The din of which Jenkins and Cassandra found themselves in was deafening. It seemed everyone wanted a piece of the throne of Lilliput, even those who were far down the line of succession. The valued ceilings and bright stained glass windows, caused voices to echo through the chamber like a concert hall increasing the volume exponentially.
Even though the tallest being there was stood less than two feet high, voices carried over one another in an astounding cacophony. Jenkins sat dead eyed having been drowned out hours ago, as Cassandra strained to get a word in edge wise. Jenkins leaned to Cassandra. "At this rate well be at war by dinner time." He muttered.
Jenkins kept a careful eye on the Duke of Mildendo, whom he knew for being shifty cutthroat and underhanded as any politician who came before him. He was notorious for reneging on bargains once struck, and had a particular ability to wiggle out of complicated acquisitions unscathed.
"Ill be dead before I see the crown atop the head of another pointed nose 'Put! Take your feathered cap and shove it up your arse!" Screamed one of the Leprechauns form across the room.
"You greedy gold pinchers wouldn't know what to do with it! Go back where ye came from you Drunken Paddy!"
"The rightful heir is clearly the Lord of the Elves!" Shrieked a Elf who pounded his fist on the table from which everyone had stood from.
"You just want out Library for yourselves you covetous wretches!"
"At least were not gold hoarding whores!"
Standing in the middle of the noise trying and failing to get everyone to calm down, was the hapless Johan Deglnan, The Duke of Mildendo. His weasel face was sweaty, and his eyes darted around the room to each occupant. "Gentlemen…Ladies …please…" He tried to shout but his voice was already hoarse form screaming over everyone.
"You can go to blazes ye thieving Lilliput lapdog! I hope bollacks fall off!"
Drawfes and Munkins volleyed loud offensive slurs at one another as Lilliputian representatives held up three conflicting sets of documents helping no one.
Cassandra overhead a term used she was pretty sure was a very naughty thing to say to someone. She looked up at Jenkins. "Whats a "Limpo"?" She whispered.
Jenkins blushed. "I am knight Miss Cilian. Id never repeat that in front of a lady."
A smile smile of affection curved around Cassandra's lips.
"The Fae have just as a right to the throne as you do! We will be peace to the region! Not this costly squabbling! " Shrieked Lady Gallanteh.
"Ill die before I see an a Fairy Queen on the throne!" Barked a hulking Goblin, who pulled a wand from the inside of his dragon leather suit jacket and shot at her.
Johan struggled to keep fists from being thrown, "Mr Shenan please control yourself…" Conner Shenan struggled against his compatriots while he flared in white hot anger at a Liliputian delegate Hans Forthereth who was restrained the same way. "Ye miserable cruel blaggard! Ill see your children turned to Changelings and your crops whither and die for a thousand years!" He continued to curse in Gaelic, causing several people near him to audibly gasp in offense.
"How dare you!" Yelped Hans and he leaped over the table onto Conner each pounding the other wildly.
Spells were thrown across the room in the excitement causing Jenkins to grab Cassandra and pull her to the floor under the conference table which now overturned and chairs were being thrown across the room in the frenzy. The Goblin was thrown across bodily across the room by a spell, leaving him in a crumpled mess nearby. A dagger wizzed by Cassandr's ear, her eyes widening.
"Alright thats it." Jenkins stood up, and straightened his waistcoat and tie. "THATS ENOUGH!" Even though he was magically sized to proportion to everyone in the room, his voice carried as if at his true height. The effect of which caused everyone to startle and stop what they were doing.
Jenkins put up his hands. "I understand this is a difficult situation. But surely we can come to an agreement as civilized … peoples." He bowed his head to the room.
"Its your feckin' accords from the Library what're the problem!" Spat a bloody nosed Leprechaun from across the room.
Jenkins counted to ten before answering, keeping his temper. "Might I remind you sir, without the the accords, your country would still be a war with your fellow countrymen." He said simply, causing a quite murmur of agreement to all within the room.
Cassandra stood on top of a chair and put her hands up. "It is mathematically impossible for you most of you to lay claim to the throne. The statistical probability of which is in the trillions. While Im sure you all would like a peaceful resolution, some of you will be required do rescind your claim." She stated to the outcry of many, but when she put her hands up again, they were silenced. "Please remain patient while we try to resolve this matter." Reluctantly many the member of the room began to mill about grumbling amongst themselves, but were otherwise subdued.
Deglnan sighed in relief for the end of the infighting. "Thanks Goodness."
"Perhaps we could speak amongst ourselves for a moment sirs." He suggested, ushering them into a private conference room without so much bickering. He looked to Jenkins, offering for him to follow.
Inside the smaller conference room, were Jenkins, Deglnan, Leiaman Ferginling, a Lilliputian whose namesake had been claimed to be the last remaining heir to the throne, as well as a few of his advisors. Jet back hair sat whiflfully atop his shiny slightly balding skull. His weak chin and pointed black goatee gave way to his rather pampered life style of wealth and privilege, while many of his countrymen lived in abject poverty. Also present was Herban Juillimen, who represented the Lilliput Free Society. On the other side of the political spectrum of Liiput, he too was from a wealthy background, but advocated for a free Lilliput and fealty was for the Library Keeper Katherine Bullum. For Ireland, stood Fin McDuggen of Dublin, one of the most influential Leprechauns with influential ties across Britain and the US, along with several of his soldiers and underlings. His bright ginger beard was thick and strong as his forearms, which were heavily tattooed with Celtic knots. His barrel chest bore a green velvet waist coat, above his pinstripe tailored trousers.
