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

people are strong. They can overcome

own.”

truly understand how dire things were? That people were homeless and hungry, and needed

help.

could just explain

the King said. “I have given you my

naïve, concerning yourself with… how did you phrase it? “The welfare of our people‘ Don’t you

to my father for explanation. He waved me closer to the map, and then pointed at

have been reports of

call on our alliances,”

said with a harsh laugh. “The Merfolk are basically useless unless the Bears

He seemed keen on tearing

OWIL

Dragons, then,”

“The Bear People and the Dragon Clan have a very old agreement. They

not to raise arms against the other, in the

types of shifters. They lived for war and combat. If they invaded each other, neither would stop until the other

mutually assured destruction.

we can

“Pray,” Terry said.

nodded, agreeing

way to negotiate with the Bear People,” the King said. “If only we knew