She walked to and fro in the garden not far from of her mighty castle. For hours now, Ferahon's mind was not settled. Clara's long-stay away from home was beginning to give her some concerns. She hasn't been away from home too long like this. She tried to comfort herself with the thought that, Lora will tell her exactly where Clara had gone.
"Zana!" She called. "Zana are you there?"
Zana appeared before her, almost immediately Ferahon had finished calling on her. "Yes mistress! I'm here at your service. What can I do for you ma?"
Zana, an orphaned girl who was found by Ferahon in a village raided by unknown bandits some years ago. She was only thirteen when Ferahon found her laying on the ground and crying beside the corpses of her dead parents. The powerful witch mistress took her in and raised her as her own. She also, taught her the art of magic and sorcery. Because she was good in it, Ferahon made her one of the important witches in her castle. Despite her humble beginning, she was respected and feared by everyone all because of Ferahon. To this she owed her stepmother witch some gratitude. The only way she could repay Ferahon is to stay loyal and serve her as long as she is alive.
"Have you seen Lora? Maybe, she is the only one who can tell us where Clara had gone to."
"No mistress! I haven't seen her. There has been no sign of her all day at this castle. You know Mistress, her job is to watch over Clara, who knows if she had gone out with her? I believe you when you said, she could be the only one who can actually tell us the where about of Clara."
"What about yesterday? Did you see her?"
"Yes mistress. That was in the morning of yesterday. I can equally tell you that, her body language was suspicious."
"What do you mean by that Zana?"
"Yes mistress. I didn't not mince my words when I said that."
"Hmmm! could that have had something to do with Clara's sudden disappearance? Is that what you are insinuating?"
Zana's statement on Clara came as no surprise for anyone who knows the history between her and Lora. While Lora had grown closer to Clara, Zana distanced herself from her mistress real daughter. The rivalry between Zana and Lora stems from jealousy, bitterness and anger. Zana sees Lora as her main rival in Ferahon's home. Ferahon knows about this but, has over time refrained from addressing the issue.
"Apparently my mistress. Wherever she goes there Clara goes too. If only we can find her then we will have a little problem in determining Clara's where about."
"Hmmm!" Ferahon began to walk back to the castle while, Zana followed her along. The climbed through the long stairs until they came to a part with a balcony.
"Great mistress!" Zana called. "I think she is seeing someone."
The witch mistress paused to listen to the strong accusation Zana had brought. "Who are you referring to among the two girls, Clara or Lora?"
"Clara," Zana answered.
"Hmmm, I see. How sure are you about this?"
"I'm not very sure but, I have been noticing some suspicious movement for a quite long time now."
"Any idea Zana, of whom she could be sneaking out to see?" Ferahon continued.
She knew of course about Clara's secrets movement in and outside of the castle. She also knew whom her daughter was always going out to see. Thanks to her undercover witch, Lora. She had charged Lora with the responsibility of watching Clara's movements. It was during one of Lora's secret report that she learnt her daughter was going out with a Werewolf. It took her some time to verify and to know the true identity of the Werewolves going out with her daughter. He was no other person than Kane, the son of the Witch's greatest oppressor Alpha Conri. The wolf-lord also, personally saw the death of her husband during the great wars of the wolves and witches many years ago. The drum of revenge kept beating in her heart anytime she remembers that ugly incident.
To this, she had devised a plan that will see her make her way through the wolf land, in the far country side and have the wolf-Lord Alpha Conri, killed. This was the reason she had her eyes placed on Clara and her enemy's son.
Zana tried to be cautious and disembark from making things too complicated at the moment. "No my mistress. I don't think I have any idea of who she is seeing. Believe me, if I had any idea I wouldn't hesitate to let you."
Ferahon smiled silently. It pleased her to find out that, no one actually knows the villain her daughter was going out with. "Have you made any effort to find out or you are just assuming?"
"I will do that my mistress." After walking past the balcony, they both came to a passage in the castle which leads to many directions. Ferahon seemed to be ready to path ways with Zana. She stood at the door way to her chamber. The witch mistress wanted to go inside her secret chambers but, their conservation was something she could not easily let go. "I will keep an eye on her from henceforth".
"No you don't have to. Lora is doing a terrific job on watching over her except of course, this one time they were both far from home."
"Yes mistress. I will do exactly as you have said. I will only to find and bring them home," she bowed to her mistress
Ferahon, forced a smile on her face. "That's all I want you to do," she pushed the door to her chamber and attempted to walk him but abruptly, stopped and turned to Zana again. "We could have determined her location a long time ago with our powerful spell. What do you think?"
"Yes mistress, but that was a long time ago, and we don't even have her recent belonging with which to cast a spell that will help us locate her."
"Oh you are right!" Concurred Ferahon. Few seconds after she had opened her door, she had a strange feeling as Zana looked on. "I can feel it. I can feel her presence. She is back!"
"Who?" Asked Zana anxiously. Just when Ferahon was about to reply her, the sound of footsteps of someone were heard approaching their direction from the steps.