As Shousen and Baaran joined the other rulers, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard eased slightly. The cold winds howled through the stone walls of the courtyard, echoing between them, while the nine torches positioned behind the nine rulers cast flickering shadows that seemed to dance. The crimson and gray clouds in the sky reflected the oppressive mood hanging over them. Seated around the long wooden table, each ruler had chosen their place according to their alliances and enmities.
Queen Eizma of Iurotza sat flanked by her allies, King Dumma of Nuur and King Raksha of Esqueq. Directly across from them sat their long-time adversaries: King Usillax of Chirilund, King Aleron of Calruth, and, just to Aleron's left, King Baaran of Rungharn. At one end of the table, Queen Zanah of Yaqun and King Aswang of Mellthur sat side by side, former enemies now coexisting in peace. On the opposite end, at the heart of the discussion, sat King Shousen of Walhur.
Placing his hands on the marble table for support, Shousen rose to speak. "My esteemed friends, rulers of this realm, I apologize once again for keeping you waiting and for contributing to this tension. Without prolonging the matter further, let us address the reason for this gathering. As you are all aware, a disgraceful traitor—whose very name I loathe to utter—has been broken out of Haxar. I understand that some of you may find this meeting unnecessary or even selfish, but I assure you, this incident concerns not just me, but all of our realms."
A heavy silence followed as the rulers absorbed his words. Shousen continued, "At the recent assembly of the Elders, I was informed by the Chief Warden that the attackers who breached Haxar wore masks bearing the symbols of the 'Crimson Sand' and the 'Three-Headed Dragon.'"
At this revelation, Aswang straightened in his chair, his brow furrowed. "Are you saying the attackers are Glatsiyans?"
"We suspect it might be them, but they are not the only ones under suspicion," Shousen replied, his tone measured.
The brief silence that followed was broken by Usillax, who tapped the marble table rhythmically with his fingers. "Speak plainly, Shousen. Are you accusing us?"
Without hesitation, Shousen answered, "To be frank, yes. I suspect all of you."
Dumma inhaled deeply before speaking. "And what exactly is the basis for your suspicion, Shousen?"
Shousen's gaze swept over the table. "Tell me, if an enemy had orchestrated this attack especially the Glatsiyans would they really be so careless as to expose themselves with such blatant symbols? My theory is that if a Glatsiyan was involved, they must have used these symbols to frame Juhha and Batsu. But this is only speculation. What is not speculation is that such a coordinated and powerful assault could only have been planned by someone at this table."
A smirk crept onto Aleron’s lips. "If we are all suspects, what makes you any different from us? Perhaps you orchestrated this meeting yourself to divert suspicion from you. By pushing the Elders to call for this council, you ensured no one would question you, giving you free rein to accuse whomever you wished."
Baaran nodded slightly. "Aleron raises a valid point. Let’s not forget that ten years ago, we had to wrest Rouma from your grip. Now, in a time of relative peace, you suddenly claim he has been kidnapped. How do we know you didn’t orchestrate his disappearance yourself and have already had him killed? No one has seen or heard from him since his escape. We don’t even know if he’s still alive."
Shousen clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding. "If that bastard had fallen into my hands, believe me, I would have brought his severed head here and tossed it onto this table."
Sensing the rising tension, Raksha interjected, attempting to defuse the situation. "All of you, calm down. Pointless arguments will not bring us any closer to the truth. Instead of throwing baseless accusations, we should focus on understanding why Rouma was taken and who stands to gain from it."
Zanah leaned forward slightly. "I don’t know who orchestrated his escape, but I am certain that someone is after the power of the forbidden Orb that Rouma possesses."
Eizma nodded in agreement. "That Orb’s power is undeniable. Our priority should be determining who needs Rouma’s strength the most."
Baaran scoffed. "And how exactly do we do that? We are trapped in an endless loop of speculation. There are hundreds who would want the Orb’s power as much as the Glatsiyans do. In fact, some sitting at this very table once desired it."
Shousen responded immediately. "That is true. Many of us did covet that Orb. That is precisely why every ruler here is just as much a suspect as the Glatsiyans. However, we must set aside our differences at least for now and focus on locating Rouma. That is why I was forthright in my suspicions from the beginning. If we are to work together, there must be no secrets between us."
A sly grin spread across Usillax's face. "No secrets, you say? Tell me, Shousen, where is Hafzsa? Why is she not here today?"
Aleron, seated just beside him, chimed in, "Indeed. I’ve never known the princess to leave your side during any council meeting."
Shousen remained silent for a moment before finally breaking the heavy stillness. "You are right. If we are to be transparent, I will not hide it. I have sent the princess on a mission to find Rouma. That is why she is not here."
Aswang let out a dark chuckle. "When you say 'find him,' you mean 'execute him,' don’t you?"
Zanah interjected, "Does it even matter? The Orb Rouma possesses makes him nearly immortal. And considering those who freed him, there must be someone who desperately needs his power. Even if the princess finds him, what can she do against him?"
Shousen’s tone remained firm. "Do not worry. The princess is not alone. I have secretly sent my most trusted men to follow and protect her. But I cannot do this alone. I need your help. My forces alone will not be enough. We must all work together if we are to uncover the truth."
Raksha narrowed his eyes. "What kind of help are you asking for, exactly?"
"I need each of you to send a group of your most trusted men to track the movements of the Glatsiyans. If they are truly behind this, we will find Rouma through them."
A cold gust swept through the courtyard, making the already somber atmosphere feel even more oppressive. After hours of tense debate, the rulers reached a reluctant agreement. They would put aside their suspicions at least temporarily and commit to Shousen’s plan.
As the meeting drew to a close, one question lingered in everyone's mind:
What were Rouma’s captors planning?
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