The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 507

Chapter 507: Copy of Upper hand

ARTHUR LEYWIN

I clenched and unclenched my regrown left hand as we waited for the grand hall to be opened. All twenty of those sent on the hunt were gathered, plus Boo and Regis. The young asuras were quiet and almost reverent. Beside me, Chul carried the small white remains of the beast on a plum-purple cushion. It had been carefully arrayed to look as if it could be sleeping, with its fox-like snout tucked under its bushy white tail.

The energy was nervous, but beneath the tension was a comfortable familiarity.

On our return journey from the mountain—the descent was much easier than the climb, as we’d been allowed to fly—Naesia, Riven, and the others had continually assured me that our battle was one that would echo down through history, told in great tapestries and frescoes on the walls of their respective clan homes.

The doors opened, and our procession began forward. Naesia, as the leader of our hunt, entered first with her phoenixes behind her. She wore a red and gray gown embroidered in gold and was draped in chains and jewels. Each of her phoenix followers was adorned in equal finery.

The dragons followed, led by Vireah. Her long, pink hair was carefully coiffed atop her head, exposing her neck and shoulders. Teal scales in the form of an armored gown spilled down to her ankles, broken by the occasional twinkling gemstone.

Behind the dragons, Riven walked side by side with his sister, Romii. The pair looked striking with their identical dark hair and red eyes. Riven’s horns swept back and then up, slightly out to the sides, while Romii’s curled back and down until they pointed forward again, like a ram’s. Both wore suits of deep gray and green, matching their two clan members who came behind. The basilisk who’d lost his arm had the sleeve shorn off at the shoulder, proudly displaying the scarred stump.

Zelyna led her leviathans in a position of pride just before my own clan. Veruhn’s daughter wore her etched leather armor supported by knitted scales down her shoulders and legs, worn like a shawl and skirt. In a reversal of the other clans, her kinsmen were dressed in more flamboyant garb, making her stand out in her utilitarian attire.

Finally, my clan and I stepped into the grand hall. I immediately spotted my mother. She was standing off in a little pocket of open space, as if she were hesitant to linger too closely to the powerful asuras who surrounded her.

Next, I located each of the other great lords, spread throughout among their own small delegations. The other races were significantly outnumbered by the dragons present. The crowd applauded politely as each group of four entered, with Vireah and her Indrath escorts receiving the most attention. My clan and I received a muted response by comparison, but I only acknowledged this with one small thread of my thoughts.

Beside me, Ellie was draped in a floor-length silver gown. Garnets and amethysts studded the shoulders, and purple embroidery swept down the length of the gown like swirling currents of aether. It was a gift from Veruhn’s clothiers, and I could tell just how much Ellie loved it by the way she kept looking down at herself to watch the fabric and shining embroidery move.

Sylvie wore a scale dress like Vireah’s, except in silver and amethyst hues. Beside her, Chul looked uncomfortable in a borrowed leather jerkin fabricated from the golden hide of some Epheotan mana beast with embroidery of red thread.

‘Still say it’s not fair that I didn’t get a fancy outfit for the big party,’ Regis thought from the rear, where he padded along beside Boo.

‘Maybe when you become a real boy,’ Sylvie teased, outwardly keeping a straight face as the crowd politely applauded for our entrance.

My own attire had also been lovingly crafted by the leviathans, a gift waiting for me upon my return from the hunt. I appreciated that Veruhn understood me well enough to keep it simple. Dark, tapered trousers contrasted against a startlingly white doublet with split sleeves that revealed a hint of gray beneath. A thick golden belt was fastened around my waist, and a teal cloak draped across my shoulders, falling almost to the floor.

My ensemble was completed by King’s Gambit and Realmheart, conjuring a crown on my brow around which floated pale locks of my hair, and violet runes glowing beneath my eyes.

Several other threads of my consciousness kept note of my surroundings: primarily, those present, and their actions.

Charon drew my eye first, his rough appearance making him stand out against the backdrop of shining, colorful asuras. He stood off by himself, and he watched me like a hawk. I caught a glimpse of Vajrakor as well, deep in conversation with Sarvash of the Matali clan, the dark-haired, bearded dragon I’d struck after the battle to reclaim Oludari Vritra from the Wraiths.

Veruhn lingered in oblivious conversation with Morwenna, leader of the hamadryads. As always, she stood stiff as a statue, looking as if she could have been carved from wood. Lords Rai and Novis flanked Radix of Clan Grandus, who watched the basilisks and phoenixes march through the hall with a sour look.

