Sorry it takes so long for me to update sometimes. Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm not slowly abandoning it; I just get kinda busy. Okay, on with the story.
"What time are they to arrive?" Bassett asked his wife, looking expectantly at the ancient but stately grandfather clock in the corner. Those who were supportive of the return of Emrys government had been summoned to the Grey chateau that evening for a meeting. Some plans needed to be devised for taking back the council.
"We still have half an hour yet, dear. No need to be so anxious," Farren remarked, perusing a tome of magic spells. The couple was enjoying a peaceful evening by the fire, and it was easy to forget about all the trouble brewing in the outside world. Alex was recovering quite well, and she and Justin were exploring the chateau's many rooms. It was a good distraction for Justin, who had a tendency to have mild panic attacks every once in a while.
"I can't help it. There's so much depending on Justin. And Alex as well, although she doesn't know it." Bassett got out of his leather chair and paced over to the window, staring thoughtfully at the fog outside. The weather had been like this for days; he was starting to think it had a connection with Brenin's mood. "Farren, do you remember what Tomas told us about her?"
"As if it was yesterday, yes." How could she forget? At the time Tomas had been having one of his dry periods: It had been nearly two years since his last vision. So it came as a surprise when, on the day of Justin's birth, Tomas informed them about a dream he had had the previous night, about a dark-haired girl who would be born to a certain Jerry Russo, former wizard, the following year.
"I think it might have been unwise of Tomas to let them believe they were family half their lives. She treats him so much like an older brother; how can she possibly be the source of the continuation of the Emrys bloodline?" Bassett asked.
Farren laughed softly in amusement. "You're only seeing half of it, love. She's grown far more dependent on him over these past few days than a sister should be. I just don't think she's noticed the change yet. Justin, however, is a little different. Have you seen the way he looks at her? There's something that shifts in his eyes every time. I believe Tomas meant for them to have a deeper connection, and although it was taking a chance, he seems to have succeeded."
"I hope you're right, at least for Justin's sake. He has so much on his plate right now, and at such a young age too. Anything could go wrong."
"That's why he needs her. As I'm sure you've noticed, she's a fighter."
"Amongst other things," Bassett replied with a chuckle.
Bassett and Farren's musings were interrupted by the sudden deep gong of the doorbell. Bassett turned his attention away from the window and his thoughts and went to answer it.
A gathering of different kinds of people soon filled the chateau's Great Hall, ranging from older wizards who remembered the old council days and younger ones who were feeling rebellious. There were even a couple goblins, werewolves, and other magical beings affected by the political dealings of the wizard world. All of them had looked around furtively before entering the dwelling, as if they expected someone to jump out from the bushes and drag them off.
"I can hardly believe, after all these years, the boy is still alive," a man with a long gray beard and rusty voice remarked to Bassett. He had been secretary of the treasury before Brenin had taken over, the most loyal to the Emryses that had ever been.
"Where is he, Bassett? I haven't seen him since he was a babe," a matronly, rosy-cheeked woman asked anxiously. She had been the midwife when Justin was born and told anyone who would listen that he was the best behaved child she had ever seen in her line of work.
"I'll go get him," Farren volunteered. She swept through the house, searching, and found what she was looking for in the library, where Justin was immersed in a dusty book that apparently detailed his family's history. "Justin, they're here."
Justin seemed reluctant to abandon the book. Alex, on the other hand, was more than ready to leave. She had a general dislike for all manner of books, and it was only because she wanted to be with Justin that she entered the library in the first place.
"Come on, Justin. I want to see what kind of crazy people would bother rooting for you in the first place," Alex said, pulling him with her.
"Wanting to do away with corrupt government isn't crazy, Alex," Justin protested, although he let her haul him down the hall after Farren.
"No, but going up against some lunatic dictator with a million more people on his side is," she responded.
"You know, people also thought it was crazy when the American colonies stood up to the British, and we all know what happened with that."
There was a short pause. "Um, sure…"
Justin looked at Alex in disbelief. "The Americans won, obviously. Honestly, Alex, a little history once and a while wouldn't kill you."
"I beg to differ. I once had my U.S. history textbook fall out of my locker and hit me on the head. Needless to say we've been enemies ever since."
Justin decided to just let the subject drop—something he wouldn't do with anyone else—and tried his best to act like the kind of person his supporters were expecting as he entered the Great Hall.
Everyone present stopped talking at once and turned to look, creating a slightly uncomfortable silence. They seemed fascinated by him, most likely because a large number of them believed he was their only hope. It wasn't exactly a position he wanted to fill, considering he was so afraid of failing them.
"You look so much like Tomas, Justin," the bearded wizard said fondly.
"Mainly in the eyes. The rest of him is definitely Mary Elena," the midwife spoke up.
"They would have been so proud," another said, this one a gruff-looking goblin.
Justin looked at Alex uncertainly, unsure of how to respond.
"You got this. They all love you," she said in a low voice, giving him confidence.
"I'm afraid I'm at a bit of a disadvantage. The only thing I know about this Rience Brenin is that he's after me," Justin admitted to the room.
"I believe we can help you with that." The former secretary of the treasury grinned, pleasant wrinkles creasing his old face. "You see, Rience Brenin was one of the best generals in the wizard army back in his prime. But after an injury forced him to retire from active duty, he took up the office of secretary of war on the council. But he grew greedy; we all knew he cast longing eyes on the Premier's seat and were well aware of his bloodthirsty tendencies. Even Mary Elena saw it. She warned your father, but Tomas was always one wanting to see the best in people. Although he was cautious of how much power he gave to the man, I don't think he ever realized exactly how dangerous he was."
"I served with Rience in the army. During that time I witnessed exactly how strategic of a mind he had, to the point of stepping a little outside the code of conduct in war on several occasions just to achieve a victory. He was ruthless," a forty-something fellow with a salt-and-pepper buzz cut and multiple interesting scars said.
"It was terrible. I was a maid in the Emrys mansion at the time. Brenin attacked out of nowhere, early in the morning when no one was expecting it. Everything was chaotic—he set the entire house on fire, and all you could hear was screams through the smoke. I thought everyone was dead," a younger girl who bore a bit of a resemblance to a mouse spoke up.
There was a moment of silence; this was a memory that weighed heavy on the hearts of those present, several having witnessed it themselves.
"Over the past eighteen years, Brenin's ruled with an iron fist, oppressing the people subject to him. But he has also grown lazy, living like a king in the old Emrys mansion, which he restored with all the best comforts. Your reappearance struck fear into his heart—he knows you're a threat. If there wasn't some chance you could defeat him, he wouldn't be trying so hard," Farren said.
Justin chewed on this new information for a time. The grandfather clock was the only noise in the Hall as everyone waited for his response. "It looks like we need to get straight to the heart of the problem: Brenin. If we can bring him down, then maybe his underlings will scatter, especially if the power of the people is behind us," he reasoned.
"Even a fed snake is still dangerous. We must not forget that he is cunning and might strike at any second," said the former secretary of the treasury.
"We'll have to use his own ploy against him: Strategy. And a little trickery, something that could slide us past his minions, would be useful as well," the soldier decided.
"That would be my department."
Alex's bold statement surprised the others. They hadn't taken very much notice of her before, seeing as none of them had been told of Tomas's prophetic vision.
"Figures. Let me guess, you're already working on a plan," Justin said with a grin.
"I've got a few ideas," she replied innocently.
Justin could practically see the gears turning in her head and knew all too well that whenever Alex was involved, it was definitely a great deal more than just a 'few ideas'. But for once he didn't mind.