Chapter 125: Betrayal
Vacuse was pleased with how much he had gained. He never thought he could gain that much in the Orcs territory no less! The Orcs were far, far richer than he expected.
'...just how many treasures can I gain by being here...'
But that was when Ragna finally made his move. His anger seemed to have reached a snapping point when he saw the First General's sword, and he decided that it must be his own.
He stood up and his face narrowed. "Vacuse Vorrakyn, you represent the humans who have killed our blood for generations. Thus, I will ask for their blood in your hand!"
Vacuse straightened and his face turned grim.
'...so...it's starting...'
"What do you want from me, Ragna Warbine? Why would you ask for their blood in my hands when you and your kind also killed us humans?
"Besides, that is not why I am here! I am here on behalf of the Grand Duke of the Western Region to talk with the authority of the Warbines! If you have a debt to settle, do like the Orcs and carry your war banner against the Empire!"
His voice rumbled through the room and the Orcs were suddenly feeling out of sorts with mixed emotions. At first, they felt that what Ragna said made perfect sense, but now they realized that Vacuse also said things that made sense.
The Orcs were known for their honor and their thirst for battles. They were known to fight their opponents in a straightforward way instead of striking them in the back with a dagger.
So what if Vacuse was a human? If they wanted to fight them, they should go to their territory and face them!
Ragna and Vacuse stared at each other.
They were thinking the same thing.
'...you know how to talk eh!...'
Ragna recovered quickly before the mood of the Orcs in the hall shifted into declaring war on the Vorrakyn. His eyes darkened and killing intent surged in his eyes. "Vacuse Vorrakyn! Do you say the same thing when you sent those assassins to kill me?"
Eh?
Everyone was left stunned as the room fell into deep silence. Now attention was on Vacuse, who couldn't have been more stunned!
"What?" Out of everything that Vacuse had expected, accusing him of assassination was not one of the agendas he expected to be leveled against him.
Where was it coming from?
Ragna's eyes shone. "I saw it! When the attack of the Black Accord began, Vacuse's men secretly went behind to attack me!"
Vacuse scowled. "I put someone there to protect you!"
"That was a front! That was to cover up in case things didn't go as planned. Why didn't Vacuse let my own men follow me into the hall? It was because of the intention he had against me."
Vacuse realized then that things were turning into a matter of his words against Ragna's own, and he knew which one the people would want to believe. After all, Ragna was an Orc and Vacuse had just humiliated them in front of everyone.
Although Ragna controlled a great deal of the Warbine, they were a Clan of warriors, and as such, they would not carelessly kill someone like that, especially someone that the First General had already accepted as a guest.
Ragna knew this, and he was trying to strip Vacuse of such status so they could easily kill him.
The irony was that if it were the humans in the same position as Ragna at the moment, they would easily have killed anyone they wanted.
Vacuse's eyes turned to steel. "Ragna Warbine, after the incident, you personally came to me and expressed your gratitude. You also said you owed me a small favor. It was witnessed by my attendants!
"It was witnessed by your attendants!"
Vacuse's voice thundered through the room.
The Orcs turned from the humans to the Orcs that followed Ragna.
Ragna smiled and Vacuse stiffened as if an unknown trap was closing all around him.
"Of course I told you that. How else am I supposed to get you here into my home to pass judgment on you? And as for the witness... Captain Valka, you all know him. I'll ask him now. What did you witness, Valka?"
Valka took a step forward, his face expressionless. "I witnessed Lord Ragna talking with Lord Vacuse and thanking him for saving his life...."
Vacuse's face darkened as he looked at Valka. He understood how much he had underestimated everyone because he could already guess what was coming.
"But it wasn't Lord Vacuse he was actually thanking, or the guard he put on him in the hall. He was thanking the person that warned him of the attack and what Vacuse Vorrakyn had planned for him!"
Vacuse's mind reeled at the implication of what he heard. A traitor! There was a traitor among his attendants! His eyes narrowed coldly.
Ragna smiled and spread his hands as killing intent began to rise from the gathered Orc warriors. "Vacuse Vorrakyn tried to kill me in his house. He is not deserving of the title of guest here!"
Captain Mera jumped into the pit immediately, followed by Harkon and Lyra, together with most of the Dragon Guards and New Dawn. They formed around him like a living shield.
But Vacuse didn't feel more secure. He felt as if a blade would pierce his back at any moment. So he summoned Rith, and he curled around his neck, keeping his eyes on his surroundings.
His eyes glowed. "Tell me, Ragna! Tell me who told you about an attack and lied against me?"
Ragna smiled but didn't answer.
The room was thick with tension and killing intent. But just then, a voice cut through.
"I am the one that warned him." The voice was calm and controlled.
Vacuse turned his neck slowly and met eyes with the traitor. "It is you!"
"Yes. It is me. I warned him beforehand and told him of the plans of the Vorrakyn, of crippling the Warbines by killing their heir so that other High Clans could destroy them. It was a lousy plan, but still..."
Vacuse was breathing hard as anger exploded in his head.