Chapter 24: Angling for an Advantage
In the north, Patriarch Hamid stood looking out through a window on the first floor of the Chamber of Congregation. His eyes did not register the beautiful vista that could be seen from the window. All of the major decisions affecting the clan had been decided in the room below where he stood. He had called the Council of Masters for the meeting that was about to take place; when he had received the first letter from his daughter about the potential true descendant.
The meeting had been long overdue, as the clansmen needed to discuss how to deal with the Silicians aggression, as well as, the encroaching of the demon lands to the east. Hamid’s mind turned back to the latest report from his daughter. Kenzo had been sent to the Academy as a compromise with the Noble Houses to become involved in the affairs of Tanga. Hamid grimaced in distaste, the clans had agreed to place some of their youngsters at the Academy to end aggression. However, the Silicians continued their raiding and enslavement.
What had been a glimmer of hope had become a bonfire in his heart based on the latest report. The boy, as he had fondly started thinking of Uzman, even without having met him; was getting strong quickly. However, he was certain that he would be in danger once the Nobles and Imperials realized his existence and the storm he would leave in his wake. He sighed; the next couple of years would be interesting indeed.
The Council of Masters of the northern clans was the governing authority and was chaired by Patriarch Hamid. It was made up of warriors at the mind stage of cultivation. Only 25 such masters were gathered in the congregation hall where if history was to be believed, had sat more than 400 such warriors in eons past.
Patriarch Hamid rapped on the mahogany table to bring the meeting to order. The table was a relic of the guardian ages and had been enchanted to withstand the test of time, self-clean, and grow to accommodate all members of the council.
“I thank you all for heeding the call and coming to this meeting. I called this meeting to discuss some issues that I believe are critical to the clans and the Tanga Realm-"
“And about time” Master Furza interjected. He was one of the younger masters and was always jockeying for more political clout. He was an earth cultivator and the current head of the Bear clan."
“Let the man finish, if every person starts a running commentary and cutting the Patriarch off, this meeting may degenerate into a circus,” Mistress Aleena admonished. She was an elegant diminutive water cultivator who was widely respected for her healing within the clans.”
“As I was saying before being interrupted, there are issues that have arisen that we must discuss. The first issue is the continued aggression of the Silicians on our borders. They have been raiding farms, stealing livestock, and in some cases kidnapping villagers. The second issue involves determining how to quickly grow our strength to deal with the ever-encroaching demon beasts on our eastern borders.”
“Before you continue, if I may patriarch, shouldn’t the non-aggression agreement be considered void since the Silicians have not ceased hostilities?" Master Muzna, who was Jurdur’s father, and member of the bear clan asked.
“Such decisions cannot be made unilaterally, hence the need to convene this council to deliberate and make binding decisions. However, I still feel that that is not the real reason we are here, Am I right?” Master Emir asked in his customary sharp manner cutting through the issues.
He was a grizzled veteran and the overall War leader of the clans. Master Emir was one of the oldest warriors and had stepped down from being the Patriarch to pursue personal interests.
“As always, Elder Emir is right. It has come to my knowledge that there may be a true descendant walking the Tanga realm again.”
This pronouncement was followed by stunned silence for a few moments; you could hear a pin drop in the palpable quietude. The quiet ended abruptly as a cacophony of voices were raised in questions.
“Is this another ploy to maintain your leadership status?" Master Furza shouted hotly.
“When did you receive this information? Has the news been confirmed?" Another master asked.
“Hey give the Patriarch time to provide the details.” Master Elmore shouted, his voice cutting through the noise like a hot knife through butter. Such was the authority of his Chi-enhanced voice that the room quieted immediately.
“You all know of the agreement to send some of our talented younglings to the Academy to build rapport and improve our interactions with the Nobles and Imperials. My daughter Kenzo, Jurdur bin Muzna, and Fatima bin Hayek went to the Academy. During the first days, they befriended a youth by the name of Uzman bin Vitara who they mistook for a northerner. He has blue eyes around six feet and reddish hair that glows in the sun. In the first report, my daughter said that the youth claimed to be searching for the Dragon Fire Clan.”
This time, the noise was harder to quell as the warriors started arguing amongst themselves and asking questions to no one in particular.
Patriarch Hamid rapped on the mahogany table drawing attention to himself
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“Warriors of the clans, we are the Master's Council. Let us behave in a manner befitting our station. We are not younglings prattling at seeing our first demon wolf.” He admonished, his voice rising sharply. The Masters quieted amid grumbling.
“As I was saying, Kenzo thought that these developments were important and used a communication construct to ask for guidance. I informed her to keep close to Uzman and inform me of any developments. A few days later Uzman confided in them that he had resources from the Dragon Fire Clan that had been passed to him through a pendant. He shared some of the pills with our kids to help them cultivate.
“It was at this point that I convened the Council of Masters to deliberate on these issues among others. Yesterday I received some more information that has been troubling me. The youth came to the Academy as the weakest cultivator as he had not formed his Dantian and the cultivation techniques offered were not working-”
“Of course, they would not work if the Kid is a true descendant,” pardon the intrusion, Master Elmore added motioning with his hand for the Patriarch to continue with the narration.
