Chapter 61: A show
They stopped at a roundabout juncture where a towering statue holding a stone thunder stood. It was there that a guard was appointed to their carriage to lead them into the inner palace.
There were fewer and fewer people as the four carriages followed their guard. And more and more presence of the Blue Shield that watched their movement with cold eyes.
It was worrisome. Thaedric could remember a time when no such guards were needed just for the Bloodscion’s protection. Anything foolish enough to attack her then would have made the guards useless.
’At least Cormac is making a good show of his rotten loyalty,’ Thaedric thought. ’Until he sticks a dagger in her back at least.’
Instead of going straight up to the throne building, they moved left and continued on the marble road. Their destination wasn’t the palace. It was the arena.
The arena is big. Bigger than any open space in the capital, and it is often used for festivals or if the Bloodscion wants to address her people.
"We won’t be using that for the fight," Orso snorted. "Too big. This is a small party. So we’ll be using the Bloodscion’s private arena."
Thaedric knew that one too. It was an enclosed building that they often used for throwing parties and sometimes for fighting or accessing bloodline techniques.
"I will leave you here," the Blue Shield told them at one of the side entrances to the arena. "The other guards will handle the rest. Don’t wander off from here, and stay close to your permit barrier. Welcome to the Palace of Xandros."
Thaedric stretched and breathed in the smell of home. They had all arrived and were facing the door. The other carriages had stopped too, and he expected the people inside to come out, but only the cloaked Iridessa came out.
Their new guard asked them what was in the other carriages, and Orso answered that it was their customs. He waved them in and led them into the courtyard, directing servants to lead their carriages away while he asked them to follow him.
Their destination was a big room where the other crime lords were waiting. The Gamemaster threw a fit when he saw Orso, shouting why he must be late yet again.
Thaedric left them to it and wandered the room. It was a combination of a waiting room and a training room. But his mind wasn’t on training.
He thought he knew the Iridessa’s plan to sneak assassins into the palace but there was no one else in those carriages. Thaedric had scanned them with his aura.
Suddenly he froze and slowly turned. He looked around the room and his stomach clenched. The Iridessa wasn’t present. Thaedric cursed under his breath. He tried to think back to when he saw the Iridessa, but he could only remember fragments. He had somehow sneaked away.
It all didn’t make any sense. Why would Cormac need assassins? To blame someone? Probably, but he could arrange that himself.
There must be a reason Elder Cormac was sending captured people to the Iridessa all those months. There must be a reason the Iridessa was here in the palace.
But Thaedric couldn’t think of one good reason right now.
"Are you okay?" Urlk asked, and it spoke to the level of stress he was in when Thaedric didn’t notice him get that close.
Thaedric blinked at the man carrying his weapon. "Yes."
Urlk frowned doubtfully. "Are you sure? You’re not nervous, are you?" He glanced around the room shiftily and then leaned close to Thaedric. "Listen, if you don’t want to fight, we can plan an escape right now. Let the Blue Shield arrest us. They won’t stand for slavery."
Thaedric blinked even more. He hadn’t expected him to say that. "What about your revenge?"
Urlk shrugged. "That can wait. That man Gorvo is insane. He kills all his opponents..."
Thaedric laughed, so unexpectedly and loudly that it stopped the conversation around them as they all looked at him. "Don’t worry. It’s fine, I’m only thinking of bigger things."
Urlk gave him a surprised look but nodded. "If you say so then. Huh... Malak is drinking already."
So Thaedric distracted his mind by stopping Malak from drinking. He promised him the best drink later if he just managed to stay sober.
Malak grumbled but after finishing the tall cup in front of him, he stopped. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Thaedric nodded. "Yes."
He finally looked at his opponent. Gorvo sat apart from the others, looking as he always did white hair and blue eyes cold. His sword was by his side.
Gamemaster finally finished his ’word fight’ with Orso and turned to them. "Listen. This is the biggest opportunity we have ever had. We will make use of it fully by not causing trouble. Not only will we all be paid, but who knows the extra..."
Thaedric tuned him out. What the other crime lords didn’t know was that it was Orso’s connection that allowed them to be invited, and it was simply for entertainment.
Not like they were going to talk with the Bloodscion or something.
A Blue Shield entered the room then and informed them they could proceed into the arena. Each crime lord gathered their people, and with the guard leading, they made their way out.
The arena was built like a giant cupped hand that curved around a hollow bowl. They were led to a viewing stand that was big enough to swallow the crime lords and their people, overlooking the arena.
Thaedric ignored their excited murmurs as he stood against the small barrier. He looked over the arena, at the top where the Bloodscion’s stand was. It was sealed off, but his pulse quickened and his blood shimmered. Mother.
Below her stand was that for the Elders. It wasn’t sealed like the Bloodscion’s, and he saw them. All five of them.
"I’m going to give you a show today," he whispered.
