Chapter summaries Amari and the Great Game B.B. Alston

Chapter 6: The League of Magicians – A Dangerous Offer

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Amari and Elsie regroup after Bane’s speech. Using Elsie’s laptop, Amari looks up the term “UnWanted” – a derogatory label for supernaturals who fought on the Night Brothers’ side in the Ancient War, popularised by Abraham Van Helsing in 1315. She realises she is an UnWanted, and that Bane’s hunt for hidden magicians is merely an old grudge. Elsie suggests fighting back on social media, but Amari’s Eurg account was deleted when she was uninvited from the Bureau.

They decide to investigate the time freeze to prove magicians innocent. Elsie creates a whiteboard listing known magicians, all alibied. Amari then reveals the secret League of Magicians – a society of hundreds of magicians unknown to the Bureau. She has a card given by the League’s steward, Cozmo de’ Pazzi. Placing the card against a mirror, Amari is sucked into freezing water. She swims to a glowing doorway where Cozmo pulls her into his lake house at the bottom of Loch Ness.

Cozmo explains the drowning was a security measure – a spell would have made entry safe. He assures Amari that no League magician caused the time freeze; there are only two born magicians in any age (her and Dylan Van Helsing), and other League magicians are descendants of Vladimir’s shared magic. Amari asks why she wasn’t frozen, but Cozmo defers.

Cozmo reveals that Bane’s hunt threatens magicians, and the League needs a leader. He offers Amari the Crown of Count Vladimir, which would give her control over all inherited magic, making her nearly unstoppable. He urges her to lead the League into war against the Bureau if necessary. Amari refuses, asking for time to solve the time freeze. Cozmo reluctantly agrees but warns of grave consequences.

Key Events

  • Amari researches “UnWanted” and learns she belongs to that group.
  • Elsie arrives and they brainstorm how to fight Bane’s accusations.
  • They decide the best move is to solve the time freeze and prove magicians innocent.
  • Elsie creates a whiteboard listing known magicians; Amari reveals the League of Magicians.
  • Amari uses a magician’s card to contact Cozmo; she is pulled into Loch Ness and nearly drowns.
  • Cozmo explains the security feature and that the League did not cause the time freeze.
  • Cozmo offers Amari the Crown of Vladimir and demands she lead the League against Bane.
  • Amari asks for time to end the time freeze instead; Cozmo grants it reluctantly with a warning.

Character Development

  • Amari Peters: Grows more determined to clear her name, but also more cautious. She admits she feared the League might be dangerous. Her decision to decline the Crown shows she values loyalty to the Bureau and her friends over power.
  • Elsie: Continues to be Amari’s steadfast ally, encouraging her to be brave. She is shocked by the existence of the League but supports Amari’s choices.
  • Cozmo (Cosimo de’ Pazzi): Revealed as a desperate leader willing to push a thirteen-year-old into a war. His frustration and urgency highlight the League’s vulnerability.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Prejudice and Generational Guilt: The term “UnWanted” shows how ancient wars can be used to justify modern discrimination. Amari notes that most accused supernaturals are descendants, not participants.
  • Power and Responsibility: The Crown of Vladimir symbolises absolute magical power. Amari’s refusal underscores the theme that true leadership means knowing when not to take power.
  • Secrecy vs. Morality: The League’s insistence on hiding contrasts with Amari’s belief in transparency and justice. Cozmo values survival over ethics, while Amari hopes to avoid war.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter shifts the story from a mystery to a political thriller. The introduction of the League of Magicians and the Crown of Vladimir raises the stakes enormously. Amari is forced to choose between two communities she cares about – the Bureau and the League. Her decision to delay that choice sets up the central conflict of the book: can she solve the time freeze before war breaks out? Cozmo’s warning hints that refusal may come at a heavy price.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Amari decide to investigate the time freeze?
She believes that if she can solve the time freeze and free the Supernatural World Congress, Bane will lose his position as Prime Minister, and the hunt for UnWanteds will end. It’s the only way she sees to prevent a war between the Bureau and the League.

2. How does Cozmo justify offering Amari the Crown?
He argues that Bane’s campaign will inevitably expose the League, forcing them to fight or be destroyed. Amari, as a born magician, is the only one who can wear the Crown and command all inherited magic, making her powerful enough to defend magiciankind.

3. What do we learn about the League of Magicians in this chapter?
It is a secret society of hundreds of magicians who are descendants of Count Vladimir’s followers. They are not born magicians; the only two born magicians in any age are Amari and Dylan. The League has a steward (Cozmo) who serves until a born magician takes over. They have their own security measures, like the drowning entry to Cozmo’s lake house.

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