Chapter 648: Only a Moment
“Oh, it’s just, can you imagine if the Aspirant was a goblin?” said Ivander.
“It seems you’re the one with a misunderstanding,” said Tauri.
“Pardon?” Ivander gave her a forced smile.
Evelyn touched Tauri’s arm. “Daughter, now is not the time to—”
“Stryg is a goblin, more than anything. He will always be a goblin,” said Tauri.
Ivander frowned. “I’m sorry, but how is that possible?”
Tauri crossed her arms. “His mother is a goblin.”
“So his father is the Veres?” Ivander asked.
“No, his father is— It doesn’t matter. His mother is the Blue Rose’s granddaughter.”
Ivander made a face. “Are you saying Stryga Veres slept with a goblin?”
“She married a goblin,” Tauri narrowed her eyes. “Is that a problem?”
“I suppose none of us choose our family. Clearly, the Aspirant takes after his father then. I can only assume he was raised by his father, too, yes?” asked Ivander.
“No. Stryg was raised by his mother, or rather, several mothers.”
“What?”
“The Sylvan Tribes’ children are raised collectively by a group of priestesses known as the Mothers. Aurelia, Stryg’s birth mother, is one of them.”
“...So what you’re telling me is that he was raised as a goblin?” Ivander’s voice sounded somewhat bothered. “Beatrix, did you know this?”
His niece shrugged her shoulders. Beatrix cared little for where Stryg grew up; she was much more interested in that strange mana he had shown in their duel.
“You seem distressed, Lord Ivander,” noted Tauri.
“Are you not? A goblin raised the only living Ebon Aspirant and Lord of House Veres. Do you not understand who the Sylvan goblins are? They are the descendants of Lunis. What do you think they will do to orcish Houses like ours? To House Katag?”
Tauri’s confidence faltered for a split second, but then she shook her head. “Stryg has no interest in harming the Katags.”
“How can you be so sure?” asked Ivander.
Evelyn replied instead. “Because our daughter is going to marry him. House Katag has pledged their loyalty to House Veres and support Lord Stryg fully in his imminent ascension to the throne of Hollow Shade.”
“You cannot be serious?” Ivander chuckled uneasily and turned to Krall.
Krall ignored him and busied himself writing about his tea experiments in a small journal he always carried with him. If it came to matters of war, then he’d step in; otherwise, he was content to let his politically savvy wife deal with conversations like these.
Ivander knew Krall well enough and recognized the passing of the reins. “Lord Krall, this concerns you, too. Say the Veres succeed and reform the throne of Evon Lord Atreus Thorne. Even if House Veres chooses to ‘spare’ your family, what do you think will happen to the rest of us? Will you simply stand by as Veres, no, as all of Hollow Shade, goes after the other orcish Houses? Goes after House Morrigan?”
Krall sighed and spoke up reluctantly. “It will not come to that.”
“How do you know?” Ivander pressed.
“Stryg has no interest in harming orcs. He does not have such preconceived notions against our people,” said Evelyn confidently.
“Because he’s marrying your daughter? Forgive me, but simply because an enemy man sleeps with one of our women does not make that man a friend. Anyone can find a beautiful woman attractive, regardless if she's an orc or goblin,” said Ivander.
“Stryg had his misgivings against orcs when I first met him. He had them against everyone who wasn’t a goblin, for good reason, if I’m being honest. People treated him cruelly for being different,” Tauri admitted.
“And now he is out for blood,” said Ivander.
“No. Stryg has changed. He’s grown. And so have I. For too long, House Katag has turned a blind eye to the goblins of our city. This is our chance to right the wrongs of our ancestors. To build something new.”
“Please. Goblins will always be goblins. They cannot be trusted. The moment you turn around, they will exact their vengeance,” said Ivander.
Tauri glared at him. “It was the orcs who betrayed Lunis. If anyone should not be trusted, it is us.”
Ivander shook his head, as if dismissing the topic. “This alliance of yours is dangerous, for your House and mine.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tauri snapped.
Evelyn raised her hand to stop her daughter. “Perhaps you are right, Lord Ivander. But we are the noble Katags, a martial House. Our bonds are built with honor and we have given our word to support the Veres. You cannot control us as you were hoping to do.”
Ivander frowned. “I have no intention of controlling you, my lady. I was only—”
“Your brother sent you here as an extension of his will. He wanted to rely on our two families’ close relationship to influence the will of the council and in doing so, curb the rising powers of the Ebon Aspirant and the Lunisian army that resides within our city’s walls. Did I get that right, my lord?” Evelyn asked with sultry confidence.
Ivander swallowed and broke into a chuckle. “The Katags have always helped family. And we have been family for 300 years, since the Morrigan and Katag siblings. We look out for each other. I’d hate to see our prosperous alliance fall apart over something like this.”
“Is that a threat?” Krall looked up and growled. The gentle giant was gone and the berserker had risen to the surface.
“Never, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Ivander hurriedly replied. “All I am saying is that House Morrigan believes that this Ebon Aspirant is a threat to not only us, but your House as well.”
Evelyn patted her husband’s forearm to calm him down. Once he did, she turned back to the conversation. “What makes you think so, Ivander?”
“Because he is a goblin, of course, a Sylvan goblin. Your daughter said it herself.”
“Oh, he is so much more than that.” Evelyn smirked and sipped her drink.
“And you don’t find that alarming? You don’t think that someday, when he grows into his abilities, he will not be a threat?”
“No, not really.”
