"The only thing I look up to is the sky." ~ Sivir, The Battle Mistress
Sorry for the late chapter have been pretty tired with all the work piling on.
Honestly I did not even think I could get this chapter out today. Didn't even want to complete it. But this is a habit I'm building. And excuses are not going to cut it. Repetition builds discipline and I need that.
And I read a lot of novels and that is quite easy compared to writing them.
Finally one more set up chapter. I would like more but it is difficult to write it. (I'm not that good at writing this kind of stuff. Every arc seems to have a different genre and I'm doing a jack of all trades here.)
Enjoy!
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"What do we do at the trial?" Garen paced back and forth in his father's office. "We supported him in getting the trial but he is not trust worthy."
Tianna sat on one of the two couches that were in the room, her eyes on her brother who sat at the seat of the head. "We only supported him in getting a trial since it would help Jarvan. The surrender was conditional and Jarvan had accepted for the public trial. If we stood against the trial.... we would be standing against Jarvan and we will never do that."
Pieter looked through the documents on his table and nodded in reply. "Of course. Jarvan is practically a son of our family. Even if the marriage with Luxanna fell through, he will always be considered one of us. We will stand by his side regardless of what he says or does. Not only because the Crownguards do what our name suggests but also because the lad had spent countless hours in our home." His answer was curt but it lacked the same level of interest as Garen and Tianna.
Tianna frowned at the reply. Her brother seemed disinterested about something this important? It did not seem like him.
"But what about the messenger?" Garen asked as he finally stopped and stared at his father and aunt. "He is the most dangerous. If we aid him in the trials then the other nobles that have been working against us would move in the open. They would finally have an excuse to do so without ay repercussions." His hands flailed about animatedly he tried to get the point across. "With the current situation against Jarvan we cannot let any more nobles side against him and he seems to be supporting letting the messenger go."
"He has told you that?" Tianna asked in surprise. This was news to her. But it made sense for Garen to know. They were close friends. Almost brothers. They had been trained together and practically raised together. The king had often had the Crownguards look after his son due to their loyalty to the throne and it kept the dangerous nobles off of him. But that had begun to change the dynamic between the children. Jarvan had stopped seeing Luxanna as as a fiancé and just though of her as a sister.
Truly regrettable.
Tianna quite liked that match.
Garen nodded. "He explained it to both the Seneschal and I privately. The messenger's rights still apply. Not only does it protect his children..... it also protects him. Considering his actions had ended up preventing more lives from being taken while also saving the young Fortis....." Garen paused for a moment before continuing. "If he is permanently imprisoned... it would be a moral failing on his part as a king." Garen crossed his arms as if he couldn't believe it.
"But he has connections to Noxus." Tianna countered. "That is automatically grounds to have him imprisoned."
Garen nodded but he countered it with, "He did not hide it either. He clearly stated everything about himself and why he was here."
Without looking up from the papers, Pieter asked, "Have our scouts returned yet? It has nearly been a week."
Tianna turned to her brother, "They have returned confirming both facts. He is who he says he is and is quite respected in the Avarosan tribe and his message is without any falsehood."
"And you saw it fit to not let me know of this information Tianna?" Pieter asked looking up from his papers. He eyed his sister coldly. "Withholding information for me is fine now?"
Her cold and fierce demeanor dropped immediately at those words, she sputtered trying to reply, "N..NO... no Pieter... no Milord. I did not mean to hide it from you. I wanted to inform you after our conversation. The scouts returned an hour before this meeting."
Pieter observed his sister, disappointment evident in his eyes. Demacia looked at his sister like she was an invincible figure. Always stalwart. Untouchable. It was the image she had portrayed. It was the image the Crownguards envisioned for her. And she had begun to take it seriously. It had gone from being her persona to actually influencing her thoughts. "An hour before this meeting would have been enough time to let me know. Or at least you should have intimated that the scouts had returned."
Tianna hung her head.
Pieter frowned. "We need to talk about this behavior sister. Priorities need to be set. You are at the age where hiding things like this would be considered traitorous. I know this was not intentional but that doesn't make it easy to overlook."
