Chapter Eleven: Show of Strength | Part 7
More clamoring from the crowd. Grimmary’s eyes sparkled purple, a move Thirtyx thought was for intimidation until the king pointed at a reporter. “You! You seem to have a question unrelated to the species of my attacker.”
The reporter cleared her throat. “Yes, well, it’s funny that you use the word ‘attacker’ in the singular, because I have questions about a separate attack my sources say you suffered the night of Loris 16th. Is it true that you were attacked previously and that you hid this attack from the people of Lamiakk?”
The uproar was such that Grimmary had to wait several moments before answering, an unrest that echoed through the dining hall as well. Thirtyx noted that none of the professors tried to calm the students. Rhea met Professor Bavarren’s eyes, and he flashed her a toothy smirk.
We prepared Grimm, but we didn’t prepare ourselves for our classmates’ reactions, Benn grumbled. They’re going to be upset we kept something like that a secret.
“I can confirm a separate attack on that date,” Grimmary answered. “An unknown assailant circumvented palace security and attacked me in the entrance hall. We chose not to disclose the event until we had more information. But now, it appears a deeper plot may be in motion, and discussing these attacks openly may encourage anyone who might know something to come forward.”
A solitary question rose from the din that followed. “Was the first attack also waged by a Verith?”
I’m not surprised, just disappointed, Thirtyx sighed.
“We don’t know anything about the perpetrator of the first attack.”
“Was any magic used in the earlier attack?”
His jaw clenched in a textbook portrait of annoyance, Grimmary stepped around the podium and hiked up his right pant leg to reveal a metal brace around his calf. Thirtyx gasped. He hadn’t realized the injury was so pervasive.
“Bloodfire,” Grimmary said, deadpan. “I’m recovering quite well, thank you for asking.”
“What steps are you taking to ensure further attacks don’t happen, or that you can be better protected if they do?”
Grimmary nodded. “We are leveraging our intelligence networks to look into any active dissident groups. The Legion is working with Athernel law enforcement on tracing the weapons and materials used in the attacks. Defenses have been markedly increased.” He gestured to the two Legionnaires and their invisible shield. “I assure you all, the palace is taking this quite seriously, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure our continued safety.”
“If the worst should happen, can you comment on the readiness of your teenaged children to rule Lamiakk?”
A muscle twitched in Grimmary’s neck. The cadence of his infuriated yet diplomatic pause reminded Thirtyx so much of Benn and Rhea that a chill rolled down his spine. “Should anything happen to me, be it tomorrow or in 20 years, Benn is ready to lead my army, and Rhea is more than capable of assuming the throne in my stead. I see no reason for you to assume she wouldn’t.”
Rhea adjusted her royal braid, but she expertly cloaked whether it was out of confidence or anxiety.
“Out of respect for the sorcerers expending significant energy to maintain this broadcast, I will now cede the pulpit to Ambassador Taravian, who will issue a joint statement from the palace and the Verith state. My press office can be reached with any additional inquiries for me.”
The Legionnaires maintained their shield while helping Grimmary off the dais. A flurry of sound drowned out the feed for a moment, and a parallel storm of whispers erupted in the dining hall. Once Grimmary was out of the frame, a slender woman stepped up, pointed ears poking out from her short, chestnut brown crop of hair. Her glasses did little to hide the vivid blue or the elongated pupils of her eyes.
Grimmary’s cabinet had gone over a decade with no Verith liaison, but Arova had been serving in the role since her apprenticeship days. Knowing how Thirtyx had been groomed for a particular purpose starting early in his youth, Arova’s history had seemed convenient to him. Too convenient. Did she really know what was happening on the Verith council, or was she paid handsomely to not know?
Calley Jones 