Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 372: Regency (2)

'In the evening I will held a closed ceremony to install her into her office in public. The great noble lord is already congregating around here so they surely could attend the appointment. Send some messenger to invite them. And all of you too. You are not confined to the council chambers. I know you are all preoccupied with what is happening but taking a fresh air might help you in thinking clearly.'

'Yes, we will attend the Duchess appointment, my lord. We are truly in need of an occasion to motivate ourselves to leave the council chambers' they said as they smile and appreciate the Duke concerns for them.

Arial smile a satisfied smile. 

'Then if there is nothing else –'

'There is some news my lord' Oliver said raising his handjosei

'What news?' Arial has already stand ready to leave the room.

'We have in good report of the girl you once spoke.' 

'Yes' Arial said as he sits back down into the chair. Is it Velamina he mused. No, he thinks again. 

Arial has called off the searching expedition. 

Not only because it cost gold, not that he cares about the expense, but also because he remembers Velamina warnings and fears and Arial feared that he would endangered Velamina safety. 

Right now Arial enemies are numerous. 

If he found her or even the news that the Lord of Arrandy is searching a woman, then surely one of them could think that the woman holds some special position in the Duke heart and his enemies might even send assassin. 

Just because they could not touch him doesn't mean they couldn't touch the others. If he is not targeted, then his enemies will target his hand and foot.

Then it is Xiyun. Arial concluded. Finally, some news.

'How is she? Is she well?' 

'She…' Oliver hesitates to speak looking at the other lords to try to help him for what he is about to report.

'She, what!' Arial scowled.

'It seems this Mu Xiyun is really wild, my lord. She has been entangled with the Xiantian Manor problem. As you know my lord after the Meet, in which you won, the martial art world is in chaos right now with new forces emerging and old forces that once so demure now began baring claws.'

'Xiantian Manor? What is that?' Arial said puzzled never hearing such faction or schools before.

'It is an old force but other than that we don't know that much about it. But in the martial art fraternity it seems that the Xiantian Manor is very formidable and very well known. It is also much respected.' 

'And how did Xiyun get in trouble with them?'

'I don't know but it seems our Liao Bao is also entangled in that matter.' 

Arial began pinching his forehead and people could see he begin feeling annoyed. 

'How did Liao Bao too, get entangled with them? How could he not just do his job and come back here without causing problem wherever he goes. I swear my headaches started the moment I have him under my rule.'

'We don't know' and this time Arial roll his eyes. 

'Don't know? Lord Oliver why do you think I set you up as my spymaster? Don't you think it is your duty to know? One could say, it is your job to know.'

'My lord I- '

'Never mind' Arial said swishing his hand.

'Find out what happen and then report to me what really happen. Find out how Liao Bao entangled in that mess and what is Xiantian Manor.' 

'Yes, my lord.' Oliver said bowing his head.

'Is that all? Arial said as he waits any other person to tell him any other news. 

'Good. Then I will leave first.' 

The other nodded as Arial get up from his chair and left the council chamber.

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A SMALL CHURCH INSIDE THE CASTLE OF THE VERMONTS

Arial was about to go straight to the bedchamber and accompany Helia for a while and then check the war preparations at the barracks.

The large courtyard in the castle, behind it is a small church Arial has built a few years prior to facilitate those who wanted to pray. 

Arial was just about to pass the church when he could hear singing. The voice is very enchanting but it is a man voice.

Arial stopped in his track and he became curious. Arial change the course of his direction as his feet brought him closer to the church door.

Arial enter the church and he hear the hymn being sung. 

He could see a young man humming the sung with a joyful face while sitting in the long chair with the Book of Light in his right hand while his left hand moves with the rhythm of the song.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and light. But the greatest of these is light that drove away the darkness and shine the path of righteousness. Pray to the Light that delivers us from the great Darkness and the evil that hidden inside the heart. All Praise to him, Lord of Worlds, Sovereign of Life and Death" 

'Paul' the voice startled the Bishop and the Bishop stops his hymn of praise to the Lord. 

And he turn around to see the Duke standing near the opening of the church door and Paul could swear his eye playing trick on him for whether by reflection of the glass pane of the church, or his eyes blinded by the sun, he could see the Duke is shining, like the angel in the stories of old.

'Ah, my lord. Fancy seeing you here. Never thought I would see you enter here, my lord.' The Bishop said regaining his composure. Arial smile. 

'It is my church, Paul.'

'Ah no, my lord. It is the Lord church. The Lord Above.' He said as his eyes squinting and he could see the light no longer.

'Is that so? May I intrude upon you with your Lord Above?' Arial said almost in a playful tone.

'Please do my lord and you are not intruding, my lord.' 

'Is that so? Glad to hear it.' Arial take his seat looking at the small figurine of the Prophet in the center of the altar standing majestically, a halo of sun behind him and a light like thing trying to show itself from the Prophet gripped tight hand.

There are many figurines of the Prophet each one different from the last. There are many different version of the prophet all different from each other. 

The Vernian church insist that the Prophet has a beard, the Corian church says that the prophet has no such beard, Vernian church says the prophet has a long hair, the Corian church say he have a short hair. 

They both disregard each other opinion but this does not manifest into an outright conflict considering this is the branches problem as it is terms. 

One that does not change the true message of the prophet. Message of peace, love and compassion, though Arial rarely see such values in churchmen.

At least in the one he meets. 

Maybe in some parish deep in the countryside, the churchmen are really like them but Arial dealings with the Office of the Holies made Arial realize that most of the churchmen in the Holy Cities is like rats.

'Praying my lord?' Paul asked as he could see the Duke is lost in his thoughts.

'No, Paul. Trying to ease my worried heart and settle my thoughts. Do not mind me Paul. Please continue your praise to the Lord.' Arial said but Paul looks at the Duke with a glint of mischievousness and there is some satisfaction in his expression.

'There is no need for it anymore now that my lord is here.' 

'And why is that?' Arial asked puzzled by Paul statement