《Nova in forgotten debts》Chapter 8
Advertisement
“But no matter how much I wish for it, that does not mean war does not want them.”
“What do you mean,” asked Lane.
“Picture this, you are a leader of a shard from the empire, struggling every day to keep command of the people in your land and protect it from the neighboring shards,” Said Erin, “Now, with the shattering, it is common that the current leaders among the shards are either nobles or descendant of them. So in a sense, they should not have much problem keeping control of the land they were already ruling in all but name before the shattering.”
“As if dad took control of our town in case of the kingdom falling?” asked Dahlia.
“Yes, that is a good example,” said Erin, “So tell me, do you think he would have a problem proving his right to keep the land under his rule?”
“Not really,” said Dahlia, “I don’t see why the people would refuse him after he has been taking care of the border for so many years. And there is not really anyone else able to keep watch after winter.”
“That’s right,” said Lane, “even if the people were unhappy there is no way they would reject the only one standing between them and the Unwilling.”
“What if there was?” asked Erin, “What if there was another claimant, equally strong, and equally rightful? Who do you think they would support?”
“Hmm, I can see how that would be troublesome.” Said Dhalia, “Still, it does not explain why the entire ruckus around the Queen and the Heir. No matter how you look at it, the Queen married into our Kingdom, and the Heir has no reason to look for power in the shards as he is the only one we have.”
“You are looking at it from the wrong perspective,” said Erin shaking her head, “My master and our Queen don’t want the shards. Just as you said, they have no reason to go searching for power in the shards. But if you were a ruler in a shard, trying to consolidate your power, wouldn’t the last members of the Empire’s highest line make for a good banner?”
“But if that’s such a good banner, why wait so long for it?” Asked Lane “The heir must be about our age if his reveal is this winter.”
“Because they needed to be sure,” said Erin, “Even a successful attempt on the Kingdom’s Heir would have huge consequences. And no matter how much he looks like the legends, without spirit linking he is still just another noble.”
Advertisement
“But,” said Lena peeking from Dahlia’s arms, “Won’t it all be useless if the prince does not want to help them?”
“Help?” Asked Erin “No, they don’t want help. They want to make sure he stays useless or gone.”
“They want to kill the Heir?” Asked Dahlia.
“That’s what I think.” Said Erin Shaking her head, “But that is only from my suspicions. As for what the Queen wrote in the letter, only your parents will know.”
Dahlia thought for a moment, but when she was about to ask a question, a knock on the door stopped the conversation.
“Come in,” She said letting Lena go.
“My Lady,” said Hans as he pushed open the doors, “Your Father instructed me to inform you, that he and the captain will be busy through the dinner. So if you want to, we can prepare a special course in one of the smaller guest rooms.”
“Thank you, Hans,” said Dahlia, “That would be perfect; mm prepare it at the west wing, the one by my room. Now if there is nothing else, we were about to show Lady Erin around the castle. I believe we will be there in about an hour.”
“As you will, My Lady,” Said Hans bowing before walking away.
After he left and closed the door, Dahlia glanced at the Lady before turning towards Lane.
“The Library should be quiet enough at this hour?” She asked pointing a door opposite to the one Hans used.
“Mm, I think so,” He said, “I mean, other than teacher no one else uses it, and she should be at her study by now.”
“Then do you fancy a walk through the castle, my lady?” Asked Dahlia at Erin.
“I’d be glad.” She said and the group stood up together; as they stood though, Lane took a plate and filled it with cookies.
“What?” He asked when Erin raised an eyebrow at him, “I haven’t had lunch yet.” But Erin just shrugged and went out of the room.
The way to the library was faster than Lane’s previous stroll through the castle. What was the same was the silence in the hallways as they walked.
However short, the walk gave Lane a moment to stop thinking about conspiracies and focus on other things again. The lights on the torches lighting the corridors flickered when the cold air of the night pushed away from the warmth of the day. Watching the girls walking ahead of him, Lane could see the contrast between their hair colors and the vivid streaks of locks colored by the forming spirit links.
Advertisement
The weight of the book hanging at his back remembered him of the old man’s warning about his reveal. Perhaps I could find something in the library. Lane thought. Do I even have the time to be thinking about the Heir?
As he pondered, the group reached the Library and the room lit up revealing its size. The Library was big enough to hold a banquet with comfort and had a second level connecting to the plant with a set of stairs at the back of the room.
