"That gave me headaches," Harkon muttered as the Duke left them. "Why don’t you just wave your sword in each other’s face and be done with it?"
"We are certainly more civilized than that, are we not?" Vacuse said as he moved forward to greet the next guest.
Lord Ragna. He wore animal skin and enough jewelry to go around to each guest should it be shared. His eyes glinted as he stared at Severin.
He smiled. "It seems you are the heir after all, Lord Vacuse."
Vacuse spread his hand. "So it seems."
Lord Ragna bowed. "I look forward to our future interactions with each other."
Vacuse nodded. "So am I."
This time around, Vacuse was determined to keep the Orcs as allies. It would lessen the pressure on them and allow growth. What House Vorrakyn needed most isn’t just power. They needed the time for that power to manifest.
Severin needed the time for him to grow. That was why he tried to make an ally of Zorathian instead of an enemy. Ironically, his enemies feared and hated the time for growth that he so wanted.
Suddenly, the sound of spears hitting the ground echoed throughout the whole room. Metal against metal sounded out. "Drenvar Vorrakyn, the Dragon Lord is here, salute!"
Clothes rustled, feet shifted as everyone turned to the throne and went down to their knees. Those still standing were Vacuse, Lord Ragna, and Duke Frexon. But they also bowed low.
The Dragon Guards came first, and then Drenvar followed in a red robe with dragon patterns imprinted on. He swept into the hall and stopped in front of Vacuse. He touched him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Vacuse Vorrakyn."
He smiled and bowed again. "Thank you, Honorable Grace."
It was only then that he turned to the rest of the room. "Stand."
The ceremony began after that. There was music, dancers, and speeches.
Drenvar had a lot to say, and he said it.
The Vassals gave gifts.
Everything was going smoothly.
"You don’t seem to be enjoying yourself," Lyra said. She stood beside him and watched the room with a sharpened gaze. Everyone that came close was subjected to razor scanning.
Vacuse nodded absentmindedly. "It’s too much. This is the first time I’ve attended such."
She nodded in understanding. "It’s always . Empty words and smiles. Fake laughter. Baleful aura covered up with nice music and warm laughter."
Vacuse turned to her. "Do you miss it? Being the potential heir?"
She shrugged. "Sometimes. It makes things easier, but that’s all in the past. We all have our parts to play in the family."
Vacuse smiled. True, she was indeed more of the ’manageable’ Vorrakyn.
"My lord," a low voice said beside him, and he saw Kagerou, who flashed him a smile and handed him a red vial. "That’s it, the real deal. Be careful with it."
And then he was gone again, slipping between the guests and laughing with them as if he were a guest himself.
Vacuse shook his head and looked at the red vial in his hand.
"What is that?" Lyra asked.
"Insurance," Vacuse said with a smile.
The party continued, and Vacuse was already getting bored. Since the beginning, his nerves had been strung so tightly that the lack of action was making him a bit restless.
The last time in his past life, the incident that happened was carried out by one of the Guards. The thing was, Vacuse didn’t know the one who actually did it, so he could only keep an eye on Lord Ragna.
Besides, it was only a single enemy.
But he wasn’t actually worried.
Zorathian was in the hall, and some of his men as well. There should not be any problem.
Vacuse’s aim wasn’t just to prevent the war between them, but he also wanted to ’save’ Ragna and have him indebted to him. It would go a long way in the future.
’..maybe things had changed again and now they wanted to do it in a more sophisticated manner? But doing it in public was alone their...!!..’
A scream suddenly erupted, a piercing note that stood above the music, filled with pain and torment.
Vacuse turned, as well as many others.
Far to the side where Lord Ragna was standing, there was a small disturbance as people ran away from that part.
Lord Ragna was looking at the ground in front of him in shock, and beside him stood Kagerou, a bloody dagger in his hand.
Vacuse thought with a grim expression. ’..it’s starting..’
There was a pause, and then the screaming started. Harkon touched Vacuse’s shoulder and pulled him back when he took a step forward. "We are getting out of here!"
But Vacuse shrugged his hand away. He was calm and controlled as he knew that nothing was really happening. Kagerou had already dealt with the assassin. "There is nothing...!"
The next instant. Things happened.
Blazing red aura exploded all around the room in a shocking wave.
The servants—all of them—changed in an instant. Their bodies warped and twisted, and the illusion that was weaved above their own was wiped away.
They showed their true selves.
They wore armor and carried weapons, their aura as oppressive as the Dragon Guards. They must have killed a lot. There were eleven of them.
There was a blink moment of pause where time seemed to slow, and everyone stared at the intruders in shock.
Then a voice filled with anger and authority rang out. "Kill them!"
All around the room, other aura surged out as the Dragon Guards answered. They flung themselves out of their hiding places with their weapons ready and rushed the intruders.
The people that were in the middle were immediately caught in, and blood sprayed into the air.
Harkon’s hand tightened on Vacuse’s shoulder. "We really need to go, my lord!"
Vacuse didn’t argue. Things had gone wrong.
But that was just the beginning.
Lyra and Harkon stood on either side of Vacuse as they turned towards the door, their weapons ready.
They had not taken more than a few steps when the ground in front of them erupted.