After aboutfive minutes Gizel dared to open her eyes. She was floating in themiddle of a whirlwind high above the land holding a child in herarms and a little green statue tightly in one sweaty hand.Tigerlilly was wide awake and enjoying the ride. She felt a littlesick then thought.
‘Well I always dreamed of being a heroine in the old tales. Iguess this is what it is like.’ She turned her chafra glamour intoa sporty Elendari style dress more appropriate to the occasion andstarted singing along with the others.
‘I think that bat-like creature that attacked Tigerlilly wasone of those narrowbills like the one that attacked us yesterday. Ithink they navigate and hunt using sound like a bat. I’m going tosurround us with a zone of silence. It should make us invisible tothem. This means that they won’t attack but they may run into you,so we need to be careful.’ said Aquitain.
‘What do you think about the Hidden Ones asked Aquitaindiscretely so that only she could hear?
‘I thought the whole thing was a sham. I think Rosanllea puton the very religious bit because she was scared of the MentarinThevenin who was supposed to be cohabitating in her body. Whatbetter place for Thevenin to be, than in the healer who hears themost intimate problems of the people. They also said the peoplewere happy with their new religion. They didn’t look happy to me,when we walked up the terraces.’
‘Also notice how Navarro changed when he learnt aboutRosanllea’s cohabiting Mentarin. He was terrified. I think Theveninis dominating the whole settlement. The question is why is hetrying to ally to us. Maybe he thinks it’s better to have youonside than offside. I didn’t think that they would go for Gizel’salliance idea. She must have been pretty persuasive when she talkedwith him earlier.’
‘You’re a pretty smart women you know.’ said Aquitainsuddenly.
‘Yes I know that.’ replied Miranda with a chuckle.
‘Are you trying to get on my good side?’
Aquitain neveranswered, he noticed in the moonlight ahead a large flying creatureriding the wind slightly above them but intently gazing below. Helooked below and caught the glint of moonlight on metal. He sent aquick signal to Miranda. ‘Look ahead up to the right.’
Miranda spottedthe creature and said.
‘It looks like one of the narrowbills that Bengorrin mentionedand it looks very interested in the ground. Wait! Below I thinkit’s the patrol. It’s watching them.’
‘The Hidden ones use them as scouts.’ said Gizel.
‘They have some type of communication bracelet attached totheir legs. They can get them to attack people.’
‘Are you suggesting that we were attacked purposely by one atBanshee?’ asked Miranda.
‘No Your Highness. But it would have been possible.’ repliedGizel.
SuddenlyAquitain yelled urgently.
‘Miranda, Dive!’ and fortunately Miranda did, for shooting upat them was a small ball of fire. Miranda dropped like a stone andwent straight down at prodigious speed passing the fireball on itsway up by only a pace or two. The real question was when would itblow up. The typical fireball travelled a certain distance mentallydictated by the wizard directing it, then rapidly expanded into alarge inferno perhaps twenty paces across.’
Without adoubt, if they were caught in its final burst, both Gizel andTigerlilly might be burnt to a crisp. They saw the ground light upas they dived towards it. They saw five warriors and a wizardlooking skywards with orange red faces and felt a burst of heatbehind them but fortunately they were outside the danger zone.Aquitain quickly shouted using mindspeak.
‘Stop I’m Aquitain.’ as he could see Prendergrass gettingready for a second shot.’
Prendergrassswore and quickly jerked the wand in another direction as a secondfireball projected from a wand in his hand.
Gizel changedher glamour to look like a chafra.
Miranda landedand ground litter flew all around as she dropped off Gizel andmoved twenty paces away from them before returning to her Newmanform. The group, spread out in loose formation, weapons drawn withwizard at the back and ready for action.
Miranda createdan illusory druid gown to cover her body and walked towards thegroup.
‘Hello Prendergrass. Hello boys.’ She said boldly as if theywere comrades.
‘Could it be true? Is it really you Miranda?’ askedPrendergrass with a feeling of hope in his voice.
She changed herillusion to make her look like Dragonfly.
‘Yes.’ she said.
‘Dragonfly is back. The Warden found me last night and rescuedme and I’m ready for a fight.’
All thefighters cheered and welcomed her back and the group leadersaid.
‘We’re ready too, my Lady. It’s time for a Darkmantle to beQueen. You have our blades and our hearts. Lead and we’llfollow.’
‘By the gods, what happened to fire up the men like this.’said Miranda through the mindlink to Aquitain.
‘Sorry Mandy, I haven’t had time to tell you the details but Ihad a busy day yesterday. While in your body, we defeated a fewLords in a battle and the survivors swore allegiance to you.However, the fact that I was naked and covered with gold at thetime has probably boosted their morale a little. I’m sure Slivvercan fill you in on the details.’
‘What! How could you! You’ve turned me into an object of lust!I know a lot of these fighters personally. I trained with them. Howcan I look them in the eyes again.’ said Miranda.
‘As a proud Queen contender; these people worship beauty andart. They won’t see you as an object of lust but an object of regalperfection. Play the part and they’ll help us unite the Lords andthen we all might have a small chance against theMentarin.’
‘Perhaps they need a reminder that your chosen the Warden ispresent, Your Highness.’ suggested Gizel.
‘That’s a good idea. Can you create an illusion of your dreambody Aquitain. It might teach them some respect.’ said Mirandastill feeling a little embarrassed.
‘Yes it is a good idea Gizel. Place me on the ground and thenmove three paces to the left.’ said Aquitain and he created anillusion of his stony green body over where it was standing thatturned and looked directly at the men. The attitude of the menchanged instantly to one of fearful respect.
Prendergrasscould see through the illusion and smiled guessing itsintention.
‘Prendergrass, has anything
