‘Eventually Isuspect we will have to fight them and for that we’ll need unityamongst the Lords. Do you think that’s possible?’
‘I don’t know.’replied Darkmantle. ‘What do you suggest?’
‘It’s yourworld and these are your people. I suggest you have a councilmeeting and work out amongst yourselves what you want to do aboutit. I have other urgent priorities at the moment, like working outhow to turn Miranda from a statue back to a person.’
‘You can dothat?’ asked Darkmantle surprised. ‘Surely she’s dead.’
‘No, she’s notdead yet. Her spirit is still in the statue and although it looksand feels like stone it isn’t permanent. Not yet anyway. It’s someunusual type of polymorph effect. A rod of greater dispel shouldreverse it.’
They both stoodthinking about Miranda when Prendergrass appeared in front ofDarkmantle bowed and shouted
‘My Lord,they’ve taken Argenta from us.’
‘Who has?’asked Darkmantle. ‘Was it Snowbelle?’
‘No. The Yithlizards My Lord and Lash fought with them against our troops.’
‘Damn. Youcan’t trust anyone these days.’ replied Darkmantle.
‘Prendergrasshave you met Aquitain the new Lord Warden of Moonmist. He has justbanished the spirits that have been plaguing us. Did you know thatthere were nine of them here?’
‘Aquitain …isn’t that the name used by the spirit Schlum when he was paradingabout as a small Llanllean before he possessed Dragonfly, myLord.’
‘Yes. You’requite correct Prendergrass.’ then he looked at Aquitainuncertainly.
’I suspectSchlum must have had a reason to use that name.’
‘I’m not thatmad spirit if that’s what you’re concerned about,’ stated Aquitainforcefully.
‘That damnthing stole my body and my name. Unfortunately, it destroyed mybody before I could catch it. However, it is now dead and I have myname back.’
‘You killedSchlum?’ exclaimed Darkmantle greatly surprised.
‘Well done!That spirit has been the bane of our lives for years. It seems I amdoubly in your debt.’
‘That will makethem extremely mad, My Lord.’ added Prendergrass. ‘We had bestprepare for the worst.’
‘HelpAquitain!’ screamed Miranda through the mindlink then her spiritaura vanished from her stony prison.
Aquitain ranover to the statue of Miranda and used his crystal sight to lookinto the stone. It hadn’t changed. Her body container was intactbut her spirit was gone and replaced by the spirit of Slivver.
‘Whathappened?’ asked Yllandril in a worried tone closely followed byLlalorax.
‘You heard ittoo?’ said Aquitain.
‘Something hashappened to her spirit. It should have been okay. Her body is stillintact. She should still be in there.’
‘What have youdone with her spirit Slivver!’ he demanded.
‘Please don’tharm me Aquitain. Miranda is my friend and my mistress. Her bodywas snatched away and I was somehow pulled into it.’
‘By thePowers.’ thought Aquitain. ‘Slivver’s spirit is keeping her bodyalive. Perhaps I can save it for her.’
Aquitain lookedtowards the ceiling and saw a scrying globe, he thought carefullyfor a few seconds then said so that all could hear.
‘Bellen, QueenMiranda was a great druidess who dedicated her life to protectingthe plants and animals. We should honour her memory by placing thisstone statue of her in the maze where she may rest amongst theplants. Can you arrange to move her?’
‘Yes, LordWarden, she was also a trixie friend. We will honour her. We willdo it immediately.’ And he ran off to make arrangements.
‘I’m very sorryfor you.’ said Llalorax through the mindlink. ‘I know what it’slike to lose your loved one. I have not known her long but respecther greatly. We will honour her memory then avenge her death.’
‘Thank you all!I wish you well. It’s time for me to leave.’ he said.
‘This is adisappointing ending to my dream Terrin! You might have let me saygoodbye to her. How do I wake up?’
But he receivedno answer ... just silence.
End of book 2 - Watchfor Part 3
Glossary
People (books 1 and2)
*New Charactersintroduced in book 2
Aquitain (Rob), a youngmind wizard and magic item maker, the hero.
