Read Dara Joy - Matrix 04 for Free Online

brought about by one girl who took it upon herself to disobey a direct order of their king, Gian Ren. What is more, the brother, Brygar, is insisting that he accompany any Charl warrior we might choose to send. If we decide to send a Charl. And I might add, he is demanding that we do so."
    Gelfan paused to let his piercing stare capture each member. The knifelike expression clearly conveyed that the Familiar's behavior toward such a revered body as the House of Sages was sheer audacity.
    Yaniff watched the scene unfold before him, silent as a stone.
    Gelfan continued his speech. "I say we let it be. With his rash behavior, this Familiar is likely to cause a planetary incident that we can ill afford. The ruling council on Spoltam, the Reign, will take immediate offense to what they will perceive as his instinctual, emotional feline temperament."
    Wolthanth, one of the wisest wizards in the High Guild, disagreed. "You are wrong, Gelfan. Brygar will undoubtedly go after his sister with or without our aid. Best it be with our aid- if only to have some control over him."
    Yaniff nodded to Wolthanth to thank him for his support. Gelfan was not known for his strong advocacy of the Familiar. The feline race had no champion in him. Yaniff well remembered that Gelfan had not been happy to discover that Rejar, the half-Familiar son of Krue, had in fact, inherited prophetic Charl powers.
    Rejar's first act as a newly indoctrinated Charl had been to align Gelfan's house to him by accepting his Cearix. It had been a shrewd maneuver and Yaniff had later commended his student for it. In time, Rejar would learn to read that dagger's 'truth'.
    Yaniff sighed. It was unfortunate that when the Familiar needed the guiding hand of the Sages the most, a man such as Gelfan led the High Guild. His powers of persuasion were strong. He could turn many of the Sages; and they would cast their votes with him.
    Zysyz, the newest member of the House of Sages interrupted the path of Yaniff's thoughts with his first interesting comment.
    "Excuse me, but, how does Spoltam stand on the issue of Ganakari?"
    Yaniff raised his eyebrows. Mayhap he had passed over Zysyz too soon? Mayhap there was yet a future ally here...
    With the proper underpinning, of course.
    Gelfan, somewhat surprised at Zysyz astute question, answered. "Spoltam shares a Tunnel annex point with Ganakari. The Spoltami, with their highly developed systems of lucid reasoning, naturally feel that the Familiar, a race that relies heavily on instinct and emotion, are somewhat inferior."
    Yaniff noted Gelfan's use of the word 'naturally'. Bojo brushed the edge of his beak lightly against Yaniff's earlobe.
    "They are biased, but not overtly hostile to the race as a whole. So far, they have not joined into a pact with Ganakari. Although, that could change at any time. Which makes this situation all the more delicate."
    Yaniff corrected Gelfan's glossed over summary. "They do allow slavers access to their planet."
    Several of the wizards frowned disapprovingly.
    Wolthanth stroked his chin. "I have always wondered how the Spoltami manage to allow their lucid' reasoning to condone such a thing; yet, it seems they are equally enamored of privilege."
    "They are not part of the Alliance," Gelfan shot back. Slavers were strictly forbidden in the Alliance. "If we ever hope to bring them into the Alliance then we need tread carefully."
    "This is a crucial balance." Ernak added the obvious- but in a wise-sounding voice.
    Yaniff groaned inwardly. Ernak was an extremely kind wizard who did not have the heart for decisive action.
    "Spoltam favors us." Gelfan pressed his point. "Let it be known that their scholars spend much time interpreting adages from the House of Sages."
    Wolthanth winked at the table. "Yes, I have heard that a Spoltami scholar can cheerfully spend years interpreting a single sentence of Charl mystic-chatter. Knights, our quest for obscurity is well met!"
    Despite the seriousness of the situation,