by Des Pensable
‘It was Curbut,’ said Alpha aloud. ‘I heard him speak when he entered the room. He also took Aquitain’s powerstones and the air elemental globe that he was given by Whooshoo.’
‘What! Curbut!’ exclaimed Featherdown jumping to his feet. ‘How would he have known where to go? Why would he want to do it? I don’t particularly like the man, but to accuse him of murdering Aquitain is very serious indeed.’
‘It’s no secret that he didn’t like Aquitain,’ said Quab. ‘You must have heard the rumours.’
‘Curbut is a spy for the Druid Council sent to keep a watch on what happens here. The implication is that he tipped them off that Aquitain was here and they gave him an order to kill Aquitain. That makes the Council the murderer, Quab,’ said Featherdown.
‘I find that hard to believe. The Council has never ordered anyone’s death that I’m aware of,’ Quab replied. ‘But there has been a lot of argument amongst the Council as you know. Perhaps one of the Councillors might have made an independent decision to have Aquitain killed. That could be possible.’
‘Why would anyone on the Druid’s Council want me killed?’ asked Aquitain.
‘Um. We don’t know,’ said Featherdown, and abruptly changed the subject. He told Aquitain about his grandfather’s visit earlier in the morning; what they learnt about the mask, and about Zephira’s mission to find him to give him the information on how to destroy it. They told him about the attack on the town the previous night, and even about Miranda’s spectacular announcement of his death.
After all that he still remembered that they hadn’t answered his question. ‘Why is the Druid’s Council interested in me Quab? Why might they want to have me killed?’
Quab looked at Featherdown and guiltily said, ‘I don’t know.’
‘You mean you can’t or won’t tell me?’ said Aquitain.
‘No. It means that it’s of no more interest as they think that you’re dead,’ said Featherdown, ‘and as long as you stay dead as far as anyone knows, you’ll be safe. Why don’t you change your name?’
It was obvious that he wasn’t going to get any more information out of either of them so he dropped it.
‘Are you going to kill Curbut or shall I?’ he said.
‘No, we can’t just kill the man. We have to be sure first that he did it. Leave it to me. If he killed you then he will be brought to justice. Now, why don’t you tell us what’s happened since you’ve been reincarnated?’
‘Nothing really, I just eat and sleep a lot,’ replied Aquitain, now quite annoyed at Featherdown’s refusal to tell him why the Druid’s Council was after him, and at his apparent disregard for bringing Curbut to justice.
‘Oh. Well you can sleep in the workshop tonight if you wish. No one’s been in there since you left. That is assuming that you can fit.’
‘No thank you. I’ll stay at the sanctuary if it’s all right with Quab.’
‘Of course,’ said Quab. ‘We can have a few ales together and talk about shape changing.’
The meeting ended, Aquitain changed to his giant newman form and they left for the sanctuary. Neither talked on the way there, as Aquitain was trying to calm himself by mentally singing a calming mantra; and Quab normally talkative, was unusually quiet. The alarm bells in Aquitain’s mind were ringing. There was some type of conspiracy involving Granddad, Featherdown and Quab.
He knew how Granddad operated. He had watched it for years. Granddad had turned up for a specific reason and he doubted that it was because of the mask. Granddad would have known more than anyone that Aquitain could handle the mask. Why then was he here? He had spent hours with Featherdown. Perhaps Zephira knew. He would have to get Miranda to meet her and take her to the Jeti village. Why did granddad send Goth? Even Featherdown must have realized that Goth was a huge overkill. There was much more to this than he was being told. Granddad was up to something and it involved him.
Aquitain turned his mind to the question of how Curbut had found out where he and Miranda were hiding. Both Featherdown and Quab had had active wards when Miranda told them about the adventure in which they found the mask. He knew wards could be breached and the most likely one was Quab’s, as it was very open in the sanctuary and usually full of animals.
Perhaps there was an animal spy that lived in the sanctuary. Maybe they could find out tonight. Any spy would want to know more about a giant. Why was it here and what business did it have with Featherdown and Quab? It was a sure bet that if there was an animal spy around it would be here tonight. So he would set a trap and see what turned up.
After they arrived, Aquitain had Alpha grow legs and sent him off to search for creatures in and around Quab’s hut, while Quab activated the wards. He and Quab then sat around watching the sunset while Aquitain drank a couple of buckets of ale. After dark, Quab sat on his veranda and Aquitain sat on the ground next to him and they talked about the weather and made other small talk. What Quab didn’t realize was that Alpha was patrolling the roof of the cottage.
About ten minutes after dark Alpha alerted Aquitain that a bird had alighted on the other side of the roof and was walking over to the area near them. Aquitain asked for an image and location, and shortly after the bird had taken up a position to hear them speaking he used his mind magic to charm the bird, then put his hand up to the roof and using mindspeak asked it to hop on a finger.
Quab felt the surge of magic, and jumped up. ‘What are you doing?’ he asked.
‘Calm down, one of your birds is interested in talking to us,’ replied Aquitain.
‘Do you want me to talk to it for you?’ Quab suggested. ‘I can talk to birds.’
