Guardians Inc.:Thundersword (Guardians Incorporated #2) by Julian Rosado-Machain Page A

the representatives of the Methos, the Elven, Dwarven, and Fae Nations, and behind them are the representatives of humanity—one for each country. The last section is the Guardians delegation.”
    Thomas scanned the Guardians section. The representatives of Guardians Inc. main satellite companies took their places, all dressed in impeccable suits and carrying the Guardians pin on their lapel.
    “What about that section?” Thomas asked, pointing at a thin section of the hall divided in small squares.
    “Those are unaligned,” she said. “It’s comprised of Faun clans that have decided to remain separate from the larger tribes. There are also Magic-attuned human clans there and in those five seats at the front.” She pointed out five seats separate from each other. “The Seats of the Ancients—the representatives of the last reptile and amphibian clans.”
    “Only five?” Thomas asked. “There are way more species than that.”
    “Yes,” Elise said, “but they don’t have fauns. These are the oldest species, Thomas. They have gone through many mass extinctions brought on by the Wraith. We guess that the wars took their toll on them. The same applies to fishes and insects; there are no fauns left of them.”
    No fish or insect fauns…Thomas knew that the insect species far outnumbered all other animal species combined. In the eternal war the Wraith waged against life, it was known to the Guardians that the Wraith had brought on the mass extinctions through water, through ice, even by raining fire upon the Earth. Since ancient times the Fauns had waged war against the Wraith and the chaos they brought. That no Faun clans were left of the insects or fish because of the Wraith, only highlighted how powerful the Wraith were and how dangerous Tasha had become after joining forces with them.
    “And where is the Azure Guard seated?” Thomas asked. He wanted to see how large the group was that his grandfather had joined.
    “All over.” Elise leaned over the guardrail beside him. “You'll see many of the Clan representatives wearing their symbol.”
    Thomas saw many of the faun ministers wearing a turquoise pendant attached to their robes. As he scanned the room he noticed that two of the Ancients wore the pendant—the Salamander and the Turtle fauns.
    “There are less Faun clans affiliated to the Azure Legion than before World War II,” Bolswaithe said, “but still too many for comfort.”
    “And they have a say in the assembly too,” Elise pointed to the Indian tribe. “Everyone knows that Minister Hoormel-Kian is the voice of the Warmaster.”
    Thomas followed Elise's finger; she was pointing at a broad figure, a tiger faun, who was talking animatedly to a small gathering. The Azure Guard pendant was prominently displayed on his robe. Minister Idar was imposing, and Thomas imagined how much more the tiger faun would be. Hoormel-Kian laughed at a joke a boar faun told and his fangs seemed to shine. His massive paws clapped in delight, slapping the back of a bear faun by his side.
    “What is that green thing?” Thomas pointed to the far end of the hall behind the non-aligned clans. A green haze shimmered. He could barely make out two silhouettes inside the haze.
    “Emerald Knights,” Bolswaithe said. “There are at least two in all meetings.”
    “What are they?” Thomas squinted his eyes. “Humans or Fauns?”
    “No one knows,” Bolswaithe continued. “The first reference we have about them is from around 9300 BC, and that puts them in the time before Atlantis was destroyed. There are stories and records about them, but we can only claim for sure that one of them took part in the Battle of Troy alongside us, almost five thousand years ago. All other reports about them are the same—they stay separated, content with just watching.”
    “Why hasn't anyone approached them?” Thomas asked, turning around. “Talked with them?”
    “Simple,” Bolswaithe told him. “Those who talk with them don't