan is small and protected only by you, their lord In the worst case, you would be an easy target for even a weak clan”

“Rai,” Novis said in an ad tone “Perhaps we could ease into the cut-throat politics”

I waved off Novis’s words “No, that’s alright That’s why I’m here I assuers really face arcoat the situation, which would preventproperly prepared”

Sylvie bit her lip before asking, “Is that likely? A direct attack? Which clan or race would dare such a thing?”

Rai fingered one of his horns nervously “This is just a warning, Lady Sylvie Your presence alone, your connection to the Indraths, gives you a political foothold against aggressive action Maybe no one would be desperate enough to attack you so directly, so obviously But I can’t discount the danger entirely…”

I took ’s Gaainst my back as it redirected a consistent stream of aether up into my skull Still, I wished I could have fully activated it “I hope I’nis and Kothan clans to be my allies And the Eccleiahs as well, of course”

Novis raised his glass “As we’d hope, of course Butscarfed down his food with obscene speed, sat on his haunches at ed,” he chilanced at each other, and I felt my stomach clench uncomfortably

Veruhn cleared his throat and opened his mouth to respond, but at the same moment, an attendant announced: “Lady Myre of Clan Indrath!”

The asuras present in the hall stood as one, and the room went silent except for the continued announcements “Preah of the Inthirah clan! Vireah of the Inthirah clan!”

Myre stood in the door, silhouetted by the bright light outside With her were a retinue of dragons, only one of which I recognized

Preah, the guardian of Everburn, where we’d spent the weeks after first returning to Epheotus, had her hair rolled into tight braids against her scalp The scales around her eyes and down her cheeks gleaown she wore Beside her was a younger dragon with the saht ihter was an inch or two taller, and her hair flowed in sweeping waves down over her shoulders She wore a gown that was scaled and plated like a battle dress Teal scales were accented with light gray plates of armor and patches of chain Her eyes, the color of roup of dragons began to enter, and the announcer said one more name “Chul of the phoenix race!”

I stood up so suddenly that I nearly knocked my chair over

It wasn’t until the asura around Myre rin split his face when he caught sight of reat hall like a rockslide, and he buhly as he hurried by The entire roos I was lifted off hed in delight Sylvie leaned back against the table, her gaze juh our connection

“I knohat you did for me,” Chul said in a low rumble Suddenly he set me on my feet and sank to one knee, his head bowed “I owe you my life, my brother Whatever you need, from now until the end of rabbing hi with the desire to serve His bright eyes, both the orange and blue, gleath in hinature, which was steadier and more pure, but in his spirit, his very presence ofthan just that provided by thepearl had taken place in the Hearth, that was clear

A smile flitted acrossback in

Two phoenix servants wereit in both directions Twothe chairs, currently vacant as everyone waited for Myre to take her seat Most eyes, though, were Chul andtable exchanging pleasantries with Veruhn as they waited for new chairs to be grown for all the late arrivals This took only moments, and when it was done, Novis and Myre sat simultaneously Everyone else followed their lead

I caught Novis’s eye He was pale, his focus darting fro silently Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting her arrival Clearing his throat, he said, “Lady Myre A great honor Thank you for joining us in the Aerie”

A pleasant s, beautiful features I’d only ever seen her in this form around Kezess, but I wasn’t surprised that she also used it to engage in clan politics I wondered idly how uise Had her foric choice to make a fifteen-year-old hu thoughts overrode this one As we finally all took our seats again—Chul being offered one between me and Sylvie—I watched Myre carefully Fro here?”