CHAPTER EIGHT:
The day of the meeting dawned clear but with a hint of rain. Lion-O was in his bedchamber getting ready for the meeting. He had to put on the royal ensemble since he was addressing the sabers and their leader.
'I hope that renegade saber doesn't try anything during this momentous occasion,' Lion-O thought to himself as he slipped the white tunic over his head and let it fall into place. He had already worn it once when he had anointed the new Thundercats and it was fitting that he wore it again. The cloak itself was a shade of deep purple. Purple had long been a royal color and Lioness-A was already wearing the color along with the other royal family color, silver, in her uniform. It seemed fitting that she would wear the royal colors together. The door buzzer went off and Lion-O permitted whoever it was to enter. It was Tillen carrying the Sword and the claw shield.
"Are you ready?" Tillen asked as Lion-O scowled at his reflection. He was trying to get the cloak in place in order to get the brooch on.
"Here let me help you with that," Tillen murmured as he laid the sword on the bed. He hooked the cloak to Lion-O's left shoulder and fastened it in place. "You're ready now," the jaguar said and handed the claw shield to Lion-O who placed it on his left thigh.
"Are the Thunderguard in place at the site?" Lion-O asked as they left his bedchamber for the council room. Tillen nodded.
"The leader will call once they're ready," Tillen replied as the two entered the council room. Lioness-A blinked when she saw her brother in the royal ensemble.
"Nice," she said. "So who's going and who stays?"
"Lynx-O is going with me while Tillen keeps an eye on things here. Panthro and Bengali are taking us there in the Thundertank. Cheetara and Lioness-A are also going along," Lion-O replied. "Tygra is already there getting the tent for the meeting set up." Snarfer appeared in the council room then.
"Snarfer, Tygra said everything's ready and some of the saber clans are beginning to arrive," he said as Lion-O turned to the others.
"If we're going to do it, let's do it!" Panthro said as the named Thundercats left the room.
*********
Twenty minutes later, the group arrived at the site to find a bright red tent set up in the spot where the negotiations were to take place. Nearby were several clan elders and still farther away were the sabers that had first arrived. Tygra walked up to the tank as Panthro parked it in an out-of-the way spot. Everyone jumped out and gathered around him.
"Are we ready here?" Lynx-O asked.
"We're ready here and I will show you around and where everyone is going to go," Tygra said as he led the group under the tent.
"Why are the elders here?" Lioness-A asked.
"They are going to be part of this new agreement I had drawn up," Lion-O replied. "Most of them have agreed it's for the best and I had Tillen send a copy to the saber elder so he could look it over before our meeting. Is he here yet?" This last question was addressed to Tygra who nodded.
"Major Lupi is with him and will bring him here when you're ready to begin the meeting," Tygra answered. "His name is Silaro." Lynx-O's ears twitched.
"You know the name?" Cheetara asked the lynx.
"He's one of the wisest of the saber clan and has been head of their clan for years," Lynx-O replied and went on, "he was against Grune turning against the Thundercats and using the clan to destroy ThunDera and wage war against the Thundercats. I believe he will be most agreeable to our trial basis."
A communicator went off somewhere nearby and Tygra answered it. After speaking to someone for a few minutes, he cut the connection and turned to Lion-O. "Major Lupi said Silaro is ready to begin the negotiations if you are."
"Have her bring him and his aide here," Lion-O told Tygra who nodded. "Lynx-O, go tell the elders to come on in," he added as the lynx nodded. "We're ready to begin."
"And us?" Lioness-A asked, indicating herself and Cheetara. Lion-O escorted the two to seats on the outer edge of the tent and had them sit there.
"Watch and see what happens. I would like to hear your feedback on this later," Lion-O said as they nodded.
*********
Two hours later, a break was called so everyone could get something to eat and drink. Lioness-A drifted over to where Lion-O and Lynx-O were quietly discussing something. They paused as she came near.
"Well?" the lioness asked.
"So far so good. Silaro told us of the renegade saber group and who's leading them," Lynx-O answered.
"Who is it?" Cheetara asked, walking up and slipping her hand into Lion-O's. He smiled.
"A saber named Sindaris," Lynx-O answered as the two females blinked.
"Why does that name sound familiar?" Cheetara asked. "I'm getting a strange feeling with that name and it's not good."
"I thought you might feel that way," Lynx-O said and went on, "Sindaris is related to Grune and from what Silaro has told us, he is resenting what the Thundercats did to Grune and has vowed to get revenge."
"Always one in every bunch," Lioness-A muttered as Lion-O smiled. "But why now?"
"No one knows," Tygra said coming up then. "Are we ready to finish the negotiations?" Lion-O nodded.
"Bring everyone back in," he said as Lioness-A and Cheetara withdrew to their seats.
