Chapter 133: To Be Concerned Or Not (Ch.133)
The tense atmosphere in the hall was so palpable that one could practically feel it.
The words Neveah had just said left the dragons in silence for a mont, uncertain how to react to a little wolf princess who was at their rcy but still maintained a dignified and confident air.
"You are courting death." Lord Everon stated in a matter of fact tone, finally breaking the tense silence.
"Death?" Neveah asked slowly and then she laughed, almost painfully.
Death... she knew exactly what it was, perhaps she knew it much better than any of the dragons even.
Neveah had tasted death once before, at the hands of the most unexpected person,
Perhaps if Neveah had been granted a rciful death back then, she could at least be intimidated at the prospect of the pain that may accompany it.
But Neveah had not been granted a rciful death... the Creator never showed her his rcy, she had died a slow and excruciatingly painful death, in a pool of her own blood,
Left to bleed out to her death, till her organs failed one after the other.
Every second was a kind of pain Neveah could not even describe, a kind of pain she could never forget.
So why would it matter who wanted her dead now?
"It is a concept I am well acquainted with. Death cos to all, those who court it and those who do not, alike. What should I fear?" Neveah asked in a blank tone,
The silver cuff around her neck grew more painful as it burned through her skin, and even her exposed flesh still sizzled.
The sll of her own burning flesh clouded Neveah’s sensitive sense of sll, between the pain and the awareness of the damage being done at this very mont, Neveah could only grit her teeth against it all.
Neveah already knew that it did not matter what she said, the dragons were already convinced she was the culprit.
"If you did not take the molt scales, then who did?" Lord Decaron asked, resuming his interrogation.
"How is that related to ? I was present at the healer hall, on Lord Everon’s summon. I stayed behind after he left, still on Lord Everon’s orders."
"Everything... from start to finish, was done on the orders given to . As regarding the molt scales, it is just so herb... what do you suppose I shall benefit from stealing it?" Neveah asked with a raised brow.
"You alone would know your intentions, but no one else could have taken it but you. Our Liege is willing to pardon your cri if you return the molt scales you took." Lord Decaron continued.
Neveah sighed quietly as her eyes fluttered closed.
"Well then, I have nothing more to say." Neveah replied in a blank tone.
A low growl rumbled out of King Jian’s lips as he watched Neveah’s dismissive gesture.
"If you will not hand it over, that is fine then. You shall face the consequences of your actions." King Jian said in a dark tone.
"Search through her quarters, I’m sure sothing will be found." Lord Imagor instructed Lord Decaron.
"We already searched..." Lord Decaron began but was cut off.
"Then search it again!" Lord Imagor snapped, his eyes glowing.
"Imagor...calm." King Jian spoke up in a warning tone.
"Do as he says, Decaron. Tear it apart if you must, the pup has nowhere else to hide anything but her private quarters." King Jian instructed afterwards.
Before anything else could be said, there was a knock on the door and the door ca open, a dragon guard stepping in.
"My Liege, the dune dragons arrive the keep." The dragon guard reported.
"Send them up to the highest level. I will receive them now." King Jian instructed.
All the while, Neveah’s eyes remained closed and her expression was unfazed in light of all that was said and done,
Neveah only reacted when she felt a warm breath fan across her cheek, accompanied by the scent of dew, ash and so other blend Neveah could not quite identify.
Neveah’s heart froze up as she recognized the familiar scent and so she knew exactly who leaned in so close to her.
"Your life...it depends on Kalia. If she lives and the child is safe, you live...if otherwise, you die."
"If I were you, I would have a rethink... whenever you are willing to speak the truth, then send word to ." King Jian whispered in a low tone.
There was a dark glint in King Jian’s eyes as he spoke, though Neveah could not see it, the burn of the dragon king’s gaze rivalled that of the silver cuff around her neck.
Neveah’s breath caught in her throat as a calloused finger trailed down the side of her cheek slowly before her chin was held in a harsh grip.
"And my rage shall not end with you... But each and every last one of your kind shall be sent off in flas to accompany my nephew."
"Take your ti, Kalia’s clock ticks away... just as yours." King Jian swore coldly.
As King Jian’s grip loosened and he let go of Neveah’s face, it took everything within Neveah to swallow down the chilling terror that gripped her.
"What are we to do with her?" Lord Decaron asked as King Jian strode past him.
King Jian paused, passing a glance to Decaron who imdiately lowered his head.
"What is done to a criminal...need I remind you?" King Jian asked in a cold tone.
"No, My Liege. Forgive ." Lord Decaron apologized imdiately.
"Narx... co." King Jian ordered, heading out of the hall.
narx hesitated for a mont, passing a glance to Neveah.
"Fetch
a poultice from my hall and then join us." Lord Everon said to narx just when he was about to follow after King Jian.
With majority of the people gone, Neveah opened her eyes to find Lord Decaron and narx were the only two left in the hall.
narx’s gaze was fixed on Neveah, particularly at the cuffs around her neck and his brows were furrowed in concern.
"Decaron... give us a mont." narx instructed and Lord Decaron nodded, taking his leave from the hall.
"No one else is here... I will ask just once, did you...or did you not?... These are the words Everon has requested of
to ask you, Neveah."
"It is also my wish to hear your answer." narx added in a calm tone.
Neveah passed him a glance, raising a single brow.
"If I were to say I did... would it please you? If I were to say I did not, would you trust ?" Neveah asked directly.
She did not think it mattered anymore, not when she was already deed guilt.
"I do not think you would steal from my cousin. Everon says you would not recognize molt scales...it does not grow where you co from."
"Furthermore, I am aware you have had no interactions with my sworn brother, Imagor and his rider, Kaliana. You have no reason to harm their child either..." narx murmured in a tone filled with confusion.
"This is what we believe...but just what if we are wrong?" narx asked.
Neveah was quiet for a mont, she watched narx’s expression and gathered that his words were honest.
"It is the life of your nephew and sister in-law in question. You cannot take a chance...is this what you an to say?" Neveah asked for clarification.
narx sighed, he was not certain how to word his thoughts in a way Neveah would understand.
"What I an to say is... I do not wish to see you hard, Neveah. And I will not forgive myself if I have blad you wrongly..."
"I beg of you, for my sake if not yours... give
a way to get you out of this. If our trust is rightfully placed, give us a reason to stand for you." narx pleaded in a low tone.
narx did not know what else to do, even at this mont, he still could not understand how it had co to this in just a few weeks.
"And trust is not reason enough?" Neveah asked,
"I live to protect my Liege and my people, trust in the wrong person is a weakness I shall not allow." narx replied.
"I see..." Neveah murmured, nodding in understanding.
"Veah..." narx began but Neveah cut him off.
"I do not have the good fate to accept your kind thoughts and comfort, neither can I bear the burden of your trust, Lord narx."
"You are a dragon, the only side you should stand on is that of Your King...as for my affairs, do not concern yourself with them." Neveah said finally.
"We are not well acquainted Neveah, but as I have already said once before...you do not get to tell
what to do."
"To be concerned or not, it is my own decision..." rnax clarified as he turned and took his leave.
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