"Welcome back, dear acolyte," Argyle greeted as he approached the carriage, "and a warm welcome to the guests you have brought with you." In almost whispering voice, he continued: "Please bear with me, dear guests, but I am trying my best to keep this assembly reticent."
Riordan nodded in agreement while Euri responded in a low volume: "We do understand, my lord. But if it is so, then I will suggest we do not prolong our encounter in the open."
The complicated statement delivered by the gypsy triggered the courtier to respond with quick movements. He led the group through the entry and into the empty chamber next to the palace cellar.
When they were comfortably seated around a circular wooden table, Argyle, who was the last to take his place after he barred the door, started, "I have called you over for a special purpose. This which I will bring you now will require your best abilities; however, it will serve for the sake of our kingdom…"
He was not done yet when Euri stood from her seat and intervened: "My lord, forgive my interference but I am perfectly aware about what you are intending to deliver. I suggest however that you allow me to disclose little information that will be helpful for the accomplishment of your intended goal."
The courtier was surprised by the sudden intrusion but since he considered the gypsy one of the respectable guests brought before him by Jiro, he resorted to allow her to speak.
"Before I begin, please hear first who I am," the gypsy spoke to the eldest in the room. "I am Euri, a gypsy whose master is the fairy adept, Kalcifer, the Phoenix Protector and King Troy's secret partner in the parenting of the emerald phoenix. My master is the one who firstly suggested to your king the return of the phoenix to Faia for the safety of your kingdom. In this regard, he sent me here to fetch the mysterious bird; however, while I was on my way, many things altered including the loss of the phoenix. Thus, the purpose of my coming had also been changed."
"On the eve of King Troy's funeral, I communicated with my master through magic. It was by then when I heard about the failed escape that you put into action. With the potentials of a fairy, my master tracked down the phoenix and discovered that the group that assaulted the squire and the acolyte on the night of the phoenix's escape is not composed of true royal guards. They were constituents of Uxx who made their way into the Ethyrian kingdom through the help of an authority."
When Euri halted, all the men in the chamber, except for Jericho, remained stunned. She eyed them one by one and then proceeded, "I have to be honest in telling you this, Lord Argyle and before the chosen few who were selected to partake in this feat; within this palace is a person who serves not your kingdom but the Lord of Vego. Such entity is undoubtedly pure by visage but evil in heart. She is the younger sister of Aglador whom he used to steal the phoenix and gradually conquer your kingdom. She is Lady Cassandra."
"Enough!" Argyle demanded as he raised himself from his seat and dropped his closed fists above the table. "I have heard so much heresy tonight; how do you prove, young lady, that what you speak of is the truth?"
Euri looked at Jericho who was also standing next to her. Then after a gesture of agreement between the two, she looked back at the courtier and stated, "Gentlemen, please allow me to prove to you the truthfulness of my claim. My companion and I agreed not to resort to this procedure, but since it may be the only way to persuade you, we shall have it executed."
Almost immediately, Jericho pulled out a crystal ball from the pouch that remained hidden in his waist. How the object fitted inside the bag was itself a wonder. Then, he held it over the table where everybody can see it clearly. When the ball was well positioned, the gypsy closed her eyes and hummed a precarious tone. A moment later, she recited a series of verses in the ancient language – that which is too deep even for Jiro to understand. Darkness filled the chamber but the men remained to look calm. Riordan nevertheless secretly pulled on Jiro's robe feeling unsafe with what will happen next. As the verses continued to echo through the tranquil interior, the crystal ball gradually glowed like reddish light.
When the incantation ended, a voice familiar to most people of Ethyr was heard. It was Lady Cassandra saying, "My brother, do bring me information when the loot has reached Vego. I am assured it will not take longer than a day from now since the group has left this city several days ago." Then within the glowing ball of red, the men perceived the figure of the prince's partner communicating with his brother through a bowl full of water placed beside her bed.
"You have delayed the process, Cassandra," the response of a deep male voice was heard from nowhere. "I do not expect you to further such transgression."
