Notes: Terms used: The technical term for Wizardkind is Anirage. Ani & Ania, wizards & witches. Muggles are Medjkind, or Medj. A 'pendreiya' is a command, part hypnosis, part magic. The Family Khatabi: Bouchra Khatabi-Vrie, Pasquila-Kha of Morocco. Haru, teacher. Hicham Khatabi had been a respected Elder & Fighter until Bellamy's intervention. The Petersons, formerly Khatabis, Akila, with Bahiti and Tristan, Hasina, and children, Zahra, Najet, Jiro, Kay & Nola. The freed slaves: Carol, leader, Inge, Brigitta, Evita, the young girls. Tasha & Vince, (Valencio) Tiffany. Other characters mentioned below: Bryce McKenzie, Ministry Healer, Dieter, Chief Auror, Jeremy, Kupec, Tom, aurors. Vivienne Howard, daughter of Pat's brother, Keifer. She marries Oliver Barnes. ***Non-verbal communication is that in italics.***

Chapter 36:

Monday, and the trip to America. Bellamy, Zoe and Najia assembled in the Transport Bay, along with several aurors, and Bryce, who was almost sending off sparks in his enthusiasm. Bellamy regarded him with amused tolerance. The man might drive him crazy now and then, but other times he was great company. He asked, "Looking forward to the surfing?"

Bryce smiled, "Definitely!" He looked at the girls, "Must show you something. Come with me!" They looked at Bellamy, who shrugged. Jeremy made no objection, and Jeremy was the boss.

It took almost fifteen minutes, and when they returned, both the girls were trying to hide some upset. Bellamy went to them and held them, looking accusingly at Bryce.

Bryce said awkwardly, "I just showed them a couple of paintings. I didn't know they'd be upset!"

Bellamy said, "Zoe?"

Zoe looked away, "It was nothing. The pictures were beautiful."

Najia said, "The one in the aurors' staff room. You looked so sad and lonely."

Bellamy squeezed her and said, "No-one's lonely now."

Najia smiled and repeated, "No-one's lonely now."

Zoe smiled as well, but the old picture, John when he'd become lost and confused, wandering the world for all but twenty-five years, had struck a very strong chord within her. She saw the future as well. She might live longer than most people, with her enhanced power, and even Najia might be long lived. But Bellamy did not get old. One day, he would be lonely again. She said impersonally, "The artist was Clare de Silva, the one who lived on your property."

Bellamy nodded, "Clare. She died a few years ago."

Jeremy said briskly, "Thanks, Bryce, you've held us up. Time to go."

Obediently, they went to their transport, luggage already loaded. Bryce forgot that he was somewhat in disgrace, and started a lively talk about finding yet another half brother. "Years older than me. Had no idea, of course, that he was not truly Medj-born, has three lovely daughters, one of them married, and pregnant."

One of the youngest aurors, Tom Randolf, put in, "I hope she had a Dolfus test, then."

"Of course. They all do, these days. It was when an older daughter had a test that she discovered she should not marry one who was an uncle."

Bellamy said, "I should have done something earlier. There must still be a lot of heartbreak stored up."

Bryce shrugged, "There are compensations."

Tom raised an eyebrow at his half-brother. He'd never admitted it, but he was fairly sure. Bryce would have been ecstatic to claim him, but Tom preferred to act as if he was the only child of his own beloved medj parents.

Zhang and Pitono joined them in New York. They were to stay with Zoe and Najia when they were on Khatabi business. 'Khatabi Fighters' would be whispered, and while people looked at them askance, it gave additional prestige to the co-leaders of the most important family of Anirage in Morocco and in Japan.

There were a lot of overseas patients. It seemed that ones from Arabia had heard that he was there, and most of his patients later in the week, seemed to be from Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. Zoe was very interested, studied the figures provided by Jonah, and concluded, "I'll take an interest in Egypt first, then maybe Lebanon."

Najia said, "Zoe, remember we don't have that many Fighters."

"I'll be subtle. No need for fighting - probably."

They were at dinner, and Zhang stood, impassive, against the wall behind her. Kupec, Bellamy's particular bodyguard, merely sat close and ate dinner as well, just as usual. But they were always very conscious of safety in New York, and this dining room was for their exclusive use, and so was the whole corridor where they had their bedrooms. Both British and American aurors were still on duty, ensuring their safety. Yet, of them all, only Bellamy might admit that Anirage, as a group, were less civilised than Medjkind.

