“What has our differences got to do with the issue on ground?” One of the Nobles asked, his long mount pointed in the direction of the Family Lords. “I mean, it’s their duty to fight and ours to rule, isn’t that so?” The long mouthed figure added with a click of his tongue.
He looked like a rat, hair scarcely available on his head and even his brows seemed to have been shaved off. They were missing! Despite the luxurious embroidered black and silver robe he wore, he didn’t look like a figure who’d felt wealth for years.
“What you’ve just said is only half correct.” Great Elder White Fang pointed out. This time, he took slow strides towards the man who’d just spoken. “Duke Rito, it is indeed the role of Nobles like you to rule.” The Great Elder sighed as he stood behind the man who’d just spoken against the Lords who simply remained quiet so the Great Elder could handle it.
“However, the job of the Fated Families is to fight like you stated, not protect you all. They’ve been blessed by the gods with talents needed to fight off the demons and that is their sole aim. Protecting you is only an extension of their benevolence.” The Great Elder’s explanation shocked a lot of them as they weren’t aware of this.
“What?”
“How can that be?”
“The Gods will not allow it!”
Great Elder White Fang chuckled, “Oh they will,” he sgrinned as he walked back to his seat, the one beside the Emperor who chose to remain quiet and be educated.
“As a matter of fact, they’ve done it a good number of times. I’ve been here longer than any of you,” Great Elder White Fang paused as he met eyes with a certain middle-aged lady sitting amongst the Family Lords, “with the exception of the Lord of the Shena Family.”
The middle-aged beauty smiled as he addressed her but said nothing else. She was indeed old. Older than everyone present and yet, she looked like she was in her mid thirties with her golden yellow hair, yellow eyes and peach colour lined lips. Even her body, the hourglass figure, could make one doubt the words of the Great Elder who’s known to never lie.
“I have seen it happen more than once. Towns getting abandoned by the warriors of the Fated Families during the wars and these warriors faced no consequence whatsoever as no one could face a Fated Family without being one.” Great Elder White Fang chuckled as he spoke. Seemingly recalling past memories.
Great Elder White Fang frowned as he clicked his tongue in frustration. “Tch! We’ve deviated from the right path due to your long mouth.” The old man said pointing his fingers toward Duke Rito who’d initially cause the deviation.
“But I didn’t mean…”
“Keep quiet and listen when I talk or I’ll have you stripped of your nobility.” Great Elder White Fang frowned, his brow furrowing greatly as he glared at the rat-like noble.
Duke Rito kept quiet, afraid to say another word, being aware that Great Elder White Fang was indeed capable of doing so. The old man was of a higher noble background after all.
“Back to the subject of the day. As I said, I’ll need you all to let aside your differences and come together under one banner, one head and one leadership.” The Great Elder’s tone sounded almost like he was pleading with them. “This is the only way to ensure things don’t go wrong in the future.”
They all nodded, not a single one making another attempt to cause a ruckus like Duke Rito had done.
“Good! Now that we’ve settled that aspect, let’s discuss a little more.” Elder White Fang clapped his hands together with a warm smile. “Our discussions today will cover the preparations for the next twelve months.”
“Starting with surveillance and scouting, researching, mapping out territories, forming alliances and many more.”
Emperor Tagharn raised his hand to ask a question and the Great Elder took this opportunity to drag Duke Rito. “And that’s how you interrupt a meeting. Duke Rito, do you understand?”
“Yes, Great Elder.” Duke Rito said with his head bowed and his eyes fixed on the table. ‘Tch! Making a mockery of me here, huh?’ Duke Rito clicked his tongue mentally.
After receiving permission to speak, the Emperor asked his question. “We’ve discussed the first three you mentioned. I’m pretty sure everyone here understands those aspects to a great degree so how about we skip them to the others. We can come back to discuss these three later.”
“Indeed. Firstly, we’ll need to create alliances all around. The Eastern Shirefort Continent is smaller than the other three continents and so preparation will undoubtedly be faster.” The Great Elder began, still walking around instead of taking his seat. “However, the others might have information that we do not have and vice versa.”
King Derek raised his hand as well and was immediately granted the chance to speak. “Are you suggesting we hold a meeting with the other continents? That is going to take a lot of string pulling as well as time.”
Elder White Fang nodded. “That might be correct but what if we instead send representatives?” His question was met with a lot of humming. Ones that seemed to agree with the elder’s suggestion. “These representatives will relay our desire to form an alliance and also request for the others to also nominate representatives.
This way, these representatives will discuss and then relay the details of the discussions to us.”
Emperor Tagharn nodded with a smile. “Sounds like a plan. I like it.”
“As for the other things we’ll be doing, it’ll be discussed among these representatives as it will include all continents.” Great Elder White Fang stopped walking Around and tapped his forehead lightly.
“As for now, we’ll have to deal with the first three I mentioned. The surveillance and scouting, researching, and territorial mapping. We can begin those as soon as we set up the required parties. I’ll begin work on those.” Lazily, Great Elder White Fang walked back to his seat.
“One question before this meeting comes to an end.” Emperor Tagharn stated. “Who are our representatives?” The Emperor asked curiously.