"Yes my lord, it is but my mistake, I shall see then what I can do to hasten the next feat." Then there was silence, she swallowed her saliva and started explaining to the interlocutor invisible in the crystal ball but was assumed visible in the bowl of water, "The act of stealing the phoenix went a little distracted since I have overlooked the verity of other people's knowing of this information. I thought from the very beginning that only the absolute monarch knows the secret and I even expected the prince to know it himself, he being the only heir. However, I was wrong; the late king shared the information to three courtiers and the patriarch. All five of them are aware about the phoenix, and thus when the monarch expired, the responsibility over the royal pet was handed over to the said individuals since Ken is yet unqualified to be king. The aforesaid personas planned to hide the phoenix somewhere else but it was fortunate that my guards precluded their recruits even before they were able to leave the vicinity of Gobhy." It was obvious that she was not done with her explanations yet but a loud thud was heard and then the woman straightened her head, breathed deep and walked away from the bed.
When there was nothing but the empty room seen in the crystal ball, Euri repeated the humming she performed earlier. The image in the magical orb gradually disappeared with the reddish light and soon everything returned to normal.
There was a moment of silence as Jericho put back the ball in its pouch. Argyle, Jiro, Riordan and Rian were still unconsciously staring at the point at which stood the vision before it ended. There was indeed a sign of amazement present in their faces.
"We intruded into privacy, which is one thing we promised not to do unless in fatal conditions," the gypsy explained, "I hope such effort in our part convince you enough to believe me."
Argyle, recovering before any of the boys did, replied in his same critical tone, "A trick is not sufficient to assure that I will put on your claim the fate of my kingdom. You have done well, but I am still unsure since what we have seen may be the doings of evil done to stray us from our intended direction."
"Doubt me not, Lord Argyle, since we fully comprehend your thoughts," Euri straightforwardly threatened the courtier. "If you will not believe, then I assume you set this kingdom into peril. There is no harm in placing your faith in my words, courtier, since I have sworn to speak to you truthfully in the very presence of Gahsvr Karam. My oath before the sacred source of mystery will preclude falsities to flow out of my lips."
For a while, Argyle remained quite. It was evident that he was disturbed by the message delivered. He remained to stare blankly at the darkened surface of the table that lay before them. Then, he turned his head towards Jiro dragging his sight around the rest of the people occupying the seats around the circular furniture: the acolyte, Riordan, Rian, the gypsy and her youthful companion. He made a sigh and said, "I have made up my mind." Immediately, he stood up from his seat and addressed the people present, "I will consider what the gypsy had said, however, I will also have to put into mind the plans I have before she intruded. Therefore, I have resorted to conclude this assembly with the following propositions: firstly, putting into consideration what had been finalized before any foreign intervention, I will ask the acolyte to adhere to what had been approved. He shall leave with the next battalion and head towards Uxx aiming to clarify if the gypsy's vision regarding the phoenix being brought to Vego is indeed factual. I will have Rian to go with him, but they must keep the purpose of their trip a secret. A plan will be devised to hide the real intentions. Secondly, I will request the street lad to progress on a secret mission towards the north also aiming to make clear the possibility that the loot and Xavier's squire were brought in that direction. There is no assurance as to where exactly the two were brought. The gypsy did make a statement about it but I will regard her claim to be hypothetical until proven."
In the slightest way offended, Euri appealed, "Sir, I will not have my petition impelled if it would not satisfy your standards however I am in your side and I am concerned about the time we might spend if we will pursue your propositions. What are we to benefit with the execution of such feats? I am assured that the loot is under the hands of the West, there is no reason for us to make any more clarifications. Otherwise, we will run out of time."
Argyle responded, "I have a question," this time, he seemed to have a gentler approach, "if you are assured that Aglador did want to have the phoenix for himself and that Cassandra was his secret weapon, why do you think would he wish to have the loot?"
Euri looked at him in the corners of her eyes and gently delivered her statement, "I am not as learned as my master is with regard to the potentials of the sacred birds but I am well aware, as Kalcifer has allowed me to know, that their hearts, when taken in, will grant everlasting youth." The short speech disturbed the men present. They looked at each other with questioning stares and remained speechless. "However," the gypsy appended, "there is a potential even more appealing that such, this, my master told me, was the reason behind why the Lord of Vego wanted it so much."
