5 Chapter 4 Backlash of betrayal

It's been several days since the Shadow sword order High council meeting, had adjourned. In the Elderan Kingdom within the Current Crane Clan. Barrick Crane a blond man with brown eye's and with pale white skin, he was around the same age as Shinta; also same height and build.

Barrick was currently sitting inside his mansion in front of his fireplace holding a cup of wine, gazing at the flames; lost in thought. ' its been just over a week since iv heard from Linra, I hope the talks with the empress has been successful. ' he sighed' its been 14 years, yet she still hasn't forgiven my clan. my father and the leading clan elder's who agreed to go forward with the mage orders plan of rebelling; have already been branded as traitors and executed.' He clenched his fist in frustration' why wasn't it enough!? how can she be so cruel!?' He stood up and threw his wine cup in flames making it flare. "It's all your fault!" he cursed "Curse you why didn't you Die without a fuss! why did you have to cripple the mage orders force's before dying like a dog!" Images of his cousin Shinta was floating in his mind. Thinking back through his childhood that no matter how hard he tried, he could never match up to him; at the time 14 years ago when Barick learned of the plan to destroy Shinta and take his place as air to the Clan and winning his Fiance's love, he was at the pinnacle of joy.

However, that joy was very short-lived, a few days after Barrick married Linra Valentina, the Shadow sword order came raining down on there heads with vast armies of there strongest factions, many people were Arrested and those who resisted were killed. What shocked everyone the most was the person leading the assault was Lady Kenoria herself. Shortly after, the entire Crane clan had surrendered. After the negotiations with the clan elder's and Barrick's father Garen Crane who was current acting head of the family and also Shinta Crane's uncle.

After the empress, Kenoria relayed the information about Boris Valtina, and his fellow mages were dead, and Shinta Crane had gone missing after the incident, she than implied that there was no hope for the Crane clans future if they aren't severely punished for there crimes. The Elders and Garen all understood her word's, so to help redeem there clan they all willingly took their own lives.

Linra was devastated learning of her Grand father's death but shortly after she learned that the Valentina family was also not let off the hook; Kenoria ordered all of Valentina Family stipped of all there wealth and land and forced into slavery.

It was then that Linra decided to rally the remnants of the mage order and offer a deal, the mages will swear continuous service to the Shadow sword order and work like slaves in exchange for pardoning the families of all the mages including her own. Kenoria agreed, And Linra's family was released from slavery however their wealth and land would not be returned to them. Kenoria than declared the Crane clan to be sanctioned off from trade and resources and must pay the shadow sword 5000 gold coins a year and still provide human resources and do their bidding without rewards until Kenoria decides otherwise. The Crane clan was left miserable for the past 14 years; and the only person Barrick could blame was the person he hated the most, his cousin Shinta Crane.

"Nock! nock!" Barrick snaps back to reality after hearing his door nocked on " Enter " he said.

The door opens and an old man, dressed in a black tuxedo with a grey beard and long grey hair with a wrinkled face, walks in and bows "my lord." Barrick turned and faced the man," oh it's you, Bazil, what is it?"

Bazil replied, "my lord Lady Linra has arrived at the town gate's she will be here shortly."

Barrick sighed "finally I hope she's brought some good news" he waved his hand "inform my son Darian to meet me at our front gate and wait to greet his mother."

"Right away my lord" Bazil turned around and made his leave and was soon followed out by Barrick.

Not long after Barrick made his way to the front gate's of his courtyard, He looked forward and saw a young teenage male in a black gi with blonde hair and brown eye's, fair skin; this was Barrick's son.

Barrick called out to him " ah Darian you're here, good hows your training going?"

Darian looked back at his father " its been going well father my instructor Naomi says concerning my skill's, I'm already B rank level with both sword arts and chi wielding" he said respectfully.

Barrick was overjoyed "I'm very proud of you despite our clan's lack of resources, out of the five ranks C, D, B, A and S, you have managed to hone your skills to B rank at only 15 years old. Be Proud son; you're a real prodigy for your age" Barrick lets out a sigh "it's just a shame we don't currently have enough resources at our disposal; otherwise I dare say that you may have made it to A rank".

Darian cupped his hands "don't worry father I will keep training no matter what stands in my way, and I will make it to the pinnacle of-of S rank and restore our clan to its former glory; nothing will get in my way" he said with firm resolve.

Barrick felt moved " that's my son let nothing stand in your way!" he said as he placed his hands tightly on Darian's shoulders.

"Clop clop clop!" Linra's horse Carriage arrived through the gates, and Both father-son duos waited to the side anxiously waiting to greet her.

The black carriage came to a stop the driver stepped off and opened the carriage doors then bowed respectfully. Linra stepped out of the wagon however her face didn't show that she had brought back some good news; she looked furious and frustrated.

"greetings mother how was your trip" he bowed. Linra looked at her son, and suddenly her grim look vanished and turned into a smile " Darian come, give your mother a hug" she said as she raised her arms. Darian nodded and proceeded to his mother's embrace "Darian why don't you go inside we can talk later I need to speak with your father alone."

"yes, mother" he released his mother, bowed then left, on his way back inside the mansion Darian had a puzzled look on his face he knew when his mother behaved this way something terrible must have happened.

When Darian was out of site Linra's grim look reappeared than she stared into Barrick's eye's.

Barrick new that look all too well something terrible has happened " what happened?" he asked;

Linra raised her hand "not here let's talk in the study."

Soon after Linra and Barrick were in the study room being served tea by the butler Bazil. Linra explained all the details of what happened at the shadow sword council meeting after she finished explaining, especially the part about the Eagle clan; Barrick was astonished "how is this possible!? My father told me the Eagle clan died out from a plague, and you're saying that Shinta did it? That can't be!?" he gasped. Not only did he find out that his cousin Shinta was still alive, he learned a dark truth on top of it all.

