Ser Akimitsu had been inside his private room since his group had gone to collect wood snakes. He was having a nice time since morning because Counselor Padoreigu hadn’t come in his sight.
When Lord Wernh’An gets cured, I will get Padoreigu exiled from Hilcastle for his ill advice. Ser Akimitsu watched soldiers lighting fire in the camp yard. Trees around the castle area had shed all the snow on their leaves because of the mild earthquake some time ago. This was the rare occasion to see something green.
No, I will get Padoreigu killed. I will convince Lord that he is treacherous and doesn’t believe in Wutke. Droplets of contempt were taking big shape inside his head.
He would have been plotting more if he hadn’t heard castle gate creek open. The soldiers who had been making tea sprinted for the gate, leaving their kettles suspended over the fire. Ser Akimitsu also shut the window and left off for Genzou’s working chamber. On his way he encountered with guards rushing for the gate. Most of them had hay strands over their backs. He also got to see some Short Cloak sorcerers going for the entrance.
In Genzou’s room Ser Akimitsu found him working alone.
“Ser Akimitsu, I was thinking about you.” Genzou smiled.
Ser Akimitsu looked at high cupboards on every side of the wall, “Great to see nothing shattered due to the quake.”
“It doesn’t even get my acceptance as an earthquake.” Genzou drained every drop of potion from the spatula and placed it on a plate.
“Are you done with it?”
“Yes but the liquid needs to be hot during the procedure.”
The knight stretched his neck and noticed the half filled cauldron with bubbling potion.
“Don’t mind it. I had prepared full but didn’t know it would take them so long to return. Half of it evaporated.” Genzou pointed at the thick liquid.
“Careful.” Voices reverberated from the passage.
“I’m okay. Stop touching me!” it was Commander Eiga’s voice.
Voices grew louder and clamors became audible. In no time, Commander Eiga arrived with Shinji along with some soldiers.
Genzou inspected for the musician as well as sorcerers.
“Where is the musician?” he asked.
“Dead.” Commander Eiga said.
“You lost the violin?”
“Tree and the sorcerers too.”
“Didn’t those snakes got tamed or what?” Genzou was sweating.
“We got tamed.” Shinji intervened.
He took out the pearls from his pocket and dropped them on the table. When he put another bunch of pearls then they rolled on table while some of them bounced on floor after dropping.
“While trying to collect these, snakes woke up.” Commander Eiga uttered.
“You think these little s**** are more significant than our skilled sorcerers?” Ser Akimitsu fired at Commander Eiga, kicking some pearls while marching at where Eiga was.
“Be careful on how you speak, knight.”
“Then answer me if respect is what you want. Are these more valuable than our men?”
“I would not compare, Ser Akimitsu.” Counselor Padoreigu spoke from the door, “When the three foes of Chosokabes merge together to make a formidable singularity then their crown would require these precious pearls to be bedded on it.”
“Don’t you consider immediate threats as important too, Padoreigu?”
Some people gasped when Ser Akimitsu called him mere by his name.
“There is no immediate threat, Ser Akimitsu.” Commander Eiga broke their conversation. He cut the ropes which tied the pot on Shinji’s back.
Shinji stretched his back when the burden was off.
“We have captured some snakes here.” By pushing aside the pearls, Eiga put the pot on the floor.
“Open the lid, please.” Genzou said proceeding to speak with Shinji, “And you, empty your pockets. I want every single pearl you are carrying.”
Shinji nod and put his hands in his pocket.
Commander Eiga pulled his hand immediately after touching the pot lid.
“Hot!” the commander blew on his fingers.
Eiga caught a cloth from the table, used it like a glove and started unscrewing the tight lid. Fire erupted out of the pot as soon as the lid left its place.
