Heavenly pact

Chapter One

Sitted by the archimage of the Lowell mage order, Morigan Lowell scanned through the room. It was an ancient looking place made of black marble walls and floors. There was nothing in the room serve for the stone table insert in the center of the marble floor, with eight cushion chairs supported by wooden frames around it.

Around the table sat the archimages of the four mage orders. Opposite her, sat Kodac Oslac, the archimage of the Oslac order. He was the oldest among the archimages, with chestnut colored skin and jet black hair. He was average in both height and appearance. At his left sat Catherine Oslac, his daughter and heir. She had her father's black hair which she let fall to her waist. Her almond eye's a light brown. She was a pretty site to behold.

To his right was Heather Morgan, a high mage of the Morgan order. She was only a few years older than Morigan. Heather was a prim lady in a green floral dress made of the finest of cotton. She styled her copper colored hair into a three knot braid they she rolled into a bun at the back of her head. She was simply the most elegant in the room.She had come in place of their unwell archimage, Clarisse Morgan.

" I'm sure you are all aware of the war promised in the lands of Ribaria." Kodac Oslac's voice bellowed through the room. He had been the one who had requested for this meeting to be held. " I wanted to hear your views on the matter. Because I for one, believe we should send aid."

" Why send aid to a rival kingdom?" Jude Madave, the archimage of the Madave order asked.

"They are not our rivals. They're our allies." Heather said, her voice calm but firm. "But what help can be given to a kingdom that's set to fall?"

Kodac shifted in his seat, but Marisol Lowell spoke first, " The Ribarian kingdom was ambushed in the late hours of the previous night. The royal family was slaughtered in the mass. As of this moment, the kingdom stands in ruin." The Lowell archimage's face was neutral, her voice bored.

Kodac placed a hand on his chest in bewilderment. "That's impossible." he said a little louder than a whisper.

"We received the news this morning." Heather said.

"Well that's certainly a turn of events. What are we to do now?" Jude asked. Playing on a loose curl from the messy bun she styled her ginger colored hair into.

"Why did I not hear of this?" Kodac said to Catherine. "What are we to do?" he repeated Jude's question to the other archimages.

"Finding a place to take our brethren should be our first priority." Marisol said."We'll discuss the rest later."

"I heard the princess is still alive. In the run I suppose?"Heather said directly to the Lowell archimagen.

"I have heard no such thing. And even if it was true, it's only a matter of time till she's found." Marisol said dismissingly.

"Now wouldn't it be better if she's found by us?" Heather mused.

"The princess is alive?" Some colour seemed to return to Kodac's face. "We should find her before she's found by the enemies."

"There is no point in doing so. She might be died as we speak. But even if she is alive, it would be better if we stayed away from her." Marisol said grudgingly.

"The Galliels were our allies, the least we can do to show our respect is to give refuge to their only surviving child."

"You of all people should know why we will not be helping her, Kodac." She said his name like a warning, a reminder.

Morigan had a feeling the topic they were getting to was one they weren't to speak of. One that not even she or the heirs could know about.A tale buried deep into the mage's history. She placed a hand on her archimage's arm, a reminder of the same.

Marisol loosed out a sigh, acknowledging Morigan's reminder. " The Lowells send their well wishes to our dear sister in her sickness." she said to Heather, who dipped her head in gratitude. " We will be leaving for now. We have other matters to tend to."

"You can't leave, the meeting isn't over yet." The Oslac archimage said with distain.

"We too, will take our leave." Jude said rising to her feet. Her heir -a tall broad young male with the reflection of his mother's hair bouncing atop his head- in tow. "This has proven to be quite unentertaining."

"Same as I. The high lady awaits my arrival." Heather said getting to her feet in a feline maneuver.

"I guess there's nothing I can say to stop you from leaving." Kodac said with a sigh, buring his head in his palms.

And with that, the gathering of the archimages was over. "Orders for when we return to the academy, lady?" Morigan asked her archimage as they strolled to there carriage.

"I will give them to you upon arrival. There's something I have to show you first." Marisol said as the footman opened the door for the archimage to enter.