Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 201: Harald oath (3)

CASTLE OF ARLEANS

ARIAL VERMONT

They have finally been invited to come in to the castle

The moment they enter they have been received with warm welcome into the city with all the nobles from all parts of Vangua is here to once again recognise the sovereignty of King Edward.

There are twenty-two lords here at the castle excluding the King.

Vangua is a huge Kingdom divided into twenty regions rule by a Duke that governs the lesser nobles and the King rules the duke.

However, the difference between Edward rule and the rule in Arrandy is that the land of the Duke is theirs and it is their fealty that becomes the backbone of his strength for the throne.

Arial, on the other hand, the land is all his property and he rent it to the lord under him, which meant if they displease him, he could take back his land and instead of a noble army for any noble house, the state of Arrandy have a state soldiers, obeying only his orders.

Some noble sin his state is allowed to have soldiers but was limited in recruiting and there are some regulations that they had to abide by.

This ensure that in the state of Arrandy, there is no force that could rebel against his House.

Which is why none of Arial noble's lords dare defied his orders. Their life and livelihood depends on his grace.

They waited for a few hours and then they were prepared for the coronation of the King. This time, there is not only nobles, but other royalties from other Kingdoms have also come to witness the ceremony.

Vangua is a powerhouse in the Human Continent and as such, its conflict and its development is always watched upon.

The coronation begun with the Bishop of Lysander that came from Cori Grand church blessing those who came.

Vern Bishops also came to bless the King while the nobles kneel toward Edward, recognising Edward as their one and true King.

The Vernian Bishop anointed the crown. The Crown is plated in sterling gold with red diamonds going completely around the crown.

The design of the full crown is lower in the back than it is in the front.

The Cori Church anointed the sceptre and both of the Bishop present both of these items to the King as the King kneel and the Vernian Bishop crowned Edward head and the Cori Church hand him his sceptre and the castle cheered with Long Live the King!

The recognition of Edward as King is also watched by King of Dostov Terris Quinn, King of Zettel, and King of Cori, but Aetherland could not attend.

King Adrian has sent a letter announcing to the royalties that he had sent Arial as his representatives, while Renasia had to decline because of their on-going campaign with the Mountain Tribes.

Arial look all around the hall and he saw Harald. He smirks. It seems Harald is not happy at all with how things have turned out.

How could he be happy when his plan is destroyed?

The nobles of Vangua that once so resisting of Edward rule now accept him because of the pressure of the Church and the rebellion of the common folk has become a headache for them.

With the return of the king, they are convinced that peace will dawn again in the Kingdom and they are willing to move past old resentment.

So does Edward.

But as Arial had learned about the man, he doubts Edward would or could forgive the Orleans.

In Arial opinion, when Edward gained enough power, then that will be the time for him to counter attack.

Then the feast began.

Roasted and boiled meats, rich stews, platters of buttered root vegetables, sharp welcome greens and sweet fruits and nuts means a rich feast and full bellies.

Large amounts of mead and ale were brought up from the cellars for the feast.

The house of Orleans has set out long trestle tables with benches to accommodate the lords and pork, oxen, horsemeat, poultry, beef and huge variety of fish were served along with vegetables.

Poets, minstrel, bards come out and recite sagas of Levitia and poems of Leliana and the long history of Vangua formation, praising their ancestors.

The bards would get the lord dancing and some of the lords took to the tables and dance while the other lords encouraged each other.

Every single one of the lords wears their finest clothes and jewellery.

Edward himself looks kingly today. Wearing his crown, he looks more charismatic and his clothes also help him to look more formidable.

Noble and robust is the word that Arial would describe Edward appearance right now.

He wears a blue tunic with attached chainmail sleeves and gauntlets, as well a detailed emblem that depicts his crest symbol, a rampant lion on a gold and black shield with golden wings.

His red lion hide cape with the medallion on his neck, hanging for all the nobles to see just enhances his appearance of nobility. It makes a noble impression.

