Chapter 101: Ashlynn’s History Lesson (Part One)
The great hall had gone still and all eyes gathered on Paulus. Despite his gray fur and stooped shoulders, he still radiated the might of a powerful sorcerer as he drew himself up to his full nine feet of height, looking out at the expectant gazes of the Frost Walkers.
"You mean to tell us, Lady Nyrielle, that you lost the lives of nearly six out of every ten of your progeny, just to repel a single human invasion?" Paulus said. "My people, stand for a moment, go ahead, stand up," he said, gesturing for the attendees of the banquet to stand.
"There are twelve tables at our gathering tonight," the elder said, sweeping his arm out in a wide gesture. As he spoke, his horn glowed and with the sweep of his arm, seven glowing balls of icy blue light formed. "If a light comes to rest at your table, sit down," he said, scattering the lights across the twelve tables.
Some lights landed on adjacent tables while others skipped over a few tables before choosing another. In the end, everyone sitting at the seven tables sat down, nervously looking around at the Frost Walkers who still stood.
"So, this is what your war against the humans is like," Paulus said. "Everyone who is still standing, look at those sitting and imagine that your lord has traded their lives away to fight against the humans. Are you proud? Do you feel that it was heroic? Or do you see friends you’d miss, loved ones you would mourn, perhaps a child or parent who was unlucky to sit at the wrong table through no fault of their own?"
"Is this the kind of leader you’d have us trust, Lord Ritchel?" Paulus said, turning his gaze upon the Eldritch Lord of the High Pass. "This is the example you’d have your son follow? But wait," he added, rounding on Nyrielle.
"Of the twenty remaining progeny, where are they now? Everyone, everyone should sit down," Paulus said, his shoulders slumping and his voice sounding weary. "Lady doesn’t need living Eldritch allies, she’ll surely find some humans to replace you all when you’re gone."
Around the hall, most people sat, feeling extremely awkward after Paulus’ demonstration. Some of them felt that his example wasn’t quite right but many were still looking at the tables who had sat first and imagining the people sitting at those tables being torn away from them.
"Mistress Nyrielle," Ashlynn said softly, standing next to Nyrielle and gently touching her shoulder. "You’ve given this old man enough of your words. Let me resolve this for you," she said, her emerald eyes burning.
Outwardly, Nyrielle looked as cool and impassive as ever, but inwardly, her heart had been pierced by the spectral blades of countless ghosts conjured by the evening of storytelling. While others might not know, an echo of Nyrielle’s heart beat within Ashlynn’s own chest. How could she not know how much it had pained her to lose her progeny?