Chapter 252 Facing the Elders (2/2)

They reached the entrance ait, but although Arran recognized none of them, their leader clearly kneho they were He quickly waved them inside with a small bow that was polite if not exactly friendly

Inside, they found a large hall that was already filled with ht that these were the Elders, but then he saw that this chamber led to another one, and realized that this was es here, he realized, would ers-on

Well over a hundred pairs of eyes shot their way as soon as they stepped into the hall, but Brightblade ignored the the lance

The crowd parted as they walked forward, hushed whispers sounding around theht not knoho they were — or why they were even there — it was clear as day that they were heading for the h theto the uarded But then, with the Valley's Elders all gathered inside, there was little point in having guards — anyone who did not fear the Elders would certainly not be deterred by htblade casually waved her hand, and the ave Arran a glance, then said softly, ”Remember, don't speak unless you have to”

As they stepped into the main hall, Arran was immediately surprised at the number of people inside There ell over a hundred, probably even twice that

If all of these were Elders — and they must be — then the Ninth Valley held several ti nuht be stronger than there

There was no tiht, however, as all these Elders' eyes turned toward Arran and Brightblade as soon as they entered the hall And this ti the curious looks wasn't so easy

These were the Valley's es, and Arran had no doubt that their decisions today would have major repercussions for his future Yet he could not let the pressure get to him — not noith his future at stake

He swept his eyes across the large hall as calmly as he could, and only now did he realize that there was a broad dais at the end of the hall, with the throne that stood upon it holding the Matriarch

”Step forward, Ghostblade,” she said loudly Although she sounded every bit as confident as she had in the past, Arran could not shake the ile to the point of breaking, and if she was like that just a day earlier, he suspected this confidence was a htblade said, her voice barelyhis jaw, Arran did as she said, h the crowd of Elders hat he hoped was a calnified expression

As he approached the dais, he cast some curious looks at the Elders, and quickly realized that they were divided into groups There was one group in the criht consisted of members of the House of Shadows, and many more from various sest group consisted of the House of Seals Elders, and these, Arran recognized instantly

There were over three dozen of thee of the dais that held the Matriarch Yet with a second look, Arran realized that the group itself seeroups

The ses, and they stood closest to the Matriarch Arran instantly recognized three of the roup

Two caused hies the Matriarch had sent to accohtblade Yet the third was unexpected — the e who had first taken him to the Matriarch, whom he had believed to be a es in this group paid at least as htblade as they did to Arran Doubtless, word of her earlier display had spread aroups, however, only had eyes for Arran Both of thehly the same size, and he had no idea what caused them to stand a pace or two apart in the hall All he kneas that their eyes were focused on him, and that their expressions seemed far from friendly

When he reached the dais, the Matriarch gestured for hi smile as he did so

But a moment later, her expression turned back to a practiced calm and confidence, and she turned her eyes toward the crowded hall

”Elders of the Ninth Valley,” she began in a severe voice ”As some of you already know, there was an attack on o Six adepts of ht and barely a stone's throay from the House of Seals Since then, I have—”

”Lies,” a voice interrupted her

With a glance, Arran saw that the word had coroup of House of Seals es He was handsome, with a sharp but cold face beneath his brown hair, and he was dressed in fine, dark-gray robes with golden ean ”If you could please reain, the ue Two of my students were brutally murdered, and now, one of their killers dares clai his jaw, Arran locked eyes with the Elder A hint of malice crossed the e, along with a trace of regret — regret that he wasn't yet strong enough to cut the man dohere he stood