Chapter 360 Rannocs Orders (2/2)
They waited in silence for several ht nor her co a word
Then, finally, a heavy-set man entered the hall, his white hair ruffled and his robes unkelance, Arran could see the man had been asleep only roup, his face held an irritated look
”What's theof this?” he deht, a frown appeared on his face ”Who are you?”
”Lord Rannoc has ordered that these three behis question
”Lord Rannoc?” The white-haired man looked at her in confusion ”Why would Lord Rannoc…” He stopped mid-sentence, and his eyes widened in shock ”The city has fallen?!”
”It has,” Muna said ”Fallen, conquered, and taken And its new ruler wishes for these three outsiders to be given their citizenshi+p Now”
”Its new ruler…” The priest repeated the words in a stunned voice, as if he could scarcely believe that such a thing had actually happened ”Where is Lord Kadun?”
”Kadun is dead,” the Knight replied ”Now, do you insist on wasting even more of our time, or will you do as the city's new Lord has ordered?”
”Dead…” the white-haired man mumbled, clearly still shocked by the news
But then, he shook his head, as if to clear his ood relations with the city's ruler,” he said, his voice firmer than before ”Naturally, ill honor Lord Rannoc's request Please follow uided the the main hall without delay, his earlier complaints suddenly replaced by a friendliness that seemed al to protect the church's relationshi+p with the city's new ruler
The chamber they entered was small but well-furnished, and as they stepped inside, he motioned at the velvet-clad chairs it held
”Please, sit down,” he said
As Arran and the others sat down, the priest hurriedly left the roo only er of these looked to be filled ine, while the smaller held a clear liquid that Arran suspected ater
”Since Lord Rannoc wishes these three outsiders to be made citizens at once,” he said, ”I will dispense with cereht said
The priest nodded, putting down the two bottles on a slasses, which he delicately placed next to the bottles
”Today,” he said, facing the three outsiders, ”you three will becoifts our Gods have bestowed on us The gift you will be given today is a token of your citizenshi+p, and your devotion to the Imperium and its Gods Should you prove yourselves worthy, you ifts in the future, ones that—”
”Get on with it,” Muna interrupted hilare, but restrained himself a moment later ”Very well,” he said, his expression calm once more
Without any further words, he filled the three glasses with red liquid froer bottle Then, he opened the sle drop of the clear liquid it held to each of the three glasses
”Be ave her a distraught look ”But this is—”
”Lord's orders,” she interrupted him ”Unless you want to reject his request?”
The priest sighed, then added another two drops to each glass
”More than that,” Muna said
Outrage flashed across the priest's face, but this time, he did not complain Instead, he added three ht a questioning look
”That'll do,” she said, giving hih of either relief or frustration, but he took the three glasses, then handed them to Arran and the other two
”Once you drink this,” he said, ”you will be Darians in the eyes of the Gods You will be sworn to defend the Iht its ene breath” He paused briefly, then said, ”Drink, and receive the Gods' blessing”
Arran hesitated, but only for a lass to his lips