There were more observers than usual for the spell-breaking. Everyone wanted to see the fascinating great wizard, who had first defeated the powerful Khatabis, then paid the price, recovered, and finally married the new young leaders of the notorious family. In the square outside, there were souvenir stores, though stock was limited due to the short notice. All the same, there were boys wearing T-shirts with pictures of the great wizard, little, black caped dolls representing him, and stocks of books about him, a few relatively factual, many pure fantasy, and a very few that called him Monster and said he was a danger to humankind.

Bellamy ignored the festival atmosphere in the Aniragia, ignored the observers, and only paused and looked around for danger before walking across the square to where meals and morning teas were laid out. The aurors had always disliked that arrangement, but the American DMT thought that he should be seen so that their achievement in luring him to America could be appreciated.

Twice in the first week, he found he was expected to sit through tedious formal dinners, but at least with minimal speeches, so that Zoe and Najia could make their contacts. During the daytimes, the girls, the 'Khatabi-Vrie,' were often at the American Ministry, talking business. Zoe explained, "I have Najia charm them, but I tell her what to ask for. It's working very well."

California for a week, and Najia shopped, and wished the weather was warm enough for sun baking. Zoe joined the observers as her husband broke spells for a series of Chinese wizards, none of them difficult. He was bored and looked it.

At morning tea, Zoe asked whether she could bring someone to meet him.

Bellamy said, "Wayne? I saw you talking to him."

Zoe nodded, "He says he's one of your descendants."

"Descended from Victoria, I think. It's fine with me. Jeremy?"

Jeremy said it was fine with him, and Zoe smiled and went to fetch the headmaster of Zefron Aniragi School. Bellamy was genial, though he usually preferred not to have extra people when he took his break. But he already knew what Zoe wanted. She needed more teachers for the Khatabi schools, and foreign teachers could convey more than just the subject. They could convey the customs and expectations of a more peaceful way of life.

Close to lunch time, there was a patient that would require the strong magic. Bellamy warned the patient what to expect, and then looked at the Observation window. "Zoe?"

Zoe answered him, "I'll just leave, I think."

Wayne, beside her, said, "Tomorrow morning, then. Najia as well if she wants, and I'll show you my school." Zoe shook his hand, thanked him, and left.

Bellamy waited until she was well out of the way before he turned towards the patient, currently wishing that he, too, could simply leave. Bellamy explained, "Sometimes, if a person has telepathy, like Zoe, the strong magic causes pain. But it doesn't cause pain to normal people."

His patient breathed a sigh of relief. Bellamy said casually, routinely, "I'll fix you now, stay still, don't panic just because it feels strange, and you can walk out cured."

The patient was a brave man, but was tense. Wayne Kennedy also waited, tense. He'd heard about this. The 'strong magic.' No-one else could do anything like it. Bellamy merely stood in front of the Chinese Fighter, held his wand half raised, and with an expression of calm concentration on his face. At first there seemed to be nothing, or almost nothing. Wayne was back a bit, and behind a wall, even if transparent. It must be stronger inside that room. The healer, he noticed, was looking uneasy, but the two aurors present, just stood, impassive. He assumed that they'd felt it many times.

And suddenly, Wayne felt it as well. Something in the air, that could not be quite seen or quite heard, and yet made the goose flesh rise. It became stronger, and Wayne gripped the sides of his chair, as if wondering whether he'd be swept away by a strong wind. The patient's rhinoceros hide skin abruptly became normal, and the feeling died away. Wayne took a deep breath and turned to the other observers. "So that was it. I've heard some can't take it - that they just faint."

Mallory Winter, in charge of the aurors, said, "Silly to be so impressed when he has to try a bit harder. Logically, we should be more impressed at all the ones he cures and scarcely bothers glancing at. After all, they're the ones who've defeated the best healers."

Wayne agreed, "Logically."

Najia and Zoe didn't rejoin Bellamy until after dinner the following day. He hadn't been worried. A telepathic contact early on assured him that his girls were fine. They hadn't taken any of their Khatabi Fighters, thinking their image wrong for a school. Young Tom had gone with them instead. Jeremy had assigned him. Not just that they were the wives of their Bellamy, but they were vitally important in their own right.

In their own large room afterwards, Zoe said, "None of them knew either Arabic or Japanese, and some of the students don't know English. No point in trying for extra teachers if they don't know the language."

Najia said, "We learned English, Italian and French, as well as Japanese. We all did. It was expected. Routine."

"Americans are a bit arrogant, sometimes, expect that if people want to communicate with them, they should learn English."

"Exactly like the English, in fact."

Bellamy grinned. It was true.

Najia said, "Wayne told us a story of you teaching there for a year, when you were very unpopular back home."

"They called me Monster for a while. Rare now, luckily. I didn't like it much."