“The report I received suggests that the youth may already be exposed to the Nobles and Imperials. The boy has grown quickly in strength and has been recorded as the youngest Tempering cultivator in the Academy. Sometime last week, he took part in a monitored training dungeon run and used various affinities to record the best results in the history of the Academy. It is my assumption that the masters overseeing the trial noted his multiple affinities.”
Master Elmore cleared his throat. “Patriarch Hamid, I agree that this is an issue of critical importance to the clans and humanity. If, and I stress if the youth is a wizardling, the Nobles and Imperials will waste no time in either eliminating him or binding him in soul oaths.”
“Ah-ah, I may not be fully following or cognizant of the issues at play. If someone can forgive my ignorance and apprise me of the finer points of why this Uzman is so important?" A hesitant voice asked.
Master Elmore looked at Omar, the youngest master in the room in disbelief.
“It seems our history is slowly being forgotten. I do not think we have enough time to educate you adequately. The gist of the issue is that the youth can become a Guardian of Seraphiel and raise the clans to our former glory. I suggest we send a team of five warriors south to watch over the youth and guide the children back. Given that the Nobles have broken faith since the Silicians continue attacking, I find no reason to keep the children there,” Master Elmore suggested.
“Did I hear you correctly say that the kid has the resources for the Dragon Fire Clan? Given that the clan does not exist, I suggest we take the resources and nurture promising warriors,” Master Furza suggested, his eyes glinting with greed.
Mistress Aleena snorted. “And you will argue that you should be given the mandate to oversee the allocation of said resources.”
“If the resources belong to the clans I have every right to request they be administered by a proven warrior,” Master Furza retorted.
Patriarch Hamid sighed in dismay. This was the reason he had not wanted to call for the warrior’s conclave due to the bickering. Even when discussing issues of critical importance, they got boggled in meaningless sideshows.
“I agree with Master Elmore that the most important issue at this point is to provide safety for the true descendant and recall our children home. However, this issue should be resolved in a way that does not engender immediate conflict. If the Nobles know we spirited the youth under their noses they may band together and declare outright war. Once we are assured of their safety, we can start making plans to respond to the threats surrounding us."
After a short discussion, five warriors were selected to head south immediately and stealthily extract the Northerners from the Academy.
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At around the same time far in the east, Demon Duke Nubal was trembling in pain, prostrate on the floor, blubbering, and covered in his excrement.
“YOU ASSURED ME THAT YOU HAD EXTINGUISHED THE DRAGON BLOODLINE. DID YOU LIE TO ME.” a painful voice thundered in his head.
He started bleeding from his various orifices as Baliel continued to torture him.
“The information we received says that the kid can only channel three affinities. There is no reason to expect that he has dragon blood.” He squeaked, trembling with pain as he was ravaged from the inside out.
Baliel was attacking his mind and soul causing tremendous pain. Nubal had been summoned to the rift where Baliel could exert the most influence on the world of Tanga.
“I HAVE RAISED ANOTHER PRINCE, IF YOU FAIL ME THIS TIME; I WILL SHOW YOU THE MEANING OF PAIN. YOU WILL THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAVE SUFFERED IS JUST A KISS FROM A FAIR MAIDEN. PREPARE THE WORLD OF TANGA AND PAVE THE WAY FOR HIM TO COME AND RULE IN MY NAME.”
“I hear and obey,” Nubal answered meekly forcing the words through his lungs that felt like they were on fire.
Nubal left the rift and requested the Centurion Praximus of the inquisitors legion, to meet him in the home of the Archduke of Silicia. Somebody had a lot of explaining to do.
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The Headmaster of the Academy had gone to the seat of Amoria to talk to Archduke Koyra, Lady Tameria’s father. They were seated in a well-furnished study, sipping tea from small porcelain cups.
“My reason for requesting this meeting cousin is to inform you that we have a potential portal mage at the Academy."
Koyra leaned forward quickly nearly sloshing the tea on his ornately designed robe. “How is that possible, it has been theorized that a person cannot channel more than two elements with any degree of skill to create a portal stone or portal gateway.”
“This issue has me frustrated, I was about to expel the young man as he was having difficulties developing an affinity. Who would have thought that in six months he would be the youngest Rank 2 cultivator and a portal mage to boot? The kid has a huge potential and needs to be nurtured. Unless I miss my guess he will be an elemental cultivator by mid-next year. I do not want him to fall into the hands of Silicians or Zetans. You are the only person I trust to safeguard him if it becomes necessary through your power and standing."
Archduke Koyra was quiet for a few minutes idly sipping his tea as he thought about the issue. Unbeknown to the Headmaster, he had already received a hazy report from Lady Tameria and had been considering the issue. He had already instructed his daughter to get closer to the boy and offer him the best possible terms to join Amoria once he became a noble. He had joked with his daughter that she could also be an attractive inducement.
Amoria had largely stayed away from conflicts among the great houses, quietly building its army and empowering its people. The standard of living in the Duchy was the best anywhere in Tanga and had attracted many immigrants. However, the boy may be worth a few broken relationships if the Headmaster was right.