‘You mustn’t lose faith Miranda. The Warden is strong likethose in the legends. They never give up. He will fight for what hebelieves in until his last dying breath. He is totally devoted toyou and Tigerlilly. You are so lucky.’ replied Gizel.
‘Am I lucky to be cursed like I am? Don’t be foolish. The godsare trying their hardest to keep us apart. It’s a game for them.While he tries to keep us together he cannot do the job he needs todo. I am stopping him from completing his mission, which I suspectthe gods don’t want him to do. I must leave him not just for hissake and Tigerlilly’s sake but for the sake of all the people inthe world.’
‘You’re mad Miranda. You have something that is precious.Forget the world! They will survive. Be selfish, hold onto him. Hewould be heart broken. You can’t do it.’ replied Gizel.
‘No one will be more heart broken than me but I must do it tosave him and Tigerlilly. Will you look after Tigerlilly and carefor him when I am gone.’
‘I can never fill your place but I will care for Tigerlillyand help him if he asks but you must not do this!’ repliedGizel.
‘Thank you Gizel. You like him and Tigerlilly. I saw it inyour eyes and somehow I can feel that you are a good and strongperson. I know you will care for Tigerlilly and be the mother toher that I can’t.’ said Miranda.
‘If the worst happens I will do my best Miranda. I promise youthat.’
Chapter 17 A Taste ofAmbrosia
Morale in thestronghold increased out of sight. The fact that everyone hadprotection against possession by the Mentarin had a huge positiveeffect and the delightful little Tigerlilly became a joy to all.There were so few children that none could help loving her. Shewent around with Darkmantle talking with everyone laughing, beinghappy and cheerful. All the while acting like the proper littleprincess.
The fact thatAquitain the new Warden had given them this protection cast him asa strange but wondrous hero. Wardens were legendary and all the oldtales began to circulate. Amongst them was a walking talking legendand his green stony body added extra mystery that caused massivediscussion amongst Darkmantle’s people.
It waswhispered that Tigerlilly was born without Miranda ever beingpregnant. How could this happen unless a god was involved. Did heknow and talk to gods. Was he a god in the guise of a Warden cometo liberate Moonmist?
What was wrongwith Miranda? One day she seemed okay. All sweetness and purity butthe next she was screaming and ranting as if she was cursed orpossessed.
What aboutTigerlilly’s nanny? She was quiet and aloof. None knew what shelooked like. She spoke to no one except Miranda and Tigerlilly. Itwas said that she was a Hidden One. Was she horribly misshapen? Ifnot why did she hide from them in the black chafra she wore?
FinallyAquitain finished the power limiter. He had forged it in the shapeof a golden belt that looked like a work of art and simply oozedmagic. Prendergrass had come to check on his progress so he held itout for Prendergrass to see. The wizard activated his power to seemagic, glanced at the golden belt and quickly looked away as ithurt his eyes.
‘Well done! That is the finest example of the magic art that Ihave ever seen! I can’t even begin to imagines how anyone couldmake such a powerful item. You are truly a master among masters.’said Prendergrass.
‘Necessity is the sire of invention. I never conceived ofmaking an item like this but Miranda’s need is great. I just hopethat it is enough.’ replied Aquitain as they set out to showMiranda.
When theyarrived Miranda was in quite a bad state. She was rapidly walkingback and forth and talking to herself or perhaps Gizel. She lookedin pain and her eyes looked strange almost as if she was on theverge of madness.
He clamped thebelt around her waist and it lit up fiercely like the sun.
Prendergrassmade a dash for the door thinking that it would explode butAquitain didn’t worry. He knew it would take the load but it wasdesigned to be used when her power was low then once her powerincreased to the preset level then all extra magic power would beradiated off as light.
She wasoverloaded with power. He created a power link and filled hissource but there was still too much power. It was uncanny. Theywere in a dead magic rock area. How could she be getting so muchpower. He looked at her spirit aura. It had changed since he lastsaw it. Damn they must have done something to her spirit hethought. I better have a look.
He thrust hismind into her head and was confronted by two delirious minds singlycrazily and seemingly whirling as if dancing together. She wasloaded with a massive amount of magic essence several times morethan his source could store. He was nearly overcome by theintensity of the kaleidoscope of passion and emotions. He quicklyretreated to erect a mental block and then dove back into themaelstrom.
Miranda’semotions were an internal storm. There were dark clouds of despair,fleeting zephyrs of sorrow and anguish, flashes of rage andoccasional thunderclaps of fear overlaying a fierce gale of lust asshe and Gizel clung to each other trying to hang onto their sanity.He stood like the figurehead on a ship facing into the heart of astorm battered by countless waves trying to dislodge him from hispurpose.
The blazingbelt was not working quickly enough. He knew that unless he coulddo something else he might lose both her and Gizel so he withdrewto form a plan. Prendergrass was hovering in the corridor.
‘Leave me Prendergrass. Clear the corridors. This might getdangerous. They’re overloaded and perhaps in power narcosis.’ hesaid as he contemplated how best to solve the problem. Heremembered the last time this happened
