Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 739: Hostage ()

The small breakfast hall of the inn was tense, the only sound being the faint drip of water from the roof hitting the wooden floorboard at a constant interval. Neveah sat across from two of the Mer Cardinals, whilst the other two lurked not too far away from the table.

Xenon sat by Neveah’s side and Estelle too, but Dante stood, leaning against a pillar and Verothrax was outside the inn, taking up his watch again. Of course Ida knew to stick by Verothrax’s side if only to avoid Xenon’s wrath.

"You said Keila and Lodenworth acted in my name." Neveah broke the silence, her voice steady. "Now, Lodenworth’s title is not one that requires my backing to get a few words out to the Mer folk. He has sufficient authority all by himself." Neveah stated the obvious.

"Tell me everything they did." She added.

The leading Mer cardinal glanced at his companion who had just been released from Xenon’s grip, before he spoke.

"Lord Lodenworth and Lady Keila arrived in the Sea Kingdom five days ago." He began.

’Five days... that was precisely when I left Fort Scabbard.’ Neveah noted.

The voice of the leading Mer Cardinal was laced with bitterness as he continued. "We have met Lord Lodenworth on quite a few occasions, and so we welcomed them with no inhibitions. They claimed they required the services of the Sea Oracle, and we believed them."

"The Sea Oracle? Why would they need a healer when we have Everon?" Estelle whispered to Neveah.

Neveah pondered over it for a moment, wincing visibly when she recalled the last time she had met Keila...or rather sensed her presence in Menarx’s quarters, though Adrienne had attempted to conceal it. Something had been off even then, but Neveah was not quite sure what it was.

"And then, they demanded the tribute ahead of time." The cardinal continued. "Two thousand of the finest channeling gems, barely a few weeks after we made the last delivery to Dune City!"

Neveah frowned slightly, Dune City had gotten a steady supply of channeling gems to reconstruct the quatre foil over the past few months since it was discovered to be compromised by adamantium, all except for the final batches to complete the structure which had been delayed by the Fae royal guards, under claims that the Mers traded suspicious items through their territory using the gems as a cover.

However, even that had been resolved a short time ago and the final batch of channeling gems were delivered to Dune City. The construction was already wrapping up and all the other lighthalls across the stronghold had no such complaints, the dragon court did not have any more use for channelling gems.

"The channelling gems we supplied to Dune City was already beyond the yearly tribute amount, and it took our best efforts to gather it in a short span of time. Hundreds of Mer miners exhausted their magic and are still recuperating currently...but the lighthall and the Asvarian beacon ensures the safety of us all, so we delivered."

"We expected to be spared at least a year of tribute following that..." The Cardinal’s brows were furrowed in disdain now. "The demand was unexpected and outrageous."

Neveah’s heart sank, the potency of disappointment and disdain in the tone of the Mer Cardinal told Neveah that he had expected fairness from the dragon court and had been taken aback by this turn of events.

What was worse, Lodenworth was a renowned dragon lord and representative of the dragon court...to think he would breach the trust between the dragon court and an entire race, it was an attack on the very foundation on which dragon supremacy was built...honor, Neveah had to wonder just how deep this betrayal ran.

"What did they claim they needed so much channeling gems for?" Neveah asked.

"They said the purpose for which the gems were needed could not be divulged as no one could be trusted since the disappearance of the Dragon King... this was the Queen’s orders." The Cardinal revealed, glaring accusingly at Neveah. "But when we questioned their urgency, they accused us of allying with the Fae incursion and demanded a hostage to ensure our timely compliance."

"They took a hostage?!" Estelle asked, her voice sharp.

"Yes." The Cardinal hissed. "They said if we refused, the Sea Kingdom would be considered an enemy of the dragon court. They claimed the Queen had already grown weary of our alliance since our delayed delivery of the channeling gems to her home fortress."

Neveah’s hands clenched tightly on the table and Xenon growled lowly, reflecting Neveah’s rising fury. "They even dragged Dune City into it and my father’s honor!" Neveah hissed lowly.

"Tell me you did not give them any hostages." Neveah said, her tone was dark. Rage barely contained at the preposterous situation.

"We had no choice." The Cardinal said, his voice trembling with suppressed anger.

"Who?" Neveah asked.

"Lord Temrion, the Sea King’s youngest son. He clocked his tenth year a few months ago." The Cardinal’s tone was pained. "They were to reside in Sea City, with Lord Temrion’s as their host while we attempted to prepare the channeling gems."

"Two thousand pure channeling gems was an impossible demand, but we offered a thousand, five hundred was delivered immediately and another five hundred to be delivered in ten days." The Cardinal’s voice was barely audible now. "Two days ago, we received word that the emissaries never stopped by Sea City but headed straight for Aloria. They took Lord Temrion!"

"Did it not occur to you at that moment that you were fooled?" Neveah sighed. "Why would my emissaries head to Aloria? War looms between the Fae and dragon court."

"We will not be caught between your power struggle!" The Cardinal sneered. "The emissaries represent the dragon court and by orders of the Sea King, Sea City will be submerged! And every other settlement bordering the Mer Seas, until the Dragon Court returns Lord Temrion and provides an explanation for this deceit!" He declared.

"First, you will do no such thing." Neveah made clear. "Secondly... the dragon court played no parts in the abduction of your prince...but it is indeed true that the Mers have now been caught up in our war." She admitted.

Neveah exchanged a look with Xenon who quietly pondered over the situation. "We will provide the Sea Kingdom an answer. It will come in the blood of the traitors." Xenon vowed.

"Yet I have one question..." Neveah said warily. "Who made these demands? Was it Lord Lodenworth and his rider in person, or they were in the company of others?"

"The demand was made by an unfamiliar man who accompanied them. Though Lady Keila was present for the first few discussions." The Cardinal admitted.

"And Lodenworth?" Neveah pressed.

"I...he never appeared again after requesting a visit with the Sea Oracle." The Cardinal revealed.

Neveah exchanged a look with

Xenon who pursed his lips, his train of thoughts the same as Neveah’s.