Chapter 134: Seeds of Rebellion
Adam Weasley rode back toward Araidne's palace, his mind brewing with anger, humiliation, and the bitter resolution to prove himself. Before his eyes, the scene replayed itself again. The details implants themselves into his mind's eye with each passing moment, the sting of the slap and venom in her voice becoming more annoying.
He bowed respectfully to one of several werewolf guards awaiting him on the palace grounds. "General Weasley, the queen wishes to see you immediately."
Adam clenched his jaw but nodded shortly and swung off, passing the reins to a stable boy. There was something in the summons of the queen which weighed upon him, but he made himself square his shoulders and hide his bitterness.
Composure filled the throne room when Adam entered into it. Araidne was at the middle commanding her council. Her red robe billowed behind her as she gestured to a map thrown over the table in front of her.
Adam stopped a few paces from her and bowed respectfully. "My queen."
Ariadne barely looked up at him, refocusing all her energy back at the map. "We shall go through Weasley," she said coolly. "Explain to me what the witches said."
Adam swallowed the chunk that attached itself to his trachea out of nowhere. "Like I said earlier tonight-my people and I have searched around that witches coven. There is no sign or hint of either Viktor or Alfonso"
She nailed him with a glance-hard, inflexible
"And you are certain this was not hidden from you?"
"I don't think the lead witch was lying," Adam said. "The witches rarely interfere in a werewolf's business and I had no reason to think it was the case here."
Ariadne's face twisted in an wicked smile. "Believe is such a weak word to be found in a report, Adam. I want results, not speculations."
His fingers jerked at his sides, but his voice came out even. "Give me more time, and I will find them."
Ariadne turned fully toward him then, her gaze piercing into his. "Time is not a luxury we can afford. Do you understand how much this weighs against my shoulders? Viktor and Alfonso retain the key to find Alpha Lleus's body. We cannot bring utter destruction to the rebellion without them."
"I know, my queen," Adam returned. "But these things take...."
"Enough of the excuses!" she spat, her voice booming a little; the other members of the council faced away from them and remained speechless. "You are my general, Adam Weasley. And if you can't even manage a simple errand handed to a child, perhaps I find someone better for the job."
That was a nice slap on the face, and he listened patiently. "I won't disappoint you again."
"See that you don't," she said icily. Then with the wave of her hand in dismissal, she continued, "You are dismissed."
Adam bowed and then turned to go out, showing his calm expression on his face. But internally, it was a whole storm going on.
At once, he walked his way to his room, in the generals quarters. His heart was a mess, he thought to himself whether, Araidne had any love left for him.
"She treats me like a pawn," he growled low in his throat. "After all I have done to proof myself, after all the sacrifices that I have made."
"She's using me" he whispered. "I was a fool to think she ever saw me as more than a tool." He kept thinking to himself as a slid through the doors of the room and dumped himself on the bed.
But Ariadne had her plans, she sat deep within her palace chambers, her mind consumed with thoughts of Rebellion, what was best could she do to put out those uprising flames inside the walls of her brain. Still she kept thinking about Adam, maybe she might have been too hard on him. "Noo, I'm not weak," she said out loud. "He must understand his place and duty." "And to be whole, weakness must not be given a place in the rule,"
A soft rap at the door drew her from such mind. "Enter," she called.
One of her counselors came forward his head bowed extremely low. "My queen there are rumors, on the council, regarding General Weasley."
Ariadne's brow went up. "Rumors?"
"Yes my queen," he said with great wariness entering his tone now. "That there are possibly feelings, perhaps of resentment on his part from your confrontation."
Ariadne's lips pinched. "Adam Weasley knows his place, and he wouldn't cross me."
"Of course, my queen," the counsellor repeated at once, flailing. "Perhaps I might suggest-keeping a closer eye on him, where possible."
She had said nothing for some time, only nodding her head, her head cocked to one side: "Very well. Have somebody report to keep track of him in secret; I don't want any treason."
"As you will." The counselor bowed and retreated from the room.
Ariadne sat back in her chair, the mind's eye dancing with images of Adam: once one of those she trusted the most now one of her generals defeated so easily. She needs loyal people and can't afford to lose now.
And then Adam sat in silence in his room, he had given Ariadne everything, had given all she could demand or wish for only to met with dismissal for a reply, he felt so pained.
"If she cannot see my worth, then". he told himself, "perhaps I should not be so much engrossed in working so hard."
He rose to his feet, his chest racing. He'd track down Viktor and Alfonso, without seeking her accolade, he will prove that fact more to himself than to Araidne that he wasn't some chess piece.
With which he swung his leg over the bed and went into his bathroom to have a shower. This was a big decision for him. He knew his worth and wasn't going to wait for anyone's opinion before he would do what he does best. There was one thing for sure, he will never again be controlled by the views Araidne.