The Whetstone Fist - A LitRPG Series: Episode 8 by Brian K. Declan

Author:Brian K. Declan [Declan, Brian K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brian Declan
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

The Val’ken had many admirable traits. Strength. Both physically and as a leader. He was fair. For the most part. He was articulate. Even in a language that was not his own. But his most impressive trait was his patience.

Which was a bit of a surprise. Lucas half expected him to smash his own court to pieces when he teleported dozens of crates of wood into the middle of the room.

That didn’t happen at all.

The court did turn into a hurricane of activity, but the Val’ken handled it with a calm detachment that Lucas didn’t expect.

First up was Cal’ista. She’d been caught red handed by Val’n and delivered to the court while she was trying to escape. The Val’ken had her detained but delayed judgement until her uncle was present.

Next up was a fairly heated debate about Lucas’s gift. First the court was divided on whether to accept the gift. Then they argued over who would open the crates. Then they argued over who would inventory them. Then they argued over what to do with it. And that’s where they ran out of daylight.

The whole time the Val’ken kept his cool.

But the moment the last of his advisors left the room, he sprang at Lucas with a fist full of void, “You play with fire boy.”

That was about the only thing the Val’ken did that Lucas was expecting. It came late but he was still ready. Lucas tapped his auraband and teleported to the same location he used ‘when he presented his gift to the court’ during his thank you speech, “I’m ready to have a real conversation whenever you are.”

The Val’ken turned to Lucas’s new location as void ran up his arm, “This isn’t a game.”

“On that we disagree,” said Lucas, “But the stakes are high.”

“They are now,” said the Val’ken then he started toward Lucas at a steady march.

“Kuso, Cree’vok,” blurted Val’n then he leapt in front of the Val’ken, “He isn’t our enemy. This is how his people are. Theatrics. Spectacle. That’s what they always do.”

The Val’ken looked like he was going to punch Val’n in the face, but he stopped marching for the stairs. His arm still glowed with void. He lowered his voice to talk to Val’n. Too bad it was so low Lucas couldn’t hear it.

For a little while it almost seemed like Val’n had calmed him down. But then the Val’ken raised his voice, “This child knows nothing of the war we face.”

“You are wrong,” snapped Val’n, “I saw it. I was there. I learned their story.”

“I told you to bring me the head of the family,” said the Val’ken, “The war leader, not a boy who isn’t even finished growing.”

“The war leader, his uncle, is injured,” said Val’n, “Boy or not, he is here now.”

“Bah,” said the Val’ken then he flipped his arm at Val’n and extinguished the void, “If he undermines my court again, you will deal his judgement.”

“Sho, Val’ken,” said Val’n.

Without another word the Val’ken turned on his heel and marched out the back of his courtroom.

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