Chapter 31
A Council of Fools
Eirin and Sorcha raced to Nethran’s office within the Druid School, sweat pouring down their faces and breath ragged gasps as they burst through the doors.
The commander, looking concerned, studied them as they tried to catch their breath.
He waited patiently, his gaze shifting between the two as they began speaking at once, voices overlapping in a chaotic jumble.
Unable to decipher their words, Commander Nethran raised a hand.
“Alright, alright, settle down! One at a time, officers.”
Sorcha glanced at Eirin. Eirin, still catching his breath, said, “There was a very sick great elk in the forest. It was dying… black blood pouring from its eyes and mouth. It was struggling so much. I couldn’t watch it suffer any longer, so I ended its misery.”
He paused still breathing heavily. “But as soon as I did, something… happened. Black vines started pouring out of the elk’s body, spreading rapidly. We ran as fast as we could.”
Commander Nethran remained outwardly calm, but the concern—possibly even fear—etched into his expression was unmistakable. His voice was steady but firm as he spoke. “I need the two of you to head to the library immediately. I’m sending for the others and the elders.”
Sorcha and Eirin exchanged uneasy glances. Before they could say anything further, Commander Nethran’s voice thundered through the room, “NOW!”
The sharpness of his tone startled them both, leaving no room for hesitation. Without another word, Sorcha and Eirin turned and made their way out of the office, the urgency in his command pushing them toward the library without delay. Once inside the library, the two began pacing.
Eirin spoke first, his voice taut with frustration as the words spilled out.
“This started three months ago here with that bloom we found after those rogue creature attacked the village’s livestock and you.
Other regions have encounter this too and the elders keep insisting these are isolated events.
Eirin ran his hands through his hair, his tension etched across the tight line of his lips, the furrow of his brows.
“What really pisses me off is how the elders keep brushing it off. Saying the bloom might be part of nature’s cycle, that life and death are balanced.
As if that explains the decay spreading faster than anything natural.
And now, after everything we’ve seen, they still refuse to admit what’s in front of them.
The Fomorians have returned; everyone saw them.
We’ve tossed their bodies to the fires.”
“People are suffering, and they’re being left to deal with it alone. They’ve come to us as a last resort, and even then, no one listened.” Sorcha began fiddling with her dagger hilt, adjusting and readjusting her belt.
Eirin’s frustration grew as he rubbed the back of his neck as he continued to pace. Both lost in thought as they pieced together the threads.
Sorcha’s voice broke the stillness. “It’s all connected, isn’t it? Every single thing. The bloom, the wolves, the horse, the kelpie, Meadowrun, the festival… and now that elk. It’s spreading.”
They stood outside the Grand Mirror waiting for the others to arrive.
As the others arrived they filed into the space.
Sorcha, Eirin, Riona, Drystan, Rhosyn, Mason, Kyron and Commander Nethran stood together, facing the Elders seated at the far end of the chamber.
Despite the weight of recent events, the Elders’ expressions remained calm, almost detached.
Commander Nethran opened the discussion. “We’ve gathered to address the escalating threats in Lumora and beyond. The Circle has faced these events firsthand, and I believe their accounts demand immediate attention.”
Elder Caerwyn was the first to speak, her voice composed.
“Before we leap to conclusions, we must remember that nature operates in cycles.
Life, decay, and renewal are inevitable parts of our world.
The black blooms could simply signify a natural shift, unpleasant but not unprecedented.
Riona stiffened beside Sorcha, her pale hands curling into fists.
Her voice broke through the room like a blade. “Cycles don’t tear people apart. They don’t destroy entire regions. What we’re seeing isn’t some natural shift; it’s devastation. It’s death. And you’re sitting here trying to rationalize it.”
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Riona. Her grief radiated through every word, but her tone was controlled. Sorcha placed a steadying hand on her arm, but Riona didn’t waver.
Eirin stepped forward. “We’ve seen the signs for months now; the bloom started in the forest.” His voice grew louder, his hands balling into fists.
Sorcha could see his snake rune moving at the edge of his shirt glowing ever so slightly.
“These aren’t isolated incidents. This is the Fomorians returning, and you’re still sitting here debating! ”
Elder Orlan’s tone turned bitter. “Mind your tongue. We are not dismissing these events, but caution is paramount. Acting rashly could worsen an already precarious balance.”
