Chapter 16: As The Dust Settles (Revised)

The King’s emergency conference was held inside of the palace in a room secured underground.

"Your majesty!" A small crowd of nobles and military figures all spoke at once, kneeling in unison.

"Rise, and take a seat." King Windsor raised his hand and spoke.

He sat at the head of a long conference table. Each of the guests took seats on both sides of the table. A few guests took noticeably longer to sit down, the reason could be gleaned from the bandages wrapped around them tightly. One of those guests was General Holchester, who looked incredibly sickly.

King Windsor wasn’t blind enough to not notice General Holchester's condition.

"General, just what happened at the Military Center?" King Windsor asked, feeling a bad premonition.

"Your majesty, After an inquiry into the actions of former Captain Avery Thynne, she made several treasonous statements, after attempting to execute her, she used a pendant to call for help...her mother, Casey Thynne, entered the building and after a brief conversation she attacked. I could barely keep up with her attacks, even while she was holding back. At some point, she offered to spare everyone in the building if I could take on one attack of hers. Unfortunately, to defend from the attack I had to use my lifeforce." The General said solemnly.

The nobles stirred nervously, the General had a S+ combat rating, his lifeforce being weakened would dramatically affect his combat prowess. The Military figures who witnessed the battle had ashamed expressions, they couldn't even protect their General, who was integral to the Kingdom.

"I see..." King Windsor had a grim expression, although the news of the General using his lifeforce was important, it wasn't as bad as the information in the Hall of Records.

"I'm sure all of you noticed the traces of battle inside my Hall. While the military center was attacked by Casey Thynne, my own hall was attacked by Lauren Thynne, the current matriarch of the Thynne Family..." King Windsor spoke as he surveyed the conference room.

"Ah!" Several nobles couldn't help but gasp. Some of them recalled Lauren Thynne being the matriarch in the time of their grandfathers and assumed she had long since been dead. The lack of information coming from the Thynne’s didn’t help either.

"Dozens of my personal guards were killed without putting up a real fight. Based on what General Holchester said and what I've learned recently, I'm willing to guess, Lauren Thynne held back dramatically." King Windsor continued.

"I've received some even more startling information. The women of the Thynne family have the blood Valkyries running through their veins. I'll assume none of you know what Valkyries are so I'll tell you what I've learned. My ancestor, King Windsor VI knew Lauren Thynne personally."

It took those participating in the conference immense self-control not to loudly exclaim. Everyone couldn’t help but wonder how long she had been alive. A few even had covetous thoughts of aligning themselves with the Thynne’s just to get the chance to receive a small portion of such a power.

"I know what you all are thinking, but wait until I'm finished to speak." King Windsor spoke seriously before continuing.

"I will start by telling you all the characteristics of Valkyries based on my Ancestor's own experience. Valkyries are a race of winged females, they are extraordinarily talented in all aspects of combat, and even have amazing talents in magic. Some of them were said to be able to revive the recently deceased. On top of that, they are immune to aging but they are not invincible. Lauren Thynne admitted to my ancestor that her mother, Kara Thynne, went off to die in battle, possibly obtaining a level higher than absolute.

King Windsor VI made a personal account of his encounter with Lauren Thynne and after he received her permission to keep in the Hall of Records he titled it 'Kingdom's Blessing', her only stipulation in recording their meeting was that it would have to be hidden.

Lauren Thynne visited Windsor VI to inform him of an oath Kara took...It turns out, Lauren's father was a human from this kingdom, so her mother took an oath to protect this Kingdom as long as we didn't raise our swords at her or her family. Lauren also took this oath as she married someone from this Kingdom, her daughters, and even their daughters also took this oath. Even though they agreed to protect this Kingdom, they would never become tools of this Kingdom, or allow us to move as we pleased knowing we had a guaranteed protector. Since the creation of this Kingdom, the Valkyries have been working in secret, eliminating threats all across the continent...Until now..." As King Windsor finished taking, the participants in the conference had expressions that worsened.

"Your majesty, does that mean the reason the Diavol and the Dark Elves haven't moved against us is due to the Valkyries?" Wesley Fairfax who was also present spoke up. His arm was bandaged up and his hair was disheveled, the King called the conference soon after Casey attacked the Military center so he didn't have time to fix his appearance.

"The dark elves also have very long life spans, so it's safe to assume they could know of the Valkyries, the Diavol live slightly longer than humans so they won't remember directly, but it could be that they have records of the Valkyries." King Windsor responded as he contemplated.

The mood in the room couldn't get any worse, although some still held notions that they would be alright without the assistance of Valkyries, deep down they knew just how bad things could get.

"Does anyone have any solutions?" King Windsor asked as he looked around everyone had one thing in common, a completely hopeless expression.

"Your majesty, maybe we should take some of the males of the Thynne family and hold them as collateral, we can then force the Thynne family out of the Kingdom." A thin noble, with a weasel-like appearance, spoke up.

"When Lauren Thynne visited me, it wasn't just to tell me the oath was broken. I'm sure any one of her daughters could have done it instead. Her presence itself was a message, and do you know what that message was?" King Windsor asked in a stern tone.

"I-I don't have any idea-" The weasel like noble knew the King was upset and responded meekly.