"And that is?" Jiro's voice was heard after a long moment of his silence.
"Necromancy."
Riordan stood up, dropped his closed fists on the table and declared, "I have enough; this is so much more than I can take. Everything we have been talking about is beyond my comprehension. Earlier, there was stolen loot which was actually a secret and then now we find out that this loot can make one man immortal, worse, can resurrect the dead…"
"Sit down, Riordan," Jiro requested him, "the Celestials have brought us here for a purpose." He appeared to be assured with his words, but within him, the acolyte knew he was sorry for bringing Riordan in.
"I am only a baker's assistant, Jiro. What do I know about these?" Riordan protested. He did not expect that Jiro would bring him into such strange assembly. Indeed, he is a person of curiosity, but even so, there were limitations that define his mortal faculties.
"You have enough knowing, because it was arranged that you will become a part of this historic chapter," Euri answered the query. She hesitated for a while before she finally decided to uncover her thoughts after a positive gesture from Jericho. "Dear Prince of Breads, you are possibly the next Bearer of the emerald phoenix."
There was absolute tranquility. All who were inside the chamber except Euri and Jericho was struck with disbelief. Jiro's confused intellect shattered into obscurity. There was strangely nothing left for him to wonder about. The baker's assistant shook in disbelief. Anxiety overpowered the rest of his emotions. Then Riordan turned away from the assembly slowly making his way towards the barred door. Jiro stood up and tried to preclude the former's intention. He held on Riordan's shoulder and whisperingly said, "Please consider a while."
"How do I consider things beyond my knowing?" the lad answered the acolyte. "I am sorry, Jiro, but I guess I am not supposed to be in here. I think I am only making things worse."
Overhearing these words, the gypsy herself stood up and called Riordan over telling him, "This is exactly how things should happen. Riordan, if you retreat from this that we face, then I do not think there is still hope for those who remain. Upon you, young man, destiny have entrusted the dawn of this kingdom's bright future. There is no other way for Ethyr to recover than to have you become an essential fragment of this feat."
Then, without looking away from the table, Argyle added, "Let him go if he wishes. It is I who wanted him here thus I decide whether he stays or not. The boy has a weak heart and cannot even bear the thoughts of this kingdom's battle for peace, therefore it is proper that we let him go, he cannot be of any service to us with such faint spirit." Hearing the courtier's comments, Riordan pushed off Jiro's hand and started walking out again. Jiro can only watch as the baker's assistant progressed.
"Halt!" The little boy yelled from his seat on the far end of the table. He was palpably filled with the commotion that enveloped him and the fellows in the room. Annoyed yet moderate, he stood up and looked straight into the eyes of the people present. Rian uncovered his sword ready to defend his master against any violent actions. He stood up and pointed the end of the sword towards the little boy.
"What future would await a kingdom populated by people such as you?" in his childish voice, Jericho addressed the people in the chamber, "I do not understand what sort you all may be…if you aren't as hardheaded as the courtier; you are as weak-hearted as the baker's assistant! I will not wonder how easily Aglador will be able to put this kingdom in ruins. Many have heard about the might of Ethyr but no one ever realized this is truly what it is – a kingdom of people who do not know how to balance their lives; an abode of irritating creatures which may be either too unemotional or unintelligent. Can you not come up with a single idea considering the fact that this is an assembly of very few people? I never thought this is how humans handle complicated situations – you make them worse."
The short declaration delivered by the little boy disturbed Riordan and Argyle very much. The baker's assistant looked back at Jericho and pointed at him with his index finger saying, "Zip your lips, for you speak as if you have been through what I am now. You may be a gypsy's companion but that does not excuse you from the innocence of most children your age."
"Hush, Riordan," Euri said, "you must not speak that way."
"Indeed," Argyle's voice reverberated again, calmly however. This time, he stood up from his seat and turned to face Riordan, "Indeed, you are correct, street lad; they have forgotten who they are." By then, Riordan walked straight out of the door. Nobody followed him since the participants were all disturbed.