‘Normally, I’d agree,’she said. ‘But I arrived while it was happening, and could dolittle to change the outcome. I had to flee and hide like theothers.’
Zephira was stillsitting in the bow where she had spent most of the trip. She wasonly a few paces away in the dark and recognized Miranda’s voice.As she jumped out of the boat she called,
‘Miranda! It’s meZephira. I need to talk to you and Aquitain. Is he here?’
Miranda stood herground as Zephira hurried up to her and they met face to face inthe glow of the lanterns. Zephira could see a feral hostilityburning in Miranda’s eyes. They were like those of a jungle catabout to attack.
‘Go back to TwinTowers, Zephira! He’s mine now. He doesn’t need anything fromyou.’
Zephira stepped back apace in fear. There was no doubt that Miranda considered Aquitainher property now and considered Zephira a threat. She would fightwithout reservation and Quab was not here to moderate. If Goth wastriggered to defend her it could get nasty. She had to back offfast and carefully.
She had to admireMiranda. The princess knew what she wanted and would defy the godsif they stood in her way. She reluctantly admitted to herself thatthis was a fitting partner for her much loved cousin.
‘I’m not here to fightyou Miranda, or to take him away from you. I know you’ve done yourbest to protect him and I want to thank you for saving his life.I’m here to bring important news from our grandfather, and perhapshelp if you wish. If not we’ll return to Twin Towers.’
‘Who yer talkingabout?’ asked Belloe suddenly curious about the confrontation.
‘Go about yourbusiness,’ said Miranda venomously and Zephira nodded.
‘Err ... me apologiesladies,’ replied Belloe, backing away from the two women.
‘We’ll camp heretonight and see what we can do ter help in the morning.’ He calledto his men to stand down and unpack the camping gear, but mumbledto himself how he knew that bringing Zephira and her metal monsteron this trip was going to cause trouble. Seconds later, Zephira wasjoined by Goth and Chantalot.
‘By the Lady, you’vebrought a bloody circus with you,’ said Miranda. ‘We’re not on apicnic or at a party, Zephira. There’s been a massacre of littlepeople here this afternoon and nobody’s in the mood for afair.’
‘I realize thatMiranda. Please calm down. We were sent here by the High Wizard tooffer help and not to hinder you in any way. You are in charge. Wewill leave if you want us to, but please listen to the news I’vebrought first. It may be important to what you and Aquitain decideto do,’ said Zephira, trying hard to be as conciliatory aspossible.
Miranda finally calmeda little.
‘All right, I’ll giveyou the benefit of the doubt. Tell me your news. I’m tired, and itwill be a big day tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, Miranda!There are important things that you and Aquitain should know about.Is he here?’ asked Zephira carefully.
‘No,’ said Miranda.‘Your trip here has been wasted, he’s at Twin Towers.’
‘By the Powers, why didhe return there? It’s probably more dangerous there than it ishere. We should speak in private.’ And she led Miranda aside sothey wouldn’t be overheard, and told her about the attack on thetown and the arrival of their grandfather; and especially about themask.
Miranda finallyaccepted that Zephira wasn’t there with any ulterior motive andrelaxed a little. She told Zephira how Aquitain had died, and howshe had borrowed one of her mother’s magical items to reincarnatehim, and what he was like as a bear. She told her how she had lefthim in the safety of the Crin, only to find out yesterday that hehad fully recovered and been tossed out of the Crin city by theQueen. She said that she had managed to find him again and they hadgone to visit the Jeti people to return their treasures, and onlythen found that the mask had been stolen.
Since they were notsure where the mask had been taken, they had split up to track itdown. Aquitain had gone to the town to advise them that it wasmissing, while her task had been to see if the Crin were involved;she had discovered the problem here with the Barra people on theway. Both women agreed it was quite possible that the mask mighthave caused what had happened this afternoon to the Barra people.Consequently, if it was in the area then they had a chance to trackit down and catch it, and Miranda conceded that they could use somehelp.
Chantalot hoveredtwenty paces away from the two women seriously worried about whathe should do if they suddenly started fighting. Both women werevery suspicious about each other’s motives. He knew that Zephirawas intensely jealous of Miranda being so close to Aquitain. Sheloved him like an over protective sister, and would readily fightMiranda if she felt he was in danger. He could now see by Miranda’sreaction that she loved him as well, and would readily fight if shefelt threatened by Zephira. With Goth present it was a recipe fortragedy.
He was intenselyrelieved and proud of Zephira when he heard them chucklingtogether. Somehow she had managed to restrain herself. Somehow shehad managed to accept another woman in Aquitain’s life. Finally shehad decided to let Miranda have a bit of slack. Thank the gods. Hedidn’t want to be present when either Aquitain or his brotherFeatherdown pointed the finger at him and asked why he had presidedover a disaster.
Finally the two womenseparated and Zephira came over to join him.
‘That was a closecall,’ he said.
‘Actually I‘m ratherrelieved.’ she said. ‘Aquitain’s soft and sentimental in many ways,but so mentally strong and powerful in others. I’ve always beenworried about who he would end up with. I would be happy with herin the family and she is welcome to look after him. I’d rather lookafter you and I'd better not catch you chasing any other women. I’mrather good with a knife.’
‘I knew I should havestayed at Twin Towers,’ jested Chantalot.
‘Perhaps we can find areason to be here,’ she said.
