CHAPTER XVI
                UNEXPECTED REVELATIONS  

     Shani's sister goddess Vasi was standing at the bedside, and
she motioned for us to come inside quickly.  We laid Shani out on
the bed, and Vasi placed her hands on her. 
     "I fear that my healing is not pleasant, Sister, but it is
all there is for you."  As she spoke, lightning crackled from her
fingertips, and Shani jerked and her back arched.  Vasi took her
hands away and Shani slumped back onto the bed, her wound gone
and her faintly shimmering ambiance restored.  "It is done.  She
will recover, though it may well be years before she becomes as
powerful as she was."
     She was indescribably beautiful in the way that almost all
gods tend to be, but I will try to describe her anyway.  She was
tall and slender, but she radiated a sense of power, physical as
well as spiritual.  This was the patron goddess of armies and
sailors, and you could tell from her manner.  She held herself
erect, but not stiff, so that she could move at a moment's
notice.  She was dressed in bright golden armor, a silver shield
across her back and a mighty sword hung at her waist.  Her face
was beautiful, but hard set, much like Merri's.  Not the face of
someone used to smiling and laughter.  Her hair shifted through
the colors of the clouds and sea, sometimes seeming a pale grey
and sometimes seeming a glittering blue, and her eyes were much
the same, and had such an intensity that you could easily imagine
that the same lightning that had flowed from her hands issued
from her eyes as well.  
     "The tempest outside, your doing?" Kiaphas asked, seeming
unimpressed by eastern goddesses.
     "No."  Vasi said, her scorn obvious in her voice, "The
storms that ravage the Realms are not of my doing."
     "That spell in Ombal, Kiaphas." Jolan explained,  "It must
already be wreaking havok with the weather.  Of course, we
wouldn't have noticed, since Ver would be exempt from the weather
patterns of the normal world."
     "Yes, mageling, your kind have caused terrible chaos and
destruction.  Entire fleets have been lost to typhoons,
hurricanes have ravaged the coasts, and tornadoes leave trails of
distruction inland."
     "Don't blame me!" Jolan protested, "I fought against the
idea in the first place.  But everyone who stood in the
Consulate's way was accused of consorting with deamons, and after
that, there was no opposition.  Trust me, I used to be a Green
Wizard.  I know the dangers of upsetting the patterns that govern
nature."
     "What does that matter now?  The damage is done.  Go, and
look on what your kind have done to this land.  I know you have
your means, so go and be ashamed for the chaos that has been
unleased."  Jolan was about to protest again, but a soft crackle
filled the air, and it seemed that arcs passed over her eyes. 
Jolan excused himself, and hurried downstairs.  The goddess
turned her intimidating stare on Palas.  "And you, Palasantania
Taltonius.  Do you not share a measure of guilt for this
calamity?"
     "Hells no.  Neither does Jolan, if you think about it.  The
fact is, neither of us had anything to do with it other than
being magic users.  I've been hated all my life for being an elf
and a mage, and I'll be Blasted if I'm going to start taking it
from the gods too."  The crackling sound returned, and there was
a distant rumbling.  "Grumble and threaten me all you like, but I
didn't do anything."  I could see that she was getting ready to
smite Palas for her temerity, and I interposed myself between the
two.
     "Go ahead."  I said, "If you're going to kill us for being
who we are, you might as well start with me.  Gods know everyone
else has."  I thought for a moment that she was going to take me
up on that offer, but she relaxed almost imperceptibly, and the
tension and energy faded from the air.  
     "Indeed we do know that, Firemane.  I recognize in you a
kinship, a like spirit.  And I apologize to you, Palasantania. 
Even such as I may be too hasty in our judgements, and the
interference in my Aspect his disturbed me.  Petty retribution
was not what summoned me hither."
     "I assume that She is what brought you here," Marse said,
the capitalization implicit in his voice, "What happened?  What
could wound a goddess so?"
     "Her Paladin, Merrideth Doomslayer, has become a goddess." 
This drew several surprised glances.  "She somehow absorbed the
Aspect of a minor native goddess in Orga, and she struck my
Sister down in a battle."  I later learned, as I have already
related, that there was a bit more to it than that, but it was
accurate enough for the moment.  "I was sent to help her."
