Ch 10 All Hung up and Nowhere to go

"I take it you're the mage we've been looking for"came Selenay's muffled voice from underneath her consort. "Mage"Anna wondered aloud. "Yes, with all the extra magic you've put in the ley lines we could help but notice".

Ley lines Anna thought to herself, that must be the rivers of energy she had put the extra power into.

"I can put it someplace else if you want, I didn't think it would bother anyone if I put it there".A muffled chuckle came from the direction of the Prince consort where he stood off to the side after letting Selenay up.

Then through her shock she realized what the Queen had said. "You've been looking for me, why". "When a strange mage comes around giving large gifts of power, especially when it's in such short supply, we need to find out if she's going to be friendly" Selenay said."But it's not in short supply, it's all around us" Anna said perplexed. Selenay and Daren gave each other a look.

Suddenly several more bodies tumbled into the room as the mages ran in. Elspeth and Darkwind, in the lead looked around wildly, spotting Selenay and Daren, they ran over.

"Your majesty"Elspeth gasped "The mage has set off the warning spells, we've located it to this part of the castle". Suddenly she turned and looked at Anna. Scared Anna backed up, then felt strong arms supporting her, a feeling of warmth filled her and she knew that Darin would keep her safe.

"I think I'm the one you're looking for"Anna said. "Who are you, and where do you come from" Darkwind asked carefully.

"My name is Annalise Trelain, but you can call me Anna"she shivered a bit at the look The woman was giving her. "She's a herald too" Darin whispered into her ear. Startled she glanced back at him, he gave her an encouraging look and she turned back to the group.

Elspeth and Darkwind didn't miss this little bit of byplay and gave each other a quick look. Anna said then "I come from" she paused trying to think of a way to explain her origins"Elsewhere" she finally said.

"Where is Elsewhere" Darkwind asked "Mind you, I'm not doubting you, but if we knew where it was we would have a better idea of your reason for coming here".

"You've never heard of it, I only came here by accident, it was curiosity that kept me coming back at first". "Elspeth burst in "I don't believe you, you just accidentally end up in the same room as the Queen".

Anna gave off a surprised laugh "It's good cop bad cop" she said before she had a chance to think. She heard a quiet chuckle from close behind where Darin still stood holding her.

Elspeth gave him an irritated look, though Darkwind's lips twitched. "It's true I didn't plan to meet the Queen, even if I was up to no good don't you think it's pretty stupid to go looking for trouble" Anna asked.

A thought occurred to her and she looked over the shoulders of the newcomers at the group of men still hanging in midair, their faces slowly turning red. "Speaking of trouble what do you want me to do with them" she asked.

One of the guards in the room had gotten his courage up and tried to pull one of the men down. His mouth dropped open when when his hands slipped right off the man, the power binding him keeping him from touching him.

Another of the would be assassins, was struggling to no avail. "Could you release them to the guards" Selenay asked her. Anna nodded and shifted the power, moving it to cradle the men, and still holding their arms and legs gently uprighted then and set them on their feet. As soon as a guard was near enough she released them. Soon all the men were in custody.

While she was doing this one of group that had come running in, an elderly man had been watching her intently. She finished smoothing the curtain of air back the way it had been and made sure all the energy was where it should be, she had a feeling that disposing of any extra energy wouldn't be a wise idea at the moment.

The old man continued to watch her a look of deep thought on his face.

As all this was going on the other people from the party had grouped away from them. Murmurs of muffled conversation eddied towards them.

The Queen looked over at them and said "perhaps it would be better to continue this in a more private place". Anna nodded and followed, Darin's arm guiding her. She was grateful for his presence, she didn't think she would have the nerve to stay without him.