Chapter 40

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Once Amilia returned to her home she grabbed Oglm by the arm and dragged him down to the Market with her. She took him all the way to the council building. Luckily there wasn't a meeting going on and she was able to grab Jkdek.
"I need you to assemble the council and to invite Oglm." She said pointing to him. "I have a matter that needs immediate attention."
"I see." Jkdek said. "Go get dressed and grab anyone you think should come. I will alert the other kingdoms, be back here in twenty minutes." He dipped his head to her and then left in a rush. She finally let go of Oglm and took out her phone. She texted Jasvinder, Elsie, Leo and her mother.
"Alright, are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"I'll explain in the council meeting room. I'd rather do it once than several different times. Now if you excuse me I must get dressed." Amilia scurried off to the changing room and quickly got dressed into her formal attire. Within minutes she ran into Jasvinder, Elsie, Leo, and Cristel. They all wanted to know what was going on of course, but Amilia wasn't ready to tell anyone just yet. She knew Unora was everywhere, maybe she would even attack the hall while the met. She had more of a chance to tell them if she kept quiet until the meeting. Soon Amilia entered a room that had a long table with several seats around it with one at the beginning. Everyone had taken their seats and name tags were placed all about. Jkdek also invited the council she was a part of. Amilia was actually surprised how quick this all came together. Amilia's friends and family sat on the side with her council (except for Leo). The rest sat on the other side. They all sat according to rank. Jkdek was sitting next to Amilia and so was Dedg. Apparently Leo was quite a high rank. So much so that Amilia was surprised. When she entered the room everyone stood for her. When she got to the front of the table she bowed her head in respect and then sat down. In which everyone sat down after her. There were two people over in the corner that Jkdek nodded his head to. One of them stood up and came over to the table. He set down a mallet and a wooden slab. He hit the mallet on the slab.
"This meeting of the council is called to order at seventeen hundred by Amilia B. Cripple." Then he sat back down in the corner with what Amilia could only describe as a scribe.
"Thank you." Amilia started. "I have called this meeting to order because I have an important matter to discuss with you all." She paused. She didn't know how to say it. They could freak or say it wasn't true. Amilia knew the situation all too well, but no one knew in this room. Oglm looked at her worried as well as Cristel. Leo nodded to her and then made a phone symbol with his hand.
"Are you alright Amilia?" Jkdek asked, looking at her with concern. Amilia laughed.
"Yeah, I just don't know how to say what I need to say."
"Say whatever you must." Jlssiek said. He didn't say much, but she knew he was fairly smart and skilled. His kingdom talked very highly of him at meetings.
"Alright, but you have to believe me. Don't laugh. It's real and true. You'll just have to trust me." Everyone looked at each other and then nodded their heads in agreement. "You have all heard of the witch Unora at one point or another. And I can say, she is back. She has my father under her control. And I don't know what she's doing, but she is looking for some kind of herb. I saw her in the forest with him." Everyone sat back in their chairs.
"How, how do you know this?" Oglm staggered trying to ask.
"I, I-" She stopped and looked down. She wanted to bang her head on the table. If she said that she had been working for her, what would they say? Would they detain her, or try her again? Amilia could be sentenced to jail or maybe even the death penalty. She knew how much the kingdoms knew about Unora. She was a vile person. "I, I, I can't say." She said putting her hands on her head. She was terrified. Amilia was in a room with the most powerful people in the whole alliance. They were powerful to be monarchs. What would they say to their parents? The kings and queens? She didn't want them to pull out of the alliance or make things worse so that the alliance couldn't grow. Cristel got up from her seat and went over to Amilia's left side. She grabbed Amilia's hand and whispered into her ear.
"Whatever it is, whatever you need to say, I will love you to the ends of the universe. And nothing will ever change that. We can do this together if you wish or I can go and sit back down, it is up to you my sweet little Amilia." Amilia looked at her and smiled. She grabbed onto her mothers arm and laid her head on it as well. She felt safe again, like anyone would with their mother. She regained her confidence and finally spoke.
"I worked with Unora."
"You worked with Unora!?!"
"Yes, but, but it wasn't like that!" Amilia looked down. "She held a very important friend of mine under a spell and threatened him every time I tried to deviate from her. But the nice vampire, Junior broke that curse, which brings us to the conversation today."
"Did ever consider for single moment fate of everyone?!" The Mothman spoke. "Why make deal?"
"I, I didn't want to, but if I didn't then my friend would have been killed!" Jkdek looked to Amilia.
"Is one life really worth losing yours?"
"Jkdek." Amilia started.
"No. " he said. "One life for the lives of everyone inn the Marked Underground. Was it worth it? To put everyone on the line for one person?"
"Hey!" Jlssiek said standing up hitting his fists on the table. "How dare you speak to her that way!" He pointed at Jkdek. "you can't even begin to comprehend what she went through! You can't even know what she is going through now! She has the goddamn courage to voice this matter so that you all can come up with some brilliant plan to stop her and this is how you act?"
"Jlssiek she is the chosen she is dangerous, especially with the likes of that witch."
"I understand that." he paused. "But think about it. If you were in the same situation. A good friend of yours, their life's on the line, and you have a decision. Risk their life and safety or work with the person to keep your friend safe. "What would you choose? Would you sacrifice your loved one or would you go along to keep them safe?"
"Jlssiek -"
"No! This is important. I myself went through a predicament like this. My sister was threatened. And I chose to help the man instead of risking her life. Years later I told the majesty, the king. He devised a plan to stop the man. But it wasn't enough. My sister was killed. She was the best friend I ever had. She would have come to my awakening ceremony, she would have been there for my graduation. She would have been there for everything. But my king decided that I not work for the man anymore, or else I would be given the penalty of treason. Tell me, was it right?" The room fell quiet. No one spoke, no one moved and no one made eye contact. "Think before you speak. And I apologize your majesty. I didn't mean to interrupt you." He sat down furiously with his arms crossed. Boy did he not say much, but by gosh, he was wild.

"Let us focus on the task at hand." Jkedk started. "I will speak with you later, Miss. Cripple. As for now, let us talk."
"I don't know how we are going to deal with this matter. If we don't come up with a good enough plan I will have to speak with my parents about our decision to stay or leave the alliance."
"Me as well, and you might as well kiss your sub committee goodbye as well. After whatever stunt you pull they mide as well back their representative out." Jkdek put his hand to his head. "Look, we can sit here and argue all day, but nothing will get done. I promise to talk with Amilia and work on our plan non stop until it is perfect. Please grant me this opportunity to change your minds."
"You have this one opportunity. I will not jeopardize my kingdom's safety." The people who had been on the council for the longest time looked to Jkdek.
"Tell me you're not thinking of removing."
"E sloy qmgykhy sr qkgqfk." Jkdek looked down to the ground. Everything he worked for, everything he did is now liable to fall apart. He looked to Amilia, with his sad beady eyes.
"I will come up with a plan, I promise."

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