The threemembers of the Council from the previous Council were hesitant. ‘Idon’t think that it is a wise idea for us to act so precipitatelyMy Lord. The Queen of Argenta is not known for her generous grace.This is her daughter. Any action against her could cause immenseproblems for us.’
‘Nonsense.’said the new High Druid. ‘We are the Law in this land. We are boundto uphold the laws of The Lady and can rule on any offensescommitted in Mudrun. This shameless harlot has committed the mostterrible crimes against The Lady. She has admitted to murderingservants of The Lady in one of The Lady’s most sacred places andsince only a simple majority is required I rule that the Councilfinds her guilty of the murder of twenty-two druids and desecratinga sanctuary. Each crime is punishable by death.’
The High Druidaddressed Miranda with vengeful smile.
‘This Court hasruled that you are guilty as charged. You are hereby cast out ofthe Mudrun Fraternity of Druids. You are stripped of all rank andprivileges as a druid. Any possessions that you had now belong tothe Council. You will be taken forthwith from this chamber and helduntil sunrise whereupon you will be executed and your body will becremated and the ashes dispersed to the four winds. May The Ladyhave mercy on your spirit.’
Suddenly therewas a loud explosion and the door to the Council Chambers fellinwards onto the floor and in strolled Queen Snowbelle dressed ingolden magical armour and wielding the Staff of Storms. She wasaccompanied by a female Newman wizard and a large Crin Enforcerequipped with magical weapons.
‘How dare youbreak into a session of the Druid’s Council.’ said the new HighDruid. ‘Who do you think you are?’
‘I am QueenSnowbelle of Argenta. How dare you kidnap a royal princess fromArgenta soil and subject her to some inquisition as if she were acommon criminal.’ she replied defiantly.
The High Druidtried to use a power but was beaten to the punch by the RoyalWizard and vanished.
‘What have youdone with the High Druid?’ said one of the new councillors. ‘If youhave harmed him it will mean war.’
‘He isunharmed, just elsewhere for a short while. Invading Argenta tokidnap a Royal Princess is akin to a declaration of war. Do youwant war! If you do I’ll give it you and I’ll start by killing thelot of you while I have the chance.’ she said menacingly and slowlypulled a wand out of her belt.
‘No!’ yelledall three councillors who used to be a part of the previousCouncil.
‘Then you hadbetter quickly release her into my custody.’ said QueenSnowbelle.
‘According tothe protocol of our peace treaty any dispute between the Druid’sCouncil of Mudrun and the Kingdom of Argenta is to be delivered inwriting to me. If I consider it worthy of further action then Iwill call for a meeting where we will discuss the problem. Is thatclear?’
‘Yes. YourHighness.’ said one of the Councillors.
‘Good then oneof you move a motion to release the princess into my custody and wewill leave and await your document.’
One of thecouncillors from the old Council moved the motion and all theothers reluctantly accepted it. Allalanllea released Miranda’sbonds and the magic restraints and led her out of the room. Therewere Crin fighters everywhere. Allalanllea gave a mindspeak orderand they began to teleport away in groups. Miranda went over to thedruid that had treated her kindly and kissed him on the cheek andreleased his bonds.
‘Don’t believewhat they are saying about me. It’s untrue. Find the druid girlthat survived the attack on the sanctuary at Twin Towers. She willbe able to tell you what happened.’ she whispered and she left withthe Royal Wizard.
Queen Snowbellehad a few final words to say to the councillors and then teleportedaway with the Crin Enforcer. Moments later the High Druid appearedback in his seat.
‘Where arethey?’ he shouted.
‘They are goneMy Lord. That was Queen Snowbelle. Had we resisted we would all bedead. She threatened us with war.’
‘Damn her! Thatwas an act of war. She will pay for that.’ he shouted.
‘Perhaps weshould discuss this later after we have had a chance to look atthings in a more reasonable light.’ said one of the councillors.The others agreed, the meeting was closed and the councillors leftleaving the High Druid standing alone. After they had left thebuilding he smiled to himself and thought
‘Well that was rathersuccessful. For a while I was worried that no one was going to showup to rescue her; now for the next part of the plan.’
Chapter 3 TheSuggestion
Three dark clad figurescrouched in the shadow cast by the bright moon beside a barn, twolooking forward, and one checking behind. Nothing but their eyesand faint puffs of vapor from their breath were visible.
About a hundredpaces away, up a slight rise and on the other side of a tallstonewall was one of the two wizard towers in this small town. Itwas early morning about two hours before dawn. It had been raining,the air was fresh, the townspeople were all asleep and the twoguard dogs nearby lay in magic induced sleep still tethered totheir chains where they dropped.
‘Can you detectit from here?’ whispered Jaztrix the gnome.
The secondmember of the group, the stout average sized Newman held a ring infront of him, pointed at the tower and slowly moved it from thebase of the tower to the top scanning for something. He suddenlystopped and with an excited whisper said ‘Yes it’s there. Abouthalfway up.’
‘Good,’ repliedAlin Amber, the tall Elendari looking male as he turned to thegnome. ‘You go and get it, we’ll wait here.’
‘Are you surethat this is the right thing to do?’ asked Jaztrix.
‘Yes we muststill follow the plan. It is a little off track but this shouldhelp to correct things.’
‘I hope thatyou’re right!’ said Jaztrix as she slipped a ring on her finger andactivated its power. She lifted off the ground and flew straight tothe tower, about halfway up to where the Newman had indicated. Sheinvoked another power and merged into the tower wall. A minute orso later, she came out through the
