Chapter 7: The Colours of Magic

Chapter 7

More halflings arrived at the castle every day.  Seraphina and Oliver spent most of their time researching magic, or planning.  As the time passed the week came to an end.  Soon there was only one day left.  Seraphina started making a list of questions to ask the halflings.  Hopefully all she’d have to do is explain the situation and someone would step forwards with a plan, or idea, anything.  Because even with all the research Seraphina and Oliver had been doing they still hadn’t found a way to stop the war, and they were running out of placed to look for answers.  If the halflings couldn’t come up with anything, they didn’t know what they’d do.  They might have to concede to Sacia and let them take some of their land in order to stop the war.

“Why did the Sacians have to raid our towns?”  Seraphina asked Oliver over breakfast, “why couldn’t they have just left us alone and been happy with their own lands?”  

“I don’t know, if I did I would have found a way to end the war by now.  If we knew why they wanted the border towns we could have used that to bargain with them,” Oliver replied.

“This whole war would never have started if they’d just left us alone!”  Seraphina exclaimed angrily, “I don’t want to give them any of our lands, especially after they burnt down our towns and killed our people!”  

“I don’t want to give them anything either but if we don’t find a way to end the war soon we have to consider it.  It might be the only way to save our people,” Oliver said unhappily.

“I hate this!  I hate that they invaded our land and that we might have to let them win!  I hate that my father is dead and that I lost the closest person I had to a mother because of this war!  It’s not fair!  How much are we going to lose?  Even if we win, will it really be a victory?”  Seraphina shouted bitterly.

“I just want it to be over,” she whispered tearfully.  

“I’m sorry Sera.  I’m sorry about your father, and Duana.  I just want it to be over too,” Oliver said gently and reached over to hold her hand.

“What are we going to do Oliver?”  Seraphina asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” Oliver admitted, “I don’t know.”