"Said they tried to persuade you to sit for a portrait, and you refused. So instead, they have an enormous poster in the foyer. Facing the Deruchnia."

Najia said, "It's the same image that Grandmother Riza sent me, when I was being primed to seduce you."

Bellamy pulled her closer where she sat next to him on a couch. "Well, you've succeeded now!"

Najia said suggestively, "I'll dance for you again tonight, if you want."

They were supposed to be returning to Morocco after that, but as was routine when cholera raged too close, only a skeleton staff was left, and most went to Japan, a few to Hillend, including the new caretakers, Rotan and his new wife, Hanri. Zoe's plans were put on hold, and she announced to her delighted husband that they'd stay at his place until after Christmas, and especially, they'd spend a bit of time with Akila's crew. Bahiti and Hasina were from the two most prominent families in Egypt, and Zoe had her eye on Egypt.

**x**

It was nearly December, cold and very wet the day they returned to Emohruo. It didn't stop Bellamy wandering outside, discovering two new small ponies in the paddock that contained the riding horses. He smiled. It looked like the little boys had managed early Christmas presents. He went to talk to the young horses then, and Naji and Bess, his favourite mares. He stroked Fairy Floss. Such a pretty pony. Damir as well, and the pale creamy, the youngest one, Catillon. Bess was not in foal again. A bit old, Victor thought. They were all by Bruno, who was so good-tempered for a stallion. Maybe he should keep one of the fillies for breeding. There were always children, and these ones, about 13hh, were good for children. Not too quickly outgrown, as the new ones would be.

In the morning, Susan, Marcus and Paul all waited to ride with him. There was a particular reason. With Susan and Marcus to help, they wanted to expand the stud, using part of Bellamy's property as well as Paul's property. Bellamy smiled, "If that's what you want. I always love seeing the foals."

"We'll expand gradually, and be as particular as ever which mares we keep."

Bellamy didn't need to talk much that day. Susan and Marcus provided all the plans and most of the enthusiasm. All Bellamy had to do was smile and nod now and then.

As they unsaddled, Paul asked, "Going to the Olympics next year, Boss?"

"Probably not. Though if Gemma's on the team, I might try."

"We all intend to. I love seeing our horses competing at the top."

Bellamy said, "You know Madigan's won a few cups now?"

"I'm surprised you haven't claimed him back."

"He likes Gloria, and I don't expect I'll be home long."

"Back for the Cull in April, I hope."

"I'll make a point of it."

The Olympics were to be in Tokyo, in October. Bellamy asked Zoe what she had in mind next, but Zoe was unsure.

Najia said, "If we were in Japan, it would be easy. We could apparate from the Compound."

"Any other times you particularly want to be here?"

"I always love the spring, but that's just a preference, but I do need to be here one day in April, to help Paul with the Cull, especially as extra breeding mares are to be chosen, then Christmas. Aside from that, my time is yours."

Zoe asked, "Am I being selfish?"

Bellamy said with conviction, "Being with you, helping you. I'm doing a very good thing, I think. Maybe the best thing I've ever done."

Zoe smiled broadly. She was doing her best, and she felt her husband's appreciation of her struggle, and her successes. It was not always easy, but Zoe wasn't just doing it because it was a good thing to do. She was trying to make it so that her family would be a force for good, to make up for generations when their ambitions had only been selfish.

Zoe thought in generalities. The population of Baradan was already benefiting from a reduced birth rate, but Zola and Fudo had convinced her that it was too soon to interfere in the death rate. Zoe was ignoring the individual tragedies, and going straight to the heart of the problem. She still hadn't told her husband anything of what she was doing, and he hadn't tried to pry, but it was impossible for him to remain unaware of it. His respect for his young wife was enormous. Supporting her, the best way he could, and not interfering, he felt was the best thing he'd ever done.

Najia said, "I'm to resume riding lessons. In the indoor arena, and sharing with Robin and Jason."

"Still riding Bess?"

"To begin with, then Sparks, Victor said."

"Can I come and watch?"

"Of course."

Zoe sat beside Bellamy as they watched. The two five-year-olds were serious and solemn, as they tried to do what Victor said.

Zoe queried, "Jason's medj?"

"Cam-Medj. Alison and Cec's boy. Cec is Medj."

Zoe said, "Bouchra told me about a childhood friend of hers. She disappeared. Bouchra told me it was not until many years later that she discovered that it was because Kichi had no magic. Like my little Jalloun. Put down."

Bellamy squeezed her hand. Jalloun, who'd been retarded. The reason that Zoe had killed Riza, and had taken over the Khatabis. He said, "If that hadn't happened, would you have still been there? Probably with several children?"

