Chapter 321 - The Verses of Victory (II) (1/2)
Gryffyn was pacing. Back and forth, back and forth along the stone floors. Likely polishing them with his silken robe better than the maids ever could. Rima didn't dare comment though.
She'd never seen Gryffyn pace before. Usually he was either the one ensuring he stood above everyone else, or the one sat higher than anyone else. He was one of the most arrogant and lecherous men she'd ever met – though thankfully never with her. And she'd thought growing up on the streets of Rene was as bad as it could get. Oh how she would have wished for her and Tigin's half collapsed apartment now.
Still, as Rima leant against a column on the opposite side of the hall to Gryffyn, it was not his nervous pacing that drew the most concern. She could not help staring past him and out of the window to glimpse the dark cloud of smoke that now filled the sky. The fire was intense, and didn't seem to be slowing in the least. Rima wondered what Aegin had thought to achieve by setting it. If the destruction of Black Sands City was on his list, he was well on his way to achieving it.
A boom echoed and several buildings collapsed in the distance, the dust and ash that had collected rising to join the smoke. The rate at which they collapsed though, Rima didn't think that was the fire's efforts. Gryffyn clearly didn't think so either as he paused long enough to glance nervously towards the fire before he continued pacing, his hand rising to play with the pendant that hung around his neck.
She knew it was a long shot, but the fire was out of control, and the entire city was quite closely built, even the estate. If they didn't start evacuating it would be too late for many of the Tribesman. She'd been among them long enough to know that not all of them were like Gryffyn Blacksand. Many of them, especially since the Blue Suns had been unwillingly assimilated, did not even support Gryffyn as Chieftain. Taking the opportunity to correct the situation now would likely undermine him and make him angry. But Rima knew that their were nearly thirty thousand Tribesman in this city, she could not abandon them to the flames even if they were a mercy to Gryffyn's rule.
Rima pushed away from the column and straightened, rolling her shoulders back in determination, she opened her mouth to begin her plea, ”Lord Gryf-”
The doors burst open. Rima and Gryffyn both froze and spun towards the disturbance. A Black Sands Tribesman rushed in. He ignored Rima completely, running to Gryffyn and stumbling to kowtow to his Chieftain, ”My Lord”.
Gryffyn stared down at the Tribesman, clearly angry at being disturbed, and snapped, ”What?”
The Tribesman bowed his head far enough that it touched the stone floor Gryffyn had been polishing unwittingly, ”The Tribe, Sir, they are begging you to send resources to help them fight the blaze,” said the Tribesman, ”It is far too dangerous for them to get close, and with your Djinn and the stranger fighting in the middle of it, I'm afraid that-”
”Well, this is curious,” Gryffyn interrupted. Rima stilled at the casual tone, eyes widening in both pity and fear for the Tribesman who'd come to report as Gryffyn continued, ”I really do not believe my ears”.
The Tribesman frowned, risking a short glance up, then he quickly repeated himself, misunderstanding Gryffyn's calm rage for confusion, ”Sir. You must send resources to prevent the spread of the blaze-”
Gryffyn's eyes narrowed, ”I could have sworn one of my Tribesman was slandering their leader”.
”Sir?”
Gryffyn took a step forward towards this throne. To it's side, sat the broadsword that Gryffyn favoured, though Rima had never actually seen him swing it. He usually had Yashi or other Tribesman nearby to make the executions a whole lot less straining for him.
The Tribesman watched the move as well.