Tabula Smaragdina: The Archmage by Natalia Wawrzyńczak

Author:Natalia Wawrzyńczak [Wawrzyńczak, Natalia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

*****

After hours of waiting, nervousness gradually gave way to boredom, but now it returned with multiplied force. Laura practically ran the path from the library to the palace. She pushed open the heavy doors and strode quickly toward the throne. The hall was crowded, yet everyone made way for her. Elin stood by the urn with the other candidates. Mereike lingered in the shadows at the back, near the throne.

In front of the urn, four stacks of votes lay evenly arranged. Laura noticed with satisfaction that the stack of silver scales was higher than the black sticks. The stack of oak leaves was the tallest, and the snowdrop flowers stack the smallest of them all. She had lost. A heavy sense of disappointment twisted in her stomach. She took a place on the sidelines as the palace continued to fill with creatures. Giltine was arguing something with Eurytion, explaining something to him and energetically waving her hands toward the votes. The centaur stamped his hoof in irritation, and the elf stepped back, disgruntled.

“People of Pravia. A decision has been made. By majority vote, the new leader will be the dryad, Elin,” Eurytion announced. Applause echoed in the hall, and Eurytion had to pause before he could continue speaking. “The decision about the mortal and the traitor will rest with her.”

Laura swallowed hard. She was sure Lukas hadn’t anticipated this turn of events. He hadn’t considered that Laura, his new puppet and savior of the elves could harm the magical creature and almost amputate its limbs. Moreover, she wasn’t certain of the punishment she could face for this.

“But before that happens, I must announce one more thing,” Eurytion continued. “Although I didn’t take part in the elections, I’ve always been and still remain the ruler of the centaurs. As an independent ruler, I won’t bow to the dryad. I’ll respect her decision as the leader of Pravia, but despite my prejudices and dubious reputation, the mortal can count on my eternal gratitude and all honors from my people. If your decision is to banish her from these lands, she can reside in the south, in Volos.”

Laura looked in disbelief at the centaur. She hadn’t expected this. This prejudiced, proud creature might hold more compassion and gratitude than Tarvo.

“As you decide, Eurytion.” Elin nodded, a shadow of a smile crossing her face. “I won’t interfere in the local affairs of the centaurs.”

Eurytion nodded and nervously pawed the ground with his hoof.

“First, we’ll judge the traitor,” he said, and Laura was surprised to realize that it wasn’t about her this time. Mereike stepped forward proudly and faced the crowd.

“Mereike, you have been accused of treason and of letting the Archmage into our lands, fully aware of his ill intentions toward our Queen. Then you aided his escape and denied this act, shifting the blame onto the mortal. Do you admit to these charges?”

Mereike smiled almost benevolently.

“I admit that I let the mage in and helped him escape. However, he never told me anything about his intentions other than that he came to assist Laura in her mission.

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