The King paused then gestured for Zalzar to approach.

“Your Majesty?” Zalzar came up to, but didn’t step on, the dias.

“If I’m going to tell this whole tale, I’d like to be entertained.” The King tapped his finger on the arm of his chair. “Perhaps if you could…” He waved his hands in vague circles. “...illustrate.”

Zalzar’s back straightened up and he looked reluctant.

I restrained a laugh.

The King must have been referring to how Sorcerers and Wizards like Mr. Optim could conjure images from their imagination. When I was a child, Mr. Optim’s stories would be accompanied by glowing puppets on a stage of fluffy clouds enacting various events and features of Gladtopia. Zalzar, however, looked as though such a thing was beneath his station.

“As...As you wish, your Majesty.” He nodded and stepped back, tugging back on the cuffs of his sleeves with tiny, precise motions.

“Many centuries ago,” the King began “ the two Clans of Gladtopia were formed. The Dally of the west and the Cirque of the East.”

I didn’t know what I had expected of Zalzar’s conjured illustrations, but I was stunned to see him create elegant wisps of smoke that shimmered with every color like rainbows on soap bubbles. The smoke solidified into two miniature villages. One that looked like a quaint frontier town, and the other had the festive and curling spires of a more eastern culture.

“The Dally Clan had full control of this world much to the dismay of the Cirque Clan. Power never shifted between the two, for the Dally guarded their power ferociously. They were a ruthless people, and their reign was aided by terrible creatures known as the Demonions.”

The villages faded and Zalzar swayed his hands so elegantly, I forgot that so far, I disliked everything about him. He sculpted the smoke into a reptilian-like creature that resembled a human. I felt a chill as the dark figure slinked about mid-air like a snake and turned to look at me. The silhouette was horribly familiar.

“The Demonions were taller, stronger, and quicker than any human. No one quite knows how they came about. But the Dally didn’t hesitate to align themselves with the evil creatures.”

Zalzar noticed how I was staring at the Demonion and gave me a strange look when I glanced at him. Was it confusion? No it seemed gentler than that. Regardless he made a lowering motion with one hand and the Demonion dissipated. I relaxed my shoulders, not realizing I had tensed them up and looked to the King, not wanting to linger on Zalzar’s curious gaze.

“For centuries the Demonions plagued our world, suppressing the Cirque while favoring the Dally and persecuting the Sorcerers from the Cirque relentlessly. They burned all the spell books, ensuring no one but the Demonions could use magic.”

The floating illustrations blazed to life with a crackling fire that consumed a pile of books and scrolls. They blackened and curled and I mourned the books as any good reader would.

“A Sorcerer can only hone and strengthen their magic when they obtain knowledge,” Optim whispered to me. “By burning all the spell books they rendered the up and coming Sorcerers powerless.”

Seeming to know what came next, Zalzar created a mountain and rows of marching people. Dark, slumped figures of the Demonions all chained to one another marched up the side of the mountain. Sorcerers dressed in colorful garb guarded them on the climb.

“One day,” the King went on. “The more powerful of the Sorcerers from the Cirque Clan banded together and captured the Demonions. In a dangerous plan that almost failed, the Cirque Sorcerers locked the Demonions away inside the Southern Mountains and those evil creatures were never to be seen again.

“The Dally were outraged at this betrayal. But because the Sorcerers of the Cirque were more powerful, they quickly rose to command Gladtopia and have henceforth kept it at peace. The Dally fled West and barricaded themselves against all outsiders and have stayed there ever since. Nowadays they only come out once a year at the Gathering, when the Clans discuss important matters here in the castle.”

Zalzar waved his arms and the smoke disappeared completely. Briefly, he looked exhausted, but upon catching me looking at him, he straightened up and pulled down on the cuffs of his sleeves.

“Okay.” I nodded my head slowly, focusing on the matter at hand. “So if the Dally left, why are they fighting with the Cirque now?”

