‘Keep calm Mandy! I had a talk with Allalanllea after weexchanged pledges and she told me that you might have some problemswhen the tattoo was removed. She suggested that I bleed off yourpower periodically. I can do that. I can also make a power limiterto keep your power level under control but for that I’ll need awell-equipped workshop and the right materials. So don’t despair,whoever has planned for us to be together made sure we would beequipped to handle our personal problems.’
‘I’ve changed too Mandy.’
‘I’ve come to realize that bodies are just the homes for ourspirits. My spirit was living in your old home, your spirit wasliving in some Felynx’s old home and Tigerlilly’s spirit has aunique home of her own. It’s the spirits that are important. When Ichange bodies I remain much the same person. My abilities, powersand memories all move with my spirit. The body has an effect on mebut less than you would imagine.’
‘I have learnt how to move between bodies like the Mentarinand how to unbind and bind spirits to them so that they can bepermanent. I can even make simple construct bodies and maybe latermore complex ones.’
Miranda wasstunned. It seemed so simple. She loved shifting and being in a catform anyway but the thought of living in someone else’s body seemedwrong and disrespectful. What did he do to gain this knowledge?
‘You can move your spirit between bodies at will and even makenew bodies. These are things that only the divine and the Mentarincan do. You are not divine so have you broken the laws of nature inorder to save yourself? I don’t think I could accept that. Have youbecome one of those horrible Mentarin or even worse? I need toknow!’
‘Mandy I am different. I don’t feel different yet but I guessI will in time. My father has made me an Agent of Chaos. I had nosay in it. I don’t know how or why he did it. I don’t even knowwhat I’m really supposed to do but I have learnt one thing and thatis the rules the gods impose on mortals no longer apply to me. Ineed only live by my rules.’
‘Who is your father? Are you now immortal?’ sheasked.
‘I have been told that my father is K’wala the Chaos Bear. Itwould make a lot of sense. Remember the Lady made me into a bearwhen I died the first time. I learned how to growl like K’wala fromone of his closest followers and other things.’ hereplied.
‘I haven’t met my father yet but I have met one of hismessengers. I don’t think that I’m immortal and I don’t seem tohave any more abilities or powers. Maybe they come with time. MaybeI have to earn them. Maybe I’m only a temporary Agent of Chaos. Whoknows? What I do know is my feelings for you haven’t changed. Ipledged my love to you and I will care for and defend you andTigerlilly with all my power until my spirit is gone.’
‘Hmm. This is no coincidence Tain. You have been changed andso have I. We are still being manipulated like puppets. It’s somegrand plan and Tigerlilly is now part of it. The question iswhether her purpose is to keep us together or drive usapart?’
‘Tigerlilly is an abomination and as a priestess of the Lady Ishould be shocked but I’m not. I should demand her death but Ican’t and won’t. I should despise you for making her but I don’t. Ishould be afraid of your new abilities to move between bodies butI’m not. The Lady blocked my powers with a binding that would killme if it was removed. That is not the action of someone interestedin my well-being. If you are no longer bound by the rules, thenneither am I. We shall make our own rules.‘
‘Tain can you examine my tattoos please.’
Aquitain usedhis power to see her magic tattoos and was surprised.
‘Mandy, they’re gone. Your tattoos are gone!’
‘I though so.’ she replied. ‘When I became a storm my bodytransformed into elemental fury. I couldn’t imagine how they couldremain.’
‘Thank you, Tain. By unlocking my memories you have succeededin removing the tattoo where everyone else had failed. I’m now freeand independent of both the Lady and my mother. Together we are nowa force to be reckoned with.’
‘I have all my memories unlocked as well Mandy. I’m much moredangerous than you can imagine. Consequently, we’ll both have to becareful not to act impulsively or many people will get hurt. Withpower comes responsibility and danger.’
‘Think about it Mandy! Without your love I am likely to end uplike that malign spirit terrorizing Moonmist and without mine youmight become an uncontrollable storm bitch terrorizing Moonmist.The gods are not fooling around they have something important forus to do and only by being together can we save ourselves andeveryone else.’
‘The puzzle pieces are finally falling into place. We need toreturn to Astaria as soon as possible.’
‘You’re right Tain but I hate being manipulated and I’m reallystarting to dislike the gods.’
‘My feelings exactly Mandy!’ he replied.
‘What are we going to do with Tigerlilly? She’ll be in dangerwhether we take her with us or leave her somewhere.’ sheasked.
‘I don’t know yet. We’ll have to think about that. Fortunatelywe don’t have to make that decision right now.’ hereplied.
‘You must make me an amulet to control my power at the firstopportunity and you must get a new body for yourself. I’ve beenforced to be abstinent for too long. I’m going to need a lot ofloving to help control my tempest emotions.’
‘Are you going to be this bossy all the time?’ heasked.
‘I am no longer sweet little Mandy. I’m a really bad bitchTempest. I’m your chosen and we have a daughter. I remember how Iwas before the tattoo. I was so damn horny the only way to calmdown was to make a storm. If you want me to maintain control youwill have to learn to quench my lust. I’m
