Soon, the bearer of the unknown approaching footsteps was revealed. She was no other than, Lora who looked tired. She walked straight to Ferahon, fell on her feet and grabbed her ankle; an act to show her exhaustion and desperation.
"My mistress,'' Lora began.
"What's the problem Lora? Why are you looking horrible and exhausted? And by the way, where is Clara and what kept you two away from the castle for almost two days?'' She tries to pull her up to her feet, while Zana watched them and did little to help. "Get some water will you Zana?''
Zana obeyed and left to get some water. Soon she was back holding a glass of water. "Would you mind telling our mistress why you are in this strange state?''
Lora wasted no time to spill them out. "Clara has been captured by the werewolves.''
At once, Ferahon was alerted because she knows the severity of the problem at hand. She was aware of how barbaric the wolves can be, especially against her own kind. After all, they were the ones who took her husband out and now, her daughter? For her, it was unbelievable that her longtime enemies were able to get back to her. First, she needed to hear exactly what happened and why it had happened. "What you do mean she was captured?"
Zana came closer to Ferahon and rubbed her shoulders gently as if, she was trying to suit the witch mistress. "Let's move into the upper chamber mistress.'' The upper chamber was where the witches often gathers to discuss their affairs. It can be called their meeting ground. It was a large room with many mirrors on each side of the walls. Just before where Ferahon sits during their official gathering, were burning candles of different types. However, the majority of the candles were red in color. Again, on the table before her sit laid a big bowl filled with blood. The blood were not from a single source. They were actually an assortment of different animal's blood including humans.
But because, Ferahon was troubled at the moment and because there was no meeting session in progress, let alone the presence of other witches, she simply sat on one of the chairs where a common witch will simply occupy in one of their gatherings.
Only when the witch mistress sat down did she ask Lora to clarify the statements she had made earlier concerning Clara. "How did it happen, when she was under your watch? You let them take her and you had the gut to tell me how she was captured?'' Ferahon was beginning to allow her anger to get the better of her at that moment. She knew her daughter was a powerful, and a better witch than Lora so, how could she expect a mere servant to protect a more sophisticated witch her daughter was?
Zana couldn't help but smile inwardly, she was satisfied with the scolding her arch rival was being subjected to by their mistress. She never stopped rubbing Ferahon's back in an effort to ease her anger. Something she didn't meant to do. "I'm sure mistress, Lora have more to tell us about what transpired. This is not the end of her story. There must be a reason why Clara was hunted by the wolves. I'm almost certain Lora knows what I'm talking about.''
"My mistress,'' began Lora, "there were many of them. There was no way I could fight them all alone and win. Conri' son was also there. You and I knows he is a formidable foe. We also know the difficulties we usually encounter in casting our spell on the werewolves. Their body frequencies are not very easy like mere humans, to be brought into alignment with our magic spell. We all know this and which may be one of the reasons Clara surrendered to them without putting a fight against them.''
"Wait a minute, alpha Conri's son was there and yet she was taken by them? What's all these nonsense? Please don't tell me this is true?''
Slightly bending her head, Lora replied, "its true mistress?''
"If clearly remembered, the last time you reported how close she had grown to the Conri's son. You and I knew, I never approved their love but I have no choice. Yes I have no choice, if that's the only way we can penetrate and exploit them, and have Conri killed for the atrocities he had committed against our people for years. I can't believe the fact that, you are telling me all these now. Our plans went the other way round, instead of going on our own way. Could it be our plans were also their plan? Has anyone sold me out?'' Furious Ferahon asked the two young witches with her.
Sensing the intense situation that is likely to erupt if not checked, Lora quickly interrupted her mistress with perhaps, a good news which will surely put a smile on her face at the moment. "The wolf lord is dead. Alpha Conri is dead! He exists no more to punish our people. Justice has been served to your husband mistress. I'm sure his soul will rejoice and be at peace wherever he is right now.''
A brief smile developed across Ferahon's face. "What are you telling me Lora? Is that even possible? How did he died?''
"That's the problem my mistress. You have been accused of being behind his death. I'm so sorry to say this but, that's why they have Clara. They want Clara dead so they can get back to us. We must do all we can to help Clara before it's too late,'' Lora knew it will difficult to set Clara free. Even as she spoke, the witch mistress could detect her negative facial expressions. That explained to her the severity of what Lora was telling her.
Immediately Lora finished speaking, Ferahon got up furious. Her eyes flashed with lighting across the large room. "That would never happen as long as I'm alive. They will never succeed to take my daughter's life.'' She turned to Zana, "we are going to war against the wolves! Therefore, summon all the witches for an emergency meeting as soon as possible.''
'Yes mistress,'' Zana bowed and took out a tiny, oblong metal from her pocket and began casting a spell that will send a hologram of herself to the group leaders of all the witches under Ferahon's domain. While Lora looked on and Zana continued with her spell-casting process, Ferahon transformed into a powerful owl and flew off to an unknown destination, without saying a word.