CHAPTER 35: THE HIGH GOVERNORS

A few moments passed before the large doors Norrin and Captain Reynold Graykeeper waited in front of opened, and they were again met by the High Governor’s envoy.

“The High Governor is prepared to see you now. You may enter,” He annonced as he motioned Norrin and Graykeeper inside.

Their footsteps echoed across the grand auditorium that made up the High Governor’s Chamber. The chamber itself was shaped like a large, inverted triangle. It was a sparce and utilitarian space only decorated with dark portraits of influential Highborn citizens of the past. A high stained-glass ceiling served as the sole inlet for natural light, creating a gloomy and serious atmosphere inside.

Beads of sweat formed on Norrin’s brow when he noticed there was an entire audience in attendance for their meeting. Carved wooden stadium seats with plus brown leather cushions lined two walls of the room. On the left side sat the Judges, in their long gray robes. They hid their faces with nondescript silver masks, which supposedly represented their impartiality in all matters. In truth Norrin knew that this was frequently that not the case.

On the right, were the Under Governors. These elite men were uniformed in thigh length, navy blue jackets adorned with gold buttons, blue pants, and white gloves. They wore thick golden chains around their necks from which large gemstone studded pendants hung. The pendants were unique to each Under Governor, emblems of their patriarchal houses and the districts they represented. Norrin despised them also, because they were supposed to represent the interest of the people, but instead they represented the interest of lining their own pockets.

On the far wall in front of Norrin and Graykeeper sat the High Governor’s pulpit. Elevated on a high platform, the large solid wood desk was covered in hallowed etchings and fixed on each leg was a gem encrusted golden paw. Norrin and Graykeeper were stunned to not only see High Governor Blackhelm seated behind the huge lectern, but also the presence of High Governor Emberdane of Snowall and High Governor Fargust of Steelhaven. This was no mere Parliament meeting, and the battle that took place outside of the Citadel was not by happenstance. There was something larger brewing between the Triton Realm and the Emerald Nation, and Norrin found himself in the middle of the conflict.

Norrin muscles tensed and his jaw tightened as they approached the pulpit. He overheard the Judges and Under Governors murmuring and whispering amongst each other. The clash that took place outside the citadel had them all nervous and fearful. They seemed to be having a hard time sitting still in their plush seats. The lot of them in a constant state of shifting their body weight and rocking back and forth with anxiety. The presence of all three High Governors added to the sense of unease, because it is rare event when these three men feel the need to be in close physical proximity to each other.

High Governor Samuel Blackhelm sat in the middle of the group. He was a large man almost identical to the bust of his forefather Victor. A look he had cultivated with calculated intent. He revered Victor as did all the Blackhelm men, but Samuel’s idolatry bordered on obsession. In his heart he believed he was the reborn incarnate of Victor Blackhelm and he based his entire persona and style on this belief. The only thing he was missing was trademark scar across his face.

His counterpart High Governor Fargust sat to his left, with his arms crossed. He was dark skinned with a bushy white beard and eyebrows, and a shiny dome of a head. The High Governors of Citadel Steelhaven prided themselves as being able to earn their keep. So even though Fargust was barrel shaped and stout, Norrin understood that lying beneath the surface was pure muscle. Honed from a youth spent working along the commoners in the torchcrystal mines outside of Steelhaven.

Their third peer, High Governor Emberdane of Citadel Snowall was lanky, broad shouldered and tall, equal in height to Graykeeper. He was also similar in complexion, eye, and hair color to the captain. In truth, Norrin believed most of the Highborn and commoners inhabiting Citadel Snowall resembled these two golden blonde pseudo-giants, even the women.

Graykeeper bowed at the waist and lowered his head in subjugation to the High Governors. He shot Norrin a look of disgust and anger when he noticed him not doing the same. Norrin did not care, he was too busy watching Nassima. She materialized into the pulpit and positioned herself almost nose to nose with Blackhelm. The High Governor sat oblivious to the deity staring him in the eyes as he shuffled through his papers. She slowly ran her fingers across his face, tracing a line imitating the scar of Samuel Blackhelm’s ancestor Victor.

Nassima disappeared from her position at the pulpit. She rematerialized by Norrin’s side with a determined and dead serious expression on her face.

“Norrin, you must kill this man.”

“What?” Norrin whispered as he bowed his head, in order to hide the look of utter shock in his face and eyes.

“Kill him now. He is not to be trusted. None of them are.”

“I know that, but I can’t just kill him!”

“Yes, you can. He is a puppet. A tool being used by a greater evil. I held back long ago and I will not make that mistake again.”

