Crispin recalled his words and smiled. The chancellor liked to cloak his true meaning with fancy language. He could have put it more directly but he didn't and that was typical of the man.
"Bow your heads or lose them."
That's what he should have said but he didn't and that was typical of all the guardians. They lived a colossal lie and spent their time hiding from it with fancy words.
Crispin returned his attention to the guardians. Most were preparing to leave and return to their pods but some were hanging around as if there were matters to be discussed. The chancellor was with them. He spoke earnestly then left and headed for the cubicle where the professor had been directing the pink team.
Crispin suspected he wanted to speak to the professor. To his surprise, he seemed more interested in Balduur. The two of them left together and went in the direction of the pod park. Moments later the professor emerged and sauntered towards the royal box.
Crispin slipped outside and waited for him. The professor looked as if he was taking a casual stroll with nothing in mind. Crispin suspected otherwise. The professor was good at hiding his true intentions.
They had made a lot of mistakes about him. First they thought he was the Lord of Light. Then they thought he wasn't. Now it looked as if they were part right. Father wanted to meet him and Father didn't make that sort of request lightly.
Their idea of a Lord of Light could have been wrong. The legends spoke of a man of peace who was going to save the world from the forces of evil. They were probably right when they identified the guardians with the forces of evil but it didn't make sense to think that a man of peace was going to get rid of them.
The guardians wouldn't go without a fight. Only a man of war could defeat the powerful forces that they had at their command. But he wouldn't be a mere cut-and-slash warrior. He had to outwit them and defeat them with bold and cunning strategies. Perhaps the professor was such a man.
The chancellor said he had once been a high-ranking officer in his nation's armed forces. One didn't necessarily believe what the chancellor said. But he didn't always lie and it was worth listening to him even if you couldn't always understand what he said.
The professor was a powerfully-built man and would look right in a military uniform. He was, admittedly, a bit on the flabby side. That looked recent and could be put right with proper exercise. Crispin imagined him leading soldiers and planning campaigns.