AfterDuo

Chapter 17

The door swung open and Spencer strode in. Alaric and Amelia flanked him, like guards escorting a prisoner. The room was massive, with cloudy walls and pillars going on forever. And at the far end sat a man on a throne.

He was tall and broad, lounging like a jaguar. He wore a royal blue jacket with white gold plate armor. He almost looked like Fortitudo, but his eyes were a human brown. Still, as Spencer got closer, he sensed a hunger that seemed to have no end. It radiated out from the man like the sun. Sir Beirland, High Councilor of War.

Katie sensed something and she was uneasy about it. Tomala noticed and raised her head. "What?"

"I don't know, but it isn't good." The two goddesses looked at the still pacing Tokali and sighed, waiting and prepared for a fight.

Spencer put on a charming smile and walked forward. He looked relaxed, but he was poised on a knife's edge mentally. He knew that he'd have to move fast if he was going to survive this encounter if things were to turn ugly. He just hoped that Katie would have the good sense to stay back.

Spencer reached the foot of the stairs that Beirland sat on and opened his mouth to speak. Before he could say anything, the man held up his hand.

"No need to speak, Spencer Cyrus James, I know what you want," His voice was like boulders grinding together and it made the young lad's teeth buzz. "and the answer is no."

Tokali became even more nervous and pawed at the door. Katie and Tomala both were tense but stayed where they were. Ready to fight.

Spencer's smile wavered, but he continued.

"Oh really? And why is that, High Councilor?" Spencer asked, curious as to why he was being rejected outright. Beirland smirked, straightening in his chair.

"Why would your membership be worth more than destroying a dangerous threat to all of humanity?" Beirland questioned.

"Fair question. But is Katie a threat to humanity?" Spencer parried, and riposted. Beirland chuckled.

"Of course she is, destroying The Barrier with little to no effort is not something we can simply ignore. To overcome such powerful magic is nothing to sneeze at. And she has shown herself to be highly unstable. I doubt that it's any stretch to imagine that if allowed to live forever, she will likely snap and could destroy everything." Beirland answered as if he were explaining that 2+2=4. Spencer nodded.

"I agree that she definitely has the power to destroy all we hold dear, but I doubt she would. Besides, from my understanding of your abilities, your Order could easily destroy humanity as well. So that argument is void." Spencer fired back. Alaric smiled, realizing that the lad had trapped his foe between admitting he was weak, and admitting that killing Katie was hypocritical. He was trapped between his pride and his ideals.

Katie and Tomala had to tie Tokali up. Amelia growled out, "Why would you want to to kill her when the Prophecy of the gods says that she could be the one to harmonize humanity!"

"Bah! That Prophecy is a sham, dreamt up by the gods to keep us dependant on them." Beirland waved her off. Amelia flushed in anger, but Alaric intervened.

"Don't bother, you won't change his mind." He said, sighing as he did. Beirland looked over at Alaric, focusing on him for the first time.

"Ah, the Great Hunter Alaric has graced us mortals with his presence. What business do you have in this boy?" Alaric said nothing, knowing that revealing their connection would endanger both of the. Beirland shrugged. "Fine, I really couldn't care less about the boy. He is dust beneath my feet, and dust shouldn't speak with a man." Spencer finally dropped his smile.