‘The Council isnow wasting time trying to work out a way to get back at QueenSnowbelle rather than worry about the other problems. They want meto lead an attack on Queen Snowbelle to bring Miranda back forexecution. They also want me to attack the Crin City in retributionfor the Crin helping Snowbelle attack the Druid’s Council. How manyinnocents are likely to be killed during those operations?’
Aquitain wasdismayed. ‘I can’t work out why Miranda would kill all thosedruids. Are you sure she did it?’
‘Yes. I saw herdo it. After I paralysed them I left and came back here and watchedwhat happened in a scrying pool. I was shocked. If I wanted themdead I would have killed them myself but they were innocent. Theywere just obeying their orders.’
‘Wait amoment.’ said Aquitain.
‘You expectedMiranda to teleport away with my body. She couldn’t. We would haveteleported as soon as they attacked as the wards were down but ourteleport rings were depleted. We had planned to use the commercialteleporter but couldn’t get to it. I suspect that after youparalysed them and left she was worried that they would allsuddenly become unparalysed and attack her. Quab was stillunconscious. She probably suspected that they would burn me anddisperse my ashes so that it would be difficult to resurrect me.Consequently she couldn’t leave and had no other course of actionbut to kill them.’
‘Why couldn’tshe just tie them up, or hamstring them or anything but kill themall?’ argued Featherdown.
‘How long wasyour paralysis magic going to last? How long would it take to findrope and cut it into lengths and bind fifteen druids? How longwould it take to gag them so they couldn’t use their druid powers?Would binding them and gagging them stop them from shape changing?She knows the full capabilities of druids. Many were more powerfulor more experienced than her. You had deserted her. What were heroptions?’
Featherdownconsidered what Aquitain had said for a minute or two and then saidwith a sad expression on his face.
‘Perhaps youare right. If I loved someone with the intensity that she seems tolove you maybe I would have done the same thing. It seems that Imight be responsible for causing this whole problem by trying tokeep out of it. If I had stayed there and helped her then thedruids would still be alive and all the subsequent events wouldn’thave happened.’
‘I’m sorry.I’ve been an old fool afraid to make a choice. We are both in thisgame the gods are playing and I should have realized that whetherwe act or choose not to act there would be consequences either way.It’s time I took a more active role in what is about to happen.Innocents will die regardless.’
‘We will haveample time to cry for them and ourselves at the end assuming we areone of those lucky enough to survive. I will back you with all theresources I have at my disposal while I can, however, that may notbe much longer as the new High Druid is a not a pleasant orforgiving fellow. I’m sure he’d like to replace me as soon as hecan get someone to fill my shoes.’
‘Let’s go andvisit Queen Snowbelle, that’s where we’ll find Miranda. I’ll helpyou with her mother. She’s a dangerous bitch but I always suspectedthat I’d have to take her on one day. It might as well be now. I’vegot a few tricks up my sleeve that I’m sure she doesn’t knowabout.’
‘No need, I’vealready met her. We have an arrangement not to kill each other.’said Aquitain.
‘You have? Bythe Powers, you’re a deceptive little fellow but then again I knowwhat you’re likely to say. You’re a mind wizard. I’ve heard yourgrandfather say it several times.’
‘I’d like tofind out more about what happened the night I was killed. Did youexamine the scene and account for all the magic released? Have youa list of all the weapons, items rings and such like found at thesite.’ asked Aquitain.
‘I must admit Ididn’t do a magic residue analysis as I’ve been so busy but Quabdid collect all the equipment and magical items found and I have alist somewhere. I’ll get it.’ and he disappeared for severalminutes returning with a scroll.
Aquitain workedhis way through the list with the trained eye of a merchant havingworked in a magical equipment shop for the best part of his life.He had been involved in outfitting many groups and knew exactlywhat they would need.
‘This listsuggests that there were twenty-two druids plus the wizard Curbutmaking twenty-three persons involved in the attack. At four personsper teleport ring that would require six teleport rings but onlyfive were found.’ said Aquitain.
‘The prisonerthat escaped probably used one.’ replied Featherdown.
‘That surprisesme. Miranda is very thorough in a practical sense. If she hadcaptured a female prisoner I’ve no doubt she would have removed allrings off her so that she couldn’t escape.’ suggested Aquitain.
‘I supposeyou’re right. All the druids are pretty practical. It comes fromspending so much time alone in the jungle.’
‘But if Mirandahad it then how did the prisoner escape?’ asked Aquitain.
‘It must havebeen Curbut. He gave evidence against Miranda at her trial. He musthave released the prisoner while Miranda and Quab were resurrectingyou.’
‘What! You meanCurbut is still alive? I would have thought Miranda would havekilled him if she killed anyone as she knew that he was theassassin that killed me the first time.’
‘Yes I tend toagree but obviously in the dark she overlooked him somehow and heprobably went invisible and later released the prisoner.’ suggestedFeatherdown.
‘Forgive me,but that seems unlikely if he was invisible he could have easilyovercome Miranda and Quab.’
‘Not after Ihad cut his tongue out.’ offered Featherdown with a smile. ‘I haveit pickled in a bottle, sort of a trophy. I’ve got a few of themfrom other wizards I’ve defeated and a few ears as well.’
‘Oh.’ repliedAquitain. ‘Well then he definitely wouldn’t be
