Chapter Forty Six
855 Words
“Gentlemen…”
Daniel had spent a lengthy amount of time carving a speech that would change his life and frankly the life of every creature in the magical realm. He had delicately woven words that carried passion, determination, valiance and ruthlessness. Daniel had learnt from a young age that words were powerful. How you use them more often than not determined your destiny. Now, as he towered above the remaining members of the Ninth Order, he summoned the wisdom of his ancestors.
“Why are we here Daniel? Aren’t we too small a number to convene?”
Daniel refrained from launching the goblet he had been toying with it at the ashy-haired man with the ability to attain invisibility. He was the eldest member of the Ninth Order. Tamara referred to him as the voice of reason. Daniel referred to him as the old bastard who wouldn’t die.
“I am afraid I have unsettling news gentlemen…Tamara is no longer with us…”
Daniel waited patiently for this piece of information to sink in. He assessed the remaining members of the Ninth Order one by one. He drunk in their reactions, their feelings towards the matter, their level of trust in him.
“Is this some sort of farce?”
“What do you mean she is no longer with us?”
Daniel carefully set his goblet on the long, wooden table separating him from the two members. He focused his gaze on the younger Ninth Order member. His fiery orange eyebrows were furrowed in genuine confusion.
“It seems that she suffered the same fate as her brother…dark magic is in play here my friends…”
The older member snorted and shook his head in what appeared to be annoyance and perhaps disbelief.
“Do you have something to say Bazar?”
“As a matter of fact I do Daniel. We all know you have wanted the throne for a long time and that Tamara claiming it had deeply upset you. We also know that you would do anything to reclaim the throne and reinstate your family’s name. Why should we believe anything you say? Especially now when the prophecy is upon us?”
It was Daniel’s turn to snort. This supposed prophecy had originated from healers; the most devious magical creatures in existence. His mind suddenly recreated his conversation with George. According to George, Daniel would not live long enough to claim the throne. Daniel shook the thought away. Death made creatures do bizarre things, just like it made them utter bizarre things. George was simply trying to salvage his life. Yes, that was it. Nothing more.
“Are we going to believe the words of creatures who tried to singlehandedly destroy our kind? They are deceptive and cunning…they are only interested in preserving their lives…”
The younger member of the Ninth Order pulled a seat noisily and slumped himself on it. He was having a hard time comprehending what Daniel was saying.
“So what you are saying is that Tamara, our leader, is dead?”
“Yes. And soon, her brother will suffer from the same fate. This will reach the humans who will wage a war against us so as to avenge their beloved prince's death…As we all know, humans are no longer weak…The gods oh so kindly granted them with an object that can obliterate our kind…What I want to know is how we plan on fighting for our kind, how we plan to win this war…”
Daniel once again waited patiently for this bit of information to sink in. He rapped his forefinger on the wooden table successively. Daniel understood that he could not address the kingdom alone. He needed at least one member of the Ninth Order by his side. His reputation was not the best and in order to convince the creatures to go to war with humans, he needed help.
“What would you have us do? The others have all left to find the cure…It’s not like we can vote over a matter without their input…”
“And what if they do not make it back in time? What if they come back with the cure long after the prince is dead? Will we let those wretched humans destroy what we stand for, will we let them destroy our home?”
“Daniel, that is not our decision to make! We need the others…I will send a word to them and summon them back. Once they arrive, we can make a decision. Until then, let us prepare a ceremony for Tamara…”
Daniel dug his nails into the flesh of his palms. He had not anticipated the old creature to be this stubborn.
“Very well then…send the crow…”
Daniel would be sending his own crow. Martha needed to move things along. Daniel would not have Roselidah and Guzman destroying his plans.
- Writer
