Book 3: Chapter 44

Book 3: Chapter 44

If Garrett had ever wondered what it would feel like to be a butterfly pinned to a board and observed from behind a glass, he now knew. As Louise finished speaking, every single eye in the space turned to him. He had always considered his emotional control to be higher than average, but even he couldn't keep the shock from registering on his face.

In the stunned silence that followed, he heard the leader of Silver Song laugh, clearly pleased with the effect she had created. There were many questioning looks around the table, but no one said anything, simply waiting for Louise to continue.

As for my reason, consider it a thank you for Cynen and the Grave Walkers' hard work. We have informants everywhere, and I mean everywhere. It's clear that the city only survived the undead wave thanks to the incredible sacrifice of your gang, she said to Cynen. No matter what anyone else says, we wouldn't have made it if not for you. This district would likely be lost. Similarly, the Klein family, though considerably weaker, supported fully and held the southern defensive line without any major breakthroughs.

Across the table, Andrew Tellson's eyes narrowed as he looked between Cynen and Garrett.

Is that so? he said. And here I thought it was the Adventurer's Guild and the Brass Tiger Syndicate that carried the majority of the burden.

Unaffected by his sarcasm, Louise just smiled and nodded.

It's true, she said. You blunted the main thrust of the attack, but that was because the Grave Walkers stopped them dead in their tracks. Additionally, the word on the wind is that it was Cynen who ultimately broke the back of the Necromancer's attack by carrying the fight to the Dark Hand underground, as well as one of the Awakened under the Klein family, who landed the final blow on the Maragoth.

As much as he would have liked to protest and claim more credit, Tellson knew that she was right and fell silent. Gero, however, wasn't satisfied.

I don't see why the Grave Walkers' subordinate guild should be promoted, she said, when it was the Brass Tiger Syndicate who had taken the most damage. Wouldn't it make sense, then, for the Dark Blade Collective to be the one to advance?

Laughing lightly, the leader of the Silver Song covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head.

The Brass Tiger Syndicate is gone.

Despite her pleasant expression, her words were cold, completely at odds with the smiling expression on her face. And any gang that can be wiped out in a single night doesn't deserve their seat anyways. Think of this as Silver Song's way of thanking the Grave Walkers for your incredible sacrifice."

Turning towards Cynen, Louise bowed her head, once again surprising everyone at the table.

"Silver Song has many members, most of whom are not awakened, or even trained to fight," she said as she straightened up, her smiling gaze sweeping the table. "Had the necromancers of the Dark Hand and their minions broken through the southern defensive line, it's impossible to know how many we would have lost. There is nothing more precious to me than my people. And so, this seems to me like a just reward.

Is it on that merit alone that you nominate them? Thomas Gelavin asked, leaning forward in his seat, his eyes fixed on Louise.

The question caused Louise to laugh once again, her giggle filling the air like silver bells.

No, she admitted, it's not. We all know of the tremendous growth of the Klein family, and how quickly it has established itself as a power. I must admit, I feel as if our council could use some of that spirit. Things have been stagnant for entirely too long, and I think it would be fun to stir the pot a little bit.

After a moment more, Henry Janice of Janice Manor rose to his feet as well, giving Garrett a wary look.

"We," he paused here for a moment, and then shook his head. "We decline to challenge."

A gasp rose in the room as he sat back down, but Thomas clapped his hands, calling for silence.

"That leaves the Grave Walkers and Telabron," he said, looking between the two gang leaders.

Waving his hand from where he sat, Jonathan Moran shook his head.

"We decline our right to challenge as well."

Her face expressionless, Cynen echoed his sentiments, and the matter was settled.

"Wonderful. The Ebony Association and the Marble Griffins will challenge the Klein family for a seat at the table," Thomas said. "The challenge will happen in three days here in the arena. Now, let us set the details. Garrett, as the challenged party, you are allowed to decide what sort of challenge you would like. Solo combat, team combat, or mass combat?"

Thinking it over for a moment, Garrett looked at Cynen before asking, "Are gang leaders allowed to fight?"

The question hushed all of the murmurs that had risen among the observers. There wasn't a person there who didn't realize exactly what Garrett was asking. Clearly, he wasn't going to participate in the fight, but if Cynen decided to fight on his behalf, it was unlikely that the Ebony Association and the Marble Griffins would be able to make it out of the challenge in one piece. The strength she displayed was higher than anyone else in the room, with the exception of Carl Rackham. And considering the flames she controlled, the fight could be considered over as soon as she stepped on the battlefield.

There was an awkward silence as Thomas looked at Gero and Vent. Of course, as far as most people knew, there was no guarantee that Cynen would agree to fight on behalf of the Klein family. But considering the Klein Family was a subordinate gang of the Grave Walkers, it seemed highly likely. Additionally, there were no rules that said a gang leader couldn't step into the arena, and in cases of single combat, it was actually fairly common.

"There are two of us issuing the challenge," Gero said, trying to look for some way out. "We can't do single combat with the two of us."

"A fair point," Thomas said. "To answer your question, Garrett, there is no rule against gang leaders fighting. But out of consideration for the two challenging gangs, why don't we take single combat off the table?"

Garrett didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a moment to think it through. A normal gang leader, after having been put in his situation, would likely have just agreed to whatever the Moonlight Council asked. So when Garrett did not immediately reply, many of the gang leaders began revising their understanding of him. After a moment, he nodded.

"That's fine," he said. "Let's keep it to five people, though.

Is that agreeable?" Thomas asked, and Vent and Gero both nodded. "Good. We shall schedule the fight for three days time in the arena. Until then, the Klein family is a temporary member of the table. You may take your place."

Seeing him gesture to the empty chair where the Brass Tiger Syndicate's leader used to sit, Ryn pushed Garrett's wheelchair forward. Before she got there, Cynen snapped her fingers, creating a bright green flame that flicked across the table. Almost instantly, the wooden chair transformed into a pyre, crumbling to ash in front of everybody's eyes. As the flames died down, Cynen waved her hand, and the ash seemed to melt into the floor, allowing Ryn to push Garrett's wheelchair into the place where the tall back chair had been a moment earlier. The entire time, Garrett sat quietly, his expression calm, as if nothing in the world could ruffle his feathers.

"I'd have you say something," Thomas Gelavin said, "but we'll save your address for after the challenge has been completed. Now, we have much business to discuss, so let's get started. Louise, would you mind going over the agenda for todays meeting?"