Chereads / Shadow Ruler / Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Dangerous Brunch

Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Dangerous Brunch

A jolt woke the young man. Lookimg around he saw that he was in the an infirmary.

The man grabbed his head, "How did i get here, the last thing i knew i was about to crush that little ant. Then nothing."

"You were not about to do anything. If i had not stopped you when i did, you would habe killed everyone here." a voice to his left informed him.

Turning his head slightly, the man saw the reason why he went on a rampage. This young man laying in the bed next to the one that he currently occupied.

"You. I'm gonna...." his voice dropping as an aura made him flinch outwardly.

"You will do nothing to your lord ." a voice ordered, coming from the foot of the man's bed this.

Garned's eyes looked down to see Rafesh standing at the foot of his bed. Rafesh stared down at the male Amazonian with hatred.

"Did her highness send you to berate me?" Garned asked in a mocking tone.

"No, she sent me to give you new orders and drop off some new attire for the lord." Rafesh replied in a cold tone, placing a set of clothes on the foot of Wayland's bed.

"Thank you Rafesh, i'll get changed immediately. Is Synclade still here?" Wayland asked worryingly as he changed into the clothes.

"Yes sir, her Majesty and Lady Synclade are waiting in the main hall. Her Majesty will escort you and Lady Synclade to your appointment. As for you Garned..." Rafesh explained to the young man, before turning to the other male with a chilling tone. "You are now under the tutelage of Master Wayland, until he releases you or you die. Is that understood?"

Garned swallowed heavily before slightly nodding his head.

"Good. You will accompany her Majesty, Master Wayland, and Lady Synclade to their appointment and after so remain with Master Wayland. You swore an oath after all." Rafesh reminded the man.

< Synclade loyalty level 75/100

Trusga loyalty level 65/100

Gileon loyalty level 90/100

Pricusla loyalty level 65/100

Garned loyalty level 35/100

???? loyalty level 55/100

Deina loyalty level 70/100>

'Interesting, now i can see their loyalty levels. i can guess that Synclade, Deina, and Gileon's loyalty levels might be high. Who is ???? though, that must be Garned's other personality.' Wayland thought, swiping the screens away. Yet the loyalty levels didn't show Rafesh or any of the others that he had met.

'Ahhh, now i understand. Well let's go twist a the thorn in Synclade's parents side.' Wayland commented, pulling the cloak on.

Garned stood as Wayland finished dressing, Garned pulled on a loose shirt and pants before sliding his feet into some fur padded boots.

"Deina, is waiting for us. Let's get this over with." Garned spoke in a low tone.

"One question. Why did you attack me earlier?" Wayland asked, generally curious what his reason was.

"Deina is ... I'll let her explain." Garned informed him as the two men followed Rafesh to the main hall.

Deina and Synclade were both in elegant dresses that were made so that they didn't sacrifice movement for beauty. Synclade had her swords and bow across her back. While Deina had a short sword on her waist.

"Ahh, my dear. I hope that this numbskull of a sibling of mine didn't hurt you to bad." Deina exclaimed as the two entered the main hall.

"Sibling? You mean that Garned is..." Wayland started to ask, looking between the two Amazonians.

"He's my younger brother, since he was born a male he was placed with the rest of the male Amazonians. Yet he trained and became a male body guard despite the laws saying otherwise. When he heard that you spent the night in my chamber, he thought that we had slept together. Instead of asking me, he went head first into a fight." Deina explained, smacking her brother's head even though he was about 2 heads taller than her.

Garned flushed with embarrassment from the situation.

"May i ask why you escorting us to meet Synclade's parents?" Wayland asked, as the group exited the mansion.

A lovely carriage with the Amazonian royal crest stamped on the doors, being pulled by Great Dire Wolves awaited them at the foot of the stairs.

"I thought i should explain why you are late. As both of you spent the night at my residence." Deina explained, entering the carriage at the foot of the entrance stairs.

Synclade and Wayland entered after Deina, Garned grabbed a handle on the back and swung himself up onto the back of the carriage.

