Chapter 260 Treasures (1/2)
”So you knew” Brightblade's calested that she was not at all surprised, even if Arran was still staring at the Matriarch ide eyes
”I suspected it for some time,” the Matriarch said ”And when he survived that attack, ave it away?” Brightblade asked, her expression one of mild curiosity rather than alarm It seemed she didn't believe the matter a serious proble it
”You allowed him to study the Fores to be interested in those, but their teachers generally put a quick stop to that — and rightly so Yet you allowed hilance at Brightblade, and when no objection came, a pleased smile for,” she continued ”You intend to have hi into that battlefield will require an exceptional resistance to ained in very feays”
Brightblade nodded ”Well-reasoned So what are your thoughts on the plan?”
”It's risky,” the Matriarch said ”It is questionable whether Nikias ever wrote down his secrets And even if he did, the Hunters will have looted the battlefield long ago Their resistance to ic may not rival that of soible”
”There is no reithout risk,” Brightblade replied with a shrug ”But what of the Forms? If he succeeds, is the reorth the effort? There wasn't much to be found in the Valley's libraries — certainly less than I would have expected”
The Matriarch hesitated in answering as she furrowed her brow in thought ”That question is ht think,” she finally said ”That Nikias had few students wasn't a ance In truth, feere suited for his ht be better than htblade asked
”The Fore,” the Matriarch answered ”For most of Nikias's prospective students, that proved an insurmountable obstacle” She turned her eyes to Arran ”But then, perhaps you arelook in her eyes that ht as easily as she had discovered his Destruction Realhtest
Yet if she knew, she did not seem to think the matter htblade, then continued, ”If the writings exist and he can find the it would certainly be of no small benefit to hihtblade said ”If nothing else, it's a good way to further fareed,” the Matriarch said with a nod ”Though ill have to ensure he continues to learn properinvolved, he will need a strict schedule What I propose is that—”
Brightblade and the Matriarch spent the next half hour discussing their plans for Arran's training, setting out a schedule that wasn't just strict but positively brutal They did not ask for Arran's input — apparently, his wishes weren't a their concerns
Arran slowly paled as he listened to the , with little ti else
Yet theFor all the meticulousness hich they crafted a schedule, it lacked the kind of free practice and sparring that helped hi spells and techniques
”No”
Arran was almost surprised to hear the word coainst his teachers But even as he spoke, he realized it was necessary
”No?” The Matriarch raised an eyebrow as she looked at hirew firs to myself You said the other Houses would send students of their own, correct?”
The Matriarch gave a brief nod, and Arran continued, ”Sparring with them will help ic won't do ood if I don't kno to use it”
The Matriarch sighed gave Brightblade an exasperated look ”I suppose it shouldn't surprise me that he's taken on his teacher's bad habits”
Brightblade, on the other hand, looked at Arran with an expression that suggested approval ,” she said ”And if he is to be trained for battle, experience is certainly every bit as valuable as knowledge”
The Matriarch grudgingly accepted the argu Arran's training schedule
His joy at having his evenings to hi, however, as he soon realized that the new schedule didn't seee, as far as he could tell, was that he would have less tis
Still, he didn't coic in Brightblade's duel, he understood well enough that he would have to learn it one way or another And if his schedule would be grueling, it was also an opportunity that other es would kill for
When the two finished their planning, the Matriarch looked at Arran with narrowed eyes
”Is this new schedule to your liking?” she asked in an overly sweet tone that held a slight undercurrent ofher a cheerful sht be powerful, but any attempts to intimidate him were doomed to failure — if she wanted him to succeed her, she surely wouldn't harm him Not too badly, at least
The Matriarch appeared to realize this as well, and she continued in a norer a secret, we'll need to do soe to have them replaced with—”
”My servants stay,” Arran interrupted her, his tone sharp He had more faith in his servants than in anyone else within the House of Seals, and he had no intention of letting them be replaced by people he neither knew nor trusted
The Matriarch looked nonplussed, but after arejected twice in the span of half an hour seemed more than she would bear
Yet before she could voice her displeasure, Brightblade spoke up ”If you wish for hi-willed” She grinned, then added, ”And with cooks like his, replacing thehtblade's words caused the annoyance in the Matriarch's expression to fade, but her confusion remained ”Why do you wish to keep the their loyalty,” Arran answered truthfully ”And I trust them more than I would their replace,” the Matriarch said ”But very well You will needyour new estate will require no small amount of labor”
”Then I will let my steward recruit them,” Arran said He had already decided that he would let Jovan recruit men and women from the outer Valley, irateful for the work, and doubly so for the training they would get