This choice: He needs to see what is wrong with his own eyes. What will he discover? • Go Back... He had been to the site, listened at the fringes of the crowds, heard the murmuring that were being passed from mouth to ear and back again. It was ALL true.
He had to speak to the Council, now ...
It had taken two hours to assemble them all, but it was now done!
The End of Days, the very name brought a shiver up Od's spine.
My Da's Da told me that tale, nay he whispered it in my ear when I was fourteen. It scared me then and it scares me now.
Od cleared his throat and the sound rasped and echoed in the gloomy silence prevalent.
"These Beasts, who has the power to call them?"
It was a High One who answered, "Not Beasts, Demons, and anyone who has the recklessness to play with forces that cannot be turned back when unleashed, the knowledge of the Old Words, the possession of The Five Substances and the willpower for withstanding the austerities required."
The arguments then went back and forth as all jumped in with their two pyyt pieces worth.
"Not just anyone, then. At least two of The Five are rarely found these days? When was the last time anyone found a Mantled Marsh Muskrat? Or was able to mine a dram or two of Glyminium?"
"Nay, it is stupid to call the End upon oneself, none would be short-sighted enough to do that. None except the stupid Necromancers."
"Stupid are they? Then how come they are they are so powerful?"
"That is obvious, 'tis only the powerful who crave more power, but others like the Underworld Nepthas or the Conflagron Masters might join in."
"What matters is not who would do it, but can it be countered?"
At this, all turned to the High One, sure that he knew. But, all that old Moong did was pass trembling fingers over his beard in a reflective manner.
"Sire!"
Od turned at the sibilant call behind him. It was a serving minion. The child was pale with fright, for he knew the servers were to have no ears or eyes to what went on in the chamber.
Od withdrew behind the pillar where the waif stood, bending as if to pick up something from the floor.
"I dare not pretend anymore, it is too important. My great-granna might know."
"What knows the old woman of such weighty matters then?"
"Sire, trust me. It happened once in her time too, near fifteen decades back. She KNOWS."
"What? Is she a hundred and fifty then, this hag?"
"Softly, sire. And hag she may be, at near two hundred, but it is because she knows that she lives so long. She is one of The White Ones."
Ah, a magical being then, they abounded many Millenniums ago, when the Realm was in the Golden Age.
Od gestured to the child to say no more.
The arguments had continued in the meanwhile and things were reaching the level of useless vitriolic when the High one clapped his hands for order.
"I think it is no use to just middle-maddle endlessly, we should all take some time to think over the matter. Let us disperse and meet again on the morrow."
Reluctant nods and murmured assent greeted the pronouncement.
"At ten tomorrow then, be here with your opinions and suggestions."
Od had a hand on the boy's shoulders and whispered as he took a goblet off the tray still in the child's hand.
"Wait for me beyond the outer doors in thirty minutes."
Od straightened and raised his goblet, "Let us all swear allegiance to the Realm and drink to its continuing well being."
In the outpouring of "Ch'laim S'ra" and clinking goblets that followed, Od slipped out of the Chamber.
629 words 
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2024 Just an Ordinary Boo! (UN: jyo_an at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Gaby has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author