*********
The meeting was concluded two hours later with Silaro promising to pass on the terms of the negotiations to the other saber leaders still in Saber Valley.
"They should agree to the terms Lord Lion-O and I will personally see to anyone that doesn't," Silaro said as the two shook hands.
"Thank you Silaro," Lion-O said with a smile. "Will you let us know if Sindaris tries anything?" The elder saber nodded.
"Thanks to your Thunderguard, I will be able to get word to you quickly Lord Lion-O," he said as Lion-O nodded. The group adjourned soon after with Tygra riding back with the other Thundercats.
"We will have a full council meeting this afternoon to go over everything and make sure this agreement gets logged into the lair library," Lion-O said as everyone nodded.
*********
Later that same evening found Lion-O in his office working on some paperwork when Lynx-O stopped by.
"Something on your mind old friend?" Lion-O asked as the lynx sat down on the sofa.
"Yes. With the possibility of battle looming with this renegade saber and his group are you aware of the fact that Lioness-A can also use the Sword of Omens?" Lynx-O asked. Lion-O blinked.
"I wasn't aware of that," Lion-O said. "How is this possible? Where did you come across it?"
"I came across the information in the lion clan books located in the library. Think on it Lion-O. She's your sister and as a result, she's the heir to the throne if something should happen to you and you have no heirs," Lynx-O said as Lion-O thought for a moment. A purple light in the corner caught his eye. He was surprised to see his father.
"Father?" he asked in surprise. Claud-Us rarely appeared, but something negated this visit.
"Lynx-O's right Lion-O. Since you don't have an heir yet, Lioness-A would be the next in line to the throne and the Sword knows who she is," Claud-Us said. Lynx-O's ears twitched and Claud-Us smiled at the lynx. "Good to know you're here old friend," the older lion said as the lynx nodded. Lion-O smiled. Those two had been friends even though Lynx-O had been a commoner for years.
"Can Lioness-A use the Sword then if it came down to it?" Lion-O asked. Claud-Us nodded.
"Yes, but only if something were to disable you from using it, such as an injury that would render you unconscious. Make sure she knows of the possibility and see about training her on it. You may need her there if worse should come to worse," Claud-Us said and vanished.
*What did you think of that? And how do you feel about it?* Lion-O asked his sister via their bond.
*Strange. It never occurred to me that I would be able to use the Sword like you. Things like this are worth knowing. I look forward to those training sessions Father mentioned,* Lioness-A answered back. Lion-O turned to Lynx-O and filled him in on what Lioness-A had said.
"I think I will work with her on that tomorrow," Lion-O said as Lynx-O nodded. He left the room a moment later as Lion-O sighed and turned back to his paperwork. Cheetara was the next one to see him that night, but it was because she wanted to spend time with Lion-O.
"Everything okay Lion-O?" Cheetara asked. He sighed and filled her in on what Lynx-O had told him a moment earlier. She was surprised.
"How is Lioness-A taking this?" Cheetara asked then. "It must be a surprise to her as well to know that."
"She feels pretty good about it. I just wish it wasn't under these circumstances," Lion-O answered as she nodded. He pulled her close for a hug. The two withdrew to head to their bedchambers for some needed rest. Lion-O hoped that things would work out so that Lioness-A wouldn't have to use the sword, but all things considering, he was glad to give her a crash course in using it.
***************
Meanwhile, in an isolated part of Saber Valley, Sindaris was watching his troops prepare for the battle against Lion-O and the Thundercats. One of his aides appeared and handed him a communique from their spy in Saber Valley.
"So, Silaro agreed to the terms that the Thundercats have set. I should have known that it would come to that. How soon before our forces are ready?" Sindaris asked.
"They should be ready by the end of the week," the aide answered and then smiled as something occurred to him. "Are you aware that Lord Lion-O has a twin sister?"
"No, I'm not. What are you thinking Lorkas?" Sindaris asked. His aide smiled evilly.
"Well, should you win this confrontation, you would need a bride so your hold on the throne will be secure. And since this lioness is the twin to the Lord of ThunDera, you may be able to persuade her to mate with you," Lorkas said as Sindaris' eyes narrowed. "She would also be the link you need to control the Sword of Omens."
"Interesting. Go away now and make sure everyone's ready for the battle next week," Sindaris said. Lorkas was about to leave when another saber ran up bearing a large battle club in his arms.
"Sindaris, we found Grune's legendary club!" the saber exclaimed as Sindaris jumped to his feet. The club had been presumed lost when Grune was banished from Old ThunDera, but now that it had been found, Sindaris could wield it in his battle against the Thundercats.
"This is a great day in our history men," Sindaris said as his aides smiled. "Go and make sure the training goes well. We will start our maurading parties this week with the best of the trainees." The two aides snapped to attention and left the tent for the training grounds. Sindaris continued to reflect on the upcoming battle and what he would do if he won.
