Sorry about the wait, vacation was longer than I thought.
Thanks to all of the people that left reviews to brighten up my day, I love getting reviews!


Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. Patricia C. Wrede, Mercedes Lackey, and Tamora Pierce own them.


In which Cimorene and Kazul are surprised by a young girl, a very large cat, and a blind man (who happens to be rather young himself) and many things happen as a result
(part 14)


"Did the eagle say which pool it was, Daine?" Mendenbar asked while Morwen continued to curse in the background. Daine shook her head " He wasn't local, but he did say he saw a lion in the same area. The lion seemed to be running toward the pool but he was still a good deal away."

"Aha! The Pool of Gold! I should have known a greedy old wizard would go there! Well what are we waiting for? Let's be off!" He made an odd gesture with his hand and the group, now consisting of Morwen, Telemain, Mendenbar, Daine and Altra appeared in front of a pool that had a slight yellow tint and sported its own -very confused looking- wizard. The confusion quickly turned to fury as the wizard looked up and saw the group now standing before him. "YOU!" he yelled at the same time as Mendenbar yelled "Antorell!". Telemain turned to Morwen "I thought Kazul ate him." "No, that was Zemenar Kazul ate. Pay attention." Telemain turned back around, grumbling like a chastised child.

"How many times are you going to come back?" Mendenbar asked with a note of annoyance in his tone.

"Until I get what I want I will keep returning! You cannot stop me!" the wizard looked a bit crazy and Daine wasn't about to trust him with anything, especially another person's life.

"What did you do to Karal?" she shouted at the wild man.

"Me?! What have I done with him?! I have done nothing! It is you who have spirited him away to places unknown and come here to try to confuse me with your ravings! I'll have none of it! I am a genius impervious to your petty tricks!" he swung his cape up onto his shoulder and lifted his chin in the air striking a pose that was supposed to make him look superior. He looked absolutely absurd and Daine couldn't help but laugh.

"What ?! You dare mock me?! I who am your obvious superior?!"

That did it, now everyone was laughing except Antorell, of course.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! This isn't helping you you know! I will still triumph over all!"

The laughing eventually died down and a sober Morwen addressed Antorell " What do you want with Karal, Antorell? What do you expect to gain from him?"

"I really don't think it's for you to question my greatness and higher thought! In fact, I think-"

Morwen broke in calmly "Could you stop using so many exclamation marks? You're giving me a headache."

"A headache?! A HEADACHE?! I'LL GIVE YOU MORE THAN A HEADACHE YOU WITCH, I'LL-"

Someone said something like 'gargle faster' and Antorell began to melt. Wait a minute, Melt?! Yes, Antorell melted into a pile of cloth, soapy water, goo and something that smelled like lemon juice.

"Oh, now look at the mess you made on the lovely forest floor, Mendenbar. You really should be more careful, you know." The corner of Morwen's mouth twitched as Telemain went to collect the now soggy staff Antorell had been carrying.

"I'll be right back." he said and popped out of sight.

"Now where is he going?" Daine wondered aloud.

"Telemain collects wizard's staffs to study them, besides, it's harder for the wizards to get them back if they are in his tower. Wizards don't try anything without their staffs."

"If they can help it." Morwen muttered darkly. "Now we really do need to find out where Karal is."

"Maybe-" Daine had no chance to finish her sentence before a heavy weight pushed her to the ground and held her there. Daine's head hit a rock (ever notice how these rocks always appear at times like these?) and she blacked out.


~Well that wasn't as good as it was when I was thinking it. Oh well, more to come soon!