Prologue teaser of The Arrangement

Prologue Teaser

Both the Kings nodded, and the Cardinal’s secretary began to write out the agreement. Carlisle beckoned his secretary to his side, who brought the Royal seal of Ardania forth in an intricately carved box, opening the lid and laying the royal blue wax, a lighter and the seal next. Aro followed suit, calling his secretary forward, who also brought forth a marble box with the lid already open, displaying the red wax, a lighter, and the Royal seal of Voltura.

Within moments, Alex, the Cardinal’s secretary, had two agreements sitting before Marcus, with Alex’s flourishing penmanship. Cardinal Marcus nodded as he read through the document, handing each head of their respected aristocracy a copy of the agreement. Both the men read through it and was in agreement, melting the wax onto the paper by waving the lit lighters over the stubs, wax dripping on the paper. Both grabbed their Seals at the same time, they pressed them into the hot wax and left their country’s signature on the paper. Carlisle and Aro handed the papers back to Marcus, having him exchange the papers between the two Kings, and repeated the same thing, adding their signatures.

“Well, gentlemen, may this agreement bring peace to your families and countries for many, many centuries,” Cardinal Marcus said as he stood to take his leave. Both Carlisle and Aro rose and joined the Cardinal, shaking his hand as Marcus handed the Kings’ copies to them. A gasp went through the on-lookers as Aro extended his hand out to Carlisle. There was an immediate hush that fell over the room, even the Cardinal stopped and stared at the proffered hand. Carlisle, glancing between the eyes of his old enemy, took a step forward and grasped Aro’s hand, shaking it firmly. An audible whoosh of air was heard throughout the room as the men smiled and clapped each other’s arms as they shook hands.