Sulphur & Lightning Chapter 12: 011 - Dawn-Catching Young Masters

Read chapter 12 of Sulphur & Lightning by anaugustauthor on NovelPedia.

Julnan and Yachit had had no idea that these were the issues that plagued their master behind his unbothered façade. “What are you going to do, master?” “What can I do?” he asked angrily. “Am I expected to stand up to them with trash like you? When even the simplest of tasks is met with failure and excuses, and instead of focusing on the next thing at hand, I have to hear whining about a cripple? It’s bad enough to be suppressed by my brothers, but for you to cut such sorry figures before outsiders so that even that Goblin slut can disrespect me. You’re useless, all of you!” The pair was speechless and bowed before their master in his rage, not daring to say anything, even by way of apology. Despite the expectation that he would continue his tirade, he went back to facing the affairs that cluttered his desk before dismissing them and telling them they had the week off to recuperate. As they retreated, he suddenly changed his mind and called Julnan back into his study. They waited in awkward silence as the aromatic steam from the teacups that had been swiftly ushered in by a silent command to the maid titillated their senses. Busa took a deep breath of it before taking the first sip. It was only after he relinquished it to the coaster tea tray that Julnan dared to lift his own cup tentatively to his own lips. He gave the same generic praise that was expected of such tea, the sort of praise that was all the more hollow for its truth. “What do you think I should do?” Julnan mulled the question over seriously and then levelled the gentle gaze of his honey brown eyes at his master. “Is Sabo that important?” “Is there anything more important than that?” was the smiling reply of the young master. His expression was relaxed and betrayed no hint of the personal and political turmoil that engulfed his young heart. Even Julnan couldn’t tell whether he was truly at peace or if he was hiding behind the usual mask. “If so, then an alliance is the best option. Forgive me for saying master, but you’re not likely to overtake either of them for the position of clan lord.” He was unoffended and merely asked who he thought he should hitch his wagon to. “Young master Garo has made his position rather clear, I think. By forcing a decision on you, he’s pushed you to the camp of the second young master, hasn’t he?” “It’s not that simple,” he said mildly, “Danjuma is dangerous.” “Surely he’s not a worse enemy to make than the eldest young master. Be it personal strength, connections, or manoeuvring politics, he’s the most formidable of you three brothers.” “Us three?” he replied with his signature sharp smile. Julnan gave no answer. “Well, what you say is very true, but Danjuma’s a little… special. I know you don’t understand the intricacies of cultivation, but igniting your first Dantian before adulthood is extremely rare. Few people in the entire Jan Zaki can boast of it.” Julnan absorbed the information and then asked why he didn’t consider taking his side then. After all, with his own fairly substantial accruements, a coalition with one of the most talented individuals in the Elven race could scarcely be a bad political move. “That’s impossible,” he said carelessly, draining his cup and breathing out a puff of steam from between his puckered lips before rising and facing the eastern window, “I’ve always hated him above all.” Julnan watched his master in the mellow atmosphere created by the now rising sun, having no answer to give him. He seemed possessed by a desire for inaction, a thing the young servant had never seen in him. “I have a sort of immature desire,” he said suddenly, catching the first rays of the golden sun in his eyes as he spoke, “do not laugh at it.” “I desire not to choose. Not to be constrained by this pressure. Yes, I am grass, and it is right that grass be crushed underfoot, but still I desire something beyond this tedious life of successions and conspiracy.” “If that’s what you desire truly, master, then feel free to use my