“Silence!” The voice belonged to Wilhelm, whose eyes were on Maximilian as he spoke. “How can we expect the druids to abide by our terms? Hundreds of years ago, our race banished theirs, and now we are to resurrect them? Have we forgotten the reasons for this banishment? The hundreds of witches that were slaughtered because of their existence?”
“Of course we do not forget our fallen brothers and sisters,” Maximilian responded, deciding that once his powers were fully restored, he would see to replacing Wilhem as grand wizard. The witch was too contradictory. “But we cannot let our current brothers and sisters fall prey to this curse when we have the means to put an end to it.” He surveyed the others, noticing that a few were warming up to his idea. He could see it in their eyes, in the way they shifted closer to the table, as if to hear him better. “As grand wizards, it is our duty to protect our covenants, and yet we are unable to protect them from that which they fear most: death.” Many nodded. Wilhem, he recognized, continued to watch him with a blank expression on his face. “Like humans, our race has come to fear the burden of age. We have suffered long, hundreds of years, as Wilhem saw fit to remind us, and it is time to end this suffering.”
There was a short silence as the grand wizards stared at him.
“Even if you can guarantee the druids will not seek revenge for the actions of our ancestors, how do you intend to resurrect them? No witch can,” Wilhem was speaking again.
“No,” Maximilian agreed. “But another druid can.”
“The druids were all banished.” This from a young grand wizard from New Jersey.
“It is true that the druids of old were all banished. Our ancestors made sure of that.” He paused, and locked eyes with the witches seated around the table. “However, twenty-three years ago, two druids were born.”
Murmurs went up among the witches once more.
“It is impossible. The Gods stopped reproducing with mortals centuries ago.”
“Only a druid couple or a mortal and a god can produce a druid offspring.”
“This is madness, Cronin! The druids have all been banished.”
“Silence!” Maximilian hissed, taking a deep breath to control his temper. Why were they so argumentative? He’d just handed them the key to immortality and they were…bickering? They were lucky he still needed them. “If you will try to remember to twenty-years ago, when an unanticipated eclipse blocked out the sun for the span of hours….” He paused, watching as some faces blanched in recognition. “And a power unfelt in centuries whipped through the lands before it was checked. Twin girls, two druids.” He let that hang in the air, and took a seat.
As the other grand wizards spoke amongst themselves, Maximilian turned his attention to Wilhem. The witch stared at him like he’d just pieced a part of a puzzle together. Like he knew more than he should.
“Do you have the druids?” Someone asked, and Maximilian turned his attention from Wilhem.
“Not yet,” he answered. “I wanted to know who will pledge their support behind this cause?”
“And you are certain that these druids exist?”
“Very certain, my lords. They are currently living in this state.”
Another ripple went around the room.
“If these girls are druids as you say, this is a chance to restore our immortality, to make us as great as we once were,” Tiberius said loudly, pushing himself to his feet. Maximilian turned to his confidant. He’d told Tiberius about the girls’ true nature a week ago after deciding that he needed at least one grand wizard who knew, if not everything, almost everything. “I pledge my support and that of my covenant.”
“Yes, I pledge my support, and that of my covenant.” And it continued, until half of the witches gathered had pledged their support, a quarter had said they needed time to think on it, and the quarter had rejected the notion. Of course, the witch leading the rejection party was Wilhem.
“I beg you to reconsider you decisions, my lords,” Wilhem called as he pushed back his chair and stood behind it. “The druids were once and still are our greatest enemies. To resurrect them under the belief they will restore our immortality is wishful thinking.” He strode toward the door.
Maximilian’s voice rang out. “Because we wish the best for our covenants, we are wishful thinkers? I think not, Wilhem. If we resurrect the druids, I can assure you they will swear to restore us to our former glory.”
Wilhem paused at the door, and looked over his shoulder. He snorted. “And that, Grand Wizard, is wishful thinking. That a druid would not renege on a promise to a witch.” He surveyed the lot of grand wizards who’d thrown their support behind Maximilian. “That, my lords, is where you will all be in for a rude awakening.” With that he left, and after a few grumbles, some of the Grand Wizards filed out after him.