Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 383: Petition ()

"Is that an order? Or a request?" Kaideon asked, not at all moved by Jian’s words.

"Need you be so particular about it?" Menarx asked helplessly.

"I would then know if to be polite about my refusal or direct." Kaideon replied Menarx with a glare for his interruption.

"Kaideon, with all due respect, I am willing to honor you as Neveah’s father...but if you insist on taking her away, you will find me very difficult to deal with." Menarx made his stance clear.

It was an obvious struggle for Menarx to maintain his calm in light of Kaideon’s firm insistence.

"When have you not been?" Kaideon deadpanned, not at all concerned about Menarx’s agitation.

"I liked you better when you didn’t speak." Menarx grumbled beneath his breath.

"There there, can we lower the agitation just a little?" Jian interrupted before the two could continue.

"How much longer do you intend to aggravate him? You already know Menarx will protect what he has laid claim to. Toying with him like this is a little unfair, is it not?" Jian called out Kaideon.

Kaideon grunted beneath his breath but did not confirm or deny Jian’s accusation.

"How about we let the girl decide when she wakes up if she would rather go with either of you? That way it’s fair to both sides and I do not have to be looped into this." Jian offered the most feasible suggestion.

"My Liege." Cassian’s voice sounded just as he pushed open the door to Jian’s quarters and walked over to the study where Jian, Kaideon and Menarx still stood.

Kaideon was yet to agree or disagree with Jian’s reasoning and neither Menarx nor Jian wanted to hear another indirect jab from the Dune Lord.

"Cassian, there you are. Tell me Imagor has returned to Keep grounds." Jian said, grateful for the interruption that saved him from having to speak anymore on the matter.

"Imagor and Kirgan will be here soon. Lodenworth also sends in a report from the Dwarven outpost," Cassian reported, placing the scroll down on the table.

"But before that, I think My Liege would want to hear this..." Cassian added, trailing off.

"Hear what?" Menarx asked when Cassian did not complete his statement.

"Just wait for it." Cassian replied.

Exactly at that moment, the loud sound of a drum beat echoed across the quiet keep, it sounded distant, but close enough that the dragon lords heard it clearly.

The drum produced a unique beat, one that the dragon lords recognized well enough and while the sound of this drum beat was not cause for alarm, it was not a sound that was heard all too often.

"Is that..." Menarx began and Cassian nodded in confirmation.

"It’s the petition drum to summon the rider’s council." Cassian replied.

Menarx shook his head slightly, crossing his arms over his chest.

The petition drum was provided to allow for the citizens of the citadel to make urgent reports to the council when the routine process of submitting a report proves too slow for the matter at hand.

It also requested for convening the rider council which was the highest decision making body in the stronghold, directly implying that the matter to be reported could not be decided by the dragon king alone.

Which meant whatever was to be reported had to be a matter of great consequence that was worthy of the attention of the highest ranked dragon lords and riders in Keep Skies.

It was not a privilege anyone dared misuse and the citizens knew better than to beat the drum for sport.

The dragons heralded a near excellent rule, of course every dynasty did have it’s fault but there was hardly ever a reason for any citizen to request for the rider’s council to be convened. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

This was why this petition drum had not sounded in a very long time.

"Who would wish to summon the council at this time? That is a rather daring move." Kaideon said with a frown.

"That is where it becomes strange, it is not a common citizen unknown to us. It is Davina, Rodrick’s daughter" Cassian reported.

Jian raised a brow, exchanging a look with Menarx.

"What would she have to report that could not be sent through her father and required a ruckus instead?" Menarx asked.

"I wonder the same. The girl is in charge of keep attendants, is she not? Rodrick is her direct superior seeing as he handles all keep affairs." Cassian agreed.

"She has no business going anywhere near the petition drum, if she has done so, she must have her reasons." Jian murmured.

"There is more to it, she’s not alone." Cassian added.

"What do you mean she’s not alone?" Menarx asked.

"Representatives from the elven council approach the keep, they have sent word ahead that they will be here by sun down and they request the audience of the council." Cassian revealed in a grim tone.

"Elves? Whatever for? They tend to stay detached from all affairs of the stronghold, what could possibly bring them here?" Menarx asked, his brows furrowed into a frown.

"It is said Davina beats the petition drum with their backing, I cannot say for certain what this is about but the elves being involved and Davina too...it already says a lot." Cassian relayed.

"Convene the rider councilor, and where is Rodrick in the first place?" Jian asked.

"He went down to enquire from Davina, he is just as clueless in the matter as we are." Cassian replied.

Jian’s brows furrowed in suspicion. The elves were the most reserved of the tributary races and rarely ever left their territory.

Jian accorded them the respect they deserved and stayed out of their affairs too, this was how it had been for decades.

Except a few encounters here or there, Jian did not have to deal with the elves all that often.

For the elves to show themselves at this time, Jian could tell the days to come would be increasingly troublesome.