Chapter 134: Tentorium (2/2)
Mike looked down at himself, and realized that his fancy new clothes had been damaged and dirtied during the long string of fights he'd been involved in. He was also coated in healthy quantity of blood that he hadn't been aware of.
[No wonder everyone was staring at me oddly up.]
With a quick application of Lifestyle Magic, he removed the accumulated blood and dirt, leaving his clothes merely battered.
”Anyway, are you all alright? It looked like you had it under control, but I was a little distracted at the time.” He asked.
Sera glowered at him a little. ”You're responsible for the dragon, aren't you?”
The other two looked at him curiously.
Rubbing the back of his head. ”Well….I was meaning to surprise you all on Saturday. His name's Red, by the way.”
Tal gave him an unreadable look, while Brenden chuckled to himself, ”I'm surprised, but I really shouldn't be.”
Sera reached out at him for a moment, hands bent into claws like she wanted to strangle him. Instead, however, she sighed and sagged in defeat. ”That's it. I give up. You are a complete anomaly.”
”That's the spirit.” Brenden chimed in while slapping her on the back. ”The sooner you come to accept it, the easier it will be.”
Tal nodded her agreement.
”That hardly seems fair. I'm not that bad, am I?” Mike asked, feeling a little insulted for some reason.
The three of them just gave him a neutral look without answering.
”Fine, whatever. I'm the ridiculous one.” He said with mock emphasis.
He noticed that a silence had descended on the area. Looking around he saw that the airship had finally arrived, and was descending into central campus, much to the consternation of the milling guards and soldiers. It was only the sight of the princess standing next to a golden armored woman at the ship's railing which kept them from attacking.
”Looks like the princess was rescued.” Brenden commented, ”I don't suppose you had anything to do with it?”
”....No comment.”
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Count Graveston contemplated the flames of his study's fireplace, while waiting for the last of his messengers to arrive. He'd already burned the hastily scrawled note from Morris, in which he had related rumors of a mass exodus of orcs from the Ash Mountains. By now, that was old news.
A familiar presence had occupied a corner of his study, little more than a slightly darker shadow. The count paid no attention to it, knowing quite well that it was merely here to observe.
There was a knock on the window.
”Enter.” Was his simple reply. He didn't bother to watch as a cloaked figure quietly slipped into the room, before falling down to one knee.
”My lord, I bring news.” The figure spoke in a rough male voice.
”Speak.”
”There have been assassination attempts on all of the royal heirs with the exception of Princess Andrea, who was briefly kidnapped.”
The count frowned briefly before motioning for the man to continue.
”We've manage to foil the attacks the First and Second Princes, although the First Prince was critically injured. Due to his location on the front lines, it's unclear whether or not a sufficiently talented healer will arrive in time to save him.”
”What of the twins?”
The man hesitated, as if unsure how to respond. ”Our resources in the capital are currently limited. Viscount Wendel was able to distract our agents long enough to seize control of a naval airship and launch a multi-pronged attack on the University while they were hosting a welcoming ceremony. In the confusion, Prince Matthew was stricken with a fatal blow, and Princess Andrea was kidnapped.”
”So, it was a failure on our part.” The count asked with a raised eyebrow.
”…There was an unexpected circumstance. While reports are still unconfirmed, it appears that a Dragonknight Battlemage saw fit to intercede.” The man paused again, as if waiting for an incredulous response.
”Oh?”
”He was able to heal the Prince of near fatal injuries, while his mount dispersed the remaining enemy forces. Almost immediately afterwards, he single-handedly launched an assault on the airship, which was carrying the kidnapped princess, and successfully rescued her before vanishing mysteriously.”
The count tapped his chin thoughtfully, ”Is there anything else?”
”Only that this Dragonknight appeared to be skilled in multiple kinds of magic, made use of at least one spell we have no record of, and yet defeated the majority of his enemies with a sword.”
”I see….you are dismissed.”
With a nod, the man vanished.
Count Graveston rang a bell that was sitting on a nearby table, which in turn summoned Carlton, one of his trusted butlers.
”What can I do for you, my lord?” The man asked as soon as he'd entered.
”Send a message to the Druids of the Splintered Oak. Tell them I am calling in a favor. The First Prince is in dire need of a competent healer.”
”It will be done.” Carlton replied while leaving.
The count pondered for a moment, before shooting a sharp gaze at the shadow that had been occupying the corner throughout the proceedings. ”It seems you ploy has failed, old rival.”
A low-pitched whisper answered, ”Has it? Perhaps this is as planned.”
”Perhaps.” The count replied with a knowing smirk.
The shade gave a dry dusty laugh. ”Next time, Serpent. I will show you something grand.”
With that it faded back through the wall, and vanished.
The count's arrogant smile faded from his lips, as he pictured the strange, golden-eyed youth which he'd planted in the capital. He considered once again, what secret would be powerful enough to drive Morris back home? What secret would his son sacrifice his freedom and principles to hide?