The Immortal Guardians: V

Chapter Ten

I made my way to the meeting room where Ezra, Thomas and Amelia were seated. Ezra was the only one eating.

"What happened?" Ezra turned to me, nodding at a place asking if I wanted some. I put a hand up shaking a head up.

"He is leaving." I shrugged at him pretending not to care. "Anyway what are you talking about?"

"I was about to ask you all if you need anything? There might be something else that I can help you with." She smiled at us waiting. I was glad she was allowed to help us as much as she could.

"Actually yes." Ezra cleared his throat his eyes shifting slightly.

"Can you get us into The City of Gold?" My head snapped in his direction.

"We agreed that wasn't a good idea." Thomas mumbled to him. I looked at the both of them wondering what they were going to do.

"I can try now that we are becoming neutral my influence is not the strongest anymore. They think we are leaving them." Amelia grimaced, shifting in her seat.

"I know." Ezra smiled at her. "I want them to join our Guard."

"Ezra." Thomas exclaimed. "The Druids are not going to like that."

"The Gaians are good people and we could use them in the Guard. They are talented." Ezra turned to me. "Iris, what do you think?"

"I-I" I sighed heavily. I didn't know too much about the fighting but the Druids and Gaians did not like each other. The Gaians had always prosecuted the Druids for their beliefs. "Let's meet with the Druid Chief first and then we can go from there." I told Ezra lifting my eyebrows. "Theoretically it could work but let's be very careful. The Chief is not going to like this." I reminded them all. Ezra nodded with a small smile.

"Yes but we need reinforcements." He was trying to smile a bit bigger but he couldn't. We were in trouble and we needed as many people as we could.

"Let's meet the Chief." I nodded once at them. "We should also have the Master Shaman and the Mer-King here in case they have any ideas."

A week later the leaders arrived, and we all met in the meeting room. We had also scheduled the Goblins, the Minister of Witches and Wizards and the Diplomats from the Neutral Countries.

We proposed what we were thinking to all of our guests.

"Absolutely not." the Druid Chief looked at us like if we were crazy. "I will not be negotiating with those people."

The representing Diplomats of Neutral Countries was late. The Minister of Witches and Wizards was even present even tough he hadn't confirmed that he would assist. I found that really surprising.

"Sir, you have to understand where we are coming from." Ezra was getting exasperated with him. "We don't have a big enough Guard. The Goblins can't supply us with troops and neither can Queen Amelia. We can't take on the Mages alone." Thomas had been unusually quiet which was unlike him. Ezra had been doing all of the talking.

"What about my people?" the Druid Chief rose to his feet, making the Shaman place a hand on his arm calming him down. "They prosecuted us for centuries until King Aaron provided us with support and protection. Are you going to back out -?" his nostrils flared at me. "On your father's word?"

'No, sir I'm not." I sighed heavily. This was too political for me. So much was going on and I couldn't make everybody happy. "Sir, I need you to understand from my perspective. We don't have a big enough Guard. We are weak and nobody seems to realize that- we used to be great two decades ago but not anymore. Our Guard won't be up to par for at least another half a century or so. I am not going to remove the protection we have been giving you but we need them. We will ensure that they don't harm you, sir. I am begging you here."

"What about you two?" the Druid Chief turned to the Shaman and Mer-King. "This affects the both of you too."

"I don't agree with it but I understand why you are doing it." The Mer-King's voice rumbled, his eyes meeting mine. "I respect that you were gracious enough to invite us and talk to us first of your intentions. You have my support Queen Iris." I blinked back at him in surprise but nodded once.

"What can I say?" the Shaman smiled at me. "The Immortals have always had my support and I'm not changing my opinion now."

The Druid Chief sank into his chair clearly outnumbered.

"And the Ellers?"

"Chief Anika is-she is-" Ezra seemed to be pausing to find the right word. He was restraining

"M.I.A." Thomas responded kindly.

"We've heard." The Shaman pressed his fingers together. His eyes met mine. "She is using Mage magic. I should have killed her when your mother told me who she was. I didn't listen. I don't betray my friends."

"You didn't know. Nobody knew." I smiled at him understanding. "We will travel to the City of Gold."

We turned to the Minister of Witches and Wizards. He hadn't said a word during the meeting

"I am not pleased that more fighting is going to occur and I have every inclination to remove all Witches and Wizards but-" he hesitated, his eyes finally looking up at us. "I will give you my best Officers, Queen Iris." He acknowledged me, his eyes scanned the table and they landed back on me. "You have my support because somehow you have managed to remove the Warlockian threat." He nodded respectfully to Queen Amelia who arched on eyebrow at him. The double doors opened and in walked in the Minister of Neutral Countries. The doubled doors opened-

"I am sorry that I missed all this." the Diplomat came in looking rather flustered. "My assistant has briefed me." he took a seat taking a deep breath. "What have you suggested?"

"I have offered her Officers." The Minister told him leaning into his chair. "All this killing."

"And yet all you offer her are Officers. Let's not kid ourselves you are glad the Warlocks are out of this now because they are becoming neutral. They easily outnumber you, Minister and they are more powerful magically." The Minister smirked back at him. "But because they are neutral no Goblin or Warlock support." He answered shaking his head. "They are neutral and it is stipulated in their laws. Unless there is a Goblin or Warlock attack they shall not get into it." he put his hands together.

"That was expected." Ezra mumbled under his breath next to me.

"Every other magical nation is allowed to get into it. We shall stay on standby- if the Druids accept your offer they shall have to leave our countries they are residing in." I immediately felt bad. "I can't have fighting spilling into my borders" he looked exhausted. Poor man. "Any of my borders. I wish I could help you, Queen Iris but I can't. My hands are tied. We have rules to follow."

"We understand." My lips barely moved. Ezra was tapping his fingers against his knee. He tapped the back of his hand against my thigh. I knew what he was thinking.

"I am truly sorry Your Highness. I wish there could be more that I could do for you." He bowed his head respectfully. "You will have to find help elsewhere."

"Thank you all for coming." I got to my feet and everybody followed my lead. "Let me finish talking to the Chief, Master and Mer-King privately."

"Of course. Queen Amelia will you show me around. Your castle is magnificent and I think this the first time any Diplomat has set foot here."

"Of course. Minister you should join us. A Wizard hasn't set foot here since your people built it." she walked past him with a passive face while the Minister scowled but he followed her anyway.