CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 208: THREADS OF RECOGNITION

Lumberling, in turn, felt the weight of her gaze and met it without flinching. Curiosity stirred in him as he studied her calm, unreadable face. There was no hostility, no arrogance. Only... a quiet interest, like someone who had already seen him in another time, another place.

For a long moment, neither looked away.

The courtyard noise dimmed, leaving only the silence stretched between them.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Thalia smiled. It was faint, almost imperceptible behind her veil, but enough to soften her otherwise stoic face.

With graceful steps, she began walking toward Lumberling. The Knight at her side moved in tandem, his aura flaring like a drawn blade, a silent warning to all who dared approach.

"Greetings, Lord Lumberling," Thalia said at last. Her voice was soft, melodic, a sound that seemed to brush against the heart more than the ear.

The clergy halted mid-stride, visibly startled. Even Liraeth stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she realized the Veiled Flame had bypassed her completely to speak to him.

Lumberling inclined his head politely, though inwardly wary. "Good day to you too, Lady Thalia. You... know of me?"

Thalia nodded once, her veil swaying gently. "I have seen you before."

Lumberling’s brow furrowed. ’Is this what they mean by her powers? That she can peer into what lies ahead?’

But instead of pressing, he let a small smile curl his lips. "Then perhaps Miss Thalia must have seen me in a dream. I didn’t know I was famous enough to visit the visions of the Church."

The bulky Knight behind her, Garrick, scowled at the casual tone. His aura flared hotter, like fire caught on dry wood. "Mind your tongue. Do not take such liberties with the Lady."

Lumberling didn’t flinch, his calm gaze steady as stone.

"It’s fine, Garrick," Thalia’s gentle voice cut through like water quelling flame. She tilted her head ever so slightly, eyes never leaving Lumberling’s. "I don’t dream, Lord Lumberling. I only listen."

Lumberling’s thoughts stirred. ’Listen? To what... or to whom?’ He wanted to ask, but instinct told him such truths weren’t spoken lightly.

So he held her gaze in silence, letting her words sink in.

Just then, Skitz strolled up beside Lumberling, his grin as sly as ever. He leaned close, lowering his voice.

"My Lord, are you trying to hit on a girl again?" Skitz whispered, feigning seriousness. "I’m warning you, if your elf wives find out, you’ll be the one buried in the ground, not your enemies."

Lumberling blinked, caught off guard by the remark. Then, seeing the impish gleam in Skitz’s eyes, he let out a quiet chuckle and played along. "Yeah, you’re right. Best not risk their wrath." With that, he gave Thalia a polite nod and began to step back.

Thalia’s eyes shifted the moment Skitz came into view. Her calm expression tightened, her gaze lingered on him as though searching for something she could not quite place. The veil over her face fluttered faintly as her breath hitched.

Skitz, oblivious or perhaps deliberately ignoring the weight of her stare, smirked at her in passing. "Don’t mind me, Lady Veils. Just a humble servant keeping my reckless Lord in check."

For the first time, Thalia’s composure cracked. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, not in anger but in recognition, or confusion. She tilted her head, watching him as if he were a puzzle piece she had seen before but couldn’t quite fit.

As Lumberling and Skitz walked away together, her gaze lingered on the goblin, a faint frown forming beneath the veil.

....

In the council chamber, the air was heavy with strategy and unspoken doubts. Maps and markers lay spread across the long oak table as Viscount Liraeth stood at the head, her calm voice cutting through the silence.

"We presume there are three to four True Knights among the enemy ranks," she began, her finger tracing the positions on the map.

She turned to each side in turn. "The Church’s force, led by Lady Thalia and Sir Garrick, will engage one True Knight and push their flank. Gordon will lead my soldiers at the front to clash with another. Knight Sorrin will remain behind to guard the city, should the enemy attempt a diversion."

Her gaze moved last to Lumberling. "And finally... Lord Lumberling’s unit will execute the flank. Your task will be the most dangerous, you must hold back at least two of the enemy’s True Knights."

A ripple of unease passed over the table. Garrick, the knight behind Thalia, furrowed his brows deeply.

"Two True Knights?" His voice was sharp, incredulous. "Are you certain they can manage that? Even for elites, such an assignment borders on suicide."

Liraeth didn’t flinch. "They can." Her voice was firm. "If pushed, they might even take more."

The words settled over the table like a stone dropped into water. Garrick’s jaw tightened. He leaned forward, his tone edged with skepticism. "With respect, Viscount, no matter how highly you regard them, expecting them to face two True Knights is madness..."

He stopped when he felt two pairs of eyes on him. Liraeth’s, cool and unyielding. And Thalia’s, calm but cutting, her expression unreadable behind the veil.

"Garrick." Thalia’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper, but it silenced the chamber. "I’ve already told you once."

The knight stiffened. "...Forgive me, my Lady." He bowed his head, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

Still, when he straightened, his gaze flicked briefly to Lumberling. Beneath the mask of obedience, his eyes burned. ’Why does Lady Thalia speak for him? Why does she care at all?’

The meeting pressed on, the weight of strategy settling like a stormcloud over the chamber. The officers leaned closer to the table as markers were moved across the map, lines drawn for advances and retreats.

"We’ll strike at dawn," Liraeth said firmly, her tone leaving little room for doubt. "The enemy will not expect a direct engagement from three directions. If all forces hold, their lines will crumble."