     "No offense," Marse said, "But, why you?  Wouldn't Gaia or
even Father Evan himself be more... appropriate for healing?"
     "It is true that my healing lacks a certain... subtlety.  I
am a goddess of War and what I know of healing is limited to
field medicine.  However, it was decided that I should come
because..."  She sighed,  "Father thought it would be good for
me."  She looked at Palas.  "You think your family life is hard,
I have been a full-fledged goddess for eons, and Father still
treats me as a child."  Diana and I looked at each other.  This
was a different attitude than one would expect from a goddess. 
She didn't have the haughty air of superiority that Shani had,
but rather a sense of camaraderie and ease, appropriate, I
suppose, to a patron of combat and soldiers.  I saw that I had
judged her severity too harshly in my previous evaluation.  The
sternness of her face didn't stem from a dislike of laughter, but
simply from the life she led, filled with harshness and strife. 
"Anyway, I was sent partly to make amends with Sister here for
the fights we had when we were younger, but mostly because the
storms raging across the Realms have made me a little too strong
for my own good.  As Firemane said, too much power is often as
bad as, if not worse than, too little.  By now your Wizard should
be getting an eyefull of the horror let loose upon the world. 
However, something else I was supposed to tell you comes to mind
now.  There has been one virtue to the disruption of the weather. 
The Mists have parted."  There were several gasps, and I realized
that I was once again the only one missing some piece of
important background information.
     "I know this is going to sound stupid, but: What mists?" 
Everyone looked at me.  Well, I knew it was going to sound
stupid.
     "Sorry, Firemane." Diana said, "She means the Mists that
have covered the islands of Kanda for the past..."  She looked
around for help.
     "Three-hundred and twenty-seven years." Marse supplied.
     "The mist covered the entire island for three centuries?" 
Diana nodded.
     "The Mists are what collapsed the Council of Rule and the
Kandan Empire, and ended the Age of Iron Peace.  The islands of
Kanda ruled over the Nine Realms, but no one can get past the
Mists, so their Empire vanished.  Nobody knows what happened to
the people of Kanda, or what caused the Mists."
     "Actually, I have a pretty good idea of what caused them."
Vasi said.
     "You do?" Diana asked, clearly surprised.
     "Yes.  Have you ever noticed how the Mists appeared just
three years after the fall of the Altar of Unity?"
     "Not really.  Is it important?"
     "To this group it is important indeed.  Kanda is where the
fifth Stone is, the Stone of Fire.  Have you heard the stories of
those who sail too close to the Mists?"
     "Of course.  Everybody's heard those."  I cleared my throat. 
"Eveybody except Firemane." She amended.  I was starting to feel
like the village idiot.  
     "Well, Mikhal used to tell stories about one or too unlucky
sailors who got swept that way, but those were just things he'd
heard from friends of his." I ventured.
     "Really?" Diana asked, interested, "What kinds of stories?"
     "Well, one old friend of his told of how they were blown too
close to Kanda by a freak storm.  They mentioned seeing strange
monsters, ghosts, and apparitions, but they never mentioned any
mists."
     "That is because they were in the Mists before they realized
it.  The Mists create illusions that drive people to do strange
things, much like the song of a Siren or a Basira's touch."  Vasi
explained.  "A strange case, but not unique.  The Mists are
unusual in that they are seen from a distance, but apparently not
nearby, or it could simply be that they go unnoticed because of
the appartions."  
     "Most of the stories are like that," Diana added, "People
who see the dead in the Mists, or people who see horrors.  It's a
lot like Ver, except these aren't tangible.  The only harm they
can do you is to make you harm yourself."
     "Which is all too often harm enough, if you believe the
stories." Kiaphas said, "Almost all of the stories I've heard end
with the crew in mutiny or madness, just a short while after
leaving the Mists."  Diana nodded confirmation.  
     "And you say the Stone is in that?" I asked, somewhat
daunted by the descriptions.
     "Yes, but the Mists have parted in some places, blown away
by the chaos-taken weather disturbances.  Until now, the Mists
have been impenetrable to scrying magic or even godly
omniscience.  With the mists thinned and weakened, I can now feel
the Stone, though only barely.  It lies at the heart and the
source of the Mists.  I can tell you that it is guarded by
strange forces, more so than the past four have been.  There is a
mystical power surrounding it, almost like a Divine ordainment. 
