Kingdom of Magic

"I'll have to tell the wife to stop with the roast dinners."

Garen gave the slightest hint of a smile, "Or get up off your ass and join me at the borders once in a while."

Matthias sipped at his cider; "How are the borders holding out?"

Garen peered around the seaside bar. Andrew had always said he wanted to be burnt beside the sea when he died and so built a ceremonial cremation platform built at the most beautiful part of the sea. "This is not the bartime conversation. There are spies everywhere. We will save this discussion for the war council."

"Spies? You really have gone daft!" Matthias laughed but he knew too well that Garen spoke the truth. Supporters of the Black Plague still loomed and their was never any proof that they had all been killed. The Black Plague were hard times that were best left in the past.

"Everyone knows they exist but it's being able to pick them out that's the talent. Spies are harmless unless you feed them facts."

"Then we shall feed them with lies?"

"Aye. Never even give full truths even in the Council. Those men are as honest as I am religious."

"I never took you to be a man of religion." grinned Matthias.

"The only god I trust is a strong blade between my enemy's chest."

"You're such a hard man." mocked Matthias giving Garen the odd nudge. Garen ignored the comments for he didn't need to be told he was hard. He knew it.

Garen called for the bartender; "Another!" he spluttered, "You're a King now then?"

"It hasn't really hit home but I guess by title I am a King."

"You're not fit to be a King. You'll bring back all that magical bullshit and this realm will fall into chaos."

Matthias slammed his steel mug against the table; "Magic is not bullshit! It's a power that aids life!"

"And takes another. I've lived in this realm a good fifteen years longer than you and let me tell you, that magic is dangerous, it's no good."

"Magic is dangerous but if we restart the University of Magical Education. We can educate people in how to use magic to benefit their daily lives."

"And then you'll set up a council to reinforce these laws." mumbled Garen.

"Absolutely!" exclaimed Matthias.

"You're a fool. Theses peasants are better off believing the lie. And I haven't seen much magic around lately." It was true. Magic wasn't seen in the mainlands after everything magical was exiled to the Engagium Isles and away from the main lands. A magical barrier was placed around the Island to hold all the beings on the Island. Julius was among the exiled so there was no real worry of him taking the throne. However uneasiness still fell over the realm. After all it was only a matter of time before the barrier was destroyed.