The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 144: Messengers

The hubbub of conversation droned on like an insect swarm inside the chamber.

Alden barely paid it any mind, focused on his food.

His expression softened as an explosion of flavour burst in his mouth.

He unconsciously relaxed, unaware he had been so tense.

He raised his goblet, filled with a fruit punch common in the Territory of Ice. The reason Alden forewent alcohol was because he did not really like to drink, finding no pleasure in the act of inebriation. He had seen Alistair passed out too many times from excessive drinking to have any real desire to do the same.

...Alden also very much liked having his wits about him.

The irresponsibility of doing the opposite aside - getting drunk in the middle of an official event was not wise, especially considering he was surrounded by many scheming vipers that would do anything to prove Morrigan had chosen wrong - Alden wasn’t sure if someone had laced the mead with something.

Of course, Kael would have tasted it first, just like he did with his fruit punch. But, Alden felt like the others expected him to drink. So, he was intent on not giving them the pleasure of loosening his tongue and lowering his guard.

’This is good.’

Alden quietly smacked his lips, savouring the sumptuous meal.

He had instructed the servant to place reasonable portions on his plate, so he wasn’t worried about stuffing himself to the brim. He would have enough room in his stomach for liquid, and enough room to suddenly move around, if the need ever arose.

Not that Alden expected to, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

After a little while of eating, he decided it was as good a time as any to begin discreetly studying who the traitor in the Sanctuary might be.

Immediately, he found a few interesting things of note.

"What fine elk this is! The Grand Elder was wise not to refuse our request."

A member of the Galeheart House smirked, digging into the slow-cooked elk with bliss.

The CinderElk’s viewed Snow Elk’s - and by extension, their woodland cousins - as sacred animals, so they did not appreciate the comment. In fact, they glared daggers at the Galeheart’s, who were bloodthirsty fools incapable of curbing their desires.

...At least, that was what Alden surmised from the brief interaction.

’So there is hostility between them...’

Alden stored that information away for the future.

It could prove useful.

Next, he shifted his gaze slightly down the oak table, where a group of women with long, braided hair and blue markings on their pale skin glanced disapprovingly at the remaining Houses of Flame - the Ashborn’s and PyreMoor’s.

Upon closer inspection, Alden discovered that their hair was the colour of light frost, seemingly possessing the texture of a web. It took him a moment to discern the shape magically engraved on the back of their hands.

It was a spider.

A Frost Spider, to be precise.

Alden was looking at the FrostWeavers, a House of Ice... and it seemed like they did not think too highly of their Flame counterparts. Alden could probably guess why.

Suddenly, he recalled the time he had come across the three scouts in the Wilderness and the conversation they were having. Back then, Swifty had complained about the effectiveness of assigning flame wielders to guard the Glacial Belt.

He felt they should have been allocated to Nature’s Grove, where his powers, and those of his ilk, would be better expressed.

"Fools. The lot of them."

"They don’t know how lucky they are."

"What else can we expect from weak-minded dullards like them?"

Apparently, the FrostWeaver’s were envious of the Houses of Flame for their proximity to the Glacial belt. While there was nothing stopping the warriors famed for their thread-like Art from entering the frozen wasteland, they could not do so en masse, because they still had to guard their side of the Barrier.

’Interesting.’

Alden closed his good eye.

To the outside observer, it would seem as if he was savouring a particularly succulent piece of meat. Beneath his eyelid, however, his crimson eye gleamed.

He remained like that, pretending to be absorbed in his meal for a little while longer.

Then, he calmly opened his good eye and shifted his attention towards the Houses of Stone. They did not seem to be in conflict with any Houses of other Territories, consuming their food with the same expressionless look they wore all the time. It was as if they no longer possessed any emotions in their pursuit to become one with the earth.

Alden had always thought those from the Territory of Stone were a little creepy, especially after he had spent some time living there for his mandatory schooling. In any case, the Dustforger’s, the Greystone’s, and House Petralis seemed content with observing the other delegates speak.

They did not feel the need to enter the political fray.

Although...

Alden saw them occasionally glance in his direction, as if they wanted something from him.

’They’re most likely just curious.’

Finding nothing really suspicious amongst the different Houses, he turned his attention towards the members of the Four Clans. He hoped to find something that would give him a little clue.

Unfortunately for Alden, either those present were incredible actors, or the traitor was not in this room.

The latter appeared more likely.

That said, he did learn a couple of things.

For example, the Frost Clan and the Ember Clan did not have the greatest of relationship - largely thanks to the falling out between their Heirs. Alden remembered how Eira and Drakon had been almost inseparable when they were younger.

It was a shame to see them so distant.

Their situation reminded him slightly of his own with Celeste.

Meanwhile, similar to the Houses of Stone, the StoneWardens kept a fairly neutral stance, not siding with any one faction. The Zephyr Clan, though... they seemed to be the most aggressive of the Four Clans, possessing a large well of ambition.

Though, for what, Alden couldn’t say. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Finally, just as he finished his meal with a quiet, satisfied sigh, a group of people suddenly burst into the chamber. They wore cloaks of various colours, denoting their positions as messengers.

As conversation stilled and the air turned tense, Alden saw the expressions of those present change.

...Whatever these messengers relayed was not good.

Suddenly, Zaruk and the leader of House Galeheart leapt to their feet, disappearing in a flash.

Alden’s good eye narrowed.