Chapter 515 To the Guardian of the Ice Elves

As the results of the vote sunk in, the council members that had voted against Marcus rejoiced.

Certainly, they had not won, but in some ways, this was better for their cause since it would put this decision in limbo for quite some time.

“Well, this certainly was unexpected.” Chairwoman Naeris said with a mystified look on her face.

“Now seeing these results does the one councilor that has abstained wish to recast their vote?”

With the vote being completely split, Naeris was looking towards the one ice elf that had refused to vote.

Of course, it was their prerogative to do so, and this did happen on occasion, but not normally when the vote mattered immensely.

Yet the one councilor who had not voted still refused to do so even after being given a second chance..

“Very well, then the vote will stand at thirty-eight to thirty-eight, and the tie will be broken when next our guardian, Lord Retharin graces us with his presence. Until then Lady Irene will not be confirmed as the representative of Borealia here in Glenna Reota.”

After saying this, Naeris slammed down a small rock that made a resounding sound through the chamber putting and end to this meeting.

However, while Bianca and her grandmother looked defeated, Marcus was not sure what the problem was.

“Bianca, what is the matter? All we need to do is wait for your city’s guardian to come and then convince them that I would make a good representative.” Marcus said with a confused expression.

Shaking her head, Bianca responded and said, “It is not that easy. Lord Retharin does not come down to see us very often and his visits are unpredictable. It could be tomorrow or fifty years from now when he next arrives, and I would bet on the latter. He last appeared six years ago, and he rarely shows up any more frequently than every three decades. And if you are not here when he arrives it is very likely that you will not be approved.”

Lowering her head, Bianca felt that they had been defeated even when she had worked her hardest to try and push for a more open Glenna Reota, so that her family would be able to come and be more readily accepted.

“Hm, so if your guardian is not going to come here anytime soon, then I simply need to go to him.” Marcus said with a smile on his face.

Looking at him like he was crazy Arryn said, “If it were that easy, I would have already suggested it. Lord Retharin lives at the peak of the tallest mountain in the Verkoudhied range. It stands over forty-thousand feet and is inhospitable even for us ice elves. Not to mention that area is home to very powerful monsters and beasts that could all be considered catastrophes in their own rights. Only the bravest ice elves have ever ascended to that peak and very few returned from their audience with our guardian. It is practically suicide to attempt.”

Still, Marcus had a confident expression on his face, and said, “Yes, I am sure that it is dangerous for most, but I am a spirit. I can just fly up to the highest peak without issue and meet with your guardian.”

Sighing Arryn could see that she was not properly explaining the dangers of this trip even for someone like Marcus.

“Yes, maybe you can circumvent most of the danger, but Lord Retharin is who you should be worried about the most.” Arryn said with a grave tone.

She then explained to Marcus that those ice elves that had ascended to meet their guardian, many of them had lost their lives at his hands.

He was a being that enjoyed battles and many times he would challenge those that had come to meet him, and if they were not good or lucky enough, they would die.

“So, please just drop it. We tried but failed. I know you only agreed to this to make your little sister happier in the future, but really there is no need for you to risk your life over this.” Bianca said to Marcus.

She then patted Marcus on the shoulder and began walking out of the room, when Marcus said, “You are right that there is no need for me to risk my life here, but I am going to anyway. I enjoy exploring new areas and meeting new people even if it is dangerous. If I wanted to be safe and live forever, I would simply stay home. But that would be terribly boring.

“Therefore, I will go and meet with Retharin and convince him to accept me. Anyway, I am a lot harder to kill than you might think.”

With that Marcus put an end to Bianca and Arryn’s attempt to prevent him from going on what seemed like a suicide mission in their eyes.

Nevertheless, they could not deny the confident expression Marcus’ face that made it seem like he could accomplish anything.

“Fine if that is what you wish to do at least allow me and my family to give you what aid we can.” Bianca said.

Smiling Marcus thanked her for her help in advance, before they made their return to Bianca’s home.

Once there they began planning immediately, telling Marcus what to avoid saying and helping him to prepare an appropriate offering.

Then after a couple of days when the weather was favorable, Marcus set off towards the tallest mountain that was a bit more than a hundred miles away from here.

Yet as soon as he exited Glenna Reota, he pulled out his sending stone and contacted someone who was likely to know more about this Retharin than even the ice elves.

“Ahhhh-hhaaaaaaa.”

“This had better be important Marcus. I was in the middle of my first long nap in quite a while.” Gwyneira said after letting out a loud yawn.

“Yes, it is. What can you tell me about the ice elves guardian Retharin?”

The tiredness leaving her immediately, Gwyneira said with a grave tone, “Marcus whatever you do not go and see that unhinged gryphon. He enjoys challenging anyone and everyone to a fight, and while he may not be malicious, he often kills people simply because he is too strong.”

Hearing this Marcus responded saying, “Yeah, I already know that, and I kind of already agreed to go and meet him, so I just wondered if you had any advice for me? Anyway, is he really that strong?”

Letting out a silent scream, Gwyneira could not believe how stupid Marcus was being, and said, “Yes, he is that strong. I have fought him five times in the past and only won once. He is level eighty-seven and one of the strongest beasts on the continent.”

Gwyneira then took a moment and sighed before saying, “Listen if you are certain that you must go and meet with him, do not act meekly. He likes those that are confident in themselves especially when they are much weaker than he is. If you show your tenacity against him, he is much more likely to hold back against you if he wants to fight, which I find likely.”

After Gwyneira finished giving her advice on how best to deal with Retharin, Marcus thanked her for her time and help, before floating up and shooting straight towards the highest peak in the Verkoudhied Mountain Range.