Chapter Thirty
In the Talons’ copper-domed headquarters on the island, Vlad paced in the chrome-and-steel waiting area.
The Talons and the Grey Council had called an emergency meeting.
This was the third since the Bealtaine debacle.
The female Wizards who remained on the island had offered suggestions for where their sister Wizards had taken the Wizardlings, and to no one’s surprise, the clues were dead ends.
Vlad had wanted to use more persuasive methods of questioning, but the women were being watched too closely by male Wizards who would rebel if so much as a hair on any of their heads was ruffled.
At present, the only options left to him were asking the Air Wizards and the Talons for assistance.
As soon as the female Wizards were found and he’d consolidated power, he would deal with those who’d defied him.
Rowan was at the top of his list. He was becoming a problem. Something had happened at Bealtaine, something that changed Rowan’s focus.
Until recently, Rowan had always been loyal to the Grey Council.
Which was the reason he had wanted Rowan to be his eyes and ears, and report to him on the findings regarding the murders.
In that way Vlad believed he could control the narrative.
Then the idiot Constantine had to go and order that his people poison Rowan’s brother. Fools.
Yes, things were getting out of control, but the Talons’ miscalculation might prove to his advantage.
With the Grey Council and the magical community both in a panic, Vlad would present evidence that Constantine and Zacharias were behind the ethnic cleansing and toss the humans literally to the wolves.
Until then, he had to appear to cooperate with Constantine and the Talons for just a little while longer.
He glanced at the digital time on the wall, annoyed that he’d arrived early.
When he was in charge, he’d make others wait for him.
Be patient. Your time will come, he told himself.
To quiet his nerves, Vlad looked through the locked glass doors toward the conference room.
The chamber was circular, with a private waiting room for each member of the Talons and the Grey Council.
In the center was a massive round wooden table, who some claimed was used by King Arthur and his legendary knights.
He didn’t believe the story. Most likely the table was a reproduction.
It didn’t matter. The round table was a strong symbol and reinforced their ideals.
Vlad shared his colleagues’ belief in honoring the old ways.
Five hundred years ago, when the alliance between the Talons and the Grey Council was created, it drew upon the themes of Camelot to create a better world.
Those goals were needed now more than ever.
King Arthur wouldn’t have hesitated to eliminate those who threatened his kingdom, and neither would he.
In his opinion, the world had reached a critical turning point.
Self-proclaimed human mages spoke of things like Armageddon, the Rapture, and End Times.
The visionaries were not that far off in their predictions, just in identifying the person who would save their kind from extinction.
At twelve, the glass doors in Vlad’s waiting room opened simultaneously with the corresponding waiting room doors.
Members of the Talons and the Grey Council filed into the conference room and took their seats at the round table.
There were seven members of the Talons, representing the original seven founding families.
One member represented the magical community, and the Grey Council was made up of a representative from each of the Wizard clans of Fire, Air and Earth.
The chair for Water was vacant and would remain so.
Two honorary, non-voting members were Danu of the Waters, and Old Man, who were the keepers of their history.
When Caitlin, the female Water Wizard died, and with Danu of the Waters missing, the Council had decided it was best to leave the positions vacant until replacements were announced.
In Vlad’s opinion, running the world was a man’s business anyway.
The remaining seat was reserved for Old Man, the keeper of their history.
Vlad took his place beside Constantine, who greeted each member in turn before addressing the business at hand.
“War, when properly supervised,” he began, “has its purpose. It cleanses much like a controlled field fire at the end of planting season. But when allowed to rage unattended, its destruction far outreaches its benefits. It’s time we step in and extinguish the world’s flames.
” He distributed black folders to each of the members and then waited for each man to open and glance at the contents.
Constantine placed the palms of his hands on the ancient wood of the round table and leaned forward as he continued, “The way human nations run their wars hasn’t changed over the centuries.
In the past, to bring order out of chaos we often simply assassinated their leaders, and the will of the people would collapse.
In other instances, it was necessary to take out key politicians or generals, which achieved the same result.
I propose that we renew that strategy.” He paused to let everyone open the files before continuing. “Are there any questions?”
Connor O’Hara, a shapeshifting werewolf with silver hair and eyes, and the representative for the magical community, was the first to speak.
“President Constantine, with all due respect, I disagree with your proposal to order killing the world’s leaders.
Need I remind you that not only will you be murdering human leaders, but there are also members of the magical community who hold high office. “Diplomacy is needed. Not murder.”
The president waved away Connor’s question as though it was not important. “Humans have no taste for diplomacy, and if I may be so bold, neither do certain members of the magical community. If there are no further questions, we will vote.”
Connor stood and growled low. This time all turned in his direction.
He was a man dedicated to peace, yet capable of calling upon his darker side.
He was not a man to cross. His voice turned low and deadly.
“The magical community will not condone these kills. This council of leaders was created to help humanity, not murder innocents. Further, we demand the Grey Council fill the position left vacant by the death of Caitlin, the leader of the female Water Wizards. Although many of the female Wizards have fled, there are several of them still on the island. I recommend we ask them if they could vote for someone to represent them here. A balance must be maintained in the world, and it begins at this table. Our first order of business can’t be to declare war.
