Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 615: Cracks ()

Menarx gently laid Neveah down on Estelle’s bed, stepping back so Estelle could pull the covers over her.

"Veah..." Estelle said worriedly, clutching Neveah’s hand.

"Why is she so cold? Her skin is so cold..." Estelle fretted.

"A side effect of the pill, we only use that dose for extreme situations... much like this one, but she will be fine once its effect fades." Everon assured from where he stood.

Menarx’s gaze lingered on Neveah for a moment before he turned to fix his dark gaze on Everon, Tara and Dante.

"I had the opinion that you all know better than to agitate her!" Menarx snarled.

"Tell that to Mycroft." Everon muttered in displeasure.

Dante lowered his head in guilt since it was his father in question.

Menarx sucked in a deep breath, running a hand through his hair.

"Why is Neveah even here?! How could you allow her to leave Dune City?!" Menarx demanded.

"Allow? I do not think that is within my authority, cousin...or yours for that matter. Neveah is her own person, she does not need me telling her when to come and go." Everon replied blankly.

"That is not how I meant it. This is a delicate situation and you know that! Especially now..." Menarx hissed, sucking in a sharp breath.

"Lord Menarx, this was my fault... Neveah only agreed to come here to Scabbard because I had asked it of her." Dante admitted guiltily.

"I knew my father was displeased since the riots began but I had absolutely no idea he would go so far... I... forgive me." Dante said helplessly.

"This is not even about me being able to forgive you or not, Dante. I know you would not do anything to harm Neveah intentionally,"

"But do you know how wrong everything has just gone? Do you understand what Mycroft just did? He intentionally pushed for Demevirld to be revealed!" Menarx said darkly.

"What do you mean intentionally?" Everon asked with a raised brow.

"Did you not sense Mycroft was acting unlike himself? How do you think I knew to come here at this time?" Menarx asked, running a hand through his hair once again.

"Narx, I do not understand your meaning." Everon said uncertainly.

"After capturing a group of Fae spies operating within The Rudder, I met the Lord of The Rudder to discuss details to fortify against Fae spies disguised as humans."

"He confided in me that as rumors of Neveah’s acts at the barrier spread, the Lords of the Fortresses have come to an agreement to put Neveah to a test so they might know if the breaking had anything to do with her new found magic." Menarx revealed.

"What?! How did they even come to such a conclusion?!" Everon exclaimed in disbelief.

"There are too many rumors flying around, Ron. Too many for anyone to know what is true and what is not, like someone is spreading them on purpose... intentionally making everyone aware of Demevirld. And then with the contagion suddenly coming up and the whole Radiant One business..." Menarx trailed off.

"They believe the coincidences are much too related to Neveah, too many times to still be a coincidence." Everon completed.

"Does that mean they suspect Neveah’s magic caused the breaking and the contagion?" Tara asked in disbelief.

"Dragon lords are wiser than that. Much rather, the Great lords believe someone is purposely trying to draw Neveah out by all of these strange happenings..." Menarx explained.

"And they decided to get to her first." Menarx said quietly.

"It is difficult to fault them, in their duty to protect their fortresses, the contagion is a great concern... and with Neveah mixed up in it, they will not take kindly to it. Even if it happened just to draw her out... lives have been lost." Menarx said with a heavy sigh.

"So, Mycroft was delegated to carry out the test...to witness Neveah’s magic for themselves." Everon understood Menarx’s meaning.

"I made flight for Scabbard as soon as I heard... I was hoping to cut you off before you arrived, but I have come late." Menarx said.

"I cannot believe my father used me!" Dante hissed.

Menarx passed Dante a sympathetic look.

"Mycroft is first the Lord of Scabbard before he is your father, if he believes your judgement is clouded by your ties to Neveah, he naturally did what he believed right." Menarx said.

"Now what happens?" Tara asked in bafflement.

"Now, the problem is no longer if Neveah is directly or indirectly the reason the contagion happened... the problem is that Demevirld is a greater threat than the contagion and should the Great lords be told of this, they will demand Neveah be... restrained."

"If only Xenon was here, he has greater influence over the Great Lords, especially the stubborn lords of Fort inferno, Knight’s Den and Kezrar Dun... those three are difficult men, if they catch wind of this..." Menarx trailed off.

"Then we cannot let my father tell of what he has witnessed today." Dante said quickly.

"Lord Mycroft is not an easy man either, he owes honesty to the Great Lords. And the King’s guard cannot issue a royal decree while our Liege is living..."

"It will be a disregard of Jian’s supreme authority, and if we must, it can only take effect with the blessings of at least four out of our five...there are just three of us on this side of the stronghold." Menarx said to Dante.

"How about the authority of the King’s guard? It is second only to the royal authority. You can order my father not to speak of this." Dante reasoned.

"We dragons do not disrespect one another in that manner, Dante. Lord Mycroft is a battle Lord, his authority is reasonably autonomous, I cannot order him to act against his own conscience, I will not dishonor my kin." Menarx refused immediately.

"Then I will ask it of him, as his son...I will request him not to place Neveah in danger!" Dante said firmly, storming out of the room.

"But why have the Great Lords even taken interest in Neveah so suddenly? They are usually the most prudent." Everon said in bafflement.

Menarx sighed, walking past Everon to the balcony.

"War is coming, cousin... tensions are rising and the Great Lords have lost their leader...we all have. Two of its five pillars are also lost."

"The stronghold has never been more vulnerable since the uprising... cracks will begin to appear and through these cracks, the enemy will take advantage... the Fae is watching... waiting, for their moment..." Menarx murmured in a melancholic tone.

"They will pay for this when Jian returns!" Everon snarled darkly.

"I will have them pay much sooner than that..." Menarx murmured, passing a pained look to Neveah.