Then he had avery unsettling thought. He had masses of knowledge locked awaywithin his mind. It could only be unlocked by Alpha his memcrystalthat he had traded for his cousin Zephira’s life. What if somehowhe was the surviving Fount? It would explain a lot. But withoutAlpha he would never know. He wished Miranda was here to help himmake a decision although he could readily guess what she would wanthim to do. She would want him to help them.
‘You may haveheard of prophesy that there will be a Time of Chaos where allcreatures must choose to side with the forces of chaos or theforces of order. What you have told me today seems consistent withthis prophesy.’
‘From myknowledge of the way of things it would suggest that most air andfire brothers will follow the call of chaos and most rock brotherswill follow the call of order. I would suspect that your waterbrothers will be divided. Half will follow the call of chaos andhalf the call of order.’
‘However, myteacher was wise and taught me that prophesy are dreams of thepowerful. A Prophesy only happen if we believe it and make it cometrue. So we must be very careful that we are not being deceived bysome malevolent Power and find out what is truly causing thisproblem.’
‘Your words arewise, but how can we stop this madness Lord?’ asked Squalash.
‘I don’t knowyet but I will try my very best to find out.’ replied Aquitain.‘Can you take me there later. I have another task before I cango.’
‘Thank youLord.’ said Squalash with a bow.
‘You shouldknow Lord that there are no rock brothers left. They disappeared atthe time of the Great Storm. I will await you here.’
‘Thank youWaverider,’ replied Aquitain suddenly feeling that he had theweight of Mudrun on his shoulders.
‘No rockelementals left on Mudrun. That’s curious! I wonder why?’ hethought.
‘By All theGods, how are they changing the nature of magic?’ said Allalanlleafearfully.
‘Surely thecreator would rebel at the very thought of it let alone allow themto do it.’
‘I agree.’replied Aquitain as he logically considered what sort oframifications it might have.
Magic was abasic building block of the universe. If you change the buildingblock it must change the universe and any changes on such a scalewould surely destroy the universe. He remembered the words of theprophecy.
‘In the finalstruggle the gods and all creatures would take sides and fight itout. The victors would inherit what remained.’
In truth if youchange magic then nothing would remain, so it was unlikely thatmagic itself was being changed but more likely people’s perceptionof it was being changed. The conclusion was that something must beaffecting peoples’ minds.
The thoughtcrossed his mind that perhaps it was some type of mass illusion ormass suggestion that would cause mass hysteria.
‘Hmm. Mirandaand I are not the only pawns in this game. I’ll bet there isanother mind wizard out there somewhere right now intent on causingchaos.’
He turned tosee Allalanllea gazing at him thoughtfully.
‘This is moreserious than I could ever have imagined,’ she said. ‘Let’s see thiscreature then I must get to Moonmist as soon as possible regardlessof the blockade. There is just too much at stake.’
‘Allalanllealet’s be careful how we interpret this information from Squalash. Iam not yet convinced that the Time of Chaos is upon us. There isevidence that we are being fooled into believing the prophecy. Ihave worked with magic too long to believe its nature can besomehow changed. It is much more likely that some grand deceptionis at work. My grandfather had a saying.’
‘There is magicand there is deception, sometimes they are difficult to tell apartbut both can be lethal.’
‘Okay. I’llreserve my opinion about the prophecy until we know more.’ shereplied not at all convinced. ‘However, we still need to get a moveon. Let’s go and see this creature that was captured.’
‘Could we waita while for Miranda to return?’ asked Aquitain. ‘She was prettyupset when she left. If she comes back and finds us gone she willbe furious.’
Allalanlleachuckled.
‘I guess you’reright. I think I’ve already strained your relationship with herenough. We’ll wait.’
Thirty minuteslater Miranda returned in Newman form with tears running down herface. She changed to a smallish Newman female form and ran over andhugged into Aquitain.
‘I’m sorryTain. You and Allalanllea are right. If we are pledged together inour minds nothing else matters. It is our choice no one else’s. Somany strange things are happening I’m getting scared. I need toknow you’ll always love me no matter what happens.’
‘I’m gladyou’re back, Mandy. I was really worried about you. I’m sorry Iupset you.’ And he kneeled down in front of her and took her handsin his.
‘Mandy I’m notsure who or even what I really am right now. I know that there aremany events coming that will test us to the extreme but I pledgenow that I will love you, honour you and fight the gods to be withyou for as long as you love me and my spirit exists. My heart, mymind and my body are yours. I will remove that tattoo and you willtruly be my Queen. May the Lady be my witness.’
Miranda kneltfacing him with tears in her eyes.
‘Tain I’m notsure who or what I really am yet either but I pledge now that Iwill love you, honour you and stand by your side as long as youlove me and my spirit exists. My heart, my mind and my body areyours. I will gladly be your Queen and I’ll defy anyone who triesto part us. May the Lady be my witness.’
‘I am happy towitness your pledges and happy for you both but I must remind youthey have no legal standing. Miranda you should not tempt fate. TheLady is a benevolent goddess but is unlikely to be happy about oneof her priestesses stating they are willing to defy her.’ warnedAllalanllea.
Miranda didn’tseem to be listening she was too busy kissing
