CHAPTER 58

  THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY

  A brief silence stuck between the three, as if they were in a graveyard in an eerie night. “We could try…” Arat broke the stalemate, giving Hans what he wanted to hear. He continued saying, “No, we can mostly succeed if nothing troublesome happens.”

  Arat started turning his mind gears. Hans had provided a manuscripts and it was his job to turn it into a novel. “I’ll get it done quickly.” He assured as an idea flicker in his mind like a candle.

  Since that eventful day, several days have passed. That day brought about significant changes in Winters mother and daughter’s lives, particularly in Aredhel’s. She decided to temporarily resign from her position at Concordia and return home to support Eleanor. As a result, Delimira remained in Concordia as she had wished.

  However, the life on Concordia went as usual. It was quite bland compared to the outside world, especially compared to Clandor. The sparse ambushes have turned to frequent ones, espionages and assassinations attempts were like flies in the dung, and in the middle of it, a rumour rose among the elves — Parv was selling their weapons of mass destruction in the war and the price was a magic tower.

  Till now none succeeded in buying magic tower. These entities were akin to moving fortress, filled with legacies of mages from past. Their achievements, inventions and research still echoed in those walls. It was a relic itself and to acquire it, one needed to conquer the lands it was in. And since they were ridiculous source of power and heritage, the rulers protected it with their lives.

  At first, people thought both sides would reject the deal, but as Hans wished the council was showing interest and it increased several folds when they heard Reina was going to make their silent partner come to light. This rushed them and Parv succeeded in acquiring their first magic tower.

  Upon deal the tower was teleported to Frostspire, the forbidden grounds of Parv. It was quite hard to judge which tower was weaker and which one stronger so Council chose to sell the one which was strategically way far from the border that separated them and Royals.

  The deal made quite the buzz, even a child in the street had heard about it from someone’s mouth. “Clap!” Hans high-fived Delimira, “Told you it would work.” He gloated.

  “That was a fluke,” she teased, “PRINCESS.”

  “Hey! Guys I feel like an extra here, what are you two talking about?” Chris complained and so did Vanir, unaware that Hans had asked the tower for him as he promised before. But he had another question.

  “Senior stop spouting about mage tower and answer me this. What makes this a big deal. Its just mana weapons, Clandor has it, so does others, right?”

  However, instead of Hans, Chris answered, “Its because unlike other, Parv is the only nation that has the technology to employ sunstones in their weapons, making them small as a pebble but bringing destruction capable of levelling the towns.”

  Hans chuckled at Chris’s response, he knew Chris didn’t like Parvians. They had hunted his family even in Clandor but when he was explaining there was a hint of pride in his voice. But, the happiness didn’t stayed in Hans’s face for long.

  Rudolf directly came to pick him up. “Brat, your country fucked up big time. There are several people demanding explanation, come with me.” He said and before his friends and minion included themselves, He grabbed Hans’s shirt and lifted him up as he did when he was little, “Only the ‘Prince of Parv’ is required, you all wait here.”

  He whisked out of the establishment like a flash and bending his knees, he jumped high. Like a lighting bolt, he landed right outside the board room. Hans didn’t even had the time to ask what was happening and he was brought to confront, figures like Samwell, Kansas and some foreign faces he couldn’t recognise.”

  “What is the meaning of this uncle?” Hans addressed Samwell.

  “You… your country did something irredeemable nephew, now you have to clear this—”

  “Is buying a magic tower wrong? You all call yourself allies of Clandorian royals but you are in the civil war because of the gain, right?. Is selling weapons and gaining a magic tower in return this itchy for you people that you’ve Dra..summoned me here?” Hans questioned without backing down, he wasn’t intimidated for a moment and was glaring at the people facing him.

  Kansas, who found Hans annoying since day one, stood up beating the table, “its not, but it is whom you sold them to. PRINCE PARV.”

  “Council.” Hans feigned innocence.

  “Its not just council. Contact your prime minister. He had made a fool of himself by selling the Parvian weapons to his nemesis, Eclipse.” Kansas stressed.

  “Whaat!” Hans made a baffled face, he had tried rehearsing several time with Delimira and perfected it so much that even she could be fooled. He stretched his hand towards Rudolf, asking for a communication orb.

