Chapter 22 WICK VS ALFIERO (1)
GALLAHAN’S POV
“Gallahan!”
My name rang loud and shrill from Maliya’s and Zuleika’s lips.
“It is quite alright, Miss Banfey, Miss Macarius,” Alfiero assured. “I already expected to be met with petulant tantrums even before I agreed to meet for a talk.”
The genial way he addressed both women was instantly wiped away the moment he redirected his attention to me.
He seemed unruffled by the fact that I was demanding for his granddaughter specifically. It left me with two possible scenarios.
One. Willa had told him about us being fated mates.
Or two. He was just damn fucking good at keeping his composure and hiding his real emotions and thoughts.
But I had no habit of believing appearances and weightless words. So I had every intention to pry the truth from him.
“Petulant?” I scoffed. “Perhaps some degree of introspection is needed, Headmaster. Maybe you will realize then that my petulance and impudence, as you have called it, is earned by your blatant disrespect. You ought to honor your words.”
“Ah,” he drawled casually.
I badly wanted to jump over the table and punch the living daylights out of the old man, who was smiling a little at Bartie as he took back his cane.
The little munchkin returned the smile, and I almost called him a traitor. But Bartie was only being Bartie. He was the kindest munchkin I knew.
“I see how it is, Mr. Wick,” Alfiero continued to say, standing more easily with the cane supporting a bit of his weight.
It was an impressive feat how he managed to appear broad, imposing and charismatic even with his wrinkling skin, bushy white beard, mildly slouching back, and undeniable slight limp. I would’ve admired the man and willingly learned under his tutelage if it wasn’t for the fact that we were at odds in our stances about humans.
“Talk more clearly, Headmaster. We wouldn’t want others to catch wind that you’ve become senile and unworthy of your seat as Headmaster of the Continent’s greatest learning institution.”
Alfiero clucked his tongue in disapproval but said nothing about my impertinent and insulting remark. He said instead, “You must have been under the impression that my beloved granddaughter is the second-in-command of the Peacemakers. Am I right, Mr. Wick?”
Alfiero arched a brow at me, but I gave him no response.
“And so you insisted that I bring the second-in-command as a test to see if we are being honest and honorable on our side of this agreement. To see if you could trust us to keep our word and act accordingly to what is agreed upon. Unfortunately for you, your informant or spy, if you have one, has not been up-to-date with the recent developments within our…organization.”
The desire to throttle the old man surged like a tidal wave, and I had to clench my fists rightly, as if I was trying to hold on to the little and flimsy patience I still had in me.
Brandon Glaws, an average-looking man and one of Alfiero’s entourage, looked a little gutted as Alfiero prattled on about his granddaughter.
Was the prick related to Willa somehow? Was he in love with her?
I didn’t really have a second to dwell on the possibility because Alfiero was far from done with his monologue.
“Let me lay down the facts for you, Mr. Wick, as an effort to placate your anger. We are not deceiving you in any way. We have agreed and complied with all your demands for this parley to push through. I have brought the commander and second-in-command of the Peacemakers. It is exactly what you have demanded as a condition in your missive.”
“Don’t toy with me, Headmaster. Drop the deceit. You failed to comply with one of my conditions for this parley. I know your granddaughter is the second-in-command, and-”
“Willa was the second-in-command,” Alfiero corrected. “She no longer is, Mr. Wick. She has been stripped of her position as the second-in-command after her grave misconduct during the battle in the Ferndell Forest. Furthermore, she had also willingly stepped down from her role in this war as of two weeks ago. My granddaughter is no longer a Peacemaker and a League member.”