by Des Pensable
Quab came racing toward them clad in leather armour and weapons.
‘I felt the tremor and saw the sky. What has happened?’ then he saw Zephira on her knees crying, and guessed that something had happened to Aquitain.
Featherdown looked around and saw a hundred officers and guards standing watching, weapons in hand. He asked them to stand down and told them to attend a meeting later, when he would tell then what had occurred. He then walked over to Zephira and helped her up.
‘Come with me Zephira, and you as well Quab, we have some important matters to discuss.’
Chapter 21 Questions and Answers
Quab and Zephira stood sadly in the entertainment room and the High Wizard called down the wards on the tower, to seal it off from any who would listen. The tower became deathly quiet, and a thin milky mist appeared, populated with strange, floating ghost like apparitions.
‘What’s happening?’ demanded Zephira, suddenly afraid.
‘I’m making sure that we are not overheard,’ advised Featherdown. ‘Sit down, both of you. Firstly, and this is very important, have either of you told anyone about Miranda’s story, or about their location?’
Both Quab and Zephira were adamant that they had not said a thing to anyone.
‘And Quab, you warded the sanctuary when you talked with Miranda?’
‘Yes on both occasions. Why?’ asked Quab.
‘Miranda is a wild lass, but follows after her mother. She is very cunning and very passionate. If she were to take on a cause then I have no doubt she would stop at nothing to ensure that it succeeded. I believe that the entertainment we have witnessed was a ploy on her part to get rid of the Archon, and convince everyone that Aquitain is dead. It was also a very strong warning to all that he is not alone, and that any that would interfere with him would also have her anger to contend with. I would bet a year’s salary that Aquitain is alive and well.’
‘But how can we be sure?’ asked Zephira, still trembling with reaction but now growing excited.
‘We may have a witness,’ said Featherdown confidently, and he called for Jaztrix to attend them. However to his surprise, one of the other gnomes came.
‘Jaztrix has asked me to deliver this letter to you, my Lord.’
Featherdown took and opened it with a puzzled expression on his face.
To High Wizard Featherdown,
Dear Master,
You will wish to ask me some questions I cannot answer.
Consequently, I cannot continue as your apprentice.
Goodbye.
Your obedient servant and apprentice,
Jaztrix.
‘By the Powers, this event has taken a strange turn,’ said Featherdown, and showed them the letter.
‘I sent Jaztrix to covertly watch over them, as she is a master at hiding. It seems that something did happen, but that she has, somehow, also become involved in the plot.’
‘Could she have been an assassin?’ asked Zephira. ‘My grandfather has always said that the best assassin is the person you trust the most.’
‘She came with impeccable references from a trusted associate. I cannot believe that she would be an assassin,’ replied Featherdown, quite disturbed at the suggestion.
‘Damn it! Your grandfather’s scheme is cutting too close for my liking.’
‘What scheme?’ asked Zephira, a little mystified by his comment.
‘Let me tell you a story, Zephira. Before I came here I was a mercenary war wizard, but rather than sell my services to those with the greatest gold I sold myself to the poor, the innocent and the oppressed. I was very successful, too successful, as I upset many powerful rulers and became branded as a rogue wizard. I was hounded from world to world for two years until one day your grandfather told me about the job as High Wizard here and helped me get it. I was forever grateful to him, and as time passed and he asked me to look the other way as his agents came and went, I did. They never caused any problems or broke any laws, so I ignored them.
‘Then one day three years ago one of his agents called into the inn while I was there, and shape changed into a Yith. He told me a story that I found hard to believe at the time. He told me what had caused the Great Storm on Mudrun and revealed that if the problem was not rectified it would cause more cataclysms and massive loss of life. He said that in the near future, a person would be coming who would hold promise in resolving the problem. However, when that person tried to repair the problem it was likely to upset the gods, as they had a stake in the outcome. I was asked to help that person succeed.
‘I went to see the High Druid, and as I told him the story I realised from his reactions that some of it might be true, so I didn’t tell him the whole story. He said it was all rubbish and to forget about it, so I didn’t pursue it any further. However, I learnt later that the Druid Council was most upset when he informed them, and soon after relations with them deteriorated and they decided to place a senior wizard with me, supposedly to help, but clearly to spy on me.
‘I was quite annoyed with this and went to see your grandfather and told him the story, but curiously he denied any knowledge of it. Fortunately I had some hard proof. The Yith had given me a book to give to the person who would attempt to fix the problem. He was quite surprised to see the book, and obviously recognised it. For he took it and tore it in half, and told me that if the person should ever turn up to only give him the first half, as the rest was too dangerous.’
Zephira suddenly remembered the half book that Aquitain had been so excited about. ‘You think that Aquitain is this person foretold to come and solve this great problem? That’s unlikely. I’ve known him all his life. He’s no great fighter.’
‘Zephira, the book was addressed to Aquitain, from his father.’
‘But that’s ridiculous. They only gave him that name just before he left Panmagica.’
‘So you think that they gave him that name because it was on the book? Why? What game is your grandfather playing?’
