Hello my faithful readers. I hope you all had a safe and happy Christmas and New Year's. I apologize for being late again, but I was at my Dad's and since he has dial up, bluh, I couldn't update quickly. Ok so I want respond to my reviewers. My first reviewer was Dominik Journot who has become a very faithful reviewer. Thank you so much for your understanding and compliment of the chapter, I can tell you that there are still a good number of chapters left but at least 10-20. Lastly concerning lemons…I will never write a lemon because of my beliefs, but I couldn't include one in this story anyway because it would spoil the mystery over who Kagome will choose. Don't get me wrong I will still read a story if it has a lemon, for example I love Merry Christmas Mister Taishou a Sess/Kagome by ElegantPaws even though it has a lemon I just skip that part. By the way I recommend that story to anyone who wants to read a cute fic. Next was a new reviewer who reviewed several times as she read through the story. Special thanks to you, rosieweasley, for all of your compliments and I know what you mean about Sango and Miroku but I didn't give them an important place in my series so I really can't afford to spend much time on them. I hope to hear from the rest of my reviewers in this chapter and I hope that you all enjoy it.
CHAPTER LIV
THE INTERPRETATION
Healo's POV
The Northern Lord stood silently in front of the adorned doors that opened into the throne room. He had been here several times before, but the feeling of awe associated with the room just beyond always surprised him. As the door was pushed open from the other side Healo moved slowly into that room that was full of relics from the heyday of the Empire. He entered the room with his three brothers and Kirin, the others had been led into a comfortable hall and asked to remain there during the brother's audience with the Regent. They had expressed momentary hesitation over being separated from the rest of their companions but by the time they left the humans seemed to have become comfortable with the area.
The demon lord didn't believe that his friends had anything to worry about; the Regent may not be a sure ally but he was certainly no friend of Naraku. Still Healo couldn't help but to worry a little for the safety of Kagome; it was a consequence of their "engagement" and the demon lord could tell that the Western Lord was not immune to its effects. Sesshomaru gave off a strong sense of impatience which the others may not have noticed but which could not be hidden from his abilities. His brother's concern was not based merely on his ideas of honor, as he would claim, but stemmed from something deeper. Whether this was some sort of affection or mere jealousy was more difficult to tell, and the Northern Lord knew that Sesshomaru's mind was too powerful to give up any other details.
Healo turned his attention instead to the mature demon who was standing at the end of the room next to the gilded throne itself. This heir to the legendary prime minister Triellen was something of a mystery. His mother had been a proud, austere demoness who was the direct descendant of Triellen, however, her family had held only minor posts in the empire for several generations. This all changed with the assassination of the heir, Prince Malus, and the suspected end of the imperial line. After the shock of this tradgedy had subsided some of the people of Maleon had demanded that the heir of Triellen become regent over the imperial lands.
This was Valen who had been trained for a minor position in the imperial army or bureaucracy who was instead pressed into a position as a de facto lord. Unsurprisingly his appointment as Regent caused debate in the other lands; only Bianen had been enthusiastic about the idea and consequently he had been able to wrap the young demon around his finger. For almost three hundred years Valen had been forced to cooperate with the Eastern Lord in order to preserve his own position. This early experience is what caused the demon's strong sense of self-preservation, subtlety, and self-reliance. In his position the Regent couldn't afford to completely trust anyone.
Healo kept all of this in mind as he neutrally regarded Valen. The rumors of wolf blood were strengthened by the demon's icy blue eyes and his grey hair with silver streaks. The Regents expression was one of mild interest as he carefully studied his guests. Valen said calmly ", Welcome, my lords, I have been waiting for you for quite some time." Kirin moved to stand next to his lord as Magus replied diplomatically, "We were delayed by a series of strange circumstances. However, by good fortune we have made the journey with little loss." The Northern Lord felt a tinge of bitterness from this statement; he had lost his son, but his brother knew better then the mention that here.
The Regent may have wondered at the reason for their lateness but he only responded smoothly, "Indeed, I am glad to hear it. Well, I suppose we should get right to the point. I know that Kirin has told you that your enemies are on the move; Naraku's troops are massing near the Drianen River and Bianen is poised to cross the Great River. Why exactly should I support you when you have such powerful forces arrayed against you?" Healo sighed silently since the question was exasperating, but not unforeseen considering the demon's nature. However, it was the Western Lord he replied forcefully, "Naraku may have his legions, but many of them are a useless rabble that cannot stand against true soldiers."
