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Pacey sighed. Blue Mage Omyn, the most powerful man in Nova and head of the elite school of magic, the Order of Guawyn, had decided to call a meeting demanding that everyone at the international forum be in attendance. No one had dared disobey such an order. Pacey wasn't sure exactly what he was doing here - it wasn't like he was particularly needed for anything. Usually it would the head of each nation, or in the case of Atiivar the acting head, that would attend such meetings. More unusual was that both the reigning heads of Seretus and Atiivar would appear for the first time in many years in such close quarters in a place that was not a battlefield. Organisers of any international conference or such meetings had long since learnt to keep the two nations as far apart as possible. The annual international forum had never caused much of a problem for the two nations because both were wise enough to keep far away from one another and usually mingled in different spheres. So there was a distinct tension in the room now, everyone was feeling uncomfortable with the situation and arguments were now being hurled across the room by both Atiivar, Seretus and their allies. It figured that Blue Mage Omyn, the man who had called the meeting, wasn't even here yet. This so was not where Pacey wanted to be. He wanted to be out in the village or on the beach or roaming the vast and many halls of Realm Keep searching for the girl he had kissed on the beach. Instead he was being punished. Pacey sighed again.
"Suicide seems like a good idea right now." "Joey, it's not that bad." "Jen, I give you five more minutes and you'll be helping search for a rope or a dagger." A tomato landed on the dress of an overly decorated and pompous noblewoman who responded who a high pitch shriek. "Actually, I take it back Jo...now would be a very good time for suicide." "That or mass homicide." "And we can justify it - say it was for the greater good." "Or that we were under duress." "I wonder where they got the tomato from?" Jen stated giggling as the noblewoman started hopping up and down as bits of tomato juice and seeds fell under her dress. "I guess it is something to be thankful for...the tomatoes I mean. After all how often do we get to see Lady High and Mighty dancing like that." "Hmm yea...but I'd be concerned if I was you Jo." "Why's that?" "Lover boy seems to have redirected his affections..." Jen said pointing to Prince Dawson Leery. Joey watched as Dawson attempted to help the noblewoman but only succeeded in making more of a mess...as well as accidentally coping a feel every now and then. The noblewoman shrieked again and began hitting the hapless Prince who fell to the ground. Two guards had to pull the noblewoman off Dawson as a very pissed off looking Blue Mage Omyn entered the room.
"Silence! Silence! This meeting will now come to order! We have wasted over a week bickering and fighting over petty trivial matters. The Order of Guawyn has called this international forum to deal with serious, important matters that must be addressed by everyone present today. This is much more than the petty feud between the kingdoms of Atiivar and Seretus." "Petty?!?" King Witter cried in outrage, "There is nothing petty with the problem Seretus has with Atiivar! They are mongrels who cannot be dealt with and I demand that they be removed from this meeting immediately otherwise...." "Enough! You will reach a consensus with Atiivar! The matter before us is grave and all of us face a common enemy that must defeated. For once leave this centuries old feud behind you and work together. Are we agreed?" "Atiivar has no problem with that, Blue Mage Omyn. We will agree to a temporary truce with Seretus if they agree." Bessie was a picture of demure docility yet there was dignity in her manner that was impressive. Blue Mage Omyn nodded his approval then turned to glare at King Witter demandingly and expectantingly of Seretus' agreement. "Fine." Pacey held back a laugh at his father's grudging acquiescence, his father hated to back down or give way in anything but Blue Mage Omyn was not a person to contend with. The forum which had promised, just a week ago, to be a month of nauseating dullness had suddenly become interesting. The acting ruler of Atiivar addressed Blue Mage Omyn again, this time Bessie asked the question that everyone had been dying to ask. "We have agreed to the truce. But might we inquire what is this ominous threat that you have constantly alluded to that makes it necessary and essential for Atiivar and Seretus to put aside their differences?" "It is a wise question. It is the Order of Guawyn's great regret that we must inform that the Linkens have risen again..." "The Linkens??" "Impossible!" "They're just a myth." "Weren't they banished for eternity?" "How? When?" "We're doomed....!" The crowd gasped and began to fire questions at Blue Mage Omyn filled with despair, incredulity and bordering on hysteria. "Silence!" Automatically the room fell silent anxiously awaiting the words of the Blue Mage. "The Linkens do exist, they are not simply a myth. And they were not banished for eternity...they were simply banished.... The truth is the magic which held the Linkens apart has weakened, our world's magical blood no longer flows quite as freely and strongly since our nations have separated." It was a pointed remark at the legendary Seretus and Atiivar wars. "That in itself is now inconsequential. The fact remains that the Linkens have weakened the gateway that separates them from the Spirit world and Nova. Even now as we speak minions of the Linkens are beginning to evade the Wastelands and soon the Linkens themselves will come forth. It is essential that we establish some sort of strategy to defeat and rid Nova of these creatures lest we become like the fabled land of Egan - an empty land, desolate, dead - Egan, the land in which we now call the Wastelands. It is proposed that the nations form a coalition to organise a battle strategy and to combine our forces." At the mention of Egan the normally bickering and conniving nations fell even more silent if possible, nodding their consensus at Blue Mage Omyn's words and demonstrating their willingness to follow his lead. "The Order of Guawyn has only one request at the indulgence of certain nations... We request the children of Lord and Lady McPhee, Jack and Andrea, the child of Lord and Lady Lindley Jennifer and Lord and Lady Morgan's daughter Abigail. Moreover we request Prince Dawson Leery, Prince Pacey Witter and Princess Josephine Potter." Gasps echoed throughout the room, it was a highly unusual and unprecedented request by the Order of Guawyn. "And if we refuse?" demanded the King of Seretus. "Then Nova will fall to the hands of the Linkens." "But what is the purpose?" "The order itself is unsure but the seers have foreseen that they must be placed with the Order of Guawyn for training else the survival of all is at jeopardy." With Blue Mage Omyn's words in mind the parents and guardians quickly agreed to hand over their children to the Order of Guawyn. Jack, Andie and Pacey exchanged glances as did Joey and Jen. Instinctively they knew their lives were about to dramatically change forever. |
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