Author's Notes: As usual, I humbly beg for "CONSTRUCTIVE" criticism as to point out flaws and grammatical errors as well as areas to improve upon as i have no prior experience to writing.
Noticed that the POV's are TINY!!! now i added little stars so they twinkle and shine XD. Also noticed my chapters are kinda short so i made eXtra effort for this chapter to be as long as my **** XD.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
***Salomet Estate Castle, Minerva***
“Matriarch you can’t be serious! We are to lend our resources in it’s entirety to this stranger?!” my grandchild Raven says in opposition. While walking towards the main hall after I have regained self-control over my feelings. I have my family call me Matriarch to avoid hearing the words Grandmother, Great Grandmother and so on. It touches something sensitive in me to realize that I am aged in human standards. Plus, I’m still in my prime as an Elf so I don’t want to be feeling old while people still call me The Beautiful Archmage. Although I have retired a few centuries ago but I’m sure I’m still beautiful. I hope.
Raven is the current Archmage of the royal court after inheriting most of my knowledge and skills. Being part elf he looks to be the same age as I am now even though he has only just recently passed 600 years in age. He was remarking how he’s seen him in the castle as the princess’s personal attendant and how suspicious it was that he’s here when the castle is on lockdown. I find it funny that he came out of exile to serve as a servant. Just as we enter the main hall, Kyra looks at me with regret still in his eyes. The fact that he is here after all this time means he needs our help and it doesn’t take a genius such as myself to figure that out.
“Raven, meet Kyra PlainsWalker or Kyra Elf friend, Dragon Slayer or Demon Bane or most commonly known as Kyra the God King of the Empire” As I smirk to see my grandchild’s reaction. He was about to shout profanities at Kyra before I quickly introduced him. With a look that I have not seen in centuries, he stood there stunned and confused before realizing who I was referring to.
He kneels down faster before I can even laugh which kinda ruined the fun for me.
Staring at me he asked “Didn’t the books say he fell when he confronted Naten?” still confused and in awe of the figure in front of him. I tell him that I’ll brief him later on real history before Kyra interrupts me.
“I hope my identity remains in these halls Minerva.” Kyra warns me. I see that he hasn’t changed much in that regard when it comes to fame and responsibility. The fiery look in his eyes shows that he is serious and I respect his wishes and ask my little Raven to keep this secret to himself.
“Fine, straight to business then. What do you need of the Noble house of Salomet?” doing a small curtsy in gesture of respect for his authority.
“I’ve been gone for far too long and I need to be briefed on recent events. The rise of this new house Eter and the death of my direct descendant for starters.” With a voice I come to recognize filled with authority and charisma that would make any man or woman follow his command.
Twitching at the name Eter. I smoothly convey what I know regarding the 2 subjects that he mentioned. Starting with how Eter came into power and also adding my opinion of how suspicious I find them growing into power so smoothly after the civil war of 400 years ago. Next I explain how we came into suspicion due to Eter casting out questionable evidence against us and Tangilus.
At the end of my explanation. Kyra ask me how the house of Tangilus is doing. Squirming as I struggle to answer him. My grandchild who has been standing there like statue speaks out his mind at the worst topic.
“The house of Tangilus has fallen on hard times my lord.” Raven brings his opinion into the discussion.
***Kyra***
“Elaborate please.” I command with my voice laced with concern. My best friend’s family is in trouble? I would not spare a second thought at using my authority or powers to remedy the crisis that Tangilus’s family is facing.
“No my lord, the current head of the house is in my opinion a poor reflection of what Tangilus was as a individual. Forgive me for speaking my mind but Lord Andre Tangilus is a mockery of the noble house of Tangilus with his character and attitude.” Raven reports to me with a wavering tone as he realizes he might have touched on a sensitive subject.
“Continue.” Was all that I needed to say to assure him that I will not persecute him. These habits and characteristics of a ruler gradually come back as I continue conversing.
With a small grin he continues “Lord Andre has been seen frolicking with women despite his marital status and is extremely harsh on his subjects. There have been reports of torture chambers and interrogation rooms. Unlike Ser Tangilus who ruled with your image in mind. Lord Andre has done the complete opposite. The Matriarch has made efforts to confront him regarding his administration with no observable changes.”
Taking his summary about this new lord of Tangilus. I feel irritated while I process the thoughts in my head he continues to speak.
“However, all nobility and greatness is not lost in the house of Tangilus I can recommend the son of Andre’s 2nd wife Asur. He is noble in contrast with his father. As his friend I can vouch for his character. Not to mention his martial prowess is also easily at the level of the Royal Companions” Raven speaks with certainty.
Looking at Minerva. She nods her head in approval of Asur’s character along with the mentioned report of the current head of Tangilus.
I move to quickly address the issue that I currently know of with the 2 leading members of the House of Salomet. They lead me onto their teleportation chamber when I remember a tradition pre-dating even Ser Tangilus.
“Why hasn’t Asur challenged Andre to claim for his position as head of the house?” I quizzed.
