W.I.T.C.H
Chapter 5
Meet the Neighbors
"So, let me see if I understand everything correctly." Taranee said. "The Oracle, I mean Himerish, was the only member of Kandrakar who cared enough about us to tell us where Will was being held by Riddle."
"Correct." Yan Lin replied
"And because of this, the elders of Kandrakar did some kind of, weird, trial against him, right?"
"Right."
"Then when they asked us to give testimony, we said all the things we hated about him, not knowing what he had done for us, and we got him kicked out."
"Right."
"O.K., just checking."
The Guardians sat on the front row of Kandrakar's council room, circling Yan Lin. The six of them were now the only ones still in the room.
"So, what happens now?" Cornelia asked.
"Now, Kandrakar elects a new leader." Yan Lin said.
"How long will that take?" Hay Lin asked.
"A couple of weeks probably." Yan Lin responded. "It is dangerous for the fortress to go to long without a permanent leader."
"Any idea who's running for the position?" Taranee asked.
"Hey, Grandma, can't you do it?" Hay Lin asked. "That would be so cool!"
"Well," Yan Lin said with a smile, "I have been thinking about it."
"Alright!" Hay Lin shouted. "Oracle Grandma!"
"Settle down, child." Yan Lin said. "There's no guarantee I'll win. Especially if Endarno chooses to run."
"Endarno?" Irma said. "Wasn't he the guy who did the thing?"
"You mean the man who ran the judgment?" Yan Lin said with a sigh.
"Yeah! Wasn't he that guy?"
"Yes, he was." Yan Lin replied. "And he will also be the favorite to replace Himerish."
"But we've never even seen that guy before." Cornelia said. "How could he able to…?"
"While Endarno is relatively new in the fortress," Yan Lin said, "He has already gained quite a following. Minnio, for one, is almost always with him. He has become the most popular person in Kandrakar."
"How could he do that in such a short time?" Taranee asked.
"It's important you understand Endarno's history." Yan Lin said. "Himerish, our old Oracle, was a healer. If he had a failing, it was that he cared too much for his patients. Endarno, on the other hand, is a lawyer and a politician."
"A lawyer and a politician?" Irma interrupted. "That's like a double combo of evil."
"But he is also very smart." Yan Lin continued. "He is able to do great things with his intelligence, and with his words. They are his greatest weapons. He has a certain charm that even I have fallen for before."
"So what about us? What do we have to do now?" Irma asked. "Go around ringing doorbells? Shake some hands and kiss some babies?"
"No," Yan Lin said with a smile. "You work is done for now."
"In other words, we've done enough damage already." Will said, getting to her feet. "And we should be getting home. It's late."
"Yes, you should." Yan Lin said, as the girls turned to leave. "Say hello to your parents for me Hay Lin."
"Will do Grandma!"
"Um, Yan Lin?" Will said.
"Yes Will?"
Will opened her mouth to say something, and then shut it again.
"Just, thanks." She said. "For everything."
"My pleasure." Yan Lin said with a smile. "And don't be so hard on yourself."
Will opened a portal back to Meridian, and the Guardians disappeared from Kandrakar. Yan Lin's smile faded after the girls had gone. She was worried about Will. The girl had a heavy heart, in more ways then one. She shook her head and started walking to her quarters. She would have to worry about Will later. She had enough problems of her own, and not a lot of time in which to fix them.
Meridian
Elyon sat at her desk, and closed her eyes. To the left of her sat the military leader of Balsilide, a Ms. Wilder. Wilder was a tall middle-aged woman with long grey hair. Her faced was weathered after years of battle, making her look older then she actually was. This was the first time Elyon had met her, and Wilder did not strike Elyon as someone she wanted to make angry.
On Elyon's right sat Aldarn, the head of Meridian's military. Aldarn had got the role after Caleb had declined the job, choosing instead to focus more on his Honor Guard. This meant that Aldarn had the 'desk job'. It wasn't exactly what he wanted, but he knew that it was what was best for Meridian. It also meant he was on Elyon's side of the table for meetings such as this, which was something he didn't mind.
In front of Elyon was a row of six chairs, all of which were empty. Elyon heard the click of the door and opened her eyes. The Honor Guard filed in one at a time. Caleb, Vathek and Julian sat in the three chairs on the left. The rest of the team stood behind them. Once they had been seated, Balsilide's elite force, the R.E.G., filed in to the right. The R.E.G. consisted of seven people.
Grath was an almost unstoppable force, capable of pushing through almost any barricade. He was also considered one of Balsilide's strongest men. He did the R.E.G.'s heavy lifting.
Hoth and Troth were brothers, who had trained together since childhood. They were both masters of swords and were nearly unbeatable as a team.
The blonde-haired Syln was the R.E.G.'s resident archer, whose speed and accuracy on the battlefield was unmatched. He was loud and cocky, and was rarely quiet during battle.
Laris, the team's lone female, was a mysterious figure. She wore a full facial mask at all times, and rarely said a word. She was a tall, strong woman, whose mere presence could intimidate a foe.
Grimm provided magical support for the team. His natural magical powers, combined with his extensive knowledge of spells and potions made him one of the team's most dangerous members. He was, however, an older man who was not that capable of physical combat.
Lastly, there was the man called Balken. The grim and stoic leader of the R.E.G., Balken was a master at all forms of armed and unarmed combat, and was a brilliant strategist. He was widely considered Balsilide's greatest warrior.
Balken, Mondo and Laris sat down in the chairs, while the rest of the team stood behind them.
Elyon surveyed the group of soldiers in front of her, and took a deep breath.
"So let me see if I understand everything correctly…"