The Imperial Summit was not a meeting; it was a show of power. Kings and Emperors from neighboring realms. The Iron Duchy of Valos, the Merchant Republic of Zale and the Holy See of the East. Had all sent their representatives to Oakhaven. They came to talk about trade and borders. They really wanted to see King Valerius struggling.
I stood on the balcony of the Great Hall looking down at the arriving groups. My Martyrs Gravity was active and even from up high I could feel the foreign delegates looking at me.
"They look like vultures, Master " Isabella whispered, standing behind me. She was dressed as a nurse playing her role perfectly.
"Vultures are Isabella " I replied, my voice low and controlled. "They clean up the mess. I just need to make sure they eat what I want them to."
The Imperial Summit had started. The system was scanning targets.
* Target 1: Duchess Katerina of Valos (Level 18. Iron Commander).
* Target 2: Arch-Merchant Silvan of Zale (Level 12. Master of Coin).
As we entered the hall it was cold despite the fireplaces. The foreign rulers were seated at a round table made of sun-bleached oak. King Valerius sat at the head looking like a dead man than I did. His eyes kept looking at Elara, who stood behind him.
"Ah Prince Alaric " Arch-Merchant Silvan said, his voice full of concern. "We heard you were dying. It's surprising to see you standing."
"The Light works in ways Arch-Merchant " I said, coughing into my handkerchief. "My body is weak. My spirit is devoted to our borders."
"Stability?" Duchess Katerina laughed, a sound. "Your 'Golden Hero' Cedric is missing Valerius. Rumors say hes been imprisoned for treason. If your own heir is a traitor, how stable can your kingdom be?"
The King flinched. He looked at Elara his lips shaking.
"Now " I commanded through the link.
Elara stepped forward her book glowing with a light. "My brothers fall was a tragedy, Duchess.. It was necessary. The Sun showed us that the rot in our house had to be removed."
She placed a hand on my shoulder and for a moment the room felt a surge of divinity.
"Prince Alaric has been appointed the Grand Warden " Elara announced. "He has already found a plot involving interests."
The table went silent. The foreign rulers looked at each other suspicion rising. This was my opening move. By hinting that I had secrets on the guests I was making them worry about themselves.
"A plot?" Silvans smile didn't reach his eyes. "Surely the Grand Warden wouldn't imply that guests of the King are involved?"
I looked at Silvan, my gaze sharp. "I know about the mana-stone smuggling through the Zale docks, Silvan.. I know which mistress has the ledger."
Silvans face turned gray. He nearly choked on his wine.
"I imply nothing " I said aloud my voice smooth and deadly. "I only suggest that in these times we must all be transparent."
The air in the Grand Hall was thick with tension. Silvan was sweating his fingers fumbling with his wine glass while Katerina looked at me like she was deciding whether to salute me or kill me.
The Controlled Disaster was a masterpiece. Elara had already planted a prophecy in the Kings mind: a vision of a force trying to extinguish the Light of the Summit. The King sat on his throne his eyes darting toward every shadow.
"The Grand Warden speaks of transparency " Silvan said, his voice trembling. ". What of the 'Golden Hero'? Where is the man who was supposed to be the shield of this kingdom?"
The heavy oak doors burst open.
The Royal Guards were thrown aside like dolls. Walking through the center of the hall was a figure that looked like a nightmare. It was Cedric. The man everyone knew was gone.
He wore no armor. His chest was bare covered in blackened runes. His eyes were wide, vacant and glowing with a fire. In his hand he dragged his sun-sword but the blade was bleeding dark smoke.
"Cedric!" the King screamed. "What is the meaning of this?!"
Cedric didn't answer. He didn't even look at his father. He let out a roar and lunged toward the table. With a swing he shattered the sun-bleached oak.
"The Sun is a lie!" Cedrics voice was an echo of my own will. "There is the Void! There is the end!"
Chaos erupted. Duchess Katerina drew her iron shortsword. "The Prince has lost his mind! Hes been corrupted by the dark!"
"Guards! Protect the guests!" I shouted, though I didn't move from my seat. I coughed violently into my handkerchief. "Raksha, now. Let the 'vanguard' save the day."
From the balconies Raksha and her men dropped down like shadows. They didn't attack Cedric directly; they moved with precision to "protect" the delegates.
To the delegates it looked like the Princes personal guard was the thing standing between them and a mad corrupted Paladin.
"Baron Vane! Purify him!" I yelled, pointing toward Cedric.
Vane stepped forward raising his Codex. A pillar of white light slammed into Cedric throwing him back against the wall.
"It's too late!" Elara cried out her voice filled with dread. "The corruption is too deep! The Light cannot save us—only the Warden can anchor the soul!"
I stood up my white silk robes fluttering in the wind.
"Cedric..." I rasped, my voice carrying over the screams. "Enough. Return to the shadows."
I reached out a hand. As I touched Cedrics forehead I allowed the 2.1% Divinity to flare. A shockwave of violet energy rippled through the hall instantly knocking Cedric unconscious and extinguishing the smoke.
The silence that followed was absolute.
I stood there looking exhausted my hand still resting on Cedrics head. The foreign delegates, the King and the nobles all looked at me with a mixture of terror and salvation.
"The Prince... He stopped him " Silvan whispered, his rings clattering as his hands shook. "He stopped a Corrupted Paladin with a touch..."
I turned back toward the table my face a mask of sorrow. "The North has always known the cost of the darkness, Arch-Merchant. I only regret that my familys blood had to be the price, for your safety today."