Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 368: Win the heart (2)

AROUEN CASTLE 

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Adrian meets his council and they all are thinking about Prince Arial proposals. A few moments ago, Adrian has laid Arial proposal before the council.

Lord Paris, Lord Sutton and all the other council members are deliberating among themselves to decide what would be the decision of the Kingdom.

Even though the council task is only to council the King and gives their opinion, the king usually follows the council decision. 

This is because the king trusts the decision of the council and it is better to get approval in matters of importance considering the people in the council. 

The council itself is the invention of Vermont's. Many noble houses now adopt a council to counsel them in their matters. 

The council itself existed before but not like the Vermont style of council. 

The council of Vermont is different in that for example a noble holding the post of administrative must not also hold position in the council and the council of Vermont's is not only consisted of nobility but scholars, masons, any talented men that might apply themselves to the Vermont's house. 

The head of the family can always add new members or evict the old ones. 

It is different in many royalties where the honored seat of their council is mostly reserved for nobility or family. 

Arial doesn't care whether his council is nobility or family as long they are talented and loyal. This is why Arrandy is governed so well even during his absence.

Adrian thoughts are disturbed by his council words.

'Your Highness, we have decided.' They declared

'And what is your verdict?' Adrian asked hoping a wise decision.

'We have decided to confirm your decision. We could not help the Arrandians in their private war, and rendering five Arial our aid would involve a great expense from the treasury and we all know his venture will be attended with great danger of failure. And I don't think we can survive such failures.'

Adrian nodded. He was thinking the same thing. If this plan of Arial fails, then the blowback is catastrophic.

Then Lord Sutton said 

'And as to Arial promise to hold Vangua as a vassal of Aetherland, Your Highness, we the council have no faith in the dragon oath.'

'Surely the dragon wil-'

'Your Highness have you forgotten? For many years now since five Arial Vermont rose to his position as duke, your highness knows how difficult it is to maintain any effectual authority over the Duke of Arrandy, and when he, if he can, if he succeeds in this venture of his, he will become the master of Vangua. A master of so distant and powerful a realm as Vangua, surely all Aetherland control over them would be forfeited forever. They might as well secede now.'

Lord Sutton said passionately, rousing the agreement of many of the other council members.

Adrian nodded in agreement confirming the wisdom of his council. But he could not easily listen to this wise counsel. 

Adrian truthfully feels a little dread meeting the dragon. 

The young duke is strong and very talented in battle and if truth be told this throne he is sitting right now will not be possible if not for the dragons rendering aid when all lords would have abandoned him. 

But he also recognizes the dangers if five Arial become the master of Vangua with resources even rivaling, if not more than of Aetherland.

Adrian could not help but thinking about it for a long time. However, he finally decided and he decided to harden his heart. 

Arrandy must stay in Aetherland if Aetherland were to remain strong.

And Adrian believes Arrandy venture would end in failure. 

The next morning Adrian summoned Arial to the great hall once again, and the young duke obliged to meet him at the appointed time.

Adrian enter the great hall and sees that the young lord has been waiting for him that morning, sitting in a chair with his leg crossed against each other.

He is not pleased.

'I have waited long enough here in the North. The air is fresh; the scenery is beautiful but I need to rush back. Have you decided Your Highness?'

'I have' 

'Then tell me of your wise decision Your Highness.' Arial said stressing the wise part and this does not escape the King ears.

'I have decided after great deliberation on your part and the counsel of my council to not render aid. It is impossible to render aid to you when the Kingdom itself is not yet stable.' He declared.

Arial look at Adrian with a strong feeling of disappointment and displeasure. Such feeling can easily be deduced by looking at his expression.

Arial, who could no longer stand this farce any longer get up from his seat and marches to the castle gate.

'Please wait Prince Arial. Let me give you some gifts before you return home to Arrandy.' Adrian said, trying to send the Duke in a good mood.

Adrian conducted the duke to his retinue when the hour of departure arrived, in order to soothe, as far as possible, his irritated feelings, by dismissing him from his court with marks of his honorable consideration and regard. 

At least that was his intention

However, Arial was not in the mood to be pleased.josei

He rushes to the stables, open the barn and jump to his flame colored horse, Firebringer and he was riding it to the castle gate fuming with anger.

The guards look at the appearance of the duke and they feel that something has happen in the castle. Something bad.

'OPEN THE CASTLE GATE. NOW! OR RISK MY WRATH!' Arial yelled. The guards in the castle gate are all startled by the thunderous yelling and they all rushed to open the gate.

'PLEASE WAIT' Adrian yelled from behind riding his horse, galloping to try to get a hold of Arial.

But Arial did not stop. The castle gate open and Arial ride out but still he feels that this humiliation must be repaid in kind, so he stops.

He could not let the King get the last word.

And then he turned back his gaze to the castle gate, and in anger he yelled, as his voice reverberated all around the castle, a sound waves emitted from his massive internal energy.

'ADRIAN! You are my king and I am one of your vassals and I have never disobeyed your orders before and I have served you loyally all these years!' He thundered and his voice was so impactful that some could swear the castle gate shakes slightly.

'BUT TODAY,' he yelled 

'Today, you are about to lose the most powerful vassal that any lord sovereign ever had, could had, by the course on which you have decided to pursue. KNOW THIS! I would have held the whole realm of Vangua as a part of your dominions, acknowledging you as sovereign over all of it, if only you had consented to render me your aid, but I will not do it since you refuse me with such determination and reluctance to aid me as your kin. I shall feel bound to repay only those who assist me. REMEMBER, THIS MISTAKE OF YOURS KING OF AETHERLAND! The next time I came here, I will be your equal…NAY…your superior. I ONLY HAVE ONE WARNING! If you do not want to offend me more than this, then even if you do not want to help me with my venture, do not get in my way. If you do, I will come and I will burn your castle, loot your cities, pillage your villages and crush every single building you had with my own vengeful might until they turned to nothing and I will put every single head of the people of your rule to my merciless steel. Farewell, king of Aetherland. ONE DAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN!"

Saying this Arial rode outside the castle as his fast horse galloping like the wind, none of the people chasing him could even keep up, as they watched the fading back of the Dragon leaving Arouen. 

Their hearts are stirred with dread and fear, hearing the Duke speeches. Burning, looting, pillaging, head to steel. 

This is horrifying words, scary words. Threatening words that only the Duke dare say and dare accomplish.

And Adrian hearing this declaration could not help but feel he has lost a precious treasure and suddenly he remembers Silas word a long time ago to him.

"It is better to win hearts," said Silas, Adrian remembered every single words, like that very man is standing in front of him and talking with him, whispering into his ears, counseling him with his wise mind "than cities; better to battle with hearts than with weapons. I hope you will succeed in winning the hearts of the people, for only by winning hearts, you will always emerge victorious"

This word resonated inside Adrian mind as he watches the duke disappeared from his eyes and his expression was like he lost the world.

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