Hey guys! I tried to keep this chapter short for the sake of mobile readers. Let me know what you guys think. Thank you for every vote! :D

Lord Firanus stared at the occupants of the room with cold eyes, practically smoldering with anger. The other Lords stared at him back in the face. Few men could ever do that in their lifetime. The King glared with satisfaction at Firani, studying his features. Firani was standing, clearly enraged at the accusation. The Lords Meeting held every six months with the original mind to move the Realm forward in technology and science. Now it was just a game of politics ever since the Dragan invasion all those years ago.

The Lords of Jora were gathered in the massive Councilroom, carefully molded thousands of years ago from the finest collection of stones in the capital. It was made in the shape of a circle, constructed for well over a thousand people to take seats in them. 

The sitting arrangements were carefully planned, a few commoners at the topmost part of the Councilroom, squires were seated in the back but close to the centre with uncolored seats, the Knights of each House had their chairs painted the color of the House with the signet of the House along with it. The nobles were just behind the Lords boxes, while the Lords were positioned squarely in the box of their colors.

"Before the Spirits and Joranus Caesarus, did you just indirectly accuse me of treason?" Firani asked, enraged. The Lords looked at one another quizzically.

"I believe all I said was that there are rumors linking you to the supposed rebellion." The embarrassed councilman said, flushing red. Lord Firanus glared at the councilman angrily.

"You're supposed to tell this to the Nefs, not in the Lords Meeting of all places. And believe me, I could challenge you to the Death Dance right now without any qualms." Firanus said.

"Firanus, it was an honest mistake on behalf of my councilman. If you have a problem with it, you'll have to take it up with me." Lord Karunus said from his corner. Lord Firanus slowly turned his head to face Lord Karunus.

"And if I decide that I have a problem with it?"

"You'll face me in the Death Dance in place of the councilman."

Firanus let out a breath and shook his head. "Karunus. Always willing to step in the slaughter house for the sake of some peasant. One day, the tiger shall whirl and have you in its grasp and may the chips fall where they may." Firanus' features hardened. "Till that time, we must discover why Dragans are attacking the outposts of Renar's lands." He pointed an accusing finger at Renar.

"Why do you say what you say, Firanus? Picking on poor Renar at every opportunity you get." Karunus said. Firani let out a belly laugh at the statement.

"Picking on him? I would love to, but now's not the time. I learned through a secret network of the Dragan attack on the three Legions at the outpost. Word has it that well over five hundred men perished in the worst hit Legion. They are being given a mass burial as we speak."

Renar's features slumped, his head bowed on the frame of the table where his amplifier sat, hands gripping the tablecloth in evident frustration. Firanus smiled cynically at the sight, having humiliated Renar once again. The members present at the meeting, Lords and councilmen alike stared at Renar, waiting for confirmation. The silence weighed on Renar even further.

Renar brought his head up to face the auditorium who were now chatting nervously in low tones. The King gave Renar a gesture that indicated him to speak.

Renar stood, straightening out his expensively tailored toga made in wine and black, the colors of his house. He made a slight effort to amplify his voice and cleared his throat.

"My fellow Lords and councilmen." He boomed without a hint of the frustration he had been feeling. "It came to my notice early this morning that our outposts had been attacked by what is suspected to be an advance party. But I wish to dispel all rumors saying that Ren would be invaded." He paused and looked around. Uneasy whispers passed throughout the auditorium. "These sort of attacks have been carried out by the Dragans countless times before, also resulting in roughly the same casualties. There is no cause for alarm as the Legions will surely be reinforced as of now." Renar sat back down in his seat.

"Only that this time, something has taken place that you are unaware of, Renar." Firanus said, waving his finger in a negative gesture "Something that happened roughly twenty years ago has repeated itself. A spy from the House of Grets was seen and struck down. This happened with Lord Gretrus' elder brother, who died in the process. Now, Lord Gretrus' eldest son had been caught and was nearly struck down. The Dragans will be out for blood and we all know it." Firanus said, basking in the euphoria of surprise. Lord Gretrus bit his lip and gave Firanus a deathly glare. Firanus gave him a smile in reply.

"Gretrus, your son was hit?" The King had a worried look on his face. Lord Gretrus didn't take his eyes off Firani.

"Yes. By a rock much larger than a boulder on the head. Landed almost squarely on the peak of the mountain." Sympathetic winces rippled through the audience. "But, he's alive."

Firani smiled widely. "But his blood is on that mountain. And the Dragans can trace the scent of blood. Your son, Marcus, is in trouble." Firanus searched the audience with his eyes. "And we all know that Ren will fall if the invasion happens. And next up is you."

Lord Gretrus gave him a cold look. Firanus was still smiling widely. He got up, smoothing out his green and grey toga. He searched the audience with his eyes. He stared at the King right in the eye, his jaws clenched shut, his green eyes cold as stone.

Lord Gretrus muttered something about Firanus being geographically illiterate. "I believe that Firanus has overstayed his welcome, sire. He is not the speaker of the Council, neither is he of particular importance to the welfare of this meeting. I demand that he be forced to get off the stage or he shall be struck down." Shocked silence pressed against his ears. Too late to back down now. Lord Firanus was looking dazed as ever. The element of surprise was with him. "And, Firanus, I tell you this once, get your filthy spies out of my lands or believe me, there will be hail and brimstone to pay." With that, Lord Gretrus stormed out of his box and walked away, slamming the door of the huge auditorium, with his councilmen and nobles close behind him.

Author's Note:

Lords meeting had to come up sometime in this book. What do you think about Lord Gretrus?

Let me know what you think. :D