Chapter 238 An Agreemen (1/2)
”Good to see you too, Rhea,” Brightblade replied, her expression calm as she looked at the Matriarch ”And yes, that'sto steal”
The Matriarch's surprised faded soh she still seemed more than a little puzzled ”When did you arrive in the Valley?”
Brightblade frowned briefly, then answered, ”About a year ago”
”And you didn't think to visit an old friend? Even in her own Valley?” The Matriarch spoke softly, her expression troubled
”Are we still friends?” Brightblade's tone held some sharpness as she asked the question, as if soer lurked just below the surface
The Matriarch sighed ”I like to think so What happened back then… I had no choice I had to protect htblade said in a cold voice ”Others with their own Valleys to protect”
”They weren't fighting a losing war at the time” The Matriarch clenched her jaw as she spoke, and her eyes showed a hint of anger ”You have no idea how close the Ninth Valley ca — none of you do The Hunters… there were thousands of thees died in the wars”
Finally, Brightblade's expression softened ”I suppose you had your oar to fight And he got his revenge — even without your aid” Eyebrow slightly raised, she added, ”Though I wonder at the price you paid for this peace of yours”
The Matriarch gave her a wry smile ”There was a price, but for the Valley's survival, I had to pay it Losing the borderlands was better than losing everything You will understand once you have your own Valley to protect”
Brightbladea Matriarch Too , she continued, ”And even if I wanted to, I never had much talent for seals”
”I think we both know that's a lie,” the Matriarch responded flatly ”What you lack is training, not talent If you want to, I could help you—”
”Absolutely not,” Brightblade interrupted her ”It's bad enough that you'll be teachinghim”
”You'll allow it?” The Matriarch cast a surprised glance at Arran ”You'll let htblade replied ”Though I did not intend for him to catch your eye quite as soon” She rolled her eyes at Arran ”You couldn't remain inconspicuous for just one day, could you?”
Arran had listened quietly as the tonant expression appeared on his face ”You told me to draw attention!” he said loudly ”You said I had toihtblade gave him a flat stare ”I didn't expect you to take it this far, though”
She had stood at the edge of the clearing as she spoke with the Matriarch, but now, she walked toward its center, closing the distance between her and the other two
Facing the Matriarch, she said, ”So yes, I'll allow it But I do not intend to silanced at Arran and narrowed her eyes ”We'll share him He could do with two teachers — the heavens know he needs some proper study”
The Matriarch frowned, but after a htblade a nod ”Very well But he'll need afroical skills It's clear that he's ignored his studies to a disgusting degree I suggest we…”
The to all sorts of plans — none of which they thought needed any input froradually grew pale orry Just having ere likely the two h by itself, but from what he could tell, they intended for hi
After half an hour, they had finished planning out every second of Arran's training for the next year — a year he feared would involve precious little sleep — and they faced each other with satisfied s apprentices' lives was apparently soreed on
”I'll have Ghostblade shown to his new quarters,” the Matriarch said to Brightblade ”But perhaps you could re time has passed since we last spoke, after all”
”All right” Brightblade replied, then turned to Arran ”I suspect you have soht”
Arran nodded silently In truth, he hadwho she actually was Because from what he had heard, he very much doubted that she was a coe stepped into the clearing He gave the Matriarch a respectful bow, then asked, ”You called for me?”
”This is esture at Arran ”He needs a place to stay — have hi the road to the city”