Zoe shook her head, decidedly. "I would not have put up with any more 'matings' like the first one. I think I would have left. I would not have killed Riza, of course."

Sunday, the three visited Akila's home, and Bellamy looked around in pleasure. "Good to see the old place looking so welcoming," he said to Akila.

Akila smiled. He always said that. She asked, "Did you ever actually use it as a hiding place?"

"Once, for a few days. But that's all." He changed the subject, "Where are the children?"

"Jiro's in his room, I think, reading, and Kay and Nola are at a birthday party down the street."

Bellamy smiled in satisfaction at that. When Anirage socialised with medj as children, they were less likely to abuse them in later life.

At that moment, Jiro turned up and smiled at his hero. "I thought I heard you."

Bellamy greeted him, and Jiro began talking about the book he was reading. "They say it's about you. When you defeated seven vampires."

Bellamy laughed, and said, "I've never even met a vampire! Take care what you believe."

Jiro was disappointed, and said, "Did you ever have adventures with the mer-people?"

"I'm afraid not."

"And I suppose the story that you defeated the Dementors is not true either."

Bellamy admitted, "I did kill off the Dementors."

Jiro beamed, and demanded, "Tell me the story."

"Later."

Zoe asked, "Where are Bahiti and Hasina?"

"I expect them back any minute, but Tristan's at a Verostic match, and won't be back until late."

That was all right with Zoe. It was the girls from Egypt that she wanted, and when they entered, she didn't give them long before she started quizzing them about their families, and about conditions in Egypt, as best they knew. Their families had been two of the most prominent Aniragi families of Egypt, but Bahiti and Hasina had only been fourteen and sixteen when they were taken, and knew little of politics. It was going to be far more difficult to make a difference in Egypt than it had been in Morocco or Japan.

During the next weeks, Najia became better at riding, had Victor doting on her, and was promoted to Sparks. Zoe spent more hours talking to Hasina and Bahiti, and Bellamy took Jiro and the little girls around with him a little. It was special for each one of them, when he did that. To be the one child permitted to be with him when he visited friends. But Bellamy didn't take any of them to his own home, he didn't take them to Loch Lomand, and he made sure that Jiro didn't come into contact with Khatabi Fighters. The boy was well behaved, and was learning to use his looks to charm adults and get what he wanted. Akila assured him that he hadn't hurt any animal since the poor cat.

Once, he took him with him to watch his weekly spell-breaking session. Najia was with the boy, as well as Tom, one of the aurors. Jiro knew exactly what the scarlet bordered cape meant, and started closely questioning Tom about the training. He took little notice of the patients.

Bellamy was very aware of him. The boy had begged for this treat, and Dieter had agreed, though expressing a hope that the Khatabi boy would not want to emulate the ones who'd inflicted the spells, rather than the aurors, or the one who fixed them. Bellamy had the same reservations about the boy. He was very bright, but such a heritage! Jiro could have been as powerful and dangerous as Zoe's sire, Ahjmed, given a different upbringing. He had his fingers crossed about Jiro.

Two days before Christmas, Bellamy thought it time to check on his medj. He tried not to visit too often, though he was very interested in their progress. Dot no longer routinely visited either, though going immediately if help was needed, such as for Mildred, when she wanted to buy premises in Glen Kay, in order to establish a bookshop.

It was bitterly cold when he turned into the driveway. The wind was almost a blizzard. For once, he was not greeted with neighs, or the barking of dogs, just with a blast of wind strong enough to make him stagger. It was only midmorning, but it seemed not a soul was outside. He went back, collected a dented white car from the garage near App. Zone 2, and drove it very cautiously toward the castle, managing not to make any new dents.

He parked beside Bluey's paddock, and walked towards the horse shelter, finding Madigan, Kennedy, and the mares and foals all inside. There was also Gloria, who was petting a very thin grey horse. Another stood close, its muzzle nearly touching the ground. Gloria gave him a smile of welcome, and turned back to the grey.

"Where are they from?"

"Horse sale. I just went there out of interest, and couldn't abandon them."

Bellamy touched the sides of the other, and ran his hand along his back. The horse snorted and quivered at his touch. Bellamy murmured to him, and gently, gently, put his hand to where the back was strained and painful, before using healing magic to ease it.

"In the sales catalogue, it said she was seven, but Cam says probably twice that age."

Bellamy continued to run his hands over the mare, and then went close, and hugged her. "Poor old girl. You've had a bad time."

The other horses watched, but didn't interfere. Gloria said, "This one was lame, but is already improving."

"Any history?"

Gloria shook her head. "They said it was typical, when horses came in neglected and abused, that there was never any history given."

