They felt thepressure as his foot squeeze down on their bodies. Their carapacessnapped resulting in sharp pains across their backs. Their legsshattered in multiple places, each break sending excruciatinglightning bolts of pain. Their insides then burst out of theirabdomens in a giddy nauseous explosion leaving them half stunnedbut throbbing with dull relentless pain like a toothache all overyour body.
‘Not nice is it.’ said a voice into their minds.
‘Fortunately for you it hasn’t happened. You just felt whathappened to me a few years ago.’ and they were suddenly uncrushedand there was no more pain.
‘Now listen carefully to what I have to say. Rob or Aquitainas you know him has upset an extremely powerful group of mindwizards called the Mentarin. Many of them could squash all of youas easily as I just squashed you. They have reacted to whateverAquitain did by forcing Archwizard Sol Theolaur and all his familyto flee from the home and city he has lived in for over fortyyears. Believe me that is some feat.’
‘Aquitain is very special to me and is probably in gravedanger. I wish to help him but I need your willing help. I couldvery easily rape your minds and take the information I need.However, Sol Theolaur has said you are his friends. I will honourthis friendship and treat you with respect.’
Suddenly theywere all Newmans again sitting opposite a cockroach on the loungechair opposite. Quab was totally shocked, never had he been in thegrip of so much raw power and felt so small and insignificant.
Featherdown,looking a bit shaken, stood and walked to the centre of the roomand said a word which none of them could hear. Instantly he wascovered with an incredibly ornate wizard gown of deep red coveredin magic runes of gold. The gown burst into fire as he added agolden crown and a long rod of gold appeared in his right hand.
Quab had neverwitnessed this before. He could feel magic power oozing fromFeatherdown. Chantalot was scared. He had witnessed this type ofpower display once before when his brother had been visited by aMinor Power. He had a terrible feeling that he had tried to catchsomeone very powerful in a bug net. How stupid could he be?
Featherdownturned to Helix and bowed from the waist before him. He performed acomplex movement of his arms, said a few arcane words and a rainbowappeared over him.
‘I am Featherdown, Battlemage of the School of Evocation,Archwizard of Helios, Camparon and Mudrun, Hero of the Battle ofDemondew, Defender of the Weak and Bane of Evil. I recognize youand welcome you to Mudrun. May we walk in peace. I am a friend ofSol Theolaur and pledge my help in his family’s hour ofneed.
Helix movedinto a ritual position two paces in front of Featherdown and anillusion of a white haired old Newman wizard appeared dressed in apurple glowing robe covered in sparkling gems and surrounded byrainbow. Down his front on a chunky golden chain dangled a largegolden key.
‘I am Helix, Archwizard of the Multiverse, Cosmic Traveller,Sage of Tongues, Keeper of the Golden Book of Knowledge, andDefender of the Weak. I recognize you Featherdown. I accept yourpledge. Let us unite for the benefit of our friend.’
‘That is my wish.’ said Featherdown.
Chantalot andQuab were stunned to silence, never had they witnessed Featherdownso serious, so powerful yet so humble.
Featherdownlooked at them and said.
‘Quab and Chantalot please tell Helix everything he wishes toknow.’
‘Wait.’ said Helix. ‘I wish there be no feeling of coercion. Iseek only the information that you are willing to give for thesafety of Aquitain. Chantalot, I apologize for throwing you intothe hedge.’
‘No.’ said Chantalot realizing the importance of the occasionand bowing humbly.
‘Lord Helix, please accept my sincerest apology for stampingon you. You have taught me a valuable lesson. I should have knownbetter. I will tell you all I know freely as I value Aquitain as afriend and wish to help him in his hour of need.’ and he did. Sodid Featherdown and Quab.
After hearingtheir stories Helix said
‘So, the real problem now is how do I find a gate to thisMoonmist place. Do you know of one?’
‘The strict official policy is that there is only to be onecommercial gate and that is the one here but it doesn’t go toMoonmist. There are two other private gates that I know of that dogo there and perhaps the druid Council knows of others.’
‘One private gate is owned by Queen Snowbelle of Argenta. Herpolicy is to allow no traffic through it. The other gateway isknown as the Southern Gateway and it was recently the scene of askirmish. I have heard that the new High Druid has placed apermanent guard there and declared it closed to all traffic.Whether it is in actual fact closed I don’t know at the moment.I’ll contact the old High Druid and see if we can meet him to findout.’
Featherdownuttered an arcane word and a crystal ball appeared in his hand. Hewaved his hand and the light in the room dimmed. A further word andthe ball began to glow then clear. The view in the ball was of asmall office where a young male wearing druid’s attire sat workingwith a scroll.
‘Alsomere, this is Featherdown. I need to urgently talk toHigh Druid Heteronymous. Is he available?’
The young druidsuddenly sat up.
’Er ... I think so, my Lord. He is currently making some finalarrangements for the Conclave tomorrow, but I’m sure he will beable to talk to you briefly.’
The young druidwalked to a nearby door knocked and poked his head through thenreturned and removed a crystal ball from a cupboard and placed iton his desk. Moments later, a old thin man with an enormous whitebeard wearing a plain unadorned home spun brown druid robe walkedinto the room picked up the crystal ball at his end and beganspeaking.
‘Hello Featherdown, what’s happening? You’re wearing formals.Have you a distinguished visitor?’
‘Yes. I have a very high ranked colleague who brings somestrange tidings. Can we meet?’
The High Druidturned to the young druid and asked him to advise his guests thathe would back in a few minutes then said
‘I’ll meet you at your
