Perhaps Granitewas an Agent of Chaos and the society there got out of balancebecause he wasn’t there. Perhaps the Agent of Chaos Schlum had beensent here before Aquitain to find Granite and had been somehowcorrupted. He began to see himself in a new light. Perhaps Agentsof Chaos are really necessary after all. Maybe Glammer wasinvolved.
‘I’m guessing that you were somehow involved in Granite beingimprisoned here. I am right?’ asked Aquitain.
The collectivewas silent.
‘Oh that’s great! You want to form an alliance so that I willprotect you from Granite? You have got to be jesting! He is themost powerful being I have ever met. I shall have to think deeplyabout this.’ And he sat and adopted the position for meditation. Heneeded to logically and unemotionally consider what todo.
‘Let’s first consider the advantages.’ he thought.
‘Let’s face it I’ve got many more problems than answers andGranite hasn’t been any help. Glammer has a lot of local knowledge,which could be very helpful in solving some of the problems. She isalso scared of what Granite might do to her and the other Radiants.If she thinks that I might be able to help defend her in some waythat will make her very keen to help me. I have much more to gainthan lose.’
‘Now on the negative side remaking Glammer is likely to reallyupset Granite but what is he likely to do? I released him from hisprison so he owes me. He has no reason to harm me although he mightstill wish to punish Glammer. If I remake Glammer then I couldargue that I intend to make her atone for her deeds. He might buythat.’
The collectivestarted talking again.
‘We admit that we have helped your enemy but he also knowsthat we have helped you. If you remake us to our oneself then wewill help only you. Now that each of the factions knows that theDark One has corrupted us before we will be able to resist hisinterference. We may be able to find your love one’s spirit andhelp her if she has not passed over to the realm of thedead.’
‘Are my cousin Zephira and my memcrystal Alpha stillalive?’
‘We believe they are.’ replied the collective.
‘Am I able to remake you?’
‘You have the power within you.’ replied thecollective.
Aquitainthought about whether to remake Glammer for several more minutesand finally he came to the conclusion that like everything latelythere was a good side and a bad side.
Glammer hadgone to the trouble of revealing her true nature. She was neitherfriend nor enemy but she had helped Aquitain out of some difficultsituations and might be able to do so in the future but he couldn’thelp feeling that Glammer also had a hidden agenda.
‘Okay, Glammer! You have risked much to expose your nature. Itis only fair that I try to remake you but you must give me themusic for the Dance of the Elements. The rest I will workout.’
‘Since you have already heard it once, it is no longer asecret. I will play it to your mind. You will have to create thesound when needed.’
Moments laterAquitain could visualize the music in her head. It was sobeautiful. The feeling was interrupted by a surge of magic asBellen returned.
‘How did all these mothra get in here? Do you want me to clearthem out Lord Warden?’
‘No! No! They are our friends. You must not harm them. Nowtell me what’s happening outside?’ said Aquitain.
‘It’s strange Milord. I’m not sure what is happening among mepeople,’ replied Bellen.
‘There is much confusion as to what happened during the ball.What I saw doesn’t seem to tally with what they saw. They rememberQueen Aurora dying and Queen Miranda being turned to stone. Whathappened later confuses them. They need time to think.’
‘Thank you, Bellen! Return to your duties I have work to do.We might keep the mindlink intact if you don’t mind as I might needyour help again soon.’
‘To be sure M’lord.’ and he teleported away.
‘Okay Glammer, the Dance of the Elementals is quitespectacular, involving powerful magic and that is likely to attracta lot of attention. The question is how do we hide the fact that Iam remaking you from those who might not approve and try to disruptthe show. I think we will need a little distraction. We need todeceive them into believing they are not seeing you being remadebut something else.’ he said thinking deviously.
‘Bellen, I have a plan. This is what I want you todo.’
He then set outto try and use his new knowledge about the spirit to see how itinteracted with the body in order to work out how to remakeGlammer.
He adjusted hisvision to see spirit auras and set out to examine how thedifference between the spirit auras of the four different elementaltypes of mothra was expressed in their spirits. He carefullyexamined the spirits and the bodies of the mothra and came to thesurprising conclusion that it was the spirit being modified morethan the body of the mothra. Their little bodies seemed to be madeof a mixture of matter and energy. There was only a minortransmutation in the body to accommodate the new energy form but asignificant change in the spirit aura, which meant the spiritcontainer itself, was being altered.
He tried torelate this to the magic theory he had been taught and realizedthat what he had been taught was wrong. Magic protections werealways considered to work on the body and ignore the spirit. Herehe had definite proof that the spirit was heavily involved as well.Was the fire shield that he learnt from the little people actuallyaffecting his spirit. Could it be that by modifying his own spirithe could confer a degree of energy resistance.
He was stillconsidering the implications when Yllandril returned.
‘Have you made any progress Yllandril?’
‘Hello Aquitain, I’m afraid I have bad news. Most of theElendari are very confused about what happened at the ball. Theyare returning to their estates to think about what to do.Darkmantle has been trying to motivate them to at least