"They look like draught horses."

"Percherons, Cam said, though probably not pure bred."

"Cam's around a lot?"

"Tiffany's here a lot, and Cam whenever we need advice."

The sound of the wind outside became even wilder, and there was a creak from the roof. Bellamy frowned at it. Gloria reassured, "Brett checked all the buildings for us and says they're all quite solid, but used magic anyway, just a little to reinforce." Then she smiled at him. "Say hello to Revenge?"

Bellamy said, "I've rather got used to not having a bruise on my bottom!"

"Don't be cowardly!"

She continued to give her news. "There's a few trophies now, up in the barn where the saddles are kept. We thought it might impress the guests."

"You and Madigan?"

Gloria smiled. "We haven't managed to beat Gemma Cutter again, but we've done all right. Tiffany, too, but the others are no longer getting the practise now they're at school."

"Thierry?"

"She treasures her cup, and says she'll never do it again. But we've made Kennedy her special horse, and no-one else rides him. The girls all have their own horses, and now the borrowed ones, like Storm and Mosquito, are for general use."

"Are there enough?"

"For many of us, riding was just a stage on the way back to normality. There are enough."

"What about you?"

"I think I might stay in the long term, looking after the horses, and riding in shows when they're close. I can't see a better life anywhere else."

Jimmy and Vince staggered into the shelter. "Gloria?"

Gloria said, "I'm here. John, too."

There was a welcome, but Jimmy said, "Carol said we had to get you. It's getting just too dangerous outside."

In the warm of the castle, there were more greetings as Bellamy was brought up to date on the news. Helene had the radio on, listening with a frown, before speaking with Carol. "Full blizzard warning," Carol relayed the news to the gathering around Bellamy. Bellamy felt her worry, stretched out his legs on an instantly conjured footstool, and said that he'd best just wait it out here where it was comfortable. Carol gave a sigh of relief. She hadn't even had to ask.

Helene continued listening to the radio, and then peered outside. "We had dust storms now and then in Morocco," Bridget remarked.

Helene raised her voice. "Anyone in the houses or units had best sleep in the castle tonight, also if anyone has pets in their units, we should collect them now, before it gets any worse." As usual, there was a pile of cats in front of the fire, and various dogs wandered about, as well. There was an accounting.

"Lady," said Sheri. "I'll need to get Lady."

Bellamy rose. "Dog or cat and what unit?"

Helene, watching outside, flinched back as a tree branch hurtled past. But Bellamy apparated, and returned a few minutes later, with a toy poodle under his arm, although she wasn't at all happy, and snapped at anyone coming close for the next hour, barely tolerating even her owner.

"You can't blame her," said Sheri, "It must have been very frightening for her."

Bellamy was smiling. "You do realise I'll have to conjure nightwear for everyone, but don't worry, I'm very good at clothing."

The weather became wilder, and he entertained his medj by conjuring lurid clothing, sometimes his own design, sometimes incorporating their suggestions. The lighting went off, but he made some light for them, easily, effortlessly. The phone lines were down, but he communicated telepathically with Zoe, who knew not to expect him home. The weather was wild at Emohruo, as well, but there were plenty of Anirage to look after things there. Once, Emma came to him and sat close. But it was Evita who asked whether he could make the wind not blow so hard. He smiled at the girl, and said that Anirage dared not try and influence the weather. It could have unforeseeable consequences.

"Jesus did, so they say," said Bernice. "He was on a boat on the Sea of Galilee, and it was too rough, so he made it calm."

"So maybe he caused Noah's flood," said Bellamy, proving his knowledge of Christian lore had a few holes. He conjured some candles, and they were placed around, though it was still only about lunchtime.

Mariabella said, "I've been meaning to buy several lanterns for a long time. One should be prepared for blackouts."

Bernice was asking him to help with some heating so that she could prepare lunch, but he didn't answer, looking at the window with his head cocked a touch.

"Are the horses all right?" asked Gloria, guessing what he was doing.

"They're all right," he answered absently. He got up. "I'm just going to warm each of the shelters, but I'll apparate to each one, so no need to worry." It was snowing now, the snow blowing almost horizontally. The shelters were still secure, though he added a little magical reinforcing to the roofs just in case. The swimming pool building had several broken windows from flying branches, but he left that.

There was something else, an animal in distress. He searched for it, finding its mind, and then apparated to the doe with the broken leg. It had been lying a long time, and was very cold. There was a half grown young one beside her. He took her back to the shelter in Bluey's paddock, and then the young one. Neither of the wild animals struggled. It was easy enough to heal the broken leg, and they would be fine now, in the warm. They could leave when the storm died down. But he spoke to them both. They should stay just a little while, and they should not be afraid. He fed them some of the mash that Gloria had put out for the new horses, patted them again, reassuringly, and apparated back into the castle, though discreetly into an empty room.

