The Jem

~14~

Hunter was at another one of The Queen's meetings with the realm leaders and other Queens and Kings.

"Rhijaline has already started to prepare its battle defences, Tansy, is the entire 3rd realm protected?" Asked the Queen with stiff calmness.

"Yes all the countries in the 3rd realm are starting to form armies and 50 mages have already created a barrier." Tansy stated with her squeaky voice and her pointed ears twitched. As her plump face reddened, she began playing with her shoulder-length curly blond hair. She was the only fidgety realm leader the rest were all very fancy and well presented. All the realm leaders were very old, the youngest was at least 600-years-old, but they all looked like they were in their mid-twenties.

"Yes, all the countries in the third realm have already started to form armies. Fifty mages have already created a protective barrier." Said the King of Corrla.

"That's very good. Does anyone have anything to add?" Asked the 5th realm leader as he began drotting things down on a piece of paper.

"Unfortunately people have started protests against the alliance, in my cities," said the queen of Kimmel.

"My people respect me and will stand with the alliance!" Smiled the Emperor of Galleyana as he sat by his silent, posh Empress who held her head high but said absolutely nothing.

"Just slaughter them, they should not be protesting against us." Declared Nylon of Bahar. He must still be upset about his daughter.

"You can't just kill people for not agreeing with you!" Disagreed Queen Cordelia.

"I agree with Queen Cordelia, we shouldn't hurt them." Said Tyra the Queen of the shapeshifters.

"I must disagree with you. Nylon is correct they shall not defy me, this meeting is over, see you all again next time." The fairy Queen stood and walked out her long purple braided hair trailing behind.

The meeting adjourned, causing people to file out. The Queen's guard, Hunter, was among them. He had not been listening the entirety of the meeting. The only thing occupying his mind was Crimson. He was scared of her being hurt. He tried his best to keep his emotions hidden away as he sorted out his jumbled emotions.

"Trullo I need you to inform Cassava to start preparing her soldiers for the war. Hunter I must speak with you privately." Snapped the Queen, her pearly teeth flashing. Hunter gave a nod and began walking behind her.

~

When she sat upon her Throne she finally looked at him with kind eyes. It was only him and her in the massive room. The silence made him cringe.

"You Said you wish to speak to me?" He still wasn't paying attention all his thoughts kept drifting back to Crimson and the kiss and her leaving.

"Hunter did you hear me?"

"Sorry my Queen please say that again."

"I said how is Crimson doing, is she improving?"

"Oh most definitely your majesty. Her physical combat has progressed and so has her magic."

"Good because I need her to fight this war with us." Hunters throat bobbed and his eyes widened with discomfort.

He gulped and said, "What if we bring all the element wielders together. They will be an unstoppable force."

She didn't say anything for a moment as if she were considering it. "I do not think they have found them yet, therefore if we go hunting for them it will be a waste of time and resources. Why go on a wild-goose-chase when the results are clear from the start." Her statement was so graciously worded he was about to agree with her-he was about to go tell Crimson to not even think about setting foot out of this castle.

He chewed on the inside of his left cheek, not knowing what to say without sounding like he was disobeying his Queen's orders.

"Is there anything else you wish to speak to me about?" He finally asked. Praying to the Gods that this conversation would just end already.

"Yes there is one more thing actually." She smiled sweetly, his heart jammed its self repeatedly against his rib cage.

"What might that be, My Queen." He bowed his head.

"I need you to use your powers in the war." Her request was an order not a question. He shuddered.

"But your Majesty I-

"Are you disobeying me young man?"

"No your greatness, I will use my magic." Hunter gave up any hope of arguing, she'll have him split in half in a blink of an eye if he ever defied her. She made that very clear when she allowed him to be a guard. He swallowed so hard his saliva scratched at his throat. The Queen gave another deceiving smile.

"Well then, that's all I ask of you. Now go take Crimson to The Mage. I would like to see how much she's progressed some day. Send her a good word for me. You may leave now." She gave a dismissive hand towards the door.

He didn't think twice before turning around and shifting towards the exist. And he smiled faintly because not only was he leaving the room he was leaving that horrendous conversation too. However, his happiness didn't last long as he thought about how he was going to tell Crimson all this information.