Obtaining the Stone will not be easy."
     "So, we're off again to seek the Stones?" Diana asked.
     "No, the weather disruptions will not die down for several
months, I fear.  For that time, the Mists should be as weak as
they are now, or perhaps weaker.  Thus, you may rest a time
before leaving, as you had planned.  I warn you, you must be
prepared before you enter the Mists.  Even weakened, they are an
ordeal not lightly experienced.  You will face fear, betrayal,
madness... and yourselves."  She turned back to the bed, and
looked down at her striken Sister.  "We must go.  We have tarried
in the mortal plane for far too long as it is.  I thank you for
the sanctuary you have given her."  With a flash of lightning, a
swirl of wind, and a crash of thunder, they vanished, leaving
only the acrid smell of ozone behind them.  
     As our nerves were still setling from the explosive exit of
the Queen of Storms, Jolan rushed in, his face haunted.
     "She was right.  Oh, gods, the misery and horror we have
caused!"
     "No, Jolan, you were right." I said, "You did everything you
could to stop the Consulate Prime from casting his spell.  Vasi
even admitted as much, after you left, so there is no need for
guilt."
     "No need!  No NEED?  You haven't seen... There will be
famine, draught, floods.  The hunger of men's stomachs will sound
louder than their hearts, and there will be riots, theft, and
murder.  Nations will covet what little their neighbors have, and
there will be wars, and rebellion.  All because I was unable to
stop a deamon's pawn from casting his spell!"  
     "Jolan, we were all there.  If there is any guilt to bear,
it falls to all of us equally.  Would you have rushed forward, to
die?" Palas asked, "I already defended you to a goddess, must I
defend you to yourself as well?"  She looked at Jolan and he
suddenly seemed flustered.
     "Well, no, I... You're right, I'm being foolish.  Forget
it."  
     "That's better.  Vasi told us where the fifth stone is."  
     "Where is it?" Then he paused, reading our faces, "From the
way you all look, I don't think I'll like the answer."
     "It's in Kanda, at the heart and source of the Mists."
     "That's something else I wanted to tell you.  The Mists
have.."
     "Parted." Palas finished for him, "We know.  Vasi told us
that too, and that it wouldn't matter much if we left now or a
week from now, so what do you say we get some rest?  It must be
night by now." 
     "Yes, a good idea." Jolan said.  He had looked for a moment
as though he wanted to say something else, but he left it at
that.  We all went back to our separate rooms.  As soon as we
were alone with the door shut, I began to ask Diana about
something I'd noticed.
     "Did you..." we started at the same time.  We stopped, and
laughed for a minute, before rushing into each other's arms for a
passionate embrace.  We clung to each other as though drowning
for gods know how long, until I finally pulled away slightly to
look down at her.
     "I missed you, beloved."
     "I missed you too, Firemane."  We embraced again.  I don't
know how long we went on like that, but then, we'd been separated
for weeks.  We then moved to the bed, where we lay together
silently for a time.  Finally, Diana broke the silence.
     "What were you going to say, before we got sidetracked
again?"  I laughed.
     "I was going to ask if you noticed anything strange about
Jolan.  Our Archmage seemed a little different tonight."  She
nodded.
     "I was going to ask if you'd noticed the way he's been
looking at Palas.  He looks like he's not quite sure what she is
anymore."  
     "I did notice that.  How long has that been going on?"
     "Oh, a week or so.  Or at least, I started noticing it a
week ago, while we were hunting the morphos.  He just started
acting differently."  
     "I wonder... is he the one carrying the Stone?"
     "Yes." She said, her brow clouding in puzzlement, then
clearing in understanding, "Oh, I see.  You don't really think
the Stone would be affecting him, would you?  I mean, he hasn't
been acting like Merri was."  I shrugged.
