Chapter nineteen (7)

The spear did not stop, but as it almost touched Lady Steinhouse, a hand manifested and grabbed it in place. Slowly, a figure of a monk could be seen. Like so, seven more monks dressed in brown garbs appeared. The eyes of Lord Hane shrunk. The monk turned the spear and threw it back at the young man. The spear was swift, stabbing through him and shattering as it came out from the other side.

"Lint!" Lord Hane called after his second son.

The monks drew their prayer beads and slashed through the air, causing a buzzing sound to slice through the arena. The shadows hanging in the sky shrieked and fell, revealing about thirty men. The smell of their burning flesh filled the air as they wailed and slowly burnt away. When they were all gone, the monks disappeared.

"The Religion. The holy knights. You have gotten yourself into a little of a bind there, my friend," a man stood and started to make his way down the stands. The crowd was, if anything, shocked out of their minds. They had heard of martial arts before but never had they thought they would be able to see such a display. People died, yes, but their eyes had been opened.

"Protector Klienn, so this is why you did not worry about her safety. What is she holding, a stay-away order? I wonder how you were able to pull that off. Wait, you can't. The Ligrel clan cannot get The Religion to give them a stay-away; but your new son-in-law, Lord Steinhouse can, right?" the man said and the crowd whispered. Lord Steinhouse? He was capable of such? Many did not understand what was going on, and it seemed that those involved did not care that they were there. It was as if they were invisible. Many nobility started to feel small in the presence of such powers.

"That stay-away order, you must dispose of it," the man said and Lady Steinhouse frowned.

"You know of the Ancient-pact. There must be stability, no power stronger than the other. Lady Steinhouse cannot carry The Religion's stay-away order," another said. He did not even care to stand up, making the commoners who sat beside him shift aside in fear.

Protector Klienn laughed at their words. "My niece couldn't care less about the ancients. Her husband gave her a gift before leaving for work; only he can take it away,"

"So, the Ligrel clan intends to break the pact?" the other man smiled.

"Ofren, your daughter married the son of Maliad, The Great and became the young mistress of the Uriu sea, yet the pact was not broken. I remember then, you had said that your Vigron clan had nothing to do with their work; it was your daughter's fortune to marry such a man and your two organisations remain different. I will return those words to you. Lord Steinhouse's identity is my niece's fortune. The Ligrel clan remains the Ligrel clan," Protector Klienn said.

"This is not Maliad, The Great. This is The Religion," Ofren frowned.

"That does not count. As he is your son-in-law, he will have to take responsibility for your Ligrel clan. If you like him well enough, you may even make him your next chief. After all, Lady Steinhouse is the last of her generation," the other man said.

"Do shut up, all of you," a soft voice said and they looked at the person entering the arena and their eyes shrunk.

"Lady Wickshire," Ofren choked.

"Hiest Hane, your clan have broken the laws of stability and harmony. All of yours same of blood share your crime. In light of your treachery, this lady has dispensed punishment and wiped your bloodline from the world. You will come with me," Lucy said and everyone paused. What? The Marjiont Valley is gone? The other ancients froze. Impossible as it may seem, they dared not doubt her. The existence of the Thraine household is the only reason Other-side have not invaded and conquered them.