33 Risen#re - Chapter 332

Lord Grant glared at Lord Thoman, who merely smiled happily without a trace of fear, “Don’t say that I’m lying, I was there,” Thoman stated with a wide spread smirk.

“You lost to Lord Stanley shortly after he became an adept, and he promised not to mention your humiliating defeat so long as you entered the alliance,” Thoman revealed the events with a hearty laugh.

The other lords and ladies all snickered at the revelation, as Grant glared at Thoman hatefully, Thoman merely shrugged, “Lord Stanley promised not to mention anything, I made no such promise,” said Thoman.

Unlike House Ventrano House Maxim was one of House Kurt’s first allies, Lord Thoman grew up with Rupid Kurt as a close friend, so he happily gave his allegiance to his friend when he brought up his plan to unify the region.

As the others were busy sniggering at Lord Grant for his defeat against a newly advanced adept, a loud snapping sound snapped everyone back to attention.

They all turned to see Lady Liberia, who slammed her fan against the table causing the entire table to splinter in half, “For the last time make your damn point or I’m leaving,” she snapped in annoyance, “And I don’t want to hear another interruption,” she added with a quick glare to the others.

Grant breathed out softly before continuing, “My point is that as Thoman has so graciously pointed out,” he spat out with a glare at Thoman, “I didn’t want to be a part of this alliance for the simple reason that my territories are centred directly between House Kant and House Hauton,”

“I didn’t want to get in between their battles, but I was forced to, and I know that most of you only joined because you were presented with terrible repercussions if you refused to join,” he said and several of the leaders present raised their brows to express their agreement.

“That said part of the agreement that I came to with House Kurt was that they would use their troops to take on the brunt of the attack and provide me with constant reinforcements once House Hauton started to move against me, and I would act as back up for their battles”

“And currently they are failing to live up to their end of the bargain, my men are fighting the battle they are supposed to be fighting, evidently they are incapable of keeping true to their word, thus they are unworthy of our allegiance,” he said with righteous anger.

The several leaders all exchanged glances, as they finally understood what Lord Grant was getting at, most of them quickly calmed themselves and maintained their neutral front, Lady Liberia however gave him a deep look but she said nothing on the topic.

“Utterly Ridiculous!” Thoman spat in anger, this time there was no playfulness to his tone, “House Kurt just lost 60 of their novices and several of their adapts were severely wounded,”

“It’s only natural that they need some time to recuperate before they can continue to provide aid,” Thoman said in anger and looked to the other nobles to support him, yet none of them came forward.

“Only natural!” Grant scoffed in anger, “This is a war they started to satisfy their greed, and currently my men who I have spent countless resources to groom are dying on the battlefield when this is not even their battle to be fought,” he said pounding his fist against the table.

“You know as well as I do that House Kurt easily has the manpower and resources available to aid me, but they are using the poisoning and Cornick’s assassination as an excuse to hold back their forces and weaken my forces,” he said in a cold tone.

“I presume that I wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of an interrogation, that made me out to be an accomplice in Cornick’s assassination?” he posed a simple question to the group.

The nobles all grunted as they bobbed their head, none of them were too happy about being accused of treason by their own ally.

“It’s only natural that we were interrogated?” Thoman interjected, “Who else were they too suspect, and based on the current trend of this discussion I can see why they would have such suspicions!” Thoman knocked his goblet over in anger causing the wine to spill over and onto the floor.

Tension filled the room as the implications of Thoman’s statement settled on their minds.

The nobles looked between Grant and Thoman with conflicted thoughts, but if they had to choose a side, it would be Grant, none of them were happy about being treated as criminals by the people they swore their allegiance to.

“You sure do know how to make a bold statement without any proof,” Grant scoffed coldly, “It’s no wonder Rupid favours you so much, everyone needs a good dog to wag its tail for their master,” he added with a derisive smirk to rile up Thoman.

Thoman got up so fast that the entire table shook and caved in along the crack that Liberia had earlier placed in the table.

“If you’re looking for the second thrashing of your life, I’ll happily give it to you!” Thoman roared at him.

Outside Lirian covered his ears as the shouts could easily be heard even without his spells.

Lirian regained his focus and when he checked back in Grant was standing up as well with just a few inches between himself and Thoman.

“Uhm,” someone cleared their throat loudly and everyone turned to see Lady Liberia, who cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention.

“If you boys are going to fight, I hope you don’t mind me joining in,” as she spoke she drew a second fan from her robes and opened it up, with a playful smile on her lips.

The lords instantly hesitated as they glanced at her and those two fans, it was said that those fans could cut through a steel forged sword with ease, not to mention that the woman holding those fans was a peak adapt.

“Well?” Liberia asked pointing the fans between the two of them, “If you’re not going to fight then sit back down,” she said coldly.

The two lords glared at each other before sitting back down while casting begrudging looks at Liberia.

The other nobles seemed a little disappointed that no fight was going to take place, but they held their tongues, as they returned to their seats.

“Grant if I’m to interpret what you’re saying, am I to take it that you wish for us to dissolve our alliance with House Kurt?” she asked.

Grant didn’t hesitate to nod and look each of the other leaders in the eye, he could see some acceptance in their eyes, but at the same time, he could see hesitation.

“What!?” Thoman shouted and returned to his feet, “Have you gone mad?” he shouted at both Liberia and Grant with his spittle flying across the room.

“Shut. Up!” Liberia snapped coldly at him and looked around the room, “I say we put it to a vote,” she suggested, “We already know House Ventrano’s and House Maxim’s vote,” she said pointing at Grant and Thoman respectively.

The other leaders glanced at each-other the hesitation in their eyes was evident but eventually, the first house voted.

“House Vius chooses to abstain from voting,” said Lord Riga and shot a sympathetic look at Lord Grant.