‘I have no idea. He told us nothing,’ Zephira replied.
‘He told you to seek the druid Alin Amber, did he not?’
‘Well yes, what is wrong with that?’ asked Zephira.
‘He was the Yith who told me the story three years ago. Your grandfather was sending you and Aquitain to find the Yith who gave me the book to give to Aquitain. Doesn’t that seem a little strange?’
Zephira was feeling distinctly uncomfortable. The High Wizard’s suggestion that her grandfather had set up some elaborate scheme years ago involving Aquitain seemed incredible, but the evidence was leaning that way. Her grandfather was always very careful about what Aquitain was allowed or not allowed to learn, and had tutored him as if he might have some specific task in the future. Maybe there was a hidden agenda behind their presence here.
‘I don’t know what to say. All I can say is that neither Aquitain nor I knew anything about what you’ve just told me.’
‘Zephira, I’m inclined to help Aquitain with whatever he has to do, but I don’t know how. I need more information. Can’t you tell me anything?’
‘Well, none of this would have happened if his body didn’t start going strange. We had a family meeting and my grandfather said we needed to get some help so that he could control it. That’s when he got Facit the Logicon in to help. He said he had someone else as well, but we had to leave before they came owing to the trouble with the Archon. We only had a couple of hours to leave Panmagica, and all that was taken up in making our preparations.’
‘That’s it,’ said Quab. ‘Their grandfather was waiting for the time when Aquitain’s shape changing ability became active. Whatever Aquitain has got to do has something to do with his ability to shape change.’
‘I suppose that’s possible,’ Featherdown agreed, ‘but druids can do that easily, can’t they?’
‘Yes and no. We can change into a variety of animal forms, but there are many that are excluded to us. Aquitain is a true shape changer. In theory he can change into
anything provided he takes the time to learn, and that’s exactly what he’s been wanting to do.’
‘Don’t forget that he’s also a mind wizard,’ said Featherdown.
‘That means he can use his powers when shape changed to another creature. If a druid or a normal wizard changes shape they can’t use their powers or prayers.’
‘By the Powers, that could make him quite formidable. Just imagine if an eagle could cast fireballs or a monkey could suddenly cast a lightning bolt.’
‘Well you can feel safe, because he can’t do those things. Granddad only allowed him to learn defensive powers,’ said Zephira.
‘Really,’ said Featherdown, ‘that suggests to me that he was worried about what Aquitain might do. This gets more interesting by the minute.’
Zephira bit her tongue. She was being prompted to give away Aquitain’s weaknesses, and she didn’t know how far she could trust Featherdown and Quab. The three of them were all lost in their own thoughts for a moment or two then the High Wizard decided that they had discussed the situation enough, and suggested that they all take a break. Zephira left not quite sure whether she should be happy or sad, but getting roaring drunk seemed to fit both possibilities, so that’s what she set off to do.
**
Miranda teleported back to the U-shaped gully that she had always known as her own backyard. She knew every bush, every flower, and she had planted many of them, along with every twist and turn in the stream that flowed from the waterfall through the gully, and down into the jungle on its way to the swamp several leagues away.
She was mentally weary. It had already been a hard day, one of the most emotional she could remember. She hoped her mother was still away, as she just wanted to have a good night’s sleep. After that she could face the world again. Maybe when she awoke she’d find the last few days were just a dream. In some ways she hoped that was true, in others she hoped this time would remain as real as it seemed now. The wizard was turning her whole world upside down, and she wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.
She trudged down the gully through the waterfall and its icy cool added nothing to her temperament. She opened the gateway, passed through it to her real home, and teleported to the armoury to divest herself of her fighting equipment. She was slowly and methodically making her way back to the living room on course to her bedroom, when she ran into her mother.
Her mother was a nymph - one of the most dangerous creatures in the world to a male newman. Nymphs lived to allure men to their deaths by excessive sexual pleasure. Her mother had been cursed with this affliction not long after Miranda’s birth, when a well-meaning druid had reincarnated her after a violent death. Few people knew the real story surrounding the birth of Miranda or the death of her mother, but there were many versions of the tale and all were incorrect.
‘How was your day, Miranda?’ asked Snowbelle casually.
‘I’ve been quite busy, mother. I’m tired and I might take a nap.’
‘I heard that there was a dark cloud over Twin Towers a short while ago. It’s description seems very similar to the one I remember seeing the last time I used the Staff of Storms,’ remarked her mother.
‘That’s very interesting, mother. I’m tired, can we discuss this later?’
‘I checked on the Staff of Storms, and it was missing. Do you know anything about that Miranda?’
‘Yes, mother. I thought that it might need a bit of exercise, so I took it for a walk.’
‘Don’t get smart with me, Miranda! That is a very powerful weapon, not a toy for light entertainment.’
‘And I used it as a weapon, mother, to assert my royal displeasure!’
‘Well, that is acceptable, but leads us to the question as to who or what upset you? Is it something that I should do something about?’
‘No mother, it is well within my capabilities.’
