The Fire and The Storm - The Nexus of Kellaran #2 novel Chapter 75

Part 13

“We believe the stone is genuine.” she reported. “We will agree to what you’ve proposed. It seems to offer only benefits for us. But we want more than your oaths on the stone. We want every leader and spell caster among your people to also swear to the same terms on the stone, particularly the two who you say rule these islands; Prince Mark and Princess Talia of Hilia; Keys to The Just Alliance.”

“I’m reasonably certain that we can arrange that.” Reggie nodded. “Shall we hold the swearing here at noon tomorrow? We’ll arrange a nice occasion with some entertainment and a feast for everyone. We should have every member of our people and every member of yours all meet here to get to know one another and to swear the oath together.

“Is that agreeable to you?”

“Yes.” She agreed. “Such an event would be fitting on this occasion.”

“You look disappointed.” another elder female said to Helemia.

“Sorry.” she shrugged. “It all just seems a little too easy. There’s a part of me that was hoping you’d fight about it.”

“Why?”

Helemia shrugged again, and grinned. “It would’ve been fun.”

Her questioner looked surprised for a moment, then she and a few of her companions chuckled. “A thought worthy of a Sylvan.” one of them commented.

“Noon tomorrow then.” the spokeswoman stated in conclusion, and their Projection ended.

“Spread the word about the agreement and the big gathering tomorrow to all the recruits.” Reggie instructed Karzog. “If the officers we were instructing finish all their assignments before we get back, put them back on the construction details for now.”

“Actually, their supper will be served in less than five minutes.” Karzog reported as he considered the cooking crew’s progress. “You can resume the officers’ training in the morning.”

“Right.” Reggie nodded. “We’re off to talk to our parents and make arrangements for the gathering here tomorrow. Hopefully we’re not in trouble for over-reaching our authority in the agreements we’ve just committed our people to.”

“I’ll be listening.” Karzog chuckled. “I can spare the concentration, and I wouldn’t want to miss it if you get chewed by your parents!”

He looked down the beach as he made another assessment. “All right, everyone wrap up your work for the night, then line up for supper!” he commanded, his booming psionic voice reaching all the Sylvan within their Wards.

“We should be back in time to help supervise the evening’s merry-making.” Reggie estimated. “By the time they’re done eating, that is.”

“Right.” Karzog nodded, somewhat distracted, and the three children Translocated.

They found their parents sitting around a table out in the front yard, doing some research with Theramin, Hilsith, Nek Sibook, and Mandri.

“Have you been listening, or would you like a Reading?” Helemia asked as suddenly as they appeared.

“No no, that would detract from the gravity of our big appearance tomorrow.” Alilia chuckled. “There’s the diplomacy of the event to be considered, after all. I’m sure tomorrow night’s beach party will be even better, and we’ll get to enjoy that one.”

“All right then.” Valentia smiled as she gave her mother a hug.

“You two go ahead, I’ll get some sleep and be back in five hours.” Helemia said as she Translocated out of her armor. “That way we can all get that much before noon tomorrow.”

“All right, sleep well.” Valentia said.

After hugs and goodbyes all round, Helemia went to bed as the rest returned to their tasks.

At fifteen minutes to noon the next day, everything was ready. At the center of the length of beach that they’d claimed, the four governors had erected a square wooden platform two and a half meters high and six meters on a side. Karzog sat on the sand beside it like a dog, with an elbow resting on the top surface where the three siblings stood waiting.

Above the platform they’d cast a gigantic Revealing over thirty-seven meters high. During the ceremonies it would allow everyone on the beach to see and hear what the principals were doing and saying, but right now it only showed the symbol of Hiliani that Valentia had designed. It was a stylized version of the map of the archipelago, but the coast had been smoothed a bit into a more symmetrical oval, and tilted a bit counter-clockwise from vertical as it would be on a map, with a blue outline and slim blue lines showing where the channels were. Valentia had admitted that it would have been more realistic to color the islands themselves the brownish-green of the dominant tree species’ pine needles, but she’d chosen the red of that tree’s heartwood instead, simply because she thought it looked better.

There was enough open space on the beach around the platform for the five hundred and twenty-one residents of Homestead, and for the rest of the Sylvan; those being most of the adults and the few youths they hadn’t caught yet.

The Sylvan they’d captured were seated in neat squares up and down the beach beyond the open sand, arranged in their new platoons facing the platform with their lieutenants seated before them, all sitting relaxed and cross-legged with identical postures.