Chapter 85 Amaya (2/2)
”Why do the novices here place sowith the most obvious question
”You don't know about the current situation?” she asked with a puzzled expression
”I only arrived yesterday,” Arran said truthfully ”I haven't had tihtful look ”Then you ly stepped into a hornets' nest”
”So what's going on?” he asked
”Not one for subtlety, are you?” She laughed as she spoke ”Very well A little over a decade ago, the Patriarch of the Sixth Valley fell ill Since then, several factions have formed around the main contenders to be his successor”
Arran frowned ”But what does that have to do with the recruits?” he asked He could not i any influence on the selection of a new Patriarch
”Recruits are future initiates,” she replied ”And soher The er that faction will be when the time co to boost their nu to understand as happening, although it still didn't explain why novices would go so far as to bid on fighters in an auction
A, novices would just take in more recruits — dozens, or in some cases even hundreds But after the first few years, so the nu their own”
”Reducing the numbers?” Arran asked in disbelief, both at the idea and at her discussing it so openly
”Killing them,” Amaya said bluntly ”Beyond the border, the Society does little to protect novices and their recruits — especially when their eneh support to shi+eld them from repercussions”
”So it's a war,” Arran concluded
”It's a war in all but nareed ”Once you step beyond the border, there are constant battles between the novices, along with their recruits The strongest recruits serve as commanders, while the weaker ones are little et involved in these battles?” Arran asked Novices and recruits he could handle, but anything stronger than that would be a real probleotten to that point just yet,” she said ”Having novices and recruits fight each other is one thing, but having the Society's stronger ether”
She hesitated, then added, ”Although the way things are now, even thatme all of this?” Arran looked at Amaya with some suspicion, unsure of both her motives and the truth of her words
If she was speaking the truth, these hardly sees the Shadowflame Society would want discussed in the open
”Because you asked, of course,” she said Then, with a resigned sigh, she added, ”And it's nothing you wouldn't find out after staying in Hillfort for a week But perhaps at the auction, you'll be swayed by ”
”I suppose I'll have to win the tournament to prove myself?”
”Of course,” Amaya replied with a playful smile ”If you can't even do that, you're useless But if you do… I have several hundreds of recruits that still need a good commander”
Arran was about to respond when he noticed that the other people in the dining hall were beginning to stand up As he looked around, he saw that the steward had once uests,” the steward said, his voice as practiced as his smile ”Today's entertainment is at an end The Governor thanks you for your co those words, Arran stood up as well, following the other guests' exauests were already beginning to leave, and Arran was about to follow behind the hall
”Darkfire,” the Governor called out ”You and your coer, if you would like”
Although the words sounded like an offer, the man's voice sounded like a command, and Arran realized he had little choice but to stay
He cast a frustrated look toward A that his other questions would have to wait
”Young master Ghostblade,” a voice sounded
When Arran turned around, he saw that the steward had appeared next to him
”Please follow me”