Brago was sitting at his seat at a long table in the center of a room.  At the head of the table sat a large chair, which was Miera's seat.  The others were smaller chairs, but still very nice.  The rest of the large room had seating for the public; all meetings were open to them.  Normally no one showed, but people were already starting to fill in and the meeting wasn't for another forty-five minutes.  Word had spread that Alcoy had left town on a ship and people were scared so now an emergency meeting was called.  They wanted to know what was going on.

"Finally you're here.  What is going on?"  Brago asked before Teruel had a chance to say anything.

Teruel sat beside him.  "I don't know how everyone knows about Alcoy.  I was trying to keep that under my hat.  This is going to get ugly I am afraid."

"Where did he go?"

"Shhh."  Teruel pointed toward the door.

A lady entered with her chin in the air as she walked passed the public like they were a sore that she couldn't get rid of.

"Gentlemen." She said as she sat down.

"Evora, glad you could make it."  Teruel said, not meaning a word of it.

"Well, when I heard that Alcoy left town, I knew I would be needed."  She pulled out a paper fan and fanned her face.  Although her brown hair was up in a bun, it still moved her bangs.

"As we are all needed." Teruel said through his teeth.  He really disliked her.

"Yes, I am sure."  She cleared her throat

Soon the rest of the council members arrived.  There was Cieza, the other woman on the council.  She was short with blond hair and blue eyes.  She sat on the other side of Teruel. Girona was Evora's cousin, but nothing like her.  His black hair was short and neat and he sat beside Evora.  Lugo was the newest member and the only member from the poor end of town.  He was always full of new ideas to make things better.  His red hair and green eyes brightened any room he was in.  He sat on the other side of Evora.  Once everyone was seated Mieras entered.  He was an older man and was slow and deliberate in everything he did.  Everyone stood until he got to his seat.  He motioned for everyone to sit.

"I call this meeting of the council to order.  First, there are rumors that Alcoy has left the city on a ship.  This is true.  He is on a mission of utmost importance and he has my full support."

Teruel breathed a sigh of relief.  At least they won't have to fight about that now.

"Excuse me, but according to council law that should be taken to a vote.  I, for one, would like to know why he couldn't come to us and get permission first."  Evora started fanning herself again in her uppity way.

"I am well aware of our laws my dear, as I help write a good many of them.  If you had listened to what I stated.  I said that I gave him my support.  What the council does is not exclusively my call.  Now, may I finish my opening statement my dear?"  He looked over the top of his glasses, a sign he was annoyed.

"Yes, forgive me."  She threw her head back, and sighed

"Thank you."  He returned his attention to everyone now.  "Second, Alcoy left the journal that Cadiz had been keeping.  It seems there is something at work.  Something that seems to be on a path to cause many problems for us."

Evora went to say something and he looked over his glasses again.  She sighed putting her hand down.

"I know it seems we should have known, but what ever this is, is is using old magic.  It has made the seeing waters quiet.  I have taken the liberty of making copies of the journal for all the council members.  I feel before we have our talks about Alcoy or what is in the journal, we need to take time to read it.  Therefore, I am calling a recess for three hours, and which time we will meet back here."  With that he turned and went out the door he had just entered.

Murmurs came from the citizens who had gathered.  Evora stood first, threw her head back, walked to the fron of the table, scooped up a copy of the journal and looked at Teruel.

"This better be worth my time."  She turned and walked out.

The rest of the council looked at each other and slowly each got their copy and left.  The citizens followed them out still murmuring.

                                                            *     *     *     *     *

"Here you go sir. Sorry it took so long.  We are lifting anchor now."  Grays said to Alcoy as he handed him the bread and berries.

"Thank you.  Grays are you needed above right now?"

"No, not right away.  I mainly make the food and take care of the crew.  So at the moment they are all busy.  Why?"

"Could we talk for a moment?"  He motioned for him to sit down.

"Yes, that would be my pleasure." He smiled wide.

"Tell me how it is that a cabin boy knows how to read and write.  That's not something that is needed in your line of work."

