‘You’re quite right.’ replied Miranda. ‘That is verydefinitely a possibility and another problem that I’m going to haveto deal with. I never realized that life could get so complicated.This morning, I was prepared to curse the day that I met Aquitain,blaming him for all the troubles but then I realized that it wasn’thim, he only unmasks the problems that were already there. He worksso hard trying to fix things. I don’t know why. They mostlyshouldn’t even be his problems and yet somehow he believes he canmake a difference.’
‘My Lady, he’s right. Individuals can and do make adifference. You did it yourself not an hour ago. You don’t realizewhat an effect you have around here. When you and Darkmantledefeated the army of three Lords that attacked the mansion a fewdays ago you became more than a person, you have become a legend.The other two Lords and all the men here already see you as theirQueen. They will fight to the death to uphold yourhonour.’
‘But that wasn’t me, Prendergrass, that was Aquitain in mybody. The men have a false image of me. The Captain of the Guardnearly died because of that false image.’ said Miranda.
‘A Queen doesn’t have to fight battles. That’s what theQueen’s Champion does and if he wins, the Queen gets the glory. Ido believe you made the Warden your Champion and if that is so,then he has done your bidding proudly. Besides how can it be afalse image? You just stopped a fight where dozens could have died.You uncovered a plot to undermine our alliance with Lord Reedford,you saved the lives of the Captain of the guard and myself. Youhave done nothing today but further enhance yourreputation.’
‘Remember also that a Queen doesn’t have to solve all theproblems herself. That’s why Queens have advisors. To presentreasons why things happen and help with possiblesolutions.’
‘Thank you Prendergrass. You’re right. As a druid I’m used tosolving problems by myself, as there is usually no one else aroundin the wilderness. But here there are more problems and theyinvolve people not animals, I will have to get used to asking foradvice if I’m going to be Queen.’
‘You’re welcome M’Lady. Now, regarding your father, he hasbeen a changed man since he discovered that you were his daughterand dare I say he’s rediscovered how to be an Elendari again. Infact, he’s worried that the Yith will attack the settlements inMudrun so he’s gone with Gizel, Tigerlilly, Garret, six guards andthe cat to warn them.’
‘What!’ said Miranda. ‘He didn’t say anything.’
‘No. He was afraid that you would be against himgoing.’
‘Of course I would. That was one of the jobs that Aquitainwanted me to do today.’
‘Well he’s only an hour and a half ahead of you. We have aprivate gateway that you found on Mudrun and closed I believe. Wethink your mother reopened it to get into Moonmist. It should stillbe open but it is a likely spot for an ambush so I would be verycautious using it.’
‘Thanks, I’ll go after him. He won’t be used to dealing withMudrun people and is bound to get into trouble.’ saidMiranda.
Miranda removedher brilliant armour and decided to wear nothing but her Dragonflyglamour. The heavy fighting gear would be too hot and would get inthe way in Mudrun especially if she had to shape shift. She wasused to traveling light and once through the gate she’d be on homeground again, a wonderful prospect. She did, however, acceptPrendergrass’s suggestion that she take six men with her to see hersafely through the gate and left.
They teleportedto the courtyard at the Darkmantle estate and after the guards hadchecked the area to ensure that everything was in order, they leftas a group with one scout ahead, and progressed to the entrance ofthe tunnel leading to the gateway without incident. The guardunlocked the gate and was swinging the door open when Snowbellesimply appeared standing naked in all her glory a dozen paces fromthem.
‘Who are you?’ she asked indignantly.
‘Return to the stronghold immediately!’ yelled Miranda to herescort. ‘I will deal with this.’ and the men left withouthesitation.
‘You don’t recognize me do you?’ said Miranda with asmile.
‘Let me tell you a story. When you escaped from Moonmist andcaptured Argenta you took what you thought was your baby with you.Later you discovered that your daughter wasn’t really your daughterat all. She was a Llanllean. You realized someone else had yourdaughter as a hostage but you could never find out who it was.After a while it began to drive you insane. When she began to showsigns of becoming a sorceress you decided to get nasty and youwould train her to be a Tempest to wreak havoc on Moonmist forstealing your true daughter.
The Lady, inher wisdom, had a different idea. She asked you to make yourdaughter a druid and promised to reveal where your real daughterwas but your patience ran out. So you’ve become a nasty malignbitch hating everyone around. Am I correct?’
’Very perceptive dear. I suppose that you are going to say youare my missing daughter.’ replied Snowbellesarcastically.
‘I have found your true daughter and discovered that ourspirits were swapped between our bodies at birth. Our spirits havenow been replaced in their true bodies by the Lord Warden. I am thespirit of the Miranda you knew and called daughter in the body Iwas born in. The spirit of your true daughter is now in the body itwas born in. Your true daughter’s name is Gizel. Both of us havepledged ourselves to the new power in the land, Aquitain the LordWarden of Moonmist.
‘I used to love you and call you mother but you have changedand become something horrible. I beg you to recognize your realdaughter Gizel and change from your malign ways if that ispossible. Join us to fight against the Mentarin for they are thereal threat to this land.’
Snowbelle wasshocked. She used her aura sight to see Miranda’s aura. ‘Your aurais similar but different to that of Miranda. I think