However, almost all of that space was filled with shelves topped with books to the point that even the walls were covered in them. Unlike the rest of the castle, the Library was a spacious room lighted with manna stones.
He still remembered the old Librarian scolding him for sneaking in with a candle when he was younger. Heck, he still remembered that old Librarian scolding the City Lord in his own castle when she caught him reading with a candle.
Somehow, the room had a particular smell that separated it from the rest of the castle and made Lane think about old stuff. He looked at the plate of cookies in his hands and licked his lips. She had better not know he brought cookies in her Library.
“Well,” said Dahlia walking towards a small circular table in the middle of the room, “I think we can talk in peace here.”
They sat around the table, Lady Erin sitting between Lane and Dahlia, and Lane put his plate of cookies in front of himself.
“So,” Dahlia said looking at Erin, “You said you are from there, from the Khorian Shards?”
“I am from the Sorenkhor Federation,” Answered Erin while she took a cookie, “But I grew up at the Kingdom’s capital serving my master,” *chomp chomp* “, I don’t really remember much from there.”
“Nothing?” Asked Lane taking a cookie, “Then what do you remember?”
“I remember we serve,” she shrugged, and took another cookie, “We serve the Queen,” *chomp chomp*, “And I cherv my waster,”
“Oi,” said Lane.
“Uh?” asked Erin grabbing another cookie.
“Yo,” said Lane grabbing a cookie.
“Uhat?”Asked Erin eating two cookies, “I haven’t had lunch yet. Humph.”
“Fine,” he said passing her the plate.
“We serve?” asked Dahlia, “As, the whole Sorenkhor serves the Queen?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” asked Lane, “Didn’t the whole point of the Empire’s Shattering was freedom? Why follow a Queen coming from the dynasty you just escaped from?”
“Not everyone in the Empire was a warmonger, nor a fanatic,” Said Erin picking another cookie, “In fact, most of the people just believed in the dynasty because their members got results in anything they did.”
“Results?” Asked Dahlia.
“They were good,” said Erin looking at the last three cookies in the plate, “not at everything, but at the things they liked. So they usually pushed forward the Empire in the field they picked. The thing is, forward for them meant going way beyond what people believed possible.”
“Is that how the Empire surpassed the neighboring powers.” Said Lane, “By relying on a single line of people?”
“As dumb as it sounds, yes,” said Erin nibbling at a cookie, “And they went on like that until…” But she stopped, putting the cookie back in the plate and looking at Lena.
“Until what?” Asked Lane.
“Until the conqueror came,” She said looking downwards, “That’s the one responsible for the expansion of the Empire. She alone caused a divide among the members of the dynasty, and is the one our Queen and my master are hiding from.”
Erin paused for a moment, and then looked up, straight at Lena’s eyes.
“We are not your enemies, Miss Lena,” She said biting her lip, “If anything, we are your closest allies.”
They stopped for a moment, each one lost in their thoughts, until Lena finally gave a small nod, causing Erin to smile and relax her shoulders.
Erin turned to Lane and pushed back the plate with the last two cookies intact and one nibbled.
“Here,” she said, “You can have those.”
“Uh, thanks, I guess,” He said grabbing one, “Hey! These are all ones with raisins!”
“Humph, do not waste my generosity!”
And Lane snorted making Lena giggle, smiling for the first time since their quarrel.
“You said the bloodline of the dynasty is good at what they like, right?” Asked Dahlia when she saw them relaxing, “Then what about the Queen, or the Heir? What are they good at?”
“The Queen I don’t know,” said Erin, “But my master, my master is good with Spirits.”
Advertisement
- In Serial59 Chapters
Longshots
Superpowers ... without capes. A man produces narcotic gas in his lungs, a woman turns into a wall of corrosive flesh. One girl creates tiny stinging 'mayflies' while another is assaulted by the emotions of anyone she touches. After the mysterious 'Seventeen Seconds' sweeps the globe, a handful of people develop extraordinary abilities. Rachel's father is one of them--and that's why she shoots him. But four years after she's charged with his murder, he reappears. He's rich. He's connected. And he's plotting to destroy a city. To stop him, Rachel enlists the help of Lark Larson, an easygoing slacker with bizarre abilities of his own. She doesn't have any powers herself, except for her unflinching willingness to put herself on the line. As far as Lark can tell, that's more than enough.