“It is true that such a tradition exist within the house of Tangilus with both participants usually only going with basic arms and gear. However, Andre is a coward who does not fight fairly by donning the equipment of Ser Tangilus.” Minerva says with distaste.
Anger surges in me as I hear more of the character of the man currently leading the house of Tangilus. He’d be turning in his grave with this buffoon running his house into the ground. With another jolt of realization I remember an extra detail to the tradition as I teleported to the Tangilus estate.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The person who greets us is none other than Asur as he greets us and welcomes us befitting a host of noble lineage. As we exchange greetings, I see no reason in beating around the bush and ask him to bring us straight to Lord Andre. With a quick tour past the teleportation chambers I can see that some rooms have fallen into disuse and the castle reeks of blood. Stretching my senses I can see where the torture chambers are with its victims and it assures me of my actions.
Every corridor I passed angers me more before I finally arrive to stand before Ser Andre with a servant speaking into his hear about our arrival no doubt.
“Welcome-.” As I interrupt Ser Andre before he can speak.
“You do not Welcome guest stinking of blood and piss of your victims.” I state matter of factly. Asur jumps in surprise at what I’ve just said. I can see shame and anger mark his face a second later as he too knows what I said is true.
With a stunned look and later anger. He says “What proof do you have? You come into my house as a guest and ACCUSE ME!? HOW DARE YOU!” as he shouts across the room. Minerva was about to cast a arcane missile straight at him before I stopped her. Most likely he is wearing an amulet of protection and I need to install Asur as the new head of Tangilus.
“Guards remove these so called guest and disable the teleportation circle!” The guards move to follow his orders before I whisper to Asur to follow my lead.
“Asur declares a duel as claimant to become the head of house Tangilus.” The trio gasped in shock as if I just handed a death sentence to Asur. Gesturing to show them I have it handled. Minerva takes my cue to hold back both Raven and Asur.
With a look of confusion before realizing my intent he then begins to laugh. “Fine I’ll accept a duel with Asur, Ha hA Ha! So when and where is the duel held?” with the most maniacal laugh I’ve heard in decades as if he has already won. No doubt the artifacts of Ser Tangilus are legendary but there other ways to install Asur as head.
“Immediately.” I answer the idiot who is about to die.
“Very well, meet me in the courtyard and the head of Salomet along with Archmage Raven shall be the witnesses.” The dead man says.
Walking towards the courtyard I apologize in advance to Asur for what I was about to do. As he shouts at Raven about me being a crazy lunatic and a lot of other creative names. Minerva asks me again if I had it handled. With a smile, she takes it that I have it handled while we wait for the walking corpse to equip himself.
He appears 30 minutes later with a suit of plate armor, sword and shield that I recognize really well. The whole set was forged in dragon fire if the dwarves were not lying to Tangilus as a sales pitch when he had saved the dwarven lord. But I know better that those were genuinely master crafted with runes inscribed to give it powers that would make even a peasant seem like competent fighter.
“Ok ready when you are.” The pompous man takes practice swings with the blade. Which I can tell he has some skill but not enough to let him live past today.
“Following tradition of the House of Tangilus Asur appoints me Kyra as the duelist to represent him as he currently has stomach cramps making him incapable of fighting.” With a quick punch to his stomach I incapacitated him and whisper a apology.
The Salomet duo suddenly remembers the tradition and agrees with me with their wealth of knowledge.
Andre looks confused and betrayed before seeing the opportunity to kill me. His smile with his yellow and tarred teeth was really off putting. No doubt thinking that with his equipment even a Royal Companion would lose to him. But he won’t smile for much longer. With Asur on his knees because of *stomach cramps*. It was up to me to fight on his behalf. Taking a look of the selection of weapons and armor
I grab the weapon I was always most comfortable with. The Greathammer, unwieldy and unbalanced. It was still my weapon of choice even after trying out and mastering a multitude of weapons.Minerva looked slightly worried until I picked my weapon and she smiles.
Giggling and laughing his ass off with my choice. He proceeds to take a stance in the middle of the courtyard. Check and mate.
“Any last words?” he tells me with victory already in his mind.
“All men must die.” I say staring at the breathing carcass.
“Wise words. So today must be your day to die!” he charges with the speed of swooping hawk. Making the same moves as my greatest granddaughter. With a thrust he intended to skewer me. However, he was much more skilled and faster than my granddaughter with his equipment. Before I could swing my hammer down on him, he swings his sword horizontally to try to disembowel me.
Using the handle of the Greathammer to block to swipe. He cuts it cleanly in half along with a nice gash on my shirt. I forgot for a split second that this wasn’t my weapon and there was no way in hell that it would have been able to block that swipe.
The look on his face tells me that he’s beginning to be wary of me as I managed to survive his first 2 attacks.
“I’ve never seen your face or heard of you. A man of your skill should have been famous.” The confused brain eater tells me.
“But you have heard of me.” I leap towards him with my hammer in mid swing charged with both divinity and mana. The ghoul reacts too slowly to dodge or mount a proper defense.
“I’m your King.” With a blow that can be heard all the way in the capital as I struck him straight in the chest. I pulped the insides of Ser Tangilus armor and lodged it into the castle walls.