Novel Full Chapter 514: Had they ALL lost their minds!?
Chapter 514: Had they ALL lost their minds!?
The air in Trogoth’s Rest was still heavy. The snow had stopped falling, but the cold had not softened. The mist clung to the cliffs like a veil, as if the valley itself wanted to hide what was about to happen here.
Kael stood between the two sides, Gruumak stood beside him, behind them, the Velmourns and the Stonefangs waited, still separated by some distance.
Everyone was now on the same page, everyone knew why they were here and… everyone had… questions.
Tons and tons of questions.
Things to say, things that proved that whatever nonsense that was being discussed here was simply not possible.
Kael could see it all as well, both the Velmourns and the Stonefangs, even Gruumak, who held quite a lot of respect for him, had many doubts.
And for a moment…
He was overwhelmed.
But then—
Lavinia, sensing his emotions, held his hand from behind. He turned towards the woman he loved and she nodded, reinforcing his thoughts, telling him that he wasn’t wrong, that what he was doing was for the good of all and… the only way they could all survive this.
In the end, Kael took a deep breath and nodded back, then he turned towards the two sides again and with a calm, clear voice—
He began.
“I understand all of you have things to say, things you want me to understand.
I understand your concerns, your willingness to protect your people and ensure the best for them and for that reason—
I am not rushing you.
We are here for a discussion, to solve problems that may arise from these decisions.
So please.”
He paused, specifically looking at Morvain and Gruumak and—
“Anything you have in mind, please speak.”
The translators translated his words and the first to speak was the Stonefang Chief.
“Big issue past.
Velmourn Stonefang enemies.
Deep hatred. Blood feuds. Families killed. Revenge.
Difficult to work together.”
Gruumak summarized the problems. Generations of enmity obviously made it difficult for the two sides to work together and Kael understood that. It wasn’t just the Stonefangs who thought this; the Velmourns were the same.
And Kael—
“This hatred will not vanish just because I said so. I know that.”
He began, looking at every single person present here.
“But as I have mentioned before, this isn’t a matter of hatred or enmity, it is a matter of survival.
Stonefangs and Velmourns need each other, we need to understand that as quickly as possible.
If we want to live, we must put our long hatred aside for now.
I do not ask you to forgive each other, but you must not fight each other either.”
He spoke in a strict tone and Gruumak—
His jaw tightened at those words.
“Hard,”
He said slowly,
“But Flying Man words true.”
Then, he looked at his men and—
“If Stonefang fight Velmourn now, both die.”
“And if we do not fight each other, then perhaps… we might be able to survive long enough to face the real enemy.”
And surprisingly, the one who completed the Stonefang Chief’s words was… Morvain, the Velmourn Matriarch.
It was surprising but… because of the previous discussions, it seemed like… the two leaders were in fact on the same page and…
Both of them wanted to actively push forward the alliance, just like Kael wanted them to.
It was surprising, especially for the two sides—the subordinates who were hearing those words—but for now, no matter how strong the uneasiness in the air was—
The first step was agreed upon.
But the next moment—
“But enmity isn’t the only problem we face.”
Morvain began as she turned towards Kael—
“You said that Stonefangs would move to our lands and live with us, but that won’t be easy either.
It is not just about the Velmourns and Stonefangs accepting each other; the distance itself is still an issue.
If the Stormcallers are indeed trying to recruit every single tribe, how will the Stonefangs move into our lands without being detected by the Stormcallers?
What if they get attacked while they are moving? How are they going to hide hundreds of warriors and their families?”
The Velmourn Matriarch asked and as Zakaar translated her words, the way the Stonefang warriors were looking at Morvain began to change.
Outsider woman right.
How they hide? How they move? How they leave ancestor land?
All these questions appeared in their heads but at the same time, another thought—although much weaker than the others—appeared as well.
Outsider woman caring about their family.
And for now, that alone was enough.
Kael too, nodded at those words.
“Yes. That is another problem.”
He agreed.
“If the Stormcallers find out that the Stonefangs are moving, they’ll attack before we are ready. We can’t move openly.
It must be done in secret.”
“Secretly?”
Morvain frowned.
“An entire tribe?”
And Kael…
“Yes, it can be done.”
He said after thinking about it for a while.
“Leave it to me, I’ll lead the operation.”
He spoke confidently and while his words confused the two sides, thinking how he was going to pull off something like that—
In the end, none of them said anything.
The Velmourn side was already familiar with Kael; they knew how he pulled off one miracle after another, so they wouldn’t be surprised if he somehow moved an entire tribe without anyone knowing.
As for the Stonefangs, this group saw the Flying Man as a literal God, so while they still had their doubts, for now, they decided to follow their chief and trust their… god.
Of course, even then, the problem wasn’t solved.
“Even if we take care of the moving, what Lady Morvain said before can’t be ignored either. The two sides need to accept each other for it to work and for now…
Even opening the gates for the Stonefangs to enter would be difficult.”
Lavinia muttered in a low voice, listing out all the concerns.
“It won’t be easy to convince the Iron Council; the guards will panic when they see the Stonefangs and might not open the gates.
And the people too… even if the gates are opened… people won’t be very pleased.
And once they find out it was you who brought them with you… everything you have done so far might…”
Lavinia didn’t need to complete her words; Kael understood what she was trying to say. Not just Kael, Morvain and Kayden understood it too.
Ever since Kael appeared, considering everything he had done, more and more Velmourns had started to trust him, some had started to follow his every word blindly, thinking he was a God who had descended to solve their problems.
Honestly, such strong support of the people was… threatening. So if anything, to Morvain, this should be an opportunity—an opportunity to win back the support of the people.
But… strangely…
Even now, when the advantage was right in front of her, she… she didn’t wish to capitalize on it…
Instead—
“It is not just Kael’s decision.”
She spoke up, first looking at Kael, then at Lavinia—
“It is a decision supported by the Matriarch.
I will take full responsibility for it.”
“You will…?”
Lavinia couldn’t believe it and asked as she blinked. Kael and Kayden were taken aback by those words as well.
But Morvain,—
“Have you guys left me any choice?”
She just laughed.
“This is the only way my people can survive, I understand that.”
The Matriarch then turned towards the Stonefang Chief and—
“If I need to ally with the Stonefangs for my people’s survival, then call me selfish or a coward if you will, I will do it.”
She declared.
Zakaar translated her words for Gruumak and Gruumak—
“You no coward. You brave.”
He spoke. Freyal translated his words for Morvain, then suddenly, the Stonefang Chief glanced at Kael and—
“Me ready too.
Take full responsibility.”
He copied Morvain.
Kael blinked at that sight, he did not expect it to go… this smoothly.
Just then, Morvain took another step forward towards Kael and—
“So continue the discussion. As for the Council and the people, I will take full responsibility. Together, we will ensure that people understand the importance of this decision and be it willingly or not—
They will accept the Stonefangs.”
The Matriarch declared with a determined look on her face.
“Mother!”
Suddenly, Kayden raised his voice.
“You can’t just march Stonefangs through the main gates! People will think we’ve been invaded! There will be riots! No matter how much you prepare!”
He didn’t think these people were understanding the seriousness of this situation. Letting the Stonefangs inside the Walls would be a disaster!
What if all of this was a ploy!?
What if the Stonefangs were together with the Stormcallers and were planning to win their trust and backstab them later!?
What if the moment they let these monsters in, they shed their skin and start tearing apart their men!?
What are they going to do then!?
Would Kael be able to protect them then!?
And Kael was Kael—what was his mother thinking!?
Had they ALL lost their minds!?