The Powerful Mages

Liam turned to his wife and advisors, trying to come up with a plan. "We need to figure out a way to satisfy the mages without bankrupting our city," he said.

Isidora nodded. "We could offer them something else in exchange for their services," she suggested.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "What could we possibly offer them that would be worth as much as what they're demanding?"

One of Liam's advisors spoke up. "Perhaps we could offer them access to our libraries and archives. We have a vast collection of rare and valuable texts that they might find useful."

Liam considered this idea for a moment. It was true that his city had one of the most extensive collections of books and scrolls in the region. Perhaps that could be enough to satisfy the mages.

"Very well," he said. "We'll offer them access to our libraries and archives in exchange for their services. But we must tread carefully. We don't want to give them access to anything that could be used against us."

Isidora nodded in agreement. "We'll make sure to only give them access to the most innocuous materials. Anything that could be used to harm our city will be kept under lock and key."

With a plan in place, Liam sent word to the mages that he was willing to negotiate. It wasn't long before they arrived at the gates of the city, their powerful magic crackling in the air around them.

Liam met them at the gates, accompanied by Isidora and a few of his advisors. He tried to keep his face neutral as he greeted them, not wanting to show any signs of weakness or fear.

"Greetings," he said, bowing respectfully. "I understand that you're seeking payment for your services during the pandemic."

The lead mage, a tall and imposing figure with a long white beard, nodded curtly. "That is correct," he said. "We have provided aid to many cities during this time, and we expect to be compensated for our efforts."

Liam took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, my city is not in a position to pay the amount you're demanding," he said. "But we are willing to offer you access to our libraries and archives as a form of payment."

The mages exchanged glances, and the lead mage stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Access to your libraries and archives, you say?" he said. "That is an intriguing offer. But how do we know that you're not holding back on us? What if you have some rare and valuable texts that you're not willing to share?"

Liam held up a hand. "I understand your concern. But I assure you, we will give you access to everything that is not considered a threat to our city's safety. We have nothing to hide, and we're willing to be transparent with you."

The mages conferred among themselves for a few minutes, their voices too low for Liam to hear. Finally, the lead mage turned back to Liam.

"Very well," he said. "We will accept your offer of access to your libraries and archives. But we will also require a guarantee of safety while we are here. We cannot have our work interrupted by outside forces."

Liam nodded. "Of course. We will provide you with guards to ensure your safety while you're here. And we will also arrange for your accommodations and any other needs you may have."

The lead mage nodded in satisfaction. "Very well," he said. "We accept your offer. We will begin our work tomorrow."

With that, the mages were escorted into the city and taken to their accommodations. Liam and Isidora breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they had averted a potential disaster.