‘If that is the case why have you make a deal with theMentarin to sit on the fence while I fight to become Queen.’ sheasked.
‘It was to buy time for you and our people.’ hereplied.
‘If I had sided with you immediately the Mentarin would haveattacked us and wiped out our people. They are ruthless and see usas vermin. They have said they created us out of amusement and caneliminate us just as easily. I fear for all of us.
‘This is important. Who told you this?’ askedMiranlla.
Llaloraxhesitated for a short while. ‘It was Gemelica. She had been talkingto the Mentarin’
‘So she knew that the Queen wasn’t her mother’ askedMiranlla.
‘Yes. She knew.’ said Llalorax. ‘She hates Llanlleans. I’msure if she was Queen she would have us hunted andkilled.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?’ asked Snowbelletotally astounded.
‘You were never one of us. It wasn’t your business.’ repliedLlalorax.
Miranlla wassuddenly sad for both Snowbelle and Llalorax.
‘Well I’m here now and the Lord Warden and I are determined tofix Moonmist’s problems. You may have heard I dedicated a sanctuaryto the warden a couple of days ago and I gave the Mentarin noticethat Moonmist is under our protection and control.’
‘Llalorax I know that only about a third of the Llanlleans arelistening to you. There are many that will follow me regardless ofwhat you say or do. My advice is to get on the side of the winners.The Lord Warden and I are the winners.’
‘Snowbelle, we have been through a lot together. I still thinkof you as my mother no matter how badly you treated me. I see youare carrying a child from Adonis. We believe that Adonis is adragon and that makes your child half dragon which all will call anabomination. I would carefully consider your child’sfuture.’
‘That’s outrageous. You are lying.’ said Snowbelle thoroughlyinsulted. ‘My child’s father is the most wonderful male nymph inthis world.’
‘Believe whatever you want to Snowbelle!’ replied Miranlla.‘You have been warned. Now I must go I have business to attendto.’
Miranlladropped out of the mind arena, grabbed Rori’s hand and theyteleported to Darkmantle’s hideout.
She brieflydiscussed what she wanted him to do then changed to her Dragonflypersona and teleported to the summer palace where she was greetedby some of Darkmantle’s men. They stood to attention saluted herand opened the doors for her as she walked towards the Trixiearea.
Darkmantle’sCaptain saw her and came running over to her.
‘Welcome your highness. Can I help you in any way.’ he askedenthusiastically.
‘No thank you Captain! Go about your duties. I know my wayaround.’ she replied.
‘As you wish.’ he replied then saluted her andleft.
‘I will be never understanding you Spirit Lords and Ladies.Are you really a Queen as well as everything else?’ askedRori.
‘Yes I’m a Queen in some minds but not all Rori.’ she replied.‘We shall see what happens.’
They enteredthe service corridor and Rori stopped dead. ‘They are yellows.’ hesaid.
The Trixiesstopped dead. ‘That is a blue!’ said one.
There was totalsilence. Rori stared at the Trixies and they stared back at him. Aminute or two later Bellen came rushing in.
‘So it is true! You have brought a blue here. May the Ladyhave mercy upon us!’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Miranlla.
‘You have broken the lore!’ said Bellen.
‘No yellow shall ever be seen with another colour. The penaltyis death to all the yellows.’
‘Aquitain said that you are not of this world. Are you fromMudrun!’ she stated.
‘Yes I am from Mudrun Your Majesty but I am different. I amhalf red and half yellow. I do not break the lore.’ repliedBellen.
Miranllapanicked.
‘Lady what have I done?’ she thought then she chanted a mantraof calming. What would Aquitain do?
‘I am your Queen but I am also the first favourite ofAquitain, the Lord Warden of Moonmist and newly recognized as theson of K’wala. He now speaks for K’wala in his absence. Aquitainsays that the old lore is no more. We are in a time of change. Youwill not die but welcome your brothers of other colour scales. Youwill re-join them and together you all shall fulfil your god’swishes.’
Bellen droppedto his knees.
‘It is true then. The time of change is upon us.’
‘Yes Bellen and I wish to talk to you privately.’ shesaid.
‘As you wish, Your Majesty.’ he replied and the walked offdown the corridor.
The otherTrixies all crowded around Rori. They had never seen another colourTrixie. They were legendary. Rori felt the same about yellows.
‘There will shortly be a Great Council of all the littlepeople on Mudrun. I want you to come representing the yellows andAquitain.’ said Miranlla.
‘I’m sorry, My Queen, I cannot. I have been here too long. IfI was to return I would be too old in Mudrun years and die before Icould speak a word. However, perhaps you might convince myhalf-brother. He is a shaman of the hidden yellows. My father was ashaman of the yellows but loved my mother who was a red. I am theirchild and because of me he was expelled from our tribe. Later hewas accepted back and eventually had another child by a yellowmother.’
‘Where can I find them?’ asked Miranlla.
‘I do not know. They have several camps and movefrequently.’
‘What about R’ptor would he know where they are?’ askedMiranlla.
‘Possibly. I know my father talked with R’ptor onoccasion.’
‘You know much more than I would expect?’ suggested Miranllacuriously.
‘I was brought up on Astaria.’ he replied. ‘My fatherabandoned me. My mother looked after me until she died and I wasfound by R’ptor who took me to Astaria. I was raised by Asterix andthe others. When I was old enough they brought me here.’
‘By the Lady, the story becomes more convoluted every day.’replied Miranlla.
‘I am beginning to think I had a perfect childhood with myhead in the clouds.’
‘Perhaps you did my Queen but if you can help my people gain abetter life no one will complain.’
They returnedto Rori and the other Trixies and Rori came over to her.
‘They have been breaking the lore. Look
