Chapter 598: Meeting’s Abrupt Ending
"Good," Ashlynn said in a voice that seemed to have grown strangely flat and distant as a blend of her own earthy power and Nyrielle’s dark wind swirled around her. Her face had grown pale and her emerald eyes seemed to harbor ghosts beyond the ones that had haunted her ever since the night of her wedding to Owain Lothian.
"Rise, Commander Aspakos," Ashlynn said formally, almost mechanically as she reached out to take his taloned hands in hers, helping him to stand even as the power she held made him feel as though he was standing at the edge of a dangerous precipice. "We respect your reservations," she added in the hopes of reassuring him. "We won’t ask you to do more for now than training and organizing the sorcerers under our banner. You won’t need to lead them in battle against the Lothians unless the Church sends their mightiest of Miracle workers."
As the last words left her lips, Ashlynn’s shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly and a fine sheen of sweat appeared across her brow. In her chest, her heart began to beat rapidly, falling out of sync with the echo of Nyrielle’s heartbeat within her chest as it struggled to regain its own rhythm.
"Commander Aspakos," Nyrielle said with a calm voice and the barest of smiles as she withdrew her dark aura and the thread of power that flowed from her to Ashlynn during the tense exchange with the mysterious sorcerer. Instantly, the room seemed to brighten and the pressure that had kept anyone else from interjecting in the intense exchange faded away.
"I’m grateful that you have agreed to join us," Nyrielle said simply. "But now, the evening is already growing late and there are precious few hours before dawn. Lord General Thane," she said in a tone that was both warmer and softer as she faced the greatest of her progeny. "I’m sure you have many details to discuss with your new commanders as well as Marshal Jakob."
"Of course," Thane said, noticing a subtle shift in Nyrielle’s eyes as she spoke. "Gentlemen, I have more detailed maps available in my office. Before tomorrow’s celebration, it would be good if we can pin down a few last details and I value each of your insights to make final adjustments to our opening moves," he said smoothly, gesturing toward the door.
"Ollie," he added with a warm, inviting smile filled with so much charm that it made it difficult to reconcile the affable appearing vampire knight with the terrifying figure who forced Savis to his knees with little more than words. "You and young lord Hauke should attend as well, if for no other reason than to learn a few things that may be useful to you later."
"If Lady Ashlynn permits it," Ollie began, only to be interrupted by Nyrielle who seemed to materialize from the darkness directly beside Ashlynn.
"I have a few more matters to discuss with my darling," Nyrielle said as she slid around a startled looking Ashlynn who seemed to have become so distracted that she hadn’t even noticed Nyrielle’s movement. "If she has instructions for you, she can deliver them after."