With a crack of a whip the carriage was off. The carriage sped through the edge of the city and cut into the center after a few minutes. While the outside of the carriage had an air of importance and relaxation, the inside was exactly the opposite.

Synclade rung her hands with nervousness and dread as each second took them closer to the people that she did not want to be around.

"Syn my dear, are you alright?" Deina asked worried about her new friend.

"Huh, oh yes. I'm perfectly fine." Synclade replied, smiling lightly. Synclade's hands unwrung themselves and were pressed hard onto her lap.

"I would say that you..." Deina started to speak up.

"Deina, i would love to know more about the Amazonian cast system." Wayland quickly interrupted, while gently stroking Synclade's shoulder after pulling her into a semi-hug.

"Huh, oh yes. You are going to be the future king, i should inform you of..." Deina started, explaining the cast system of her realm to her future husband. All the while, Synclade eased herself into the comforting hug of her love.

All to sudden the carriage stopped in front if a large building, the building was at least three stories tall with a gothic architecture.

Peeking out to see the building, Synclade shot back away from the window.

"It's okay Syn, one step at a time. I'll be with you every step." Wayland whispered into her ear.

In the third story window a dark skinned man watched his daughter, the Amazonian Queen, and that man exit out the carriage. Along with the large man that hopped off the back of the carriage, the group entered the Dark Veil's temporary accommodations.

"Tsk, I was hoping that it would be just our daughter and that man. If we don't tread carefully we might start an international incident. Well played Queen Deina. Well played." the tall man spoke, before turning from the window and heading to the meeting hall on the second floor.

*First Floor*

Wayland's group were met by a thin dark skinned elf wearing a dark blue robe.

"Your Grace, i am to escort you and your guests to the meeting hall to meet Master Synflus and Mistress Tolrius." the elf informed the group in a calm tone.

Synclade gripped Wayland's hand as the group followed the elf through the hall. A few people lingered in the shadows as if they were told to hold from attacking the group.

"Fear not, they wouldn't harm the future of the Dark Veil." the elf informed them as he noticed the group start to fall behind him.

'Tsk, they would if the Amazonians weren't here.' the elf thought with anger.

The plan had been simple. When the Dark Veil's weapon and that man came for their 'dinner', they were supposed to kill the man and take the weapon back to be reprogrammed. That plan had been ruined by the escort of Amazonians that they now had.

'I hope the master has a plan for this.' the drow thought to himself.

"Here we are. Your Grace, Master Synflus and Mistress Tolrius are inside. Breakfast will be served shortly." the dark elf informed them before opening the double doors to the meeting hall.

Synflus sat at the head of a long table with his 'wife', patiently waiting. When the doors opened, he stood to greet his 'daughter'.

"My sweet Synclade, how lovely it is that you were able to make time for your parents. We have missed you so." Synflus gushed as he went to give his daughter a hug.

Seeing Synflus trying to embrace her, Synclade shrunk a little into Wayland.

"Ah, you must be Wayland. Synclade's Party Leader." Synflus quickly deflected the obvious recoil of his daughter, instead turning to the main problem.

"I am your Grace. I hope that we are not troubling you to much as Queen Deina asked us to attend a party." Wayland replied coolly, keeping a smile on his face. Extending the hand that Synclade was not gripping.

He knew what Synflus had probably planned. He had to keep his suspicions to himself and not let on that he knew what type of man he was.

Synflus almost stumbled in his performance as it seemed this man was being genuine.

"Yes, we were informed of the 'invitation'. This is my wife Tolrius, unfortuanetly our son is not here due to him having to take control of the main branch. I do hope that one day you will be able to meet him." Synflus introduced Tolrius, who was standing of to the side of her husband.

"Hello Mistress Tolrius. My Synclade, you never told me how beautiful your mother was." Wayland commented, causing both female Drow to blush slightly, as he bowed in acknowledgement.

