bookpub Chapter 570 A Play For Power - Part 1
Chapter 570 A Play For Power - Part 1
"Then, I withdraw from the floor," Hod decided. "Lady Blackthorn, Lord Idris, thank you both for your time. I feel you've shed a considerable amount of light on the happenings here today."
They both nodded, understanding their dismissal. They bowed, first to the minister, and then Verdant bowed to his Lord, whilst Lady Blackthorn gave a respectful nod to the one that had earned her praise from her father. Such things did not go unnoticed by the gathered nobles, but whether they were given the worth that they deserved, that was another question.
"Then, Ministers of Coin and of Information, the floor is once more yours," General Tavar announced, a Hod withdrew reluctantly back to his seat. He seemed like a wound-up dog, unwilling to sit in one place for very long, a complete contrast to the man who always seemed to be falling asleep on that tall throne of his.
Jolamire stood up with a swift stepping of feet, and Lazarus trailed after him more carefully, leaning heavily on that staff of his.
"Troubling assertions," Lazarus announced to the crowd, as though pained by what had happened. "I did not think I would see such conflict here, in the Minister's Halls. I do not recall a single past trial in which our competition has descended to such levels of... wrath."
Hod made no reaction to that comment. He looked like he wanted to, but he simply closed his mouth, and ignored the Minister of Information instead. It seemed to be the Minister of Information that he was particularly impatient for – the Minister of Coin he was at least willing to address.
"Indeed," Jolamire adjoined. "At times, a better man would express that people often have a certain difference in view... but there seem to be limits even to that. Some might even call it a stretching of the truth..."
At that, Hod's eyebrow twitched. Had he been allowed to speak – or had he dared to speak without Tavar's inevitable wrath descending down on him – he would have had a considerable amount to say about the two Minister's choice twisting of words.
She walked with purpose, and a different sort of grace to that which most nobles possessed. This was a woman that seemed to have the utmost faith in her appearance.
Most noble ladies inclined their noses slightly upwards for a sense of balance and poise as they walked, but this girl took it the extreme, her nose was thoroughly pointed upwards, and she walked with such an air of pomposity that it was as though she was visiting a peasant's tavern rather than the ornate and prestigious Minister's Hall.
She drew herself up towards the spot where all the other witnesses had stood, and finally lowered her eyes to address the Ministers that stood in front of her. To their credit, none of them flinched, despite her inadvertent display of disrespect." Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
"Thank you for coming, Miss Redborne," Jolamire said. "I understand you are... acquainted with Oliver Patrick."
She nodded deeply, and turned to look right at Oliver, before declaring that she indeed was. Oliver got a good chance to study her as she did so, and he did so with a thoroughness that he hadn't applied to anyone else that day.
"I understand it is a somewhat... unfortunate link that ties you together," Jolamire pressed.
"It is indeed," Sophia said, sniffing lightly, and putting on a remorseful look. "Would that I could keep it hidden away forever... but my conscience will not allow it. Yellow-shirted or blue-shirted, I cannot merely allow those that would so cruelly harm another individual to run free."
"Indeed, a most moral sentiment," Lazarus said, bobbing his head.