  “Click!”

  “Prime minister Arat. Are you out of your god damn mind.” He yelled without even greeting. It was as if he was scolding his subordinate for the mess he made. Arat tried to excuse, but Hans remained relentless with his words, “You sold the mana weapons to Council. The eclipse is behind them, didn’t you know?”

  “I also got the news late. Who’d have thought that Xandor who almost eradicated the old council would take the side of new one. These elves had no loyalty, how could they shake hands with the one who murdered their brethren in cold blood. I use to believe the pride Elves had, but it seems desperation undermined their resolves, My prince—

  “My prince, my foot, get them back.” Hans ordered, “Xandor might already have my father as undead and now you’ve handed our power to them too. Get them back this instant.”

  “Do you think, if I ask to give refund they’ll happily agree and return our goods?” Arat responded curt.

  “Then rig those weapons somehow, can you control it or explode it.” Hans questioned, his face looking for any hope in the response.

  “No we take pride in our inventions. Our weapons are without any flaws but I offered the same condition to Royals too, it was them who didn’t accept it.”

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “You disappoints me Arat. You fucked up bad, you’ll have to take responsibility—

  “I’ll resign myself,” Arat interrupted the charade, explaining, “I think, my age is catching up to me. I’m not as sharp as I was before—

  “You want to run away after throwing shit at my face, PM. No, I won’t allow it.” Hans also cut him off. “You’ll join the royal side and fight for them to redeem yourself.” He commanded, and it was somewhat good news for the people who came here to corner Hans. Many of them wanted the same but their faces were baffled, and it was not because of Hans’s terrific acting but what he said earlier about the undead Samson still being with Eclipse.

  “Hey… nephew… what did you say about.. your father—

  “Arat believes Xandor still have my father’s body.” Hans explained but Arat from the communication orb interrupted. “I’ll explain to them. You weren’t aware of the dealings, so just go back and do what you were doing.”

  Hans showed some reluctance but as the other nodded in agreement, he was forced to step outside the board room. “Now we are in this War business. No matter which side wins, our weapons will rain on both, dwindling their power.” He was thinking, “Planning an armistice would be fine but not before we dwindle their powers to nothing. How is my revenge queen Reina. I wish I could see your face right now.”

  He succeeded at the cost of Arat’s plummeting reputation. The man known for not making mistakes became a joke but if it was for Parv, Arat was ready to bear any humiliation.

  A few days turned like the pages of an old book. Vanir was searching for Hans like a madman on Delimira’s behest but he was nowhere to be found. Finally, he got the clue when someone said they saw him around task hall.

  “Senior.. Senior.” He gasped, “There is big problem. Senior Winters.. asked for you by the Spacedoor. Clandorians—

  Hans didn’t listen the rest and took off with full speed. He almost crashed by the Spacedoor as his eyes met Chris and Delimira arguing with some elves. “What’s happening here?” He asked standing up.

  His eyes reached where Delimira was looking at. Several elves, probably from Clandor was in heated conversation with her. “You can’t take her.” She said to them, her voice loud.

  “What are they talking about?” He looked ahead and finally spotted a little girl he knew standing behind those elves. They encircled her, their stances protective.

  “We have orders, Concordia already verified. Stop getting in our way, half-blood.” A woman, mage of Clandor who looked like the leader of the group showed written permissions.

  Hans came by her side with long strides. “What are you doing Winters?”

  “These people wants to take Allynna back.” She answered in a hushed voice.

  “So, let them be,” He darted his eyes at the letter that woman was showing, “They have written permission.”

  “You don’t understand Hans. This is a trap, Reina would never call her there in these volatile times. I can’t contact anyone in Clandor, some sort of jamming spells are restricting any communication.”

  “Then how did Concordia verified?” Hans asked.

  “They have the queen’s seal.”

  “Hmm.” Hans asked her in the same hushed fashion, “So who are these jokers?”

  “Probably from other…no..” she paused, “probably from the Crows.”

  “The shadow family?” Hans confirmed, “The royalties who had no claim to the throne, right?”

  “Yes.” Delimira nodded.

