Days and nights passed, with a gradual change of scenery from loose sand to rocky sandstone and later to tufts of greenery. The Pantheria avoided Fandri and his fairy; looking sideways at them and whispering in their purring voices. They moved on to giving Telmane their affections, but the guardian deflected their closeness with a firm arm sweep every time they touched him.
Purla, being the dominant one, was not easily deterred and was relentless in pursuing him. Fandri was confident that Telmane would not be in danger of being detained by the Pantheria.
The company of Laurmodaries reached the village of Metji early one evening. It was indeed a haven after the arid desert, boasting large pools of fish surrounded by floral gardens. Purla had a satisfied smile at the praise from the companions as she showed them around. “These are our fish farms where we breed the biggest and tastiest fresh water gojo fish in Reloria. Even the elven queen is a great customer of our produce.”
Liara-Star nodded with a twinkle in her deep blue eyes. She jumped with light feet to the ground. With a motion faster than a halfling’s eye could see, she scooped up a fish and presented it to Fandri.
“Wow! That was super-fast.” Fandri reached out to grasp the blue and green striped fish, which was as long as his legs. The fish jumped up to touch his cheek, before wriggling out of his grasp and falling back into the pond.
“It is considered good luck to receive a kiss from a striped gojo, Fandri.” The queen smiled and patted his arm.
Purla was smiling broadly, but scowled when she caught the mage looking at her. “Humph. I didn’t think the elves believed in our philosophies.”
Liara-Star and Nnarndam exchanged winks of amusement, as the Pantheria turned on her heel and marched over to the nearest tree to scratch her claws up and down the trunk. Fandri noticed that all the trees in the area bore scratch-marks with lines of dried sap within the deepest grooves.
Purla looked as though the action was some kind of relaxation ritual, with a haze coming over her eyes as she stretched up on her toes and arched her back. She sighed with a dreamy smile on her face.
Other Pantheria streamed from fur-covered houses and took hold of the Laurmodaries while the travellers dismounted. The animals were led away, while the riders were taken one by one into the small houses to freshen up.
The Pantheria tried to steer Fandri and his fairy in different directions.
“Ouch, no. We need to stay together because we are linked. This is Fandri-La and I am Fandri. We share a bond.” The pain stopped as soon as the distance between them closed.
The Pantheria looked at them quizzically with heads tilted, trying to fathom the meaning of their bond.
Purla came out of her scratching trance and grabbed his arm. She spoke slowly with a cajoling voice. “Come Fandri. I will take special care of you.” She gazed deep into his eyes with her vertically-slit cat eyes, then winked at the other Pantheria, who left her with the southerners.
Fandri felt his vision blur as he tried to look away from her gaze, but found he was unable to. His heart raced as he felt a sense of helpless panic. Against his will, he nodded and followed her into a house.
The ceiling was just over his head, so the other travellers must have had to bend low inside. He tried to shake the strange fogginess from his head, but a woolly feeling persisted and he felt his face smile inanely at Purla.
“Give me your hands, halfling.” Through forced obedience, he reached up and heard a click-click as he was manacled to an iron ring hanging from the ceiling. Even his fairy was not spared, as Purla trussed her up tight with a fine string.
Fandri had a fleeting idea that something was not right here, but after another view of Purla’s eyes, his breathing slowed right down and he felt a look of ecstasy cross his face. “Purla, Purla.” Even her name was hypnotic to him. Her caress tickled along his spine and he moaned with pleasure.
“That is right, my Fandri. You and I will be as one together.” Her face held a look of fevered possession, but Fandri was oblivious to it.
Wind roared around the house, causing Purla to spin around in fright. The door crashed open and in strode Grand Mage Nnarndam with a face as dark as a thundercloud.
“Oh no…I can explain, your highness.” The Pantheria trembled on the floor and moved forward to kiss the mage’s shoes.
“Enough!”
Narndam’s black staff whipped out, caught the Pantheria and she was levitated into the air. Her body hung from the ceiling and she let out a woeful keening.
“Release his mind or I shall cast you away into the wastelands of Vergash, never to be seen again.” His eyes glowed with anger and magic, causing her to cringe away from him.
“Yes, your highness. I was only toying with him, honestly. I promise not to do it again, I promise.” This last ended in a pleading wail as she realised the mage had no intention of letting her go without punishment.
Purple flames danced in his eyes and he spoke in a deep, guttural tone. “Purla Pantheria. You have captured your last victim with your hypnotism. Your power of speech will be removed and you will be shunned from your village. Be grateful that I have spared your life, for you do not deserve it.”
“Please highness, not my voi…” Her plea changed to a pitiful mew as he released the air holding her aloft and she fell onto her bed. She shrank down to the size of a small animal and her human features reverted back to a cat. With a last, longing look at Fandri and his fairy, she gave a loud meow and scamped off on all fours into the night, leaving her clothing lying on the floor.
Fandri heaved a great sigh and slumped to the floor as the enchantment wore off. Fandri-La lay beside him. Nnarndam picked up the fairy with gentle hands and peeled off her bindings.
“Awake now, good fairy. Your ordeal is over and all will be made well.”
Long lashes fluttered, showing the whites of her eyes. “Mage Nnarndam, you rescued us. Thank you so much.”
“I promised my protection and I have delivered. The Pantheria needed to be brought to justice and so they have. We will collect our belongings and go now, Fandri-La. I fear we will not be so welcome after exposing them as callous predators.”
The fairy looked petrified and trembled, unable to voice her fears. Fandri fared the same after the spell.
Nnarndam placed a steady hand on his shoulder. “The world is not always the just place you believe it to be, my innocent young friend. I am sorry you were treated so. Hark, I hear rescuers coming. Do you thing you can stand?”
Fandri nodded and rose shakily to his feet.
The sound of approaching bells grew louder until it came to a halt outside the door.