‘I was told that youand Featherdown were at Curbut’s trial, and we needed to actimmediately,’ Aquitain explained.
‘I can see,’ said Quab.‘Trouble seems to follow you wherever you go, and now it’sspreading elsewhere as well. I was invited to attend the Councilmeeting this morning, which was held to discuss the trial. From thevery start it was a fight between the High Druid and others on theCouncil opposed to the trial. For some unknown reason, two of theCouncil members who are friends of the High Druid did not attendthe meeting, and the High Druid was outvoted. The trial wascancelled and Curbut released. Featherdown was furious, so we wentto the inn for a few ales and there we started to hear all sorts ofstories.
‘The dragon turtle atDragon Haven went wild yesterday, sinking all the fishing boats anddestroying the docks. Several people were killed and another dozeninjured. There was also a series of fires in buildings. The grainstore burned down leaving the town short of grain. The northernfarms were attacked by a plague of locusts a few days ago, whichdestroyed the harvest for this year. A mysterious disease has beenkilling domestic animals in the northwest and seems to bespreading.
‘In Templegate thewater supply was poisoned with dead animals. The little people wereblamed, and some group attacked the local tribe and there wereseveral killed. The survivors have gone into hiding in the hills.Several druids have been reported missing. One of the buildings atthe Templegate garrison caught fire last night, and three peoplewere killed in an explosion while fighting the fire. Animals aregoing wild and attacking their owners. Food is going sour. Strangesounds have been heard at night in some locations. Some farmershave been murdered in their beds by animals. The list goes on.’
‘By the Powers Quab, Idon’t like the sound of this. I can’t believe that the mask hasbeen involved in all of those things, although it was probablyinvolved in the massacre of the Barra people. Anyway, we’vecaptured it and it won’t be causing any more problems. But I doremember that Queen Beatrix told me that she was told by Alin Amberthat once the Chaos Lord was seen running around then chaos wouldfollow. Miranda and I have seen him twice now. I fought with amanifestation of him last night near the Jeti village, and he saidhe wouldn’t be stopped. He might be behind some of the problems,but I wouldn’t rule out other causes as well. There seems to be aconcerted effort to make us believe that Alin Amber’s prophecy iscoming true.’
‘At the moment we’vegot a real problem here. There are supposed to be Barra childrenbeing held captive in the temple but some type of temple defencehas been activated. Do you know anything about it? Do you know ifit’s ever happened before?’
‘No I don’t knowanything about the temples. The High Druid would, but he’spreoccupied at the moment. There’s talk of a challenge to hisleadership. These challenges are often a fight to the death,’ hereplied. ‘If he loses, then Featherdown will probably be replacedby Curbut, and that’ll affect you directly.’
‘Damn, I should havekilled that bastard,’ said Aquitain. ‘Thanks for the news, even ifit’s not good. Please Return to Featherdown and tell him I’ll bringhis guards back as soon as we sort this problem out, but that itmay take a few days. Tell him I think it’s important for goodrelations with the little people and the Crin to see the Guardshelping them. We can talk about Curbut and the other problems laterif he wishes.’
Quab nodded to Miranda,activated a teleport ring and was gone.
‘Lady have mercy onus,’ said Miranda. ‘This is becoming serious.’
‘Yes, I think it’s timewe found Alin Amber and my father so that we can find out what’sreally going on, but I want to get these children out first. Solet’s get working and find out what these defences do, so that Ican work out how to bypass them.’ They returned to Kami.
‘Kami you wanted tocome with me for a specific reason. I suspect that you came becauseyou knew that something might happen. Let me tell you now that Ican break into this temple but it might take me a week and theBarra children might die while we are trying to break the defences.We might also lose many good people by accidentally makingmistakes.
‘The temple is in goodorder considering its age. Someone is maintaining it and I amguessing that it is your people, and perhaps the Barra people aswell. You have knowledge about this temple that will help me tobreak in more quickly and save the Barra children, but I amguessing that it is against some rule or taboo for you to tell me.If the defences were not active, what pathway would you walk?’
‘You are cunning asalways, Spirit Lord. If the great ball were not showing on the topof the temple and the fountains were displaying their wonders, Iwould be walking on the eastern road, Great Lord,’ said Kami.‘However at the moment it is being too dangerous.’
‘Kami before I became aspirit bear I was involved in making magic items. My master and hismaster always taught that if we created a magic defence on abuilding there had to be two ways to turn it off. The first waywould be known to all, but the second was always kept a secret incase the wrong people activated the defences. I am guessing thatsome lore you know of tells how to turn off a part of the defences.If I asked you to send some of your people into the temple, whatwould worry you?’
‘If I were being askedto be sending some people into the temple I would be worried thatthe fountains were working, Spirit Lord.’
‘And if the fountainswere not working, then the great ball at the top might disappear,’replied Aquitain.
‘I am always thinkinghow wise you are, Spirit Lord,’ said Kami.
‘Kami if I wereguessing that you had something that might be able to make afountain stop working, then would I be wrong?’ asked Aquitain.
‘I am being continuallyamazed at how accurate your
