TBATE-ALLIANCE

Chapter 33

Seris Vritra POV

I stepped into the Scythe's meeting room under Taegrin Caelum, and my eyes flicked to the two figures in the room. The first figure was Melzri, who was sitting at the table with an irritated expression, with her eyes locked on the wall across from her. Behind her was Mawar, who stood there silently with her head down and her hands clasped to the small of her back.

"You don't look very happy," I commented.

Melzri's eyes shot to me and narrowed. "Should I be? I doubt the High Sovereign has called us here to praise us for our failure."

I walked over to my seat with Cylrit walking directly behind me. I was about to grab my chair to pull it out when Cylrit grabbed it first and pulled it out for me. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, and he gave me a nod, keeping a straight face. Though, I could see the affection and protectiveness behind those beautiful eyes of his. The corners of my lips rose slightly, and I shot him a subtle wink before I took my seat. Cylrit pushed my chair in, and I clasped my hands on the table as Cylrit stepped back, standing behind me. My eyes flicked to Melzri's right hand, seeing her index finger tapping the table repeatedly.

I looked back at her facial features, seeing her brows were slightly scrunched up, and her gaze was now locked on the table. "Nervous?"

Her eyes flicked up, and her gaze met mine. "Aren't you? The High Sovereign hasn't exactly been in the best of moods lately."

Melzri was speaking the truth. Agrona has been riled lately, constantly checking in with Melzri and me to see what the status of the rebellion was. And if this rebellion wasn't enough for him, Nicht and Sameer have been killed in Darv by none other than Arthur himself.

However, Rohan had also informed me that Arthur passed out and had to be taken to Dicathen's secret floating castle to recover and hadn't yet rejoined the battlefield. He's also been keeping me informed on Darv's status, which is how I know that the Dicathen Lances are currently preparing to lay siege to the dwarven city of Vildorial, with Alice Leywin leading the charge.

"Perhaps he wants to commend us for our hard work so far." I jested.

Melzri's fists clenched, her eyes narrowed, and she gritted her teeth. "Is this some joke to you?! We've been tasked to quash this rebellion, and we've done nothing but fail him!"

"Yes. You have."

My head snapped toward the voice, seeing Agrona standing in the doorway. His hands were clasped to the small of his back, his crimson eyes were shooting daggers at Melzri, and he held an unreadable expression.

Melri and I shot up from our chairs, and the four of us already in the room knelt. My eyes flicked up, seeing Agrona just standing there. He didn't say a word or move a muscle as his eyes flicked to the four of us individually. When his eyes flicked to me, I quickly looked at the ground again and held them there for a brief moment before I looked back up to Agrona.

He took in a deep breath, "Rise. Sit."

The four of us stood, and Melzri and I took our seats. I looked back at Agrona as he slowly and elegantly stepped into the room, keeping his hands clasped together. I followed him with my eyes as he walked behind Melzri. I saw him shoot Mawar a narrowed-eyed look, and the girl practically flinched out of her skin and looked at the ground. I held back a chuckle, keeping my composer, as Agrona walked to the end of the table.

Agrona turned to face us and placed his hands on the backrest of the fine black leather chair. He looked straight forward at the wall across from him. He seemed deep in thought for a moment before his eyes flicked to Melzri. Melzri's eyes fell downcast to the table, seeming to avoid eye contact with him. His gaze then flicked to me, and I met his crimson eyes, refusing to break eye contact. The corners of his lips rose slightly, almost in amusement.