"Gallahad is right. We must put our past grievances behind us if we are to move forward." Chimed the Duke. He placed a hand over his heart. "I do not believe a representative of the Library would ever work against any magical peoples." He gave Jenkins a slight bow of affection. "The Library has always been a neutral party."
"Neutral party!?" Leiaman Ferginling barked pounding his fist on the polished conference table, "How do you explain his Librarian murdering our king then eh? The Librarian should be hanged before we have any more of these proceedings!"
"Bah! Im glad the old bastard is dead! He was a cruel ol' blaggard, guilty of a hundred years of theft rape and murder to our people!" Shouted Herban Juillimen. "Theres no way a Librarian killed the king! Its clear he was being framed!" He flicked his chin to Jenkins. "I stand with the Knight."
Leiaman stepped toward his fellow countrymen. "Oh ye do?" He growled tugging on his beard in resentment. "How much Leprechaun gold is in your pocket Juillimen? Eh? How much is your allegiance worth?"
"Id never take any Irish gold! I say we declare a Queen! I say its The Library keeper who lays claim!" He said aggressively taking another step toward Ferginling.
Deglnan slipped between them ready in case another brawl broke out. "Gentelmen…calm yourselves!"
"Those were lies when you first wrote them! The only reason thats in the bylaws is that the Lilliputian Library is the second largest collection of rare artifacts in existence, save for theirs." He flicked his head towards Jenkins.
"And the Filthy Mongrels Paddy Gold is the largest treasure in the world!" Spat Ferginling.
"Filthy Mongrels are we?…" McDuggen said softly and slowly. "Its our King should sit on that throne. He's only one who can provide a stable government." Fin stood up dusting himself off from the fight. earlier. He stroked his beard in stoic thought. One thumb sat in the tiny pocket of his bright green velvet waistcoat, the other hand he placed patiently on his scabbard. "Aye… you lot have your Library the same as they….but no way to means to sustain yourselves." McDuggen offered. "We Irish want the same thing you do, peace for our people." He stated simply.
Juillimen eyed him distrustfully. "And your prepared to legitimize our succession as well?"
"Brain is Just. Fergus is Fair. If I can unite my Kings, surely you can do the same amongst your own?" He added with a strong eye.
"What about the Librarian?" Ferginling demanded. "I want his head on lance!"
"Nonsense! No upholder of knowledge would ever do such a thing." Juillimen countered.
"As much as it pains me t'say it…I agree with ye." He said shaking his head at the thought. "Theres no way a Librarian murdered the king." He said however begrudgingly. "We stand with the Library." McDuggen threw a look to his fellow Leprechauns who bowed fealty towards Jenkins in unison. "Flynn Carsen has always been a friend to the Little People. He deserves our trust."
"Oh your trust huh?" Ferginling countered. "Then why is it that I hear thats one of you he's gone after?"
Johan Deglnan shifted and tried to straighten his jacket, looking no one in the eye.
Jenkins looked between them in mounting apprehension. "How do you know this?"
"Seems the Regent's sent him off to collect one your own in exchange for his miserable hyde." Ferginling relished. "Hows that for trust eh?" He chuckled evily. "You dirty ginger haired whiskey filled…Bogtrotter."
McDuggen's men growled at these slurs, and stepped menacingly forward. Fin maintained his temper, even though his knuckles were white upon the hilt his sword. He turned to Jenkins.
"Gallahad…" McDuggen scowled "…Whats the meaning of this?" He swelled in anger. His fellow Leprechaun were reaching for their weapons.
"Th-There must be some mistake…." Jenkins began
"Tell me McDuggen…wheres your lad from County Down gotten off to…" He sneered with an evil grin. "The Regem Piratis himself…"
"You leave him out of this!" McDuggen growled, reaching for his own scabbard. He turned to Jenkins with darkening eyes. "Explain yourself Knight."
Jenkins pressed his hands together. "The library would never betray the trust of the Little People of Ireland Lord McDuggen you have my word."
McDuggen considered Jenkins and stroked his beard in thought. He raised a hand to his underlings, who stayed at ease. He looked at the Lilliputians with an air of disgust. "Youve never given me reason to think otherwise." He said to Jenkins with increasing aggression. He eyed the Liliputians carefully as if they would spring him at a moments notice, and kept his back to the wall. "Mark me, Gallahad, if I find out that Carsen double crossed us, Ill not be able to restrain either of them." He said in meaning.
Jenkins nodded in thanks. "You have my word as a knight, we would never betray you."
Fin nodded in understanding, and gave Jenkins a look before leaving, his men following dutifully behind.
"Very well. We have an accord, Ill see to my Keeper." Juillimen turned to leave but narrowed his eyes and visibility bristled. "And…Ferginling, next time you say anything like that again in front of a Knight of Urther, Ill cut your tongue out m'self." He swept from he room.
Ferginling's blood drained form his face.
Johan Deglnan cleared his throat to ease the tension in the room. "Im sure whatever Dr Carsen is doing is for the benefit of all."
"We shall see…" Said Ferginling, and left as well.