A/N: First of let me (again) apologize. I know this chapter is short, and I know it's late. (Again, sorry!) I assumed I'd have the weekend to write, but I totally forgot about Father's Day. Instead, I spent all weekend doing family stuff. I'm working on the next part right now, and it will be up as soon as I can get it done. (Keep in mind, I work really hard during the week and don't have a lot of time to write.) I hate to drag this out, and you guys are amazing for sticking with me. Thank you!
Sportacus made his way to the mayor's house, thankful that this recent bout of trouble was nothing more serious than Ziggy getting himself hopelessly tangled in the balloons he was blowing up for Stephanie's party. Speaking of Stephanie... Sportacus was worried. He couldn't seem to put his finger on it, but he felt like there was something wrong. True, his crystal wasn't flashing, but whatever the mayor and Stephanie's parents wanted to talk about sounded serious. Plus, with her sick in bed on her birthday, he'd have to come up with something really special to cheer her up.
Entering the house, he found the mayor, Maria, and Harald waiting for him in the living room.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked.
"This could take awhile so why don't you take a seat," Maria suggested. "Would you like something to drink? Tea? Coffee?"
"Ice water would be nice," Sportacus said, sitting down. Privately, he wished they'd just come to the point. That special connection he'd always seemed to have with Stephanie felt odd somehow, and he was getting even more worried.
"Sportacus, Milford tells me that you're from Latibær?" Maria asked.
"Yes, I am," he confirmed. "It's a beautiful country, populated mostly by elves, but there are quite a few humans there as well now - refugees from a place called Galdramaður Island."
Maria and Harald shared a look that the hero couldn't interpret.
"Then you know about Galdramaður, and its history?" Harald pressed.
"I know some," Sportacus confirmed. "It used to be one of two places in the world where magic was still practiced openly - the other being Latibær - and because of that, it had closed off all communication with the outside world. Any international business was done through Latibær so there used to be a lot of political news about their dealings in the newspapers when I was a boy."
"And the upheaval that lead to most of the country being evacuated," Maria prompted. "What do you know about that?"
"Not much," the hero confessed. "That was about twenty years ago, and I was training at the hero's academy at the time. From what I understand, a group of magic users seized power by tapping into black magic, something that was previously banned there. Most of the people have fled the country, and Latibær has closed all dealings with Galdramaður, and its new leaders. One refugee I spoke to said the takeover was brutal - mass beatings and executions - families were separated trying to get away. He wasn't even sure if the previous rulers were able to escape."
"They did," Milford interrupted softly. He moved to stand behind the sofa where Stephanie's parents were sitting, putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "Sportacus, let me introduce you to King Haraldur and Queen Maria of Galdramaður Island."
Notes: Galdramaður means "Enchanted."
