Age of Druids (12 page)

Munro considered. Zdanye and Naima both had close ties with Caledonia, but Konstanze was a constant thorn in the druids’ side. He did not want her ruling the new city or using it as a means to expand her influence. If she succeeded, she might even try to claim the Halls of Mist as her territory. A ripple of emotion from Eilidh told him she was thinking much along the same lines.

“Douglas?” Munro asked.

“You know me. No matter what happens, I’m never going to be in charge here.” He chuckled. “But the keepers are making a lot of sense. I’d rather if a kingdom does evolve here, it grows the way we want.”

Lisle spoke up. “I agree. I’ve spent a lot of time working in Ceòthan these past months. They speak of the druids as rightful rulers and themselves as our people. Whether we like it or not, we
are
draoidh. We should act accordingly. Our forebears created the Otherworld. We do not have to meddle in the affairs of other kingdoms, but neither should we behave as guests. Our people have carved for us a kingdom of the mists. I believe we must honour their sacrifice in coming here and the manner in which they’ve devoted themselves to our service, which, if done properly, will be the service of the entire Otherworld.” She paused. “That said, I propose a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute dictatorship.”

“Agreed,” Munro said. The best part of the deal in his mind was the offer of the keepers as conclave. They would be, in effect, bringing the library and all its resources and artefacts under the direct control of the Druid Hall. No more tiptoeing around or begging for access. “Rory?” Munro asked.

The red-haired druid shrugged. He looked distracted, but then, his troubles with Flùranach always had him in a bit of a state. “I understand the thinking, and it sounds like the idea could work. If this means not having to ask permission from a queen every time we want to do something, then I’m agreed.”

Eilidh stiffened, and Munro lightly touched her hand, hoping to reassure her. This would be the problem, the nightmare of every queen: that the Druid Hall would commandeer their thrones and diminish their influence.

“I don’t think we should rush in as though we’re taking over,” Munro said.

“I concur,” Fiyr said quickly. “The keepers have long commanded a position of respect. The queens already respect the druids. I suggest it may be less oppressive for them to bend the knee if your rank was officially higher than theirs. Nothing has to change in the way the kingdoms are run. Each queen would be sovereign in her own territory.”

“Sheng?” Munro asked. The Aussie might be new, but this place was his home as much as any of them.

“I agree to raising a monarch, but I suggest a council of druids in addition, perhaps with veto power over certain issues which directly affect matters of our Hall. Over the coming years, our numbers will grow, and leadership will become more important. Still, I personally like the idea of balance. No one druid having too much power over the others, and yet one central figure the queens can look to. Right now, it’s a mess, all of us getting tugged in all directions, each making decisions on our own.” He glanced oddly at Rory. “Decisions made that should be put to us as a group.”

The idea sounded rational, but how would the change go over with the fae population? He turned to Eilidh. “What would Caledonia’s position be?” he asked.

She looked thoughtful but didn’t hesitate long. “Caledonia acknowledges the authority of the Druid Hall,” she said. “We would continue to do so no matter your internal leadership structure.”

“Tràth, what stance do you think Zalia would take?”

He tilted his head, considering. “I believe little would change once you reassured Queen Naima there would be no power grab from Ceòthan. As Eilidh said, if handled slowly and correctly, most fae would regard the change largely as internal to the Druid Hall. My suggestion would be to raise a queen of the druids, then let the people of Ceòthan claim her as their own. Form your conclave and council, and then let the queens deal with you as they will. Over time, their subservience will become evident, but submission will be better offered than demanded. Name a queen, not an empress.”

Munro thought he made a sound argument. The Druid Hall could use a touch more structure. “Our system works for now, but I have wondered what would happen if we someday have two hundred druids, all running around, making promises to queens, using their authority as draoidh with no rules to rein them in. We’re a tight group, and we trust each other. That works well at the moment, but someday, we may need more. And I take Lisle’s point about the fae who have come here to establish a kingdom at our back door. I doubt any queen wants any of her peers to have that throne. Logic dictates it should be held by someone of the Hall, but who?”

