Chapter 81: Nobles and commoners (III) Differential treatment

The words rang through the barracks, and the already cold air was now followed by a thin layer of frost covering the ground, spreading under the feet of everyone present.

The only exception was the man with the raised sword in front of Killian.

The frost was not only on the ground but climbing the legs of the knight covering every inch in white and glassy frost and ice, til only a statue made of ice remained.

"Grandfather."

Killian smiled a genuine smile at the giant man with blonde hair and ice blue eyes that never left Killian, as the man stepped through the crowd, which had no delay in giving this man room to proceed forward.

A swift movement caused Killian to look to his side, as strong arms supported him to stand.

The broad shoulders were strong and the hands placed at his back and side warm and careful only to use enough strength to help him stand.

"Dante."

Killian smiled relieved, knowing he had yet again cheated death in this world, and he looked around, enjoying the confused, scared, and horrified looks of the knights around him.

He was not a good enough person to not feel the satisfaction of this moment when the Archduke of the North appeared.

The strongest magic user and the highest Commander of the knights in the kingdom had saved him, announcing him as one of his own in front of the people who had harassed him.

'Yeah, it feels pretty great.'

He smirked again leaning against Dante's robust body, knowing he did not have to look at the man to know he was being stared down, checking his condition.

"Just don't kill anyone," Killian said out in a weak voice.

His exhaustion was setting in and the adrenalin of the near-death experiences that had kept him going was slowly fading, causing his body to lightly tremble.

There was no reply, but after a bit, Dantes's deep voice was heard.

"If you say so, Young duke."

Killian's insides were filled with joy.

Not only had his Grandfather announced him a Valen, but Dante had made sure he was called by the title of the heir no less.

"What is going on here, where is the useless Commander who would let this happen."

The commanding voice of Cratos made anyone near lower their heads, unable to move.

They were all still wavering their eyes back to the now frozen statue in the middle of them all.

"He is unconscious…" There was a pause, and Cratos was staring at the group of knights, looking for the source when another continued.

"Killian Heathgrave…" the words stopped as Cratos had found the source, the look he gave removed the courage that had made the knight speak.

"Who is next in line?" Cratos continued.

The man who had initially shackled Killian stepped forward with a determined look as if he believed himself to have done nothing wrong.

"Killian…"

The man cleared his throat when noticing how Cratos had raised his eyebrows.

"Young Lord Killian failed his scouting mission, telling lies and luring the commander and few of the knights to the woods, only for the knights not to return and the commander to come back with wounds, and has since fallen unconscious."

From any point of view, the story did seem suspicious, Killian thought, but there was no reason to sentence him without an investigation, he was still a noble.

Killian just shook his head, which seemed to anger the knight who had been speaking.

"We believe Kill..The Young Lord set a trap and tried to take out the Commander." The Knight continued, somehow determined to pin the situation on Killian still.

"Why would he do that?" Cratos replied with an indifferent tone as if what he had heard was the most ridiculous thing.

"That is…because of his treatment after arriving here…sir." The words started to waver, and even the Knight sounded unsure if he should continue.

"We knew the Heathgraves sent him here, and we were told not to give preferential treatment."

"Snort."

A dry chuckle came from deep within the giant man, who made even the trained muscular knights seem like toddlers in comparison.

"So you are saying that not only did he not receive preferential treatment, but was mistreated to the point he was going to get revenge and kill the Commander and several knights, on his own… in the woods, then come back here instead of fleeing?"

The words were thrown out like daggers, and the knight quickly looked at Killian but hurried to look away again.

"Scout, report!"

Cratos was still looking at the knight who had gone silent, but Killian stepped forward, away from Dante's hold, while keeping himself standing.

He then bowed respectfully at his grandfather.

"Lord Valen, several large creatures have been spotted in the forest, they have a number of at least 10, and are the size of 3 knights each."

Killian paused, but as his grandfather did not reply, he continued with a loud voice, a small pride enhancing his efforts.

"Their legs are covered in the same material as Harpie steel and their bodies are that of spiders. Magic is repelled, but their lower stomachs are soft and can be pierced by regular metal swords."

The small crowd started to nervously shift in unison, everyone looking around at each other, unsure how to react to the news.

They had already heard this story themselves or from their superiors and had used it as a funny tale to talk about the useless lying Killian.

However, the Killian before them was a Valen and was telling the same story to the Kingdom's highest-ranking knight without faltering or stuttering.

Reporting what had been observed per his duty as a scout.

There was no change in the expression on the Archduke, he simply nodded and raised his hand, when immediately after, two knights and a more scrawny man appeared, kneeling before Cratos.

"Jasper, organize two search parties of no less than 6 people per party, and have these knights be in charge."

Jasper nodded and before he and the two knights stepped back again they all bowed at Killian, their clothes and armor showing their proud insignia of a Griffin.

Killian nodded back, which seemed to excite the knights, who could not hide a smile on their already strong-looking expressions.

Yet when they stood up tall, their build and stature were impeccable, and their eyes were gazing over the knights of the barracks.

Killian didn't know but they were highly judging the knights of this establishment who had dared to not only mistreat but attempt to kill their young Duke.

Inside of them was a rage and desire to show off that their Young Duke was the hero of the North who had survived on his own in the harsh nature, fought off swarms of harpies, and healed the wounded.

He was their pride and future, and they would not go easy on these young punks who thought themselves deserving of being called knights.

They would make sure they answered to more than just The Lady for what they had done.