‘R’ptor come here!’ yelled Granite.
To Miranlla’sabsolute surprise R’ptor appeared instantly as a Newman robed likea druid.
‘Thank the Lady, you’re back Lord Granite.’ saidR’ptor.
‘You can thank Aquitain for that. The Lady left me where I wasfor hundreds of Mudrun years and look what happened while I wasabsent.
I’m not happyR’ptor.’ replied Granite.
‘I totally agree.’ replied R’ptor.
‘My wards have largely been corrupted by Mentarin pretendingto be Spirit Guardians called Loopis and Jacintra. However, a fewof my wards have remained loyal and obedient and Spirit GuardiansK’wala, Barra and Tuatara are on the other side. I think Lord Borsemay have been involved.’
‘What’s this about you calling a Great Council of the LittlePeople?’ asked Granite. ‘That is not one of yourduties!’
‘Um. No Lord Granite, but it seemed to offer the chance ofchanging the Pact of Renewal so that it would reduce the corruptionof my wards caused by the false guardians.’
‘How did you expect Aquitain to help?’
‘I believe from what I have witnessed that he is an Agent ofChaos, Lord Granite. I have assumed he has been sent by the Lady tocause change.’
‘What if he does not come to the Little People’s Council?’asked Granite.
‘Then the situation will be no better or no worse.’ repliedR’ptor.
‘Have you made arrangements with Whooshoo for transport of theLittle People?’ asked Granite.
‘Yes, Lord Granite.’
‘What about the hidden yellows?’
‘They are undecided whether to go Lord Granite. They areafraid of revealing their presence.’
‘Okay, you can go. Keep me informed. This could turn intoanother mess.’ replied Granite and R’ptor disappeared.
‘Are you beginning to see the responsibilities of power yet mydear?’ asked Granite.
‘You desire to be Queen in Moonmist yet you are dabbling inthe affairs of Mudrun as well. I am still the Lord Protector ofMoonmist. If you become Queen, we will have to work together. Ifyou become a tyrant do I protect you or the people? If I hear of aconspiracy against you do I tell you or act against theconspirators even though their cause may be just?’
‘I’m sorry Granite. I did not choose you. I chose Aquitain. Hedoes what he thinks is right for the people. I love him and believein him. I will do no more or no less. If we cause waves then youwill need to work out how to calm them. That is yourjob.’
Granite lookedat her intensely for a few seconds then said.
‘Remember changing the Pact of Renewal will cause chaos. MaybeAquiveritas has some ideas. You should also check out the hiddenyellows they were K’wala’s wards. You will find Alpha on a chainaround your neck.’ And she found herself standing in her Newmanbody beside Rory. The mound of rock in front of them turned intothe head of a great stone dragon who climbed out of the ground asif it was water.
He winked atMiranlla and took to the air with great flaps of his mighty wings.Miranlla and Rori both watched as he disappeared into thedistance.
‘He is being the Lord Protector I am thinking! Kami will begreatly interested in this.’
‘Hmmm.’ thought Miranlla. ‘What have I got myselfinto?
Rory I want youto send a message via the spirits to Aquitain and tell him I’ll bewaiting for him where he wanted to meet me in about an hour.
Rory agreedwhile Miranlla used a teleport ring to go to the teleport markeroutside twin towers. There were several Panmagican troops theresitting around talking so she changed into cat form and vanishedquickly into the jungle before they could react.
‘I hope Aquitain is prepared for an ambush’ she thought as sheturned into a tree to wait a hundred paces from the teleportmarker.
Granddadarrived at the marker with Goth his huge metal construct and wasimmediately challenged by the guards who were considerably morealert after Miranlla had come through.. A minute later there wereeight dead guards and Goth prowled around looking for more.
Miranlla was alittle reluctant to approach Granddad shouting to him well beforeappearing as she was worried about Goth not realizing who shewas.
‘It’s me Miranlla, Granddad. Call off your monster.’ Sheshouted and waited for him reply.
‘Okay come out and show yourself.’ He yelled and she cameslowly out of the jungle.
‘What’s going on? I got an urgent summons from Aquitain tocome here.’ he said.
‘He’s got something planned.’ she replied. ‘but he didn’t tellme what.’
Granddad wentover to Miranlla and they stood and chatted in the jungle on theedge of the clearing waiting apprehensively for several minutesuntil Aquitain finally turned up.
He immediatelynoticed the dead bodies and looking around carefully called out forMiranlla and Granddad who came strolling out of the jungle.
‘What’s going on.’ asked Granddad sternly.
‘I’ve got something interesting to tell you. I had a chat withGranite a few minutes ago. He was waiting for me toarrive.’
Aquitain formedinto a Newman, smiled and created a mindlink with Granddad andMiranlla.
‘Tell me all about it.’
‘That’s interesting. He’s trying to cobble together a dealthat might help him save face and possibly save hisjob.’
‘I’ve decided that it’s time to take the initiative. I thinkthat we can agree that we’ve all been used as pawns and lured intoa nasty lethal no win situation that is coming to a head. We can’twin against gods but we can win against their agents by appealingto their greed. So it time we had something to bargain with thateveryone wants.’
‘What’s that.’ asked Miranlla a little surprised.
‘Mudrun has only one inter-world gateway and that is here atTwin Towers. The Panmagicans’ god Findus or one of his flunkiessent them here to hold the gateway open as it is essential fortrade between the Mentarin, the druids and Panmagica. It’s alsoessential for supplies for the troops.’
‘If there is no gateway there is no trade through here butthere could be trade from the Mentarin and the druids if they usedAstaria as the gateway.’
‘Astaria is my domain. We could control the inter world magicgoods trade from Astaria and tax everything that passesthrough.’
‘I can offer our family and friends and many other good peoplea new home. With your help Granddad, we could become the biggesttraders in magic goods among the worlds. All I have to do
