This meeting was very different in every way. Siegel, Mana, Alfred, and Wendy worked out the rules in great detail.

First of all, this meeting was not held by the Lord of Mir, but only a gathering of mages, so every mage who attended the meeting was the master. It was the owner who had to pay for it, and only accepted magical items - at least scrolls or magic potions - to be admitted. Because everyone is the host, there are no tables in the room, only exactly the same many chairs and a lone podium.

There are no servants in the venue, so all meals must be prepared in advance and neatly arranged on the table. In order not to turn the meeting into a lengthy dinner, there are no cutlery such as knives and forks, and all the food is small and can be completely put in your mouth when you pick it up. There's no need for anyone to use spells like the Invisible Pawn.

The floor is covered with a carpet of cashmere from the north, which has been treated for flavor, so there is no need to sprinkle spices. Open flames are forbidden in tents, all of which are lit with inextinguishable flames, and spells other than protective spells are absolutely forbidden. This is explained in the notice sent to each mage (they avoid using words like "invitation").

"How many people will attend, and is there any feedback?" Siegel asked.

Wendy opened her bag, counted the stack of letters, and said, "Except for the stubborn shapeshifter Defoe, the other thirty-three members of the Federation claim to be participating. ”

"Including Edith?"

"He was the first to send a letter of consent. Wendy frowned slightly, and said to Siegel, "Do you want to find an excuse not to let him participate?"

"Why? He's still a member of the Federation. "Lord Faranise has said that the most important thing in the Federation is not the Tower of the Three Peaks, not the Book of Magic, but the people who pursue the idea of magical freedom and work for it. Edith is a member of two mage organizations, but this is not unallowed. I didn't dare to fully trust him. But that doesn't mean I don't like him. ”

"You're handsome, you know?" Wendy said suddenly.

"Me?" said Siegel, still with a straight face, "I'm a mage, not a warlock, and it doesn't matter to me whether I'm handsome or not." ”

It's about me, Wendy thought to herself. "I'm going to take a look at the anti-peeping circle on the roof. By the way, check the status of the protective magic. ”

"Please, Madam Protector. ”

Also in order to avoid creating the impression of the host of the meeting, Siegel could neither be the first to go nor the last to arrive. It was only after about seventeen or eighteen mages had arrived at the meeting that Siegel walked out of the room.

He saw Edith on the stairs that led to the landing.

The half-elf carried a brand-new staff and climbed the steps step by step with his feet. Seegal didn't see anyone else, so he walked over and grabbed his arm. "Spells are not allowed in the venue, but I didn't say I had to go up. Siegel asked curiously, "What about your apprentices?"

"I let them go early, and I wanted to finish the road myself. "It's been a long time since I've walked on my own feet. Now I want to see if I can climb up. ”

"As you get older, it's important to exercise in moderation. Siegel said, "It seems that mages are the only profession that becomes more valuable as you get older, right? ”

"Actually, I'm almost at the point where I can't cast spells, and even the mobilization elements will fail. Edith pointed to something: "Now is the time of your youth. ”

"I hope so too. Siegel did not shy away from it, and said directly: "It's just that after working hard for the ideal, I finally find that I have achieved my goal, I am afraid that I am no longer a young person." ”

"Life is short. Edith said, "The human lifespan is less than 100 years. And the world of magic is very vast, and hundreds of years are only a glimpse of it. So timing is always a problem. Do you still have that bottle of Lich Elixir?"

"It's been used up. Siegel said, "Some time ago I met the assassin of the God of Murder and almost lost my life. ”

"You should have turned to the federation for help. The Assassin of the God of Murder is a problem for all mages and must be solved. In the face of a common enemy, the elves will also reach out for help. Edith said, "This is an era of collaboration, and even if you are as strong as an archmage, you can't carry all the burdens on your own. ”

"You're right. That's what I'm here for. Siegel helped Edith up to the top floor and to the tent. The emblem of the nine-clawed squid on Siegel's mage robe lit up, and the emblem of Edith was half a leaf.

They each left two magic scrolls and walked into the venue.

The survivors of the Mage Federation gathered here, talking to each other in a low voice. Some are talking about magic. Some were commenting on the food, but most were looking at Siegel Squid, who had just stepped into the tent.

"This is the young lord, it's surprising. Someone said, "It's incredible to be twenty-two years old and already successful in both magic and politics." ”

"He's just a speculator. "Some people aren't happy with Siegel. "Think of the ruins of Waterdeep, and he has a lot to do with it. It is now clear to everyone that the Heim Territory has an extremely close connection to the steppe bandits who ransacked Waterdeep. ”

"I've heard about it, too. The carpet under our feet came from the grassland, and it may still be stained with the blood of the mages of the Federation of Waterdeep City Headquarters. The speaker rubbed the soles of his feet vigorously and plastered the blankets.

