Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 679: Pound Of Flesh ()

"This... what is the meaning of this?!" The dwarf spokesperson demanded furiously.

Though he put up a brave and furious front, Neveah took note of his subtle attempts to conceal his trembling hands, and she could practically smell the fear rolling off of him.

He was horrified... and it was only right that he was.

Power was such a scary thing and Neveah had watched Alpha King Lothaire wield it for long enough to understand just how terrifying it could be, and precisely just how to incite and wield that very terror.

It was not a position Neveah had ever hoped to find herself in,

’But to protect them... and all that is theirs... I will do anything.’ Neveah thought, there was neither doubt nor hesitations left in her mind.

Neveah knew better than anyone, how critical this time was to the dragon empire. In such a time, they had looked to her for guidance...it was a privilege Neveah did not think she was worthy of, but it was a task she would be damned than fail.

The dwarves had long forsaken their previous ruler, the moment he was incarcerated by the dragons. Neveah knew this, that none of the representatives were here because they actually cared about the prisoners in dragon custody.

It was a known fact that no one left Menarx’s district alive, it was the literal death row, all prisoners with crimes grievous enough to be tried my Menarx in person were ultimately sentenced to death by the unified council.

It was in fact a favour, there was no life for one who had undergone torture in Menarx’s district, such a person could never remain as he once was.

Despite that, they had come to take advantage of this situation.

"Is it not obvious?" Neveah asked as she finally took a seat on the dragon throne.

This time, Neveah sat properly and not by the side as she had done before. She placed an arm on the arm rest and leaned back, watching the dwarves in silence.

Only when Neveah took a seat did Imagor and Kirgan sit as well.

"You requested for your kin, and I have honoured that request. You may return to your lands with him now..." Neveah replied simply, her words trailed off as her gaze fixed on the dwarf spokesperson.

"If you require the rest of him, that can also be arranged." Neveah added.

"This is outrageous! What does the dragon court take us for?!" The dwarf spokesperson cried out.

"Traitors..." Neveah replied in a single word.

"Those are hefty accusations!" A Fae representative interjected.

"Indeed. They are." Neveah agreed.

The representatives all fell silent at that and Neveah let the silence tarry for a moment before she carried on.

"Imagor, by dragon law, what is the punishment for treason?" Neveah asked.

"Death." Imagor provided a response immediately.

"Is it beginning to make sense now?" Neveah asked, her gaze fixed on the dwarf representative.

"What could a criminal already in custody do that was considered treason?!" The dwarves spokesperson demanded.

"Nothing...but by dragon law, treason can be by intent or by affiliation. In this case, the real traitors are those who stand before me at this very moment..." Neveah trailed off before she pulled out a scroll and tossed it to the representatives.

The dwarf spokesperson caught the scroll and he opened it up, reading through it. His eyes grew wide the very next moment.

"This is... this is..." The dwarf spokesperson stuttered.

"A detailed report of all the visits you and your kin have made to Fae territory in the last month, including the visit made before coming here...and the exact time you arrived in Fae territory." Neveah said blankly.

Lady Diandre snatched the scroll from the hands of the dwarf spokesperson, her eyes also grew wide.

"This is your copy." Neveah said, handing another scroll to Imagor.

Imagor took the scroll and read through the contents, a low, furious growl rumbled in his throat. Neveah knew Imagor now understood the mixup.

"This report states that the dwarf representatives arrived at the Fae Territory before coming here, and the timing is a while before the Fae requested portal permission to Keep Skies." Imagor began, passing it to Kirgan.

"This timing of the arrival of the dwarves at Fae territory does not seem to make any sense. Lady Diandre has claimed the dwarves brought word of the breach to you before you requested portal permission...but here’s the thing, the dwarfs arrived at your territory before the breach happened... and equally left before it happened..." Imagor trailed off.

"How then was information passed and received about a breach that was yet to happen?" Imagor asked with a raised brow.

"I...we...we sent a letter by portal!" The dwarf spokesperson defended.

"Representatives of the hidden city visited Fae territory for no reason, left empty handed and then sent a letter an hour later?" Kirgan asked.

"How does that make sense to you?!" Conrad hissed,

"We visited on a separate business! Do we have to explain that to you?!" The dwarf spokesperson demanded.

"Yes, you do." Neveah stated, getting up to her feet.

"As of the incarceration of the previous Dwarf King, and their unexplainable possession of the Fae’s equipment for magic extraction... the Fae cut all ties with the dwarves before this very court and vowed all portal wards would be sealed against hidden city, until this court permits otherwise." Neveah reminded as she descended the stairs.

"This is a vow Lady Diandre of the Fae made in person to My Lord Dragon. Here before this court, representatives of the dwarves and Fae have just admitted to exchange of letters through portals and numerous portal visits, even while the portal ban still stands... this is to say that both representatives have repeatedly broken their sworn vows to this court, which in itself is already an act of treason..."

"The intention for which they have broken it is claimed to be an exchange of information on a breach. Numerous reports from the Fae territory will prove that there were several other visits and this information was exchanged before the breach took place... now, we all know this breach was no ordinary breach."

"It was an attempt on my life... what is my life worth before this dragon court?" Neveah asked.

"The life of the Dragon Queen is equivalent to that of our Liege!" Imagor clarified.

"Then is it right to say that those who stand before us have not only broken vows to this court, defied a direct order from My Lord Dragon, but have also committed an act of treason by holding prior knowledge to the attempt on my life and keeping it to themselves?" Neveah asked.

"These charges are accurate." Lord Decaron confirmed.

"I have taken my pound of flesh... I will leave the rest, to the dragon court. One thing I do know, traitors have no rights to make demands of this court, or leave this court... alive." Neveah finished blankly.