I glanced around me nervously. Ever since I had enacted father's mind image to show him to Rudolph, I'd developed a kind of phobia for mind images.
The surroundings, one would know, were not the creation of some mediocre mage. The backdrop was something from southern magic user clans, renowned for their grand structures and flamboyant dressing. There was even a fountain, benches shaped like butterfly wings, paved pathways leading into the structure that looked like a Royal Study. By the time an eunuch passed by I knew this was more of a mind image reenactment.
Someone coughed behind me, and I jumped.
"I see you've found the Lion-Ant King," he said.
I looked up at him. He was about twice my height. If he was related to me, I knew that it was from him I got my giant genes from.
"Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss," he said with some satisfaction.
What?
"Sole offspring of the Royal Family of Canolita,"
I'm what?
"Your unrighteous uncle took you away from your nurse in jealousy, putting your royal life in jeopardy. Last we heard was that he crossed the border into the upper magic user clans and we gave all for lost. Unknown to him, an imprint is left on this Lion-Ant King, in hopes that your royal person survives this trying ordeal and returns to Canolita."
The mind image ended.
"Sister Nei, are you alright?" Rudolph was very anxious as he clutched my arm tightly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I rubbed his head, "all's well,"
I looked up at the Lion-Ant King, who had crouched down and was starring at me intently.
"What is the name of your master?"
"The humans called him Arhost Saarhash San de Seuss," he replied, and my heart skipped a beat. It was true. I'd tried hard to ignore what Iria had told me, that I was not an Hakorhi, but now it was all turning out to be true.
I now understood how Rudolph had felt. I felt so mad at both Iria and Grandmother, knowing that much about me and telling me nothing.
But I had to remain comported. I had come here for an antidote.
"Profound Lion-Ant King, would you help me knowing I am related to Arhost Saarhash San de Seuss?" I asked tactfully.
The Lion-Ant King tensed.
"You...you are that human child master abandoned me for?"
Oh, no. Maybe I'd gone the wrong way.
"I can return you to your homeland," I tried a different method, "you will end your servitude of the Termuzin,"
"It is not servitude," it retorted, "it is a service of my honor. The Termuzin cared for me in my Master's place."
Whatever, I thought angrily.
But I needn't have bothered.
"In any case," it decided by itself, "my master did abandon me for worthy reasons. He would have passed me into your care on his demise--"
I cringed at the thought. Who had hairy giant mutated creatures for pets?
"--so I will listen to you. Just this once,"
"Give me the antidote to the plague the Termuzin brought to Hakorhi," I seized my chance.
It became still.
"I did not expect," it said in almost a whisper, "that your first request will be my life,"