Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 166: An update

ARIAL, 1015 FALLMONTH, HOUSE COUNCIL CHAMBER

Arial sighed. He went out from his room and went down to the House Council Chamber. As he went down, he could not help but feel the burden of secret on him right now

Dying...is quite an unnerving experience for him. Especially now that he knows that his time is limited.

He wanted to seize the day yet at the same time he felt he wanted to just let it all go. This kind of dilemma is hard to understand for those who have a whole future waiting for them

This kind of weak thoughts sometimes bubbles up onto the surface of his mind. Each time that happens he would squash it.

He had not time being weak right now. Not when he had such a limited time. After thinking all of this, he finally arrived in front of the chamber.

He looks at the door knocker shaped like the crest of his family a dragon head. He smiles bitterly as he tries to prepare himself in front of the chamber.

'Today would be another long day' he said to himself. He takes a deep breath to prepare himself for the day

Then after he is sure he is ready he pushed opened the door. Many lords have been waiting for him sitting on their seat.

The moment he enters the room, all of the lords stand up from their seat and bowed slightly toward him as Arial approached the center chair

'So is there anything I need to know?' Arial said as he sits on his chair in the House Council.  He takes a glance at all the lords in attendance and he nodded

Lord Fenwick was the first one that have something to say. He bowed and Arial gesture to him to speak up.

'My lord, first of, there is a letter from the other Kings and nobles that have congratulated you on your victory in Dented Castle and some of them would be honored if you could come to their feast'

Arial frowned and then said

'No, I would be busy here now. I don't have time to go anywhere else. Reject their invitation but say something nice.'

Lord Fenwick nodded, as he takes a note. Arial then turned to Lord Barden

'Lord Barden, how about our trade?'

'Yes my lord.' He said as he opened his parchment and reported it to Arial and at the same time address it to all the members of the House Council.

'Trade is progressing swiftly and now that the road to the north is open we can resume trading with Taijian in the Taiguo region again.'

Arial then ask about trading rights

'Can we open trade center there? Did we already get permission from the ruling house there?'

Lord Barden nodded

'We have my lord, provided we give them around five percent of the cut.' Lord Barden handed Arial the documents. Arial looked at the projected income and profit and he nodded with satisfaction.

He decided that this profit is worth the cut

'it is worth it' Barden said, trying to persuade Arial. Arial only smiles and then he said

'Give it to them if they want it. The potential of opening trade post in Vern, the profit we will reap is beyond than what we will have if we open in other region of the Continent. Vangua and Vern is one of the largest Kingdoms in the Continent. I don't have to explain what that means for our trading opportunity, right?' Arial said smiling, already counting the gold that his family would have when the trade center is opened.

'Yes, my lord' Barden nodded with pleasure as Arial return back the document to him. Then he turned towards one of the oldest person in his House Council. Arial treated the old man with respect.

But in private he called this old person, an old fox.

'Lord Oliver, any news?'

'Yes, my lord' he said and he leaned forward towards him. If this is any other lords, what he is doing right now would be very discourteous.

But for all the people in the House Council they have been accustomed seeing this scene and the young lord himself did not forbid it hence it has been tacitly approved behavior when they are in the House Council Chamber.

Oliver is Arial Spymaster and he is good in his job. Very good. So good, that sometimes Arial felt a little bit fear for him

'I got some news but I do not know whether it is true or not.' He whispered to Arial ears. Arial then said in a whispering tone

'Tell me all the same'

'There is some news that there is some movement in the Dark Lands but the news is unverifiable.'

Arial eyes widened for a second as he quickly asks back. This time he removes himself from Oliver as Arial told Oliver to share the news with the room

'Movement? What movement?' One of the lords ask. Arial is also listening in

'Some people reported seeing an army is marching to the Blessed Land but the next day they said it disappeared.'

Arial perked up. This is. impossible. He thought to himself

He should have two more years if they are going by time of the invasion. Then a thought dawned on Arial mind.

Or did he mess time too much? Did the order become messed up because of his interference? Two years. 1017. That is when it should have happened.

He should have two more years to prepare. Arial then ask anxiously

'So what then?' Oliver himself was shocked seeing the anxiousness on the young lord tone and face. This is unusual considering that the young lord usually maintains almost an abnormally calm and cool head even under the direst circumstance.

But this news seems to rattle that calmness of the young lord.

'That is all' Oliver reply

'That couldn't be all!' Arial shouted raising his voice, that all of the people inside the room was also shocked.

Oliver were flustered, his calm demeanor is abandoned.

'My lord, I speak truth. There is nothing more than that.' Arial snorted and then he pointed his finger to his Knight Lord.

'Ser Massey!'

'Yes my lord.'

'Strengthen the defense around the Wall. Hire more people and buy them good armors and arms. Send some builders to add more fortification all along the Bleeding Wall. Do it after this meeting end'

'My lord?'

'Do as I say!' Arial shouted and Ser Massey shrinked down and meekly nodded.

Lord Arial Vermont is a young man. This is true. But everyone inside here knows how terrifying their young lord is when he is angry.

He is a man of a singular will and they all know when he started shouting like this, no one in the room could change his mind.

Then Arial once again turned to the old fox.