A.G., Aquitain’smissing father, a powerful mind wizard.
*Adonis, powerfuldragon follower of Borse.
Allalanllea, QueenSnowbelle’s female Llanllean Royal Wizard also nanny and closeconfidante of Miranda.
Alin Amber, a mysticalYith druid and agent of Aquitain’s father.
Alpha, Aquitain’ssentient memory crystal, a walnut sized construct.
*Ansidian, yithmardu,alias of Alin Amber.
*Asterix, gnome workerin Astaria.
*Aurora, Queen of theElendari on Moonmist.
Barra, sprit totem ofthe green-scaled (water) little people.
Beatrix, Queen of theCrin on Mudrun.
*Bellen, Mudrun bornTrixie Leader of the Queen’s castle Trixies.
Belloe, mercenaryfighter, leader of Zephira’s expedition.
*Bhopingar, barraherder from the great swamp little people.
*Borse, Head of theMentarin, a minor Power
*Buluk, shaman of theBear people.
ChantalotRhythmesgrande, bard and spy, Featherdown’s brother.
Curbut, Senior Wizard,Featherdown’s second in charge, Unity spy and assassin.
Daisy Theolaur,Aquitain’s grandmother, a weak mind wizard.
Darkmantle, LordWyvern, Elendari Lord, ex-husband of Snowbelle when she was anewman called Sindel.
*Dragonfly, Miranda’sname and persona on Moonmist after she is captured byDarkmantle.
Erastius, chaoticspirit mind wizard inhabiting the Mask of Chaos.
*Esller, Llanllean clanleader
Facit Decoid, Logiconspy and Aquitain’s shape change trainer.
Featherdown, Archmageand Lord High Wizard of Mudrun.
Gaston the Great, wiryold wizard in Zephira’s expedition.
*Garret Axegrinder,newman wizard whose father made the Sceptre of Lordly might.
*Gemelica, Princess,Elendari daughter of Queen Aurora.
*Glammer, neutral TruthRadiant that helps Aquitain.
Goth, a large metalconstruct used by the Theolaur family.
Granddad, Sol Theolaur,Aquitain’s grandfather, a powerful wizard and mind wizard.
*Granite, common nameof an ancient elemental dragon, previously a Warden ofMoonmist.
Granwell, Archwizardand Conjurer, friend of Featherdown.
*Rumple, Gnome leaderof the gnome settlement.
*Heteronimus, old HighDruid
Ishteth, Yith highpriest.
Jacintra, the ChaosCat, chaotic spirit Power.
Jaztrix Boonswoggle,female gnome illusionist, Featherdown’s apprentice.
Kami, shaman of theJancintra clan of little people.
Kelnor, newman highpriest of the Church of Spiritual and Financial Harmony
*K’wala, the spirittotem of the brown-scaled (earth) bear people.
*Lash, Zephira’s nameand persona on Moonmist after she had her mind altered.
*Llanlorian, Llanlleangatekeeper of Astaria.
*Llalorax, LlanlleanRoyal Wizard to Queen Aurora.
Loopis, the wolf spirittotem of the white-scaled (air) little people.
Loma, chief of Barratribe of reptilian little people.
Mask of Chaos aliasJacintra’s Image, powerful sentient magic mask designed to causetrouble, occupied by the spirit of Erastius a mad chaotic mindwizard.
Melanie Darmon,Zephira, Rob’s cousin’s name on Panmagica.
Miranda, a youngdruidess, Aquitain’s girlfriend, Princess of Argenta.
*Moonmist Collective,collective mind of Moonmist.
*Warden of Moonmist,title bestowed on Aquitain by Moonmist Collective.
Peter Darmon,Aquitain’s uncle, Melanie’s father, a merchant wizard.
*Prendergrass, Newmanhouse wizard of Darkmantle estate.
Quab, Senior druid forarea around Twin Towers, Miranda’s mentor.
*Safronius, Quab’sdeceased mentor and master.
*Shastritara, femalelittle