"Lauren Thynne came personally, not because she is obligated to...Not because she is her family's Matriarch...but simply because she can. Before Lauren Thynne left my hall, she used a skill that made her presence disappear, that should tell everyone one thing...If she decided so, she can come and go as she pleases and none of us can stop her!" King Windsor berated the Weasel like noble and realized just how hopeless they were.

"Any more solutions?" King Windsor asked with frustration.

"Your majesty, We could try to apologize and maintain a good relationship with the Thynne family." Minister Rubin suddenly said.

"Hmm, We will do that as soon as possible."

King Windsor nodded in agreement.

"Any other suggestions?"King Windsor waited but no one else came forth.

"Send word to lift entrance restrictions, collect the debris from the military center for study, and start repairs. In regards to the newspaper outlets...Tell them it's classified information and although leaks are probable, prevent them for as long as possible. Dismissed." King Windsor ordered.

"By your orders my King." Everyone responded in unison.

The conference ended on a lethargic tone.

..............

At one of the Capital's gates, the order was finally received to lift restrictions on the gate.

"Everyone enter in an orderly fashion, have the gate fees prepared before you line up." The Gate Guards collected the fees and finally let everyone in.

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"Grab Ira and let's go," Lance ordered everyone.

Although the civilians wanted to immediately depart there was still a process they had to go through or they might be punished. They would be asked to give a statement about their situations and have their identities confirmed and after that, they would be free to go.The Slaver was scared beyond belief, he wanted to believe his employer would rescue him but it seemed doubtful. He was in good health, with the exclusion of his current situation, he was exactly the type of criminal that would be fought over fiercely in an auction.

"Damn it..." The slaver cursed in a shaky voice. If he wasn't bound in rope he would've run away one hundred times over before they arrived.

Lance and his party took Ira to the closest clinic, at each entrance into the Capital there was a small clinic built, it worked more efficiently to save lives. A male healer came out to meet them, he was an old man with grey hair, who wore glasses, which gave him a studious temperament.

"What's wrong with him." Instead of greeting them, the healer went directly to Ira, he noticed the slaver was hurt but could see he was bound in rope.

"He's been cursed." Gerald response first.

Sarah, Valerie, and Zella nodded their heads with worry. The healer held his hands on Ira's head, even though it was dangerous as there were some curses which could move from person to person, luckily Ira didn't have any of them. The healer's expression changed rapidly to surprise and shock.

"H-How is he still alive?!" The Healer asked.

"I don't know what you-" Lance was confused by what the healer meant.

"Not only is it a chain curse, but these are advance curses. His internal organs are deteriorating and something is causing an infection. Right now his body is regenerating at an extremely fast speed but it can't stop the curse. That’s not even the shocking part, his body isn’t able to utilize mana to resist the curse." The healer looked at Ira in amazement, his regeneration was amazing, but his inability to use mana was peculiar.

"Sir." Lance interrupted the Healer's train of thought.

"Ah! Yes, you have to take him to the temple." The healer ran to get a piece of paper, stamped it with a personal seal, and rolled it up.

"My name is Baret, tell them I sent you and give them this." Baret placed the rolled paper into Lance's hands and urged them out.

"Gerald you take Ira to the temple with this, we'll take these civilians to the Mercenaries Union," Lance said as he handed the paper to Gerald, who nodded in response.

"Meet us at the Union building when you're done," Lance said before he turned and led everyone away.

Gerald tied Ira to his back and began moving quickly towards the temple.

........

Under a familiar white pagoda, Casey and Avery sat waiting for Lauren. By now Casey changed out of her armor and was wearing a backless black dress and sandals. Avery who was rarely seen without her military uniform was now without it, instead, she wore a black jacket made from cotton, a white button-up shirt, tan pants, a brown leather scabbard, holding her saber, across her waist and matching brown leather, military style boots.

As they drank tea, a woman in a black dress similar to Casey's approached them.

"Grandmother." "Mother." Avery and Casey both greeted Lauren as she appeared.

Lauren nodded in return and as she sat down a maid ran over to fill her cup with tea. She took a sip before she began talking.

"Avery, it's a pity you can't get any more experience from the military, but what you’ve learned until now should suffice, am I correct?" Lauren said as she smiled at her granddaughter.

"Yes, Grandmother" Avery nodded.

"That boy you spoke of should be back by now right?" Casey asked Avery.

"Someone from the Mercenaries Union will send word when he comes back, Mother," Avery responded.

"Send word for everyone not to leave the Capital. In two weeks call everyone back to the manor." Lauren ordered with a determined look in her eye, she had something planned for especially for Ira.

"It will be done, mother." Casey said as she noticed the change.

"Avery, take care. The upcoming days will be hard on you but it'll help you advance." Lauren said as she rose up.

"Yes, Grandmother." Avery bowed her head slightly.

Lauren turned around and made her wings appear, she extended them and flew away back towards the mountain.

"Once you find the boy, give Aldis a visit and catch him up on everything," Casey said as she extended her wings.

"Of course, mother," Avery responded.

Casey nodded and flew away towards the mountain in the distance.

Avery finally stood up and sighed as she rotated her shoulders. She looked off in the direction of the Capital and wondered where Ira might be.

.......................

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