Maena watched the servants move around, preparing for Lorryll's departure.
"And what did the patriarch say about it?" Maena enquired.
"What would he say? Lorryll is a big man now, and he can do whatever he wants."
Maena nodded, looking at Elowen, noticing how her expression changed.
Jolthar walked with steady strides, the drake at his side.
The creature, once a berserk, unmanageable force, now followed him without hesitation. Its heavy claws scraped against the ground, but its usual aggressive energy had been subdued.
Jolthar whispered softly to it, his voice calm and steady, using the subtle connection he'd forged with the beast in their brief moments together.
"Stay here, in the pit," he murmured. "I'll come back soon. You'll be safe."
The drake let out a low, rumbling growl, its enormous head nodding in apparent understanding.
Jolthar patted the beast gently on its thick neck, feeling the warmth of its scales under his fingers.
The pit workers, who had been watching from a distance, stood in stunned silence. They had never seen the drake, a creature known for its fiery temperament, act with such docility. It was as if it recognized Jolthar as its true master, an unexpected turn of events that left the workers murmuring amongst themselves.
Jolthar turned and walked away from the pit, his thoughts shifting towards the task that lay ahead. Follow current novels on novel⁂fire.net
When he arrived at Lady Elowen's office, the room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of papers.
Elowen was seated at a large oak desk, her eyes scanning over reports and correspondence with her usual poise. As Jolthar entered, she didn't look up immediately but instead turned the parchment in her hands to get a better view of the contents.
Maena had already told her about their mission.
"Jolthar," Maena said, her tone calm but carrying an air of finality. "I trust the drake is secured?"
"Yes, my lady. It is in the pit," Jolthar replied, his voice steady.
She nodded and finally raised her gaze to meet his.
"I heard you have been very helpful in making the mission a success, and top of that, we got our hands on the barony. Good work," she praised him.
"Maena," Elowen began, turning towards her. "You will handle the barony moving forward. I trust you have the experience to manage the situation there. But be cautious with the mines. They are more than just a simple resource—they are a treasure trove."
Maena's gaze darkened, though she kept her composure. "Understood. I'll see to it personally. The mines will not slip through our fingers."
After having a little talk with him, Elowen told Jolthar to leave.
Then he left the room.
Jolthar walked through the dimly lit corridors of the estate, his thoughts heavy with disappointment. The weight of the recent mission and its outcome hung on him. He had risked much and hoped that his efforts might grant him something more substantial—perhaps the barony itself. But that hope now seemed naive. The way they had dismissed the value of his contribution stung more than he cared to admit.
The clan had a lot of regions under it, and he thought maybe they would let go of this one region.
As he replayed the conversation in his mind, he realized he might have overestimated his standing within the clan. Perhaps they still saw him as the "nobody" Lorryll had so cruelly labeled him. Or perhaps they simply weren't ready to offer him a prize as significant as the barony.
Regardless, the disappointment gnawed at him, a bitter reminder of his tenuous place within the Kaezhlar hierarchy.
Earlier in the room, as Jolthar stood silent, masking his emotions, Lady Elowen had turned her calculating gaze towards him. Her voice, as always, was composed but carried an undertone of authority that allowed no dissent.
"So, Jolthar," she said, her words measured, "as you have played a major role in the mission—and as the drake already seems to have taken a liking to you—it's yours now. Consider it your reward."
The room fell silent for a moment, save for the faint scratching of quills on parchment. Maena glanced briefly at Jolthar, gauging his reaction, though her face betrayed no clear emotion.
Jolthar inclined his head respectfully, muttering a quiet, "Thank you, my lady," before leaving the room.
Inside, however, he sighed deeply. A drake—while undoubtedly a valuable and formidable gift—was far from what he had envisioned as his reward.
As he exited, he thought to himself, "The barony may have been too much to hope for...but the drake? It seems they're content to placate me with a beast, no matter how grand. If I want more, I'll have to carve out my own path."
For now, Jolthar resolved to make do. The drake might yet prove useful in his plans, though it was a far cry from the lands and title he had dreamed of.
Once Jolthar had left, Lady Elowen remained seated, her hands folded neatly on the desk. Her gaze lingered on the closed door for a moment before she turned to Maena.
"What do you make of this boy?" Elowen asked, her tone neutral, though her words carried a hint of curiosity.
Maena leaned back slightly, her arms crossing as she considered her response. "He's...not like the rest," she said after a pause. "There's a focus in him that's rare among his peers. He's calculated, determined, and bold enough to stand against the Blue Rose. I'll admit, I was surprised when he did. Few would've dared."
Elowen's expression didn't change, but her next words were laced with suspicion. "Do you think he resents the clan for ignoring him all these years? Perhaps he's come back seeking revenge—or worse, power."
The question hung in the air, and Maena's brow furrowed slightly.
After a moment, she shook her head. "I don't know for sure. But we can't ignore the fact that he lost his mother young and was cast aside for so long. It was... unwise of us to treat him as we did. Children do not forget such things easily."
Elowen's face remained stoic, her eyes betraying no hint of agreement or dissent. Instead, she stayed silent, her gaze returning to the maps on her desk.
Maena stood, her expression resolute. "Even if he remembers, I'm confident he's loyal to the clan now. He's shown nothing but dedication. But I'll keep a close watch on him to ensure that doesn't change. I won't let him turn against us."
Elowen nodded faintly, her lips pressing into a thin line. "See that you do," she said simply.
Maena gave a short bow and left the room, her mind already turning to the challenges ahead.