A knock sounded at the door.
The conversation stopped as the butler announced, "Lady Buvelle is here Milord."
"Send her in Micah." Pieter replied. He turned to Tianna, "We will continue this conversation later."
She nodded.
Garen stayed silent as his father reprimanded his aunt. It wasn't his conversation to butt into.
The large doors opened as Lady Buvelle walked in.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation Lady Buvelle." Pieter said as he stood up to greet her.
She gave him a soft smile and nodded.
Pieter didn't mind that reply. Despite not being mute... Lady Buvelle was a girl of few words. Her father had picked her up from one of his visits to Ionia after the invasion from Noxus had begun. After the elder son of the family died defending the mountain passes from Noxians, the headship fell to her and surprisingly, the nobles were fine with the arrangement. It was interesting. No one could find the will to hate her. Even when she could tell if anyone was lying.
Both the other residents in the room greeted her and she returned their greetings with another smile and a nod.
"I have invited you here so you could answer a few questions. Questions about our messenger." He stated as he took a seat. "I'm sorry... where are my manners? Please." He gestured to the empty couch. "Take a seat."
She gracefully too her seat in the couch, her blue twin tails falling on either side.
Pieter leaned forward in the chair. "Is the messenger trustworthy?"
Lady Buvelle closed her eyes for a second, composing herself. "Yes." Her melodic voice answered after a moment.
"So he hasn't lied a single time." Pieter leaned back. "Then I suppose Jaredan is indeed a spy?"
She nodded in reply.
Pieter realized that. The man hadn't denied that accusation straight. Just asking everyone to trust him. Lying would have alerted Lady Buvelle.
But avoiding the truth had sealed the deal. He was a spy.
"Are the Buvelles planning on supporting the messenger at the upcoming trial?" This question was overstepping the boundaries but he felt like it would be fine to ask it at this moment.
She nodded once again.
"We plan to do the same." He stated.
Garen and Tianna turned to him in shock. Had he been listening to them? Why was he so trusting of this man? Even if he was a messenger from Avarosa, he had ties to Noxus and had lied about his connection to Demacia.
Lady Buvelle nodded.
"What about his magic?" Pieter asked ignoring the shocked expressions. "Is he strong on that front?"
Lady Buvelle looked at him in shock.
"Milady. I do not judge your status as a mage. I'm a father to one myself. I just want to know about the man in question. And your status as a mage was never a secret to me. Your father and I had a few talks about raising magical children in the past." His voice was nostalgic. Countless drinks had been consumed in those discussions.
She replied after looking away, "Very strong."
"So not only is he proficient in combat but also formidable in magic. All while holding a weapon that can turn him into a monster." Pieter leaned back into his chair. "Is he someone we can antagonize?" His last question to the young lady.
"Don't." Her reply was instant, almost like a flinch in response.
"I see." Pieter contemplated. "Any ideas on marriage Milady?"
Her head rose in shock as he stared at him. A blush sprouted on her face at the question before she rapidly shook her head.
Pieter smiled. "I see. Thank you for your time Milady. You have given me much to think about. Please feel free to explore our estate before leaving. Our servants will accommodate you with respect."
She stood up and bowed. As she walked to the door, he called out behind her one last time.
"Lady Sona. Your father would be extremely proud of you."
"Thank you." She answered without turning back.
CLICK
The door closed behind her as she left.
"You two do not seem surprised at her status as a mage." Pieter noticed.
Garen replied, "She seemed oddly interested in Lux. It did not take long to put things together."
"Detecting lies? That had to be magic." Tianna answered as she straightened herself. "But that is not important Pieter. Are you sure about your decision to support the messenger?"
Pieter nodded with a smile. "I'm not doing this for Jarvan. The messenger is here to shake things up with the nobles and we need that. They are getting too comfortable, overlooking their responsibilities as nobles."
Tianna silently observed her brother. Something was going on here. Something she couldn't quite understand.
"Father!" Garen called as he watched his father's actions.
Pieter had grabbed a glass and poured himself a hefty drink. He waved off his son's surprise as he took a sip.
Oh it would a shake up for sure.