Chapter 50:
The rings and ornaments the nobles wore shimmered slightly in the dim light of the room. Most looked like gold with diamond embedding across the crust but in Sen's eyes he could tell they weren't. He could deduce that they were just normal bronze or steel ornaments plated with a golden covering. Then they were polished to make them shine and draw people away to the apparent truth that they wanted everyone to see.
Their silk like clothes stretched across the extravagant and exaggerated sits they sat on. The wood the sits were made of a rare wood called honey oak, characterized by its smooth honey like luster when the bark its was removed. The chairs themselves seemed authentic, and looked like they were made by a skilled carpenter. The way the intricate patterns across its edges aligned to form a symphony of delicately carved curls and the unique chair structure displayed the immense passion the maker of the chairs had for their art.
The only blemish on the chairs were the bickering nobles who say on them.
" I just need a reason… "he said as slowly raised his head, eyes flat.
" Huh? " a stray voice said, hesitantly.
" I just want to know why you care so much about them. A reason to why you'd go out of your way to mind people who you yourselves don't even acknowledge to exist. "
The room stilled.
Their eyes swept from one to the other, none able to dare to talk. The murmurs from before slowly stirred out of existence as all the noble's eyes settled to a brown bearded man.
His eyes were firm. Like a strict educator. He stood, arms crossed, scanning the room from his shadowed corner. His brown beard stretched across his face with a small scar discontinuing its growth by the lip. He was heavy build, silent and with his arms crossed across his chest, he watched the nobles like a quiet watch tower.
" Watch your tongue boy. " he boomed, his voice silencing the last squeaks among the seated nobles.
Sen's eyes swayed to the corner where the man stood.
The man's presence was to imposing to be missed. But yet in the hour they had been there neither Sen nor Liora had felt it, the overwhelming pressure that just his shadow ensued across the room.
Sen's fingers twitched.
The man's unwavering eyes seared into Sen's and then to Liora's. He then gave a slight scoff be fore preceding into the light.
" Are these your newest guild members, Trojn. A failed noble and a blind brat. " he beckoned.
He walked closer to the platform where Sen and Liora were standing as he eyed them down.
" I thought this mission was of the utmost importance… " he asked.
" I assure you it is. " Trojn answered.
The man gave a questioning look to Trojn.
" Sir I can… " Lothor tried to intervene.
Trojn extended his arm and ushered him to stop He slowly rose from his seat and paced towards the man.
The two came face to face. Trojn stood in between the man and the platform eyeing directly into the eyes of the man. Sen and the others only watched from the side, none dared to speak as the two watch towers clashed.
" I understand that your masters need the escapes rebels… " Trojn began. " but I have my duties too. "
" A guild is its members. And as the guild master I watch over my guild. And thus I watch over my guild members and help them out in whatever way I can. "
" Just as you do for them. " he added with a gentle smile at the end.
The high ceiling chamber seemed to hold its breath. Under the hanging chandelier were two unprecedented power house trying to eye each other down. No one in the room, apart from Lothor , had seen either fight. But as the tension in the room slowly spiked, disaster was all it spelt.
The bearded man groaned as he let out a sigh.
" Let's go you eight. " his voice roared startling the dazed nobles.
" But we haven't—"
" Enough!! "
" You've had enough time and you've proved nothing. Any more disruptions and your families will hear of these. "
A few moments later all the nobles had left. They had slowly slumped out of the chamber's white mahogany portal with most of their faces losing the cocky look they previously had.
" Two months, Trojn. " their bearded watcher said. " Two months for the guild to find those rebels and deliver them to the higher Lap. If not done by the. "
" then the lap will have to handle things themselves. " he said before closing the door behind him.
Trojn's eyes narrowed as the sound of the closing door gradually muted.
" The higher lap seems in distress now…" he thought.
Behind him Sen and Liora had gotten of the platform. Liora was supporting herself by the table while Sen had staggered his way a near by seat.
" Hey Lothor! " Liora called out.
Lothor turned to a frustrated Liora.
" I'm your senior, address me with the proper tone. "
" I'll address you however I want." She snapped back at him. " Earlier, during the debriefing, what did you mean by that, huh? Was this even a mission or were you just sending us there because no one else wanted to? "
Lothor's eye searched for a while. He sighed after realizing her worry.
" Why are you so angry over such a minor detail? Actually I would have thought you would have liked that mission because you wouldn't need to anything. " he answered back.
" Tch! You think using us like that is okay?. " Liora paused before asking the next question. " So was the investigation a lie too? Was the shriekers that attacked those girls also a lie? "
" Quit your tantrums, Liora. The mission you were assigned only required you to come back with a yes or no. And yet what the report says is that you… "
" Lothor enough. " Trojn said stopping Lothor from continuing.
" Sorry sir. " he said his voice returning to his normal reserved nature.
" I understand where your anger is coming from and I'm sure you both have gone through a lot. Lothor wasn't the one who assigned both of you to that mission… I was. "
" Then why… "Liora said her tone receding.
" Why did you choose me when you already know I can't … " Liora stopped.
" As of now none of you are ready. "
" Ready for what? " Liora ridiculed.
As Trojn was about to answer, pushed the seat he was rested on. The screeching sound echoed across the chamber drawing all the attention to him.
He was just getting up, his left hand across his face as though he was having a migraine. He slowly dragged his feet, striding towards the chamber door. His movements were sluggish and measured… too measure for Lothor's liking.
" Hey wait, they haven't told us— "
" Not now Liora… " Sen interrupted Liora's call.
Liora was dumbfounded.
The look he had on his face, troubled and gloomy. The way his voice sounded, harsh and dry, as if it was a pain being there or maybe it was… because of her ? Was that even him? Was that the real…
Questions and more questions rose but they were only met by the sound of a closing door.
" What is wrong with him? " she thought as her hand retreated back to her embrace.
Liora turned to Trojn and Lothor who were standing behind. Her face had turned red and was barely able to face them.
" Hmph. I'll be going now, but… " she stammered before hurriedly exiting the room.
***
The colorless curtains of the briefing room dimmed the incoming golden light from the setting sun. They swayed gently in the passing breeze casting their faint dancing shadows across the room.
It had been a few minutes after Sen and Liora exited the room. Lothor had a wary look on his face as stood behind Trojn.
" Do you trust him? " he asked his tone low.
" Who… Sen? "
" Yes, who else sir. "
" Off course I trust him. " Trojn affirmed.
" Mmh. He's changed. He's no longer that bloodlust driven boy I remember two years ago. But— "
" You still fear he might be a spy. " Trojn interrupted.
" Yes. " Lothor answered.
" You are still cautious as ever Lothor. And that's why I keep you at my side while Orion is away… "
Trojn sighed as he turned to face the white door of the room.
" But don't worry, I'm sure Sen will be able to overcome the things that are troubling him now until then I'll have to wait. " he added.
" … Fine, but I'll still keep an eye on him. "
" Thank you Lothor. " Trojn said as they walked out of the briefing room.