Zein: The Homecoming Read Online Free PDF Page A

together we are stronger and our first line of defence needs bolstering.’ Tate paused for effect, ‘What I ask is that you provide another thirty percent of your forces to the North and East Gates. That still leaves you over ten thousand to protect the Blackstone enclave.’
    Safah was just going to retort when Tate asked for a show of hands to support the motion. Each of the clans had two votes compared with the Changelings’ one. The hands went up into the air and predictably Safah kept her hands down, as did both the Southgates, along with the Changelings as they sided with the Blackstones. No surprises there then.
    Four votes lost.
    Tate was not able to vote due to his position; however, his mother Darya could and her hand was up high. The Tythers joined her.
    Three votes!
    Beaten…usual situation! Tate suppressed his annoyance. The Fathoms had no vote as the only survivor of the royal bloodline was the troublesome young princess Eva Fathom who at the age of thirteen was too young to vote. Eva was looked after by Cadence, her sister, but since she had married into the Southgates, in accordance with Inner Council guidelines, her Fathom vote was lost.
    He may be the Lord Chancellor, but Tate’s power was limited as long as the Southgates, Blackstones and Changelings voted together. He was just going to concede defeat when the unexpected happened, Jaida put her hand up, much to her mother’s shock and disgust. A tie! Her face held an amused look, as if she found the whole situation a little bit of fun.
    Tate cleared his throat. ‘A tie and therefore my vote can be cast as a decider and I vote the motion in.’ Kingsley whooped with delight under the disapproving eye of his father.
    Safah looked like she was going to hit Jaida, who didn’t seem perturbed in the slightest.
    Why did Jaida help me? Tate thought.
    ‘We have one more agenda item,’ Tate carried on hurriedly, ‘from the Changelings’ enclave.’ He raised a questioning eye towards the Changelings.
    Myolon rose. He was in the principal form of the Changeling’s when they were not “transforming”. He was relatively tall, with the usual Zeinonian features. You could tell that he was a Changeling only by the animalistic eyes, amber with black flecks and a whirl of different colours that echoed around the iris, looking out from the heavy lids. Tate knew he was old, probably over three hundred years, remembering the stories about his role in the second Xonian War and that he was one of the Changelings who brought the magics to the clans.
    The Changelings lived long and when one of their numbers bore a child, it was feted by the entire colony as a miracle; however, the last child was born over twenty years ago and was already fully grown, causing the clans to grow concerned about the longevity of the race. The Changelings were ruled by ancient folklore and Heathlon, the High Priestess, Myolon’s mother, was the Law. Heathlon was not present, sending her son in her place.
    Tate monitored them carefully knowing that if they chose to do so, the Changelings were a powder keg within the Aeria Cavern that he couldn’t take the risk of setting off.
    ‘Greetings, Lord Chancellor, worshipful Elder and head of all our illustrious clans,’ Myolon’s rasping voice ground across the council room. ‘We all know that our time on thisplanet is under the darkest threat and that we cannot hope to keep the Pod at bay forever,’ he continued. There was a murmur of agreement and a little fear around the room.
    Tate’s expression did not alter. Where was he going with this?
    ‘We can no longer rely on the Expeditionary Force returning and a solution is required to free us from this infernal prison once and for all,’ said Myolon, his deeply flecked amber eyes circling the room.
    This was a day that he had waited for; today was the day that the Changelings would create history. He felt the spark of the magics within his body stir. It always started in his hands and