‘I am here to examine the quartz crystal shelf above. Beingunused to this body form, I accidentally drank too much magicessence. I also do not know your customs and did not know that thiswould cause offence. I ask you to accept my sincere apology andwill lessen my brightness if you wish.’
The twoelementals discussed what Aquitain had said for a couple of minutesthen the larger one said.
‘I have heard of you favourably Warden and accept your apologyif you will lessen your brightness.’
Qan quicklyshed magic essence reducing their Rock elemental body’s brightnessto similar to that of Ignatius.
‘Why are you interested in our oasis above?’ asked the largeone.
‘We believe that it is becoming saturated with magic essenceand is likely to turn from a solid form to a liquid form. If theliquid were to break through to the surface then much magic essencecould spill forth starting a storm which would cause immense damageto those that live above.’ said Qin.
‘That is of no concern to you.’ said the smaller elemental.‘If our god Pellum wills it then it will happen.’
‘Who are you?’ asked Qin.
‘I am the Wisdom of Pellum. Our god shares his thoughts withme. He foretold us ages ago that this might come to pass. Weeagerly await this great event so that it will purge the evilsurface dwellers from above.’
‘Why do you seek their deaths? What have they done to you?’asked Qin.
‘They hunt and capture our young and take them away, never tobe seen by us again.’ replied the Brightest.
‘Is this true Ignatius?’ asked Qin.
‘Err ... sort of.’ replied Ignatius.
‘Some of the Mentarin artisans use rock elemental spirits topower magic items like fountains and bridges. Others use fireelemental spirits to power weapons.’
‘By the Powers, you steal their spirits to make magic items.No wonder they’re upset.’ said Qan.
‘We didn’t think they were intelligent enough to know.’ saidIgnatius.
‘Did anybody bother to find out?’ asked Qin quiteannoyed.
‘I don’t know.’ said Ignatius. ‘It isn’t my area ofresponsibility.’
‘If I were to stop the hunting and stealing of your young andprocure the release of any recently captured young, is there anyway that you could bleed off some of the magic essence and releaseit elsewhere so that this shelf, your oasis would remainsolid.’
The Brightestand the Wisdom conferred for some time then the Brightest said.
‘The Wisdom is not happy with this deal as it may go againstour God’s wishes. He will have to consult with Pellum.’
‘Why have you forsaken K’wala?’ asked Qin suddenly.
‘You know of K’wala?’ asked the Brightest.
‘We did not forsake K’wala. He died. This we were told byPellum. He has taken K’wala’s place. He now advises us.’
‘That’s interesting!’ said Qan.
‘How long will this take?’ asked Qin.
‘Not long.’ replied the Brightest and the Wisdom beganspinning like a top until a rainbow hued sphere formed around him.He stayed in this sphere for five minutes communing with Pellumthen the sphere dissolved and his spinning slowed to a stop. Hetalked with the Brightest for some minutes and the Brightest thentalked with Qin.
‘It seems that Pellum has no particular argument with thesurface dwellers, however, he points out that we have been thevictims of unjust treatment and should seek reparations for thisill treatment. If the surface dwellers were to supply us withcertain types of crystal on a regular basis then we might be ableto bleed off the excess magic essence to stop it becoming hazardousto them.’
‘They’re bloody well trying to blackmail us.’ saidIgnatius.
‘No.’ said Qin. ‘It’s called sweetening the deal. They havethe advantage. They’ll help to avoid a catastrophe, but at acost.’
‘But, it could mean that we will have to supply them withcrystals for years.’ said Ignatius. ‘I don’t know whether theCouncil would accept that.’
‘Do they have a choice? Your Council caused the problem in thefirst place.’ replied Qin. ‘Besides if we can find a way to fix theproblem at the dragon end then you may not have to pay up for toolong.’
‘I suppose that you’re right.’ said Ignatius. ‘I will put theproposal to the Council as a temporary solution while we work on amore permanent one. They will probably accept it thatway.’
Qan told theBrightest that his proposal sounded reasonable and that they wouldput it before the Council of surface dwellers. He found out thetype and quantity they wanted and the location where to put it. Ifit was placed there within seven days, they were no longer huntedand any recently captured young ones were released then theagreement would be sealed. They would bleed off any excess magicessence to prevent the shelf from becoming unstable.
They returnedto the gateway and passed through into Astaria in high spirits.After changing back to their Newman forms, Ignatius said.
‘I must say that ploy of yours claiming to be the Warden ofMoonmist worked incredibly well. I wouldn’t have been game to trythat one. The bastard might hear about it and beoffended.’
‘It wasn’t a ploy.’ said Qin. ‘I am the Warden ofMoonmist.’
Ignatiusstopped walking and turned and looked at him with a horrified lookon his face and said.
‘But ... the Council said that you’re our enemy!’
‘From what I’ve heard your Mentarin colleagues have split intotwo factions. One favouring the Dark Lord and one Lord Borse. Whichfaction do you belong in.’ asked Qin.
‘I’ve got no time for politics. I stay out of it all. It’s alla bloody waste of time if you ask me.’ he replied.
‘Do you know Katarina?’ asked Qin.
‘Yes of course. She’s a friend of mine.’ he repliedcarefully.
‘After we check out the dragons can you ask her to meet mehere?’
‘Yes I suppose I could.’ he replied.
Chapter 33 Miranda GrowsUp.
Miranda and Darkmantleteleported to his guards camp near the private portal toMoonmist
Shortly afterarrival and while his guards were packing up their camp, Mirandatold Darkmantle about Aquitain’s plan for her to find her nanny,the powerful wizard Allalanllea and get her aid to hide Tigerlillyin a safe haven.
‘What! Doesn’t he trust even the Queen of the Crin!’ heexclaimed rather surprised.
‘Not at all.’ she replied. ‘We both know that she will guardher as well as she can but they have no magic users there. Aquitainbelieves that the unusual birth of Tigerlilly has somehow upset theplans of the Powers. I