Aquitain didn’t answer, but instead concentrated on the bird sitting on his index finger with glazed eyes.
‘What is your name bird?’ he asked, using mindspeak.
‘I am called Selissa, Your Lordship.’ answered the bird, also in mindspeak.
‘Who sent you here?’ asked Aquitain.
‘My master, wizard Curbut, Your Lordship,’ said Selissa.
‘Did you hear that Quab?’ His eyes opened wide and he nodded.
‘Why did you come here tonight Selissa?’
‘To listen to what the giant and the druid were talking about, Your Lordship.’
‘Do you know where the creature that looks like a metal box is staying?’
‘Yes it is in an underground place to the north of here, Your Lordship.’
‘Did you tell your master where the metal box creature was staying?’
‘Yes, Your Lordship.’
‘Do you often listen in on conversations between the druid and others?’
‘Yes, Your Lordship.’
‘Do you listen in on conversations between the High Wizard and others?’
‘Yes, when he’s outside his tower, Your Lordship.’
‘Thank you Selissa. You’re a lovely bird. Your master must be very proud of you. Quab is going to get a cage for you to rest in and give you some food before you return to your master.’
‘Thank you Your Lordship,’ said Selissa as Quab dashed into his cottage to return with a birdcage. The bird hopped from Aquitain’s finger into the cage, Quab put it inside his cottage, then returned.
‘By the Lady, I never would have guessed. Curbut must know everything, as Featherdown and I often discuss business here.’
‘Good. Then here’s your chance to do something about it. You’d better go and see Featherdown and find out what he wants to do. I’ll watch for any more little snoopers.’
‘How did you know?’ asked Quab.
‘Sorry, I can’t give away trade secrets.’
Quab disappeared, came back nearly two hours later and handed Aquitain a bag. ‘I believe these are yours.’ The bag contained some rings, powerstones and the orb given to him by Whooshoo.
‘We found them in Curbut’s room. He had other stolen goods, as well as letters addressed to him from the Unity of Wisdom, which when shown in a druid court will lead to him being purged of his
magic ability, and probably executed as a spy and traitor. Are you happy?’
‘Yes. Much happier,’ said Aquitain. ‘Now if I only knew why the Druid’s Council wants to kill me, I would call it a good night.’
‘I am sorry but I’m not at liberty to say anything. Ask your grandfather - maybe he knows something.’
‘Thank you Quab, I will,’ he said, then thought, ‘The old bastard is playing some type of game with me as bait.’
‘Featherdown asked me to give you these.’ And he handed Aquitain two scrolls and two small boxes. 'One scroll appoints Miranda to the position of Druid Hound. It relieves her of all normal duties and charges her to seek out the causes of instability with regard to prophecies predicting chaos within Mudrun, and to take appropriate action to ensure peace. It raises her to the position of Senior Druid and is signed by the High Druid himself. This should demonstrate that not everyone on the Council is against you.’
‘The second scroll is appointing you as a Wizard Hound to seek out and eliminate the threat of a dangerous object known as Jacintra’s Image, the Mask of Chaos and by other aliases, then to investigate other causes of instability in Mudrun. You are appointed to the rank of Wizard Captain and awarded citizen status for services rendered to the security of Mudrun. The High Wizard would like me to point out that as Wizard Hound you are answerable to no one on Mudrun but himself, and you may requisition any magical items or components from the military armouries on Mudrun that you deem necessary to complete your mission. Use it wisely and look after her,’ said Quab, and he went to bed.
‘Congratulations Captain,’ said Alpha.
Aquitain was lost for words. He opened one small box and found a Wizard Captain’s insignia brooch, and in the other found a greenstone ring, presumably the insignia of a Senior Druid. Both insignias were magical. Now he knew for sure that there was some type of conspiracy between Featherdown, Quab and his grandfather, and that they were on his side. The question was, what was his real mission? Presumably, only Alin Amber or his father knew that.
Chapter 29 The Mask Strikes Again
Miranda flew southeast from the Jeti village heading directly for the Crin city. The sun was dropping in the west, the breeze was cooler but the view was just as magnificent as always. Her beautiful jungle was stretched out before her like a monstrous verdant tapestry. She could see from the misty mountains in the west to the swamp in the east. The great river winding through the majestic work of art looked like a huge silver snake slithering across its surface.
She wished Aquitain were here to see this. They would have to find time so that he could learn to shape change to an eagle, and then they could fly up here together. He was going to love it, she thought, then worried a little that he might develop a fear of heights. Quite often when druids were learning to fly they crashed, sometimes injuring themselves badly. This was apt to give them a fear of heights, and an even greater fear of flying.
As she approached a little people’s camp in the distance, she observed that there seemed to be much more smoke coming from it than was usual for evening cooking fires. On closer approach, she noticed that three of the grass huts were on fire, then that at least sixty or seventy little people were all grouped together in a circle. The larger ones, probably the adults, were around the edge, and smaller ones were grouped at the centre.
Around the outside of the circle ran several jungle cats, each trying to break into the circle, but some invisible barrier was keeping them out. She saw one cat break away from the group and run into the jungle canopy where she lost sight of it, and then her blood ran cold. Out of the jungle came a huge Thunder Lizard. It would have stood at least three times the height of a newman.
