บท 76: Caged.
Cromwell continues to laugh for a couple of minutes straight, eventually slowing down enough to properly elucidate the letter. "This!" he vigorously taps the letter, "Is a proclamation of love between Princess Henrietta and Prince Wales! It is more than enough to destroy her engagement to Germania! With this, Tristain will be ours!" he exclaims exuberantly, acting as if he were a child who'd received everything he'd wanted on Christmas.
Wardes coughs into his hand to break Cromwell from his excited state, "Your majesty, that is not all I have achieved..."
"Hohoo?"
Wares nods and continues, "I believe you have heard the reports of a human familiar being summoned?" he asks, causing the woman's eyes to sharpen.
Cromwell shrugs, "I am aware of it... Why?"
Wardes can't help but break into a toothy grin, "Because I have discovered that they are not just a 'summoned noble', but a Familiar of the Void... The Gandalfr to be specific."
"Gandalfr?" Cromwell asks with mild confusion, lacking all that much knowledge on the familiars Brimir was said to have.
"One who is able to understand, master, and utilise any weapon they possess. This power ranges from simple swords, bows, to airships and cannons. It is a very flexible and useful ability, it is said that Brimir even had Gandalfr use their ability to master some Elven technologies." she calmly explains, though, her eyes shone as if excited to hunting.
Cromwell leans his head to the side, "Miss Sheffield, you seem to know much on the subject of Void Familiars?" he curiously asks.
The woman now named Sheffield shakes her head, "It is merely academic interest. I did not think it would come into use when I read of it." she offhandedly explains before looking back at Wardes, "There is more, correct?"
Wardes nods, "During my journey to La Rochelle, I discovered what I believe to be a simple vagrant on the road. He matched many traits held by Gandalfr, so I went down and asked them to display the back of their hands, where the Gandalfr rune was supposedly placed."(Gandalfr is the 'left hand of god')
Sheffield tilts her head to the side in confused amusement, "Surely it couldn't be so simple?"
Wardes chuckles, "It wasn't. Once Gandalfr knew he was caught, he tried to flee. Displaying a manner of interesting and strange abilities I have never witnessed before... Two times even turning me into a chicken, even for a short while. Fortunately, despite how fast he was able to move through the forest, Gandalfr was not able to outrun my Griffin, allowing me to capture him." he states while raising his hand and audibly snapping his fingers, using some wind elemental manipulation to transmit the sound to those waiting just outside the throne room.
The large doors open to reveal two heavily armoured guards dragging a teenager into the room. Michael had been completely stripped of all of his equipment, though, he'd only lost his clothing, sword, and dagger due to everything being held in the Book of Commoners. He was dressed in yellowish-white rags that prisoners usually wore, and had a collar that'd occasionally crackle with lightning, causing his limbs to stiffen up for a moment.
Wardes stands and steps to the side, politely gesturing at Michael who was now face down and unconscious on the floor, "I present you with Michael, the False Familiar. The Gandalfr." he states, causing Cromwell to almost fall out of his throne in excitement.
"T-this!? Is it true!?" he quickly asks, his breathing becoming ragged due to a mixture of excitement and shock.
Wardes nods, "It is. I would like you to bring him under your control before you start testing him however, I do not believe it will be easy to capture him if he escapes into the city." he explains.
Cromwell nods, raising his right hand where a silver ring topped with a square opal and fingering it anxiously, "Hmmph! Even Brimir's familiars fall under my control! Truly! This world belongs to me! Hahahaha!" he gleefully says as he approaches Michael, pushing the ring against his forehead and pumping it full of magic, causing the whole room to become illuminated with an eerie purple glow.
Wardes watches as Cromwell walks back up to his throne, "Did it work?" he asks, knowing that if anyone could resist the ring's power, it would be this strange Gandalfr.
Cromwell nods with a grin, "Of course. I could feel his mind-bending to my will. He will become Reconquista's tool against both the elves, and those heretical countries that continue to allow their existence..." he looks at the two guards standing over Michael, "Have a cage construct in the corner of this room, I wish for all to see my pet Gandalfr when they visit." he commands, and the guards nods their head while dragging Michael out of the room.
Wardes kneels again, "Your majesty, what is your command now? As you know, Gandalfr being summoned means that Tristain possesses a void mage... I believe it to be Louise de la Vallière, as it would explain the princesses sudden interest and actions towards her." he explains.
"Hohooo? Was Miss Valliere not your fiance, Jean-Jacques? Could you not persuade her to join our side? A void mage would only empower our cause after all... Even if she refuses, I would be able to control her." Cromwell states, eagerly displaying his ring yet again.
Wardes shakes his head, "She is too close with Princess Henrietta now. A full-scale assault on her palace would be required to extract Louise. I doubt any amount of schemes would make this any easier, even with our allies in Tristain." he says, not mentioning that he may have unintentionally sabotaged his chances to secure Louise with his wooing of other women...
Cromwell rubs his clean-shaven chin, "Hmm... She is no doubt receiving training on how to use her gifts, which means we may have to increase the pace of our plans before she gains even a fraction of Brimir's power... Wardes, I will send you and our new pawn, Gandalfr, to assassinate Prince Wales. I believe it is time to finish our conquest of Albion, then, Tristain will be next." he states.
Wardes nods and bows deeply, "We leave once we learn the true extent of Gandalfr's abilities, your majesty!"
Cromwell nods before glancing to Sheffield and handing her Henrietta's letter, "Have copies made of this and send them to our men in Germania. Make sure the commoners and nobles learn of it before the Emperor."
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