  “Then let her go,” Hans shrugged his shoulders, “Reina should know how it feels to loose a child too. After what she did to me, I want her to feel that. These people would try to leverage something over queen.”

  “No, save her—

  “Are you serious. You want me to save the child of the woman who tried to murder me.” Hans was bewildered, “I’m not that big of a pushover Deli.”

  “This isn’t being pushover, Hans,” Delimira said, her eyes darting to Allynna. “She’ll be the next queen. Take this chance to make her indebted.” Her eyes turned to him, her face close to his. “I know Allynna. On the account of saving her, she will become a roadblock for Reina to attack you. You are missing an opportunity to sow seeds of conflict between them.”

  “That is far fetch Deli.” Hans shook his head, “They are mother and daughter, its not something I can get between.”

  “Then how about this, it would be a hard slap on Reina’s face.” Delimira tried to reason with him, “You could have taken advantage of this situation, but you’re better than her, a coward who cornered you all by yourself.”

  “I still need justification—

  “Just save her goddamnit.” She was furious at him for acting slow.

  “Fine. Vanir, fetch my communication orb. Professor Walter, I’m about to do something crazy. Deal with the aftermath. You can even undermine Professor Aredhel with this—click.” The message ended. He inhaled hard and shouted at the elves, especially Allynna. “Hey shrimp, do you want to go back with them?”

  Delimira frustratingly interjected. “Don't dillydally Hans—

  “No i don't want to” Unexpected, Allynna responded.

  “What are you talking princess” the elf leader tried to convince her but before she could say more, Hans intervened, “Then ask me. Ask me daughter of Reina Clandor to save you.”

  Hans addressed her not by name but as her mother’s daughter. Allynna was naive but not the others who heard him. If she asks, it would be an example for world to remember that Reina couldn’t protect her heir but Hans did.

  “Yes please, I don’t want to go back.” Allynna responded, her voice pleading.

  The powerful onlookers who heard her pleading could have stopped this but stayed silent. The volatile relationship between Parv and Clandor in these chaotic times made everyone cautious. After all, to avoid getting caught up in these political dramas, they’d moved to stay in Concordia. As long as the protocols were followed, they didn’t care.

  However, since Hans had heard the plight, he was going to respond. “Zwoom!” The area quickly turned to Void zone. He whispered to Delimira, “I don’t like to be used Deli, this is the last time.” He then turned to the crowd, “You've heard her pointies, the shrimp wants to stay.”

  “Its not her for decide.” The escort leader interrupted, “The orders were to get her back, period. By what right you are stopping it. Even Concordia is not interfering.” She pointed at the many professors who were watching the scene. Nobody wanted to get involve when everything was going by the book.

  “By what right you ask.” Hans grinned, “ The right of being strong, this is just kidnapping. You want her, ask Reina to settle her score with me and get her.”

  “Woosh!” All of a sudden she was coiled in tendrils and pulled into Hans’s hands. “You wanna take her? Leave your heads here.”

  “You’d regret this Hans Parv—

  “Get in line. Many said the same and are six feets under.”

  “Are you all going to watch?” The elven leader tried pleading support from onlookers. “We brought all official paperwork. We did every tedious procedure. Are you, highly respected professors will let this brat of a prince rub his filthy actions in the pride of great Concordia.”

  The words were true and it was wrong of Hans to do this. He was breaking the law of Concordia. But before some wise person interrupted Hans claimed his ground, “The elven princess has officially asked the aid of Parvian prince. This is a matter between nations do not get involve.”

  Whatever the elven escort woman had said got negated instantly. He scoffed, “Go back from whatever hole you crawled from, pointies.”

  Things started to heated up, Both Hans and the escorts were ready to collide but Walter came to save the day. “Since her CastleMaster is not here, the sub-master had made the decision. Please go back and relay this to her guardian. Since this is troublesome time, if she wants her daughter to return come here herself. Till than, she will be safe here.” Walter showed them the direction of SpaceDoor.

  “You are getting involved in politics of Clandor, Warlord Walter.” One of the elf countered.

  “Please go back. That punk is not something I can control.”

  “Tsk,” regretting, the escorts stepped inside the Spacedoor, scheduled for Clandor but found themselves in a dense forest, where an eerie presence lied waiting for them.