Bad bird

SO my little bird was being bad this morning, biting at me and not wanting to go back to his cage when it was time for me to leave. I finally had to throw a washcloth on top of him to calm him down. I hate doing that, because when he is good he is really good.

Anyway, I hope that he will be god when I see him again tonight.

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27

he day was beautiful. Rather than be cooped up in the house Julius decided that he would continue with the prophecies out on the patio.

Maureen was comfortable in the deck chair. A glass of lemonade had acquired a nice sweat sitting on the patio table. She watched as Julius paced the lawn, trying to gather his thoughts on the prophecies.

“You know you don’t have to do this right now.”

Julius stopped and looked at her. “If not now, when?”

He resumed his pacing, not sure how or where to start.

Finally he decided that he was ready to start. He sat down on one of the other deck chairs, took a deep breath, and began.

***

The time immediately following the separation of the realms was relatively peaceful. The shock of it all hung over the various species, and for a time none wanted to involve in senseless fighting.

Unfortunately, as the elders of the species died off the peace ended. The separations were quickly becoming a memory and sliding into myth. The animosity that had existed between the species returned, and soon enough the fighting started.

The human-elven wars were the first. It’s hard even now to figure out how it started, both sides still blame the other. The only thing that seems to be agreed upon was that each side sought to control the major resources of the area.

There were three of these wars. They were all incredibly vicious, and hundreds of thousands were killed in each.

Eventually the elves won, gaining control of most of the resources. Most of the humans retreated to small villages, most nestled along the edge of forests. They have had very little interaction with the elves since then, even though the elves would gladly have trade with the humans.

There are some exceptions, however, and that is where we see the beginnings of the prophecies.

Some humans decided that they would stay near the elven cities. Villages were built, and those villages prospered. Trade with the elves is always a good thing.

One of the most valuable commodities that is traded is information. Not even a full century after the end of the last human-elven war the cities and nearby villages were exchanging important information.

It started out simple enough. They would share crop data, and information that had been gathered after the attack of raiding parties. Treaties were written up and soon the exchange of information included recent developments in weaponry.

With the exchange of information it was expected that the mages would eventually start to compare their data as well.

Many years passed, and yet the mages had still not made any attempts to talk to their counterparts in the other species. This made the ruling parties nervous. All other trades were openly sharing information, and both sides were profiting from it.

Meanwhile, the mages were becoming more and more anxious about something. Yet, they still refused to share information with the other side.

People started to take notice of the mages refusal to share information. Small skirmishes broke out in some of the other trades. Each side accused the other of hiding something. Yet the mages still refused to talk. They assured the people that it was nothing to do with the other side, but the fear was present and tensions were rising again.

It continued this way for years. Both sides stopped talking, and the information exchange slowed. Apprehension grew, and soon both sides feared another war.

Leaders asked the mages to explain the refusal to talk. The mages merely said that they were working on something, and would talk when the time was right.

The information flow stopped. Trade of other commodities continued, but with less vigor than before.

Then, suddenly the mages announced that they were ready to compare information. Both sides declared their willingness on the same day and with no apparent communication on when to declare their intentions.

Trade experienced a resurgence immediately upon the news. All of the fear and distrust seemed almost to vanish.

Then came the news of when the meetings would actually take place. The mages had set a date that was nearly a year after the announcement. There were also many conditions that had been set; the mages would meet even on the announced date only if their requirements were met.

Both sides scrambled to meet the requirements of the mages. Buildings had to be built, and they had to checked against leakage of sound.

Other groups searched for the magical implements that were requested by the mages.

As the end of the allotted time approached, both sides scrambled to finish the preparations. It was down to the last hours, but the preparations were completed.

The mages took to the buildings exactly at the time that they had announced. They locked themselves, and the people waited outside to hear the news of their discussions.

Days, then weeks passed. There was no sign of the mages. The expectant crowd dwindled, then disappeared almost entirely. Still the mages remained sequestered.

Years passed. The people started to worry about the health of some of the older mages, yet no communication escaped the confines of the specially built compound.

Finally, five years after entering the compound the mages reemerged.

They were ready to disclose the information that had so occupied them for decades.

It wasn’t what anybody expected.