The Mountains Blade

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: A Council of Kingdoms

The council table consisted of twelve people. Avelina and Elwyn beside each other. And to Avelina's right: Alaric, representative of the wolf kingdom; Maeve, harpist, and trusted advisor; Xavier, vampire king; Indra, fae queen; Arman, king of the elves; Analia, shifter queen; Hope and Ashered Greywater; Arthur Stilwell; and Hale Kilgore, commanding officer of Goldmoon's special forces.

Elwyn had her back impossibly straight, feeling the eyes of both her generals. Elwyn squared her shoulders and presented a curious gaze. She parted her mouth slightly and widened her eyes. Feeling impossibly stupid, Elwyn's father sat in his chair and continued.

"There is war on the horizon." The only distaste towards that statement was Hope clenching the table's edge, Avelina's jaw tightening, and Elwyn balking like a deer in headlights at her father.

Part of her expression was genuine.

"There has been a rumor that someone is stirring up trouble with the humans. A ban of humans has infiltrated our world, and they are slaughtering anyone they wish. There has not been a motive that we can find at this time."

Analia bared her teeth at King Ashered. "I can show them what they're up against if you wish." Ashered gave her a pointed look, and she closed her mouth, a smirk curling over her lips.

"That is another reason that we are gathered here." Ashered turned his attention to Alaric. "Lord Alaric, I am told that your king has begun slaughtering humans because of this."

Alaric growled. "Only the ones who tried to kill innocent women and children." He snapped back.

Ashered stared at him. " I see, " he replied, settling back into his chair. We must find a way to eradicate the threat against these hunters without starting a full-on war."

Analia scoffed. "War began the second they stepped into our world with weapons."

Xavier looked at her in a way that may have been interpreted as agreement. "How do you expect us to protect ourselves from these threats if we can't use force?" Indra asked. The fairy queen knitted her dark eyebrows together, her dark skin shimmering.

"The king has enlisted a special task force that will track down contacts to gain more information before we go any further." General Hale said sharply.

"We hope this will ease any concerns for the moment and hinder any from joining the rebellion against the humans, " the queen said gently.

Analia scoffed. "Says the human." She rolled her eyes.

"A human with powers." Hope snapped, power snatching across the room and slicing the shifter queen's cheekbone.

Analia made to move toward the queen, a manic look crossing her rough features. Her jaw tightened, and she spit her black hair from her mouth. General Hale held her in place, murmuring something incoherent before the council table stilled.

Elwyn eyed the shifter queen curiously and nearly smirked when she bared sharp teeth at her.

"I will not tolerate disrespect to my queen or anyone in my kingdom, " the king said sternly, reaching a hand under the table to his wife. This seemed to calm the fiery redhead, who took deep, audible breaths through her nose.

"We will meet again in a month and hopefully have more information," King Ashered said, giving his wife's hand a squeeze before standing and signaling the end of the meeting.

We all joined in standing with him. "Each of you will be led to rooms if you decide to stay. If not, I look forward to having a solution in a month."