‘So you are saying that there are being two different groupseach wishing to be living in this world but neither being preparedto share with the other or perhaps even the little people alreadyliving here.’ said the councillor. ‘They are sounding like beingspoiled children. Which one does the spirit bearfavour?’
‘That is a problem.’ replied Miranda. ‘We have both only justreturned from another world and found out about these invaders. Wehave not had a chance yet to discuss what actions we should take.So I cannot answer that question. I do know that he does not wantyou to take actions to endanger yourselves. He would have you waitand watch. He would have you calm your warriors and tell them toremain scattered in the jungle and await his call. He would haveboth the enemies weaken themselves by fighting each other ratherthan hunting your people and damaging the jungle with theirmagic.’
‘The young have been knowing only peace.’ said the councillor.‘They are being keen to be fighting. They are believing that withthe spirit bear being beside them they cannot be losing. I am beingafraid for them as I have been in fighting in my youth and amknowing what really happens.’
‘I will be telling them what you have been saying but they arebeing restless and being itchy to be proving themselves since ourgreat victory at the temple. It would be better if you and thespirit bear were telling them yourself at the GreatCouncil.’
Miranda wastorn between her duty to Aquitain and her duty to preserve thepeace on Mudrun. If she went to the Great Council she had a fairchance of talking them into waiting until after Aquitain hadcaptured Astaria and got organized to fight the Panmagicans andYith if necessary. On the other hand Aquitain might need her rightnow to help him capture Astaria. How would he feel about her if shedidn’t make it to fight for their new home?
She was alsoneeded on Moonmist to help fight the Mentarin.
The councillornoticed her indecision and asked
‘How long are you thinking the spirit bear will be wishing usto be waiting?’
‘I can’t answer that precisely, perhaps weeks, perhaps months.Aquitain is currently busy fighting one of the enemy groups onanother world. He believes that what happens there will affect whathappens here.’
‘That is being good news at least. What are the druids to bedoing about the invaders?’
‘They have moved everyone to Templewood and are preparing thepeople for war. The druids are powerful fighters but are few innumber. I would guess that the wise thing for them to do would bescatter into the wild and watch and wait for the opportunity tofight back.’
Miranda wasstill undecided about what to do. As a druid, it would normally beher duty to advise the Druid’s Council about the Great Council ofthe little people and let them decide what to do. However, she wasnow more than just a druid. She was a princess, possibly the futureQueen of Moonmist and the chosen of Aquitain, the Gatekeeper ofAstaria who many of the little people looked upon for guidance. Itwas time to grow up. It was time she started to make plans.
‘How long ago did they leave for the Great Council?’ sheasked.
‘It was being just after the sun was rising yesterday and theywill be taking at least three days to be getting there.’ repliedthe councillor.
‘That gives me two days.’ she thought to herself.
‘Thank you, I will go to the Great Council on behalf of thespirit bear and try to convince them to be cautious.’
‘Now I wish to ask a favour. I am looking for a wizard friendof mine called Allalanllea that I was told might visithere.’
The oldcouncillor laughed out loud.
‘She is being here all the time.’ and the old purple skinnedlittle person chuckled.
‘Fancy not being able to recognize your nanny.’ shesaid.
Miranda laughedas well. ‘I should have guessed you wouldn’t be travelling aroundin your old form with Snowbelle around. Might we talk inprivate.’
‘Of course!’ replied Allalanllea. ‘Tell me about all yourwonderful adventures.’
Miranda thankedthe councillor for his help and information then mind linked withAllalanllea and they sat chatting for more than an hour catching upon each other’s stories. Miranda found out that Allalanllea hadbeen all over Moonmist talking to people and finding their thoughtson what was happening. The people were scared and rumours were rifeeverywhere.
She had spreadthe story that there would soon be a new Queen called Miranda butthere was also other rumours being spread about a new QueenGemelica. The people took this to mean that there would be a warsooner or later to determine who would end up being theirQueen.
Finally Mirandaexpressed her and Aquitain’s fears for the safety of Tigerlilly andasked Allalanllea if she could take her somewhere safe, guard herand teach her how to be like a normal person.
Allalanlleathough for a minute or two then agreed.
‘I think that I do know somewhere where even the gods willhave a difficult time finding us.’ she replied and then after hugsshe teleported away to visit the Crin to meet Gizel andTigerlilly.
‘So far so good.’ thought Miranda.
‘What’s next? Granddad’s idea to rescue Lash, of course!. Idon’t think I need Granddad’s help. He’ll just get in theway.’
She turned toeagle form and flew off in the direction of the portal to her oldhome.
Chapter 34 Miranda’sDowry
While flying towardsher old home Miranda had a chance to think about all that hadhappened and began to have doubts about what she had said toDarkmantle. She had told him that the Lady had given her moreabilities but she didn’t really know for sure as she hadn’t hadtime to find out. She flew on for a while thinking of what shemight be able to do to convince herself and then she knew. Shespiralled down to a clearing in the jungle and imagined herselfchanging to a bear.
Moments latershe was a great brown bear. She stood upright and roared achallenge to the jungle. The jungle went quiet for a few seconds asif to acknowledge her then