‘Are you going to enlighten me, or should I ask Allalanllea?’
‘Allalanllea is not involved,’ said Miranda.
‘Perhaps I should ask her that question. Allalanllea come here.’
The great spider appeared. ‘Yes your Highness?’
‘Has anything unusual happened today that involved Miranda?’
‘Not that I recall, Your Highness,’ said the spider.
‘Then your vision must be suspect. Who is your Queen?’
‘You are my Queen,’ replied the spider, looking a bit worried.
‘Stop this pretence, mother. Leave Allalanllea alone. She is your loyal servant, as am I. Ask me your questions and I will answer them.’
‘You may leave Allalanllea,’ said the Queen.
‘Miranda, I have heard whispers about you associating with a wizard.’
‘Then your sources are correct. I have been associating, walking, talking, working, fighting, laughing, crying, eating, drinking, hugging and everything else I can do with a wizard, without making love to him, but I wishing I could.’
‘So you’ve found someone you like. Do you love him?’
‘How do I know, mother? I don’t know what love is. You’ve always stood in my way. Blocked my every chance and made it impossible for me to know anyone. If what I feel for him is love then maybe I do love him.’
‘Does he love you?’
‘I don’t know for sure.’
‘Did you tell him about your curse?’ asked Snowbelle.
‘Yes. He is cursed as well. Neither of us can touch each other.’
‘Well this is unexpected. How strange fate is. What is his curse?’
‘He is a newman spirit in the body of a slime creature.’
‘You love a slime creature? That’s obscene!’
‘Don’t let your imagination run away with itself mother. He can shape change to his newman form. His spirit is strong and powerful but gentle and caring. Unfortunately, his body is unresponsive to mine. That is his curse.’
‘Dump him and I will not harm him. Forget him. He cannot possibly fulfil the conditions to lift your curse. He will only cause you grief and sorrow.’
‘Well it is grief and sorrow that I shall weather, mother, for I have no intention of doing anything other than helping him. Now I’m tired, I need rest, as we have big challenges ahead of us.’
‘You’ll get no help from me!’
‘I expected none mother. We will survive by our own means and be stronger because of it.’
‘I will not let you make a fool of yourself for a wizard,’ screamed her mother and she attempted to dominate Miranda’s mind. Miranda felt it coming and imagined it as a ball and hand attack and succeeded in fending it off. But her mother immediately attacked again as a cat, so Miranda formed her defence as a cat and they fought mind to mind. The headstrong young cat against the headstrong older cat. They hissed and spat and leaped and rolled and jumped and struck at each other for an indeterminable time, until Miranda collapsed with exhaustion.
Snowbelle staggered to a chair and ordered a strong drink and sipped it while waiting for Miranda to return to consciousness. Finally Miranda stood up and said:
‘All right mother, you won this time but I’m still going and if you try to stop me I’ll fight you again.’
‘I’ll not stop you. He’s taught you well. I think you’ve finally found someone who might have a chance to remove that damn curse.’
‘What do you mean? I thought you could remove it,’ said Miranda.
‘I’ll admit it was my idea to put it on you, but something went wrong in the ritual. It ended up much more powerful than I anticipated. I prayed to the Lady about it and sometime later I received a dream, which set out three conditions for its removal. The first seemed so trivial that I never bothered telling you. The second worried me so I purposely didn’t tell you and the third you know. Anyone who wishes to lift the curse must first defeat me in a mental challenge, and I am undefeated.’
‘What are the other two conditions?’
‘Oh no. I will only tell those to your slimy would-be lover after he has defe
ated me.’
‘Mother, he is no longer a slime creature, he was killed by an assassin this morning and I reincarnated him using the final charge in your favourite flower pendant. He is now a bear.’ She smiled, knowing her mother’s likely reaction, and fled to her retreat to avoid the fallout.
She teleported to the gateway, passed through it back to Mudrun, ran out through the waterfall, shape changed to her eagle form and flew up to her secret hideaway in the cliff face in the southern wall of the U-shaped gully.
When Miranda was a child she had spent countless hours in the gully with the waterfall. She knew almost every rock, for she had picked them up and turned them over looking for small creatures. Running along the southern wall of the gully thirty paces from the ground was a two pace wide ledge, and about half way along the ledge was a crack, a thin crevice, in the gully wall. She had often wondered what lay down that crack.
She had been initiated into the order of druids as a young teenager, and as soon as she had learnt to fly as an eagle she had flown up to the ledge and explored it. It wound into the cliff face about fifty paces before ending in a cave, which was supplied with air from another crack that went above. Fresh water was also available, which filtered through a fault line in the rock. Immediately she found it, she had declared that this was her private domain. This was Miranda’s Retreat.
From that moment onwards she had gone there when she had an argument with her mother, or when she wanted a period of contemplation. Over the years she had upgraded it with sleeping equipment and a stash of food. There was a very traumatic period when a family of cave spiders had invaded it. As a good druid she had tried for a whole week to coax them to leave. In the end in a fit of rage she had swept through and killed the lot of them, two adults and nineteen hatchlings.
