Archive (Halfblood Club Book 4)
Page 7
They all muttered in commiseration and more food was demolished. Izzy finally stood up and announced, “Ladies, as much as I have missed you I have an idea that I would like your help with.”
Asking for help stilled the chatter like nothing else would. Three attentive faces turned and focussed on Hex as she spoke.
“What are you thinking, Izzy?”
Taking a deep breath she blurted out, “I think that we should expand the club.”
Silence reigned until Esmy piped up, “We need more information than that, Izzy, expand how?”
“I want to open membership to all and any of the half-breeds out there who have no where to belong.” She paused for breath, “It is like Melissande was saying, tons of races discard their half-breeds. It makes them resentful and angry. As we know, some halflings can be quite powerful.” The agreement she read in their faces let her continue. “I have run the idea past a few of the Warders and they are all for it. So, right away, we have enough membership to hold one helluva party, but I want more for us. I want a vote on the Realm Council.”
Mouths opened in surprise.
“Sweet!”
“Cool!”
“You are out of your mind and I am all for it!”
A group hug occurred that lasted several minutes. She didn’t doubt that the boys downstairs could hear their excited squeals. She did wonder what they were making of it.
The thunder of footfalls on the stairs ended that question. “What is it, Izzy?” James wasn’t even out of breath. Neither were the four males that followed him.
“Honey, when is the next full Council?” A slow round of feminine laughter started, then grew as the men looked at each other for explanation.
* * * *
An elf, a dragon, a magus and a werewolf walked into the Realm Council.
“Hey guys…can we make a joke out of this?” Melissande was giddy. The wolves had only recently begun to return to Realm. She was making history by walking into the Great Council Hall. For that matter the whole club was.
Nowhere in history had four women of differing races stood together to demand rights for something that most of the species discarded. Their halflings.
The other three shushed her and they walked calmly and evenly to the center of the room.
“The Council recognizes Isobel Marlin, Esmerelda Hawkes, Graylin Treel, and Melissande Simpson. Welcome and state your case.” Rikard was the speaker, winking at his mate as she smiled back for a fleeting second, then pulled her features into stern lines.
Hex began their prepared statements, “For years, we have hidden from the Councils.”
George continued, “For years we have waited for a moment where we could come into the open.”
“Since childhood we have lived in fear of being ignored or,” Jinx stopped.
“Claimed by one side of our parentage alone.” Hookey finished and then they started again.
“We are not the only ones.”
“But we have been lucky enough to be acknowledged.”
“Our proposal would extend this,”
“To others who are born as half-breeds.”
The council members blinked in surprise, their mouths opened and closed in shock.
“We want a voice, not as a magus.”
“Not as a dragon.”
“Not as an elf.”
“Not as a werewolf.”
They chimed as one, “But as half-breeds.”
“Half breeds affect every race.”
“Every species.”
“Are born to the responsible.”
“And the careless.”
Together they spoke, “We need a voice. As founding members of the Half-Blood Club, we are demanding our rights as an undefined species with magical talent to a vote on the council. Starting now.”
The riot took two hours to calm, but when it did, there was a new seat on the council, a halfling seat.
About the Author
Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.
An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.