Alora Turns

Alora considered Ianin carefully.

Slowly it dawned on her that she may have been foolish. Maiguh had no reason to be unkind to her, they had been good friends in fact, and why would he have wanted her daughter?

Onicent on the other hand was known to be volatile and have an easy temper, he was not kind. Easily he would consider taking the child if it meant she would be angered.

Ianin claimed to have known and notified Maiguh. That part of the story confused her, she would eventually need an exclamation to why Maiguh had been called instead of her. Did she resent this, yes she did. But if Maiguh had saved her child then clearly he cared for them both. Which was true to her seeing Maiguh had cared for her long ago when she was most in need.

Could she trust Maiguh to continue to care for the child. That was where she became uncertain. Elsbeth was an intelligent child clearly. However she had spent years and years underground unaware of the upper world.

Was she prepared? Could Maiguh protect her until she was?

Alora was starting to anger, she wanted her child back.

She stormed into the throne room where Onicent was seated.

"How dare you," she roared at him.

He startled and sat up straighter.

"I know not what you are shouting about," he said fairly calmly.

"You know very well, give my daughter back," Alora said.

"I have told you, she was taken by my brother Maiguh."

"Liar, you stole her from me and then he stole her from you."

Onicent evaluated the situation carefully.

"Who has told you I took your daughter. Did they bring proof, because I assure you she is not here."

Alora shook her head, "she is not here now, she was here days ago. I heard you yelling." She added, "you had her and then you lost her to Maiguh." She shook her head in disbelief. "We expected better of you, but I should have known you are the same creature you were when we first met."

Onicent sighed slightly. He did not lose his temper as he might have another time. He felt very tired.

"I wished you had let me see her sooner. She was my daughter too."

That made Alora more angry, "of course I didn't do you not remember how you treated me!"

"I admit I treated you poorly Alora," he droned.

"If you truly felt remorse then you'd return her to me. Let her return from the End!"

"I cannot," Onicent said coldly. "I would risk the return of Maiguh."

Alora screamed in frustration. "I don't care about Maiguh, I care that our daughter is lost in the End!"

They stared at eachcother unwavering. Alora would not back off and Onicent would not give in. All the while they were running out of time. That was when Enisia arrived with her own news for Onicent. Epis was missing without a trace.