Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 292 - 292 146 Arbitration Meeting Resurrection from the Dead

292: Chapter 146: Arbitration Meeting, Resurrection from the Dead 292: Chapter 146: Arbitration Meeting, Resurrection from the Dead The overcast afternoon sky, filled with clouds, added to the oppressive atmosphere on the plains outside Wacht Castle, where armies stood in confrontation.

Accompanied by the knights of Farolis, Baron Eriv rode to the Earl of Buck’s camp, passing through dense groups of soldiers and warhorses.

Everyone removed their helmets and entered the tent where the arbitration meeting was being held.

Upon entering, they found two rows of nobles clad in armor already seated within; these were likely mostly lords from Kosos County, and their knightly vassals stood behind them.

Baron Eriv saluted the head of the table, and Leon, along with his colleagues, pressed a fist to their chest armor in greeting before lowering their heads.

Looking up again, Leon saw the old general who had previously visited Selva.

Trosa sat at the head of the tent.

Although the years had carved deep crevasses in the old Earl’s resolute face, the man with a silver beard had eyes that still shone brightly, exuding an unquestionable authority.

“Please, take a seat, Lord Farolis.

Lord Gunar has not arrived yet,” Trosa gestured with his hand.

Eriv, following the arrangement, took his designated seat.

The atmosphere was heavy as everyone maintained silence and stillness.

Leon stood behind his Sealing Lord’s seat, his gaze sweeping over those present in the tent.

He noticed the Earl’s magician advisor, Hilgard, and that Wizard Met were also seated alongside the nobles in this meeting—a setting where even attendants were not permitted seemed somewhat irregular.

However, since the lords present had acquiesced to their observation, it indicated that the Northern Wizards commanded a certain respect from the lords.

Suddenly, the tent flaps were pulled aside by the guards outside, and a burly nobleman with brown hair and a stern gaze entered.

Leon recognized the emblem of a charging wolf on the cloaks of the knights following the man.

Seeing the noble’s resemblance to Canis, he understood this was Baron Avaro Gunar of the Grey Wolf Family.

His presence seemed to instantly heighten the tension within the tent, his hostile gaze almost immediately fixating on Baron Thorny Flower.

Faced with Baron Gunar’s aggressive stare, Eriv responded with a calm, cold smile.

He was not worried about any accusations.

If it weren’t for concerns about the security of the letters, today’s face-to-face arbitration wouldn’t even be necessary.

But with most of the Kosos nobility present, it was convenient to disclose the intelligence that he had maximized to his advantage.

After Gunar had greeted the crowd and taken a seat opposite Eriv, Trosa straightened up and broke the silence within the tent.

“Noble lords, today we gather here with the hope that we may peacefully resolve the dispute between the Gunnar and Farolis families.”

With the declaration of the beginning of the arbitration meeting, Trosa calmly looked at the two great barons on either side.

“I am aware of the feud between your families, but as lords of Orland, unnecessary conflicts under King Lydwen’s reign will only bring pain and destruction to the subjects of the Kingdom.

Sheathe your swords today, and let us resolve any misunderstandings through dialogue.

Let me and the lords here judge who is right and who is wrong.”

The old general lifted his right hand.

“Lord Gunar, you may speak.”

Baron Gunar immediately accused with righteous indignation: “The truth is clear.

While I led my troops in battle, the Thorny Flower Family summoned a group of accursed creatures with witchcraft to wreak havoc on my territories.

Over the past two months, several villages in Wolf Territory have been attacked.

The Thorny Flower Family took advantage of the situation to plunder my villages and abduct my subjects.

I even lost a noble knight in the campaign against those undead monsters.

I have brought evidence: The remains of a monster clad in Thorny Flower armor and witnesses who saw the Thorny Flower Family raiding villages are just outside the tent.”

He finished, his eyes fixed fiercely on Eriv: “Eriv, I’ve heard your wife was murdered, and you seek vengeance on the killer.

Let me be clear, your lady’s fate had nothing to do with the Gunnar Family.

However, for your affront to Wolf Territory, you must make amends.”

Trosa listened quietly, then turned toward the Baron Thorny Flower, unruffled throughout the charge.

“In response to Lord Gunar’s accusation, Lord Farolis, what is your defense?”

Eriv nodded to the Earl of Buck: “Lord Gunar is completely twisting the truth.

My people have never harassed Wolf Territory; on the contrary, it is the Wolf Family who has infringed upon Thorny Flower Territory.

His talk of witchcraft is nothing but imagination.

Those undead creatures that attacked our subjects have also assailed Thorny Flower Territory.

My knights merely took in some homeless refugees and did not commit any aggression toward Wolf Territory…”

Looking around at the assembled lords, he continued: “Some of you have just returned from the front lines in Mamor County.

Some here may have heard, others may not know, that not only Wolf Territory and Thorny Flower Territory but the whole region south of Kosos County, near Nightmare Forest, has experienced attacks by the undead in some form or another over this period.”

“So you’re blaming the creatures pestering the territories on Nightmare Forest?

Are you planning to spin a bedtime story for children?” Gunar, resting his elbow on the armrest and squinting, spoke in a low, serious tone.

Listening to the exchange between the two men, the attending Wizard Met frowned.

He had already explicitly cleared Thorny Flower Family of the witchcraft accusation, but he didn’t understand why the Master of Thorns had yet to mention even a word about his testimony.

Eriv, hearing Baron Grey Wolf’s sarcasm, clasped his hands together unconcernedly and leaned back in his chair with a slightly smug expression, saying leisurely, “Since you think I’m concocting stories, why don’t I tell everyone a story about Nightmare Forest today?”