Carved in mother wood with curlicues and innocent looking bumps, the old woman’s walking stick swirled over head. Whisper gasped as Elder Slowle slammed her weapon on the round table. The old woman gave an inpatient sniff. The girl’s hands shook when she pulled out the Elder’s chair. Quickly she hid them in her green ceremonial robe.

Next, Prince Swenn in a rainbow of silks approached. Graceful as an owl he brandished two long daggers. Spinning incredibly fast, the handsome prince twirled his weapons. With a final wink he slammed them on the table. Whisper’s décolletage flamed pink. The royal offered the seat to his wife, Princess Dido Blackfeather. She poked him in the belly. Elder Slowle tsked.

Whisper looked beyond the candlelight. Gemstones only a Silencer could see, the quiet before something important happened spread upthe conference room’s wall. They waited. The Prince coughed, ready to speak. Elder Slowle silenced him with a stern look. With a pat on his hand, the Princess soothed his ego. A faint scent of brine wafted into the negotiation room.

Drowning in an oversized robe, Cobalt rushed into the room. Swinging a trident on a flail, he strode towards the table. Feet tangled in blue silks, Cobalt tripped. Cobalt fell on his backside. His weapon skidded across the floor. Whisper hurried to help. They smacked heads.

Swenn snickered. Slowle sighed. Dido smiled. Whisper helped Cobalt to his chair.

“My squire Lord Prussian is unwell. I, Cobalt Jones, represent Aquaria with the trident of wait where is it?”

Princess Dido crooked her finger and the trident floated off the floor and over to the table. Surprised silence mushroomed in violet orbs. Whisper looked in awe. Elder Slowle raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat.

“Now that the introductions, such as they are, are over. Let us talk of the end of our world and how we can stop it.”