World of Alvarra: Rise of the Vampire Lord

Chapter 146 The Traitor Lyn

Van and the group were escorted into a large chamber, what must be the throne room. It was packed full of hundreds of fairies, crammed into the sides of the room, most likely refugees and others who fled here. Considering the large columns filled with runes that made up the room, it wasn't hard to see why this was probably the safest place in the entire tree.

As they walked up the carpet towards the throne, the unmistakable presence and dignity of high queen Gloria Viridia was clear, as they drew nearer to the throne at the end. Beside Gloria were several generals, one of which was particularly closer to her than the others with one of those, resting bitch faces.

As the group was pushed towards the end of their walk, a messenger flew forward and whispered something into Gloria's ear, to which she only nodded, as if the information did not surprise her. Van took this time to also look around and was surprised to see Elena in the crowd, her eyes widening when they saw each other.

"So, Van... we meet again... though I hoped it would be under... better circumstances..." Gloria said, addressing the group, her tone restrained but with the barest hint of... irritation? Anger? An emotion that was hard to place.

Van straightened his back, then gave a small bow of his head. "Queen Gloria... I couldn't agree more..." trying to figure out how to say his next words as carefully as he could. "When last we left we-"

"HOW DARE YOU NOT KNEEL!" the general nearest Gloria yelled. "Get on your knees this instant!"

Van froze and the rest of his group tensed up. The soldiers surrounding him did the same, ready for anything. He didn't know what to do, should he kneel right now? Or was it too late? And even if it wasn't, should he? His hands gripped the empty air where his bag used to be, the guards had taken anything that could have been deemed a weapon or hidden one, plus the runes of this place seemed to prevent him from accessing his soul realm. Making him very uncomfortable.

"Calm down Saline... I'm already well aware of their rudeness, and we have more important matters to discuss..." Gloria intervened gently, her hard eyes never leaving Van and the group.

Van swallowed, feeling the tension of the room build-up and being very unnerved by it. He did his best to play off what just happened as if nothing happened at all. "Thank you..." with another small bow of the head. "As I was just about to say... we parted on bad terms... something I wished to remedy when next we meet again, if ever... I didn't learn about how rude I was until... Evergreen..." carefully using Amie's old name at this moment. "Explained my error..." looking around quickly.

"Where... is she by the way..." using his most polite voice, but genuinely worried and hoping that she would come to his rescue of this strange development.

"That..." Gloria said, now leaning forward, her eyes turning harder. "Is something 'I' would like to know..." steepling her fingers together and looking for all the world like a mama bear that had someone mess with her cub.

Van's face lost some color, he knew now that something was definitely wrong and wasn't adding up. "I... do not understand..." he admitted. "The whole reason why we are here is because we couldn't get in contact with her. Nor has she returned when she should have..."

"Just another thing to blame on that traitor Lyn!" the general Saline said. "And now you come, pretending like you don't know what she's done!? You should be executed and-"

"Enough!" Gloria said, cutting Saline off with a sharp move of her hand.

Van froze once more, trying to make sense of what the general just said. "Lyn? A traitor? That's impossible!? What the hells is going on!?"

Gloria took control of the conversation. "Sadly... what Saline said is true... until further notice, Lyn... is to be considered a traitor, and anyone who is associated with her, a suspect and accomplice in her crimes..."