Free Web NovelChapter 178: Building Resentment (2)
High above the settlement, in the opulent tower that served as his stronghold, Aric paced back and forth.
His face twisted into a mask of fury and frustration as he received the news of Alex’s death and the defeat of his forces. A trusted messenger stood before him, trembling with fear at the wrath of their ruthless ruler.
"Explain this to me again!" Aric barked, his voice laced with venom. "How could a mere group of settlers defeat my best men? And what happened to Alex? How did he fall so easily?"
"I-I’m not sure, Your Highness." The messenger stammered, trying to find the right words. "The reports said that the Shadowbearer led a powerful defence and had the support of the Phoenixes. They were able to turn the tide against us."
"No... No! This cannot be!" Aric roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force of his anger. "How dare they defy me? How dare they challenge the might of the Kingdom of Ashes?"
His advisors stood nearby, unsure how to react to their ruler’s unprecedented fury. They had seen Aric angry before, but never like this. His eyes burned with a fiery rage, and his normally composed facade was shattered.
"Send a message to the settlement," Aric commanded, his voice low and menacing. "Tell them that they will pay dearly for their insolence. The blood of their precious Shadowbearer will be on their hands." freēwēbηovel.c૦m
His scribe hastily scribbled down the words, the ink smudging as his hand trembled under the weight of Aric’s wrath.
The reason for employing a scribe in Aric’s court had little to do with practicality and everything to do with the delusions that swirled within the ruler’s mind.
Aric, a man consumed by his grandeur, fancied himself a royalty figure due to his unique ability. He yearned for the trappings of nobility, even if it meant conducting business in a manner that seemed ludicrous to those around him.
While his whims might appear childish and nonsensical to outsiders, none among his subjects dared to question his proclivities.
Fear of his unpredictable rage kept their tongues tied, so they played along with his fantasies, catering to his every wish as if he were indeed the royalty he believed himself to be.
The message was filled with threats and promises of destruction, a warning to the settlers that they had provoked a powerful enemy. freēwēbnovel.com
Aric read the message, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. "Yes, that should suffice. Make sure it reaches them swiftly."
As the scribe rushed to carry out the order, Aric’s mind raced with thoughts of revenge. He couldn’t fathom how the settlement had managed to defeat Alex, his cousin, a seasoned warrior and one of his most loyal generals. And the presence of the enigmatic Shadowbearer only fueled his anger further.
"They will regret ever crossing me," Aric growled, his hands shaking with fury. "I will burn their settlement to the ground. I will make them suffer for every drop of blood spilt today."
His advisors exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the violence about to be unleashed. They knew that Aric’s rage knew no bounds and that he would stop at nothing to assert his dominance.
As the message was dispatched, Aric began to pace back and forth in his chamber, his mind consumed with thoughts of vengeance. He had always been a cunning and strategic ruler, but now, blinded by fury, he was willing to abandon all reason in pursuit of his vendetta.
At last, the scribe returned, his face pale and his hands trembling. He delivered the news that the message had been sent to the settlement and that it would only be a matter of time before they received Aric’s threat.
"Good," Aric hissed, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Let them tremble in fear. Let them know that their defiance will bring about their downfall."
His advisors dared not speak, fearing their ruler’s wrath, keeping them silent. They knew there was no reasoning with him now, no chance of dissuading him from his path of vengeance.
"Find out everything you can about this Shadowbearer," Aric commanded his advisors. "I want to know who dares to challenge me, and I want them brought to me alive... so that I can crush that bastard myself!"
His advisors nodded, eager to comply with their ruler’s orders. They knew that failure to uncover the identity of the Shadowbearer would only further enrage Aric and bring about dire consequences.
As the night wore on, Aric’s fury showed no signs of abating. He remained in his chamber, surrounded by darkness and anger, plotting revenge against the settlement and the Shadowbearer.
Even then, Aric couldn’t shake off the unease gnawing at him. There was something off about the information Marcus had given him regarding the Shadowbearer.
According to Marcus, this individual heavily relied on his unique abilities. If that were true, the negator Aric had provided to Alex should have been sufficient to handle this so-called Shadowbearer.
Yet, Alex’s failure in dealing with the Shadowbearer made Aric suspicious. He couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story that Marcus had conveniently left out.
It seemed plausible that Marcus either made a mistake in his account or intentionally withheld crucial details, perhaps with the ulterior motive of wanting Aric to fail.
"Marcus... what are you hiding?" Aric murmured under his breath, half expecting the shadows themselves to answer him.
As Aric pondered the possibilities, he couldn’t ignore the growing sense of unease in his gut. The uncertainty weighed heavily on his mind, leaving him restless and unable to sit still.
He knew he had to get to the bottom of this matter, as the truth about the Shadowbearer could make all the difference between success and failure in his plans.
In the distance, the echoes of Alex’s defeat still reverberated, haunting Aric’s senses. He knew that he couldn’t afford any more failures. And if Marcus had contributed to Alex’s downfall, he would need to confront him and demand the truth, regardless of the consequences.
"Just wait... Shadowbearer. I’ll make you regret ever crossing paths with me."
