Chapter 263 Festivities (1/2)

When Arran walked into the gardens with the Matriarch, the sheer number of people there caused him so all of the groups, he only fully realized just how ether

And these weren't just any people, either They were the Valley'swithstudents

An attack here would cripple the Valley for countless generations to come, perhaps even weaken it to the point of collapse And all it would take was a few bottles of poison

Arran paled slightly as he considered the idea, and he found hihtblade had paid frequent visits to the kitchens to get some early tastes of the banquet's delicacies

But then, perhaps that wasn't her only nized the risk, and had taken actions to counter it Knowing Brightblade, Arran would be surprised if she hadn't

The arrival of the Matriarch in the gardens did not go unnoticed At her side, Arran saw that all the es' eyes turned to them as soon as they approached, with looks that held a mixture of curiosity and trepidation

This holly different from how the Elders had reacted to the Matriarch teeks earlier Back then, most had only shown her the respect required for her rank, and nothing more

But more than a few Elders had vanished since then, and now, the Elders met her eyes far less confidently Fear, it seemed, was an effective substitute for respect

There was a dais at the back of the feasting grounds, and it was here that the Matriarch led Arran As she stepped upon it she lance around, and called out, ”Cohtblade, please be so kind as to join us”

Brightblade stepped out fro the last piece of some pastry as she stepped onto the dais

The Matriarch greeted her with a small nod, then turned her eyes back to the crowd She stood silently for several es, until finally, she spoke

”A tih to reach even those athered to welcome my chosen heir, and with us stands the new Commander of the Valley”

She briefly paused, and a few cheers and claps could be heard fro,” she continued, her expression hardening as she spoke ”Half a century of peace has seen our Valley groeak, and to continue on this path is to invite war Only by regaining our strength can we deter our enemies And to that end, I have three announcements to es in the crowd had already known about the changes in Arran's and Brightblade's positions, they were now told that there would be es, and they awaited the Matriarch's next words ary eyes

”First,” she said, ”the Houses'Many of you are already aware of this, but those Houses who have yet to choose students for this task are ordered to do so with no delay”

Soru unhappy at being ordered to do so they intended anyway But the Matriarch continued, ”These students will receive the guidance of all of us — both their training and their loyalty will belong first to the Valley, and only then to their own Houses”

At this, several gasps and co their students join Arran in training was one thing, but to relinquish control over them was a step beyond that — and one that the Houses clearly had not intended to take

Yet the Matriarch ignored the protests, and the sound of her voice drowned out the dissatisfied hold has been erected for Co the Valley's es for battle All Houses are to send a tenth of their nuhold tohtblade's coroup Any uard, however, will remain under her conation came from the crowd If the Matriarch's first announceered them — it was an open attack on the Houses' autonomy, as well as their oer

”Silence!” The Matriarch's voice thundered through the gardens ”These are orders, not requests Any who refuse or object will be stripped of their rank and banished from the Valley”