Rise of The Immortal Wraith - 28 The Feas

Annah was still blushing from helping her master gather the ingredients for the pearls that would be given to the female elves, she closed and opened her hand remembering the warmth and excitement she got from help, it didn’t seem her master was as angry with her as she had initially thought.

This made her glad, but she wondered why he wasn’t angry, it seemed after the others left he looked more sad than angry. His anger in the practice arena had been very real, she could feel it through her bond but now it was as if that anger had been washed away. She watched as he had drifted off in his own thoughts, she latched onto him, gently cuddling into his arms.

Without the anger fueling him it only sadness he felt, his knights thought so little of him due to their age difference that he couldn’t handle their dispute, he felt uncomfortable in his own skin thinking that it was only the age of his body that was young, he had the memories of that soul he devoured, he just wasn’t used to being alive. Everything influenced you when you can breathe and feel for those that get close to you, as a ring he wouldn’t have needed to know why he was doing anything.

Now he had his own soul, he could think and act freely, he had a body that enjoyed everything he did. The only drawback was the emotions, sometimes they felt great and other times they were too strong and negative that he just wanted to scream and break something, which made him feel worse because he knew that behavior was childish.

He shook himself free from these distracting thoughts, noticing someone was holding onto him, he bent over and kissed the top of her head. “Alright Annah, I’m going start the next step so I’m going to need you to hold this needle here on my pelvic bone and just let the enchantment do its work.”

He pulled out a long needle with a container on one end with a very sharp point on the other, the needle was hollow and she wondered what it was supposed to do, “Annah just don’t make any movements when it begins or it is going to hurt a lot more than I would like it to.”

Taking off his shirt, he stepped up to the desk and cleared away everything on its top, laying face down he readied himself, he felt Annah place the needle against him. He took in a quick breath before the needle extended so fast it was already penetrating his bone before he clenched his teeth and groaned.

Annah didn’t dare move even though her master was in pain, she was shocked that her master wanted to go through something so painful for strangers.

The procedure continued until the last drop was extracted and stored, the needle retracted from Salem’s hip, making him release his breath and tensed muscles. He took a few minutes to recover himself and start healing his body, he stood from the desk and his head swam.

Annah moved to him and steadied him, once the dizziness wore off he redressed himself with Annah’s help. They met with the other knights at the entrance to the palace, they had downcast expressions and slightly drooping shoulders, the Twins had reddened eyes from crying and Railia and Jennah were comforting them.

“Alright that’s enough moping about, you all know that what happened wasn’t your fault, emotions aren’t easy for any of us. That includes me as well, I am sorry I lost my temper and shouted at you all, will you all forgive me for being heavy-handed?”

Each knight saw his sincerity and walked over to him, they each whispered something private into his ear, though most were similar in nature some were rather unique by asking him for a private meeting with him after the feast was over. Whispering back that he would make time to visit each of them once his tasks were completed, smiles and blushing faces walked away in happiness.

Jennah stole a long and deep kiss, which received excited shouts from the other knights, what he whispered to her set her face red but with her eyes shining with excitement. The Twins approached and stood still in front of him glancing at him with worried looks, he took them both into a hug and just held them, he could feel their shivering and knew they were worried he was still upset with them. They soon began to cry and then hung upon him whispering how it was them who threw the first punch and began the fight, he whispered into their ears, telling them it was ok and they need not worry over it any longer.

After the twins calmed down they took their usual positions directly behind him. Annah had already known his anger had faded and he was just upset at their behavior, so when she reached him, she gave him a kiss and stood with Jennah.

Railia was the last one remaining and she blushed knowing it was supposed to be her turn, slowly she walked up to the man who would protect her from now on. She was lost and didn’t know what to say, she was about to say sorry when a pair of soft lips embraced her own robbing her of the breath in her lungs, she grabbed onto him as if she wouldn’t ever let go.

When she ran out of breath, she finally broke the kiss and took in a breath. She heard chuckling from him so she hid her face against his chest.

Stroking her hair Salem spoke softly into her ear, ” Are you ready to merge our clans? Don’t worry I will be right beside you, they won’t ever be able to lock you up again. I promise.”

She held onto him, leading her from the palace to the feast, they arrived at the feast area and mounted the stage where they would be eating and making the announcement. There were elves everywhere getting comfortable and mingling with each other, discussing the events of the past few weeks, they finally had a chance to relax and feel safe once again.

After everyone had arrived and got settled Salem stood before them with Railia clinging to his arm, “Good evening, I am glad to see so many of you enjoying yourselves, I and your high priestess have come to terms regarding your clans’ fate. We will be merging the clans, I will adopt your clan into mine if you have any questions regarding such an agreement you may ask. I will remind you however that this is my city, you will show me the proper respect.”

A young elf stood and looked at Salem with a conflicted look of irritation he spoke, “Lord Belegast, why should our ancient clan be adopted into your small new clan? Shouldn’t you be willing to join with our heritage?” the elf had failed in keeping his arrogant tone under control.

Salem smiled and replied to the question, “That is an excellent question, its because my clan and its bloodline are strong, while yours is dying. Your primogenitor is dead, you have lost the one being that would grant you near immortal lives. Myself, on the other hand, am very much alive and my clan will not fall to unless I do.”

The young elf frowned, connecting the dots his jaw fell open with shock left in his eyes, along with many other elves who had not expected such news. A Primogenitor had been born and walked the earth once more.

“So you see, this would be the second time that my clan saves your clan, if you don’t believe me just look at Railia, I absorbed your bloodline from her and integrated it with my own. Now if you don’t want to become an immediate inner clansman that is fine but this is a one time offer, though all children under ten will become inner clansmen at the behest of their parents.”

“Oh and any orphans among the children will be sent to the palace, without question, this is the law within my territory. The servants will be coming around to each of you, eat the pill and endure a little pain.”

The servants started moving about the tables, some took the pill some argues with one another, by the time the servants had passed around hundreds of pills a good half had taken them, while the lesser half who had not taken them moved away from the others to stand with their fellow believers.

He watched as the transformation took place, he used his bloodline to guide theirs on the path to completion, it took two hours from ingestion to completion but his clansmen had increased by several hundred members.

He looked at them as they were getting used to the changes of there new bodies and senses, his bloodline was unique and very powerful, he was curious how many of them would ask for their children to be turned in the coming days. Realizing between his knights and the children who would drain him of blood, it was going to be an exhausting week.