     "I don't know, but maybe we should keep a closer watch on
him, do you think?"  She nodded.  She then commented on a couple
of sticky patches on my mane, which turned out to be fruit juice
the Queen (the Fairy Queen, not Vasi) had thrown at me.  It was
in a spot I couldn't reach, naturally, so Diana marched me into
the nearby bath and washed away two or three weeks worth of
misery.  After that, I helped her wash those hard to reach
places, and she let me untangle her fur for her.  Of course, we
hadn't seen each other in weeks, so the process took quite a
while, and when we were done, she let me pick her up and take her
to the bed and show he exactly how much I'd missed her. 
Afterward, she giggled and complained that her fur was tangled
again, and that I would probably need a shower in the morning.  I
licked her adorable little heart-shaped nose and told her how
much I loved her.  She giggled again.
     "I know that silly."  She leaned forward and nipped my ear
with her teeth, the whispered in it, "The question is, what are
you going to do about it."  So of course, I had to show her.  It
was many hours into the night when we finally went to sleep.
                ***********************
     The plains grew clouded, dark and heavy.  I could feel the
pressure in the air and smelled the rain on the winds, and called
the pride back to the den.  The pride came into the spacious cave
that served as home, and I knew their names as soon as I saw
them.  First came Tailbiter, wild and strange as ever.  She was
younger than the rest of the adults, but I think there was also
something not right with her... but she was happy, so it was well
enough.  After her came her sister, Cloudeyes, herding her cubs
in before her.  Noser and Starwatcher were less than enthusiastic
about coming in from the rain.  After her came Stonetooth, eldest
of the pride, though you couldn't really tell it from the way she
moved.  You only knew it when you saw her eyes, and the way she
hunted.  None could stalk as cleverly as Stonetooth.  Lastly came
Sunrock, Mate-For-Life, and she was pushing Growler in front of
her.  Laughter was, as usual, a few paces ahead.  I sighed at the
disparity between my sons.  Growler was almost constantly sullen
over something, while Laughter was inclined to bouts of wild joy,
though he had his serious moments as well.  I knew that there
would come a day when I would be challenged for leadership, and
that someday I would fall.  I hoped that, when the time came,
Laughter might be the one to follow me, but even now Growler was
proving to be the stronger, fiercer of the two.  But challenge
and defeat were still years away for me, and the storm was
coming.  Ser-Chup, the Stormsinger, the pride called me, and
truly I could feel the song of the storm rushing through my
veins.  Noser sat nearby, her nose twitching like a rabbit as she
sniffed the air.  I looked around for my other daughter,
Starwatcher, and found her lying quietly in the corner, a
thoughtful look to her face.  Sunrock came to me and I greeted
her fondly.  Suddenly the cave shook and I found myself dashed
about, as though the storm outside had come into the cave in it's
entirety.
               ************************
     "Firemane!  Firemane, wake up!"  Diana was shaking me.  
     "A moment more Mate-For-Life, a moment.  My Sleeping-Life 
was strange, and I am yet tired."  I mumbled, still more than 
half asleep.  I felt a something sharp pinch my ear. 
"Ouch!"  I opened my eyes.
     "That's better." Diana said, "Firemane, you were moaning and
growling in your sleep, and I thought you were having a
nightmare, but when I tried to wake you, you mumbled gibberish at
me."  
     "Gibberish?" I asked, "I just said that I was having a
strange dream, and needed a moment to wake up."
     "Oh, is that what you said?  It sounded like you were trying
to speak dwarven!  Come on, it's past noon, lazy-fur."  
     "Past noon?  I feel like I just went to sleep."  She favored
me with a small smile.
     "Well, it was late when we got to sleep, true."  She said,
"But come on, a good wash will wake you up."  She looked at me
with mock-sternness.  "And no getting sidetracked this time."  I
laughed, my dream forgotten, and we went and took a bath.  I
reminded myself to thank Jolan for suggesting that we take some
time to rest.  We went to the dining hall, where everyone was
having a late lunch.  They welcomed us over, and I saw a freshly-
plucked chicken waiting for Diana, and a fine slab of raw beef
for me.  Diana and I had worked up quite a hunger, and the meal
was delicious, even if I didn't drag it to the ground myself. 
     "So," Felin said, trying to keep a wicked grin off her face,
"You two sleep well last night?"  
     "I had a strange dream, but otherwise, yes, we slept well,
why do you ask?"
     "You certainly keep late hours, don't you?"
