Chapter 86: It tried
The next morning found Thaedric in the library, searching dusty shelves and looking over more forbidden books. It was the first thing he did when he finished eating breakfast.
It was a sealed floor with only forbidden books on the shelves but he he might looking for might as well be forbidden.
"I hope," Kagerou said from his place where he was reading the titles of books on shelves. "That you’re not about to do another ritual that requires death."
Thaedric chuckled. "You should watch your neck in coming days then."
"Because everything here have ’death’ ’forbidden darkness’ or something that sounds very similar to massacre here."
Thaedric dusted a book. "What I am looking for is a story book. Well, something along that line. And here, it looks like I’ve see what I am looking for."
It is a small book with worn black cover but the content are saved so Thaedric pur it away in his robe. He wore a free flowing robe today.
"So what, we are going to the throne room again? Thaedric, I don’t think that’s a good idea. We have not been summoned." Kagerou said with worry as they walked out of the library, making their way down the several steps.
"And that’s exactly why I’m going. They called full court again and don’t call me? Not that I want to be in that room with any of them. I also have business to attend with them personally."
Malak met them in front of the throne room. Or more specifically where the guardian was still standing, the same pose as yesterday.
"This thing suddenly became boring." Malak said.
"It almost killed you." Thaedric reminded him. He made his way to the front and stand at the edge of the barrier, ignoring the guards.
Malak snorted. "It tried."
"Please stand back My Lord. We have been instructed to...."
Thaedric interrupted him. "It is you, who should stand back." Malak and Kagerou quickly took his advice while the guards looked on in confusion.
"Awake, guardian of Hydraeus."
The purple fire in the guardian’s eyes burned hotly and started coming forward. The barriers put up small resistance before they snapped and sent mana lashing around. The guardian walked through all this without flinching, dragging its might sword with it.
One of the guards was sent crashing back while others ran back in surprise. The guardian reached Thaedric and went to its knees, bending its head. Thaedric smiled. "You have a name don’t you but I will give you my own. Valtor."
Valtor raised his head and looked at Thaedric then he bowed again.
"He seems to like it." Thaedric said. "Come Valtor let’s greet the High Elder."
They began walking towards the main palace while others joined him. "Are you sure this thing is obeying you. It won’t snap will it." Kagerou didn’t take his hand from his sword. He rarely did so while he’s outside with Thaedric.
"Don’t worry." Thaedric promised. "And you can’t fight him again, Malak. I see the way you are looking at Valtor."
Malak only smiled and looked back at the guardian who was at the back of them.
The guards stopped them at the door to the throne room. "Court is in session and you are not called."
Thaedric blinked. "I am not called." He repeated flatly. He suppressed an angry sigh, just what the Thaedric did or didn’t do that makes everyone like disrespecting him?
"Yes. The High Elder has ordered that there should be no disturbance when the court is in....."
"Malak." Thaedric called softly.
The door of the throne room was banged open. Not by hands but by two guards that was hurled through with force.
The loud noise demanded everyone’s attention and made the guards station along the wall to draw their weapons and come forward but they stopped, confused when they see who it was. They looked towards the High Elder.
Erestor was half standing. "What is the meaning of this, Scion Thaedric Hydraeus!"
Thaedric walked forward with his companion and when they saw the guardian the guards flinched back and surrounded them. The nobles started shouting.
"Silence!" Thaedric voice wasn’t loud but it was accompanied by the snap of lightning. He received silence. Thaedric gestured while he also sent a mental command to the guardian, it came forward and handed him his sword.
Thaedric pointed the sword at Erestor while Valtor stood beside him. Tension rose in the room sharply as everyone looked from the High Elder to Thaedric, Erestor was breathing hard and he gripped his table tightly.
Thaedric’s let the tension build until it reached snapping point and then he lowered the sword. "High Elder. I’m here to show you that the guardian is under my command. No need to worry yourself with its matters again."
The High Elder released a slow breath but his eyes was filled with anger. "Of..course. But why don’t you just turn it to statue again? Surely we don’t need it."
Thaedric dragged the sword on the ground as he moved forward. "On the contrary. My mother is not waking up anytime soon and I, I’m going to leave the capital for a while yes? Valtor is going to be my own protection for the capital till I’m back. It’s going to look after you all for me."
Thaedric was close enough to see the flinch from Erestor and he smiled wider for it. Let the High Elder take this as whatever he wanted to but for Thaedric, this was a threat.
Right now without the Bloodshields there are probably no one who would want to fight the guardian. Erestor know this. Thaedric know this.
The High Elder cleared his throat. "I’ll sleep better knowing that one of the guardians of the Hydraeus is keeping watch over us. Thank you, Scion."
"It is my job to look over my people, I’ll take no gratitude for it. But aside from that, I’m here to let the Elders know of my intentions. Since there’s no army to send with me to the Cockatrice then I will recruiting to raise what I can for myself."