The Aerind and Thyestes clans were notably absent. I knew that the sylphs disliked convening under enclosed roofs and did everything they could to avoid exactly this kind of gathering. Ademir of the Thyestes, on the other hand, was deeply at odds with Kezess. Clearly their conflict hadn’t been resolved in my absence.

Naesia stopped twenty feet or so in front of Kezess’s throne, where he sat overlooking the festivities with his usual sharp gaze. His eyes were a light lavender in color today, but otherwise, he looked and dressed as he always did.

The rest of the asuran hunters moved to stand level with the phoenixes, leaving a path open in the center for me and my companions. We filled in the space, then Chul and I took a single step forward. “Lord Indrath,” I announced simply. “I present you the trophy of our hunt: a questing beast of legend, the likes of which has never been seen in Epheotus before, nor will be seen again.”

Kezess stood, his focus intensely on the posed body of the small creature. Chul stepped forward, outwardly oblivious of his own unlikely position in this ceremony, and Kezess took a few slow, purposeful steps away from the throne. When they met, both stopped. At this point, Chul was supposed to go down on one knee. He did not.

After waiting only a beat, Kezess seemed to realize this small disobedience. He reached out, brushing his fingers through the fox-like tail. “A glorious hunt that will be many times in the retelling, I’m sure,” he projected, his voice ringing into every corner of the huge chamber. “I am told my wife has promised a boon toward the hunt’s victors.”

“It was a battle no single asura or clan could have won alone,” I said in answer, matching my tone and volume to Kezess’s. “The victory belonged to us all.”

Naesia took a half-step out of the line of hunters. “The Avignis clan would ensure the truth is known. This victory belongs to Clan Leywin. Lord Arthur defeated this beast almost single-handedly when the rest of our efforts proved fruitless.”

Vireah was the next to advance. “Whatever boon the Lord of the Indrath clan sees fit to give should go to the archons, our newly risen brothers and sisters.” Her words were echoed by the rest of the asuras.

Kezess smiled around, looking unusually chipper. “A great hunt, orchestrated and undertaken by some of our brightest youths, bringing together members of five of our great clans. It is with much pride and respect that I welcome you and your clans into my home. You’ve each displayed great humility, daring, and skill. I can see in your faces and how you interact that this trial has brought you closer together.

“In addition, this was a chance for Clan Leywin to show exactly why they’ve been elevated to their new station, and it is clear they have succeeded.” Kezess paused, and a rumbling was briefly audible from the back rows of the crowd. The voices cut off immediately, and although Kezess did not outwardly react, I had no doubt he’d paused just to allow these voices to rise above the din, effectively calling out any detractors. “Please, eat, drink, and socialize. Hunters, enjoy each other’s company for these last moments before you return to your clan-homes.”

The crowd’s focus broke, and the gathered asura, momentarily homogenous, dissolved into individuals and small groups once more. Riven patted my back forcefully while Naesia squeezed my wrist before leading the other phoenixes to where her father, Novis, waited with a large congregation from Featherwalk Aerie.

Vireah hugged my sister before giving Sylvie a respectful bow. She caught my eye for a lingering moment, then went to find her mother and clanmates. Riven leaned against me and watched her go. Conspiratorially, he said, “A fine warrior, that one. She’d make a good wife, I think.” He nudged me. “You know, my own sister, Romii, has been speaking of you quite often as well. She—”

“Can hear you,” Romii said, suddenly pushing Riven from behind. The basilisk laughed, held up his hands, shot me a wink, and started to retreat.

The basilisk who’d lost his arm, Ishan, joined in the laughter and hooked Romii with his good arm. His bright red eyes jumped around, looking everywhere but at me. “Come on,” Ishan was saying. “Let’s eat, drink, and then get the abyss out of here. I can’t wait to spend the next few days lounging around the healers and regrowing my arm.”

The two followed Riven in the direction of the basilisk delegation.

“The food does smell incredible,” Chul rumbled, patting his stomach. “Come, Regis. Feast with me.”

Regis’s tail wagged excitedly. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I worked up quite the appetite saving your ass from that beast.”

Chul gave a booming laugh and kicked one of Regis’s front paws out from under him as he took a step, causing the shadow wolf form to stumble clumsily. Regis responded by nipping at Chul’s ankles, drawing uncertain looks from some of the nearby dragons.