     "What do you mean?" I asked, slightly puzzled.  Jolan
cleared his throat.
     "Ah, perhaps I should have mentioned that the walls between
rooms are sometimes not as thick as they appear."  I looked over
at Diana.  I don't know how, but she managed to blush, despite
the fact that her face was crimson to begin with, and covered
with fur besides.
     "Felin!" Palas chided, "There was no call for you to mention
that.  What they do in their rooms is there own business. 
Besides, it's been weeks since they've seen each other.  You've
no right to embarass them."
     "Quite right," Jolan said a moment later, "Perhaps, to avoid
further embarassment, you two would like to take a room from my
chambers?  It might be a bit fancier than you have a taste for,
but I wouldn't mind switching rooms."
     "No, Jolan, we wouldn't want to put you out of your own
rooms!" Diana said quickly, and I could have sworn that Jolan
seemed disappointed.  "It was a very nice offer, though. 
Thanks."  Jolan nodded.
     "Well," Kiaphas said, "We seem to have some time on our
hands.  What do you do for fun around here, Jolan?"  Our host
gave a short laugh.
     "For fun?  Well, let's see, there's the solarium, I grow
rare herbs and reagents in my garden, and if I'm feeling really
wild there's always my scrying pool.  I'm afraid most of my
pursuits are a trifle academic.  Oh, and then there's the
Library."  Diana's ears perked up.
     "A Library?"
     "Yes, it's not much, and most of the books are a bit...
arcane."  Palas made a disappointed sound.
     "That's a shame.  I've always wanted to read the tales of
Old Master Surefoot, or some of the folklore and legends
collected by Safrain and Tolbeck.  I've heard them translated and
told by minstrels, but I'm told that nothing comes close to the
original, and one does get tired of reading nothing but dusty old
spellbooks.  Not that I'm complaining about the book you gave me,
Jolan.  Jolan?"  Jolan seemed completely distracted.  "Jolan!" 
The old mage shook, and looked back at Palas.
     "Oh, yes, of course.  Um, I'm sorry, my mind wandered a
bit."  Palas smiled at him.
     "Dangerous habit for an Archmage, don't you think?"  Jolan
seemed as though his attention was only half with him.
     "Oh, um, yes, I suppose..." he trailed off, "Please, excuse
me."  He stood and left.  I caught Diana's meaningful glance in
my direction.  Jolan was, again, acting strangely. 
     "Well!" Palas said, sounding slightly indignant, "What was
that all about?"  She looked at me, and I just shrugged.
     "Who can tell?" I replied, not having a better answer.  The
rest of the meal continued with little conversation, and
afterward we split up to seek our amusements.  Palas and Felin
came with us to visit the Solarium, and Kiaphas, Marse, and,
surprisingly, Agnon wanted to peruse the library, despite the dry
nature of it's texts.  The four of us spent a few hours sunning
ourselves.  I found myself wondering what sort of place Jolan
might have built if his element had been Earth or Water instead
if Fire.  Would he descend into a cave, or float in a pool?  If
his element had been Air, would he stand on the roof during
storms, waiting to get struck by lightning?  Probably not, I
decided, but it was an interesting thought.  We left when Felin
started complaining about getting sun-burned.  Dwarven skin tans
and reddens quickly, probably due to the fact that, as a species,
they spend so much time underground.  Palas, on the other hand,
looked not a shade darker.  Elves do not easily tan, though I
can't imagine a reason for that, since, after all, they have such
fair skin to begin with.  Or perhaps they have such fair skin
because they cannot tan... another interesting though.
     We were on our way back downstairs, to our rooms, when we
heard a popping sound and a rustle of loose paper, and a voice
calling from behind us.
     "Oh, there you are!  Come on, I've something to show you." 
We turned to find Jolan standing on the stairs behind us, with
several sheets of paper curling in the light wind around him.  He
motioned for us to follow him, and led us up several flights of
stairs, coming at last to a halt in front of a door identical to
every other door in the tower.  He threw open the door, and
ushered us inside with a flourish.  
     "By the gods!" Palas swore as she entered, and saw that the
room had been filled with row upon row of books.  "Jolan, please
tell me you didn't just do this!"  Jolan seemed much taken aback.
