‘We are in private. You may show your faces.’ heannounced.
Miranda,Navarro, Gizel, Tigerlilly and lastly the woman in the red roberemoved their hoods revealing their faces.
Navarro quicklywalked halfway to Bengorrin and said.
‘Leader Bengorrin and Master Healer Rosanllea may I presentMiranda, Druidess of Mudrun, Princess of Argenta, contender to theElendari throne and her small green crystal partner, Aquitain,Warden of Moonmist and Lord of Astaria and finally PrincessTigerlilly, their daughter.’
‘Let the Lord Pellum be praised for bringing us such esteemedvisitors. It is truly a special day. Please accept my apologies forthat feral creature that attacked your daughter and praise Pellumfor her safe return to you. Please sit and breakfast with us.’ saidBengorrin and promptly sat on the floor and leaned on acushion.
Everyonefollowed his example. He picked up a small ceramic plate piled somefood on it, held it to his mouth and ate with his fingers. Theothers followed suit all smiling and eagerly sizing up eachother.’
‘This is a profanity.’ said Rosanllea vehemently toBengorrin.
‘How can you permit this to happen here of all places. It isan insult to Lord Pellum. You sit with a woman that cavorts withanimals and a stone abomination that reaps chaos wherever it goes.They should be cast out immediately or they will contaminate ourpeople!’
‘Quiet Rosanllea, I am in charge here and these people are ourguests.’
Navarro andGizel froze, and Miranda to her credit kept her calm.
‘Wow she’s certainly showing where she stands.’ said Mirandathrough the mindlink to Aquitain.
‘Yes. I wonder if it’s a ploy of some type to see how we’regoing to react.’
‘You have a wonderful view from the terraces outside. Thesettlement here looks like it could defend itself well against alarge force.’ said Miranda casually totally ignoring Rosanllea’srudeness.
‘Yes.’ replied Bengorrin.
‘It has proven effective on one or two occasions.’
Aquitainnoticed that Rosanllea was concentrating a malevolent gaze at him,almost as if she was trying to cast a power at him. Then he noticedher eyes weren’t right, she was trying to read his spirit aura. Hequickly created a Pure Heart covering his whole body effectivelyturning his aura invisible. He noticed with some degree ofsatisfaction, the surprise on her face.
‘Now let’s see what you’ve got to hide.’ he thought andactivated his aura vision.
‘Take care Miranda.’ he suddenly said through their mindlink.‘Rosanllea is possessed by a Mentarin.’ then he quickly screenedthe others in the room but saw no more.’
‘You’re joking aren’t you? You mean we’re having breakfastwith the enemy?’
Bengorrin waswatching Miranda carefully he noticed her suddenly tense up andcarefully slip Tigerlilly under her left arm.
‘Wait,’ said Bengorrin urgently.
‘I know you can see the Mentarin here. Please hear his storybefore you act.’
Miranda jumpedto her feet and shouted aloud,
‘You wish me to talk to a Mentarin? One has possessed me! Itallowed me to witness the destruction it wrought in my own home. Itforced me to feel the terror and betrayal of a child I knew, as myhands strangled her to death.’
‘Calm down Miranda!’ said Aquitain.
‘Calm down, they haven’t threatened us in any way.’
‘It’s all right for you in your stupid little stone body. Itcan’t hurt you but it can hurt Tigerlilly. I’ll destroy them allbefore they get near her.’
The curtainsbegan to part as guards, hearing the shouting, began to enter.Aquitain slammed a hardened air barrier across the entrance.Rosanllea jumped up and ran toward the entrance only to be stoppedby the invisible barrier. Navarro and Gizel scrambled on theirhands and knees across the floor to the wall. Only Bengorrin stayedseated with a look of grim determination on his face.
‘Please be seated, Princess Miranda. On my honour he will notharm you or your child. You may hold a dagger to my throat if youwish. Not all Mentarin are evil monsters like the one thatpossessed you.’
‘Please Miranda, please calm down, I can see him. I willdestroy him if he threatens our daughter.’ said Aquitain throughthe mindlink.
‘Okay, I’ll hold you to that!’ she said and sat down with adefiant look on her face.
‘Guards close that curtain; there is no problem here!’ shoutedBengorrin, then in a much more pleasant voice.
‘Rosanllea, would you please re-join us.’
She returnedand sat with a neutral expression on her face. Navarro and Gizelalso carefully edged their way back and sat down.
‘Excellent, we are making progress.’ saidBengorrin.
‘By the Powers, this man is cool.’ thought Aquitain, gettingrather eager to hear what they had to say.
Bengorrinlooked at Navarro and Gizel and they both instantly fell asleepsliding down into a prone position on the floor.
‘It is safer for them if they don’t know what you are about tohear.’ he said with a smile.
‘Now we have a small problem before I proceed. Miranda has aparasite on her back, which is a spy for Lord Borse. It should beeliminated.’
‘The creature is known to me and is my friend I will not letit be killed.’ stated Miranda.
Rosanllea stoodup and shouted.
‘You have a puppeteer as a friend? This is grotesqueBengorrin. They mock everything we stand for. They may be spies forBorse checking our defences.’
‘I will ensure that the creature hears nothing by putting itto sleep.’ said Aquitain first charming Slivver then using apowerful suggestion to sleep.
‘You may check it now if you wish.’
Bengorrinclosed his eyes and moments later agreed that Slivver was indeedasleep.
‘I don’t wish to lecture you but puppeteers are notoriouslyfickle in their friendship. It worries me that you believe it isfriendly, however, that is your concern.’ he stated.
‘You should hear Thevenin’s story first.’ said Bengorrin, hecohabitates in Rosanllea’s body with her. They do not agree on manythings but they are both dedicated healers.
A mindspeakvoice appeared in their minds.
‘Hello, I am Thevenin, previously a Mentarin healer. Pleaseaccept my sincerest apologies for the brutal transgressions of oneof my former colleagues. Please believe me that although many aremalign, there are also those that aspire to betterthings.’
‘Over three hundred years ago, I was a Mind wizard whospecialized in healing. I freely admit I was arrogant and greedyfor power but mainly to further my healing career. I was approachedto join a secret alliance of wizards called the Mentarin Society,which promised to reveal the secret of exceptionally long life. Iagreed and in due course
