Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Thirty-Seven.

"I'm coming with you", I demanded, my voice loud and clear as I slipped into whatever pants was in reach. I was just about to pull a shirt over my head, as I heard Nyshard's answer "You don't have to. You should go to sleep"

Scowling at him, I hissed "You don't really expect me to sleep peacefully when I know Phylon is up to something. Why would he close his borders if he didn't plan anything? What else did Caaln say?"

Nyshard hesitated for a moment, then he handed me my socks and my boots.

"We'll meet the others in my study."
I slipped into my boots and took his offered hand.

A moment of flashing colours later, the study appeared around me. Blinking, I took a moment to adjust. I still wasn't used to teleporting that much.

I felt Nyshard's hand at my elbow, steadying me. When I looked up, I saw the corner of his mouth flinch a bit, but then he pressed a quick kiss onto my forehead and turned to face the others.

Caaln was leaning over the map which lay stretched out on the big table, Brayhd was pacing the room while Dylana was standing at a tray, pouring wine.

She was the only one Nyshard greeted directly. He strode to her, quickly took in her appearance, then he put his hand on her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. It was such a rare display of affection, and I greatly enjoyed seeing Nyshard being like that with his sister ever since he knew she was pregnant. Of course, their relationship had always been special and loving, but this... there was a protectiveness in him.

I already knew he would adore his little nephew or niece to no end one day.

But as soon as he turned away from Dylana, his face was a mask of cold calculation.
"Caaln", he said.

Caaln immediately started "I informed you the minute I received the message. Not a single word from Lord Phylon, but Assdirn Flenn has closed its borders, and if we add this to the other reports..." – "... then Phylon is drawing his troops together, preparing for war." Nyshard stepped to the map and his gaze followed an invisible line. He stood tall and with authority and was every bit the Lord he was raised to be.

The room was silent, apparently everyone was waiting for his command. But much to my surprise, Nyshard turned his head to me, his jaw set. Whatever he was searching in my face, he seemed to have found it, because the next moment, he said "Brayhd, please arrange for a Council meeting. Tomorrow. We need all of them here, Aaran, Styslad. It's time to confront Styslad. And before Aaran complains about the meeting being held here, make it clear that I will definitely not leave Adriyele here while I am in Hym Laarn, and I will also not bring her to Naarsd."
"What if Styslad or Aaran still object?"
Nyshard raised his eyebrow "They won't if they will not be called a traitor by the rest of the Council."

Brayhd nodded and immediately grabbed some papers to start writing said letters at Nyshard's table.

"If Styslad does not join, then he's a traitor, too", Dylana said, "But I still cannot believe he would kill another Lord. Why? What could be his reasoning?"
"Impossible to say", her mate answered.

"We've already been wondering about that for the past two weeks", Caaln cut in, "and now... Phylon. Closing up his damned borders."

"There might be a reason for it", Nyshard murmured absently, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Such as siding with Dartun?", Caaln cut in, "yeah, probably. And I bet the bastard had something to do with his father's death, too."

"He has more might as a Lord now. The power of the artefact...", Brayhd mused.