"Smash!" the old butler bazil dropped the tea tray and started trembling in fear, this startled Linra and Barrick; they both turned and turned to him.

Barrick still shocked, he asked, "Bazil is this true?"

Bazil coughed than started to explain "yes master Barrick, master Shinta's own hands did the downfall of eagle clan at that time; the eagle clan dying by the plague was a cover story, only all the key leading elder's of the Clan new the truth."

"but it just can't be..." Barrick couldn't comprehend what he just heard this was too surreal.

Bazil smiled bitterly and continued " master Barrick it was this very incident that was the reason your father and the other clan elders who participated betraying master Shinta to the Mage order; chose to take there own life's. You were still young and immature back then so...." before he could finish he was interrupted.

"What!?" Barrick was completely dumbfounded " are you saying my father took his own life, not because he wanted to atone for betraying the Shadow sword order. but because he feared my cousin Shinta's revenge!?"

Bazil sighed than nodded in response.

Linra was silent for quite a while but finally spoke "we are talking about a man who single-handedly slaughtered his maternal family without hesitation; what bazil says makes sense. The Crane clans future was at risk of annihilation, after all, being betrayed by a clan who he restored to its former glory after being suppressed by the eagle clan, would only make his vengeance even worse." she said calmly.

Barrick snapped "so what are you saying!? that for Empress Kenroria to forgive my clan I have to go and beg Shinta forgiveness first!, I'd rather die!" he pointed at Linra " this is all your fault and your cursed mage's! If you hadn't failed to Kill Shinta at that time, my clan wouldn't have suffered such calamity! Shinta is back, and god knows what he plans to do to us. he spent two years of planning to destroy the eagle clan, how do you think he will deal with us after 14 years!" Barrick was losing his mind.

Linra waved her hand " calm your self-iv already made arrangements for that. 400 of my finest mages will be here in two days time to act as security for the Crane clan until my faction can find out his whereabouts. Then we can take action swiftly and with a firm hand." she stood up"we must be very cautious because as we speak, he's probably planning a very sinister and elaborate plan to annihilate us". Barrick nodded " your right I need to calm down, heavens know's what that freak is planning to do."

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"please! why are you doing this to me, this is the worst kind of torture for any man to bear" Shinta was flustered"please spare me this torment" Shinta was sitting in a private room staring at his wife, Sharlet.

Sharlet smiled elevated as she was holding two different dresses in her hands; dressed in nothing but her black bra and revealing underwear." Stop whining you should feel honoured most men would kill to be in your position, now I'm going to ask you again this one or this; which one would look better on me?" she said while placing each dress over her.

The choice was out of two revealing silk dresses one was red, the other was black; however, Shinta didn't want a bar of this situation he was in currently. "I've already told you I don't care for fashion, and I don't care to compliment you at what you wear, I don't even know what you dragged me along on your clothe's shopping trip in the first place!?" He said.

Sharlet smirked at him "you agreed to come along in exchange for my buying you new equipment for combat and so on, or have you forgotten?" she chuckled "think of it this way the quicker you help me decide on what dresses to buy the quicker we can get out of here and do your shopping?"

She said mockingly.

After hearing her words, he snapped and made a decision"the red one! The red one is the best".

Sharlet frowned "hmmm are you sure? I kind of like the black one" she smiled "tell me why do you like the red one so much? Maybe then I can decide" she grinned as she finished her sentence.

Shinta reached his breaking point "ok fine I like the black one the best, now can we go now!? you've been doing this for four hours!?" Shinta was ready to slap this irritating woman.

Taking extreme pleasure in his frustration, Sharlet continued to press him"well it doesn't matter these dresses have already paid for, also I'm the owner of this establishment so I can have as many dresses as I please." she said mischievously.

Shinta snapped "that's it! I don't care to indulge in your childish pranks any longer I'm out of here! I'll buy my damn equipment myself!" he stomped on his two feet and made his way out, but before he reaches the door, he stopped after hearing three words spoken behind him. "with what money?" said Sharlet as she watches amusingly at her husband's immediate halt at her word's.

Shinta stared back at her " you are an evil witch aren't you?" he said solemnly. Sharlet felt elevated with a look of victory she pulled up a chair and sat down. She raised her foot up facing Shinta "ill tell you what, if you crawl to me and kiss my foot and beg me; I might consider giving you the spending money you require" she said sadistically.

Shinta's face turned into a smug smile "thanks for the offer, but I got all the money I need already" he pulled out a gold card showing it to her.

Sharlet's face paled " that's my bank card how did you get it!?" she raised her right hand and was searching in between her breast's.

"its very simple while we were having intercourse in our carriage during our trip here in a silken city my hands tend to be rather grabby, only a woman like you would be so paranoid to hide money in there breast's" he snickered at her.

Sharlet lost it "you basted! I give you the honour of servicing me, and in return, you dare steal my money, I'll cut it off!?" she said furiously.

Shinta scoffed " catch me if you can bitch!"

Woosh!

Shinta vanish into thin air leaving Sharlet in the dust, however, once he made his way out of the store and ran down the nearest street, he heard a loud howl that sent chills down his spine.

"SHINTA! YOU ANIMAL! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU IM GOING TO MAKE YOU BEG FOR DEATH!"

Shinta was startled ' good grief I knew she loved money but this is just plain overkill, wait why am I feeling afraid of this bitch, screw it I'm going to spend so much of her money as payback for that four hours of hell.' he grinned than continued on his way.