The details of the treaty were mostly worked out. The Emissary, whose name was Pla-Merck, was skilled and worked hard to insure that the treaty between the Sessailaine Nation and his own Kingdom was fair. Biort and the council agreed that a tithe of their warships would be sent to the Island Kingdom along with a representative of the Sessailaine to formally accept the treaty in front of their king. Pla-Merck suggested a permanent exchange of embassies to keep the dialogue between the two people ongoing. "By our law, your Embassy would be sovereign Sessailaine territory. This means that no one, not even the King himself, could enter it without your leave," he explained.
He was surprised by their response. "We do not keep friends out of our homes, Emissary. If we are to maintain an embassy, as you call it, then our ways must remain. To lock doors, or deny entry is not our way." These people are not at all what I was led to believe. Pla-Merck realized. There is no disingenuousness, no deceit. They are what you see. I wonder how they will fare among my people. We are not nearly so honest!
The one curiosity for Pla-Merck was the small group that had a hall up the hill. The Sessailaine had given his ships leave to dock and have their men come ashore. Small groups of Sessailaine had taken charge of each group and provided a complete tour of the village. Many of his sailors had taken up the Sessailaine offer to join them in a feast, which is when they discovered that the rumours the Sessailaine could out drink and out party anyone were true. Drunken sailors were aided back to their ships by Sessailaine that had imbibed as much or more yet remained seemingly sober!
In one of those walks, Biort had pointed out the building that stood alone at the top of a hill. "That is the Mages Hall. You are welcome to view it but it is not my place to explain it." Pla-Merck didn't know what a 'mage' was so when he was finally introduced to the woman who he had taken such a liking to that first night, he asked.
"Biort introduced you as a Master Mage. I don't know what that is. Are you willing to explain it?" Pla-Merck asked.
"It might be better if you witnessed what we are rather than have me explain it. As the Sessailaine have chosen to make treaty with you, you are become our allies as well, since we are the allies of these people. I caution you, Lord Pla-Merck, that this knowledge must be kept between us." Aeronwyn laughed and when she did the Emissary thought it sounded like sunshine. "Believe me, my Lord, you will not find it hard to keep this quiet."
Aeronwyn, Jerrill and Keri offered a demonstration. Pla-Merck chose attend with only his original party of five. Biort and a number of Sessailaine attended as well. As they walked up the hill to the open field behind the Mage's Hall, it was getting dark. The moon and stars were hidden behind a cloud cover so it was getting very hard to see. Pla-Merck said nothing but wondered if this was some sort of secret society that required darkness. Frankly, he was beginning to get suspicious that this was all some sort of sham.
Then Aeronwyn lifted her hands and gestured. A huge white ball of light appeared above them and suspended itself in the air. The illumination was more than enough for Pla-Merck to see the entire field as well as the three Mages standing in it. He stepped back, shocked but he noticed the Sessailaine seemed to take it in stride.
Aeronwyn smiled at Pla-Merck, noticing his discomfort. "This light is called Mage Light. We can make it much smaller but I thought this would be useful. Here, let me bring it down to eye level."
Pla-Merck did not see any gestures. She seemed to just decide and it floated gently down. Aeronwyn nodded towards the ball of light and said, "Touch it, if you like, Emissary. It is not hot, does not burn. It is just light."