Sorcha spoke up. “We’ve all seen signs. If we wait any longer, there won’t be a city to protect.”
Kyron, standing beside Sorcha, finally broke his silence.
His deep voice a low warning as he spoke.
“The Fomorians have returned. Call it what you like, but you can’t deny what’s in front of you.
If the Elders won’t act, eventually the people will.
” His eyes locked on the elders, daring them to challenge him.
Elder Caerwyn hesitated, her calm facade slipping just slightly. “Are you threatening the council? Commander Nethran, get your officers under control or we will be forced to.”
Riona let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “People are dying. Emry is dead. What more needs to happen?”
Commander Nethran raised his hand, silencing the room with a booming “Enough.” His eyes swept across his Circle before looking back to the elders. “I urge the elders and the council to consider this seriously. We’ve seen enough to know that this is only the beginning.”
The elders exchanged uneasy glances, their grip on the situation loosening. Elder Caerwyn finally sighed, lowering her voice. “We will deliberate and determine our next steps. But understand this: whatever the decision, it will be final.”
Riona said nothing, but the cold fury in her eyes conveyed everything. Sorcha gently squeezed her arm, offering silent reassurance, but Riona pulled away and as the meeting adjourned, the Circle gathered near the door.
Kyron leaned toward Sorcha, speaking in a low voice. “They’ll deliberate until it’s too late. We need to be prepared to act on our own.”
Sorcha nodded and looked to the others, who, rightfully so, wore mixed expressions of frustration, anger and even sadness. Riona was already heading out of the main doors of the library without so much as a word. The sight hurt Sorcha more than she wanted to let on.
Commander Nethran spoke only after the elders had left. “What the hells what that?”
Eirin opened his mouth to speak but Commander Nethran cut him off.
“That was a rhetorical question. You think that threatening the council will make them move any faster? Once you begin to threaten them, they stop listening. All you’ve done is make our case harder to prove and shows that I have no control of my officers,” he barked out, fury burning in his eyes.
He gaze fell over them again and his expression softened as he exhaled.
“For now we need to scout the areas around the town, particularly where the hunters and the gatherers go.
Inform the people at the market and the vendors that there are sick animals in the forest and that these particular areas are off limits until
further notice. All of you are to take a rope with you and mark the areas far enough out that the townsfolk won’t encounter the growth and understand it’s unsafe.”
Rhosyn tilted her slightly. “Wait, are you saying we should lie to the people of Lumora?”
Nethran’s gaze hardened, his voice filled with exhaustion and irritation.
“What I’m asking for is your discretion.
One thing the elders have right is this: if we alarm the public without solid answers, things will spiral out of control.
Hysteria will set in, and chaos will follow.
The best thing we can do right now is to keep the people of Lumora safe by keeping them away from danger.
” He paused, letting his words settle in as tension filled the air.
He scanned each of their faces, his tone softening slightly.
“Think of it this way: if we tell them there’s a threat, Fomorian, sickness, decay, whatever it is but can’t provide them with solutions or protection, we’ll only breed fear.
Fear leads to mistakes. Mistakes will lead to more lives lost. We need to tread cautiously for now. ”
Sorcha stepped forward. “But what about the hunters and the gatherers who rely on the forest? How long can we realistically keep them out without offering answers? Rumors will spread, Nethran, whether we want them to.”
Nethran nodded, acknowledging her point.
“You’re right, Sorcha. We can’t keep this hidden forever, but until we have a clear picture of what we’re doing, I’m asking all of you to use your best judgment.
Rope off the areas, warn the locals of sickness and the animals, and advise them to avoid those parts of the forest for now.
It’s not a lie. It’s the truth so far. As we gather more information, we’ll adjust.”
Rhosyn crossed her arms. “What if it’s not enough? What if the threat grows beyond what we can handle?”
“That’s exactly why we exist. We are among the best minds and fighters in the realm. Whatever is coming, our responsibility is not just to Lumora, but to the entire realm.”
Eirin, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke. “All right, Commander, we’ll do it, but we’re going to need more than rope and warning signs.”
Nethran’s eyes softened, a flicker of weariness breaking through his composure. “I know, Eirin. That’s why every one of you matters. I’m counting on you to help protect this city with what resources we have until we can face this head on with help.”
Kyron gave Sorcha a reassuring nod, his hand brushing gently against the back of her arm.