‘That doesn’t sound good. What has it done’ askedGranddad.
‘There was a collective mind here made up of spirits of peoplethat had died here. It was friendly and cooperative and helping meto manage the situation here. That dragon is Adonis, he’s beendeceiving Snowbelle that he’s a male nymph and she’s pregnantpresumably to him which is supposed to be impossible. He’s alsosupposed to be a minor power and he has sworn to kill me. He hasdetected the collective mind and neutralised themsomehow.’
‘You’re the gatekeeper. Can’t you just kick him out of here.’asked Granddad.
‘Maybe if I had a better understanding and control of Astariabut at the moment it’s all too new. Asterix might know but I askedthe Astarian collective to lock him out of harms reach as he’sunreliable at times.’
‘Maybe we should ask Granite for help as we just helped himout and he owes us one.’ suggested Miranlla.
‘That’s worth a thought as a last resort but I prefer that wesolve the problem now in case it happens again in the future. If weshow weakness now it will haunt us. ’ replied Aquitain.
‘I agree with that.’ replied Granddad.
‘I might go and try to find that friendly Mentarin fellow thatI met a short while ago who seems to know Astaria pretty well.Maybe he has some suggestions how to get rid of Adonis.’ statedAquitain as he left for gateway 5 where he had last seen Ignatiusdisappear.
He changed torock elemental form and passed through the portal used by thedragons to discharge their magic and swam up to the surfacehillside and called for Glammer.
A minute latershe appeared.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.
‘Adonis has managed to get into Astaria and I’m not sure howto get him out. I’ve also got a couple of hundred uninvitedMentarin and Yith in there. Do have you any suggestions that mighthelp?’
‘I’m not a fighter but I guess I could round up a few thousandof my mothra if that would help.’
He thoughtabout it for a minute.
‘They could possibly help against the warriors but they wouldbe slaughtered by the wizards or Adonis.’
‘Why don’t you grow a rock dragon body for yourself, then youwould be as big as him. You could grow one for me as well and Iwill fight with you.’ she suggested.
‘We could even create our own army of rock people. I’m suresome of the spirits in the Moonmist collective would join and fightfor you if you made them bodies. You are already a hero tothem.’
Aquitain wasstunned at the suggestion for a moment.
‘Do you really think that some of the spirits from theMoonmist Collective would join me?’ he asked then pondered on howhe might make them bodies.
‘Wait a minute!’ he thought. ‘I am a part of Astaria and it isa part of me. That is what Llanlorian said when she made meGatekeeper. That’s how I can pass through it and know whereeveryone is. Now I understand how the Astarian collective couldcontrol Astaria. Astaria could be my body if I let it.’
‘Are you okay’ asked Glammer as Aquitain seemed to be totallylost in thought.
‘Yes. Yes.’ he said. ‘That was a brilliant suggestion ofyours. You are marvellous Glammer. You’re even better thanmarvellous. I don’t know what would have happened if you had neverdecided to help me.’
‘You would be dead.’ she said.
‘Yes and you are right. I’ve been thinking about that and whatyou proposed when you revealed that we are both halfdragons.’
‘I have always thought of the Newmans as my kin. They aren’tand they never will be. I’ve been like a pet animal raised by afamily that thinks he is one of the family. They love me but I cannever be one of them. We are both the same. We’re consideredunnatural abominations created by a god to do his or her biddingand we can be discarded on a whim whether we have succeeded orfailed. However, as you pointed out, we have a unique chance tochange that and defy those arrogant gods.’
‘I’ve seen how little regard they have for me and you. Come toAstaria with me and I will make us real Astarian bodies that youand I can wear with pride. Go get some volunteers that will fightfor us and we will capture and make Astaria our home.’
‘Are you saying what I’m thinking you are saying.’ saidGlammer becoming a little excited.
‘Yes Glammer. I am. We’re going to defy our arrogant divinecreators. We’re going to write our kind into the book ofcreation.’
‘But what about your pledges to Miranlla and Gizel.’ sheasked.
‘I always believed in logical thought and action. I have cometo accept your concept that pledges are rules created by culturesto control their members. You and I are Agents of Chaos. We are notbounded by any culture’s rules.’
‘Miranlla has been bought up to see herself as one of theelite, a ruler which sets the standards of the culture rather thanconforming to it. She believes that the Warden should have severalpartners to show his power. I wasn’t so keen at first as I wasbrought up constrained by a Newman culture of monogamy but I cansee her logic.’
‘I think Miranlla sees a partner as more than just a vehiclefor pleasure but a business enterprise where more partners mean amore successful enterprise. She persuaded me to take herhalf-sister Gizel as my second. I would be honoured if you wouldjoin me and add to our strength.’
‘Together united in love we will try to create a true identityfor half dragons, Llanlleans and all the other creations such asyour mothra on Moonmist. One that no longer calls us abominationsand sees us just a temporary tools of gods but as genuine parts ofthe family of nature.’
‘What do you say?’
‘You are wonderful. I accept.’ she replied and her smileradiated hope and love.
‘Now back to business. I’m going to the Warden’s Rest. Can youfind the Mentarin Ignatius and bring him to meet me there beforeyou visit the Moonmist Collective. It might be possible to get theMentarin to leave without
