Conquering His Cold Heart

Chapter 707 Icethorne (4)

"Uncle Oscar" Avira loudly called out with a voice filled with affection and repressed pain. After travelling for so long in secret, hiding from her brothers' eyes she'd finally found solace. The image of Duke Runak's tall muscular frame and his battle hardened appearance broke the dam that guarded her emotions.

The strong, brave young woman that faced off against the dreaded iceborne huntsman and endured the hunting of Bella and her frost giant subordinates instantly turned into a bawling child.

Wet tears streamed down her cheeks and her body visibly trembled greatly shocking the man sitting at the head of the table.

"Little V!" The war hardened Duke rose from his seat and dashed forward taking the trembling Avira in his arms.

"Wah wah uncle hic hic my mom and dad.." Avira completely broke down in his arms, revealing all the repressed pain that she'd hidden so well from Frost and Borris.

"I know child, I know... let it all out." Duke Runak tightly pressed Avira against his chest and allowed her to let out all her frustrations, more than willing to act as her rock.

Avira's loud wailing and Duke Runak's now warm and gentle expression destroyed the once tense atmosphere.

"Sit with uncle, V, I had Icethorne's best chefs prepare a glorious banquet for your arrival."

"Umu" Avira meekly mumbled and nodded her head before Duke Runak carried her to the head of the table. He sat down and gently placed her on his lap before reaching out to grab a piece of fragrant monster meat.

After having a few bites Avira's tears stopped and her emotions calmed down slightly, the meat was very tasty.

"Sir Frost, Lord Darksteel please take a seat and partake in the feast before it goes cold." With Avira now calmer Duke Runak turned to face Frost and Borris.

"Thank you Duke Runak." Frost and Borris both respectfully bowed their heads before taking their assigned seats. The Generals seated nearby eyed them both with interest, keen to strike up a conversation.

"Frost was it? It's good to finally put a face to the name." General Katrina Orwell wasted no time in striking up a conversation with the handsome young man, her eyes even analysed every inch of his body as if attempting to grade his potential.

"You know of me?" Frost expected them to have done some kind of background check, but Katrina's tone seemed unusually warm and friendly. Continue reading on empire

"Frost it seems we need to have a proper chat don't you think?" Duke Runak said with a smile but there was something ominous in his tone, something that made Frost shiver in his seat.

"I...it would be my honour."

'Dammit why did I have to draw this monster's ire.' Frost suddenly regretted teasing Avira during their journey.

"Everyone eat up, we'll move on to official talks in an hour...Jessica, Vox once your done replace Jared and Danielle."

""Yes Duke"" Jessica and Vox performed a military salute before quickly digging into their meals. Hardly anyone talked after that, everyone was completely focused on eating.

An hour later Duke Runak, Avira, Katrina, Astra, Maximus, Frost and Borris left the hall where the feast was prepared and entered into a highly defended and magically sealed war room.

"Please sit." Duke Runak gestured for his guests to sit down at the large metal table where a 3d model of Icethorne was displayed with frightening accuracy.

Maximus, Astra and Katrina didn't sit, instead they stood directly behind their War Marshall in an intimidating manner. This time they were truly acting in an official capacity. Frost could feel his every muscles tremble and scream as he was subjected to their pressure without mercy. He could barely even look the Duke in the eye.

"Princess Avira please tell me everything, I want to know exactly how our stalwart Emperor and noble Empress were deprived of their lives and by whose hand....tell me who took the lives of my friends!" Duke Runak couldn't restrain his fury as he viciously slammed his fist against the metal table, forming a deep dent at the point of contact.

The 3 Generals did their upmost to protect Borris and Avira from his leaking aura and bloodlust, but Frost was left to endure it alone, a sort of test and perhaps sign of respect on their part.

For Frost however he felt as though he was faced with an unsurmountable mountain, a foe that he couldn't even hope to survive against. In his short but experienced life he'd only felt such an intense level of power twice, once when he first mentioned the Church of Light to Maya and the second during his father's outburst wherein all the guardians swarmed to restrain him and failed.

Though Duke Runak was far weaker than both Maya and his father he was certainly not a run of the mill A-ranker. There was a presence there that could only be found in those at the S-rank or those half a step away from it.

Feeling the depth of Duke Runak's aura and killing intent he remembered a lesson Maya gave him several months ago.

"What's the difference between B-rank, A-rank and then S-rank?" Frost who had be floundering around the entry stages of B-rank wanted to understand the upper levels a bit more, so he asked his Guardian who at the time was still at the S-rank.

"It's not wise for you know everything as that may in fact limit your own path but I guess I can reveal the basics."