‘What’s up?’
Aquitain indicated thatthey should mindlink and Zephira agreed.
‘I suspect that theHigh Wizard is still suspicious about us for some reason.
I set up wards tosecure this room the first night I was here, but I also had Alphawatching. A rat has been coming in checking on me.’
‘How do you know? Itcould have been just looking for food,’ suggested Zephira.
‘Firstly, any goodwizard knows that you can’t set wards to go off on small rodents orinsects, otherwise your wards would be going off all the time. Soanyone shape changed to a rat can normally breach wards withoutbeing discovered.
‘Secondly, the ratdoesn’t search for food but watches me for five minutes and leaves.This morning I took out that ball of clay I was given by my motherto examine again. The rat saw it and disappeared quickly. Fiveminutes later Featherdown showed up for a visit. I showed it to himand he wasn’t that interested, but suggested I check it out in OldHoary’s Encyclopaedia of all Things Magical, then left.
‘A quarter of an hourlater, Quab turned up to give me some lessons on shape changing. SoI locked up and went with him, leaving Alpha guarding the workshop.Guess what happened after I left? The rat came and examined theball of clay. I think the rat was Featherdown, and I think he knowswhat the ball of clay does.’
‘Did you learn anythingabout Quab?’
‘Yes. He’s a damn goodshape changer and seems to know just about everything aboutcreatures and shape changing. We’ve been working at it all day. Ican now change into a constrictor shape. Do you want to seeit?’
Zephira nodded, so heshape changed. He must have been convincing, because she backedaway from him as he slithered towards her, hissing.
‘Stop it, Aquitain.You’re scaring me!’ she yelled, so he changed back, smiling.
‘What do youthink?’
‘That was too real Rob.I’m getting worried about you. I hope Granddad hurries up and getsyour real body back. I’m getting sick of this place and I want togo home.’
‘Why? What’s up?’ saidAquitain immediately suspecting a problem, as up until now Zephirahad really liked the place.
‘It’s that Curbutbastard. He’s continually making nasty comments about you and he’sprobably running me down as well. One of the young wizards wholistens to him a lot has stopped defender training.’
‘Is that all?’ askedAquitain knowing Zephira’s moods very well.
‘Well no,’ she said.‘Remember that bard that wanted to whisk me into bed the firstnight that we were here. Well I saw him each night for a few nightsafter that and then he told me he had to leave, since he had asinging gig at another town for a week. He said that he’d be backagain, but he’s not back yet.’
‘Do you like him?’asked Aquitain, already knowing the answer.
‘A little,’ saidZephira. ‘He’s much more fun than anyone else I’ve met here.They’ll all refugees from other worlds where they didn’t fit in,and they don’t really fit in that well here either. Do you knowhe’s spent most of his life traveling around other worlds singing?He’s even sung in Panmagica.’
‘Really!’ saidAquitain, suspiciously. ‘Did he say which town he was goingto?’
‘No,’ said Zephira.‘Why?’
‘No particular reason,’said Aquitain. ‘What’s his name?’
‘ChantalotRhythms-Grande. Great name isn’t it - but it’s not his real name ofcourse.’
They chatted foranother half an hour, then Zephira left to rest. Aquitain satthinking again. If he was Featherdown and two people showed up onhis doorstep at short notice with strange stories, then he’d besuspicious of them, especially if there was something here to hide,as Zephira had originally suspected. Featherdown would have themthoroughly checked out.
Jaztrix had him underfrequent observation and the bard was taking a keen interest inZephira. Today Quab had suddenly decided to help Aquitain, but atthe same time was checking out his shape changing abilities. Whywere they so interested in him and Zephira? Why the interest in hisball of clay? Perhaps it was time for him to do a little checkingon them. However, it would have to wait as he was tired, so hesettled into his shell for a rest; tomorrow was likely to beanother interesting day.
**
Featherdown appearedoutside Quab’s cottage, greeted him and they went inside. ‘Is itsafe?’ he asked.
‘Yes, the ward’s up,and the grounds are clear,’ replied Quab.
‘I’ve got news back,’said Featherdown. ‘Chantalot’s back. Their stories seem to checkout. An archon arrested a political activist in Panmagica about thesame time Aquitain and Zephira came here. There is also a currentarrest warrant out for Aquitain for violating a Panmagica law aboutusing forbidden magic. I would have been relieved about this untilI saw what he had this morning. It looks like a ball of clay but Isaw one like it years ago in the hands of a Yith mind wizard. Inthe Yith’s hand it turned into a marvellous sword that seemedunbreakable. That’s why I wanted your opinion about him.’
‘I had an interestingday with him,’ said Quab. ‘I set up a divination to detect whetherhe was aligned with any religious groups, but it found none. He isan astute learner and seems honest enough. However, I did find outone very interesting thing about him. His body is certainly that ofan unusual type of slime creature, but he’s got a truly naturalability to shape change, and that’s unknown in newmans. So it mustcome from the body.
‘He’s not in fullcontrol of it yet so I think he’s here to learn how to use it andhe’s learning fast. He’s got a good eye for detail. He learnt howto change to a snake today. Normally that would take a good druidstudent a week.
‘Miranda met him whenhe first arrived. She mentioned that he’d asked about the druidAlin Amber. Currently, the Council thinks that he’s on world butnobody’s quite sure where. It’s possible that Aquitain came here tofind this druid to help him learn to shape change, but he may havean ulterior motive as well.’
‘Hmm ... It seems likethis Alin Amber fellow may hold the answer as to why they’re here,’said Featherdown. ‘I think we need to track the fellow down andfind out what the connection is before Aquitain goes looking forhim. Can you get someone onto it? I’ll try to keep Aquitainoccupied.’
‘I think I know