They were very relieved when he came back, as a search party had been about to go out. But he only said that he'd help Bernice with lunch if she wanted.

The storm died down overnight, and in the morning, he was able to show his medj a deer and her young one, before stroking the animals one last time, and opening the gate for them to leave. The doe limped a little as she trotted off. Then he strolled about, repairing the swimming pool windows, and stacking fallen trees and tree branches. They might like to use it for firewood once dried out. There was no other damage, though they found where power lines were down.

Bernice regarded a huge, old-fashioned wood stove in the kitchen. He asked, "Can you cope?"

Bernice smiled at him. "We're Bellamy's Medj. Of course we can cope!"

Vince was out again, reporting the site of the downing of power lines. It was the first time that Bellamy had seen Vince for a long time. He'd even felt his thought, when he'd made the light and the warmth - that bloody wizards were good for some things. There hadn't been any real malice behind the thought, or not for himself, just that for Vince, every wizard was a 'bloody wizard.' Knowing a little of his history, it was easy to see why.

Oddly, although the women had also suffered under Anirage, some of them very badly, none of them seemed to feel as Vince seemed to feel, that it would be better for the world if Anirage were rendered extinct.

Christmas Eve. It was still cold, and it started gently snowing. But Bellamy left the horse shelters warm, and visited each unit and each cottage, making a magic to keep them warm for the next month, though it was expected the electricity would be back on long before that.

He went back to his girls then, but the weather had been a lot less wild at his own place, and there was no damage. Najia said, as soon as he appeared, "We're to go to Akila's place this evening for dinner. It's the Petersons' and Kaseys' own personal Christmas tradition, and we exchange presents just before we have dinner."

**x**

In the new year, he found there was to be a division of labour again. Hasina and Nola were to visit her family, and Najia was to go with them. She was to win them over, and report back. "Meantime," Zoe said, "I'll keep you happy, and you can catch up with the spell-breaking, since only Lucasta's doing it now, travel if you're wanted."

"Can I go visit Najia sometimes?"

"Probably not a good idea."

Bellamy looked forlornly at Najia. She said consolingly, "Probably only about two weeks, and then Zoe will take over and start reforming Egypt."

He laughed. "You're nothing if not ambitious."

"Well, Ereket's been in power five years, and Egypt's in worse chaos than it's ever been in. He should be grateful to be deposed."

Najia grinned. "Iwate, who was the former Bara-kai of Japan, came to us and thanked us. He's now head of Medj Affairs, and is very competent at the lesser job."

Zoe said, "He mostly just didn't have the backing, I think. We might let him take over again one day, and send Abensur to the next place."

That night, Najia whispered to her husband, "What if I go to bed with someone else while I'm away?"

He kissed her. "Just as long as you don't tell him he's better than me."

She cuddled closer, and said contentedly, "You're the best lover. But I might just get hungry. Two whole weeks!"

"Two whole days is enough for me to go without!"

Najia giggled. "It's been nearly two whole hours." But they disturbed Zoe, who grumbled and went off to her own room.

Bellamy missed Najia painfully. He understood she was doing a valuable job, told himself that it was the first step in Zoe's campaign to turn around conditions in Egypt. But his left side, where Najia habitually slept, felt almost as if cold.

She didn't return until the end of January, and he could scarcely bear to let her away from him for the first day and night. He thought he was such a child, but it made no difference. He needed Najia close and he needed Zoe close. The three of them. He could put up with a lot when he had his girls with him.

On the second evening she was home, Najia said, "The wedding you're going to. Tomorrow, isn't it?"

Bellamy answered, "Sort of tomorrow. The wedding's at eleven in the morning, their time, but I have to leave straight after dinner." It was the wedding of Oliver Barnes and Vivienne Howard. He was apparating, but the other guests had flown out two days before. He added, looking at the wall, "While I'm in Australia, I'll make a visit to Melbourne. Easier when there's no time difference to take into account."

"Who do you know there?"

Bellamy confessed, "I have an illegitimate child in Melbourne. I visit now and then."

Najia said, surprised, "I thought Yvette was French."

Bellamy thought that surely, at his age, he shouldn't go red so easily. He admitted, "This is another. His name's John Douglas."

Najia laughed, and Zoe said, "Isn't that what you told me you started calling yourself when you realised John Doe wasn't a proper name?"

"That's right. He's named after me."

"So he must be what. Five? Six?"