The monster stomped directly towards the little people, then, as it closed to fifty paces from the protective circle, it let out a terrifying eardrum-shattering roar that even she heard from her position high in the sky. She held her breath as it attacked with such ferocity that the circle seemed to explode, raining bodies of adults and children everywhere. As soon as the circle was broken the cats charged in for their share of the carnage. It was an, horrendous, sickening massacre.
At one end of the village she saw several terrified little people running to hide in the jungle, but that a cat had strolled out and stood blocking their way. She could do something about that. She swooped down, landed in front of the little people, changed to cat form and charged the cat. As she sped towards it she could see that its reflexes were much slower than usual. She leapt and bowled it over, tearing and slashing at it. It didn’t want to fight, but turned tail and ran off into the jungle.
She shape changed to her newman form and shouted and waved to the little people to run and find shelter. They didn’t need a second invitation and hurried past her, but her voice had attracted the attention of two of the other cats which had started towards her. She quickly changed back to her cat form and rather than run from them, charged straight at them. This tactic scared one which veered away, but not the second, and they clashed and exchanged slashes, rolling and ripping at each other. This time she did get hurt with deep gashes across her stomach, but the other cat was injured as well, and both of them backed away from each other, snarling and spitting.
Another cat jogged towards them to join the fray, and with three of them facing her she decided to back off and darted towards the river with all three in pursuit. She took a flying leap from the riverbank and landed ten paces into the river, submerged and changed shape to the form of a crocodile. She had used this tactic once before. Moments after she entered the water she felt three splashes behind her. Normal cats might fear the water, but jungle cats didn’t mind it at all.
She swam in a circle beneath the three cats and saw that one was losing blood. That would be the one that had ripped her. It was going to be the victim. She propelled herself upwards with a quick thrust of her tail, opened her jaws and grabbed the cat, rolled viciously to disorient it, and dived for the bottom. It struggled for twenty or thirty seconds, then went limp. She let it go and swam upwards to attack another, but the other two had decided to paddle for the shore and were just climbing out as she surfaced.
Wham! Something hit her in the side and bit into her, ripping out a chunk of her flesh and causing a flourish of blood around her. She spun round to see the tail of a fish darting away. ‘Damn there’s a Barra here,’ she thought as the water made the wound sting terribly. These were large two pace long fish with wicked jagged teeth. They attacked anything, including crocodiles, and once there was blood in the water they came from everywhere to join in the feast.
She saw the cats were on the shore watching her, so she knew she couldn’t escape that way, and she was too heavy and wet to take to the air. She would have to go defensive; so she shape changed to a giant tortoise just as the Barra attacked again, and a second showed up attracted by her blood. She dove for the soft muddy bottom and on reaching it stirred up the mud to provide some cover, pulled her head and legs into her shell and lay quiet. The two Barra hit at her shell a couple of times but, unable to penetrate it, soon lost interest and swam away.
After several minutes, she decided to go up and have a look. She surfaced carefully under an overhanging tree and looked around. Tortoise vision wasn’t very good. It had a very wide field of view close by to see enemies, but it was very unclear and foggy at even a short distance of twenty paces away. This meant that she wouldn’t be able to see any of the land-based creatures until they were dangerously close, so she opted for discretion.
She spent the next half hour paddling towards the native camp, taking care to remain submerged for most of the distance, and staying only a few paces from the riverbank. When she hadn’t seen or heard anything unusual for several minutes she changed back to her newman form, and quickly searched the shoreline with her improved vision. Detecting no sign of activity, she carefully swam to the bank and slid out of the water, then darted for the nearest large tree several paces away.
Miranda was experience
d in moving through dangerous jungle, as she had done so many times before. She used the chameleon prayer to blend her shape and colour into the background, knowing that as long as she remained stationary few creatures would see her, although they might still be able to smell her scent if close enough, and the breeze was flowing towards them. After carefully listening, watching and sniffing the air for a minute or two, she headed off in the direction of the village, guessing that it wouldn’t be far.
The village was an occasional camping area, roughly semicircular in shape and approximately three hundred paces across, alongside and occupying a bend in the river. The canopy trees had been cut down, but there were several smaller fruit bearing trees dotted around. The area was used by several groups of nomadic little people as they travelled around the jungle.
A group would move in, stay for a few weeks, and then move on, as game became scarce in the locality. It would normally have had about twenty small crude palm covered shelters scattered around the area, and one larger community shelter about fifteen paces long and seven wide in the centre. More than half of the shelters had been collapsed or had burnt down during the raid, although fortunately, the community centre had survived.
On reaching the edge of the village she scouted around. The place was a slaughter yard. She noted that the green-scaled little people were from the Barra clan. There were dead bodies and body parts everywhere. It was evident that some of the bodies had been partially eaten. There were few bodies of children, but many pools of blood. Presumably they had been the first to be eaten. She felt heartbroken for both the Barra people and the cats. The Barra people would probably blame the purple-scaled Jeti people because of the cats, but she was sure that they weren’t to blame. Someone else was provoking trouble.
