The Plans
1047 Words
Ambrosia was at the brink of war and every single member of the judiciary, army and rulers were well aware of this fact. And so each one of them tried to convince the king to try and get healed. Ariana was done with the pleading. She decided it was time that she visited Ether. Her mother would have done the same.
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Ryan had called a meeting with all his officials. He didn't want to wait anymore. It was time for the attack and he wanted a thumbs up from everyone before he sent the letter to Ambrosia.
The only man that would be difficult to convince was Amada, his younger brother who had returned just a few days back. Amada was a strong man but had never been trained well. However, their father valued his opinions and so he had also been made a part of the Council. Amada came and sat on the chair right in front of that of Ryan. He knew what Ryan had in mind and would do anything to stop it. He knew the magic that Ambrosia had. Every stream, every tree, every flower that bloomed could heal some problem and not only the people, even nature in Ambrosia had a way of fighting back. It was not a coincidence that it hadn't been conquered in almost half a century.
Ryan cleared his throat.
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She prepared the saddles and told the chief executive officer of the Kingdom that she was going to the woods. Ether was a secret between her mother and her and she did not plan on disclosing it ever or else she would be risking the magician's life. In two hours time she had crossed the Tenessee river and was standing in front of the small hut. She knocked thrice.
Ether knew it was time.
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"A very goodmorning gentlemen. I hope that each one of you has been doing well. As all of you are aware, I have been planning and plotting a raid on Ambrosia. And I want to do it. In two days."
Gasps in the room made Ryan realise that a lot of them were in disagreement. However, he hadn't ever known how to take no for an answer.
Just then an old man spoke up. Ryan had not noticed him so far and had clearly not invited him. But what he said Ryan wasn't prepared to hear,
"Ambrosia is not just protected by its commoners and rulers, it is also protected by nature. You can't be stronger than nature. Ever. Don't waste your time or else you will endanger the life of each and every member of the army and council. "
Amada smirked and cleared his throat. He knew that look on Ryan's face. Ryan would not listen. Amada had first hand experience of his stubbornness. He knew that for the first time Castillo was doomed.
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Ariana remembered the Ether from about a decade ago. She was beautiful, charming and of course magical. But what surprised her was that the women who opened the door wasn't Ether. All her senses became activated. She was ready for a fight to bring back Ether.
"Come in child", the women said.
"Where is Ether if I may know."
"Well, right in front of you."Ether said with a soft smile playing on her lips.
Ariana was amused. She knew this wasn't the same women. She was too smart to believe it so easily. She went on to the farthest corner of the house, sat on her favourite couch and said, "Prove it."
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Ryan had stormed out of the council, his rage getting the better of him. He had toiled and toiled for the perfect plan and now that he had one, he was not ready to screw it up just because a man triple his age had asked him to. However, a part of him was fearful too. He knew that Ambrosia was called the "Kingdom of Eternal life" and the "land of magic". He knew that he could only be prepared for human occurences and not nature. But somewhere, his gut also told him that there had to be a human looking after the nature bit as well, as insane as it might sound.
Amada held his hand and whirled him around. He had become much stronger in the last few months, thanks to the special herb from Ambrosia.
"What you are about to do brother, is not exactly appreciable. Risking the lives of so many soldiers just so that your mission is completed is shallow. You very well know that Omar wasn't lying or bluffing. You're thinking of conquering nature. And you know you never can. So just drop it, will you?"
"For starters, you don't get to tell me what I can do and what I can't,baby brother. That is for me to decide. I suggest you focus on all the petty things in life and leave the manlier parts to me. If you want a spot in the army you can come to me again. If you don't, then please don't show me your face until the war is over."
Ryan was officially pissed at everyone. He was tired of people telling him not to lurk near Ambrosia. It was time someone tried and since he was the best at conquering, it would be him.
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"You sat on the same couch as your mother did. As for why I look entirely different, it's a means of protection. No one will ever know what the real Ether looks like. I am safe this way, child. Now please tell me what brings you here."
"I just found out that Ambrosia is not safe anymore. Castillo is coming for us."
Ether could sense the fear in her voice. But then again, who wouldn't be, specially if their father was as good as dead.
"Hmm, so I hear. Well Ari, your kingdom is far more protected than you make it out to be. No one will be able to win a war against the land of magic, will they?"
There was something soft about Ether. It made it very easy for Ariana to understand why she had been best friends with her mother. Then Ariana said that she wanted her father back.
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