Three days of observation, three solid days and Gidea was more confused than ever. The rumours said that Rosalind was capable of talking to the gods, but half the time she would space out, as if talking inside her own head, and sometimes yell at herself about stuff she had heard but nobody else had. If this was a god she was talking to it must be Stubanbastardus god of arguments or something.

Whatever was going on Rosalind now thought things through much better than she had in the past, and somehow still managed to cause chaos with every major decision she made. Hearing of her hopping round the kingdom putting out metaphorical fires left, right, and centre was a real eye opener about her potential. But there were still some questions that needed answers. Gidea had tried every magic related way of figuring out what the hell was going on shy of a soul-scan and was still no further forward.

Then she looked at her daughter with Aura vision, and it all started to come together.

************************************************************************

Rosalind Mibbet and Elvira were training, it was always bloody training these days, and one of the dynamic duo was always been dragged along, because essentially the whole body was time shared until they got this mess sorted out.

They were a bit nervous these days because Gidea was always watching, and when Gidea watched she got ideas, like “maybe those ankle weights are getting a little light.” Or “you know they could really benefit from a bit more ambush training,” (then set up and ambush them no matter what they were doing, paying particular attention to bathroom breaks, mealtimes, and times they were tucked up comfy in their sleeping bags. This was when they learned the expression you snooze you lose in Gidea's world is “you snooze you’d better be up fast or you’ll have your sleeping bag strung up in a tree, with you still in it.) She was Merciless, and these days the duo kept choppy at their side twenty four seven, usually right in grasp.

Which made it even more disconcerting for the pair when Gidea prepared a new and never before seen ambush tactic just for them. A cup of cocoa was presented to them, and Elvira was ushered off.

“Sweetie can we talk?” Gidea asked, now anybody who knows that tone of voice will be shuddering in their boots, and coming to the realisation that however it is phrased that question is not a question, it is a “we will talk” and running, screaming, picking a fight, or chewing off your own limbs, none of it was going to get you out of what was sure to be a very very very awkward conversation, so they did the only thing that could possibly work in the circumstances. Gave a nod, and followed Gidea.

They got a decent distance from the camp before they heard the question, and in this situation it was so unexpected it took them a little time to process.

“Who are you?” Gidea asked, and Rosalind and Mibbet felt like a rock had dropped in their gut.

“Mum I’m Rosalind, your daughter.” Rosalind tried, though it almost sounded more like a question than anything else.

“OK that one is on me I wasn’t clear enough, so let’s try this again, who ELSE are you?” There was steel in her voice this time, there was no way they were getting out of this without an explanation, and it had better be a good one, so after a few moments Rosalind and Mibbet began to explain.

“My name is Mibbet, and for what I am? I was a frog, but frogs don’t use a person’s brainpower, somebody tried to turn Rosalind into a frog, and it sqwoomphed. Now we’re stuck together.”

“So you don’t even know what you are anymore yet you are inside my daughter?” At this Gideas voice gained an edge sharp enough to cut steel. “I am only going to say this once creature, get out of her.”

Rosalind took the wheel for a moment. “Mum it isn’t that simple anymore, we’re bonded, and we make a great team, and if we separate the most likely outcome is the sqwoomph to end all sqwoomphs. At first I wanted to get away, but I trust her.... she’s helped me save the kingdom.. and..... well she’s my best friend.”

“Sweetie how do you know she isn’t going to take over you or something?” Gidea asked, fishing for a solution.

“If she was going to do that she would have done it a long time ago, not waited till now to do it. She has had at least six chances to off or manipulate me, and she never took them, which makes her pretty much the only damned thing in that castle other than dad and my guards who didn’t try it.”

“Sweetie....”

“No Mum you have the wrong idea, I trust Mibbet because she’s bloody well earned it, she’s smart, though I do take partial credit for that given that the brain of the operation is mine, and she’s fought for this kingdom. Even if you did succeed in pulling us apart I’d turn this kingdom upside down to get her back, because she’s my friend, and ally, and she’s not afraid to tell me when I’m being an idiotic brat, we’re stronger as a team than alone.”

“Then prove it..”

“What?”

“The Ravynmardi arena tournament, I want you to enter, and show me that you can work together.”

Rosalind gave a sigh, she should have seen this coming, her mother was a bonefide battle maniac through and through, that would never change. If she wanted to reach her mother then this was the only way.

“You do well and then we’ll talk again about this, and figure it out. You screw up and put my daughter in danger on the field...... then I don’t give a damn if the entire world explodes, I am dragging the two of you apart."