Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 474: Overheard ()
Neveah stirred her horse to a stop right outside the castle gates, nodding towards the guard at the gate who hurried over to take the reins.
"Top of the morning, My Lady." The guard greeted with a small bow as Neveah handed over the reins.
"Morning Caleb." Neveah returned the greeting while retrieving a sword box attached to the saddle of the horse.
"I will have someone take that." The guard, Caleb offered, noticing the sword box was more heavy than it looked.
Neveah shook her head slightly, strapping the sword box over her shoulder.
"You know me Caleb, I’m a big girl... I can handle my personal effect." Neveah replied fondly.
It was a reminder Neveah had presented hundreds of times to hundreds of people but she had quickly come to realise that here in the Dunes, the daughter of the beloved Dune Lord was a treasure to all.
"Of course, My Lady. To the stables?" Caleb asked for instructions on Neveah’s horse.
"Keep it ready, I will return to the barracks within the hour." Neveah said.
"Another week away from castle grounds? The Dune Lord will be sad." Caleb teased.
"Father leads flight patrol every other week and you do not see me whining, I think we’re even." Neveah said with a shrug.
"Whining." Caleb commented with a chuckle.
"Do not tell him I said that. Between me and you, yes?" Neveah asked, patting Caleb on the shoulder before hurrying away.
Neveah walked briskly down the path, taking the shortest way through the courtyard to the castle doors.
Outside the castle doors, Tara already awaited Neveah, pacing about anxiously.
Neveah sucked in a breath knowing she was in for an earful, though that was the least of her concerns at this moment.
Tara sighted Neveah at the same moment and hurried over to meet her.
"Veah! There you are! Breakfast was a decade ago... " Tara began her lecture but was interrupted by Neveah.
"Tara, you can run me through later." Neveah said, walking right past Tara.
"Veah...did something happen?" Tara’s tone had changed to one of concern, having taken notice of Neveah’s expression.
"Where is my father?" Neveah asked without giving a response to Tara’s question.
"That bad?" Tara asked, now keeping pace with Neveah.
"The Dune Lord should be at his study, a few Dune enforcers were to make their reports on the flight patrol." Tara relayed to Neveah.
"Woah there, girls. Who might have caused such grave offence?" Coran’s familiar voice called to Neveah as he turned the corner and caught Neveah and Tara storming down the hallway.
"Uncle Coran, you will want to hear this." Neveah said immediately, gesturing for Coran to follow along.
Coran frowned slightly but nodded and the three made their way up to Kaideon’s study.
In her haste, Neveah placed aside the thought to knock and pushed open the door instead, leading the way in, right into the midst of a meeting that was already underway.
However, Neveah froze in place right by the door as a name was mentioned, before her presence could even be noticed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"The parchment has Lord Menarx’s seal stamped on it." A voice Neveah recognised to be Lord Orin said.
"He is quite daring, sending us such an item after all that happened." Rodvan grunted beneath his breath in annoyance.
"There now, Lord Menarx is King’s guard, you will accord him the respect he deserves. Propriety demands all fortresses be served the parchment,"
"I will not condone anyone making anymore of this than it should be...my daughter is at peace now and it will remain that way or so help me." Kaideon warned.
"So to say, Our Liege wants us to monitor the Fae soldiers on this side of the stronghold and report at the slightest suspicion?" Lord Orin changed the topic.
"Indeed. I fear the situation with the Fae will only escalate from here onward... especially with Lord Menarx and his Lady Adrienne on the front lines of this, we will have to be ready." Rodvan said.
"With the Fae, it has been long coming. They have been revealed to be involved in trade of magical ability and a host of other unclean deeds... even having dealings with the dwarves. They have broken every law there ever was."
"All of this would have been swept right under the rug if Lady Adrienne of Ruby Scales did not step up. She even got the testimony that the Ixora poison was planted by the Fae to harm Veah and had them take the fall for it."
"Turning her back on her own kind is an act of unmatched bravery, the entire stronghold is singing her praises."
"She provided us the upper hand on this one, her loyalty to the dragon dynasty has been proven beyond doubt...Our Liege has also approved the third merging, as much as she is an unforgivable existence, she has earned it." Orin said with a sigh.
"This is really happening, then? They are riding... flying off into the sunset like the fairy conquering heroes everyone sees them to be?" Rodvan asked in disbelief.
"Clearly... and it already happened a year ago." Orin replied with a scoff.
"I would appreciate it if we all focused on the topic of the meeting and refrain from discussing my daughter’s personal affairs. Would that be too hard of an ask?" Kaideon asked, his tone now cold.
"Right. My apologies." Rodvan conceded.
"Coran, are you just going to keep standing by the door?" Orin called out.
It was only then Neveah stepped forward, Coran and Tara trailing behind her, both silent.
Most of the Dune enforcers were present as Tara had said, with the exception of Garron and one other who was out on flight patrol.
All eyes moved to settle on Neveah and her company who had just interrupted the meeting and a warm smile settled on Kaideon’s lips to see it was Neveah.
Everyone else were clearly at a loss if to look guilty or otherwise. They all knew clearly that Neveah had heard it all.
"Father." Neveah greeted, lowering her head to a small bow.
"Veah...there you are. Come on in, your report is due and there are some matters Rodvan wishes for you to see to in person, but first...tell me you did not skip breakfast." Kaideon said, beckoning Neveah to his side.
"I did...skip breakfast. I have an urgent report that I needed to present in person... And you’re not going to like this." Neveah begun, glancing around the room for a moment.