8 70 - In Serial11 Chapters
The Magus of Origin
Daniel Kho was a man of hard work and too honest for his own good. Betrayed by family and friends all his life, he decided to live alone in peace where no one could take advantage of him anymore. After a decade of saving, he finally bought his own land, built his own home, and started a vegetable plantation. Daniel was only a few months away from becoming completely self sufficient in self-exiled bliss. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him, as a malfunctioning artifact dropped him in the middle of the mountains in another world where monsters weren’t his only problem.
8 207 - In Serial44 Chapters
Dig a Little Deeper
[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] Being a dungeon isn't easy. Past memories just out of reach, not wanting to be a murder pit and trying to find a purpose are just the beginning. It takes time and several hiccups to transition from being a mobile being to being a stationary rock that changes the word with its mind. What is the miasma right outside the door? What monsters does it hide? Can the people that have found me really be trusted? Now planning to post a chapter every other week. I have added a volume for the maps so they are easy to find. There are spoilers on the maps. Cover art commissioned from Rachel Paizs through Upwork.com
8 195 - In Serial35 Chapters
Demonizing Matters
A high fantasy drama about a young woman who finds out a demon secret. This secret sparks a growing conflict between demons and humans. While trying to save her own life and dealing with the unexpected consequences of her actions, she falls in love with a hated demon. We follow the drama of Lita, alongside a cast of several other POV characters, as she discovers secrets (both open and purposefully hidden), makes well intentioned but sometimes disastrous decisions, and encounters prejudices and truths. Demons may be evil… or not. Humans may be good… or not. God is aloof… or not. Publishing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This is my first real work! Super excited to be publishing! I don’t spend a lot of time describing gore, sex, trauma or any other type of scene that would be labeled as mature. I've labeled the story as mature in every way more because I don't quite understand the standard and don't know if I've crossed the line at all (and I'd rather be safe than get my story rejected for under labeling ;)). Mostly I hint, start the scene then interrupt/fade out, and in general let the reader know it happens but without making it too explicit. (I’d love to hear how I did on this! And if it was still entertaining/informative without being traumatizing.) This is what I prefer to read myself so that’s what I write. I’m not apologizing. ;) If I mislabeled my mature content it was by accident. And, yes, the pacing was also on purpose. Beyond that, I welcome any feedback you want to give! Enjoy the story!
8 199 - In Serial47 Chapters
*DISCONTINUED* Resistance - A Fortnite Story No.6
"So it's come to this I see...""Yes. Some time during this week, we will be at war with the Imagined Order.""Tell me Foundation, ya think we got a chance at beating them?""If I must be honest Jones, with their numbers, technology and new members in their ranks... I'm not sure.""You may be right... But we have to fight back! We can't just give in to Slone and her armies!""Exactly. So if it's war she wants-""We'll hand it to her on a golden platter!!"---------After 3 months of peace and quiet on the new island Artemis, life seemed to have found a new sense of normalcy again after The Last Reality's invasion failed.Midas, Jules, Jones and the rest of their friends were finally at peace with their lives and couldn't wait to relax and enjoy themselves.That is, until The Seven contact them about a looming war against the Imagined Order.And lo and behold, they were right.Now a war against the two factions has begun and with strong numbers on their side, such as Gunnar and a newcomer modified by Doctor Slone herself, I.O seem unstoppable.Forming the Resistance, it'll be up to Midas and his family, along with the Seven and their followers to stop their plans to capture the Zero Point and save their home one last time.Will they succeed? ...or has Slone and the Imagined Order finally won?
8 257 - In Serial285 Chapters
I Am the Fated Villain
Immediately after Gu Changge realized he had transgressed into a fantasy world, the world’s protagonist, and fortune’s chosen, vowed to take revenge on him. Envied by all, he not only has the female lead head over heels for him but he’s also treated as a distinguished guest wherever he goes. Fortunately, Gu Changge’s prestige and power are superior to everyone else’s, so shouldn’t it be easy to trample on a mere fortune’s chosen? Hold on… There’s a system dedicated to milking and harvesting from the protagonist? Gu Changge smirked. “Seems like even fate wants me to fulfill my destiny as the Villain of this world!” Thank you for reading updated I Am the Fated Villain novel @ ReadWebNovels.net
8 214