Birdsong - Chapter 10

Julia wandered around in the castle. The afternoon sun was shining in trough the windows.

Did the spell work? I did everything... She thought back to two nights ago. Yes, I did everything right. I'm sure of it. But why is there no change? I should feel it already, shouldn't I? There are to many questions. Could the legends be wrong? No, we've researched them for to long not to be certain of the truth they tell.

The spell, I called all the seven powers. I did my sacrifice. Her fingers touched the unhealed wound on her hand. She sighed. There were nothing she could do at the moment. If there has been no change in two weeks I'll try again. My powers should be fully back by then.

Feeling pleased with the decision Julia looked around. She realized she was in the West Tower. She walked up the stairs to the tower room and from there out on the balcony. The view was stunning. Thu sun was setting, painting the whole world in warm colors. Before her the city beyond the castle walls spread out in all directions. She saw people walking along the streets, lights in windows where families had gathered. Dow below her she saw the guards changing shifts on the courtyard.

Slowly she started to walk along the railing. To the south fields and farms were visible. She continued walking. She saw the city harbor and then to the east she saw the sea. The blue waters spread out to the horizon on the other side of the castle. Between the castle and the sea were the gardens. They would stay green all year, thanks to High Lord Matthew's court magicians. Paths led trough the gardens to the castle pier, where Swan Ships and Sunday Boats lay. It was cold on this side of the tower. She walked out of the shadow and looked north.

The North. Somewhere beyond those fields and forests her homeland lay. The land of wolves and snow, midnight sun in summer and burning skies in winter. The wild and the civilization lived in harmony and it was a land where she could trust people and be herself without judgement. It was her home.

For many minutes Julia stood there, looking north, as the sun set lower. When the last light disappeared she finally moved. She walked back to the door, and felt something. There was power near by. What's here? She looked over the city one last time and went in. Back inside the tower the feeling begun to fade. What was that? And that amount of power... She hurried down the stairs and when she reached the last few steps the feeling was gone. A bit confused she made her way back to her room.

Ella was waiting for her when she stepped trough the door.

"My lady, I've been searching for you for almost an hour! You've got to hurry! The mystery guest has arrived and there will be a meeting any minute now. As the only representative of the North here at the moment you've been asked to participate."

"What?"

"Hurry now, they're gathering in the second meeting chamber."

"Okay, show the way."

What is this? It must be important. I've been here for over a month already and not once been asked to attend a meeting. Why now? Who is this mystery guest?

Not long after they'd left her room she was seated at a table, the only woman among twenty men. She recognized every single one of them. There were the highest nobles of the city, representatives of the three main cities in the South and of the five in the Main Land. The High Lord's chair was

empty but all of his advisers were there. She felt the magical aura from two men at the far en of the table and saw a purple glow in their eyes. People whispered questions and theories to each other about this meeting's topic. Doesn't anybody know what's going on?

She looked over the room once again. Nothing new. She had already noticed everything. The two magicians sat still, not talking to anybody, and when the door opened and everybody turned in their seats to see who came in, they didn't even react. Julia shuddered and turned to look at the man shown into the room.

He had brown hair and was dressed in well worn clothes. He wasn't especially tall, maybe just a little taller than her. The way he walked showed he'd been walking for a long time and wanted to rest. He also moved like a man in pain. Who is this man? For sure he's not a noble.

The man was shown to an empty seat where everybody could see him clearly. Then they all waited in silence. The minutes crept by. Then the door opened again and two servant boys, one carrying fruit and a vine carafe and the other a pillow and a mantle, stepped in. They went straight for the High Lords seat and the first boy put the fruit on the table and poured vine into a goblet. The second boy put the pillow on the seat and draped the mantel over its back. As they did that an older man stepped in.

"Please raise and show your respect, High Lord Matthew of the Eastern Shore."

Everybody rose from their seats and the man stepped aside. In came a tall, blond man in his forties. He was dressed like a knight and wore a long sword at his hip. He eyed the room with his grey eyes as he walked towards his seat. Julia felt a shiver going down her spine as his eyes swept over her. This was a man who knew that true power wasn't something you could inherit. He was the fifth High Lord of his family to rule the Eastern Shore, and by far the greatest and most feared.

He seated himself and after a few seconds the rest of the room followed his example. Nobody said anything. A few moments of silence went by as the High Lord watched everybody's face. He did a small movement with his finger and the old man who had presented him went to his side.

"Devan?" His voice was deep and calm.

"Nowhere to be found."

A nod and the old man took a step back. The High Lord looked over the room once again.

"You probably wonder why you're here." He smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "Let me introduce you to my guest. He's travelled far to make it here in time. He's an old friend of mine, treasure hunter Matthew Monasson."

The stranger looked up. His green eyes met the High Lord's grey ones.

Friends? That's pushing reality. But Matthew Monasson, I've heard that name before. And he's a treasure hunter? That means we've been right! The Eastern Shore has made plans, and I need to stop them.