Chapter 397: Betrayal
Amarena stood watch as Kir settled into his seat. The first few moments of his link with the fulcrum passed without anything more dramatic than the odd formation of gold that fused itself to his forehead, forming a downward triangle.
She could still feel him through the bond. Feel his mind and body settling into place.
But then the tent flap opened and General Hazzarn stepped in, fully armed and armored.
"I have felt the Duke’s mana waxing and waning twice over. What is the meaning of this, Char?" he challenged.
"Our Duke evolves. Stand witness, leave, or challenge us, his keepers," she said clearly and strongly.
Amarena was more than beginning to like Char. She had Kir’s mind for the bigger picture and more steel than Kordia, Kassin, and Lapins combined. Though they had yet to spar, she felt a rising desire to invite her while they waited on Kir.
The muscly demon huffed. "One against two? You mistake me for a fool." He was clearly outmatched, and yet he grinned. A moment later, his confidence was justified as the flap of the tent opened and every one of Kainur’s former generals stood ready.
"As you have kept your council with the Duke, we have kept it with each other," Zazel appeared, his voice far gentler than Amarena expected.
"You too, Zazel?" Char frowned.
"We have decided to leave, in order to seek out Heaven’s destroyer. Surely such audacity would come with a plan of survival. Come with us, Daughter of Pride. You need not be shackled to this fool," Hazzarn said.
Zazel’s many eyes twitched, his face spasming in some weird syncopation of muscles and blinks. "We did not come here to bandy insults, Hazzarn." He straightened himself. "A message went out to all the vectigals... I had thought to give you the chance to announce it, but you have broken our trust in this."