     "But... I thought you'd be pleased.  Look, here is a
collection by Tolbeck, and here are two by Safrain.  I have three
of the tales of Old Surefoot, as well as several of the common
fables and historical lays from human, elven, and dwarven
literature.  I thought you were tired of reading dull magical
tomes?"  He said, sounding almost plaintive.
     "I am, and I do appreciate this Jolan, really, but this is a
little bit... scary.  I mean, how did you do all of this?"  She
looked around again, and added, "And why?" 
     "I thought it would make you happy, Palas.  I'm sorry if it
hasn't.  I can remove it all, if that would please you?"
     "No!  Um, no, that's all right, Jolan, but, well, you've
been acting a little... wierd lately."
     "I have?"  He sounded more like he was surprised someone
noticed than surprised at the accusation.
     "Yes.  I mean, you sometimes act like you're avoiding me,
you've stopped talking to me, and you blush and get all flustered
anytime I try to say anything to you.  I mean, you're acting
like..."  Palas stopped, her eyes going wide and her hand coming
up to cover her mouth, which gaped open.  "No.  Oh, no.  Tell me
this isn't happening."
     "Palas, I.." he stopped as she ran out the door, and just
sat there, shoulders slumped.  Diana silently nudged me, and I
nodded.  We left without drawing attention to ourselves, though I
dearly wanted to grab a book from the shelves.  Jolan mentioned
histories, and after feeling ignorant as many times as I had I
wanted to learn all the things the others assumed I'd know, but
Jolan looked like he needed to be alone, and Palas had run off
gods know where, and I was thouroughly confused.  I waited until
we got back to our room, then turned to Diana.
     "What the hells was that about?  I mean, sure, the fact that
Jolan could assemble a library like that in the space of a few
hours is somewhat frightening, but she could have been a little
more graceful about it, couldn't she?"  Diana looked at me, and
shook her head at my lack of understanding.
     "Firemane, Jolan's in love with her."  That brought me up
short.
     "In love?  With Palas?  That's impossible, isn't it?"  She
smiled.
     "Nothing is impossible, my dearest.  I think we prove that
fairly well, don't you?"
     "Yes, but... but he's old enough to be her..."  
     "Son... or perhaps grandson.  Don't forget, she's an elf. 
She looks like she's barely twenty, if that, but she's more than
likely several decades old, maybe even a century."
     "Really?  Then why doesn't she act older?"
     "I told you, they mature at a different rate.  The problem
here isn't the age difference, Firemane.  I just don't know if
Palas is really ready to let someone love her.  For one thing she
recently lost someone who was very close to her, and... she has
other considerations."
     "Other considerations.  Like what?  I mean, other than that
she's and elf and he's an Archmage and that we're in the middle
of this gods forsaken quest and that he looks positively ancient
standing next to her, actual ages not withstanding?"
     "Well, that's quite a list, but none of that really matters
to either of them, especially not to Jolan."
     "Then what?  I mean.." I sighed, "I'm afraid I just don't
understand this.  Perhaps romantic problems aren't my strong
suit."  Diana gave me a sly grin.  "I mean other than that!  Oh,
you know what I mean." 
     "Yeah, I know what you mean.  I was just teasing.  Sit down,
over here."  I sat on the bed while she explained.  "Palas has a
problem, one that she wasn't comfortable with anyone else
knowing.  It has to do with her brother, and her reaction to
magical exhaustion.  Do you remember how she was when Agnon was
going to steal from the Queen?"  I nodded.
     "Oh, how I wish I'd let him.  Yes, I remember that very
well."
     "Well.." It was Diana's turn to sigh.  Then she looked at
the walls.  "We need somewhere more private to talk."
     "Like where?  Where can we have more privacy than in our own
rooms?"  
     "How about the garden?"  So we went to the garden, an indoor
affair much like a greenhouse in climate.  Sunlight poured down
from above as in the Solarium, though here it was filtered
through the trees.  
     "All right, now can we talk?"  Diana nodded.
     "Well, she didn't tell you everything when she was telling
you about her experience with the exhaustion.  She told you that
her brother cared for her during the time that she was
recovering, which was true.  What she didn't tell you was that
she had problems afterwards."  
