Chapter 424 - Thief

"Adelram?!" Duana shouted as she turned to him. "We can not be here!" Claec shouted in turn. "I, I can't believe what I just heard." Blamore chimed in with a heart broken tone. "I'm sorry! I had no other choice!" Ariana said with a pleading voice. "You always have a choice... you just made the wrong one." Adelram said in suppressed hate filled voice. "No! I was told about the book, I had no time I just grabbed everything and-?!" Ariana said but the King's knights all glared at Ariana.

Loralei swam upwards and blocked the knights gazes with her body. "King Ingemar knows what she did and isn't upset so what right do you have to be!" Loralei said in the bravest voice she ever made. "So he knows that she stole the King's stone?" Adelram said in a threatening tone. Loralei flinched. "N-not necessarily." Loralei said as she averted her gaze.

"You are a noble! How can you allow such a thing to happen!" Claec shouted furiously as he pointed at Loralei. "Because I believe in Ariana just like she believes in me! I know she has something important do and if Gautum stands in her way then I would have gladly stolen his things for her!" Loralei said in defiance. "Insolence!" Claec hissed.

"... The King hasn't sent his orders so this must be part of his will. Ariana though we don't like it we will humour we and listen to your story. Tell us what happened and from there we will make our own judgement." Adelram said.

"But Adelram!" Claec shouted. "Claec that's enough." Blamore said in a low voice. Claec stopped protesting and just glared in Ariana's direction. "Loralei, I'm okay." Ariana said causing Loralei to face her. "Are you sure? I don't like how they are looking at you." Loralei said as she shot a dirty look at Claec.

In an instant Claec's jaw dropped. He looked at the others for help but no one said a thing. He then pursed his lips and averted his gaze. "Loralei, please." Ariana said causing Loralei to concede. "Thank you Loralei." Ariana said then she faced the knights head on. "You see..."

After some time the knight floated in silence, they looked conflicted with what they heard and didn't know what to say. "Ariana!" A tiny, child like voice called out. Ariana turned her head to the direction of the voice and her eyes lit up with pure joy. "Otis?! Is that you?!" She shouted just as an ugly duckling with a tiny crown on it's head flapped his wings towards her. "Yes and I don't know how to stop very well!" Otis shouted.

Ariana opened her arms and caught Otis. Two books, the lapis stone, a picture and an envelope floated outwards. Loralei moved quickly and collected the things. "You idiot! Who told you to be a theif!" Otis shouted furiously. Ariana giggled as she hugged Otis. "What happened to you?" She asked. Vasu floated upwards, landing on Ariana's shoulder. He glared at Otis and snorted hot air.

"Answer my question first!" Otis yelled as he used his tiny wings to push himself out of Ariana's embrace but he was too weak so he just struggled. "I didn't have time! Bertha's magic was running out, so the fireplace helped me out and I just grabbed everything right before we were kicked out." Ariana explained. "That old coot helped you?!" Otis shouted in disbelief as he stopped struggling. He then turned to the knights and faced them with a noble's aura.

"This child is no theif!" He said proudly. "Do you really think we will believe that!" Claec spat as he glared at the two. Loralei shot him a cold glare and he instantly averted his gaze. Duana giggled as she nudged Claec. While Claec mumbled something about Loralei just being only a child.

"Explain." Adelram said in a commanding tone. Otis nodded his head and opened his tiny beak. "Sebastian, the fireplace purposely lead Ariana to steal everything what Gautum had hidden." Otis said causing Ariana to be dumbstruck.

"N-no, that can't be right." Ariana said in protest. "Oh he did." Otis said with a smug look. "Sebastian is very old and powerful. He is the keeper of Gautum's office. He will not let just anyone in or out. He has absolute power in that realm." Otis explained. "But the room was quaking, he said Bertha's spell was losing it's magic." Loralei explained.

"That's a lie. Sebastian has absolute control. Bertha, the bush folk? Well Bertha can ask for permission from Sebastian to enter, telepathically of course and Sebastian gave his permission." Otis explained.

"So everything was staged? He planned everything?" Ariana asked. Otis nodded his head in agreement. "He must have sensed something and watched you. Once he deemed you worthy he forced you to take his gift and kicked you out." Otis explained. If Ariana wasn't floating she would have dropped to her knees as her legs felt weak. "I can't believe this." Ariana whispered.

"So this child is no thief and shouldn't be punished as one!" Otis said with an arrogant tone. "... We weren't going to punish her." Blamore said awkwardly before he turned to Adelram. "Right?" He continued. "... No we were not ordered to punish her." Adelram said causing Otis's beak to hang open. "Then why did I rush over here?!" Otis shouted. Duana shrugged and Claec let out a small, arrogant chuckle. "To see if she's okay?" Hadria said nonchalantly.

"R-ridiculous! I am a married man!" Otis shouted as he blushed. He then turned his beak into the air and in a loud voice he shouted. "W-well this child stole my heart with her bravery so she is a thief but I wish you to not punish her! Let her leave this realm in one piece with her companions!"

Ariana's jaw dropped and Loralei facepalmed herself. Vasu had enough and jumped down from Ariana's shoulder and pushed Otis out of his spot. 'Moron.' He said as he nuzzled himself in and Otis floated downwards.

"No more jokes Otis..." Adelram sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.