“Respectable sirs, the gods want me to give you these reasons, and prepare your magnificent clan for future prosperity...” Sage was interrupted.
“You’re full of shit!” someone shouted.
“We need to wrap it up, before a fight breaks out.” Alina leaned toward me.
“Get him out of here!” another knight shouted.
“The gods don’t care about any of us. They surely didn’t talk to you, you ol’ drunk!”
Multiple voices joined in, and a half eaten apple flew dangerously close to Sage’s face.
Sage hurried to climb onto the platform.
“Tough crowd. I delayed as much as I could,” he muttered.
“You did great. Thank you.” Alina praised him and that was enough for him.
“Of course, milady.” Sage moved down the platform and stood off to the side.
From the corner of my eye I saw movement. Alina’s maid climbed the stairs to stand behind her chair. The girl looked much better compared to when I last saw her. She may never know just how lucky she was that the group I sent to get temple water had returned earlier in the morning. Without it, she would have died.
“May?” Alina turned toward the girl.
“Milady. I apologise, I couldn’t attend to you earlier.”
“Are you feeling alright? Shouldn’t you be resting?” Alina’s eyes were warm and full of concern.
That was why she was so universally loved and respected. She did not wear any masks. She genuinely cared about people, shared in their concerns, listened to them, understood them.
“Milady, if it’s alright with you, may I stay? I have never seen the ascension of a new clan leader.”
Alina glanced at me. “I’d rather you take care of your health,” she said.
“I feel so much better, milady, thank you. But, if you permit, I would stay only for a few minutes.” May responded.
“I suppose there’s no harm in that,” Alina agreed.
I raised my hand, and slowly the entire room calmed down. All eyes shifted to Alina and me.
“People of Alsaard, we are here to determine the future of your clan.” I raised my voice.
Just as I anticipated, the people were not happy. For them, I was an imposter from the clan of traitors, a murderer, a nobody.
At that moment, I caught a glimpse of Augusta. She was looking down at her hands. She was pale and visibly nervous. That was not a good sign.
Would she be able to handle her own clan? Dozens of power hungry men would want to take her position. Did she know what she was getting into?
I found Denis in the crowd and gave him a sign. All at once, the black clan warriors dispersed around the room. I may not have the delicate touch needed for politics and court affairs, but I knew how to control a crowd. Almost immediately the balance in the room shifted. Just the mere presence of my heavily armed black warriors cooled the tempers of the white knights.
“Your clan leader challenged me for my title. Fate has spoken. I took his life. Alsaard and every neighboring free town is under my rightful control.”
A wave of displeasure rolled through the crowd. My muscles tensed, I could feel the wild energy building in the air.
“I have decided to delegate the day-to-day business of the clan to the next of kin of the same bloodline.”
“And who would that be?” One of the knights raised his voice.
I glanced at Denis who immediately moved toward him.