     "Problems?  What sorts of problems?"
     "Relapses.  Moments of weakness."
     "How long did this go on?"
     "Until her brother died.  She started telling me this after
she argued with Agnon.  She needed someone to talk to, and I was
the only one who already knew about her reaction.  Her brother...
they kept it a secret between them."
     "That she was having relapses?"
     "Well, yes, at first.  You see, there's no real reason for
her to have relapses."
     "I don't understand."
     "Neither did she, or her brother, to begin with.  Oh, gods,
I wish I weren't telling you this.  I feel so blasted guilty
about it."
     "I still don't understand.  Why do you feel guilty?"
     "She made me promise not to tell.  I know that it's for a
good reason, but still... it makes me feel bad."  I licked her
muzzle.
     "Diana, if this makes you feel guilty, you don't have to
tell me.  I can live without understand what's going on between
the two of them."
     "Yes, but I'm not sure that they can live without
understanding it, and you've been so good at talking to her.  She
confided in me because I was there, but she trusts you more."
     "Oh boy, lucky me.  Okay, then, if you feel you must, tell
me."
     "All right.  She found herself having relapses, but only
when she and her brother were alone.  The first time was almost a
week after they thought she'd recovered, and her brother thought
she'd been casting spells, despite the warnings she'd been given
not to.  He started to tell her off about it when she came back
to herself, somewhere after an hour later, but she swore she
hadn't cast anything.  It happened the next day, and her brother
made her go to see the wizard who'd taught her.  The wizard could
find no explanation for the relapses.  He told her that there was
nothing that he could do, but that they should fade with time. 
They continued, however, but she learned to predict them, and
plan around them.  It wasn't but a few months after her initial
collapse that they were arrested, but by then she realized why
she was having relapses."  Diana paused, as though hesitant to
finish.
     "Yes?" I prompted.
     "She found herself enjoying her relapses, and the attention
her brother gave her.  What's more, her brother came to enjoy
them as well.  Her father was a very busy man... or elf, rather,
and she saw little of him, and her mother died many years ago. 
She was more than old enough to be on her own, but she... she
needed someone.  Her brother was old enough to be married, but he
still lived alone, and, well, I suppose he needed someone too. 
Nobody commented when she moved in with him.  After all, they
both lived alone at a difficult age for elves, in difficult times
to be an elf.  It was a perfectly innocent relationship, I assure
you."  Diana shook her head, "Palas bloody near took my head off
when I asked."
     "That's... fascinating," I said, utterly unsure of what to
make of it all, "but what does that have to do with Jolan?  You
said the relapses ended when her brother died, right?"
     "The relapses ended, but not the need, Firemane.  That's one
of the reasons she's been so out of sorts."
     "I suppose it also explains why she's so distraught over her
brother's death."  She looked questioningly at me, so I
explained, "Well, when he died, she lost both her brother and--
sort of--her adopted father."  Diana looked thoughtful for a
moment, then nodded.
     "That could be part of it, yes, but mostly it's just that
she was closer to her brother than to anyone else in her life. 
But can you see the problem now?"
     "I think so.  She's afraid that Jolan will find out, and
think poorly of her?"  Diana sighed.
     "If only it were that easy.  No, the problem is that she
needs to have that sort of relationship, in order to feel loved." 
Understanding dawned on me.
     "And she's not sure if Jolan... or anyone, for that matter,
can accept that?"  Diana clapped her paws.
     "At last, you have it.  I also don't know if she'd be
willing to tell him.  The only reason she told me was because it
was either that or strangle Agnon."
     "Yeah, I can see where she could identify with the Queen's
situation."  Diana nodded.  
     "Personally, I think Jolan could handle it.  I mean, he just
pulled an entire library out of thin air because she made an off-
hand comment about wanting to read folklore, for the gods'
sakes."  I shook my head in amazement at the entire situation. 
For one thing, I just couldn't picture it of Palas.  She just
seemed so... hardnosed all the time.  Diana misinterpreted my
gesture.  "You disagree?"
     "No, I was just having a hard time with all of this.  I
mean, it's a little hard to believe."
     "Well, there's no two ways about it, Firemane.  Our Archmage
is in love, gods help us all."