Chapter 30 The BarraRitual
Miranda was happy.Zephira had finally capitulated. She had made it plain that shewould not interfere with Miranda and Aquitain’s plans, and he wasnow solely Miranda’s responsibility. The real problem was thatAquitain had not yet made it clear what he wanted, and she worriedthat he might not feel the same way she did. Why was it all socomplex, she wondered, but already knew the answer - the godswanted them to do something very special, and very likely theywouldn’t be truly together until after they had completed thequest.
For the first time butnot the last, she questioned the Lady’s motives. What game was hergoddess playing? What were the stakes and who were the otherplayers? What was her part and what was Aquitain’s part? She hadseen the dormant power behind his eyes and knew that if he attainedthe power hidden there they were in for a hell of ride. All shewanted to know was whether he really cared for her as she did forhim. If he did, then the gods would get their money’s worth andmore from both of them.
Miranda was soemotional that she could hardly sleep. She lay there thinking aboutAquitain. He could change into a newman and his equipment was nowfully functional. Was he deliberately not changing because it wouldbe too hard for the two of them? She wanted to hug and kiss him.Was he afraid that he might lose control? Perhaps he was right,perhaps it was better that he stayed in bear form. Sometime in theearly morning she dropped asleep, and before she knew it the dawnsun shone on her face.
Just after sunrise, shestrolled into Belloe’s camp on the edge of the river. All ofBelloe’s team were wide-awake. They had apparently had littlesleep. The thought of a Thunder Lizard wandering around had them onedge. While few people in Mudrun had seen these huge lizards, mosthad heard of them and this group had experience with one. Those whoknew of it called it ‘Quick Death’. It was very big, tough, fastand lethal. If Quick Death was around then they would pack up andgo back to Turtlehaven and wait a month until it went away. No onein his or her right mind would go hunting with it around.
Miranda stopped outsidethe tent with the construct standing beside it and examined themetal beast thoroughly. It didn’t invoke any feeling in her at all.It was just a killing machine and had no real place in the jungle.It seemed like overkill to send it here to fight the mask, butperhaps the mask had some nasty hidden features that they didn’tknow about. It was always better to have too many weapons than toofew.
‘Impressive isn’t it?How do you think it would rate against a Thunder Lizard?’ askedBelloe.
Almost on cue Zephirastrolled out of her tent yawning, followed by Chantalot. ‘I guess afew hours sleep is better than none,’ she said. ‘Hello Miranda, didyou sleep well?’
‘No. Not really. I havea lot on my mind. There’s been so much happening lately that it’shard to keep track. Aquitain is due back at the Jeti village thismorning and I need to fly over there to tell him you are here. ThenI’ll have to fly back with Alpha as a teleport marker so that hecan get here, as he can’t fly yet. However, I think that the Barrapeople expect us to have a meeting sometime this morning, before Ileave.’
‘He can use Goth as ateleport marker. That might save you a flight back,’ repliedZephira.
‘Really! That wouldcertainly save us some time and effort. We’ll do that. Thanks forthe suggestion Zephira,’ said Miranda.
Belloe was listening inand wondering why the two women who last night had seemed ready tokill each other were now so friendly.
‘I’ll never understandthem,’ he thought. ‘I wonder who this fellow is that they keeptalking about? He must be a real lady-killer to have two women likethese fighting over him. I wonder where the bard fits in?’
A few moments later, ayoung Barra boy ran into the camp and stopped in front of Miranda.He looked her in the face and said.
‘Loma, our new headmanis wanting you to be coming to the meeting. They are going to behaving a tribal council. I will be leading you there if you areliking it.’
Miranda turned to theothers and said.
‘They are having atribal council. You might as well all come, but don’t speak unlessasked. After what happened yesterday, these people are going to bevery upset; and I would rather that none of it is directed atus.’
They followed the Barraboy with Zephira at the back of the group, and the constructseveral paces behind her. When the group walked into the centre ofthe village, which was just outside the community shelter andshaded by a large mango-like fruit tree, all eyes turned towardsthem but they only saw one thing: Goth.
The new headman, Loma,quickly ran forward to Miranda and asked her what evil she wasbringing into the village. She said that his people should not bealarmed, as it was a mindless warrior controlled by one of thegroup. It would not harm them but would instead fight for them.
Zephira asked theconstruct to place its sword on the ground and raise its arms inthe air. It did this and stood still like a statue. Loma walkedaround it watchfully. When behind it he hit it with the shaft ofhis spear causing a loud metallic clanging sound, but nothinghappened. He then ignored it and walked back into the centre of thevillage.
The surviving Barrapeople sat in a semicircle at the centre of the village outside thecommunity shelter. There were fourteen warriors, eleven women andfive small children. Miranda, Zephira, Chantalot, Belloe and hisfour people sat in a semicircle facing the natives. Loma startedthe meeting.
‘I am being sad to bewelcoming you to our village on a day such as this. Yesterday, aThunder Lizard and many jungle cats were attacking us. I am notunderstanding why this lizard would be attacking our people. I amfearing that the spirits have been deserting us. The Thunder Lizardis being a sacred spirit