“Your companions grow more at home here with each passing day,” Zelyna said. She was the last of our hunting party to hang back. Shooting a look at Kezess, who was now speaking to a small circle of other high-ranking asura, she quietly added, “Do not be lulled into a false sense of security.” She then inclined her head slightly, gave my sister a wry smile, and strode away, leaving the grand hall.

‘My grandfather is in a strangely pleasant mood today,’ Sylvie thought. She clasped hands with Ellie, who was staring around in wonder. My sister grinned at my bond. Out loud, Sylvie said, “Come on, let’s go see your mother. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so uncomfortable.”

As if waiting for me to be alone, several asuras—a mix of dragons, hamadryads, and titans—swarmed in, peppering me with compliments and questions about our hunt. I withdrew the bulk of my King’s Gambit-empowered mind to other tasks, speaking with the asuras in a polite but practiced way.

In the days following our hunt, I’d had a lot of time to think. Too much, according to Sylvie and Regis. The hunt itself had clarified several important details for me, and opened up many more questions about the future of Epheotus and its people. I was beginning to feel like the gravitational center of a vast galaxy of decisions to be made, each one spiraling around me and fading in and out of my focus.

After multiple rounds of well-wishers and curious asura coming to have a look at me, a familiar face approached.

“Sarvash of the Matali clan,” I announced, holding out a hand as a gesture of good will. We had not parted company on the best of terms last time.

The dragon gave me a steel-eyed look as he took my hand. “Lord Archon. I…” He hesitated. After withdrawing his hand, he crossed his arms and scoffed. “Didn’t I say you’d never be an asura, no matter how much you pretended? More the fool, I, then. Clan Intharah has long been close with the Matali clan, and young Vireah’s account of your hunt is already circulating among us. I was dismissive of your abilities after our battle with the Wraiths. I apologize for that.”

“No need,” I answered honestly. I considered apologizing for striking him, but given the change in our comparative station, I elected not to. “It was a tense moment. You lost a member of your family. I know that pain.”

We both fell silent, thoughtful. After several long seconds, Sarvash cleared his throat. “I won’t take up any more of your time, Lord Archon.” With a nod, he slipped back into the crowd, returning to his people.

“Nice to see you getting along.”

Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I found Kezess standing right next to me. “No point making enemies where allies could easily be found instead.” As I spoke, I let my gaze jump to Morwenna, Radix, Charon, and Myre. I lingered on Myre, who was flowing around the outer edge of the hall speaking to all she passed. In her younger form, she was enchanting, and I was reminded unfavorably of stories from my youth, those of witches ensorcelling weak-minded townsfolk and children.

A flicker of annoyance passed over Kezess’s features. “So, you have earned a boon.” He began to walk. It was obvious that he expected me to follow. I’d already considered how this conversation would go and was eager to have it, so I fell into stride beside him. “What would Arthur Leywin, lord of the archon race, ask of me? Guarantees for the fate of Dicathen, perhaps, or maybe a promise not to harm your friend, Chul, or any of his traitorous kin.”

He glanced at me, but if he was hoping to shock me, he’d fallen far short. I knew he’d recognize Chul for what he was immediately, but the fact that Chul hadn’t immediately been apprehended on entering Epheotus meant they were unlikely to do so now. Besides, the Path of Insight had already given away Mordain and his clan’s survival in Dicathen.

Whatever his purpose, Kezess at least had the good grace not to look disappointed. “Or perhaps you’ll ask my leave to propose marriage to one of the lovely young asuras who participated in this hunt. I’m sure Novis and Rai have been pushing hard to make you see the sense of such an alliance.”

I chuckled. “You weren’t exactly subtle about sending Vireah my way.”

Kezess gave me a rare smile, his lavender eyes crinkling at the corners. “Must keep up appearances, mustn't we?”

I stopped and glanced around, gauging my timing. The other lords of the great clans had taken seats at a table set off to one side of the hall and appeared to be deeply involved in some private conversation. The rest of the asuras in attendance gave this table a wide berth.

“The truth is,” I began, veering off our course slightly to bring us closer to the rest of the great lords, “I don’t need to ask you for any of those things. I am my own assurance that the…events of the past won’t be repeated in Dicathen. The same can be said of Chul’s safety.” I spoke at a normal volume but projected my voice in such a way that I knew it would reach the ears of Veruhn and the others. “I don’t need your boon, Kezess.”