Warhammer Divine Throne

After hearing this name, the faces of Francois and Lorne became very solemn.

Laine stood up, ”Should I report directly to Her Highness Morgiana at the Holy Grail Cathedral?”

”Wait, Laine!” Francois hurriedly shook his head. ”Laine, don’t act impulsively. Taking such action might not achieve the desired effect and could alert the enemy. Besides, what can we prove with just this bit of information? You need to know that the vampires hiding within the upper echelons of this country’s society are numerous. Acting rashly won’t benefit us.”

”That’s what I think, too. I believe the vampires are plotting something,” Lorne said, rubbing his chin. He asked Francois, ”Could it be Kemler-Heinrich?”

Kemler-Heinrich, the great necromancer, had attempted twice to enter Brittania searching for something. The first time, he was defeated by Francois and his forces. The second time, learning from his failure, Kemler-Heinrich led an undead army intending to enter Brittania from the Aisloron Forest...

And then nothing. The only certainty was that Kemler was not dead.

”It’s possible, worth suspecting, but not certain,” Francois replied. The Grand Duke appeared concerned with the matter. ”Then, what exactly are the vampires looking for?”

”A book containing the spells and lore of Nagash, Master of the Undead,” Lorne suddenly said. ”You all remember when I, with nothing but rags on my back, crashed into my father’s feast asking for help.”

Laine and Francois both nodded. This incident was quite well-known, especially among the Holy Grail Knights and even among the great nobles of the kingdom, remembered for Lorne’s eventual success in becoming a Holy Grail Knight; otherwise, it would have been a laughingstock.

”At that time, a necromancer named Medron led an undead army, advancing through the underground river from the northern shore of Connet to attack the capital Kulona,” Lorne recalled, his eyes filled with sorrow. ”I discovered this plan and knew no one would believe me about the undead moving through the underground river. So I returned alone to my family fortress to ask my father for help.”

”Sixteen knights stormed into the cave-ridden underground river with us. We suffered tremendous losses; everyone died, leaving only me behind while hundreds of undead remained. Even my best friend, Burcard, was burned alive by Medron’s spells, his body turned into molten iron. In desperation, I charged forward and dragged Medron into the underground river with me, drowning in the subterranean lake. It was in his desperate screams that I learned their target was one of the nine volumes left by Nagash in Brittania.”

”When I awoke, I found myself at the lake’s bottom but not dead from drowning. I knew it was the Lady who saved me. I could feel her power healing my wounds. So, grasping the sword blessed by her, I pierced Medron underwater,” Lorne concluded his story, visibly remorseful over the fallen sixteen clan knights who had chosen to follow him.

”Salute to you, Lord Lorne,” Laine said, standing solemnly. Francois also expressed his respect.

A knight recognized by the Lake Fairy is beyond question in both the Eight Virtues of Chivalry and strength.

”So, it seems, the undead have come to Brittania seeking one of Nagash’s Nine Volumes, and their current goal is to concentrate their power?” Francois said, looking at Lorne. ”You and I will first send people to investigate this matter. Since Her Highness Morgiana is not easy to approach, let Laine handle it. Immediately notify Knight Commander Eugene at the Holy Grail Knight Order’s Kulona Branch if any news comes.” I will also personally intervene!”

”Understood!”

At this moment, a rumbling thunder sounded outside.

”It’s raining.” The pattering of rain accompanied the sound. Laine and Francois watched Lorne leave through the mansion’s gates. The newly appointed Duke of Connet mounted his horse and rode off swiftly even through the rain, disappearing around the street corner with speed uncharacteristic of someone in the rain.

”Prepare yourself. This knightly tournament may not be peaceful, and Lorne is someone to trust,” Francois whispered to Laine. ”If he were not loyal, Louis would not have entrusted him with the dukedom, and the Lady would never recognize him.”

”That’s not what I’m worried about.” Laine shook his head, sensing something amiss. ”The Holy Grail is the Lady’s gift. I’m naturally not worried about that. My concern is... what if the vampires are not after the Nine Volumes, but something else?”

”What do you mean?” Francois pondered, wise from fighting vampires frequently, aware of their cunning nature. ”Is seeking the Nine Volumes just a smokescreen?”

”No, I mean, while the Nine Volumes are indeed invaluable to the vampires, could there be something else attracting them?” Laine began to make connections.

He recalled the powerful undead curse affecting Mogiana and also the attack in Borelion and the Night of Blood mentioned by Mogiana.

Could all of this be connected to the vampires’ scheme?

No one knew.

...

More and more knights began to pour into Kulona, preparing to participate in the knightly tournament. Laine and the others estimated that at least five to six hundred young Ranger Knights would attend this tournament.

Young knights from Winford Duchy also came to register, along with Ranger Knights from twelve other duchies.

The registration site was extremely crowded. Young, passionate Ranger Knights continually shouted their names and coat of arms. Behind the white stone arch, an elderly marquis oversaw the registration ceremony as the line of knights extended across two streets. To express their devotion and virtue to the Lady, all knights queued up fully armed, without exception, including the duke’s daughter. Surya stood among the crowd, waiting in a slowly advancing line.

Laine, Francois, and Julius stood a distance away. Francois, spotting the elderly great noble, had an odd smile on his face. ”It’s hard for him,” he remarked.

”Hard for him? My Duke, who is he?” Laine inquired out of curiosity, noting even the typically reserved Julius was suppressing laughter.

”His name is Charles, the eldest son of Richard, and the Marquis of Le Anglong, the first heir to Duke Le Anglong,” Julius explained. ”In a way, he’s both the Crown Prince and Crown Prince, should Richard designate him as heir and Her Highness Morgiana agrees, he will become the next king.”

Crown Prince? An old man who seems nearly seventy? Laine mused, wondering how someone almost bald could become king.

”Charles is really the eldest son of His Majesty Richard? How come he looks older?” Laine commented in disbelief.

”That’s because of his insufficient power, only elite middle tier. At seventy, naturally he appears aged,” Francois chimed in, his face holding a peculiar smile. ”He was established as first heir at three, and at ten, ennobled as the Marquis of Le Anglong.”

”But from then until now, sixty-seven years have passed. The once toddling child has become a white-haired elder, yet Charles hasn’t seen the day he inherits the dukedom; right, he’s still waiting for Richard to pass him the throne, too.”