Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 353: Subterfuge (2)

Arial was thinking….should he force them? With his army…if he raises them…surely…No he decided. 

That would only work for a short period of time and in the long term it will prove to be disadvantageous for him.

Then with heavy hearts Arial said

'Then this meeting will be adjourned. A month from now we will meet here again to discuss this matter again. At that time I hope our differences can be resolved' he said his voice is bitter.

The Duke disappointed with the result of the meeting did not even greet the noble lords and even his vassal as he open the huge door of the hall, his grumbling and complaints is reflected clearly on his expression. josei

The other noble lord is also uncomfortable by rejecting the duke offer but there are too many things that need to be considered.

And they all have decided this before entering the meeting, a coalition spearheaded by Lord Robert of House Dudley.

They have been persuaded that Arial quest is a fool errand and one that would weaken their house. 

Lord Robert did not do this out of malice but out of fear of failure. 

His land is vast but not that vast to send an army to a foreign expedition, just to uphold his oath. 

But if he objected alone the young lord request then the young lord will make him a target and everyone knows how the young lord treats his enemies. 

With contempt and merciless anger. 

So, he persuaded many of the noble lord using the line of thought, of emotional argument, telling them of the young lord unrivalled ambition and what that would mean to the other noble lords. 

And this way, the young lord could not really blame everyone. 

Even if he did blame everyone, he could not fight the entirety of Arrandy else he ruin his chance and stability that Arrandy has achieved.

And today, he succeeded.

In one word, the meeting is a failure. And yet, the meeting is far from over and unease spread among this coalition of noble lords.

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IN A SECRET MANSION IN ARRANDY

The night is cold since winter has come. 

The snow has fallen last week and the roads are painted white with snow, the shop closed early, families return home and huddled up near the hearth with their families telling old stories, gossip about their lords and their ladies, about everyday life, it's wonders and horrors and the premonition of a war that is coming.

The story of everyday life that is peaceful and never changing captivated the children as they huddled in front of the fire. 

Earn some gold for the family, getting home, greeted by their family, exchanging stories and enjoy the simple pleasure that life has given them. 

The life of an honest man.

That is the lives of a common folk, one that Arial Vermont once use to enjoy…a normal life with a normal parents. 

But such privilege is lost on the house of great noble lords. 

In winter, they do not hibernate, they do not rest, for plots are year round and intrigues and machinations is moving every day from old enemies and new, from rivals and nemesis all wishing them ruins.

They have no rest day from this kind of stressful life of lying and backstabbing and today is the same.

And tonight is the testament to their life. 

A choking existence, a kind of life, a life of lies and secrets where honesty and sincerity is hard to find, even nearing impossibility.

Tonight in a mansion near the city of Acro just outside of the city wall, many people can be seen entering a mansion, all walking in a suspicious manner, looking left and right fearing to be recognized, to be noticed. 

Their coach stopped in front of the mansion and the people that get out from the coach are all man of power, each one a great noble lord of Arrandy and Althea, reputable and noble figures.

The meeting was adjourned a few weeks ago but the noble lord in the meeting did not go straight home. 

How could they, with all the unease in their hearts and the dread they feel from the young lord, the cold attitude the young lord has displayed and the trepidation of the young lord unpredictable action?

They know they have offended the Dragon and they are trying to solve this matter with the Dragon and the Crowned Sword in Vangua without getting into war.

If Arial could hear their thoughts, he would have scoff at them on their naïve thinking. War has already being waged the moment Arial declare it.

And he has already taken all the necessary steps to ensure his victory. 

Of course the noble lords, not all of them could see the young lord careful planning and cunningness, neither do they believe in the might of the young lord to take on the huge Vangua land but this is the Dragon they are talking about. 

He has planned this from the beginning, seen all the variables and sure of his victory. Some lords are not present here. 

Those that supported the young lord, like the Blacktons, Lonnes, Aldrey, the Palais, Lethe are not present here. 

Ormont is also not present. These are Arial inner circle, those who swear fealty and utmost loyalty to the Vermont rule.

However their objective for coming late at night, in a cold winter, attending this dubious meeting is all in the sake of reconciling their differences with their lord and as such they have chosen an intermediary that they know the dragon would listen.

When they enter, they all take their seat waiting for their guest of honor. Their hope lies with this one man. 

This man is living inside the city of Acro with his wife and son, so by midnight he will surely show himself. 

It has taken many weeks since the meeting for the noble lords to persuade that man to come and listen to their appeals and persuading the man to speak on the behalf of them to ease the young lord anger. 

Everyone knew that the young lord is fuming with anger in his castle right now. 

It's not like it is a secret that the young lord finds the unwillingness of the other noble lords on backing him on his quest, infuriating.

Then when all of the noble lords that oppose Lord Arial plan has arrived they waited in the great hall with anticipation and hope. 

They all waited in silence and not many of them strike up a conversation with the other, each one taking a considerable distance with each other. 

They do not come here to chat.