Chapter 253 Offending an Elder (2/2)
”Another convenient coincidence,” Elder Danae said ”But as luck would have it, there was another witness Three of roup that was murdered, but the heavens saw it fit to save one of them Alkaios, step forward”
At her words, a thin young man stepped out from behind her Dark-haired and almost as pale as his mistress, he had a nervous expression, and he almost trembled as he looked at the Elders in the hall, all of whose eyes were now firmly focused on him
”Tell us what happened,” the woman said ”Tell us what you saith your own eyes”
”I…” The young man's eyes nervously darted around the room, and he briefly fell silent ”I… My friends and I, ere traveling back to the House of Seals ere attacked by two er than ere, and I fled as the fighting started”
”Can you tell us who these twothe slightest hint of emotion
”I can,” the adept replied, a tremble in his voice ”They were the ones who attacked us” He raised a hand, first pointing at Arran, then at Brightblade ”They are the ave the Elder a questioning glance, alht answer
Yet although the blatant lie seemed transparent to Arran, it caused a h the hall Perhaps the adept's words on their oould not be enough to convince the gatheredof two Elders, it was a different htblade exclai both shocked and fearful ”Why would I do such a thing?!”
”That is easy to explain”
A tall, broad-shoulderedthe House of Seals Elders He was bald, with a strong jaw and a face that carried several large scars And as he stepped out fro expression
”My fellow Elders,” he began, his voice forceful ”Our Valley has been deceived This wohtblade ”—is not who she says she is She joined the House of Swords just over a year ago, supposedly an adept Yet immediately, she proved to have a Master's skill”
He gave the Matriarch a conteroup of Elders within the hall
”But that unlikely talent was mere trickery,” he continued ”My sources in the House of Swords have informed me that she is in truth a Master, departed from her own Valley because she lacked the talent and skill to advance further So she cauidance reserved for theas an adept”
Arran frowned If the man actually had any sources in the House of Swords, then they had clearly withheld htblade replied nervously, ”But even if I am not an adept, ould I want to , the question helped the Elder's case Between her nervous tone and her refusal to deny his claiuilt had he not known the truth
”The six adepts you killed,” the Elder said, ”were a our most talented students, all of them destined to become Elders Likely, one could have beco them, you paved a path to power for your apprentice — a path that would eventually benefit you, as well”
Arran looked at the man in disbelief The story was clearly ridiculous, so flihtest breeze And yet, the Elders in the hall now looked at hihtblade said loudly, all fear and hesitation suddenly gone fro the pile of lies the three of you have told today”
She stepped forward, the Elders around her looking at her warily eyes She answered their glances with a steel gaze, her earlier fearful persona now coain
”My nahter of Dao Zhen, Patriarch of the Fourth Valley I ae of the Shadowflame Society, Blademaster of the House of Swords, Elder of the Fourth, Sixth, and Ninth Valleys, and destroyer of the Eternal Horde”
The words caused a rush of whispers to pass through the hall, and the Elders stared at her with shocked expressions Whatever they had expected her to be, this certainly wasn't it
”I cauide reeted with lies, slander, and insults”
At this, the gathered Elders fell silent,at her uncomfortably
Contempt in her eyes, she turned to the three Elders who had spoken during the”The three of you have offered me no small amount of offense today,” she said ”And for that, I demand satisfaction”