Darkmantle letgo of Aquitain and stepped back a couple of paces.
‘Oh. I am sorry. You’re right. This is all so damn confusing.We have to work out how to save my daughter’s spirit. Prendergrassget off that damn floor and start thinking about this. She’s notyour daughter; you no longer need to feel guilty about anything.Work out a way to block those damn Mentarin from getting intous.’
‘I already know how to do that my Lord.’ said a much happierPrendergrass jumping to his feet.
‘If the Lady Warden would unblock the door I have somebracelets with a warding spell on them and I know how to makemore.’
Aquitain noddedand cleared the air barrier. She was a little unsure whether it waswise to let Prendergrass out of sight but he soon returned with acloth bag containing several silver bracelets and handed one eachto Aquitain and Darkmantle. Aquitain used her ability to detectmagic and looked at the glow on the bracelet. It had divine wardingmagic similar to that on the Rat Catcher’s collar. This immediatelystimulated a chain of thoughts.
If the RatCatcher was warded against the Mentarin, then Llanlorian knew aboutthem, and if she knew then it was odds on that Llalorax herbrother, the Royal Magician knew. He must have known about QueenAurora as well. So whose side was he on now? Was Yllandril indanger? Who would she stand with when she found out, Aquitain orher previous husband? She suddenly yawned and felt tired. What anabsolute mess this was.
‘You look tired Your Highness ... err ... Lady Warden how longsince you’ve had any sleep?’ asked Prendergrass.
‘Sleep. Of course! I have to sleep in this body. I’m so usedto not having to sleep I forgot. No wonder I’m feeling tired.’thought Aquitain.
‘Yes I am feeling a bit tired. I didn’t get much sleep while Iwas a statue but we have to fix this problem about Bellen’s bookfirst. If we can cut off all information from that source theMentarin will have to work a little harder to know what we’re upto.’
‘Have you got some fighting wands handy Prendergrass?’ askedAquitain.
‘Bellen can you tell me what this book looks like?’ saidAquitain.
‘Umm ... it’s as big as me and it can float and you don’t haveto open it as it talks into your head.’
‘But what does it look like? What is its cover made of andwhat colour is it?’
‘Umm ... I can’t remember too much.’ replied Bellen a littleembarrassed.
‘Why?’ asked Aquitain.
‘Well I haven’t actually seen it for years. Yer see it’s in adark room and I can’t see through the dark. I sort of use it byfeel.’
‘You can normally see in the dark can’t you?’ said Aquitaingetting a little worried.
‘Yes, but not this dark. It is magic dark. I can’t see in thisroom.’
‘Well what does it feel like when you touch it?’
‘I tries not to touch it but when I have it feels real cold.’replied Bellen.
Aquitainsearched her memory for any books that she had heard of like thatand came up with only one type, a sentient book, a book that had aspirit trapped within it. It obviously didn’t like the light so itmust resent people seeing it. Perhaps it was ugly or made from somemalign creature that favoured darkness or maybe it just hated beingtrapped in the book. It would be smart and magically powerful.
Prendergrassreturned with several wands.
‘I have two fireball wands, a lightning wand, a hailstorm wandand a dispel magic wand. Which one would you like?’
‘We will be fighting in a small room I think the fire ball andhailstorm wands will more than likely do more damage to us than thebook. The dispel wand is likely to be the most useful.’
‘Have you ever fought a sentient book before?’ askedAquitain.
‘No have you?’ replied Prendergrass. ‘I have never even heardof sentient books before. Are they like constructs? If so theywould be resistant if not immune to most magic. We might even needa special weapon to destroy it.’
‘I’ve never seen one but my Granddad did mention once that hehad a lucky escape from one but I can’t remember any more thanthat.’ offered Aquitain.
‘Perhaps we had better go tomorrow after we have a sleep.’said Darkmantle, ‘we’re all tired.’
‘Prendergrass is a specialist in memory …err …modification.After we left the ball we had a meeting with others to discuss thenight’s events and he realized that they were forgetting whathappened. We both spent last night in an antimagic field while heworked out what to do. This morning he used a power, which blockedany further memory loss. It was only after we had talked withothers at lunch that we realized that all their memories of lastnight were gone. That’s why we came tonight to find out what youwere up to.’
Aquitainignored Darkmantle’s subtle attempt to find out more about whypeople were forgetting what happened at the spring ball.
‘I think you’re right.’ said Aquitain.
‘We will all have sharper reflexes when we’re fresh and Idon’t think the book will expect Bellen back until the morning.Perhaps we can surprise it then.’
‘Okay, we should all get some sleep then meet at dawn.’ saidDarkmantle. ‘Perhaps you would like to sleep in Miranda’s mother’sroom. It is decorated in Mudrun style and it would seem somehowappropriate as no one has slept there since she left.’
‘Thank you Lord Darkmantle, Bellen and I will accept youroffer.’ said Aquitain suddenly feeling quite tired.
‘Err wouldn’t it be better if we held Bellen in a cellovernight. He might escape.’ said Prendergrass.
‘No I don’t think so. He will give me his word that he won’tescape.’ said Aquitain.
‘If you have any doubts remember that Crys my construct herenever sleeps and is a very capable guardian.’
‘My dear Lady Warden, you are currently protecting mydaughter’s body. This is a family matter now. In this house youwill be as safe as in your mother’s arms.’
After showingAquitain to Miranda’s mother’s room and getting fresh bed linen,Darkmantle and Prendergrass left.
‘What do you what me to do my Lord?’ askedPrendergrass.
‘Get some sleep. You’re going to have to fight tomorrow.’ saidDarkmantle.’ and I’m going to have to reassess a few things. I
