CHAPTER 45: TO CATCH THE DRAGONLORD

"Are you sure about this?" the Queen asked the guard as her brows were knitting together.

"Yes, my Queen," the guard replied without hesitation. "I am certain. The Ashantis are at the gate right now, waiting for permission to enter."

"How many of them?" King Elyndor asked with curiosity.

"Just two, Your Majesty," the guard said.

The Queen’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I don’t like those people."

"Nobody likes the Ashantis," the king said bluntly.

"This is troubling," the Queen went on, pacing a few steps. "They have been gone for so long, silent... and now, suddenly, after all these years, they appear at our gates? Whatever it is they want, do not agree to it. Those people are monsters."

"We will hear what they have to say first," Elyndor said cautiously. "But I share your doubts. Nothing good ever comes from them. I only hope this is not the start of trouble we cannot afford."

He glanced towards the tall window where sunlight streamed in, as if weighing the future in his mind. "The crown is not ready for another war as it is."

He turned to leave, but after one step, he paused and looked back at her. "We will finish this conversation. Don’t think I’ve forgotten."

Without waiting for her reply, he left the chamber.

"..."

It did not take long for the King to reach the High Hall. The doors swung open, and he strode in, heading directly for the throne at the far end. The councillors were already assembled, standing opposite each other before him.

The murmur of voices fell to silence as King Elyndor took his seat.

"Let the council begin," he said.

Lady Breya of House Voltren, Warden of the Hands, was the first to speak. Her voice was loud and she spoke firmly. "Your Majesty, perhaps you have already been informed of the Ashantis’ sudden appearance. They stand at the palace gate even now, requesting an audience. They have refused to leave, claiming they must speak before the council as their matter is urgent."

Lord Arvel, folded his arms and snorted. "No one demands an audience with the council and receives it on the same day. It has never been so, and it should not be so now. We cannot cheapen our dignity for the sake of some strange folk who claim to act for the good."

"They are not strangers, Lord Arvel," Lady Breya said coldly. "They are the Ashantis."

"That makes it worse," Arvel muttered.

The Lord Chancellor, Voryn Vanýr, stepped forward and said in a calm voice. "Your Majesty, they say their matter is urgent. And if the Ashantis choose to stand at our gates for hours, and refuse to move, it is either that they are here for a purpose of great weight... or to make a statement. Both demand caution."

Arvel scoffed. "Or they’re here to waste our time."

"Perhaps," Voryn said, "but ignoring them might be more dangerous than hearing them. A closed door can be an insult, and the Ashantis are not the kind to forgive an insult."

"Do you fear the Ashantis, Lord Vanýr?" Arvel Asked.

"You of all people should know I fear no man," Vanýr replied.

A low ripple of unease passed through the chamber.

The King leaned back in his throne and tapped his fingers on the carved armrest. He still listened to them as they argued, debating on which decision to make.

Lord Arvel turned to Lord Vanýr. "Are you saying we should break our code of conduct because of them? Just because they claim that whatever it is they have to say is important?"

Vanýr didn’t flinch. "Code of conduct? Is seeking an audience before appearing at the council truly a sacred code, or is it simply a comfortable rule made by lazy councillors to avoid urgent matters?" His eyes swept across the hall before returning to the King. "Your Majesty, I say again, I ask you to consider this. If their matter is urgent, it should be heard now. Delay might cost more than we expect."

A few councillors shifted uneasily.

King Elyndor leaned forward and moved his gaze between the lords, weighing their words. "Whether it is today, tomorrow, or a week from now... the moment they appear before us, the same topic will be raised. If so, there will be no difference in hearing them now."

He paused, for a moment and said. "Let them in."

It didn’t take long before the two Ashantis were led into the High Hall. Both of them wore the same crimson cloaks, and their hoods were drawn low over their faces so not a hint of their expressions could be seen.

The mood in the chamber darkened. Every councillor’s eyes followed them, suspicion written plainly on their faces. The Ashantis were not friends here, their name alone was enough to stir unease.

The pair stopped a short distance from the throne.

"You stand in the presence of the King," Lady Breya said loudly. "At the very least, you will remove your hoods and show your faces."

For a moment, the two did not move. Then, slowly, they lowered their hoods and revealed their pale faces marked with strange dark lines that seemed almost carved into the skin. They lifted their heads in unison.

"We greet the Royal Majesty and the Lords of Ivarion," one of them said.

The King’s voice was calm but firm. "What is so urgent that you would disturb the council meeting without warning? Speak plainly. What do you want?"

One of the Ashantis stepped forward and locked his eyes with the King’s.

"I believe everyone here knows who we are and what we do. The Ashanti have only one mission, to bring balance to the physical world. For that, we seek nothing for ourselves," he said slowly. "Only to aid the crown... in achieving what it most desires."

The King’s brow furrowed. "And what do you think that is?"

"To catch the dragonlord and to tame him" the man replied.