No one spoke for a moment. “I think we should vote,” Aaron said. “Let this be the first act of the Druid Council.”

“Agreed,” Douglas said. “Are we all good with that?” One by one, each of the druids indicated their assent.

“If we’re to have a queen in Ceòthan,” Munro said, “I think it should be Lisle. She’s well regarded there, and here too, of course.”

The German druid blinked in surprised. “Me?” she said. “No, I think not.”

“The fae queens will respect you.” Munro looked to the others for support, and saw Sheng enthusiastically nodding.

“Because I’m old?” She smiled with amusement. “Perhaps you’re right, but I’m unbonded. Despite the fact that I’m feeling better than I ever have, we must acknowledge that at over eighty years of age, if I don’t bond soon, I may not live long enough to provide continuity.” She sighed. “I would never be more than a figurehead, and a temporary one. No, you must choose another.”

“Then maybe we should wait,” Munro said. “We form our Council and appoint our conclave, and wait for Huck and Demi’s return.” An uncomfortable silence settled. No one wanted to admit Huck and Demi might never be found, but he could feel the accusation in the way they shifted in their seats. “I will find them,” he assured them. “I won’t rest until I do. When that happens, we bring them back and raise Demi as queen.” He expected murmurs of agreement, but no one met his gaze.

“Actually, we had another suggestion,” Aaron said. He looked at Joy, then blurted out, “We think it should be Maiya.”

Munro didn’t even take a breath to consider it. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Just hear me out,” Aaron said. “Maiya is half druid and half fae, so the queens will not think of her as a foreign interloper. She’s seriously powerful, which will gain her respect. Joy said her spirit is immense.” He glanced at his bonded faerie, and she nodded.

“Maiya is fifteen months old. She won’t even come of age in fae terms for another ninety-nine years.” Munro couldn’t believe they were suggesting this.

“She’s also half human,” Douglas said. “She could take the throne in seventeen years, if we take that into consideration. Think about it. None of us are old enough to rule by fae standards, but we aren’t fae.”

“I won’t have my daughter offered up as a political pawn. She’s not even able to understand this. I say we wait for Demi.”

“If I may speak, my lord druid?” Joy asked.

“Sure, why not,” Munro said in exasperation.

Joy seemed unruffled by his attitude. “Your daughter is destined to rule Caledonia. Is sitting on two thrones really that much more of a leap?”

She had a point. Maiya’s future as a queen was already mapped out, but Munro wasn’t convinced. “Keep in mind that my wife sits on the throne and likely will for the next seven or eight
hundred
years. Maiya as druid queen would mean she’d potentially rule over her own mother. What you’re suggesting doesn’t make sense.”

Eilidh opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again and shook her head slowly.

“If Lisle won’t agree, then I nominate Aaron,” Munro said. “He’s been the one to shoulder most of the responsibility lately. He’s a good leader, and I trust him one hundred per cent.”

“Thanks, mate,” Aaron said. “I don’t know about the
good leader
part, but I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“If I may, my lord druids,” Fiyr said. “I think you’re overlooking the most obvious candidate.” He indicated Munro. “He is the first among you and the one the queens already look to. What achievement has the Druid Hall attained in which he did not have a direct hand? As the mate of a queen, he understands what royal duty would entail.”

“Let me stop you right there,” Munro said. “I don’t want the job. My main concern is finding Huck and Demi. End of story. I’m not going to put aside my search to sit on a throne and start writing laws. I refuse. Absolutely.”

“So, you’re too busy to serve your people?” Fiyr asked.

“Don’t give me that bullshit,” Munro said. “I know what you’re doing.”

“As Maiya’s father, your appointment would satisfy both those who admire your achievements and those who will someday look to her power,” the keeper said.

“No,” Munro said.

“You said you’d support whoever the majority wanted,” Douglas reminded him.

