Chapter 6
Alaric’s POV
The council chamber reeked of polished wood, burning incense, and centuries of deceit. All of that and more, were the things I noticed as my eyes scoured the walls before landing on the empty room that was the council conference room.
I stood at the head of the obsidian table, my arms folded behind me, and cloak pooling at my feet like spilled shadow. I'd always hated the damn thing, and quite contrary to the council members and rulers before me, no, the love of a ceremonial cloak did not grow on me. If anything, it pissed me off more now, but if I was trying to get a favor from the council, it was best I pleased them, yes?
Unfortunately.
I wasn't sure how much time passed, but one thing was sure, I stood rooted in my spot, as I watched the members of the council walk in one by one.
“Alaric, my King.” High chancellor Meridius was the first of all five to enter. He bowed slightly, before making his way to his spot at the head of the table. “We didn't know you'd be waiting.”
I didn't say anything, except if the slow smirk I gave him could be considered a response. Once the extra four members of the council were completely seated around me, I shut the door with the force of my eyes. Yes, there were other members of council, but did I need them all at once? Not at all.
“You called,my king ” Lord Dorian clipped after a minute's worth of silence. “And on such short notice too. I do hope everything is okay?”.
“This is not a request,” I said coolly. “It’s a necessity. If you try to sever the bond between me and the girl, the consequences could be irreversible.”
A few murmurs rippled through the room, but nothing piqued my interest more than High Chancellor Meridius’ response.
“Irreversible for whom? The
human is expendable.” He was the mouthpiece of arrogance, and I didn't miss him arching a snowy eyebrow. “She is the reason our kin were slaughtered, he bears the blood of our fallen on her hands. If the ritual worked, it was a mistake. Nothing more.”
“Be that as it may, the bond is real.” I clenched my jaw. “It is magical and ancient. The old laws protect it, and you know it.”
“And yet,” Lady Virell said, twirling her silver ring, “those same old laws demand punishment for anyone who spills royal blood. That girl, whether intentionally or not, did that . If she dies, the threat dies with her.”
“She’s not a threat anymore,” the words tumbled past my lips faster than I could catch it. Not that I regretted it though, I didn't expect the shocked expression on their faces. “We have her where we can easily access her. She lives in our walls with us ..”
“And yet, she was able to perform such an ancient ritual.” Dorian spoke up again. “If we keep her in here for any longer, what do you think will happen?”
“She could tear us down from the inside.” It was Lady Alara’s turn to speak, and she wasn't pleased. “That girl is dangerous, and ending her would be best for all of us.”
“The magic binding us,” I said tightly, “is unstable. If you sever it, it might destroy us both. Or worse, unleash whatever that old power was back into the world.”
The room stilled, and for a moment, I honestly thought I'd gotten through it them, until someone else spoke.
A younger councilman, Vaelin, perhaps, cleared his throat, and all it did was Garner a frown from me.
“We’ve consulted the Arcanum.” Vaelin let out. “ There’s a spell. It’s risky, yes, but it can be done. If we remove the human, we preserve the throne, your throne.”
“Really?” My question echoed with sarcasm, but my voice dropped almost immediately. “I never asked to be preserved.”
That earned a flicker of surprise from a few faces.
“I’ll give you time,” Meridius said after a beat. “But the girl cannot stay here long. The people are afraid. And the council is losing patience.”
“So am I,” I replied, and swept from the chamber before any of them could see the fury blazing in my eyes.
I didn’t stop walking until I reached the upper terrace. The wind bit at my skin, but i welcomed the chill, because it helped me think.
The plan tonight had been to convince the council otherwise, but it'd fallen through. Even a child could see the end result from this point. They were going to kill her. Eventually, they would. Unless…
Unless I found another way. One that neither severed the bond nor endangered her life. One that would make them all believe she wasn’t a threat.
A small sigh slid past my lips. I had no idea why I was doing this, any of this in fact. The council was right , she'd singlehandedly slaughtered a good number of my people, their blood were on her hands , and yet, here I was, thinking of a plan to stop her from getting killed.
A couple of minutes passed, and before long , a plan was already forming in my mind. It bordered on the fact that it might cost me more than I was willing to give, but it was the only way.
I was going to save that sharp mouthed and hotheaded girl first, then figure out whateve
r motivation was stirring me towards suddenly being her protector.