Up above, looking at the castle at normal level, Galthor did not find any difference in it from the usual ones. If not for the fact that it was on the biggest pillar he had ever seen, and that dozens of Winged people were flying around it, he would have thought he was entering a normal castle.
Casper himself and Skolvar led the way, and their guests were packed between rows of guards. They led them through a large front hall and then a hallway large enough to allow four Winged people to pass with their wings spread to their full extent.
All the way to the throne room.
The throne room was large, with rich red rugs covering the ground and the walls painted with dignified images of Winged people history that Galthor could not make sense of.
On either side of the carpet that led directly to the throne, high-standing members of the Winged people stood and watched him with cold indifference.
It was exactly how Galthor pictured the nobility on Earth behaved when holding court with their king.
Galthor looked away from it all to the person sitting at the end, on a throne of sparkling gems.
Casper went to his knees when he reached the end; he bowed his head and stood up again, shouting, "Chief Galthor is here to seek an audience with my lord!"
The Winged person sitting on the throne seemed to be in his forties. His eyes were cold and his broad face filled with indifference, his pure white wings spreading behind him like a defensive shield, catching and throwing light now and then.
"Is that so now?" the Winged people banner leader said casually, looking down from his tall throne.
Galthor studied him, and instantly he knew the leader of the Winged people was much stronger than a master essence user. In fact, his power was more than he could measure, and that instantly put him on edge.
Casper turned around. "You stand before Jaded Lord Serion Caelus!"
Instantly there was a rustle of feathers as the Winged people in the room swept into a low bow. Only the barbarians remained standing.
It was only after that greeting that Casper stepped to the side.
The attention of the strongest thing that Galthor had ever faced since he came to the divine world shifted to him.
Galthor matched his stare with his cold one, and the atmosphere in the room changed as the two clashed; their auras battled briefly, but it was enough for them to get a measure of each other.
Serion Caelus frowned slightly, and Galthor smiled. "Lord Serion Caelus. It is an honor to meet you."
Serion Caelus's frown deepened as he looked closely at the barbarian chief. Before, his face had been filled with indifference, but the mask was slowly peeling away. It seemed he did not expect Galthor to withstand him with no apparent effort.
"I knew your father, and I worked with him for many years. It was a great shame and tragedy to learn of his passing," Serion Caelus began.
Galthor and every other barbarian in the room bowed their heads gently. "It is indeed. And I will collect the blood debt in pounds of flesh."
The way Galthor spoke was as if he were commenting on an ordinary issue, and yet his voice carried so much fury that people around him stiffened.
How could he sound so angry and yet look so calm?
He was the Unchanging Warth after all. Anger was his hallmark.
Serion Caelus shifted because he could hear more than ordinary words in Galthor's voice. "Then you really have decided to take up his position. That is the Stronghide business. So what business do you have with me, young Chief?"
Galthor shrugged his broad shoulders. "I want you to return my people."
A gasp spread around the hall instantly and whispers began.
"How dare that insolent barbarian!"
"How dare he give our Lord an order? We should teach him a lesson!"
"How did he even enter here in the first place?"
Serion Caelus was not having it. He lifted his hand and howling winds suddenly sprang up, tearing through the air like a hurricane; its passing force pressed down on everyone.
The room quieted after that. "The next person to speak without permission will have their tongue torn out!"
He focused his attention on Galthor again. "Return your people? That's a simple matter. The only problem is, I'm not holding any of your people."
Galthor sighed internally to himself; the Jaded Lord was not going to make things easy for him, and punching his way out would not be ideal either.
He nodded at Karathra, and she took a step forward. "My lord, some of our people were arrested by your men and are currently in your prisons."
Serion Caelus blinked in confusion and then looked at Commander Casper. "Is that true?"
Casper bowed and shook his head. "My lord, we do not hold any of the barbarians against their will. Although we do have some criminals that tried to steal our food reserve!"
Serion Caelus turned to Galthor. "There you have it. The only people we have are criminals. And once they commit a crime against me, they belong to me to do with as I wish. So what is it you want again, Chief Galthor?"