Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 140: No Opposition ()

"If my fate is to be decided by you all gathered here, may I speak at the least?" Neveah interrupted.

The deliberations had begun again, the dragon lords and riders still believed handing Neveah to Menarx to be interrogated was the best course of action.

There were even those who believed Neveah should be executed without a trial, though they were careful in stating their opinion since Xenon’s fierce eyes were already narrowed into a deadly glare.

The deliberations had not been going on for too long when Neveah interrupted and now all eyes in the hall were again fixed on her.

"What have you to say?" Lord Kirgan asked.

"I stand accused of taking away the molt scales securely stored in Lord Everon’s study and my supposed motive for this...is to place a rider I have never met in an unfortunate position."

"I do not intend to argue the wisdom behind this conclusion, however if I am to take away that motive, I believe this council will have some difficulty conjuring up others." Neveah said in a blank tone.

"I shall make the deliberations much easier. The Lady Kaliana... I will save her life and if I fail, you can just kill me then." Neveah finished.

"Whatever makes you think I would let you anywhere near my Kalia?!" Lord Imagor snarled, his eyes glowing and scales lining the side of his neck.

Neveah fixed the raging dragon with a blank look, as much as she wished she could be displeased by him,

Neveah understood clearly that given his rider’s condition...no one could expect calm and understanding from Lord Imagor.

Before this time, Lord Imagor had never been impolite to Neveah or caused her any trouble, it meant he held no personal hatred for her, he only feared for the fate of his rider.

"My survival is dependent on your Kalia and your child, My Lord. I do not think there is anyone who wants to save them as much as I." Neveah replied honestly.

Lord Imagor was clearly taken aback by Neveah’s words and the honesty in her tone but he quickly covered it up.

"And why should this council trust you? Why should I trust you?" Lord Imagor demanded in a dangerously calm tone.

"I do..." A voice interrupted in a low drawl.

Neveah did not need to look to know Xenon had spoken his first words to the council and again they were left in shock.

Neveah’s gaze moved back to Xenon who rose from his position that was only a step down from the throne upon which the dragon King himself sat.

His black robes trailed behind him as he walked over to Neveah with slow yet purposeful steps.

Xenon stopped a short distance away from Neveah and turned, pulling out a dagger from his belt much to Neveah’s horror.

"Xenon... what..." Neveah began to ask in concern, however the words died on her tongue,

Before Neveah’s eyes and the eyes of everyone else in the council, Xenon lifted the dagger and slashed his palm deeply, drawing blood.

"Trust her... I do..." Xenon said finally, the words coming out with much difficulty.

Neveah’s eyes widened as Xenon stored away the dagger while his right hand bled freely, the blood pooling at his feet.

"By ancient law, if a dragon lord is willing to spill his blood, the council is duty bound to honor his blood vow," Menarx’s voice rang out loud and clear, breaking the deathly silence in the hall.

"Xenon vouches for his attendant with his own blood, I will place my faith in his vow." Menarx declared with no hesitation.

The other dragon lords did not speak or counter Menarx’s words, instead they waited to see the decision of the rest of the King’s guard.

While everyone awaited another dragon lord of the King’s guard to speak, someone of much greater consequence spoke instead.

"For Xenon’s blood...No opposition is allowed." King Jian who had been quiet since Xenon walked in finally spoke in his cold, yet domineering tone.

"If the attendant fails in her promise, she will not only be killed but Xenon will also be punished by dragon law." King Jian decided as he rose to his feet to take his leave.

"Wait! You can’t be serious! Xenon has nothing to do with this!" Neveah exclaimed in disagreement, her words stopping King Jian.

"By his own choice... he does now." King Jian replied, passing a glance to Xenon who maintained an unfazed expression.

"Xenon, you..." Neveah began to protest to Xenon but a look from him silenced her completely.

"Good girl..." Xenon commended in his lazy drawl,

"I will take you to Lady Kaliana." Menarx said to Neveah.

Neveah pursed her lips, staring at Xenon, there were many things she wanted to say, she dearly wanted to reprimand him for not staying put,

But she could not bring herself to say anything, Xenon nodded his permission for Neveah to leave and again she complied without question.

Menarx led the way out and Neveah followed behind him, they walked down the hall quietly till they arrived at the ascending room.

"Why did you bring him?" Neveah broke the silence the moment they stepped into the ascending room.

King Jian had already let it slip that the one who employed Xenon’s aid on both occasions was Menarx and Neveah wanted to know why.

"Bring... I may be of the King’s guard, but even I cannot ’bring’ Xenon by my own will." Menarx replied.

Neveah knew she could not argue with Menarx’s words, if Xenon did not want to come himself, no one could enforce it on him.

"All I did was stop him...from chosing battle and provide him a solution that would protect you and he both." Menarx continued.

"What if he gets hurt? Do you not worry he will be hurt to save me?" Neveah asked.

Despite the cold tension between Xenon and the rest of the King’s guard, Neveah could see how much they all cared for one another.

Their brotherhood ran much deeper than blood ties, it was aparrent in how they always thought for the others safety even without realizing it.

"I am here...no one is getting hurt." Menarx assured.

"You still have not answered my question... ’why’?" Neveah asked again.

"You asked me not to get involved... this is the best way I can honor your request." Menarx added in an accusing tone.

Neveah did feel a slight sense of guilt at Menarx’s accusations, there were so few of the dragon lords who actually cared if Neveah lived or died and the few that did, Neveah dismissed their concerns instead.

Such concerns, Neveah had slowly begun to realize they were genuine but even so, it only terrified her more.

"Do you not understand why I do not want you involved?" Neveah asked with a sigh.

To be the one who turned the brothers against each other, it was the last thing Neveah wanted.

She had tasted the pain and horror of a broken family because she had been born into one, she would never destroy such a beautiful bond as was shared between the King’s guard.

"I do understand, but it is not your place to determine what it would cost us to save your life... Veah."

"You only need to live, because if you don’t... the cost will be much greater. So do not ask me not to get involved... I certainly will." Menarx reluctantly admitted.

Menarx’s words were strange to Neveah, strange because she had never expected anyone would be more eager to save her own life than she herself was.

She also had not expected that person would be Menarx, the ever scowling and cold ruby scaled dragon.

"Greater costs... since when did my life become so precious?" Neveah thought to herself but she did not respond to Menarx’s words.

"This dragon, he is being sincere..." Neveah’s wolf thought to her.

"I know..." Neveah thought back to her wolf.

________________

Of the two highest levels that were off limits to all except the King’s guard, the highest level was King Jian’s alone whilst the second highest level was residence to the King’s guard.

Neveah had never thought she would find herself on the second highest level at any point during her stay in the dragon keep, but there she was.

With Menarx’s guidance, Neveah now stood right outside the quarters of Lord Imagor of argentine scales and from within, her sensitive ears picked up the sound of pained and slow breathing.

The door came open and Lord Everon stood on the other side, staring between Neveah and Menarx.

"I have heard of the council...you believe you can provide a solution where I have been unable to?" Lord Everon asked Neveah directly.

"I do." Neveah replied.

"Give me a reason to entrust my patient to your care." Lord Everon contended.

"I have to save her... because I have no other choice. Her life is equivalent to mine... I cannot afford to fail." Neveah asserted in a firm tone.