‘No! You are not. There is something that you are hiding! Whatis it!’ demanded Miranda.
Gizel droppedto her knees and lowered her head.
‘I don’t know Your Highness. I really don’t know but … you areright I do feel a connection between us.’
‘Between us! Your eyes are only for the Warden. You carenothing about me.’ yelled Miranda.
‘I have true affection for the Warden but I feel someconnection to you, Your Highness.’ replied Gizel.
‘So you have a strange sexual appetite. Do you want to sharemy bed with me?’ asked Miranda.
‘No. That is not it Your Highness. I have no taste for femalecompanions.’ she replied.
‘I have a more of a sisterly feeling towards you. It is if weare sharing the same hopes and desires.’ she cried and begansobbing.
‘So you wish to share the Warden with me?’ askedMiranda.
‘I am no different to countless others that might secretlyharbour the desire to give themselves freely to the Warden but Iknow that is impossible. The Warden only has eyes for you. YourHighness.’
‘Damn the Lady! Damn the gods!’ said Miranda.
‘What does this mean? What are they planning? They arelaughing at our expense. You have read the legends about the greatheroes. You read nothing about how they suffer. You hear nothingabout the pain, the fear of failure, the uncertainty, and the dirtytricks. For every success the fear of failure grows like a cancer.The bards laud your triumphs but say nothing of yourfears.’
‘I waited countless Mudrun years to have a chastity beltremoved. It is gone now but my lover, my chosen, my Warden is alittle green statue. He is a hero of the little people on Mudrun,he was a wizard Captain, he is the most wonderful person I haveever met and I love him more than my own life yet we cannot laytogether like normal people. The gods are hateful creatures. Theyenjoy tormenting us and revel in our agony.’
‘You are very cunning and skilful in how you use words andmanipulate people Gizel. I am very skilful at killing people. Ifyou use your talents to help the Warden and me achieve our goalsthen you will be very well rewarded. If you think to turn on usthen there will be nowhere safe to hide. Do we have anunderstanding?’
‘Yes Miranda.’ replied Gizel.
Aquitain spentthree days with Prendergrass cloning Bracelets of Warding, totallydraining the magic power from both of them something a magic useris very reluctant to do, as it would normally leave them helpless.The result was impressive; they had produced enough bracelets toprotect everyone present in the stronghold plus another thirtyspares. The only reason they stopped was because they ran out ofmetal to make the bracelets.
On the night ofthe third evening he returned.
‘Hello Miranda, hello Tigerlilly, Hello Gizel. We are finallysafe from the Mentarin. We have enough bracelets to protecteveryone and a few extras to spare.
‘Tomorrow I would like to start making the power limiter.However, I have a problem. For this I need a real body. I need tofeel the magic and I can’t in this little stone body. I will haveto switch my spirit into your body Miranda and you can go into mylittle stone body. It should take about five days then we canswitch back again.’ said Aquitain.
‘I don’t think I will be able to stand being isolated in thatlittle crystal body for five days.’ replied Miranda.
‘I’m feeling restricted and restrained already in this body. Ican hardly breathe. I want to go out and create a storm and destroythings. The lust is growing.’
‘I know that Miranda. I am working as fast as I can. You haveto hold on Miranda. If I can borrow your body I will drain yourmagic and you won’t feel as bad.’ he replied.
‘I told you this would happen. I can’t stay in that littlestatue body for one day let alone five days.’ sheshouted.
‘You can borrow my body Warden.’ offered Gizel.
‘I will stay in the little crystal body for fivedays.’
‘No I will not allow it. If I cannot stay in that littlestatue for five days I do not expect Gizel to stay there. She cancome and stay with me. We will cohabit in my body for five days.’said Miranda.
‘What!’ said Aquitain.
‘Are you okay Miranda? You hated being possessed. Cohabitationis almost the same.’
‘It’s quite different.’ replied Miranda. ‘When you arepossessed you have no say and no control. In cohabitation it isvoluntary for both people and they both share control of the samebody. It will give Gizel and me a chance to know eachother.’
‘I don’t like this!’ said Aquitain. ‘It doesn’t sound like youMiranda.’
‘I am willing my Lord. You may take my body and I will sharethe Princess Miranda’s body. I will not be a burden she can keepcontrol of it.’
‘Why are you doing this Gizel?’ asked Aquitainsuspiciously.
‘I am doing it for both of you and my people. We need you andMiranda to create a new future for us. We need you to get rid ofthe Mentarin and unify the people of Moonmist.’ shereplied.
‘Now tell me why you are doing this?’ askedAquitain.
‘It is embarrassing Warden. I have never had a proper familyand you and Miranda have so warmly welcomed me into yours. I reallywant help you.’
Aquitain wasworried. Gizel seems genuine enough but he was worried aboutMiranda. Ever since he unlocked her memories and she got herTempest persona back she’s been behaving strangely but unless hemade the power limiter things were likely to get worse.
‘Okay. Thank you Gizel. I will move my spirit into your bodyand move your spirit in with Miranda’s spirit. It will take meabout five days to make the power limiter and then I will move yourspirit back to your body and I will go back into the statue. I willnot force you to do this against your will Gizel. If you choose notto agree then there will be no repercussions. We will simply findanother way to solve the problem.’
‘I agree to do this with all my heart my Lord. You may move myspirit into Miranda’s body and I will cohabit with her for fivedays or until you have finished the magical item that you aremaking. I have absolute faith
