Disclaimers: BeastMaster characters and concept are property of their creators. No copyright infringement intended. Original characters and story are property of the author.
Spoilers: Well . . . duh.
Rating: PG; Drama.
Note: This series rearranges the timeline slightly -- into what it would seem the official writers had in mind (making the assumption of course that they're not writing different universes like we do). For this universe, episodes are arranged in the following order: "Riddle of the Nymph," "The Chameleon," and "The Minotaur." "The Slayer" will take place after the next story in the series arc. This story, however, is intended to . . . well . . . fill in a few blanks and answer a few questions that were left or brought up by events in the episode "The Minotaur." I was at a loss before, but then Aty showed up and made things all better. <g>
Atylanta:
"The Minotaur"
© 2000, Grace Macy
It was a few months after her mother's creation of the "mobile from hell" before there was trouble again. Atylanta would have forgotten about the BeastMaster and his friends in the midst of her other duties if she had not resolved to peek in every once in a while. Advice from Pelagia helped to ease the transition from neutrality to an active interest, but there came times when she didn't have a choice.
This thing with the Minotaur wasn't one of them yet but it was getting there. Especially if the Ancient One's involvement was any indication. Atylanta had seen Zad's new acquisition in her scrying, and gone to speak with her mother about it. The Sorceress was in the middle of a conversation with the Ancient One when she arrived. The Ancient One was too focused on his own part of the conversation to notice as Atylanta arrived -- especially since she arrived on the "balcony" and came down the corridors only in time to hear the Ancient One's last, angry instructions.
"Don't get too involved!"
Atylanta froze as she sensed his presence and heard his voice. Quickly, she ducked into a side-passage until she felt his presence fade. Now what? she wondered.
Elorene was standing in front of her scrying bowl as Atylanta came into the central cavern, her attention firmly fixed on the images inside it. She looked up briefly as her daughter entered the room, but didn't look either surprised or overjoyed; as always, she simply took her daughter's visits as she would any other student. Atylanta raised an eyebrow as she approached. "Working on your antagonistic streak, Mother?"
Elorene chuckled. "My independence."
Atylanta nodded wisely. "About the same thing to some," she observed. She reached the pedestal and peered over the tall blonde's shoulder into the amethyst bowl. She made a face of disgust as the scene held within changed to show King Zad, wearing only a pair of baggy sleeping-pants and an assortment of scars, in a gallery-like area looking down into a pit where a misshapen figure roared.
"Ugh," Atylanta said. "That is the most foul, disgusting, and rather frightening thing I have ever had the misfortune to see."
The Sorceress Elorene turned her head slightly to look at her daughter. "You mean the Minotaur?" she asked, frowning.
Atylanta looked up from her perusal of the scrying-waters. "Actually, I meant Zad half naked. But that runs a close second."
Elorene laughed. "Why do you so despise the king, my dear? He can be useful at times."
"What is there to not despise?" Atylanta asked, raising an eyebrow. "He's slimy, ruthless, conniving, psychopathic, utterly evil, and seemingly on principle, he doesn't bathe. I don't see what he could possibly be useful for, Mother, except as an object lesson of what can happen to bad little children."
Her tone was humorous, but Elorene knew perfectly well that she meant every word and that on nearly every point she was correct. That was part of the reason why the Sorceress laughed now. "Someday, daughter, you will understand." She ignored the look in Atylanta's eyes that said she fervently hoped not. "For now, however . . . how much did you overhear?"
"Only the Ancient One's anger in his last remark to you. You are not to get too involved in what?"
Elorene hesitated, then asked, "First tell me this. What do you think of the Minotaur?"
Atylanta looked back to the scrying waters and her gaze sobered. "There is . . . sadness in him. Loneliness. Where did Zad get him?"
"The Ancient One gave him to our illustrious Terron king as a gift. A mirror, he says."
Atylanta frowned. "The Ancient One gifted him with it," she repeated. There was not exactly a wealth of respect in her voice. "What interest does he have in Zad?"
"I do not know," Elorene admitted. "It does seem a bit odd, since he has never . . . contributed before."
"Hmm," the younger sorceress said quietly. "And what does Zad have in mind for this poor creature?"
Elorene sighed, her own gaze intent on the beast whose image remained in the waters. "He'll keep sending young men into the labyrinth to be chased and devoured by the Minotaur. Apparently, part of the poor thing's curse is that it has to eat human flesh."
Atylanta couldn't quite restrain a snort. "No wonder Zad likes him."
The Sorceress smiled. "Indeed." Her expression changed to something almost like a pout. "But Zad doesn't deserve him! I told the Ancient One: he can't possibly appreciate the creature's beauty. Besides . . . the Minotaur suffers for the crimes of another, will never know love or companionship . . . That is hardly just."
