He thought fora while then said.
‘Yes. You are quite correct. If we are friendly it is onlyproper that we release the prisoners to you.’
Miranda wasshocked. ‘You mean you’ll do what I want?’
‘Yes. You may take all the prisoners and your valuables andreturn to Mudrun or Moonmist if you desire. Tell your leader thatwe will cause no problems as long as we are not attacked. We wouldalso be interested in a meeting at some stage. Perhaps you couldsend a messenger under a flag of truce to advise us of when andwhere.’
‘Now I’ll release your friend here but please ask him to showrestraint. I will give you a pass that will allow you to travelthrough the gully but after that you are on your own.’
‘That’s … wonderful!’ said Miranda. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Lord Asaba, the new Gatekeeper of Argenta.’ He said witha crocodile grin.
Lord Asaba kepthis word. The prisoners were released and together with Miranda andGranddad escorted out of the gully and Granddad mass teleportedthem all to Templegate where a guard was dispatched to getChantalot.
Shortly afterarrival, Lash strolled over to Miranda who was talking to Granddadand said ‘I know you. You’re Dragonfly. I remember seeing youbefore Prendergrass changed you to look like a hag. So he’s got youin his bed now has he? I might have known he wouldn’t waste anytime after I was captured. You can have him. I’m moving on.’
‘You’ve got it all wrong Lash. I would have left you there theway you treated me but I know who you really are?’ saidMiranda.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Lash suspiciously.
‘Do you know who this man is?’ asked Miranda nodding toGranddad.
‘No, should I?’ she asked looking Granddad in theeyes.
‘I’m beginning to see what you mean, Miranda.’ said Granddad.‘I hope that wizard bastard didn’t do any seriousdamage.’
‘What are you talking about old man!’ sneered Lash. ‘If you’rethinking of trying to get me into bed, forget it. I’ve had it withmen. You only think women are good for one thing.’
Miranda felt apulse of magic and guessed what had happened. She looked at Lash’seyes and they were glazed over.
‘I’m going to have to take her for some repairs. Thank you foryour help in getting her back. I’m glad we’ve had a chance to worktogether. Take care of Rob he’s soft and needs someone like you.’said Granddad and he took Lash’s hand and they vanished.
Chantaloteventually turned up to find out where all Darkmantle’s men hadcome from and after hearing Miranda’s story gave orders to get thema meal and some accommodation until they could be returned toDarkmantle.
Miranda waspleased with herself. Finally she felt luck was in her favour. Itwas time to return and help Aquitain to work out a way to evict allthe troops in Astaria but just as she was about to bid farewell toChantalot and teleport away a wizard hailed her.
Chapter 35 Skeletons in theCloset
‘Hello Your Highness,you may or may not remember me. I had the honour to fight with youand Captain Brown Bear at the Golden Temple Battle. Lord Aquitainnamed me the red wizard and it has sort of stuck. I am now known byall as the Red Wizard. The king has sent me to invite you to acouncil meeting. Lord Quab is on his way and we will escort you tothe Council meeting.’
‘By the Powers,’ thought Miranda. ‘They love titles. I wonderwhy they are expecting me. Damn. I’ll bet Granddad is behind this.Damn. I’ll have to start thinking like Aquitain soon. Damn.Everyone will be trying to manipulate me. Well, let them justtry!’
‘I do remember you Red Wizard and I would like to thank youagain for your courage and bravery during the battle.’ repliedMiranda not recalling him at all.
‘Thank you, Your Highness; my small contribution was nothingcompared to that of you and Lord Aquitain. I look forward to when Imight fight at your side once more. Do you require a cloak, YourHighness, it is a little chilly today.’
‘No thank you.’ she replied noticing Quab arrive and walkingover to her.
‘Welcome err … Your Highness … Miranda.’
‘You decided to come back from the Crin hive. What’s going onQuab? What’s all this calling me Your Highness stuff?’
‘It’s Featherdown’s idea. Now that Mudrun is an independentworld we all have to have titles so people from other worlds knowwho we are and who to talk to. Heteronymous the High Druid is nowKing of Mudrun. Featherdown is the Chancellor and High Wizard. I amnow the Minister for Internal Affairs whatever that means.Chantalot is the Minister for Security.’
‘Once Featherdown heard about you becoming the contender forthe throne of Moonmist from Lord Darkmantle, he drafted aproclamation stating that from that moment onwards you are to betreated as a visiting Head of State and treated accordingly. I alsofilled him in on what happened at your trial.’
‘Okay Quab lets go. I’m interested in finding out what’s onFeatherdown’s mind.’
Fifteen minuteslater Miranda was escorted by Quab, the Red Wizard and eight guardsinto a large room containing a series of rectangular tables joinedend to end with enough room to seat about 20 people but there wereonly a few present at the moment.
KingHeteronymous sat on the end and to his right were ChancellorFeatherdown, Security Minister Chantalot and Granddad . All stoodas Miranda entered.
‘You are welcome, Your Highness. Thank you for coming.’ saidthe new King.
Miranda nodded.‘Thank you for inviting me, Your Majesty.’ she repliedcourteously.
Quab escortedMiranda to her chair immediately to the left of the new King andtook the chair beside her to her left. Red Wizard closed the doorand took guard outside.
Featherdownstood and created an eerie writhing mist within the room thennodded to the King.
‘With your approval Your Majesty we’ll get started.’ hesaid.
‘I’ve called this meeting as some important new informationhas surfaced regarding our troubles in Mudrun. You should all knowabout it as it is directly relevant to our current situation. Ialso suspect that Her Highness may have some new information tocontribute. I caution you that nothing you hear here today shouldleave this room. Sol tell them what you told me.’
Granddad stoodup and then looking a bit flushed and then sat down
