The Alpha King's Guardian
Chapter 9: The Conspiracy
Grandfather An emerged from the hallway and came faced to face with us.
The older cousins who came home to visit piled in a line to pay their greetings; hugs and kisses to Poppy An.
The last one to greet him was Blaster.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Blaster my boy!
Blaster ( 2nd nephew )
Poppa An!!
They laughed together and Poppy An picked him up and swirled him around until his arms ached.
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
He's grown heavier since the last you saw him Pop.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Aye! Missed this kid!
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
Well we're staying for two weeks, plenty of time for you guys to catch up.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Good good.
Poppy An glanced at me and then back to Donovan.
Griffin ( 7th cousin )
Where were you Pop?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Oh, just had to do some research of my own.
Frederik ( 6th cousin )
Did you find anything?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Ah well. I did and did not.
They furrowed their brows.
Inca ( 9th cousin )
What does that mean Pop?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
It means we're quite in a predicament with the ancient warlock and probably the World Chamber.
Kaede ( 11th cousin )
What does the WC have anything to do with this?
Poppy An parked a hand on Kaede's shoulder.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Everything.
Donovan ( 4th cousin )
What should be done, grandfather?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Well first, I was asked by Caster and Reixia to deliver a message to Inca, following your summoning.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
They want you there now. The werewolf fallen victim to the poison, I'm afraid has much left to live.
Griffin and Frederik rushed to retrieve their coats.
Inca ( 9th cousin )
That's terrible.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Well it's been a week since then.
Amiria ( 7th cousin's wife )
We should hurry.
Frederik ( 6th cousin )
Right, Don you said about the cars?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Ah yes, take the new upgraded ones. Go now.
Donovan ( 4th cousin )
Yes, grandad.
Griffin, Amiria, Lois, Frederik and Inca rushed to follow Donovan out of the dining hall.
Poppy An then turned to us.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Hattie, love. Won't you order more of these...
Poppy An pointed at the feast we've just had.
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
Oh? Sure Pop!
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Hand them over to the Were-watchers outside. I don't think they've ever had 'merienda' before.
He chuckled and Hattie smiled.
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
Surely, Pop.
Blaster tugged at the hem of her shirt.
Blaster ( 2nd nephew )
Mum, can I play with the werewolf?
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
Well, we don't want to disturb them.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Let him have his fun. We're all allies here, Hattie.
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
But, he can be a handful.
Poppy Ansel belted a sound laugh.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Oh, he's not.
And I'll tell you something else, werewolf pups are much more difficult to handle.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
He'll be alright.
He brushed a hand on Blaster's head and prodded him to go out the back door to play with some of the Were-watchers.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Do not be wary, we've layers of protection around the property. No one with malice would dare enter.
Donovan appeared behind Poppy An just as we've heard the front gates open and cars revving fast.
Poppy An looked squarely at Donovan.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You didn't let Griffin drive did you?
Donovan grimaced and shrugged.
Donovan ( 4th cousin )
He was behind the wheel before the others could mound.
Poppy An sighed distastefully and we snickered.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Well, I'll consider it a promotion gift for him. Who knows if that car will ever show its face to me again after being driven by Griffin?
We laughed and it was a comfortable silence.
Hattie ( 8th cousin )
Right, I'll go order the food in.
Donovan ( 4th cousin )
I'll return to my post then.
Poppy An nodded at him and Donovan left for the front door.
Oxford ( 14th cousin )
Let's play with Blaster outside?
Niccolo ( fl's brother )
Count me in.
Poppy Ansel raised a hand.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Not just yet. I would like the six of you in my study.
Niccolo groaned and didn't even try to hide it.
Kaede ( 11th cousin )
Yes, grandad.
Poppy An grinned playfully and left.
Maxima ( 13th cousin )
What do you think he found out?
°°°my encounter with the blue woman... Donovan sent that information to him°°°
We landed at the front door of his study and the double doors creaked open.
We entered tailing Poppy An.
He sat on his chair and us on the sofas.
The door closed with a silent thud.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Right, I'll make this quick then.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You will be escorted back to Arckwar to resume the last remaining week of your education.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
I wouldn't want you to miss your final exams.
Kaede grinned from ear to ear.
Kaede ( 11th cousin )
Thank you grandad.
Maxima ( 13th cousin )
And our phones?
We had been living off for a day and a half with no phones and internet connection.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Will be returned to you, of course Maxi.
Maxima ( 13th cousin )
Ugh, finally.
Kaede ( 11th cousin )
Will it be safe for us now to return?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Honestly, no. You're a Volguardsen, studying at the most elite of military schools within the continent. But I assure you, there will be no more threats to your lives.
There was an ominous feeling at how that sounded.
Niccolo ( fl's brother )
Nah, whatever, I live for danger.
Danger is I!
We turned to Niccolo and I sighed, exasperated.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
What?
Niccolo ( fl's brother )
It's basically my middle name.
I glanced at Pandora and she rolled her eyes at him.
Poppy An let out a deep chuckle.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
All the jokes aside, I'm asking you still to be wary.
Kaede ( 11th cousin )
Yes, grandfather.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You'll leave later tonight so you could attend your morning classes tomorrow.
Donovan and a few Were-watchers will be assigned to escort you back to Arckwar.
°°°ugh, I have to revise for the exam then°°°
°°°i guess that really is inevitable°°°
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You may all prepare to leave for tonight.
We stood up and made our way to the door.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Not you, Legacie.
My heart did a somersault and not in the most pleasant of ways.
Poppy An pointed a finger at me.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You're on House Arrest until the day of the camp.
You will be confined in Volguardsen Manor.