Usually this kind of feast went on for days and in normal days he would join them. But not this time

He needs to move fast. Tomorrow, he has to go to his objective. This is not the only reason why he went to Vangua.

And even during the feats Arial is more preoccupied for tomorrow plan when he departs. It has been a few weeks since he began his journey to Vangua and the pain is slowly getting even worse.

The reason why he come to Vangua, the most important reason is that he wanted to meet that person.

As he was thinking about that person, suddenly the moonlight that illuminates the hall dimmed.

Even he was shocked. They all rushed toward the balcony and look at the outside and see the moon covered by the sun

Scholars from Asteros called this occurrence, lunar eclipse.

It is said that when moon orbits our world which proved the heliocentric ideas of Emperor George the Wise, it falls into the world shadow which will turn the moon dark.

Then the lord's gasped and Arial had a foreboding what will happen. There is unease in the hall. After the coronation something like this happen.

Sign and omens. And common folks, noble lords, priest and bishops believe omens and signs.

After all, in this world there are some magic older than time itself. They all look at the moon, awe and transfixed as slowly the moon show itself again.

And now the Hall is full of whispers, while the noble lords began trying to find meaning on such occurrence just after the coronation of Edward.

Arial could feel that this is a prelude of something worse.

He need to dispel the worries.

'HAHAHAHA' he suddenly laughed.

The tension suddenly tenses up as the lords looks toward him. Harald who is near him ask

'Why the laugh, Lord Arial?' Arial smirks and then said

'God has given us a sign' he replies; his face is still smiling.

'A sign?' Lord Prodence asked

'Yes, a sign.' Arial exclaimed

'Are you a moonsayer?' Lord Ahelia asked

'I could see some' Arial bluff

'What sign?' Lord Prodence

'A new beginning' he answers

'Light after dark. Peace after chaos.' And with that the lord nodded. They are not hard to convince. After all people believe what they want to believe.

'He is right. The fact it happens after King Edward coronation only strengthen the fact.' Some said enthusiastically

Arial nodded. Lord Ahelia also shares the same sentiments

'You are quite a knowledgeable man, Lord Ahelia.' Arial compliments Lord Ahelia.

He seems to be pleased with the compliments. Seeing this, the other lord agrees.

'Yes, Lord Arial is right' the other lord chimed in. Then once again with a laugh, the feast continues while Edward looked at him with appreciation.

Arial just nodded.

After a while the Agreement signing had begun. The agreement forges an alliance between Aetherland and Vangua and recognizing the rights of Edwards as King.

With that the peace can be uphold. They then returned once again, to feast

Then suddenly in the long table while the lords and nobles singing bawdy songs and drinking ale and wine a yell can be heard among the many noises.

'Lord Arial!' The yell called him.

Arial look at the person who yelled for his name. He was shocked that it was Edward that yell toward him. Arial raises up his mug and nodded toward him

Edward seems to be in a happy mood.

Arial' he yelled again. This time Arial felt a little bit weird. He decided to get up from his seat and that is when the song and the chatter stopped.

Everyone knows who he is. Arial exploits has already spread to all the continents. The Dragon, they called him.

'Yes, Your Highness.' Arial said in a formal way of addressing Edward in front of his lords.

Arial could hardly call him Edward in front of his vassal, else it may show disrespect, no matter how close he is with the King.

Then Edward called Harald and this only make more lords whispered to each other. Arial then come approaching toward Edward and waited in front of him with a tight face

What is he doing? Arial thought to himself

'Kneel' he orders. So, Arial kneel but before his knee could hit the ground, Edward held him up. 

'Not you, friend.' At this time Arial is puzzled. What is he trying to do now? Arial thought to himself

'You!' Edward pointed his finger to Harald. Everybody seems shocked. Harald especially. Harald with no other choice kneel.

'Swear your fealty to the Lord of the great Duchy of Arrandy, Lord Arial Vermont and I will forgive your transgression right here right now.' The lord's all gasped in disbelief at this sudden ridiculous order.

Quickly the lords come forward

'This could not be done, Your Highness. Lord Arial is of foreign state' some of the lords began to advise the King.

