The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas

I wanted to talk to my father about the state of the people that I had seen when I had taken Piper shopping, but the King was too busy to see me for several days. When I was finally allowed audience

Inside of his chambers, he had his war map stretched out over the dining table.

My mother was seated in one of the cushioned chairs, with Terry in the one beside hers. My father was

standing, peering down at the map with his chin in his hand.

Nathan allowed me into the room, then followed me back to the table, where he stood quietly behind the

King.

“Nicholas,” my father said. My mother nodded. Terry stared at me blankly.

“Father, I’ve come to talk to you about a most pressing issue,” I said.

My father sighed. “Everything is a pressing issue, it seemed. What is it that is troubling you?”

“The welfare of our people. Father, they are starving and living in destitute conditions. They need more

assistance than we are…”

I trailed off as my father raised his hand.

“We have enough to worry about as it is. While I admit the conditions for our people are not as

past, our people are strong. They

own.”

he not truly understand how dire things were? That people

help.

I could just

enough, Nicholas,” the King said. “I have given you my

little prince,” Terry called. “You’re naïve, concerning yourself with… how did you phrase it? “The welfare of our people‘ Don’t you understand

looked back to my father for explanation. He waved me closer to the map, and then pointed at the crude black line meant to replicate our border with the Bear People in

been reports of their soldiers

our

Terry said with a harsh laugh. “The Merfolk are basically useless unless the Bears attack by water. But they are too

on tearing down others‘ ideas without producing any

OWIL

Dragons, then,” I offered.

father shook his head. “The Bear People and the Dragon Clan have a very old agreement.

the other, in the name

Dragons and the Bears were two of the fiercest types of shifters. They lived for war and combat. If they invaded each other, neither would stop until the other was

mutually assured destruction.

be something we can do,” I said.

“Pray,” Terry said.

agreeing with the sentiment.

People,” the