In option twoshe could fly around all night and wait until dawn where she mightbe able to see enough to land. She decided on option two until shecould think of something else. She caught an updraft and fixed hergaze on the volcano. As long as she could see it there would benothing in the way. She didn’t need to flap her wings all the time,as there was plenty of uplift.
A few minuteslater Glammer caught up with her and re-established the mindlink.
Aquitainexamined Glammer’s spirit aura. It was the green aura of anElendari.
‘You’ve hidden your spirit aura.’ she said.
‘Of course; would you expect anything else.’ statedGlammer.
‘No I suppose not.’ replied Aquitain as he put Slivver tosleep.
‘I’ve put Slivver to sleep so that you can talk if you wish. Ifeel relatively safe while I can see the volcano. How long will themothra transformation last.’ said Aquitain.
‘I have given it to you as a gift. You should be able to shapechange to mothra form from now on and stay in that form as long asyou wish. The main problem is that you are a very large mothra andthat will attract attention. So you should use itwisely.’
‘Thank you, Glammer.’ I am in your debt again.
‘It is important for everyone that you stay alive. I am justdoing my job.’ she replied.
‘You think that was an attack on me? If so they would have tobe incredibly powerful to direct an anti-magic storm at me.’ saidAquitain.
‘We are not playing games anymore.’ repliedGlammer.
‘This is the real deal. Releasing Granite has changed thebalance significantly. He is very powerful and was at one time veryinfluential. He will not rest until he finds out that I wasinvolved in trapping him. He will be enraged by what has happenedto Mudrun and seeking retribution.’
‘The Powers with a vested interest in Mudrun and Moonmist willall be examining their options. Some will see new opportunities butothers will have plans ruined and be looking for someone to blame.Everyone will be interested in you. They will want to know allabout you and displays of power like remaking me will only increasetheir interest. The next few weeks will be very important. You needto keep moving, keep out of sight and not try to upset anyone for awhile. Eventually they will forget about you as more importantmatters arise.’
‘Isn’t that what Agents of Chaos are supposed to do. We rockthe boat and upset everyone!’ replied Aquitain.
‘Yes but sometimes even the most powerful need to hide forself-preservation. If you become annoying enough then you will beeliminated.’
‘Won’t the Lady protect me as I seem to be involved in one ofher schemes?’ asked Aquitain.
‘You are not bound to her. She may offer limited protectionwhile you are of use but she will discard or destroy you the momentshe sees a benefit. Don’t be deceived gods are interested only inthemselves and they are the main cause of much of the imbalance inour worlds.’
‘Can my father offer any protection?’ asked Aquitaincuriously.
‘No not while he is trapped.’ Glammer replied.
‘So you know who my father is?’ she askedcarefully.
‘Of course! You wear his mark.’ Glammer replied.
‘Can you tell me anything about him? asked Aquitainexpectantly.
‘Look, there is a light in the distance.’ said Glammer. ‘Youshould check it out. Goodbye for now. I must go.’ and shevanished.
Chapter 12 FamilyReunion
Moonbeam awoke from along refreshing sleep in the damp muddy smelling cave. She feltmuch stronger but very hungry. She had woken earlier after she hada bad dream about Ironwood but then fell into a dreamless sleep fornearly twelve hours.
‘Ah. You’re awake at last.’ said a voice in MudrunCommon.
She lookedaround and spotted an average looking middle-aged Newman. He hadshort grey hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His clothes didn’t giveany indication of wealth or station. The only indication that hewas important was his voice and his body language.
‘Who are you?’ asked Moonbeam getting to her feet andstretching.
‘I am in charge here. My name is Navarro and I have to decidewhether you are a genuine runaway slave or a threat sent by theLord of the Mentarin to infiltrate our safe house network. If youare genuine we will help you reach your family for a small donationfrom them of course. If you are an agent, well I will say nomore.’
‘Would you like some food. I’ll bet you’re hungry. I had toescape from the Mentarin myself a few years ago and the experienceis still vivid in my memory. The sneaking around in the dark, theheart stopping moments, the fear of getting caught, the sound ofthe hounds and the exhaustion, it makes you veryhungry.’
‘Yes I am hungry.’ replied Moonbeam.
‘Good.’ said Navarro and he walked over to a wooden barrel andpulled out two live fish, stunned them against the rim, placed themon a rough wooden plate and passed them to Moonbeam. He then pouredhimself a mug of water and sat watching her.
Moonbeam didn’tcare who was watching she sat on the ground and ate the fish scalesand all. She did, however, take the opportunity to have a good lookaround.
She was in asmall greyish rock cave, about twenty paces wide. Half the floorarea was occupied by pool; the other half where she was seated wasdamp rock. Across the other side of the room was a sort of doorthat blocked off the pool. It looked like a cave ceiling and washinged on the far side of the room and stood at an acute angle tothe water. It could be lowered flat against the surface of thewater using a system of ropes and pulleys. She had no doubt thatonce lowered into position anyone entering the cave from theoutside side would discover an underwater cave that was a deadend.
It was when shetried to stand again she realized that she had been drugged. Herlegs wouldn’t work properly and her mind began to get foggy.
‘What have you done to Moonbeam?’ shouted Tigerlilly runninginto the