Arial himself was flustered. This could become something big if the news of this event were to spread to Aetherland. He then looks at Edward and said.

It looks like Edward is drunk.

'Please reconsider, Your Highness' Arial advises.

The King then said, his eyes looked maliciously at Harald, an eye full of hatred and bitterness

'I have made my decision. Your family bear treasonous thoughts for the crown. If not for my forbearance, I would have you executed the moment the Bishop put the throne on my head. In front of all these lord swear your fealty to him' Edward decreed and then he look at Arial with a gentle look and smiles.

'My protector and friend. He has sheltered me when I'm in danger, fed me when I'm hungry and protect me when my own people tried to harm me. It is only right that I repay him. I could not give him land here, nor could I give him a title, but I could give him a vassal."

Arial is beyond flustered right now, standing there not knowing what to do.

And the look of the other nobles is piercing. 

Arial is not a coward anymore but he knows of their envy to Arrandy and now for one of their lords to bent their knee and kneel towards a foreign lord, this is beyond ridiculous.

This kind of thing is not unusual; but it is usually done if that lord has gained many approvals from the other lords.

And this might also create problem between him and Adrian.

Even though the King of Aetherland owed his crown to his father, and did not have any ground of offence against him personally, Arial know there is some machination from the King's Court to try to meddle in the state of affairs of Arrandy.

Adrian may be afraid that he would secede from the Kingdom, creating a Principality.

It is not ridiculous to think that Adrian is insecure of Arrandy power as a self-governing state, even though that power had for much more than half of that time, acted more than a friendly part towards Aetherland and his rule. 

It was not unnatural that the Vangua people should cherish a strong national dislike to the Caelum lord like him.

After all, combined with their envy and racial distinction between Caelum and other race, this is also a part of their reason for disliking him to be given such honours.

Harald on the other hand suffer no such slight. But there is a difference between Harald and Arial.

The difference is that Harald is not pure blooded Caelum, like Arial. Arial parents might be farmers before they become lords but they are pure blooded Caelum.

But such motives were not openly avowed then any more than now.  The rivalry between the Vermont family and Alan is famous.

His involvement in killing Lord Alderam is known to all. His father involvement in making Adrian King is famously told in songs and poems all around the Continent.

And here King Edward asks the son of that man to kneel under the feet of his father killer, the family who exile him from Aetherland, never to smell Aetherland air again, in the full views of lords who used to be Alderam allies.

Not to mention the lords of Vangua viewed Arrandy as a menace, fearing that he would one day set his sight for the land south of Aetherland.

Everyone knows that House of Vermont and House of Althea will be bonded in marriage in the near future.

Since Althea rule around the South then it is only right that they fear Arrandy strength when united with Althea.

With gritted teeth, Harald kneel to Arial amazement and the other lords.

Everyone watch him as he uttered his words. Arial know he speak of the word for fearing his own life.

'I swear to Lord Arial Vermont my fealty. I am his shield and his sword. I will shield him from harm, and avenge him if he were to die. I will not harm him or his family.'

And with that Edward laughed

'That is good.'

'He is drunk' Arial mused, but what done is done.

'I accept your fealty. Rise' Arial complete the vow of fealty

Standing there Arial doesn't know what to do, so Arial began thinking that he need to get out of this Grand Hall as fast as possible.

'I will excuse myself Your Highness' he said while he walks to the door Kyle and West following him from behind.

'This is dangerous. I have no doubt Harald will not let this slide.' Arial whispered to Kyle and West. West understands the graveness of the situation and he nodded.

'What we are going to do now?' Kyle ask from behind.

'We will leave tonight" Arial declared

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This is the last chapter for this mass release and the end chapter for this month.

See you all next month on the sixth or the seventh. I will be taking a little bit more rest next month to unwind a bit. Only increase one day rest because of all the drama.

I usually posted the chapter on the sixth so I ask for your understanding for the next month since I will be posting it on the seventh.

Though, if I could make it, the schedule would be as usual.

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