"Assemble the Clockwork Council, now." I tell the head of the Gearkeepers. Impatiently crossing my arms as they stared back at me with a raised brow.
"And by whos authority, Grand-Guard?" the man asks back with an unimpressed attitude.
"Take a look in the main chamber, your answer is there." I spit out as this adherence to protocol was getting in my way. I had a job to protect this city and it was stopping me. I could not give the Worm Rider the right to enter the city without it!
"I don't see how..." he started to say before his expression straightened out. Then, all of a sudden, loud bells began to toll throughout the city. So many, in fact, that they could still be clearly heard even within Ihtuntar's Gaze Catcher.
"Make sure they arrive as soon as possible." I tell him before I move to leave. Only for my communicator to suddenly start going off.
"Grand-Guard Inerish, are you there?" it started off with.
"I am, what do you need?" I say as I head to a teleporter system. Using it to get back to my part of the Gaze Catcher before looking out the see-through walls.
"The Seven-Peak Union airbattleship has moved into an attack position. How should we respond?"
"Ignore it, it's just reacting to our recent arrival." I tell them as I look out at the impressive machine. Thousands of magic cannons that could somehow wipe out areas eighteen halfmans wide... Nothing was left of where these cannons hit. Thankfully, our shields were very much up.
"Royal-Custodian Galanmarck has also opened up a line, shall I transfer?" the female officer asks.
"Yes, put him through." I say with a sigh as I would need to elaborate to him. Make it clear to their side as well. Frankly, I was a little surprised he did not launch into the sky to intercept the Worm Rider... The Union was not on good terms with the Grand-Kingdom.
"Hello, Inerish, how have you been?" Galanmarck asked me with a traditionally disrespectful, casual tone. Which always meant he was worried about something.
"The Worm Rider is not here for your royal pet." I tell him as I drop into my swivel recliner. Crossing my black-booted legs once I was comfortable. Then, I switched from just hearing his voice to physically seeing the man. He could not see me, but, I preferred it this way.
"Then by right of treaty, I wish to know for the sake of His Royal Highness' safety." he says as I watch him briefly expose the emerald-haired prince. A clearly marked target if there ever was one. Many could have their hair altered by the strength of their magic, but few were born with it like that... And it was telling how much power that prince had when so much of Suhurlodst's background magic came from him.
"I take it you are aware of a certain criminal blight upon my career?" I ask him just so I could vent some built-up frustration. That smiling murderer has eluded me for too long... The press ate it up and they were on his side for all intents and purposes. By undermining me they helped him...
To think nothing of how we had so little to work with... Any leads we might've picked up lead nowhere. The suspects were all but proven innocent except for farce investigations that came as standard for stupid reasons. And to top it all off, he mocked us relentlessly by using his strange power to be so close and so far frequently...
"Smiling Jhurack?"
"Indeed."
"So, I take it the Worm Rider is here in relation to the student who was recently attacked?"
"Yes, a direct response from the father. A Lord Sl'Ayiysab." I tell him. And I did not quite expect the way he flinched when I said that name.
"Border colony nobility..." he mutters with some disdain. Then, a knock at the door on my end.
"Hold on," I say before I mute myself, "enter!"
"Grand-Guard Inerish, the Clockwork Council has assembled and await your explanation." a female staff officer tells me. Unmuting myself once she had finished speaking.
I nod at her and return my attention to Galanmarck, "I must go now, I had to call a council meeting in regards to our mutual interest."
"Then may this killer be brought in and the vanquisher depart soon." he bids before his face disappeared. However, I choose to take a moment to just reflect on what could happen. Eventually, however, with a timid nervousness, I did get up. I did not let it show, however.
It was bad enough that I had been so badly humiliated before that school by this man... The Grand-Guard of Thrurstradtur could not even fight one great witch? She could not stop one, petty criminal...? I could hear it all already...
And it frustrated me very much. Perhaps I was too sensitive to this kind of embarrassment. Maybe I have just had enough of it... I suppose it did not matter, so long as I did not let it be used against me...
But, I also had to uphold laws that allowed such vicious rumours to exist... A damning aspect of my career. I enjoyed the power that came with it so much yet the blocks were harsh and clearly labelled. I was kept low on the mountain of power due to historical lessons.
I put these thoughts to the side, however, once I reached my destination. And, in a liberal use of disrespect for the people above me. I walked in through their special entrance and used their stairs. It bothered them and I liked that.
The reactions, however, were all saved for the spearman at the centre of the grand chamber. Which was funny in its own way. A chamber built for royalty, used by a republic... And where the king's throne used to be, stood a representative of the greatest kingdom in history.
A Worm Rider of Ibenerocco.
"Grand-Guard Inerish, b-begin..." the Administrator of Finance encouraged without his usual stiff expression. He may have not had his magic power under his control... But this soldier, he had a reputation that terrified us all.
"Earlier today, the accused came forth within the limits of Thrurstradtur's airspace. Violating several laws of great importance, he then landed within the grounds of Suhurlodst." I start to explain, sort of joyful I could be so casual right now. Wind-People and their insistence on such strict naming annoyed me...
"I did not come here to face trial." the Worm Rider warned as his spear suddenly swung down and carved some stone. With it seemingly having never moved when I suddenly turned to him.
"It's just protocol..." I somewhat mockingly say as I was choosing it arbitrarily, "To get to the point, however. Worm Rider...?"
"My name is unimportant. I am here on behalf of Lord Sl'Ayiysab for the one who attacked his daughter."
"D-Didn't you c-catch him, Grand-Guard!?" the Administrator of the Arts gasped in some shock as his fat body moved erratically.
"No, as I said when we took him in, Surgeon Stolpzhen was another case of Smiling Jhurack setting someone else up. He was acquitted of all charges and currently resides within solitude by his own request."
"Ignoring your incompetence so far, Grand-Guard Inerish," the Stroke of High Noon sneers, causing me to quietly growl, "perhaps you can see us through where she has failed, Worm Rider."
"Do not associate me with your disputes." the spearman started to say before he was suddenly in front of my insulter, "Regardless of your decision, know that I shall go on to do my duty." and, all of sudden, I felt as if I was about to drown. At least, until I pushed back against this sudden force with my own magic. And, for a moment, I stood in awe as this man defied the city to command his magic once again.
The Stroke of High Noon, however, held his ground, "Then you have our approval." he tells him before he strikes with the gavel which conveyed his supreme authority. The right to dictate the decision of the whole city... A king's power...
"You spoke of a surgeon, take me to him." the Worm Rider then asks of me as he relinquishes control of his magic again.
"Of course." I say as I step aside.