°°°i was happy enough to find out I wasn't going to do the exam but to be confined?°°°
°°°first out of my cousins to be confined°°°
°°°I really need his help. I should talk to him before they leave°°°
Legacie ( Female Lead )
I need to talk to you, later.
I whispered at him and his brows twitched.
Maxima brushed my arm solemnly and walked out the door.
Niccolo and Pandora hugged me, like it was the last they'll ever see me again.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Don't feel too sorry for me.
I huffed and they giggled.
Oxford was the last one out the door and he wasn't much of comfort either.
Even saying, 'good riddance' at the end.
The doors shut and I was sent back to my seat, right across Poppy An.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
So, Poppy, may I be told the reasons of my confinement?
I asked gingerly and his face became serious.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Legacie.
°°°oh my stars. I'm going to be turned into a toad°°°
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
What you did earlier was out of bounds, reckless.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
What possessed you to overtake such actions?
I don't speak for a time.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You will answer when I ask.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes, grandfather.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Raise your head child and look at me. I taught you better and your great grandmother, best.
I hadn't realized I was looking down on my hands.
I looked up at him and met his eyes.
They were filled with pools of worry and fury.
°°°i think I'm going to cry°°°
°°°i'm scared out of my wits°°°
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
I saw a vision of the Blue Woman, dying in front of me, as a shield from another Warlock.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
When did the vision show itself?
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Daybreak.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
A Warlock, tried to harm you and she jumped in to shield you?
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes, that's what I perceived in the vision.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Donovan... he said you had a conversation with her.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes. About the Dragon Sorc–
He raised his palm and a beam of light blinded me.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Do not recite that name in this house.
He demanded and I shut my eyes and my mouth and bit my tongue.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
My stars, this family needs to cool down sometimes.
I blurted out and slapped a hand over my mouth.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
I apologise.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
The Blue Woman never mentioned a name. Only the one he's called.
There was a moment of silence.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
The Dragon Sorcerer.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes.
He gestured me to go on and I relayed the rest of conversation I had with Pethalia Pallena to my grandfather. Including the man...
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Dragothoria's Potion's Master, Vlant Veradio.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Is he still alive?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, well... time speaking.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
So he's presently dead?
Poppy An frowned, unappreciative of my choice of word.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, he's passed on.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Don't they have souls?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Dragon Warlocks?
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
They do, but once they pass their souls go to their Ohthrea.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Is that like, Dragon Heaven?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, something like that.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
But unless you're a Dragon Sorcerer, we have no way of summoning their spirits from those lands.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
So we go back in time?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, but there's is no 'we', nor I.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
This delicate information will be forwarded to the Majesty and the Circle of Supreme.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Won't that cause conflict between the Majestan Monarchy and the Supernatural Government?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Expect that it will.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
It'll divide us.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
I'm afraid so.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Aunt Thelda should know. Brandon and Edward works for the World Chamber, mostly.
Freddy and Griffin too.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, leave that to me, child.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
But what purpose does it serve for the World Chamber to hide this war?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
It'll taint their image.
As you know the Four Clans are highly immersed and supportive of this united government.
They have a traitor within their organization protecting the Dragon Sorcerer.
It'll be scandalous!
Legacie ( Female Lead )
The Warlock King would be outraged, I imagine.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
He will.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
But his majesty is wise and kind and aware of his placement of his power, that is why he is King.
A calm silence fell on us before I spoke.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Will you be alright?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, my dear.
°°°should I have not said anything?°°°
°°°he would definitely be involved in this war°°°
Legacie ( Female Lead )
You and other supremes might face the sorceror.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, we might.
And we might also have a chance at defeating him.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
I don't understand.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
What about, love?
°°°i thought hard and long°°°
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Pethalia mentioned, ancient warlocks, mostly the rogues and criminals are all upper north fighting this Dragon Sorceror...
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, you've mentioned earlier.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Maybe I forgot to ask, but she never mentioned Warlocks from the World Chamber to have been fighting alongside them.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
She just said... The World Chamber knows and they've been keeping it under wraps.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
What do you deduce from this?
His eyebrows danced up and my lips parted and closed for a second.
°°°i don't want to think it, but my intuition is going haywire°°°
Legacie ( Female Lead )
I don't want to make any accusations.
Poppy An deeply chuckled.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
You're in Volguardsen lands. Speak your conclusion.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Do you think the World Chamber itself had anything to do with the release of the Dragon Sorcerer?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
What purpose would that serve?
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Annihilation.
°°°did I just say that?°°°
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Of what?
I eyed him and for the first time in my life saw a hint of fear in his eyes.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Ancient power.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
The World Chamber probably wants to wipe out Warlocks like Pethalia Pallena off the face of the earth.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
That could be a start.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
But why?
I made a conclusive accusation and now I'm questioning myself.
I can't help but realize...something must have awakened or stirred in me after my meeting with the ancient warlock.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
They have families there.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Yes, the ancient ones tend to retreat upper north, high up on the mountains for peace and quiet.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
There must be more of them. More of their bloodline. Maybe much more than the characters from grammy Lorace's tales.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
That's possible.
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Will you relay this... theory to his Majesty and the Circle of Supremes as well?
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Not on the first meeting. It is still accusatory and it may spark different ideas and theories from the others.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
It'd be best to forward it to the King, privately and let him and his advisers form a judgement.
Ansel ( Head of House Volguardsen )
Until then, this theory, this conversation, stays between us, only.
Understood?
Legacie ( Female Lead )
Yes, grandfather.
Comments
Snowwyy
ooh... world chamber bad bad
2022-06-06
2