"Your Highness, i did not know that you would be joining us. I would have sent an escort if i had known." Synflus exclaimed, bowing deeply to Deina.

"Oh, i was just escorting your daughter and my future husband to their appointment with your Grace. Alas, i have other duties to attend to i'm afraid. My husband's personal guard will remain i'm afraid." Deina replied, in a sweet tone. Garned shivered slightly, he knew that tone. That tone always came as a warning to those in political positions below his sister.

"Ah, yes. He'll have to ..." Synflus started, being cut off as Garned sat in the nearest chair which was on the right side at the foot of the table, leaving the left side and the foot of the table open to Wayland and Synclade.

Wayland sat down at the end allowing Synclade to sit on the left side.

Gain loyalty points from Garned, Synclade, and Deina.

Exp gained 250>

Both Synclade and Wayland saw the screen, yet they had already stepped into the viper's den. They couldn't leave with the door being shut.

Synclade sat wringing her hands under the table.

How was her father going to try harming them, poison, assassination, mental manipulation, or was it something more sinister.

As her thoughts started to run wild, she felt a hand on her's. Looking up she saw Wayland smiling gently at her. With that smile, she knew that they would get through this.

"I bid you farewell then your Grace, my Lord." Deina told them, bowing lightly before leaving closing the doors.

Wayland nodded, before the doors shut he placed several shadows around the building.

After a few minutes of awkward silence the first course was brought in by servants.

"How are your studies going, my dear?" Synflus started, slowly eating fruit from his plate.

"I am doing well in my studies, Wayland has helped me increase my agility and dexterity." Synclade told him, an edge on her voice.

"Really, may i ask how he is doing that?" Synflus asked calmly, indirectly asking Wayland.

"I am helping her train along with the rest of our party." Wayland replied, not revealing any cards that he held.

Analyzing

Poison detected.>

Wayland was about to drink from a goblet, when he saw this he slowly swirled the drink before setting it off to the side.

"I would like to make a contract with the Dark Veil Guild." Wayland stated, watching the Guild Leader for tells.

"Oh, and what would the details of this 'contract' be." Synflus asked, seeming interested.

"It would entitle, oh no!!" Wayland exclaimed as he accidentally bumped the goblet on the edge of the table, causing the goblet to fall on the floor.

As Wayland turned to pick up the goblet, he noticed the drink had spread across the floor. Yet in one spot the drink hadn't hit the floor. The liquid had a round shape of the tip of a boot.

'So that's your game Synflus, but you can't attack a contract holder.' Wayland thought slyly to himself, smirking slightly.

"As i was saying before my accident." Wayland continued, "The details are this, i would like to ask for your daughter's hand. If, if anything happens to me that would effect me or my party over the course of the remainder of our schooling. Then the deal would be off. If nothing does happen to us, then I marry your daughter."

Synflus smiled, yet he was clinching his hands so hard that his knuckles were turning white. The only one that noticed this was Wayland, as the rest of the room had turned in surprise at what he was implying.

' It's a high gamble on his part. He knows how much power we hold and yet he still plays this game. If we'll indulge him a little.' Synflus crowed, his smile dropping to a serious frown.

"We can not just hand out daughter to a random stranger off the street. What would be your price for her hand?" Synflus asked, seeming amused at his antics.

"Easy, at a certain time set by me. When you need assistance, all you will have to do is send word." Wayland replied, setting the bait.

Wayland knew the game that he was playing had a dangerous edge.

"Unfortunately that is not enough, you must sweeten the contract." Synflus insisted, preparing to spring his trap.

"I know the location to a treasure that you have been searching for." Wayland replied coolly, knowing that Synflus only dreamt of one thing.

'He knows where it is, he must be bluffing. Not even I with all my contacts, i don't know of it's location.' Synflus thought furiously, 'I must know where it's at.'

"I have no idea on what you are talking about. I am one of the most powerful members of the Starlight Alliance. What would i ever need?" Synflus asked, seeing if he could pull the information.