Ivander clenched his jaw and tried his best to stay calm. “Do… Do you have any idea what sort of terrifying influence and power Stryg Veres would wield if he became an Ebon Lord?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. If I were you, I’d be much more worried about the Ebon Lady who resides in our city as we speak,” said Evelyn.
Ivander almost fell off his chair. “What?! What did you say?”
Even Beatrix, who had seemed entirely uninterested in the conversation, perked up, her eyes wide.
“You didn’t know?” Evelyn asked innocently.
Tauri and Krall shared a look of pride.
“S-Since when…?” Ivander muttered.
“She revealed herself only a few days back,” said Evelyn.
“Who? From what House? Or is she not from a noble line?”
Evelyn took her time to answer and sipped her drink. “Oh, my daughter already mentioned her. Lady Aurelia Veres, mother of Stryg Veres. It seems magic runs strongly in their family.”
Ivander’s scarlet complexion paled a few shades and the fire in his eyes dimmed. “...They have an Ebon Lord…?”
“Soon to be family. What was that you said earlier? ‘The Katags help family’? I’m inclined to agree. Now, instead of repeating the veiled, empty threats no doubt sent by your brother, I suggest you relax during your stay here. Get to know the Veres family. Perhaps they’ll surprise you,” said Evelyn.
Ivander deflated in his chair. “You have given me much to think about.”
A knock rang on the parlor door and a maid walked onto the balcony. “My lord, your tea.”
“Oh, wonderful.” Krall beamed and eagerly grabbed the silver platter covered in an assortment of tea cups and a hot pot of tea.
“Also, my lord and lady, there is a guest from Lord Veres waiting in the antechamber,” said the maid.
Evelyn sat up. “From Lord Veres? What are you waiting for? Send them in.”
“At once, my lady.” The maid nodded and hurried away.
“Maybe today is your lucky day, Ivander,” Krall grinned. “Are you sure I can’t offer you some tea?”
“Perhaps some other time, thank you,” Ivander declined.
“Did you know Stryg was sending someone?” Evelyn leaned over and whispered to her daughter.
“No. He was called earlier to meet with Lunae,” Tauri whispered.
The maid returned with another knock and opened the door. “A Mister Arden is here to see you.”
The quiet, stern goblin walked in after the maid. He took a casual glance around the balcony, sizing up each of the guests.
Tauri recognized him immediately and she stood up. “Lord Arden—! I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Lord?” Krall voiced the question that the rest were all thinking. A goblin lord?
Tauri bowed to the silent Arden, before turning to her parents. “This is Lord Arden, son of the Frost Whisper Tribe. He is the Guardian of the Sylvan. It is one of the greatest honors among their people. Comparable only to the Silver Mother. Even the Lunar Elects pay their respects.”
“Is that so? Forgive us for not recognizing you, Lord Arden,” Evelyn stood and curtsied.
“Guardian, ey? Are you some kind of warrior then?” Krall lumbered to his feet. The giant of an orc was almost twice as tall as the goblin, which only became more apparent when Krall offered his hand, the same size as the goblin’s head.
Arden stared at the intrusive hand of thick fingers hanging in front of him and then up at its owner. His yellow eyes slightly narrowed.
Tauri grimaced and stopped herself from slapping her forehead in embarrassment. “Dad, the Guardian is the greatest warrior among all the Sylvan people. Arden is quite possibly the most powerful archmage alive.”
Krall lowered his hand and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, hehe. A warrior, indeed. Would you like some tea?”
Arden glanced at the steaming pot and gave a begrudging single nod.
Krall broke into a genuine smile. “I knew you were a man of refined tastes. One moment and I’ll fix you a cup. It’s my personal blend, I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Beatrix glanced at her uncle questioningly. Ivander stared at Arden, his face a mix of emotions. Arden turned and met his gaze.
Evelyn noticed and cleared her throat, “Lord Arden, please join us, have a seat. This is Lord Ivander Morrigan, brother of the Warlord Morrigan himself. And the lovely young woman sitting next to him is the Warlord’s daughter, Beatrix dai-Morrigan.”
“You are a Morrigan?” Adren broke his silence.
“I am,” Ivander said cautiously.
Beatrix instinctively used her Clarity magic and her amber irises glowed with an inner blue light. “He’s a True Green,” she muttered in surprise.
“Ah. A True chromatic? It seems the three of us have something in common,” Krall said happily. “I’m a True Brown myself; it runs in the family. I’ve never met a True Green. Tell me, is it true you can take on the shape of great beasts of old?”
Arden didn’t respond, he simply continued to stare at Ivander.
Ivander cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. He glanced at Evelyn, who mouthed silently, ‘Be nice.’
Ivander didn’t agree with the sentiment, but he had come here as a diplomat to stem the bleeding of war, not promote it. If it meant breaking bread with a goblin, then so be it. “I am the official emissary of the Great City of Murkton, Lord Ivander Morrigan. It is my pleasure to meet you, Lord Arden of—”
It was only a moment. The single, brief sliver of time it took for Beatrix to look away from her uncle and back at Arden. Beatrix saw the surge of Green mana explode within Arden’s chest with such precision and speed that she could only sit still and watch. It was only a split second, but in that moment, Beatrix knew with cold, terrifying certainty, that they were all going to die.
A thousand shards of stone, as thin and razor sharp as a blade, and as small as a coin, ripped out from beneath Ivander and shot upwards in a rain of stone, eviscerating Ivander and his chair in countless splinters of wood and strips of bloody viscera.