The Author's POV

335 Infiltration [3]

[Henolur, Elder council]

A deathly silence enveloped the hall.

"…what did you just say?"

Gernis's solemn voice echoed across the hall.

A terrifying pressure spread out from his small and aged body, completely enveloping the hall.

Subjected to such pressure, Waylan merely frowned.

Having been with Douglas for a long time, he was already used to the pressure. Although Gernis was indeed higher ranked than Douglas, at the end of the day, the dwarves weren't really a combat-oriented race. They were craftsmen, not warriors. They didn't possess the bloodlust or battle-aura frontline fighters did, not to the same extent.

The pressure wasn't anything that Waylan couldn't handle.

"Haaaa..."

Closing his eyes and breathing out, Waylan opened his eyes and stared directly at Gernis.

"I'll say it again. Give me a chance, and I will help you end this war."

"Pftt..."

Once Waylan's words faded, the dwarf with red eyebrows, Randur, burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, I can't-I can't believe this! What kind of nonsense is this?"'

Slapping the table, Randur continued to laugh for a solid minute.

It was only when he realized that everyone's attention was on him that he finally stopped laughing.

Looking around, he asked with a deadpan look, "What? dinna ye guys also find his delusions funny?"

"This be nae laughing matter, Randur."

Gernis spoke gravely, the look on his face severe.

"Don't tell me you actually believe his words?" Randur asked with an incredulous look.

To him, it was clear to see that Waylan was merely spouting nonsense to save himself.

Leaning his body forward, he looked towards the other dwarves present before pointing at Waylan.

"Stop tha war? bah, if he cou've done it, he wou've done it 'afore. Why now? he's clearly just trying ta save his ass. I'm sure yer all smart enough ta understand this, right?"

Unexpectedly, Randur was met with silence. No one spoke up.

The silence further enraged him. He glared at everyone present.

"Have low have we fallen for you guys to not realize this, eh?!"

In reality, everybody shared the same thoughts as Randur. However, unlike Randur, they didn't speak up because of Gernis.

The solemnity clouding his face prevented them from speaking up. He had a grim aura surrounding him, one that seemed to suffocate the air itself.

No one was as fearless as Randur in that situation.

Fortunately for Randur, Gernis didn't seem to mind his words. The latter seemed too preoccupied with Waylan's actions. All of his attention seemed focused on the human before him.

Staring at him for quite a while, he asked.

"...How confident are you in your words?"

"Very."

Waylan flatly replied.

Looking at the other dwarves present, he straightened his back.

"If you give me a chance, I'll do what I said I will do."

"Hmm.."

Waylan's confident expression, Gernis's brows knit in

what Waylan said sounded absurd, his fearless expression planted a seed of

Or could he? Was he really just saying this

through,

punished for his failure, it wasn't going to be something extreme like an execution. After all, although he was one of the main people responsible for the failure, they too

was before, things were different

escalated the situation

he couldn't have been executed for a failure not entirely on him, he would be guaranteed death for

was betting on his

of Waylan's words and determination made

one would be stupid

Gernis decided to see where this bet would take the future

Tell

"I apologize."

to what Gernis expected.

Gernis's face

playing with

head and glanced at all of

I don't want to tell you, but I just don't

"Why is that?"

Waylan shrugged his shoulders and looked at the other dwarven

his brow, he

It was

was afraid that a spy hid amongst

the only one who understood his words as all of those present in the

dwarf, in particular, wasn't happy with his words

insinuate that there

was none other than

was twisted

trial started, he seemed to have this sort of vendetta against Waylan. In fact, he wasn't the only one that thought in such a

who kept quiet didn't want to annoy Gernis, someone whom they

be even listening ta him! Ye are a bunch of

Randur, but what if his words be right? what if he truly knows o' a way ta stop tha

finally spoke up and addressed

his head in the dwarf's

can he know when even we don't know? And why only now? Something ain't addin'

a valuable

chimed in, much to

"Then..."

caused Randur's

prove himself ta us. Since Jomnuk has been kidnapped, we have

attention back

have. If ye manage ta successfully do as ye've said, nae only

who blanky sat there with his mouth

up my mind. 'Tis shall be the final decision. You can't change

most powerful and respected person, the other dwarves present could

ye this chance be because o' Douglas. Me faith be nae with ye but with Douglas. If ye

eyes, Waylan nodded his head

will do my best to keep

we

his head left and

Waylan needs

"Understood."

standing up, though displeased,

that once the decision had been made, both Randur, the dwarf that seemed to have a vendetta against Waylan, and Waylan,

going

***

Gulp-!

my eyes remained transfixed on the panel in front of me. At this point, my eyes were

I had managed to last for another

long since managed

I

was only a matter of

Cli Clank-!

the door behind me opened up. The guard that brought

to relay

"On with it."