It must be to discuss why the female Wizards left, taking our future with them. ”
Low murmurs rippled around the chamber. Other voices joined Connor’s, shifting from Constantine’s proposal to the debate on restoring the female Wizards’ position on the board with the theory that the gesture might entice those missing to return.
Vlad and Constantine exchanged glances. Vlad ground his teeth together. The meeting was getting out of control. Connor was stirring up trouble and would need to be eliminated.
Always the diplomat, Constantine rose, raising his hand to silence the heated words.
“We agreed that it was the right decision to keep the female Water Wizard position vacant until our women returned. It was further discussed that perhaps we should take the burden of board responsibility from their shoulders, to lessen their stress. At the time, Connor agreed with our assessment. We also considered the possibility that our female Wizards left of their own accord but dismissed the theory. Why would they? They were revered and given all a female could desire. We must consider the possibility that one of our enemies kidnapped them.”
Vlad nodded at each remark Constantine made, marveling at the man’s ease in turning around this potentially volatile situation.
Deflecting the blame to someone else was Constantine’s specialty.
Constantine had presented the opportunity to openly wage war against an enemy of their choosing. The man was a genius.
Old Man, with a gray beard that hung past his waist, and wearing a midnight-blue tunic, spoke in a voice brittle and cracking with age.
“Perhaps, esteemed President Constantine—perhaps. But even if one of our enemies kidnapped the female Wizards and our Wizardlings, we must entertain Connor’s suggestion.
Our ancient texts speak of how female Wizards are capable of flourishing without us.
These same texts, state, bluntly, that without them to temper our violent nature, we will kill each other and vanish as though we never existed.
I am not suggesting that we discount the possibility that they might have been kidnapped by our enemies, but neither rule out that they left on their own accord for reasons known only to them. ”
Frustrated with Old Man’s interference, when Constantine had so expertly given them a reason to quell the heated discussion, Vlad pounded his fist on the table, with the desired results. All eyes turned from Old Man to him.
“I respectfully disagree, Old Man. Neither one of our kind will survive without the other. Female Wizards need our protection. President Constantine offered a reasonable explanation for the female Wizards’ disappearance, and we have to heed his wise words.”
A murmured discussion traveled around the table. Old Man had spoken of an ancient text that dated back to the time of Atlantis. It had never sat well with male Wizards. They did not want to believe that female Wizards could survive without them.
Old Man had gone too far, and that pleased Vlad very much.
Vlad smiled to himself as he developed an idea that might appeal to any who did not agree with Constantine’s plan.
One that could solve all his problems, bringing the female Wizards and the Wizardlings back to the island and Morgan within his grasp.
Zephra, one of the female Wizards who had stayed on the island, had let it slip that Morgan had been appointed leader after Caitlin’s death.
She had said it with pride, and a touch of warning in her voice.
At the time, Vlad had kept silent, guarding his reaction, but that was before he realized that the female Wizards were more organized than he had first thought.
He raised his hand to still the murmurs of unrest. “Old Man is wise, and his words have given me a possible solution. I don’t know if the women left of their own accord, but I have an idea that might prove once and for all if they are able to return of their own free will.
If they do not return, then it supports President Constantine’s theory that they were kidnapped, and we must prepare accordingly.
With your approval, I propose we fill the vacant position.
” He paused just long enough to let his words settle over the Talons and the Grey Council.
The tension in the chamber eased, proving how right he’d been that he and the president were in danger of losing their hard-won control.
With a great effort, he forced a smile onto his lips and a gentleness in his voice.
“Zephra, one of the female Wizards who remained on the island, shows leadership skills. I propose we nominate her to fill the vacancy. The nomination will have to be confirmed by the female Wizards on the island, of course, but I’m sure they will agree.
Female Wizards always have ceremonies to celebrate such things.
I propose, as an offer of good will, we invite Morgan, who we know took over leadership after Caitlin’s death. ”
Connor’s voice was measured and his eyes cold.
“I have met Zephra. She is respected and devoted to her sister Wizards. A fine choice. I second the nomination. I also approve of inviting Morgan, but this feels like an empty gesture. How do you propose we get this message to her, and what makes you think she would return? I share Old Man’s concern that the female Wizards had strong reasons for leaving. ”
Vlad held onto a tight smile. “Female Wizards are known for their ability to compromise and seek peaceful solutions. I am confident they will consider Zephra’s nomination as an olive branch and the beginning of a new and better relationship.
We will enlist the help of the Air Wizards and the magical community to spread the word of our decision.
This serves another purpose. If the female Wizards are free to come and go as they please, we will know they left of their own accord.
If not, then we must seek out their kidnappers. ”
Vlad broke eye contact with Connor as they voted.
He was certain Connor had seen through Vlad’s deception, but it didn’t matter.
By the time Connor had proof that Vlad used nominating Zephra to a position on the board as a ruse to learn where Morgan and the other female Wizards were hiding, it would be too late.
With Morgan under his control, he would deal with her treason and anyone else he considered a threat.