"But he defeated the elves and saved the living space of humans in the New World. "There was a mage who had a shield in his hand open as a tray with a lot of beautiful snacks on it. "Do you want to see him fail and accept the consequences of being driven into the sea? Don't be stupid, he didn't hurt you, so why bother to speak ill of him?"

"Hmph, you foodie who is not firm in the force field, be careful to be sold and help the people count the money!"

The mages gathered and dispersed, and news and opinions circulated in one small circle after another. Siegel and Edith stood aside, as if they were cut off by a spell, and no one gathered around them.

"I don't know a lot of people in the federation and it's understandable at the moment. Siegel said to the half-elves, "But why don't you have anyone to take care of you?"

"Believe it or not, I'm standing apart, four or five steps is enough. And then you're the only one left standing here stupidly. Edith said: "I'm obviously being dragged down by you, so you can save those cool words!"

"Since there is no one else to talk to, I would like you to ask a question. Siegel's eyes lit up and he grabbed Edith's wrist with his hand as if he was afraid he had run away. "If I need to pass an issue at a meeting, who should I be careful to convince?"

The half-elf looked at the mage lord. Laughed awkwardly. "That's an interesting question. If it's a proposal that everyone likes, it doesn't take much persuasion to get through. Finding that this answer was clearly not satisfactory to Siegel, he raised his hand and pointed at the people in the room.

"That short, neat graybeard, good-looking man is a sorcerer like you: Seven-Tails, there are seven mages here who are his apprentices, and you can see them as one, and do you see the woman in the black coat with the dark green jade necklace on her chest? That's Countess Shelley Salon, don't look at her young appearance. In fact, he is more than twice as old as you, and he is a necromancer. Convincing her is a difficult task, but she can bring you at least five votes - if the General Assembly were to vote. ”

"People in the plastic energy department are relatively straight-headed, and as long as it is not the kind of conspiracy that is beating around the bush, they generally do not raise objections. But if you're not sure, talk to Semonton first, the fat man with a pear-shaped belly, a three-tiered chin, and a short yellowish beard - or simply the fattest fat man. ”

"Most of the mages in the Variation Department have a good relationship with me, but I'm tired. Just eat a little bit for a while and watch you young people perform. There are only two mages in the prophecy department. Because of the relationship of Ph.D. Falanis, he should support you. All the enchanted mages had become members of the Knox Guild, and there was not a single one in the tent. As for the protection system, you know who to go to, so you don't need me to talk nonsense. Edith pursed his lips and said to Siegel, "Look at what I've said so much. Aren't you going to pour me something to drink?"

"That's as it should be. Siegel walked over to the pick-up area and brought Edith a cup of honey tea.

Wendy was basically the last to arrive, wearing a white sable cape with a golden star pin tied to her chest, and a tight suit made of black dragon skin underneath. Stepping on crimson boots. The long hair that had been draped down to the shoulders was combed and coiled into a flower on the back of the head. Siegel looked sideways, and she actually used a short wand as a hairpin.

She can be called the most eye-catching stars and moon on the scene, and there is an indescribable attraction. Those with a keen sense of magic found that in this place where only protective spells could be used, Wendy was actually connected to the protective barrier in the tent, and she could activate the spells here at any time, which gave her an indescribable courage on top of her charm.

Her gaze swept over everyone's faces and lingered on Siegel for an extra second. The mage lord's face was still serious, but he also gave a thumbs up to her outfit.

Finally there was progress, Wendy thought to herself. She secretly took a breath and kept cheering for herself in her heart: You can do it, show charm and momentum. It is said that Janet has the courage to control the whole situation, and although Siegel marries her, you must not lose to her!

She came to the podium with her head held high, cleared her throat and said, "Now there are thirty people in the tent, most of them have already come, so in order not to waste everyone's time, let's start the meeting." ”

"Little girl, you shouldn't say that!" snorted the Countess of Salen, "and you are not the master here. ”

"I handed in a stone skin scroll at the door, and I'm also a member of the Federation, so naturally I can be the master here. Everyone who has kept the common agreement is the master of this place. We speak for ourselves, and we speak for the Federation, so Countess, please don't waste your time. ”

Wendy refers to her as a "countess" rather than a mage of Shelley, implying that her style is more of a power-fighting nobleman than a sane mage. It makes no difference who presides over the meeting, and the people present are all intellectually brilliant, and some of these methods are not on the table.

"Let her speak, Shelley, at least she's eye-catching up there. The spellor, Wilwood, tugged at his chin and glanced at Siegel with his eyes, and the meaning was self-evident. (To be continued.) )

PS: Look! Beauty!