Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

Chapter 456: CDLVI. Rules Are Rules

"Tell him then! Tell King Einar about your peaceful agreement with Kranus and explain the question of your weapon!" Gridd replied, begging her brother to listen to her.

"He would never believe my words... did you see how he treated me in front of all my men? Einar doesn't care that we're Okstorm's strongest warriors... for him, we will always be nothingness, scum whose sole purpose is to carry out his orders without counter-argument!" Dag exclaimed, who was desperately continuing to speak in the hope that his closest friends would understand the importance of that speech.

"But he's the king! He owns the emblem n 1! Rules are rules! You can't refuse to follow orders, why are you acting like this?! I don't recognize you anymore!" his sister shouted, beginning to cry and hugging him in fear of his decisions.

"King Einar just wants to take credit for our work, that's why he's here. If he really was interested in anything about us, he'd come to see us much sooner. I don't want a king like him. I thought he was a righteous man, but he thinks only of his personal gain, treating his subjects like slaves. The emblems can kiss my ass!" he replied at the exact moment a group of his soldiers descended from the stairs from the floor above with their stuff locked in their travel backpacks, ready to go.

When they heard the heated conversation between their Warchief and his companions, they couldn't help but stop and listen, interested in the matter.

"Captain... our soldiers are packing their stuff, they're all ready to return to Okstorm with the King and his army. What do you have in mind? He doesn't seem he wants to listen to what you have to say..." Reidar said, who unlike everyone else, as usual, tried to understand his intentions.

"I never forced anyone to follow me, Reidar. I'm just saying that if we all leave, it's just going to be an unnecessary waste of time and resources, not to mention Claire and all the other soldiers who aren't here with us anymore. What if she's still alive somewhere? What are we going to do? Do we leave her here in Krypstorm? What will you expect when we get home? Nothing! It will all be the same as before and the Iron Alliance will have to cease to exist! Everything we fought for, all the time we spent convincing the members of each Clan to join us... none of this will make any more sense if we come back" Dag replied, making sure his soldiers also listened.

Continuing to argue with his team, he noticed that many of the troop soldiers came out without ever stopping, while a small group of them gathered by him to hear his words.

It was as if those warriors hoped their Warchief would find a way to convince King Einar to let them stay.

"When we return to Okstorm, you will see that the King will completely forget this matter and we will have plenty of time to gather other warriors and come back here... I'm sure the great mission you're talking about can wait any longer, brother" Gridd stated, who was now resigned to carrying out the orders head-on.

"It could take years to find all the Crystals of the elements! I'm already late, Gridd! Look! I'm 18 years old, I can't wait any longer if I want to lead all human beings to salvation! No one else knows about the prophecy, the book Kranus showed to me, Egill and Reidar has no copy! Do you know what that means?"

"Yes, it means that no one else, not even someone who lives on another planet can know what is written on it... of course I understood what you mean, you think I'm stupid?!" Gridd said, getting away from her brother's chest, stepping back and looking him in the eye again.

"And if no one knows the prophecy, it means that it is up to me to spread this message. No one but me is worthy on this planet to manage such great power, that of the Crystal of Fire!" 

"Crystal of Fire? What is he talking about?"

"I've never heard them talk about anything like that... the Warchief must have discovered something interesting." 

"He also spoke of a prophecy and of Kranus... do you think they have a secret arrangement?" 

As Dag argued animatedly with his sister, his ears bent slightly toward the group of warriors who were still listening to him, just under the staircase.

His developed instincts allowed him to hear all that those men had said, not being aware of the real reason behind his agitation.

Before he could continue to speak, something caught their attention: from outside the palace, the loud sound of a war horn echoed within the walls of the Fort, drawing all those present in the outer courtyard.

Dag and the others went out and noted with regret that all the Masters and Allied Warriors were behind King Einar, ready to go.

Everyone except Egill, who had been alone in front of the palace door, waiting for Dag and his friends.

"So? Where is your luggage? We can't lose all day, we have to leave before the sun sets!" the royal guard yelled, approaching Dag with menacing intent.

"Come on guys, go get your stuff... when you will be done I will go up to check that I have not forgotten anything" Dag said, addressing his companions and almost ignoring the guard's words, that noticed his interlocutor's disinterest.

Just then, Thalos, seeing the menacing-looking man approach his master, come between the two of them, growling against the guard.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing, mutt! Get out, get away! Lurid beast, disappear from my sight!" the guard yelled, masking his fear with the unscrupulous use of profanity against Thalos, who continued to growl undaunted.

"I strongly suggest you not to get closer... Thalos hates it when strangers invade his territory and I don't know if I'd be able to hold him back" Dag said, smiling mischievously and exploiting the man's fear to his advantage, making fun of him.