Magus added his opinion, "My lord must remember that the Western Lands are your natural buffer against Naraku; without us you could be attacked at several point simultaneously." This argument seemed to have some affect upon the Regent, but when he spoke it was about a different subject, "That is true. However, something else has come to my attention that is far more important, at the moment, for if it is true then my choice becomes even more important." Valen paused as he allowed his guests to stew in anticipation of what he would say although Kirin shifted nervously since he obviously knew what was about to be said.
The Regents gaze hardened as he said, "Naraku has been spreading several disturbing rumors; in short he claims to know that an heir to the empire still lives and that he has captured this heir's son. At first, I admit, I took no notice of this rumor believing it to be only a ploy by that hanyou to dishearten the populace." Tension filled the room as the brothers noticed that he said 'at first'. Valen continued with a small cold smiled, "However, in light of Naraku's claim I decided to inspect the possibility of it being true and began by analyzing my ancestor's prophecy."
Valen reached down casually and pulled a paper off of a small table then began to read it while he commented, "The beginning, of course, is easily interpreted; the star represents the Empire which shines brightly until the sun begins to strive with it. The sun is a symbol for the Eastern Lands which rebel under Molech and continue to rebel periodically until the time of Bianen. Lord Bianen succeeds in killing both Emperor Leonius and Prince Malus, but this is where the prophecy becomes tricky since it states that an heir will be born just before the Empire seems to fail. This means that Prince Malus must have had a son and we can tell who he is by the next part of the prophecy."
The Regent paused and his eyes latched unto the Northern Lord as he continued, "The child must be a descendant of Magus I since he is symbolized by a snowflake and he would have to be born shortly after Prince Malus's death; there was only one such child. This child would later fall under the protection of the Western Lord, who is symbolized by the moon, but he will leave his home when a new moon rises which I believe would be Lord Sesshomaru. The lily was the symbol of the Southern Lands and would seem to be the Lady Avia whose death is shown from the wilted flower; the cloud that arises from her death is the rise of Naraku. From there the prophecy goes into what might yet be."
Healo was silent as he waited to see what would happen next; after a moment the demon put down the paper and narrowed his eyes. His voice was soft as he said, "Now we have only to think if there is one who would fulfill all of these requirements…tell me, Lord Healo, how is your son?" For a moment everyone thought that the Northern Lord was going to explode; at that seemingly innocent question his eyes widened and burned with a brilliant blue flame. However, he calmed sufficiently to answer coldly, "While you taunt and pry me, my only son lies in the clutches of that dangerous hanyou. It is more than obvious to us that you know who I am and what I truly am meant to become but so that there can be no doubt." In a slow motion the Northern Lord drew Yamikura with his right hand and dispelled the false snowflake on his head with his left.
Valen crossed his arms as he murmered, "Yes, the cursed blade, there can be no more doubt." Healo asked calmly, "Now that you know who I am, will you help us?" The Regent seemed to recover at these words as he grinned and answered, "Well, it seems I really have two options; I must either enthrone you or else betray you. Which is the safer path I wonder?" They all tensed since even they knew the answer to that; it would be much easier to have Healo packed up and sent to Naraku since he already held the advantage. It would be much more difficult to try to restore the heir to the imperial throne.
However, when the Northern Lord noticed that his kinsmen was not worried to also calmed himself and replied, "Well, my lord, it is true that you have a choice. You shall be either one of the most heroic personages in our history, or else the most infamous of traitors. Still the fact remains that the fate of the Empire is now in your hands, but remember whatever you choose to do I refuse to take the scepter until after Naraku is dead." Healo thought calmly to himself, 'Which probably means that Sulam will have to take the throne; I have no illusions about my chances for survival but the line must continue.' Of course all of this rested on the decision on Valen who cynically held the future in his hands.
Hello again readers; I'm so sorry about the lateness of this chapter, but I posted it as soon as I could. I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter and that you all will give me some feedback. I'm heading back to school in a few days which actually means that I'll be able to update more quickly which seems backwards doesn't it? Actually I can concentrate better at college so that will be better for you all. Next chapter should be up by Sunday, I hope, and will continue the quickening pace towards the finale, which is still a little while away. Don't forget to review since it helps to spur me on to write more at a far faster pace. I'm sorry about how short the chapter is but like I said before I'll be able to write more very soon.