Atylanta looked at her mother, startled and trying not to be hopeful. She started to say something, but her gaze was caught by another image that appeared in the waters. Her breath caught. "Tao!" she murmured.
Elorene nodded. "Zad's men caught him while the BeastMaster was away. I'm afraid he might be the Minotaur's next meal."
Atylanta's eyes hardened. "Not if I have a say in it."
She started to teleport herself, but Elorene said, "You don't." Atylanta stared at her. "The Ancient One was quite explicit. I cannot use my magic to take the creature or its next victims. And that means, my dear, that neither can you."
Atylanta frowned, looking into the waters. "So I can't get him out of there."
"No. Besides. The BeastMaster will be coming back to rescue him soon."
"Coming back? The BeastMaster does not seem the type to leave a friend behind in such peril."
"He had to lead another out of the maze first -- a girl whom the Minotaur decided not to take as a meal. It would seem to be the reason Zad has been catching young men to put there." She summoned the image of that person, following Dar's progress as they wound into the woods. She looked hale and well-groomed in the scrying waters; Atylanta decided she didn't want to know just what the girl had subsisted on all those days, since Zad did not seem one to provide supplies to a prisoner who was supposed to serve as lunch to his pet. The Sorceress continued, "I'm curious to see if he can communicate more to the Minotaur than just feelings . . ."
Atylanta nodded. "Perhaps," she conceded. She summoned the image of the Eiron to the waters again, regarding it pensively. Elorene recalled that she had seemed quite attracted to the BeastMaster's friend. "But until then . . . I can at least keep the scholar out of harm's way. And perhaps distract Zad's men from taking other prisoners."
Elorene smiled. "Do that, daughter. And I will think on how to remove the Minotaur from Zad's clutches without magick."
Atylanta smiled back, despite herself. "This should prove interesting."
The Sorceress' smile widened. "Indeed," she repeated.
~*~*~*~
Tao had thought that he knew how to navigate a labyrinth: his grandfather had been fond of building small wooden "mazes" and had taught him the little tricks to finding a path. But those little wooden mazes had not been lit by flickering torches and filled with a smell that combined mildew with putrid decay. The combination was distracting and quite frightening in its own way without the occasional growls he heard echoing through the passages.
It was dark and confusing down here, and now that he knew what else was in the labyrinth . . . and he didn't mean the young woman he had seen . . . panic was setting in quite nicely. When I get out of here, I'll never be able to go into a cave again!
He started to turn down one corridor but a wave of presentiment flooded his mind.
No! Not that way.
The voice seemed to come from almost beside his ear, sounding somehow familiar. Tao spun, trying to locate it, and found a wall blocking the path he had been about to take. Startled, he spun again and headed down another corridor. Behind him as he went, the wall disappeared and a quiet sigh was not quite heard as the Minotaur on the other side also headed in another direction.
~*~*~*~
Atylanta watched through the waters of the scrying bowl and shook her head.
"That was too close," she sighed. She checked the illusions that were leading Zad's raiding parties in circles with a broad smile, then switched her attention from her mother's scrying bowl to the blonde Sorceress as her mother paced, coming up with plans. "You're making me dizzy," she complained gently.
Elorene stopped and frowned at her. "That labyrinth makes me dizzy. Especially with you creating and banishing illusionary walls."
Atylanta turned to face her fully. "And what would you suggest? Just let the Minotaur make a snack out of him?"
Elorene waved a hand. "No. No, the BeastMaster would never forgive us."
Atylanta raised an eyebrow and observed dryly, "Neither would Tao."
The Sorceress frowned for a moment, then got it and chuckled. "Point taken, my dear," she smiled.
Atylanta nodded, then said, "And would you mind not calling me that, Mother? It reminds me far too much of the Ancient One."
"Another person you do not like overmuch."
Atylanta took a turn pacing now, her dark brows drawn into a frown. "I respect his power. No one ever said I had to like him. He certainly doesn't seem to mind that I don't. And---" She stopped, her gaze becoming distant as a warning spell in a completely different region was set off. A village she had pledged to protect a few hundred years ago. "Damn it," she muttered. She looked at the scrying bowl, then at her mother. "I have to go. Promise me you will help them. All of them."
Elorene gave her a little half-bow. "You have my word, my dear -- daughter," she corrected herself.
Atylanta managed a smile of amusement. "Thank you. Tell me all about it tonight?"
Elorene nodded and watched as her daughter vanished. The Sorceress turned back to the scrying bowl, considering possibilities for a long time until the BeastMaster returned for his friend. Then an idea came to her and she smiled. The Ancient One had said she couldn't use magick to take them out of the labyrinth . . . but he had never said that magick couldn't guide them to get themselves out.
Unfortunately, neither she nor Atylanta thought the Ancient One would be watching the "rescue." Or that he would let King Zad in on it. That was something that would they would learn only much later, and the consequences of which would quickly be felt.
--Finis--
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