'Anything else?' Oliver sighed and then he hesitated. Seeing the mod of the young lord, he had half a mind not to say the other information he got but it is better to say it now

'King Edward Merovich.' Oliver said. Arial was taken aback by this sudden change of topic.

'Yes, what about him?' This dampened Arial spirit a bit and clam him down unexpectedly. Arial thought that Oliver would give him more news about the movements in the Dark Lands. After all that is the only thing that matters in Arial mind

Oliver continue

'I have it on good authority that he is in our Kingdom right now.'

'And what do you want our lord to do with that information?' Ser Massey ask.

'Our lord ca-' and Arial quickly cut off Oliver words.

'I will do nothing. Vangua politics is no consequence of ours.' Oliver had something else to say but he just sighed and then said

'Understood.' He replies and then added 'and I have some other news.'

Arial gestured him to speak.

'We have information the location of Lord Harald.' Arial nodded.

Now this is something he need to know. His whereabouts is unknown even to Henry and other lords that is with Alderam that day.

'Where is he?' Arial asked. Oliver quickly replied

'Vangua, under the protection of House Orleans.' Arial sighed and h close his eyes for a few second

For that few second of him closing his eyes, the lords inside the room dares not breathe to loudly. They don't know whether their young lord is feeling angry or something else. And if he is feeling angry it is better not to provoke him.

Then opening his eyes, he just said

'Hmmm. I suspected as so, considering they are betrothed. But I never dare to make an uneducated guess. Brilliant' he said with a mocking smile on his face

Oliver held his hand up

'Yes?'

'There is also a letter from Renasia'

'I said I won't go didn't I! Their congratulations are well appreciated but I have no interest in going to their party.'

Oliver nearly had a heart attack. But then he added

'This is not from their royalty my lord. It is from the Princess personally.' Arial eyebrows raised up

'Princess. Rhyssa Renasi? That Princess?'

Arial had only little knowledge about Rhyssa Renasi.

The Virgin Queen.

At least that is how she is called in his other life.

She never married and it was said that she never lost a battle until of course she lost against the swarming horde of the Demon Invasion.

Oliver then continues his word

'Yes, my lord. I think it was kind of odd, so I take it upon myself to present it to you' Oliver grabbed a letter from his bag and handed it to Arial.

Arial take the letter and open it with a knife. The seal is a sun and a knife swirling around the sun.

The crest of the royal family of Renasia. He then reads the letter

From: Princess Rhyssa Renasi

To: Lord Arial Vermont, Duke of Arrandy, Count of Acro, Baron of Danoba.

It is my honour to invite you to my party to celebrate your victory in the war and at the same time celebrate Renasia victory in Tuca. I am waiting for a favorable reply. It would be nice to see you again, my lord.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

And that is the end of her letter. Though something made Arial curios.

See you again? Did he ever meet a Princess?

'Well my lord?' Oliver ask. Arial frowned. He did not know what to make of the letter. he contemplated for a moment and then said

'Decline it. She must be mistaken somehow. Say that I am plagued with many matters in the kingdom after the war so I regretfully could not attend her ball. I doubt she will be disappointed and Renasia is far away from here. It would take maybe how many months for me to reach there?' he said.

'Fine, will do my lord' Oliver said as Arial handed back the letter to him.

'Oh, Lord Barden before I forget, send some gold and precious items to the House of Austen for helping us halt the House of Verman movement in Vern.'

'Yes, my lord.' Lord Barden smiles as he was good family friend with the Austen

'Ser Massey, I will be inspecting the army this evening so you can go first. The other too' Arial gestured them to dismiss themselves

They all stand up and begin turning their heels. But before they all could go, Arial who was looking at someone who was about to out, quickly spoke out.

'Not you, Bishop Paul. You stay.'

The other lords looked back, looking perplexed. Arial gesture them all to leave them alone with his finger

'Go.'

Arial said and they all quickly went outside the chamber. Inside the chamber right now is only them too.

The Bishop clearly felt uncomfortable being stared at by one of the most powerful lords in the kingdom.

He himself did not know what he did that caught the eye of the young Duke. He gulped. Arial almost wanted to laugh. The Bishop look like he swallowed some toad in his mouth

'Sit.'

'Yes, my lord.' The bishop said as calmly as he could. Arial at least commend his ability to remain calm.

There was a suffocating silence for a while before Arial suddenly said

'The church.'  

'Do you know anything about the recent events that happens in the Grand Papnoticon?' He asked Paul

'My lord?' Arial then said

'You are a bishop. I am sure you know something. Why did they ravage the Academy? And why Orval? What he had to with whatever the Church is plotting?'

'I sincerely don't know'

'Sincere?' Arial scoffed.

'Yes my lord. Butbut I do hear something'

'What things?' Bishop Paul felt a little uncomfortable then like he was making a hard decision, he then said

'It seems that the word from the Holy Church is that Orval and his companion is involved in some shady enemies of the church.'

'Enemy of the Church? And what, who is that?'

'Take your pick, my lord.'

'Are you or AM I asking the question?' Arial said raising his voice.

'No, my lord, I. forgive me.'

'Hmph. Is that all you know?'

'Yes my lord.'

Arial moved around in the chamber while trying to digest this information. An enemy of the Church? Who? What? Where?

'You can go, Bishop.'

'May God bless you my lord' he said as he went outside the door.

'May he will' Arial said, though he doesn't think that He is listening.

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