An Alliance of Mortals, page 5
part #6 of The New Earth Chronicles Series
A long conference table occupied the center of the hall, with over two dozen chairs placed along its length. A handful of people were already seated and a light hum of conversation echoed around the chamber.
At the head of the table, Malcolm saw Tamara, Sebastian and Chao all sitting together. They were speaking quietly with each other but, as the warrior and the sisters entered the hall, Tamara stopped talking and looked over at the newcomers.
“Welcome,” she said loudly with a friendly smile. “Take a seat anywhere. We'll wait until everyone arrives before beginning the meeting.”
Malcolm nodded and he followed the sisters to the table. He sat down next to them and looked around at the others who had already arrived.
Sitting across from him was a thin, pale woman with fine blond hair who was watching Malcolm and the sisters with a fond expression on her face. She was holding a steaming cup of tea in one hand and her simple white robes and crimson mantle marked her as one of the castle's clerics. Her name was Katherine Hastings and she was the head of the healers guild.
“Hello, everyone,” she said, her strong voice belying her frail appearance. “How are you all doing today?”
“We're well, thank you,” Veronique replied with a smile. “And how are you, Katherine? Are your clerics as busy as ever?”
The woman put down her cup and chuckled as she rested her elbows on the table.
“Always. Now more than ever, thanks to all of the new births we've had over the past year or so. You'd be amazed at how panicked new parents can become when their babies burp too often or cry too loudly.” She sighed. “Many of those folks were a lot older before they Changed when the dragons returned to the world, and yet apparently they've forgotten all of the maturity they used to have. Some days it's like herding cats, trying to keep them all calm and focused.”
Her audience laughed in appreciation at her comment.
“I don't envy you,” Malcolm said. “I'm guessing that it's easier to bark orders at a group of warriors than it would be to calm the fears of new parents. You're a marvel, Katherine.”
The cleric grimaced and picked up her cup again.
“No, Malcolm, I'm just doing my job. And don't think that I'm whining,” she added. “I love helping others. All of my clerics do. That is why we were given the gift of healing from the lords of Light. Empathy is essential if you want to accept this kind of work and we all care for the people of Nottinghill.”
“We know you do,” Sylvie assured her. “As do we. My sister and I would rather not be front and center when it comes to fighting against our enemies, but we have no choice. We found ourselves with powers that can be used to help others and so we do what we can, as you and your clerics do. I'm sure that Malcolm feels the same way.”
The big man chuckled as the three women looked at him.
“Well, considering that I grew up as a small, skinny black kid and now I find myself,” he looked down at his muscular chest, “as this guy, then yes, I feel the same way as the rest of you do. I have an instinctive grasp of tactics and battle strategies that I'd never even thought about before I Changed. And I can use weapons in a way that still baffles me. How else does someone who has been given this unique set of skills use them except to protect others? I certainly don't know how to build a house or grow crops. This is all I can do, and so I do it.”
The others nodded as he spoke and Katherine looked at him sympathetically.
“You've lost so much, my friend,” she said with a catch in her voice. “You and Aiden almost single-handedly saved Nottinghill Castle when it was close to falling to the goblin hordes. And Aiden gave his life for all of us. You've been a shining example of a man willing to sacrifice everything for others. I hope that you know how much all of us admire you.”
Malcolm looked down at the shining tabletop and absently drew a design on it with a large forefinger.
“I'm not someone anyone should admire,” he said softly. “Aiden and I grew up together. When we were saved by Simon O'Toole and brought to the original village of Nottinghill, back in Canada, we did what we could to protect that little community. What I do now is just an extension of that first job.”
He glanced at Veronique and Sylvie and then looked across the table at Katherine.
“We all do our duties, don't we?” he told her. “What else can we do? Sit around and not help? Of course not. I never wanted to be a leader. It was a job that was thrust upon me. You are all in the same boat. So let's not talk about admiration. Let's just focus on what we can do and care for the regular folks who live here. That's what is most important now.”
“Well said,” Katherine said with an understanding smile. “Well said indeed. And now what we can do is wait and see what has gotten Tamara and Sebastian so worked up. Have you all noticed how worried they look? Even Chao, who is usually so calm, looks concerned. I sense that a new crisis is brewing.”
“Just what we need,” Veronique said with a quick glance at her sister. “It's been too quiet over the last little while. I wonder if another attack by the goblin forces is imminent.”
“Possibly,” Sylvie replied. “But normally a meeting of the entire leadership isn't called for such an attack. We all know our roles now when repelling an assault. No, I think it's something else. Something bigger.”
People began to trickle into the meeting hall. Leaders from the various guilds found seats around the table and the noise level of the room increased. Kitchen workers arrived to leave pots of hot tea and trays of sandwiches on the conference table and everyone served themselves as they waited for the last few stragglers to show up.
Tamara finally stood up and a hush immediately fell over the assembly. She looked down the length of the table at the gathered leaders with a welcoming smile and began to speak.