"Five."

Zoe said, "John, just how many illegitimate children have you had?"

Bellamy looked down, and Zoe exclaimed, "You're not sure!"

He explained, "Most of them I only met when they were adults. And sometimes, I've felt the feeling of family, but never knew the mother. I'm not sure."

Najia asked, "All Medj-born?"

"Two were from Ania, who did it deliberately. But I hardly ever have short-term relationships with Ania. The rest have mothers who are Medj."

Najia said comfortingly, "You've spent many years on your own. If you average it out, it might only be one a decade or so."

Bellamy nodded, relieved. One a decade or so, didn't seem so bad. He was thoroughly ashamed of it, not that it had ever stopped him enjoying the company of a never-ending series of women, whenever single.

After dinner, Bellamy went to the wardrobe that contained his formal wear for medj occasions. He should have thought of it before. His suit must be out of date. But apparently someone had thought of it for him. He put on the new suit, checked in the mirror, and shook his head. It looked odd to him. And his hair was too long for medj occasions, and not long enough to wear in a pony tail, that was less conspicuous. He suddenly thought of Marcus Pickering, who was going with Susan. He was tall and blonde, and his hair was undeniably the long hair that was standard for a wizard. And Bellamy thought that he'd probably never worn a medj suit in his life!

Oliver and Vivienne's happiness made him smile. They were so young, so much in love. All the Barnes were there, as well as Susan and Marcus, but Mary was unable to come, deeply involved in the healing training, and Lesley and Dallas had also declined the invitation. Victor was there, though without his wife, beaming as he saw the pride and pleasure of Oliver. Victor and Oliver were very close, both Cam-Medj, growing up in a world of Anirage. Cam-Medj often had a difficult life, treated with contempt by Anirage.

Bellamy remembered an embittered man, caretaker at Hogwarts. He'd loathed him when he'd been a student. Filch's bad temper had been notorious. He thought he'd be a lot more understanding now. But Oliver had grown big and tall, reliable and capable. If he wanted, he would eventually take over from his father and grandfather as manager of Emohruo.

Vivienne's sister, Tina, was with a boy no older than herself. She introduced Colin to her Uncle Bellamy, but Colin looked at him doubtfully. Scars. Hair that was too long, white in his hair, that looked odd. And anyway, he looked too young to be Tina's uncle. Bellamy was genial, thinking, amused, that if Colin knew that he had two wives, and just how old he was, he'd look a lot more doubtful.

Oliver and Vivienne would be staying in Australia for the next six months, then Vivienne hoped to get a place at a university in England. Oliver had completed some training as a security guard, and was now enrolled in a short course in Wealth Management. He was still fitting himself for what he felt was his obvious destiny - to look after the boss. But his father was fit and active, and his grandfather was still alive, though Archie was over seventy. There was no hurry.

Zoe greeted Bellamy when he arrived home the following morning. He replied that Oliver looked amazingly happy, and so did Vivienne, that Keifer had been trying not to cry, though Irene only looked very, very proud, and that John Douglas had a new book and no time for his 'Uncle Bellamy,' but that he'd had a nice time playing with the toddler.

They were going on to Egypt then, all of them to stay with Bahiti's family for a time. Both Hasina and Bahiti came from wealthy and powerful families, and Zoe still had little idea how to influence Egyptian wizardry into the mould of those countries she had begun to regard as the ideal. Surely there was no inherent reason why an Egyptian wizard was prone to drawing his wand to duel for a minor, and often inadvertent rudeness, while wizards in Britain hardly ever were killed duelling. Only an occasional auror, really.

Bellamy was unable to offer any obvious help, admitting that he'd always been hopeless at politics, yet he had an influence. He was the great wizard, and when he spoke, he was listened to. Zoe gave up her plans of a forcible takeover, and agreed that she'd have to be patient.

The head of wizardry in Egypt, Amain Ereket, was worried that he'd be deposed, and very cooperative when the leader of the Khatabi Family requested she and her husband meet his Loohi-Brai, the leader of the Loohi-Brai Fighters, the equivalent of aurors. Bellamy watched, leaning casually against the wall, as Zoe spoke to the man. Zoe could not do it without being seen, but Bellamy could. Zoe made her silent request. Their telepathy made such things very easy. He asked the man whether he took an oath when he undertook to enforce law and order. The man had seen it many times since he himself took the oath, and repeated it easily, knowing the words. Oddly, afterwards, he found the oath was binding. Bribes were no longer accepted, and wealthy and powerful lawbreakers found to their surprise that they were no longer immune from punishment.

