Isle of Wysteria: The Monolith Crumbles by Aaron Lee Yeager

boiling to the surface, but the Queen stood in the center of all of it, weathering their accusatory eyes with a regal calm that seemed almost magical. Just looking at her absolute confidence made their worries diminish, if only a little.
    Nikki, in particular, could hardly believe what she was seeing. Without a single word, the Queen was calming the hearts of each person. In Nikki’s eyes, she seemed positively angelic.
    Finally, it was Precept Nolocauss who broke the silence.
    “Queen Forsythia,” he said, standing up, his long thin beard falling down and getting lost in the folds of his robes. “My team of scholars have studied your treaty.”
    He tapped the stack of papers before them. “The terms of your proposal are beyond fair. The rights of each of our peoples are ensured; we maintain self-rule within our own borders, and we are all guaranteed a share of resources, as if we were one great nation. To be honest, just the food your Treesingers could grow for my people is worth ten times to me what you are asking in return.”
    He pulled a page out of the stack and held it aloft for all to see. “But this is the most important clause. During the war, Queen Forsythia will have absolute control over all our military forces. This is prudent in wartime. Debates create delays that waste lives. However, once the Stonemasters are defeated, her authority ends, and such power is then to be given to a ruling council in the new Alliance where we each will have an equal voice.”
    He turned his old gray eyes to her. “That is the part that made me change my mind about you. When I was summoned here, my advisors warned me that this was a power grab. I now see that no tyrant’s heart beats in your chest.”
    “Thank you Precept,” The Queen said.
    His countenance fell. “Even still…to share and teach our magic freely like this to others…it’s just…it’s not something I think I can stomach.”
    Queen Forsythia could tell that the tide was turning against her, yet she appeared as calm as a spring day. “I know what I am proposing is taboo. But, when faced with utter annihilation, what other choice do we have?”
    “Besides, think of all we could learn from each other.” Mina added, unable to hold her tongue. “There is an untapped wealth of magic in this room. Combinations and skills we have never even considered before. Think of what we could accomplish together as a team.”
    Underking Meekil slapped his rodent-like tail on the floor. “What good is it to win the war if we betray everything that is sacred to us? There are things that are more important than life itself. Like honor.”
    Although she did not show it, his words cut Athel deeply. Not too long ago, she had said almost the exact same thing to Privet. It felt like a lifetime ago.
    “If you become the enemy in order to win, then you have already lost,” Guru Inthanos mused through dry lips.
    For a brief moment, doubt crept into her heart. Am I becoming the enemy? Would the old me have stood against me like they do now? She quickly clamped down on it.
    Head monk Uriosa stood up at his table and straightened his robes. “The Kingdom of Schillotaum will never agree to what you are proposing. Our god Awhano is not like Jabint of Celina. He guards his magic jealously. It must never be gifted to anyone outside our order. We will never sign your treaty.”
    Without another word, Uriosa and his delegation turned and walked out of the room.
    This is bad, Athel thought to herself. But Queen Forsythia nodded graciously. “You must do what you feel is right, of course.”
    Underking Meekil stood up with his aids. “I am sorry. What you are trying to do is admirable. But…I would rather die than teach my skills to a Talidivian.”
    Minister Nauru spat out his bite of pudding. “How dare you!”
    “How dare I? After you killed our men and enslaved our women?”
    “That was over two centuries ago!”
    Nauru grabbed his feathered hat from the rack. “Excuse me,