Zebediah grew anxious as he watched the unfolding situation. Our days ahead will be tougher if a fight ensues. Besides, Jared alone is no match for all of them. While Zebediah was beside himself with panic, a sonorous voice rang out.
“Stop, all of you!” Following the furious roar, Sigurd dashed over. “Are you all trying to start a mutiny?” he demanded when he saw the disciples surrounding Jared. “How dare you fight. amongst yourselves within the walls of our sect?”
“This fellow made the first move, Sigurd! Look, he struck me.” The youngster who was slapped stepped forward and showed Sigurd his swollen cheek.
“Mr. Chance only struck you because you made things difficult on purpose by not apportioning our rations to us,” Zebediah quickly explained. The youngster was about to retort when Sigurd stopped him. “Go and bring out the rations belonging to Mr. Samoll’s disciples. Do not leave out a scrap.”
Sigurd’s order caused the disciple tasked with distributing the rations to gap in disbelief. Sigurd did not use to like Ghaylen’s disciples, much less take the initiative to have their back.
His order for them to allocate the rations belonging to Ghaylen’s disciples baffled the other disciples of Emerald Cauldron Sect. “I’m telling you to bring them here. Would you like a taste of disciplinary action?”
Sigurd became anxious when they did not move. Upon seeing Sigurd’s anger, the disciple in charge slunk away to bring out the rations: meant for Ghaylen’s disciples.
“Let me know ahead of time when you come to collect your rations, Zebediah, and I’ll make sure these hoodlums won’t make things difficult for you,” Sigurd told Zebediah..
Zebediah stared at Sigurd, not quite sure what to say at the moment. He was disconcerted by the peculiar change that had come over the latter. Sigurd had never been this courteous to us before. However, Zebediah did not know that Sigurd was behaving like that because of Jared.
“Let’s go.” When the rations were brought out, Jared prepared to take them and return with Zebediah. Just when he was about to do so, a figure emerged and planted a foot firmly on the items.
“Without my say so, nobody can bring them away!” declared a middle-aged man with a fleshy face and shrewd eyes. Sigurd scowled at the appearance of the newcomer. “What is the meaning of this, Bilius? You have no authority over the matters of the sect.”
“You are a little too generous, aren’t you, Sigurd? Historically, the task of delegating the rations has been ours to uphold. Why are you getting involved?” Bilius Kenlay asked, glaring at Sigurd as he did so.
“In the absence of my master, I am in charge of making decisions on behalf of the sect. Why shouldn’t I get involved in the decision regarding the rations?” Sigurd demanded, unwilling to back down.
“Hah! Mr. Holt isn’t here, yes, but my master is, and he is the second in command around here. Who are you, some insignificant disciple, to have a say? Besides, the matter of distributing rations isn’t under your jurisdiction. How dare you butt in?” After his declaration, Bilius waved an arm. “Bring the rations back in.”
The disciple who distributed the rations was just about to do so when Sigurd roared, “Insolence! In the absence of Mr. Holt, I, as the chief disciple, have the power to relegate disciplinary action if you so much as move at muscle.”
At the sound of the threat, the disciples. distributing the rations froze in fear. “What are you afraid of? I am the actual chief disciple of Emerald Cauldron Sect. This fellow was still in his diapers when I joined the sect. Bring the things in, all of you. I will bear all consequences. Though we are Mr. Erdell’s disciples, we will not allow let you walk all over us, Bilius declared, motioning with his hand.