“Good day, everyone,” she said, raising her voice so that all of them could hear her. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Before we begin, let me assure you that there is no imminent attack coming from the goblins. I'm sure that many of you were worried about that, but the mages who are keeping watch on the Channel report no sightings. So you can all relax.”
There were a number of relieved expressions along the table and Malcolm smiled at Sylvie, who poked him gently with an elbow.
“Told you so,” she whispered.
“No, this meeting is about something related to our struggles against the forces of Darkness, but in another way entirely,” Tamara continued.
Malcolm looked at the others around the table. They were listening intently to Tamara, but no one looked overly worried and he was pleased by that. The leadership of Nottinghill was a diverse group of strong individuals and he knew that the populace was lucky to have them.
“We have recently learned that we have potential allies who stand ready to lend us their aid in our ongoing battle against our enemies. I called you all together to tell you about these groups and to get your opinions on them.”
There was a sudden swell of conversation along the table and Sylvie and Veronique both leaned closer to Malcolm.
“Do you know anything about this?” Sylvie asked him in a whisper.
He shook his head.
“No. This is the first I've heard of it. I mean, I'm hoping she's talking about the dwarves. They designed our ballistae and taught our blacksmith to forge enchanted weapons. Maybe they want to join us in our fight against the goblins? That would be wonderful. I know they despise those creatures even more than we do. As to what other groups want to ally with us, I have no idea.”
Tamara waited until the room had quieted down again before continuing to speak.
“I know that this is a surprise to most of you,” she told the group. “It's a surprise to me as well. But it is a welcome one. We have stood alone for so long now that the thought of aid seems like a desperate dream, but I assure you that it is quite real. Now, let me tell you who these potential new allies are.”
A person could have heard a pin drop in the sudden silence in the hall as everyone listened eagerly.
“First of all, as many of you may have guessed, the dwarves have renewed communications with us. They have formally recognized the mages in their midst, which they have not done in millennia, and those mages have managed to combine their powers and drill through the mantle of the Earth to contact us.”
“That is excellent news!” Malcolm boomed.
He looked around in embarrassment as people jumped in their seats.
“Oops. Sorry about that,” he said.
A number of people laughed at the big man's discomfort and Tamara smiled warmly at him.
“Don't apologize, Malcolm,” she told him. “It is indeed excellent news. The dwarven race is large and robust and their cities are strongly defended. They have machines that are powered by magic, not science, and those machines still work today, unlike our own. If they ally with us, their king, Shandon Ironhand, has offered to share that technology with us.”
“Then why are we even discussing this?” Katherine asked her. “Surely this is a no-brainer. We need allies, now more than ever. We have a new generation of children living in Nottinghill and we must protect them at all costs. Plus, we have worked with the dwarves before.”
There was a mutter of agreement from many of the leaders and Tamara nodded at the cleric.
“I agree, Katherine,” she said. “But I can't make these decisions on my own. All of us share the burden of leadership and we must vote as a group on such important matters.”
“Ah yes, I see,” Katherine replied. “Of course you're right, Tamara. But I'm with Malcolm. An alliance with the dwarves would be a blessing for our people.”
“Hear! Hear!” one of the tradesmen exclaimed loudly.
Tamara looked up and down the table again and then glanced at Sebastian, who shrugged at her, smiling widely.
“Give the people what they want,” he said quietly.
“Very well,” she muttered as she looked back at the other leaders.
“All right then,” she told the crowd. “Let's take care of this first before I share the rest of my news with you. All those in favor of entering into a formal alliance with the dwarves raise your hands.”
Every person at the table raised their hands immediately and Tamara nodded at them.
“Motion carried. We can discuss the details and assign an ambassador later. Thank you all for your votes.”
The leaders began speaking with each other and Tamara took the opportunity to sit down for a moment and talk to Chao.
“It seems that they are in a good mood,” she told him. “Perhaps they will agree to allying with Ellas and her people as well.”
The small man looked doubtful.
“The dwarves are a known commodity, my friend,” he replied softly. “The Fay are not. Yes, they helped us once against the goblins, but that was quite some time ago. People know that they are not like the rest of us. Even the dwarves, although not human, are mortal. They have values that people can understand and identify with. But the Fay? They are neither human nor mortal. And they come in all shapes and sizes. Some actually appear monstrous. And our people now know that monsters are real. Trolls, ogres, evil dragons, and so many other creatures actually exist. And we will be asking these leaders to ally with beings who have many of the same physical traits. I do not expect a unanimous show of hands after you announce that we have a chance to join forces with the Fay.”
“You may be underestimating them,” Sebastian said as he leaned forward to speak quietly to Chao. “They know how much this world has changed, just as we all have. We cannot allow fear and prejudice to rule our actions if we expect to survive.”
