Chapter 253 Offending an Elder (1/2)
The Elder's accusation caused a shocked silence within the hall He had not only accused the Matriarch's apprentice of murder, but had also claimed the Matriarch had lied about the attack
That was more than just a threat to an apprentice; it was a direct challenge to the Matriarch's power And even if the Matriarch's position eak, the startled looks on the other Elders' faces made it clear that such open disrespect was still unexpected
Yet rather than attacking the ave hiht do you have to make such claims?”
”Lady Matriarch,” the Elder replied, so to make the title sound like an insult, ”what other explanation could there be? Had my students wished to kill this apprentice of yours — this initiate — they would have turned him to ashes in an instant Yet here he stands, alive and unharmed”
There was a satisfied smile on his face as he spoke, and Arran wondered if the man cared at all about his lost students They had died following his orders — of that, Arran was certain — but he seeh othertheir deaths
”My apprentice had a protective amulet,” the Matriarch said ”One that shi+elded hiic attacks Had it not been for that small bit of fortune, his attackers likely would have succeeded”
”A protective treasure?” The Elder sneered ”And one strong enough to stop adepts' attacks? In the hands of an initiate?” He turned his eyes to Arran ”I should very much like to see such a priceless treasure Where is it now?”
At the mention of the amulet, the eyes of roup Arran suspected careat interest, theto interest them more than the attack
”The amulet was destroyed in the attack,” the Matriarch said, a hint of regret in her voice ”A loss for which our House will have to offer compensation”
Elder Heran snorted in derision, and he was joined by uffaws from the others in the hall For this, Arran could not blame them It really sounded almost too convenient to be true Which, of course, it wasn't — the actual amulet had been considerably weaker
”Such a tiht smirk on his lips ”And we are to take it on faith alone that your apprentice just happened to have such a priceless treasure?”
”I gave it to hihtblade's voice came from the back of the hall, but rather than its usual confidence, it now held a hint of fear From her tone, one could have believed her a panicked novice rather than a frightfully powerful Archathered Elders instantly turned to look at her, clearly curious who this newcomer was Elder Heran, however, seemed unsurprised
”You are his old teacher, are you not?” he asked ”The adept who joined our Valley last year?”
”I am, Lord Elder,” she replied, far more respectfully than the ave him the amulet as protection”
”Ridiculous!” the Elder exclaiave a mere initiate a priceless treasure? And that it was conveniently destroyed in the attack?”
”Lord Elder,” Brightblade responded in a shocked voice ”You can't think I',” the Elder said sharply ”And you will be punished for these ridiculous falsehoods As will your student”
At that h her voice held a hint of desperation ”There itnesses to the attack — witnesses who confirmed my apprentice's story”
”And where are these witnesses now?”
This ti next to Elder Heran Tall and gaunt, she had a pale face that looked al eyes
”Elder Danae,” the Matriarch said ”The witnesses, they…” She sighed, then continued, ”We no longer have the after the attack, and I fear they have fallen into the hands of those who ordered it”
The look she gave the woht be
Arran, for his part, alroaned in frustration While his ene fully prepared, it seemed the Matriarch had failed on every front There was no need to guess what fate the frightful e who had found him after the attack had suffered — by now, it was doubtful that anything more than a pile of ash was left of the poor man