“Forgive me,” Eilidh finally interrupted. “Perhaps the Druid Council would find it prudent to take some time to consider this decision. There is no rush, and all parties should carefully weigh their vote.”

“Thank you,” Munro said. “I agree. We need time.” He knew if they didn’t stop now, his eejit friends would make a king out of him. He had too much to do for nonsense like that. “Meanwhile, can we vote to accept these keepers as our conclave? All in favour?”

Without hesitation, the druids all said, “Aye.”

“Then can we agree to put off the raising of a queen until we have a unanimous choice?” he asked.

“Without Huck and Demi, no choice could be unanimous,” Aaron said.

Munro rolled his eyes. “Fine. If you won’t wait for them, then how about six out of eight votes to raise a queen?”

“Or king,” Elder Fiyr said.

“Or king,” Munro conceded.

“All in favour of requiring a seventy-five-percent majority of the Druid Council to name a monarch?” Aaron looked around the tables.

“I’m fine with that,” Munro said and raised his hand. The others followed suit. “That settles that,” he said.

“We’ll need scribes to take an official record of these decisions,” Fiyr said to the other new conclave members. “And prepare decrees announcing the formation of the Druid Council to go to all the kingdoms. It will be the first step in creating the foundation.” The former keepers gathered around one of the tables, buzzing as they discussed the decisions to be made.

The others began to stand as the meeting broke up. Eilidh turned and nodded toward the diadem. “You came prepared,” she said.

“It’s not what you think.” He knew she was likely joking, but he felt defensive. He did
not
want to be a king. “I am sick of having to puff on this flute all the time. I was trying to craft something wearable.”

She lowered her voice. “I must return to Caledonia, but I ask that you not make any rash decisions, especially ones which affect our daughter, without discussing them with me. You may be draoidh, but I am still Maiya’s mother.”

“Of course,” he said, and put his hand over hers. “I won’t let them name her queen of druids.”

“Why not?” Eilidh said, pulling her hand back. “Our daughter will rule Caledonia. Why not Ceòthan?”

“You
want
me to vote for Maiya?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d expected her to be appalled at the idea.

“It’s not my place, my lord druid,” she said, her voice tight. “If you believe her unworthy. Or is your concern that I, as her mother, would gain too much influence here?”

“Eilidh, what the hell,” he said. “You know that isn’t what I think.” He sighed. “Look. Do you have to leave right now? I would like to discuss this alone.”

“I do. There are questions to be answered about Griogair’s exile.” Her tone was sharp. Although she’d agreed to sending him here, even reluctantly, she undoubtedly was facing unpleasant blowback.

Tràth appeared behind Eilidh and stepped up to the table. “Is it true you’ve brought my father to the Druid Hall as a prisoner?” he asked.

Sheng approached. “Hey Munro, can I talk to you? I don’t know how to say this, but Rory
sold
Flùranach. Then Ewain sent us to some underwater place to get an ancient artefact, and no pun intended, we’re out of our depth.”

“He did
what
?” Munro sighed and stared up at the ceiling. He did
not
want to be king.

Chapter 8

Lisle and the other druids filed into the dining hall to take their evening meal. She sat and watched the others, noticing how they regarded Munro. How did he not see he was and always would be the centre of the Druid Hall? Putting someone the others wouldn’t listen to on the throne would be a disaster. Demi was a fine woman, but she’d been through too much. Life hadn’t treated her kindly, and she needed healing, not a position of leadership. After Munro, Aaron would be Lisle’s next choice, but what would happen if Aaron became king but everyone looked to Munro for leadership? Naming Maiya would be folly. She might be powerful, but that didn’t make a person a good leader, not to mention she would require a regent for the next twenty years. Although that regent would likely be Munro, who’s to say the crown should be inherited rather than granted by a vote of the Druid Council? There was so much to decide, but some of it could wait. For now, she had to find a way to guide the others to voting Munro the first druid king.