“I agree,” Chao replied. “But the three of us may be in the minority. And if we are, this opportunity may slip through our fingers. Ellas is not a patient being, even though she is ancient and wise. She is mercurial. It is part of her nature and she will not change. Make her angry by dismissing her offer of aid and we may make the Fay our enemies. And that, my friends,” he added as he looked at both siblings gravely, “would be a huge mistake.”
Tamara looked down at the notes that she had brought with her. She arranged them absently as she tried to gather her thoughts.
“Then perhaps we should bring up the Fay at the end of the meeting, after I tell the group about our second potential group of allies,” she mused.
Sebastian looked at Chao, who nodded slightly.
“Excellent idea, Tammy,” he told his sister. “It may make everyone more amenable to the idea of working with the Fay.”
The hum of conversation was ebbing and Tamara took a deep breath.
“Okay, that's what we'll do then,” she said as she stood up again. “Here we go.”
Chapter 4
Silence descended over the room again as Tamara began to speak.
“Let's get on to the next piece of business,” she told the group. “There are others who are seeking an alliance with us and, before I continue, I just want to remind all of you how desperate our situation really is.”
Several of those listening frowned at her and some of them looked like they were about to interrupt her.
Tamara quickly spoke up before they could object.
“I know that you all realize how dangerous the world is now and how weak we really are, relatively speaking,” she told them. “I just want to emphasize that we need all the help that we can get. Our children deserve the chance to grow up in safety. Our people have survived so much trauma and upheaval that giving them a home where they are not constantly in fear for their lives is the least that we can do for them. Alliances are the best way to do that.”
There was a murmur of agreement from the audience and Tamara looked relieved at their response.
“I am glad you agree, because another group wants to join forces with us. Most of you won't have heard the news yet, but our old allies, the elves, have been defeated on their hidden world, the planet they called Trillfarness.”
The room immediately erupted with surprise and shock as the leaders began speaking excitedly with each other. Tamara looked down at her brother and he gave her a quick wink.
“You're doing well, sis,” he told her quietly. “Keep it up.”
“I'm trying,” she muttered.
Tamara waited a moment and then held up her hands. The hall slowly quieted and she started speaking again.
“I understand that this is a shock to all of you. It was to me as well. The elves are the oldest of the mortal races, the wisest and once the most powerful. To hear that they have been defeated by evil forces is almost incomprehensible, but that is what has happened. A small group of survivors managed to make their way back to this world and they are now building a settlement in New Zealand.”
One man stood up slowly and Tamara smiled at him. It was the blacksmith, Daniel Cooper.
The large man, with his grizzled features and short, gray hair, was greatly respected by everyone in Nottinghill. He had been taught by the dwarves themselves to forge magical weapons and armor and had been teaching a new generation of smiths to do the same. His opinion carried a lot of weight and Tamara listened respectfully as he began to speak.
“How many?” he asked in his gravelly voice. “How many made it back to this world, Tamara?”
“No more than our numbers here, Daniel,” she told him sadly. “A thousand or so.”
The blacksmith shook his heavy head.
“So few.”
He looked around at the other leaders.
“Those of you like me, who were with us since the early days when Nottinghill was still a ruined castle and we were desperately trying to repair and rebuild it, remember how the elves sent some of their forces to aid us. They also fought with Simon O'Toole against the evil dragon queen and her brood and saved our race from complete extinction. And now they need our help as much as we need theirs. I hope, my friends, that none of you will hesitate to greet their offer of an alliance with anything other than a resounding yes. We owe them more than we can ever repay.”
He sat down again and nodded solemnly at Tamara.
“Thank you, Daniel,” she said gratefully. “Your words echo my own feelings. The elves may have been defeated, but they are still a proud and resilient people. Like us, they follow the Light and they will fight back against the lords of Chaos until the bitter end. But perhaps if we ally with them, that end will never come. Who can say? I do know that we are stronger together than we are apart.”
“Do they want to come here, to Nottinghill?” someone asked.
Tamara shook her head.
“No, I don't believe so. Elves are happiest and feel safest when they are living in the wilds, in the deep forests. And the old forests of New Zealand seem to be the best place for them to rebuild their society. At least that is what they have told us. Now, unless anyone has any more questions, can we vote on an alliance with the elven people?”
This time the entire room rang with a resounding “Aye!” as everyone jumped to their feet as one. Tamara smiled at the crowd's reaction and then sat down again, allowing the leaders to work through their excitement.
“Nicely done,” Chao told her with a approving smile. “You convinced them very quickly.”
“Not me,” Tamara disagreed. “Thank Daniel for that, and our history with the elves. They have more than earned our good will and I think that, even in their weakened state, they will be powerful allies going forward.”
“I agree.”
Chao watched the crowd, weighing their cheerful faces as each of the leaders slowly returned to their seats.
“But now comes your hardest task, my friend,” he said quietly. “Convincing them to accept the Fay as allies. It is one thing to join forces with the dwarves and the elves, but the Fay are an unknown commodity, still feared by many. I do not know if many of our fellow leaders will have the foresight to realize that we are stronger with them than without them.”
