Mage Prime (Book 2) by B.J. Beach Page B

will, most assuredly, all be gone. Few, if any, will survive. Those that may will become slaves to the most unimaginable evil. The choice is yours.”
    The tall mage turned and went back to his chair. Seating himself, he folded his hands inside the sleeves of his robe and fixed his steely gaze on the shuffling, muttering ministers.
    The floor attendant raised his little flag. “Minister Thios of the Lower Temple has a question.”
    There was a little ripple of applause as the Minister stepped forward. As Vailin acknowledged him, Symon casually put his hand over his own mouth to conceal a smile. To the best of his knowledge, Minister Thios was the only adult male in the whole of Vellethen and the surrounding districts who was shorter than he was. Even so, like Symon his short stature was far outweighed by his intellect and integrity. All those present knew that his question would be well considered and pertinent.
    His expression was open and guileless as he folded his tiny hands over his ample stomach. “Why, of all the places in the world with seemingly far more to offer, has our dear city of Vellethen been singled out by these vile and godless creatures?”
    There was another ripple of applause as Thios returned to his place on the floor. The tension began to mount as Vailin first looked thoughtfully at his ministers then quietly spoke to Agmar, Symon and Karryl in turn. Finally, after a nod from his king, Symon stood and walked slowly to the edge of the dais. Hands folded inside his sleeves, he looked down at the floor for a few moments as if reluctant to impart disturbing news. Not one person moved or spoke while they waited for him to gather his thoughts.
    When he did speak, the diminutive magician’s voice was strong and vibrant. “Many scholars and mages have been hard at work of late, trying to answer that very question. We think we have determined most of the answer. It is our belief that the evil masters of the grelfons want something which lies deep below us in the original ancient city. Despite frequent attempts over hundreds of years, no-one has yet determined what that may be or has succeeded in reaching it. We fear they intend to attempt just that.”
    A question was flagged up but Symon raised a cautionary hand. “Please, let me continue. At the time of the Battle of Power, a significant astral conjunction occurred. In sixteen months time that same conjunction will occur again, exactly one thousand years later. Before that time comes, the evil ones will try and obtain something we have that they believe they need.”
    Without waiting for the attendant, one of the ministers called out to Symon. “Why have they left it so late?”
    Symon gave a wry smile. “That’s a good question. The reason why they have waited so long is that they were anticipating the rise of a particular star. That star has now risen; one of flesh and blood. Unfortunately for them, we also have our own risen star, and it is for this reason we are certain that history is shortly to repeat itself.
    “We have surmised that their objective will be the complete occupation of this land of Albita and possibly all of Teloria, after they have gained possession of a certain artefact which we now hold. Only after they have achieved this will they be in a position to gain access to the ancient city and retrieve whatever it may be that is so precious to them. Bearing in mind that all this must take place before the astral conjunction, we have very little time in which to prepare ourselves.”
    Minister Thios stepped forward again and began to speak, as the attendant scurried across the room and rather waspishly raised his little flag. “Is there any possibility that whatever the ancient city conceals could be discovered and simply handed over? That way, perhaps a great deal of violence and conflict could be avoided.”
    Symon turned and raised a questioning eyebrow at King Vailin. The young king rubbed his chin as he thought for a moment, then