Chapter 189 A New Plan (1/2)
Zehava gasped audibly at Snowcloud's words ”You can heal the Patriarch's injuries?”
”He wasn't injured,” Snowcloud said, her voice grave ”He was poisoned, and I have the antidote”
A deep frown appeared on Zehava's forehead ”Poisoned? But I thought…”
”It's true,” Rockblaze interrupted her ”The Society has kept it quiet, because the poisoning of a Patriarch ets out that there are traitors a our leaders, it could tear the Society apart” He furrowed his brow and looked at Snowcloud ”But you say you have an antidote? How confident are you that it ork?”
”Very confident,” Snowcloud said ”Before she disappeared, ainst Grandfather I recreated that poison, then used an adult dragon to create the antidote”
There was a hint of surprise in Rockblaze's eyes as he heard his, but he did not question Snowcloud's words Instead, his expression turned thoughtful, and he said, ”Then, assu you made the poison correctly, the antidote should work I take it you already consuon's blood yourself?”
”I did,” Snowcloud replied plainly
”Then we have to get you back to the Patriarch alive, no matter the cost”
Rockblaze spoke with such resolve that it briefly left Arran confused From the zealous look in the man's eyes, it almost seeoal
But then, slowly, Arran began to understand the situation — both why Snowcloud had shared her secrets so openly and why Rockblaze responded with such fervor
Arran's own ties to the Shadowflame Society eak at best While he would risk his life to protect Snowcloud, that was because he considered her a friend The Society, however, he considered little row stronger, and the Shadowflame Society offered him such a place But beyond that, the Society's fortunes mattered little to him — if it fell today, he would leave in search of an alternative tomorrow
Yet for someone who truly considered the Shadowflas would be different Someone like that would feel true loyalty to the Society — the kind of loyalty for which they would give their life if needed
And that kind of loyalty, Arran realized, was so the Seventh Valley Matriarch would absolutely require in a person she sent to root out traitors
He could not help but be impressed by Snowcloud's quick assessment of the situation Had it been him, he would have kept the secret — and iance
While Arran quietly pondered the situation, the others continued their discussion
”We have to bring her back,” Zehava agreed, though a hint of panic could still be seen in her eyes ”But how? Even if we ion, the Iron Mountain has an entire ar the way into the Sixth Valley And if even Elder Rahan is a traitor, we can't trust anyone”
Rockblaze answered at once ”We should travel to the Seventh Valley It will add a few erous, but ill be able to avoid the Iron Mountain traitors And once we reach the Seventh Valley, ill have the Matriarch's full support”
”We can't,” Snowcloud said ”Before I left the Valley, Grandfather was already nearing his end That's why I left before I was fully prepared — I couldn't wait any longer Even noorry that I won't reach hian