‘I looked at your spirit aura. They had a priest there. Heshould have done the same but I guess they were all bored. Nowwhere do we go.’
Miranda leaptoff his shoulder and immediately on landing changed to her nakedNewman form placed her hand on his shoulder and they teleported toone of the nodes where she adjusted her glamour to appear like asimple hand woven druid gown. Granddad changed form to his Newmanform and adjusted his glamour to look similar to hers.
‘I didn’t know you wore a glamour.’ she said.
‘It’s a most useful tool when you’re shape changing a lot.I’ve been using one for years. Most people never realized. Bit of anuisance when you sit on something rough or cold.’ He said with achuckle.
Miranda agreedwith a smile. ‘I’m going to try to get us to the control centre.I’ve never been there before because mother never knew it existed.I’m assuming that it looks the same as in Astaria. If the Yith havefound it we might have to fight.’
Granddad nodded‘Lead on.’
She held hishand and they appeared in a control room identical to the one onAstaria. There was no one present and the mushroom shaped controlpanel was upright and active. To her surprise in one corner she sawa large wooden chest about a pace long and leaning next to it wasthe Staff of Storms.
‘I guess I was wrong. Mother did know about this place. Iwonder why she never told me?’
Granddad wasmore interested in the viewing windows displaying images of variousareas within the gate world. There were Yith everywhere. Hesystematically walked around the control panel until he found thewindow he was after. ‘There she is. She’s with several Newman.’
Miranda cameover for a look and saw Lash on the floor sitting back to a wallwhile other Newman prowled around or sat bored.
‘They are Darkmantle’s men but it’s a little difficult to seeexactly where they are.’ said Miranda. ‘There are many areas aroundArgenta that look a lot like that area.’
‘It’s a shame that mother never made me a gatekeeper here. Icould probably have tossed all these Yith out with little effort.’And she wandered over to the chest to see what might be init.
‘Careful!’ said Granddad. ‘It may be trapped!’
‘Why would mother put a trap on a chest in her own controlcentre.’ asked Miranda.
‘You’re assuming she put it there. It may have been some Yithwizard’s loot. He found the stuff and stashed in here until he canmove it to some other location later.’ replied Granddad.
‘I know you lived here most of your life but Yith are cunning.They will have put traps everywhere. Not ones that explode but onesthat send a silent message to them to tell them that there is anintruder. They may even know we are here now.’
‘I would suggest you leave the box untouched. Let’s getMelanie and Darkmantle’s men out and be content withthat.’
‘I will do no such thing.’ replied Miranda indignantly. ‘Thereare a lot of valuable items here that belong to me and I want totake them with me.’ and she turned to open the chest.
She didn’texpect Granddad to do what he did but she felt it coming andimmediately mentally blocked it and swung around to face him.
‘How dare you try to charm me! You might be used to havingyour way with your own family but you won’t with me! You’ll stayright out of my mind or there’ll be real trouble.’ sheshouted.
Granddad lookedat her strangely and simply said ‘I didn’t!’ and activated his aurasight and swung around just in time to be immobilized by a word ofstunning.
‘Well, well.’ said a Yith appearing on the other side of theroom. ‘What have we here? Could it be the druid daughter of theprevious nymph queen?’
‘You speak good common for a Yith.’ repliedMiranda.
‘Thank you! Not all of us are uncouth barbarians like thatrabble here. I see you’ve found my stash of loot. Very nice stufftoo I might add. Your mother had good taste. Your friend here wasquite correct in advising you not to touch it. It is alarmed andwould have brought me here had I not already been here. You see Iam a Watcher and what better place to watch the rabble than here. Isaw your friend enter the gateway appearing to be a Watcher yet Iam the only one here. It was quite simple to guess that you wouldturn up here sooner or later so I went invisible and waited andhere you are.’
‘So are we going to fight or are you going to talk me todeath.’ said Miranda.
‘No I don’t wish to fight you, if I did you’d be dead by now.We have no quarrel with you or your friend Aquitain, the gatekeeperof Astaria. We are here simply to balance the Panmagican force thathas captured the town of Twin Towers in Mudrun. If they decide toleave Mudrun then so will we. However, the High Council of Yithwill not allow them exclusive access to this world.’
‘Why did you attack our town of Turtlehaven and destroy it ifyou are as friendly as you make out?’ asked Miranda.
‘It may surprise you but not all Yith are the same. There aremany factions within the Yith Empire and those that attacked yourtown belong to another faction. We follow the Goddess Lithgala whoteaches peace and restraint. They are followers of Yith the God ofFire who teaches that only strength and courage prevail. They wishto fight while we are more tolerant and friendly.’
‘Why did you try to charm me?’ she asked.
‘I was hoping to avoid a fight as your friend here is verypowerful judging by his spirit aura.’ He replied.
‘We have come here to free a friend. She is one of the Newmanprisoners called Lash. We would also like to free the others ifpossible. I also came to collect some of my mother’s magicvaluables.’ said Miranda. ‘If you are as friendly as you make outyou will release the prisoners and let me take myvaluables.’
‘Hmm. The valuables are no problem. You may take what you wishas no one has seen them except me. But the prisoners everyone knowsabout. That is