"I will inform you of the general location. After that you'll have to wait until the contract is fulfilled." Wayland informed him with a slight smirk.

' If i play this game, then it would be a win-win. I can get it and take out this troublesome brat at the same time.' Synflus thought calmly, his earlier anger slowly being snuffed out.

"And where might that be?" Synflus asked, showing some interest.

"The mountains that no one dares inhabit." Wayland replied in quizzical form, "It seems that our time is up. We shall bid you a farewell your Grace. Your ladyship." Bowing to Synflus, then turning to Tolrius taking her hand and lightly kissing it. " I shall send the contract over with the details outlined in a more professional means."

Surprised by the quickness and crypticness of the meeting, Synflus could only shake with rage as he had seen he was played. Not only did he lose the chance to get the information about it, but he lost his chance to take out this brat and take his daughter back.

Wayland, Synclade, and Garned left the building quickly as Deina was no longer with them for protection. All the shadowy figures could not advance on them as they were being pinned by an unknown force.

Back with Synflus and Tolrius, the guild master flew into a rage. The room grew colder by the second, until the room had a sheet of ice a few centimeters thick.

The guild memebers that were hidden suddenly appeared and fell to the floor from the killing intent that flowed from Synflus.

" I'll kill that brat if it's the last thing i do." Synflus swore.

Tolrius quickly excused herself from her husband's wrath. Actually she wanted to see what the young man had slipped her when he had kissed her hand in farewell.

Finding an empty room she pulled out a sheet of paper.

"Tolrius,

I know of the horrible treatment given to you by your husband. If you wish to be free of his cruelty and have a life of happiness. Then leave a light on in you private chambers tonight at the stroke of midnight. I will discuss the details then. -W"

After Tolrius read the note, it dissolved into blackness and sank into her shadow.

'This human is different indeed.' Tolrius thought curiously as she watched the note disappear.

"Are you crazy?!" Synclade asked as they rushed out of the Dark Veil's building.

"I saw a hidden person when i spilt the drink earlier. They had us surrounded, they couldn't hurt a contract holder on company grounds. Nor can they inflict damage on them when a contract is made, so far as they know the contract has been made. I gave them a clue to the treasure he can never have and we got out of there with no casualties." Wayland explained, "The written contract will be dealt with later. A verbal contract is what i needed right then, and you two are witnesses to that."

Garned started roaring with laughter at what Wayland had just pulled off.

"You are ingenious, my lord." Garned congratulated Wayland, after his laughter calmed down.

"It's just Wayland." Wayland replied dryly, not turning his head.

Garned burst into another fit of laughter. "As you say, Wayland."

"Now that business is dealt with. How about we go train?" Wayland asked, already contacting Priscula and Trusga to meet them at the library.

Synclade smiled warmly and nodded. Garned smirked and also nodded as he wanted to see what he would be working with in the future.

*Envy's Camp*

"Tsk, i can't believe that Synflus missed his chance to take the weapon back. It would have been a bonus also if he had killed that boy." Envy complained.

"I told you. You should have just teleported him here and let me squash him." Wrath told the figure.

"No, no. That would be to easy. The best way is not always the quickest. We both know that. Check mate." Envy replied, moving a piece on a wooden board in front of him.

"Tsk, how do you always beat me." another figure complained, accepting the defeat.

"Easy, you are to busy thinking of how to get rich. Greed." Envy replied, setting the board up again. "Try to focus."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll have to pass, i have a good deal this time." Greed forfeited, gathering his business documents.

"Just don't let Gluttony hear that, they might not want to give it up." Envy told the figure coolly, Greed shivered slightly.

Envy then turned to a map of the world on the wall of their tent. Areas outlined on the map with numbers and words, changing every few seconds.

"Seems Lust has manipulated her area. Wrath, you need to go shut down this area." Envy commanded the huge metal covered figure, pointing to a section on the map.

"Finally, some action. I was about to start killing your men." Wrath replied his voice dripping with bloodlust. With that the metal figure walked out into the night melting into the darkness without a sound.