That was the first step. The second was to be a large school, open to Anirage, pure-blood, or Medj-born. But there were hardly any Medj-born in the Arabic countries. When medj women were raped, they were usually sterilised, either before or after. Or killed. There must be no chance of polluting good wizard lines with dirt-blood. Haru took over the school, and as a lure, the great wizard himself would be teaching the first semester. The lure was enough that several senior boys transferred from the other school, and a few even returned to repeat a final year. Zoe was wary in this environment, and when in any public place, Bellamy was usually flanked by two or more Khatabi Fighters.

Bellamy missed his home sometimes. He may have been doing work of enormous importance to Anirage, but a political life was not natural to him. His associates were Khatabis, and while his friendship with them may have been cordial on the surface, he was disturbed sometimes by casual mention of something in the past, and even more so by thoughts accidentally, and sometimes deliberately, overheard.

Hicham had asked him about Mariabella. He'd given the standard answer, only that she was alive. But suddenly Hicham was thinking of another of the medj, Valencio, the graceful youth standing nude, surrounded by Khatabi men. Bellamy closed his mind to the intrusive image, but not before catching the feeling of remembered, overwhelming lust. How often had Hicham used poor Valencio? Had he given him pleasure, or only hurt?

Hicham had no thought of guilt. He could not hurt or rape any more, but did not feel guilty about crimes committed in the past. He'd been a Khatabi, he'd been a Fighter, one of the most powerful Fighters of the powerful family. He'd carried himself with pride, then.

They returned for just one week in April. Bellamy caught up with the spell-breaking, treated hundreds of thousands of Riddell Regimen packages, and tried again to teach Monte to do the spells. He also made a quick visit to Loch Lomand, finding a familiar story of progress, and no real problems. Mary was now living in one of the cottages, with a husband. She seemed so happy, and Gary McGregor, brother to the local policeman, radiated contentment and pride. Mary was one of the older women, one of those who'd seemed to have lost all spirit. It was like she'd been dead inside, he thought. But now she was alive, happy.

He didn't see Vince, though Tasha was there. In Bogridge, helping the mechanic repair a car, he was told. And he felt Tasha's amusement as she told him that the car to be repaired had already been 'fixed' by Vince, and had since done some most disconcerting things when Bernice had tried to drive it. He laughed at the story, but didn't ask anything further, not wanting to show just how interested he was in this one individual amongst all those he'd rescued.

The annual Cull. Keep a few riding horses? Alison told him that the medj were almost self-supporting now, many with jobs, some married and independent, and some supporting themselves with the proceeds from paying guests at Loch Lomand. But when he asked, she looked doubtful, and suggested he look at the culls, instead.

He wound up keeping two of the three culled yearlings, and a two-year-old who'd lost an eye in some sort of a fight. The culls were still good horses, but brought a twentieth the price of the ones deemed 'Line of Sheba,' and probably no-one would want the horse that had lost an eye. Scarred, as well. His name was Hero, and Melanie explained that she'd given him his name in order to give him back some self-respect, since he was so ugly now.

The day before they were to leave again, Susan suggested that he try and teach her to treat the Riddell Regimen packages. To his delight, though she had difficulty to begin with, she succeeded. Monte Bagster was a little put out, but after all, Susan was a Daughter of the Great Wizard. So he hid his chagrin, and consoled himself with the thought that there would no longer be large buildups of stock waiting to be treated. Instead he spoke in amusement about the Farfalla school trunks. "There's a bit of competition to paint the school trunks in the most imaginative way possible. My daughter, Cecilia, has it pure white, with nature sprites dancing. My son, Bob, sneers at it as girly, and his has a fire-breathing dragon winding itself all around it."

**x**

The Egypt School for Anirage opened early August, and John Bellamy stood in front of a class of fifteen youths and seven girls. To the disappointment of some, he was not teaching powerful curses to make them feared everywhere, but rather, he was teaching History, starting by asking what they knew of the Holocaust.

In the classroom with him stood two Khatabi Fighters, and another stood just outside the door. By the end of the semester, the direction of the 'History' lesson would be to do with the ethics of relating to medj. Medj were to be respected, the dangers of them uniting against Anirage explained. According to Bellamy, it was inevitable that individual medj would become aware of the existence of Anirage now and then, no matter how careful they might be. But if the Anirage were not a threat, it was of no great importance. It was when they were treated with contempt, or even abused, that one day a strong individual could rise amongst them, and make the extermination of Anirage his life's work.

The man now known as Vince McDonald was a strong individual and had been terribly abused. Bellamy thought it very fortunate that his current ambition appeared to be to fathom the workings of a car engine rather than to start a genocide of Anirage.

***chapter end***