Zein: The Homecoming Read Online Free PDF

then enveloped him internally, majority in the room oblivious to what was happening. Changelings could suppress outward displays of the magic.
    Not like these puny Zeinonians who have to glimmer and glow with their magics, they have no idea of the damage they are doing to themselves , Myolon inwardly sneered.
    Everyone in the room leaned forward; even the usually cool and disinterested Jaida’s attention was on the tall Changeling royal prince. Tate watched, waited. His magics, the ability to taste a change in the environment and strength of the magics, felt the pulse of the magic that was pumping around in the Changeling’s blood.
    ‘Lord Chancellor, we are concerned at this latest breach,’ Myolon began, ‘to be able to break through our strongest steel means that the Pod are developing their own magic. Can you imagine the risk to the settlement if they develop that magic further?’
    Tate was worried about the direction this was taking the Council. He was still confused as to why that male Pod had been trying to communicate with him earlier. What was that all about?
    ‘I have a solution to all our concerns,’ Myolon paused for effect; he was enjoying this. ‘You will agree that our problemis the Pod?’ he asked. There was no disputing response. ‘We have developed a serum that will eradicate the entire Pod from this planet within the next three termins.’
    There were gasps of shock and then excited whispers.
    Myolon knew he had them. ‘We propose to the Chair that this serum is placed in the main reservoir of the Pod enclave deep in the planet,’ he concluded with a flourish. There was uproar. Everyone was whooping with delight, even the normally hesitant Quinlan Tyther was all smiles.
    A solution at last! everyone thought.
    The only person unmoved was the Lord Chancellor. Tate sat back in his chair with a thoughtful look, casting his eye over the delight of the other members of the Council but was drawn to the contingent from the Changelings, whose facial expressions were frozen, impassive. Why speak up now? Tate thought, trying to see behind the motion.
    Myolon ignored the bedlam around him. For such a decision Myolon knew that he would need the Lord Chancellor’s agreement irrespective of the vote. Anything which impacted the planet of Zein and way of life was the sole responsibility of the Lord Chancellor.
    Tate observed the behaviour of his fellow Council members with concern. They all were shouting their agreement to the plan. Kingsley and Taio, who usually hated each other, were clasping hands and shaking with excitement, and Jaida’s eyes were wide expressing her astonishment. This is news to Jaida. Odd , he mused.
    All this time Myolon waited patiently, not taking his eyes off the Lord Chancellor. Tate guessed that the move to add the serum to the underground reservoir stemmed from the lessons learnt after the first attempt to wipe out the Pod. They had survived deep in the bowels of the planet with the Queen reproducing and creating new brethren who in turn were nourished by the underground waterand food. Attacking this food source would permanently wipe out the Pod, something not lost on the people in the Inner Council.
    Tate held up a hand. The noise continued until Kron slammed down his fist on the table in front of him for order. The noise subsided and reluctantly the Inner Council members reclaimed their seats. Tate stood tiredly, his body complaining with every move he made, to face Myolon. ‘What you are proposing is genocide is it not?’ he asked. Myolon confirmed that this was the case. Tate looked around him and realised that he stood alone. He saw the excited and flushed faces around him and could not blame them for their joy. They had all lost loved ones to the Pod, including him, and this was coupled with the life they led in the Aeria Cavern not being the life that any Zeinonian would choose. He felt his own unease begin to disappear and then he remembered his history lessons.
    He