THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 310: 310. THE COUNCIL’S EARS

The council in the shadows was sitting with urgency this time. There was tension. Since everyone in N’faya had kept their cards close to their chest, daring not to attack him. Those who always worked in the shadows could not be the first to show their hand in such a situation. For a whole year, there had been silence, but then everyone had gone down a rabbit hole trying to find anything to give them an upper hand against the other. Yet they had not expected to wake up to the news that Thazir had taken the knee to the boy overnight.

Bad news sure travelled quickly.

”A gatekeeper says the boy was burned alive by a fireball, but he didn’t die.”

”I did not take you for one to listen to rumours,” Another said.

”I have heard the same news. The boy slaughtered fourteen gatekeepers before pointing a weapon at the heart of the Kai.” Another said.

”Some say the Kai gave in willingly.” The second said

”So all you are telling me today are rumours, and none of you knew the movements of the boy.” The man at the head of the table said.

”Perhaps we greatly underestimated the boy.” The first said again.

”So your men failed to kill one boy is what you are telling me.” The man at the head of the table said.

”He did come alone to the capital with only ten with him. That is a fact,” another said.

”So his army of ten beat Thazir to submission.” The man at the head grew angrier. He could not believe what he was hearing. He had expected the by to give him a chance to use him, but he had acted like the dead when he came south, keeping silent for a year. Then suddenly, he heard the general of the Southern armies had taken a knee to him.

”What about the city lord?”

”It is said he was the one who gave the order to fire the cannonball.” Another answered.

”Is he dead then?” The man at the head of the table asked. He had wanted the boy eliminated for as long as he could remember, but somehow the Kai carried everywhere and had him protected like a hawk.

”He wanted to, I hear. but changed his mind when he realized he was a child. Even so, he dared say that he would not recognize him as city lord,” the first one said again.

”Kind and audacious. If I didn’t know better, I could say you are full of praise for the boy.” The man at the head of the table said.

”Well, he managed to take a whole city with just ten men by his side, and they did not need to lift a finger.

”The veil blades did not return after they faced him.” The woman at the council spoke for the first time. ”Yet you claimed they are undefeated.”

”It could be a difference in strength or blades. The boy wields the weapon we have been searching for. The last whisper, or should I call it silent sand?” Another said.

”He wields the last whisper!!” The woman almost lost his cool. ” Only the N’folu could wield that, and even so, it chooses its owner. Not all N’folu can wield it.”

”So then he is N’folu...” The man at the head of the table said after a moment of silence.

”Impossible!!” The woman said losing his cool. ”It can not be!!”

”Yet he wields the long-lost weapons and he cleared four squads of veil blades. If he holds that blade, then it could explain why the veilblades stood no chance.”

”Even the blade wielded by Sigan has been returned by the veiled speaker to the Inkali tribe. Not even Yanki held a candle to the last whisper,” Another said. Silence followed in the dark place where they gathered.

”If the Kai took the knee willingly, then that old fox could have known he was coming. Perhaps he wishes to use the boy.” The man at the head of the table said. ”He couldn’t possibly have done that without a reason.”

”He has not held that position and protected the city lord of Thazir just because he is kind. He is a cunning fox.” The woman said. ”His power surpasses that of the chiefs of the three tribes, well, now four, yet he acts like he is powerless. Even now, he has chosen to take the knee first to welcome the chief. Just what is he thinking?”

”Perhaps he was scared this time. The last whisper is not to be toyed with. Even I could take a knee to keep my head.” Another member of the council said.

”The boy requests a meeting in a week on top of that. Only he knows what he wants to discuss with the council.” The first sneered. ”He has been in the capital less than a day, yet he dares to think the south will dance to his tune. ”

”So we have to have something over his head or Kai’s head before then. We can’t have him thinking he runs the place.” Another member said.

”A sentiment some in the council share.”

”So then, where should we start?”

”The general has one weakness, and everyone knows that. We have to have him in our clutches, and without support, the boy can not wish to sit on the council. A chief without a clan is like a head without a body.”

”Yet everyone is now chanting N’garu. N’garu has returned. The four winds of the south are complete. The most honourable clan of the south. Even people from other clans support him. Going against him, even for a chief, would have their own people turn against them. Besides, the boy came south with his own clan of rogues and war orphans.”

”The South won’t welcome them. They don’t matter. If he is rejected, they will have no option but to return to where they came from.”

”It will not be that simple. I hear the boy also wept for his clan. He claimed he wished to see off his clan. If that will be his request, and anyone denies him, then they will become his enemy.”

”Interesting.”

”The former keeper’s sandshade is still imprisoned, remember. I don’t think the boy’s reason for coming to Thazir is that simple.”

”Then, for now, we weakened the Kai while we wait for the council to sit. We can’t have him hold more cards over us.” The woman said.

”The meeting ends here then.” The man at the head of the council said.