"Well sir, I grew up in Calis.  When our mother died in childbirth, a very wealthy family had adopted my brother and me.  They told us that our father had gone mad when mother died. The family that adopted us couldn't have children.  We were very happy growing up.  Then when we were eleven she became pregnant.  They stopped paying any attention to us after that.  I ran away when I was fifteen.  My first job was with Wajir.  That's why he loves me so much I think.  He takes credit for teaching me everything I know."  He chuckled to himself.

"I see."  Alcoy stopped for a moment.  "Grays, I believe that everything happens for a reason.  There is a reason that you and I ran into each other.  I am not sure what it is, but I feel you need to go with me to see the elves."

"Me?"  A look of shock came over him.

"Yes, I feel that I will need you.  I don't know why, but my feelings are never wrong on these things."

Grays shuddered for a moment.  "I don't know what good I would be, but I would feel honored to go with you." He said lowering his head in respect.

"Thank you.  I will talk to Wajir and make him aware of the situation."

Thank you.  I think I need to get some air."

"Fine, I need to meditate now anyway."

Grays got up and left with signs of confusion and excitement on his face.

                                                   *     *     *     *     *

:"Excues me miss.  My friend was laying here taking a nap.  Have you seen him?"

"Ha-ha.  Very funny."  Beja replied as he stretched himself awake.

"Are you ready to go?"  She asked smiling at him

"Yes, we already lost a lot of time."  He gave her a look.

"Let it go already."  She rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Wait up!"  He ran to catch her.

"There is a ferry leaving in five minutes."  She said as he caught her.

"How do you know that?"

"I've been up for an hour and checked it out.  We need to hurry now."  She picked up the pace.  He ran to keep up.  They got to the docks just in time, paid and got on the ferry.  As it was pulling away they stood at the back and heard;

"Stop those two girls!  They owe me a wagon!"  The poacher was running down the dock.

"How did he find us?"  Beja said through his teeth as he looked at Couruna.

"Does that really matter?  We are on the ferry and it's already going,  He is too late."  She smiled back at him. "So calm down sister."

"I hate you."  He glared back.  Looking back he was the poacher talking to another man down on the dock.  "Look. He is renting a boat."

"Didn't count on that." Couruna frowned.

The sail lifted on the small boat the poacher had rented.  There was a good wind.

"He is going to make good time with this wind.  He will beat us there."  Beja looked at her.  She smiled back, but a scared smile.

The water wheel that moved the ferry was good, but it was a very full ferry.

Beja could feel his stomach start to churn.

"I'll be waiting for you there."  They heard him laugh as he inched closer.

"He is going to beat us there."  Couruna said swallowing hard.

Beja was quiet as his stomach churned harder.  He closed his eyes and something let loose inside him.  Something he didn't know was there.  He felt something going out of his mouth.  He heard his voice but didin't know what he was saying.  Then he heard Couruna saying.  "Beja, are you ok?"  She sounded distressed.  He wasn't sure why she appeared that way.  Suddenly the feeling went away and he opened his eyes.

"What was that?"  She said standing back, a look of shock on her face.

Other passengers close to them were looking at his as well.

"What happened?"  He asked her quietly.

"You closed your eyes and started speaking a strange language.  You were sweating really badly.  I was getting very worried.

A yell in the distance caught their attention.  They looked and the poacher was bailing water out of his boat.  They slowly started to pull away from him.

"Did you do that?"  Couruna pointed.  "Was that magic you used?"

"I don't know." he was confused.

"Of course it was.  That was elf magic. You were speaking in elf!"  She exclaimed.

"But how?  I mean I don't ..."  He stopped and thought back to a talk he and Alcoy had had a while back.  "It's already in you my boy."  he had told him when he asked how he would learn to be a guardian.  "You already know the magic you need."  He said to him when he pressed the issue.

"Nothing can stop us now."  Couruna yelled, bringing him back.  She smiled at him as her hand was on the handle of her sword.  Between the two of us we cn defeat anything."  She smiled again.

I hope so, he thought to himself. I hope so.