‘By the Lady, I neverwould have guessed. Curbut must know everything, as Featherdown andI often discuss business here.’
‘Good. Then here’s yourchance to do something about it. You’d better go and seeFeatherdown and find out what he wants to do. I’ll watch for anymore little snoopers.’
‘How did you know?’asked Quab.
‘Sorry, I can’t giveaway trade secrets.’
Quab disappeared, cameback nearly two hours later and handed Aquitain a bag. ‘I believethese are yours.’ The bag contained some rings, powerstones and theorb given to him by Whooshoo.
‘We found them inCurbut’s room. He had other stolen goods, as well as lettersaddressed to him from the Unity of Wisdom, which when shown in adruid court will lead to him being purged of his magic ability, andprobably 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 tokill me, I would call it a good night.’
‘I am sorry but I’m notat liberty to say anything. Ask your grandfather - maybe he knowssomething.’
‘Thank you Quab, Iwill,’ he said, then thought, ‘The old bastard is playing some typeof game with me as bait.’
‘Featherdown asked meto give you these.’ And he handed Aquitain two scrolls and twosmall boxes. 'One scroll appoints Miranda to the position of DruidHound. It relieves her of all normal duties and charges her to seekout the causes of instability with regard to prophecies predictingchaos within Mudrun, and to take appropriate action to ensurepeace. It raises her to the position of Senior Druid and is signedby the High Druid himself. This should demonstrate that noteveryone on the Council is against you.’
‘The second scroll isappointing you as a Wizard Hound to seek out and eliminate thethreat of a dangerous object known as Jacintra’s Image, the Mask ofChaos and by other aliases, then to investigate other causes ofinstability in Mudrun. You are appointed to the rank of WizardCaptain and awarded citizen status for services rendered to thesecurity of Mudrun. The High Wizard would like me to point out thatas Wizard Hound you are answerable to no one on Mudrun but himself,and you may requisition any magical items or components from themilitary armouries on Mudrun that you deem necessary to completeyour mission. Use it wisely and look after her,’ said Quab, and hewent to bed.
‘CongratulationsCaptain,’ said Alpha.
Aquitain was lost forwords. He opened one small box and found a Wizard Captain’sinsignia brooch, and in the other found a greenstone ring,presumably the insignia of a Senior Druid. Both insignias weremagical. Now he knew for sure that there was some type ofconspiracy between Featherdown, Quab and his grandfather, and thatthey 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 StrikesAgain
Miranda flew southeastfrom the Jeti village heading directly for the Crin city. The sunwas dropping in the west, the breeze was cooler but the view wasjust as magnificent as always. Her beautiful jungle was stretchedout before her like a monstrous verdant tapestry. She could seefrom the misty mountains in the west to the swamp in the east. Thegreat river winding through the majestic work of art looked like ahuge silver snake slithering across its surface.
She wished Aquitainwere here to see this. They would have to find time so that hecould learn to shape change to an eagle, and then they could fly uphere together. He was going to love it, she thought, then worried alittle that he might develop a fear of heights. Quite often whendruids were learning to fly they crashed, sometimes injuringthemselves badly. This was apt to give them a fear of heights, andan even greater fear of flying.
As she approached alittle people’s camp in the distance, she observed that thereseemed to be much more smoke coming from it than was usual forevening cooking fires. On closer approach, she noticed that threeof the grass huts were on fire, then that at least sixty or seventylittle people were all grouped together in a circle. The largerones, probably the adults, were around the edge, and smaller oneswere grouped at the centre.
Around the outside ofthe circle ran several jungle cats, each trying to break into thecircle, but some invisible barrier was keeping them out. She sawone cat break away from the group and run into the jungle canopywhere she lost sight of it, and then her blood ran cold. Out of thejungle came a huge Thunder Lizard. It would have stood at leastthree times the height of a newman.
The monster stompeddirectly towards the little people, then, as it closed to fiftypaces from the protective circle, it let out a terrifyingeardrum-shattering roar that even she heard from her position highin the sky. She held her breath as it attacked with such ferocitythat the circle seemed to explode, raining bodies of adults andchildren everywhere. As soon as the circle was broken the catscharged in for their share of the carnage. It was an, horrendous,sickening massacre.
At one end of thevillage she saw several terrified little people running to hide inthe jungle, but that a cat had strolled out and stood blockingtheir way. She could do something about that. She swooped down,landed in front of the little people, changed to cat form andcharged the cat. As she sped towards it she could see that itsreflexes were much slower than usual. She leapt and bowled it over,tearing and slashing at it. It didn’t want to fight, but turnedtail and ran off into the jungle.
She shape changed toher newman form and shouted and waved to the little people to runand find shelter. They didn’t need a second invitation and hurriedpast her, but her voice had attracted the attention of two of theother cats which had started towards her. She quickly changed backto her cat form and rather than run from them, charged straight atthem. This tactic scared one which veered away, but not the second,and they clashed and exchanged slashes, rolling and ripping at eachother. This time she did get hurt with deep gashes across herstomach, but the other cat was injured as well,