“I cannot kill him in front of this entire room.” Norrin struggled to keep his voice low. But he could feel Graykeeper eyeing him with suspicion.

“Kill them all. They probably are all pawns.”

“What? What about the chest?”

“We can find the chest on our own. This may be your only chance to be this close to him. Victor Blackhelm baited me into my entrapment. He must die for his actions!”

“Victor Blackhelm is dead. I do not like nor trust Samuel Blackhelm, but I will not murder him for a transgression his great-great-great grandfather made. Right now, we need to get as much information from him and the other High Governors as possible.”

“Did you say something?” Reynold whispered, curious as to what was going on with Norrin.

“Huh? No um, I’m just reciting the Chaser mantra. I do that when I am nervous,” Norrin lied. He then turned to speak more with Nassima, but she disappeared from his view again.

High Governor Blackhelm made a small gesture with his hand silencing the room and his dark grey eyes stared down at Norrin and Graykeeper. He lingered on them for a minute, his face clearly showing his disdain for the two of them, before he began to speak.

“Captain Reynold Graykeeper. the High Council recognizes and commend your efforts to protect the Citadel from an unprecedented attack,” His voice was deep and reverberated off the walls of the chamber, which amplified the sound so that Norrin and Graykeeper could almost feel it. No doubt a trick of the clever building design.

“However, your primary mission has been deemed a failure. The delivery you were charged with protecting is lost. Give us your report regarding this matter.” Blackhelm ordered.

Graykeeper let out a small cough and cleared his throat before he spoke. This caught Norrin off guard. Sir Reynold Graykeeper, the lauded and fearless Highborn soldier and fabled swordsman, was in fact nervous to face this room of elite men.

“Yes sir, however, my mission would have been successful if not for the appearance of the army of Lizardmen on the outskirts of the Redmere Woods. I believe they picked up our trail when we crossed the Southpoint bridge at the Crescent…”

“Why were you so far south?” Interrupted High Governor Emberdane. “The planned route was to avoid all of the Emerald Nation’s northern borders as much as possible.”

“There was a complication with the planning. Compromises needed to be made after we lost our first Chaser.”

“The Chaser standing next to you now,” marked High Governor Fargust.

“Uh, Yes sir. He went missing and was presumed dead in the Hollow Cliffs. We hired three more Chasers in Citadel Steelhaven, but they too were lost along the route.”

“So,” Blackhelm continued, “four Chasers were lost. But this one has returned unscathed. Why did you believe he had perished in the Hollow Cliffs? Could it be that he simply decided to abandon the convoy without your knowledge?”

Norrin bristled at the accusation and scowled at Blackhelm. Blackhelm stared back and smirked at Norrin, having achieved his goal of getting the Chaser’s attention and eliciting a reaction from him.

“No sir,” answered Graykeeper, who was also a little offended by the allegation, “I witnessed with my own eyes the attack of the blue griffon and how it had flown off with him.”

“A blue griffon? How unique. You must have had a very fascinating adventure Chaser.” Blackhelm questioned, turning his attention to Norrin. “Please regale us with the tale of how you managed to escape from the clutches of a blue griffon.”

The haughty and pompous tone of Blackhelm’s voice irked Norrin to no end. Nassima’s suggestion of ending him and wiping the smug look off ohis face started to seem like a viable idea. But Norrin still wanted to see how much information he would be able to pull out of the High Governors, so he swallowed his pride.

“There isn’t much to tell, sir. The blue griffon grew tired of me. I am lucky to be alive.”

“Ah, luck, the fickle and mercurial paragon of the Chasers,” quipped Blackhelm, “ But, I am sure you did not only rely on the generosity of the Lady Luck. It seems to us, that others have also given you their favor.”

Nassima reappeared behind the High Governor. The rage on her face caused a chill to run down Norrin’s spine.

“I do not follow what you are saying, sir,” answered Norrin.

“Don’t play coy with us Chaser!” bellowed High Governor Fargust.

“We have heard the accounts of what happened on the battlefield. They said you held lightning in your hands, and you moved at the speed of the wind,” added High Governor Emberdane.

Nassima continued to glare. “Strike them down. All of them!” She commanded. Norrin felt her frustration growing and Light’s Reach itching in his hand.

It would be so easy for me to kill Blackhelm and the others High Governors right now. Hell, I can take out this entire viper’s nest with my powers, Norrin mused. But, he caught his thoughts and his conscience spoke to him, They’re not my powers, He reminded himself. I have a mission to fulfill for Nassima, and a Chaser sees his missions through.

With that thought he decided to get the answers he came searching for.