Atylanta had seen many unpleasant things upon entering her mother's
Aerie unexpectedly, but the sight of Zad frozen in time was not one of them.

She looked at the Terron king with definite amusement in her eyes and asked, "Did he finally try something lewd with you, too?"

Elorene turned from her observation of the scrying bowl and smiled at her daughter, knowing that Atylanta was referring to the time a month ago when Zad had placed his hand on the young sorceress' bottom.  "He was unbearably rude.  And he was going to try to strike me."

Atylanta gave an unladylike snort.  "I did tell you he was stupid, Mother."

Elorene smiled.  "And obsessed.  It seems he had a dream recently.  A nightmare vision of a child that would one day destroy him."  She didn't noticed the flicker in her daughter's eyes at those words.  She continued, "He actually went and collected children from all around to try and catch it, put a ransom on their heads.  Silly man."

Atylanta frowned.  "How does he plan on finding the right one?  Surely with so many . . ."

"I made him a little spell.  Over there."

Atylanta looked in the direction of the wave and frowned at what she saw.  A mobile, but with magick so delicately enlaced through every piece that it nearly blinded her sorcerer's Sight.  She approached the hanging collection of baubles and touched it lightly.  There was something else tied to this.  Something dark and deadly.  Atylanta turned to her mother with wide eyes and asked in a hushed voice, "Mother, what have you made here?"

Elorene smiled.  "A trap.  But I am thinking of revising it a tad.  I saw Zad's vision.  The child in his dream, in his fate, is a magickal one!  A child of all races!  Imagine what it could be ---"

"In your hands," Atylanta completed quietly.  Her eyes were hard.  "I thought you had your fill of raising infants when I passed that phase of development."

The Sorceress waved a hand.  "That was different.  This child --"

"Clearly has a destiny.  I do not think it would be any wiser to cheat Fate and Death by taking the child for yourself than it would be to do it by killing the child for Zad."

Elorene let out an exasperated sigh.  "You sound like the Ancient One.  Those were nearly his exact words."

Atylanta looked horrified by the thought.  "Gods forbid," she muttered fervently.  "But in this  case, perhaps the Ancient One has a point."  She shook her head with a sigh.  "Leave Fate to its own devices, Mother.  Else you play a very dangerous game."

Elorene scowled at her.  "Are you sure you weren't eavesdropping?"

Her daughter chuckled.  "Quite sure.  But I have a sense that nothing I -- or the Ancient One -- say is going to change your mind on this matter.  You will only get as obsessed about this as you are with the BeastMaster's powers, and with understanding love."

Elorene frowned.   "What I choose as an obsession is no one's concern but my own, daughter.  Go play your games and leave me to mine."

Atylanta sighed.  "Mother. . ."

"Go!  I have no time for this!"

Atylanta gave her a hard look, her own patience abruptly flaring to an end.  "As you will, Sorceress," she snapped, and sent herself from the Aerie.

Elorene stared at the spot where she had stood and let out a little growl of annoyance.  How dare she try to tell her what to do!  She was only a minor sorceress compared to Elorene, for all her great power as a Witch!  And she was her child -- Atylanta should have supported her venture!  But Atylanta had never been that way, at least once she passed her 20th year.  Then all of a sudden it was all a matter of kindness and compassion to her!  She brewed potions for healing, created shields to protect villages and monsters. . .  How Elorene had ever raised such a "sorceress" . . . !!  It was all Pelagia's fault, for decreeing that the Ancient One could have no influence on the growing child!

Elorene scowled and glared at the frozen figure of King Zad.  "Justice," she told him gravely, "just may be for you to have a child of your own someday."

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