The Order (Ch.27)

Chantria guessed her determined words must have come as a surprise to her harem as all five gazes turned to her in almost perfect tandem.

Chantria wondered just what kind of lives they had lived to be so surprised at a simple gesture of compassion, 

She had always been someone to value the life of others regardless of who that person was, it was why she had pulled Amir from the depths in the first place, 

Interrupting an execution before she even came to realize it had any relations to her.

Amir Naeem's life was in grave danger and regardless of who he was to her, Chantria would still have come to the decision to do all she could to save him... this was just the kind of person Chantria was.

"I will have you know, I do not approve of this." Prince Dewei grunted beneath his breath, a look of frustration in his eyes.

Chantria understood how frustrating it would be to hear that his sister intended to save the life of a man who had been convicted of his crime by Prince Dewei himself.

"But you will help me." Chantria said in a knowing tone, she did not have a single doubt in her mind that Prince Dewei would stand with her, she just knew it.

Perhaps it was the blood ties he shared with Saint Chantria or the fact that they two had shared a womb, 

But the bond and absolute trust she felt for Prince Dewei made her certain he would always stand at her side...at Saint Chantria's side.

"But I will help you." Prince Dewei affirmed as he passed Amir another glare before heaving a sigh.

"The Imperial decree once given cannot be rescinded without an indisputable cause, this will be taken as disregard for imperial authority...a crime punishable by death." Prince Dewei began in a serious tone.

Chantria was momentarily taken aback, was every crime in this Kalavan Deep punishable by the death sentence? 

What happened to a stern warning and then letting the culprit repent and reflect on his actions or issuing a fine?

 Even serving jail term would be better than being tossed to the bottom of the sea or whatever other execution methods they had in their arsenal.

If the rules were so harsh, how was anyone to survive in this Kalavan Deep?

"Amir Naeem has already been proven guilty, furthermore the investigation was entrusted to me."

"I cannot retract my report and though the Kalavan rejoices at your return, it is not a convincing enough reason to have the Imperial decree rescinded." Prince Dewei said with a sigh.

All Dewei had said was basically confirming how impossible Chantria's choice was to achieve.

"However, there is only one force left with the ability to reject the Imperial decree, if we hope for Amir's life to be spared...we must seek help from the order." Prince Dewei said in a grim tone.

"The... order?" Chantria asked uncertainly.

"The order of the tidal sword." Zevon finished with a frown.

From their expressions, Chantria could see whatever this order was, they would not be easily convinced to grant their aid.

"I take it whoever commands this order will prove difficult to convince." Chantria said with a raised brow.

"The order of the tidal sword is in the service of the Saint and guardian of the deep...you command the order, Chan." Prince Dewei revealed.

'I command an order?' Chantria was momentarily taken aback, before she sorted through every knowledge she had, trying to understand just what an order was all about.

When Chantria's mind settled on a mental picture of a group of people dressed in long robes and drinking blood from large bowl like this one movie she had seen... she chuckled nervously.

"An order...you said?" Chantria asked again, but it was only then she noticed the grim atmosphere that had settled over the hall and she frowned in confusion.

If they were to seek help from an order she commanded, didn't that mean the help was already granted? 

"And this is not...to our favor?" Chantria asked with a raised brow.

"Although you are Saint, there is still a council. Your command is supreme...yet a month before your... the unfortunate event, you declared your intents to dissolve your harem to the order." Prince Dewei revealed.

"The order was not in agreement with you and so this matter was not resolved until the unfortunate event. With your passing, the council voted for the harem to be dissolved and Amir's execution...it was a unanimous vote." Prince Dewei said.

"You mean to say the order of the tidal swords also want Amir dead?" Chantria said, understanding Prince Dewei's implications.

"The order exists by a founding code... injury to one is injury to all. Upon your passing, the order flew into a rage and apprehended your entire retinue."

"They even sent in a petition to His Imperial Majesty to have your entire retinue as well as your harem executed. They were extremely displeased when the Emperor's decree ordered for only Amir's execution."

"In short, if there is anyone who wants Amir dead more than father does, then it will be the order. The council would rather die themselves than request for the Emperor to rescind his decree." Prince Dewei affirmed.

"So your way of saving Amir... is making me understand that there is no way to save him at all?" Chantria deadpanned in a blank tone.

"That is u

nless you are able to convince the order..." Prince Dewei said with a nod.