CH20 Rowland's Intention
***
Rowland looked across the table at each Council member.
"Council members Fletcher and Baldric are right. Leo doesn't fully meet the qualities the DoomMane Guild is looking for in order to be given official membership in the Guild.
"Likewise, Council members Kastor and Duemin are also correct. We can't overlook the boy's efforts to improve himself nor can we overlook the contributions of his parents to the Guild.
"In that case, Leo Xander shall be granted nominal membership in the DoomMane Guild. He is not an official member of the Guild as such he will receive nothing from the guild and nothing will be expected of him by the Guild. However, the guild will at the very least ensure his safety for we owe his parents that much."
"Any objections?"
"No objections."
"Good, in that case, let this matter set a precedent. From now on until a future review, no Guild member's offspring shall earn anything from the Guild as a result of their parent's identity within the Guild. Henceforth, all such privileges previously handed out are to be withdrawn with immediate effect. Any postings lined up are also to be withdrawn.
"As per law of the DoomMane Guild, everything shall be earned through one's own effort.
"Any objections?" Rowland looked through the Council members.
Old man Baldric's expression dropped while Fletcher's expression became ugly.
They both had offspring who had received one thing or the other from the Guild due to their positions.
Poorstag's lips twitched while Kastor and Lady Duemin smiled overtly at the duo's expense.
"No objections..." The Council members said.
It wasn't like Baldric and Fletcher didn't want to object. But doing so infringed on the authority of the Guild Master.
If Rowland wished, he could challenge them to duel by combat to settle the decision.
Although he couldn't kill them as per the rules of the duel, it was more than easy for the War King to cripple them.
Neither of them held any hope of being able to beat Rowland, either alone nor together.
Rowland turned to Jaras, "When the decision of the Council is announced, include the transcript of the discussion so the Guild Members can understand why the Council reached such a decision on the last matter."
"By your Will, sir." Jaras bowed and accepted the order.
Fletcher and Baldric's expressions darkened further.
Although it seemed like a perfectly normal order, they knew it was a crafty political move from Rowland.
"With that, we have come to the end of the meeting. Once again, thank you for your service to the DoomMane Guild." Rowland said.
The Council members rose to their feet.
"It is our honour to serve the Guild and humanity." They chorused.
Rowland stood up and walked to the door.
He suddenly stopped just as he was about to walk out of the door opened by Jaras.
"Gavin, I await the day you will finally challenge me for my seat. I grow bored of waiting." He said without turning back.
With that, he walked out.
The only thing left behind of him was the still-radiating presence he left on his seat which Gavin eyed covetously.
Behind the seat was the unmistakable symbol of the DoomMane Guild... a red-brown Lion with a black mane, the Doom Lion.
Etched under the insignia was the motto of the Guild,
'Strength rules, merit earns and loyalty binds...'
**
Some time later in Rowland's office at the Guild Headquarters.
Lady Quara Duemin had come for a meeting.
"You never intended to have your nephew join the Guild, did you? You probably just wanted to test the waters." Lady Duemin said directly.
"Why do you say that?" Rowland asked back without giving anything away.
"I have seen the boy. He has as much as pride in his bones as you and Drake combined. There is no way he would accept to stay under your protection. If he wanted to get into the Guild, he would have done it himself without your help. Also, the fact that you didn't push it through shows you also didn't really care about it.
"That old man Baldric just gave himself away for nothing." She smiled.
"If you spent as much time deducing the clues and information on cases that really matter as much as you do with our internal politics, you would have gotten me a result on the case I asked you to investigate." Rowland commented.
He neither agreed nor disagreed to her words.
Lady Duemin raised her hands in surrender, "I told you before, someone from the Hellscar is involved."
"You haven't pointed me towards a specific person nor given me concrete proof."
"And I told you, someone from the Hunter Association is interfering. If I want to figure out who in the Hellscar to blame, I will have to poke around the Hunter Association. Would you like me to do that, Guild Master?" Lady Duemin folded her arms and leaned back into her seat.
Rowland's fingers tapped on the table.
"Thread with extreme caution. It doesn't bode well for us if someone high up in the Association is favouring an antagonistic rival Guild."
"Don't expect quick results if I have to thread lightly."
"No matter. I have already waited for a decade and a half. I can wait for a few more years. But don't make me wait for too long."
"Understood." Lady Duemin nodded. She paused for a moment before asking, "Do you want me to keep an eye on Gavin and his cohorts for you?"
Rowland frowned, but he nodded afterwards.
"You think he can threaten your throne?" Lady Duemin asked with a smile laced with a bit of surprise.
"It would be good for the Guild if that was it." Rowland shook his head. "Gavin is a man whose ambition surpasses his capabilities. I worry that what he might do to get what he covets, may not be in the best interests of the Guild."
Lady Duemin's chilled demeanour wiped away immediately.
"You don't think he would betray the Guild, do you?" She asked.
"I do not know. That is why you will be keeping an eye on him for me." Rowland replied.
Lady Duemin stared at him for a few moments before nodding solemnly.
She left Rowland's office after a while.
Rowland stood up from his seat and looked out the ceiling high window with his hand behind his back.
"I have set up a screen for you, nephew. I hope it is enough for you to spread your wings and soar without interference from your nest." He muttered to himself.
Contrary to what Lady Duemin and the other council members now thought, Rowland had brought up the matter for Leo.
However, just not in the way they expected.
Rowland never wanted to make Leo an official member of the Guild. That would have left him open to interference from Gavin Fletcher's faction.
As a nominal member however, he enjoyed the protection he needed from the Guild without the exact responsibility to it.
As for Lady Duemin's deduction that Rowland intended to investigate and attack Fletcher's faction, that was only bonus as far as Rowland was concerned.
An unconscious smile appeared on his lips as he imagined the faces of the Fletcher faction members when they realise the 'waste' they rejected was more than what met the eye.
(To be continued...)