“At the last Gathering,” the King replied, “the Dally Clan put forth the idea to release the Demonions once more, claiming that history has been terribly incorrect. They even went so far as to suggest that the monarchy has purposefully manipulated how history is told to paint them as the villians. All without a shred of proof, mind you. The Dally went on to say the Demonions weren’t evil creatures and that they had a right to be released. Naturally, the Cirque Clan dismissed the Dally outright given what had happened to their ancestors. But the Dally only want the Demonions to be released so they can rise to power again.

“And so the battle for power has begun once more.” The King finished with a sigh.

I balked at the realization of what they wanted me to do. “And you want me to negotiate a compromise?”

“Well,” the King looked to the ceiling, his voice taking on a higher pitch. “Not exactly.”

Mr. Optim and I looked at each other in puzzlement.

“What do you mean?” I asked the King. “You don’t want them to come to a compromise?”

The King opened and closed his mouth, choosing his words carefully, “Since I am the King, by Gladtopia law, I’m not allowed to take sides, of course. But I’d say, the Cirque make a good point claiming it would be in the people’s best interest to keep the Demonions inside the West mountains.”

Finally it clicked in my head and I resisted scoffing. “You don’t want me to negotiate a compromise, so much as you want me to convince the Dally Clan that they shouldn’t release the Demonions.”

The King folded his hands together and gave me a wink. “Like I said, I’m required by law not to take sides.”

I fixed the King with a hard stare. Everything about this was shady and unreasonable and it took the last of my patience to stay seated instead of just leaving then and there. I couldn’t help the feeling that there were pieces of the story missing. How did I know for sure that the Dally weren’t telling the truth about history being manipulated by the monarchy? The King certainly seemed shady enough for it to be true.

“So you want me to take sides instead. Because the Dally will listen to the Source.”

“You are smart aren’t you, pretty one.” The King raised an eyebrow and gave me an expression that sent an uncomfortable feeling throughout my stomach. “Also, for a little incentive, you should know that if the Dally succeed in their mission to release the Demonions there’s no telling what could happen. Gladtopia could very well be destroyed by them.”

My heart rate quickened at the thought. If I was going to stay in Gladtopia, I couldn’t let these creatures destroy my potential home. That is, if they really were as dangerous as King Samuel claimed.

The King leaned forward, encouraged by my hesitation. “Should you succeed however, as King, I can see to it that you will be rewarded handsomely. Bring peace and I will grant you your heart’s desire.”

I looked down at my hands and bit my lip, my mind working furiously. If I ignored the conflict things would only get worse. And I’m sure Mr. Optim, fearing for my safety would try to make me leave Gladtopia forever; I couldn’t bear that. But was I capable of living up to the name of the Source… or just pretending to be it? This was crazy. There was no way I could trick either Clan into listening to, much less being convinced by, me. I was just a seventeen-year-old runaway who could barely stand up to her own brother, let alone raging Clans.

… Then again if I didn’t do it … who would?

I looked back up at King Samuel and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll try.”

Optim leapt to his feet with a triumphant laugh of joy and the King clapped his hands, looking quite pleased with himself.

“Splendid! Now since it’s getting late you both should stay here this evening. That way you can leave to talk to the Clans first thing in the morning.” He looked to Zalzar, who had turned away, hiding a yawn. “Zalzar, please see to it that Augustus and our beautiful guest are accommodated properly would you? I’m sure they’re both exhausted.”

The Royal Sorcerer looked as if he was about to bust a blood vessel in his temple, but somehow managed to restrain himself and he bowed to the King, gesturing to a maid standing to the side of the hall.

He did his job, I’d give him that.

“Don’t worry your Majesty.” Mr. Optim stood up and magicked the chairs away. “We won’t let you down.” He steered me away back down the long hall towards the door following the maid, a skip to his step.

I knew Mr. Optim was overjoyed at my decision, but I struggled to keep up with him. The pit in my stomach was sinking with a feeling of doom.

What did I just sign up for?