by R. W. Weston
Clapping coming from the doorway brought everyone around. Standing there was Illian, a look of amusement and defiance making the double scars across his face contort his smile. The tension in the room grew as they realized that this must be who Ter had been talking about. He walked into the room, arrogance emanating from him.
“So this is how the ‘supposed,’ most powerful men and women in the world, spend the day, bickering and quarreling like a couple of pompous children. How are you supposed to get anything done?” he yelled.
“Now listen, I’m Illian, and yes Maglon has summoned me here, and I see why. Your enemy is not out there somewhere looking to destroy you, its right here amongst yourselves. How is it that you fight amongst yourselves when death for you is imminent and yet you do nothing?”
Everyone stood there, the contention still strong, the feelings of hatred and betrayal hanging heavily in the air. Yet they knew that Illian was right. If they didn’t do anything they would all be dead. Ter stood there, still angry with Illian, releasing the power along with everyone else. Maglon took the lead, straightening his robes.
“Now take a seat, we have matters to attend to,” he told them, each one sitting down, still weary of both Maglon and Ter. “This is Illian, Leader of the Tower Warriors, the undisputed leading clan of the rouge lands, and yes I did summon him to our cause. They in essence have as much to lose as we do.”
“What is it that they can do that we cannot?” asked one of the council, “what purpose will they serve for us?”
“He has many more people at his disposal, there task as I have discussed with him, is solely to find and bring the changeling to me. Aside from this they will cause general discord and havoc among the peasants. The war that we have been orchestrating will now come to its most deadly season. The royal brigade will not know what has hit them, and with their help we will be able to move quietly in the background.”
The room was quiet now; those who believed that Maglon had dissented from their hidden designs were now learning of the greatness of his plan. If this worked they would soon have both the bringer of light and the changeling. Things were working out now for the High Lord. He had suspected opposition, and now he knew who to keep an eye on and whom he still might be able to trust.
END OF BOOK ONE