Waiting for Spring - Part I

Chapter Eleven

Four of them, there are four mages, one in Ward and three in Idwallia. The last sorcerer of Windsor died over a decade ago. Woodrow and the Green Islands have no history of mages. Where did they come from? Why are they here? What do they mean to us? Why do they live for so long? So many questions and no answers, but I will explore some of them in here.

-Introductive research on the mages, by Killian the travelling dwarf.

Mira paced back and forth on the black and white marble, the tapping of her boots echoing throughout the great hall with every step. The ceiling was sixty feet above and the balconies on the sides were half way up along the walls, overlooking the great throne room. The tapping stopped as she stepped upon the crimson carpet that led from the great door at the end of the hall and up the dais to the throne, only to begin once again when she had passed it. Behind the throne two great banners carrying the Idwallian badge, the castle and the seven stars, hung beneath the sunlight. A cascade of colours decorated the floor, emerging from a circular window with stained coloured patterns behind the throne. Two guards from the Highland army stood at both of the side entrances, four of them in total.

Mira felt impatient, waiting as she did. Had her mother not felt it more important to counsel with the King of Ward then she had not been here. She hated to converse with both King Connor and the council, thus making her a slight exasperation for the two.

After having paced over the crimson carpet for what felt like an eternity the king, in his fine-looking lapis velvet robe, trimmed with white fur, and long, grey hair, came marching in through one of the antechambers. He did not look pleased. With a frown upon his face he ascended the stairs of the dais and sat down on the ornamented throne. King Connor gazed the immense hall before his eyes met Mira's. He glared at the woman. She bowed at his majesty with one knee against the carpet.

"This better be important, Mira. I am to meet the council before midday," he snarled. Connors voice sounded young despite his age. A fool could easily mistake him for an elderly man, but then he was to be wrong. The king was a fine warrior, even a good leader if you asked some.

Mira stood up straight again.

"It won't take long, your grace." Most parts of the Idwallian rule had grown accustomed to Mira's stubborn an indecorous behaviour, which in some situation led to dubious acting, so the king did not even bother to try to change her tone. Mira enjoyed it to some degree. A victory for the few.

"Then speak, Court Mage," he demanded.

"I found a girl from Berry Forest last night and-"

"So I heard," King Connor broke in. "And what did she say? I need to know what's going on. What happened to our ships? Does she know anything?"

Mira blazed up.

"Don't bloody interrupt me," she growled. "And you want to make your stupid decision on the story of a girl?" she continued. The king's eyes narrowed, wrinkles on his forehead started to show.

"I have to. If we are, indeed, in a situation of war then we must act quickly. Only so many men have returned. If I have to make my decision based on the story of a girl then so be it. Speak now!"

"Then I say we make the soldiers ready. According to her the invaders were accompanied with a blacksoul." The king's face changed quickly. He looked anxious and disbelieving.

"That can't be true-"

"I though you trusted me?" Mira retorted with a smirk.

"I don't. But I have to," the king sighed and stood up on the dais. He started to pace back and forth, not unlike Mira had done only moments ago.