Grim managed to maintain his composure until he was safely within the walls of the Ambrose estate. The mont the heavy doors closed behind him, he staggered, his legs nearly giving out beneath him. The exhilaration of victory and the surge of power from Luna had masked a devastating drain on his mana.
Chen Xing caught Grim right as he began to fell.
Grim growled, pushing him away. His hands were trembling, and a cold sweat had broken out across his forehead. "Just need to rest."
"You’ve used too much power," Chen Xing said, his usual deference giving way to genuine concern. "I recognize the symptoms of mana depletion. If you don’t rest and recover, the damage could be permanent."
"I’ll rest when I’m dead," Grim snarled, though the effect was sowhat undermined when his body began to give out again. "There’s too much to be done. The tournant. The Luminaris. Malaxis."
"None of which will matter if you burn out your mana hearts," Chen Xing insisted, more forcefully this ti.
Grim’s legs chose that mont to give out entirely. He collapsed to one knee, Luna’s scabbard clattering against the stone floor. His vision swam, the room tilting and spinning around him.
"Damn it," he muttered, the last of his resistance crumbling.
With Chen Xing’s assistance, Grim made it to his bedroom, where he imdiately collapsed onto the bed.
"Now rest little brother," Chen Xing ordered, his tone leaving no room for argunt. "I’ll wake you if there’s news."
"The next round of the tournant," Grim murmured, his eyelids already growing heavy.
"Is two days away. You have ti." Chen Xing paused at the door. "That was brutal."
"Shut up," Grim snapped, a flash of the earlier rage returning. "She was an elf. She deserved worse."
As he left, Grim passed out from exhaustion.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Empress Alexia called for a council eting.
"I believe we can begin," Julius Luminaris said, his voice carrying through the chamber to break the silence. "We have much to discuss after yesterday’s... events."
"Not yet," the Empress replied, her tone pleasant but firm. "We are still missing a noble house."
"Your Majesty, surely House Ambrose’s representation is not necessary for....."
The heavy double doors swung open, cutting off Julius’s objection. Grim Van Ambrose strode into the chamber, wearing formal attire of midnight blue trimd with red. His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes.
Every eye in the room followed him as he made his way to his seat.
Grim sat, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Julius,
"Now," the Empress continued, "I believe our first order of business is clear. Yesterday’s tournant match has raised several... concerning questions."
"Indeed," Chancellor Levenhart agreed. "Among them being how a citizen of the Demon Lands was able to enter the imperial tournant under false credentials."
All eyes turned to Julius, whose face remained impassive despite the implied accusation.
"A troubling breach of security," Julius conceded. "One I’m sure the tournant officials are already investigating."
"The tournant officials report that Lady Talyra Slyphine was vouched for by House Luminaris," Archmage Marcus said mildly. "Specifically by your house steward, Lord Julius."
A murmur ran around the table. Julius’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.
"My steward made a grave error in judgnt," he said smoothly. "One which I assure you will be addressed appropriately. He believed the woman to be from the Eastern Provinces, not the Demon Lands."
"A convenient misunderstanding," Grim said, speaking for the first ti since taking his seat. His voice was cold with barely contained fury. "Just as it was convenient that I was matched against her in the quarterfinals."
"Are you suggesting sothing, Lord Ambrose?" Julius asked, his tone deceptively light.
"I’m suggesting that the Empire has grown far too comfortable with the creatures that slaughtered thousands of our people," Grim replied, his voice rising. "I’m suggesting that allowing an elf to walk freely among us, to compete in our tournants, is an insult to every village that burned during the Demon Wars."
"Lord Ambrose," the Empress interjected, "while your feelings are understandable given your family’s histoy."
Grim interrupted, earning shocked looks from several council mbers. Interrupting the Empress was simply not done. "Malaxis has never honored any agreent for longer than it suited him. He’s planning sothing, and yesterday proved that his agents are already within our borders."
"You speak as if you have intimate knowledge of Lord Malaxis’s intentions," Julius observed. "Curious, for soone who has been absent from the Empire for twelve years."
Grim’s hand drifted to his sword hilt. "I have intimate knowledge of what his kind are capable of. As yesterday’s match demonstrated."
"Yes, about that demonstration," Chancellor Levenhart said, clearly trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "The techniques you displayed with your second sword were... remarkable. And previously unknown to the council."
"Luna is a family heirloom," Grim replied curtly.
"The level of violence you displayed was unusual even for the tournant," the Empress noted, her eyes studying Grim carefully. "So might even call it excessive."
"So might call it appropriate, given the opponent," Grim countered. "She was an elf, a servant of Malaxis. Her kind deserves no rcy."
The Empress’s expression cooled slightly. "Hatred is a dangerous foundation for policy, Lord Ambrose. Even justified hatred."
"With respect, Your Majesty, rcy toward our enemies has not served the Empire well." Grim’s gaze swept around the table, challenging anyone to contradict him. "The Demon Lands understand only strength and fear. Yesterday, I showed them both."
"And yet," Julius interjected smoothly, "one must wonder if such... emotional responses are suitable qualities in soone who seeks to reclaim a seat on this council."
Grim’s eyes locked with Julius’s, neither man bothering to conceal their mutual animosity now.
"I think what Lord Luminaris ans," Chancellor Levenhart said hastily, "is that the council values asured judgnt in matters of state."
"My judgnt is perfectly sound," Grim replied, his gaze still fixed on Julius. "So threats require extre responses. The tournant continues tomorrow. If you’ll excuse , Your Majesty, I need to prepare."
Without waiting for the Empress to dissmiss everyone. Grim rose from his seat and strode from the chamber, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
After a mont, the Empress sighed. "Well, that was informative, if not particularly productive."
"Your Majesty," Julius began, "I must express my concern about Lord Ambrose’s temperant. His display yesterday, and now this behavior...."
"Is precisely why we need him on this council, Lord Luminaris," the Empress interrupted. "House Ambrose has always been... passionate in defense of the Empire. It appears the son has inherited that quality from his great grandfather."
Her gaze, however, followed the door through which Grim had departed, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow.
"But passion unchecked by wisdom," she murmured, almost to herself, "can be the most dangerous force of all."
Reviews
All reviews (0)