Chapter 104: Cooling Down
Paulus flinched, staring at the sturgeon head that Ashlynn had impaled into the table in front of him. This was the delicate human noblewoman that Lady Nyrielle had taken as her Seneschal? The trophy wife selected to bear the next set of Lothian heirs? Suddenly he felt very misled by the messenger the Eldritch Lady of the Vale had sent to inform them of her guest and the reason she needed to cross through the High Pass.
Paulus’s gaze darted from the impaled fish head to Ashlynn’s fierce expression, then to the approving nods of the other Frost Walkers both at the high table and among the more common guests.
His jaw clenched as he realized his carefully laid plans were unraveling before his eyes. This human witch had outmaneuvered him, turning what should have been a moment of triumph into a humiliating defeat.
As the conversation continued around him, his mind raced. If he couldn’t make them recognize that the real danger was closer at hand than the humans would ever come, perhaps it was time to consider... alternative methods. His eyes flickered briefly to the icy walls of the great hall, beyond which lay the treacherous mountain passes.
He’d delayed long enough. Once the banquet came to an end, he would do what had to be done. One way or another, he would make sure Lord Ritchel understood how important it was to put a strong protector like his grandson Torsten in line to succeed Ritchel, and the sooner, the better.
"Do you understand now," Nyrielle said, directing a frosty gaze at Paulus and startling him out of his thoughts. "This is just one of the many reasons why I treasure Ashlynn as my Seneschal. Already, she has slain two of Owain Lothian’s knights and learned much of his plans for the next war the Lothians intend to start."
"She speaks as if this ’Holy War’ is certain to come," Lord Ritchel said. "My people deserve to know, how certain is this war?"
"Owain has filled a chest with gold and jewels taken from Airgead Mountain," Ashlynn said, returning to her seat next to Nyrielle. "He is sending them to the merchants in the city where I grew up, to entice them into helping him bring ’Holy Warriors’ from across the seas to fight in his next war."
"He is buying weapons, armor and supplies and if he does not secure access to the wealth of Airgead Mountain, the consequences of being unable to repay his debts will be ruinous," she said. "I’ve made a move to slow him down. Mistress Nyrielle and I intend to do more, but the people who are sending soldiers from across the ocean have never seen a person from the Eldritch clans."