‘Please consider the controls you have placed on hercarefully. She will need all the resources that she can muster justto survive. Snowbelle’s son will have no such bounds. I truly hopeyou will survive.’ and she disappeared.
Aquitain feltno emotion as Glammer had said it all. She was such a littlepessimist. Then again, perhaps she was trying to tell himsomething. Her advice was usually more cryptic than her blatantwarning about restricting Tigerlilly’s mind. He could certainly dosomething about that.
‘Well Tigerlilly it seems like it’s down to you, little girl.I have an hour to teach you everything I can and he hypnotizedher.
An hour laterhe said.
‘Always remember, your mother and I love you more thananything.’ then woke her from the hypnosis.
He called forthe Rat Catcher and said using mindspeak.
‘From this moment I command you to guard Tigerlilly, she isthe key to protecting me. I specially want you to teach her how tohide and stay hidden. I also wish you to watch over Gizel. I thinkthat she somehow has a part to play in the greaterpuzzle.’
‘As you command.’ said the Rat Catcher.
‘Tigerlilly I’ve got you a pet. His name is Ratcatcher. Youcan talk to him and he’ll talk into your mind. If there are badpeople or monsters around you must listen to him and he’ll help youhide from them.’
‘Oh thank you daddy!’ she replied and picked up Rat Catcherand cuddled him in her arms.
He removed thedome and they returned to Miranda, Gizel and Yllandril in theirroom in the stronghold who seemed to be chatting together amicably.Miranda was in her Llanllean form. She looked magnificent.
‘Mummy Gizel! Look daddy’s got me a pet cat called RatCatcher.’ she yelled excitedly.
‘That’s nice darling. Tain can you go somewhere else please.We are discussing important female business here. You may leaveTigerlilly with us. I will call you when we are finished.’ saidMiranda.
Aquitain leftfeeling a little rejected. He was becoming surrounded andcontrolled by women. He needed to find some male companionship butthat was going to be hard until he could get a bigger body. So hefound a small niche in the wall crawled in and sat wondering howFeatherdown, Quab and Chantalot were faring.
Chapter 20 PledgingPresents
Aquitain sat in thecrack in the wall for several hours. It was pleasant to have timeto himself to think again and his mind wandered over many things.So much had changed in his life. He thought of how carefree hislife had been until just a few months ago. Now a world dependedupon him to save it. Women wanted to love him and be with him.Powerful creatures wanted to kill him. He wondered again was it alla dream.
The Ratcatcherpadded up to his little hideaway and sat outside.
‘My Lord, your Chosen has requested your presence in yourroom.’
‘Thanks Ratcatcher!’ and he crawled out of the crack, notedits location in case he needed to hide from his women again and setout for his room. It took him a couple of minutes as he was sosmall and when he arrived he was surprised to find Lord Darkmantleand wizard Prendergrass present wearing their finery.
Miranda andGizel both wore remarkable glamours as fine as any he had seen atthe Queens Ball although a little less revealing in the regions oftheir private parts. Yllandril had created an illusory image ofherself clothed in a more modest but sumptuous glamour and it stoodbeside them. Tigerlilly was dressed in a beautiful white Llanlleanreal spider silk gown embroidered with small golden flowers.
‘What’s going on Miranda?’ he asked a little afraid of whatshe was about to say.
‘It’s time we formalized everything my love! I am no longerbound by Snowbelle’s decrees and I wish to be formally pledged toyou. Gizel wishes to accept your proposal and also wishes to beformally pledged to you. Lord Darkmantle has been informed that heis our father and has managed to accept it gracefully and wishes tobe a part of the ceremony.’
‘Following that Lord Darkmantle wishes to declare a formalalliance with Lord Aquitain Warden of Moonmist. According to thesecond charter, which Gizel knows well, you will gain formalacknowledgement of your title as a Lord and we should gain thesupport of at least seven of the twenty Lords of therealm.’
‘Normally these things would take several months to negotiateand agree but owing to the severity of the situation everyone herehas agreed to act immediately. Aren’t you proud of us! Gizel isamazing with law and contracts. She has arranged most of this andshe really loves us both.’ she said.
‘I’ve always been proud of you! At the moment I’m a littleoverwhelmed.’ he replied.
‘But I foresee a problem. If you can no longer claim to beroyalty then you no longer have a claim to the throne of Moonmist.In fact your sister Gizel has that claim!’ he replied.
Gizel hasstudied the lineages of the Llanlorian leaders and guess what , mygrandmother Araxanllea was the leader of the Llanlleans and she wasentitled to be Queen according to the Charter. So I am alsoentitled to be Queen.
‘So it’s not a problem. We have sorted out everybody’sposition. You will be king of Moonmist, Astaria and Argenta. Shewill be Queen of Argenta and I will be Queen of Astaria.’ repliedMiranda. I will be Queen of Moonmist and in my absence she will beRegent of Moonmist. In both our absences you can appoint our fatheras Regent.
‘Oh… by the Powers what have I got myself into.’
He created anillusory image of himself as a Newman dressed in the finestPanmagican tradition and walked his image over to Lord Darkmantleand it bowed gracefully.
‘Lord Darkmantle it is customary where I come from for aNewman to ask permission of a woman’s father before pledging to hisdaughter. Consequently, I wish to ask your permission to pledge toyour daughter Miranda formerly of Argenta as my first chosen andyour daughter Gizel as my second chosen.’
Lord Darkmantleturned to Yllandril and said.
‘Are you in favour of these proposals Yllandril?’
‘I am Lord Darkmantle.’ She replied
