Clarrina and Zoreena were enjoying a cosy chat in their cabin. Thankfully the sisters weren’t pregnant so their family wasn’t growing. On the whole they approved of removing them and their family from Dramatine. After their husband’s surprisingly successful intervention in the civil war anyone connected to Tomcat was likely to be seen as a target.

Tomcat for his part was standing on his quarterdeck where his exceptional hearing allowed him to listen in on his wives plotting. He wasn’t over fond of surprises and appreciated the advance warning of their plans. He was just awaiting word from Soulbinder. Then he would be out of here. The locals were keeping their heads down and the crew didn’t like the way any tavern or inn they patronised emptied.

The Emir’s spies were not very well trained, or possibly they were just too arrogant. But wherever one of turned up everyone who could leave left. And the damn idiots were following his people around constantly. A couple had even tried to join his crew.

Tomcat’s ear flicked, from the conversation going on in his cabin it sounded like they would be visiting Port Salvage before heading home. Not that he minded, Brandalla was nice if a bit timid and easily swayed. ‘Now why did Eveningstar remind me of Victoria? They certainly look nothing alike, and yet there is a look in their eyes...’

= = O = =

Raalouf the bloodyhanded, Emir of Dramatine That arrogant priestess Soulbinder of the drow leave his throne room. He had had to grant the bitch more concessions than he liked but she had proved willing to fight on his behalf. But how had the bitch known so much about his city and his plans. His new spymaster was obviously outmatched by whoever served Soulbinder.

Up in the rafters, concealed by a dusty frieze a large rat watched and listened, Jill the man-rat was enjoying herself.

When the drow had left the palace, Raalouf signed to his usher.

Feldspar Ironfounder and Boril the Bold stumped their way towards the Emir’s throne. They stopped at the usual spot. Feldspar concealed his anguish that his uncle Mika would never again stride at his side.

‘Blast and damn the drow for fetching artillery to a street fight, we’d be rid of this bloodthirsty tyrant if they hadn’t. It seemed such a good idea. And it nearly worked,’ mused Feldspar to himself as he watched the two faced untrustworthy human on the throne.

Raalouf watched the two dwarves, he didn’t recall seeing them before but the drow had succeeded in reducing their leadership quite effectively. Maybe it would work in his favour but somehow he doubted it. Dwarves tended to be inflexible and set in their ways.

‘Inflexible, straightforward, totally undiplomatic, and brutally honest. Well I’ll try to match them then. Nothing to loose for once.’ Thought Raalouf to himself.

“You sided with my uncle. You failed. I still want trade with you. As reparations you will repair and rebuild all buildings damaged or destroyed by the revolt. Terms of trade and tariffs will remain unchanged. Can you accept on behalf of your king or will you have to get permission.”

Feldspar kept his face expressionless. “No. We’ll have to inform Stonefist.”

“If each and every one of you swear not to return until the treaty is ratified anew, then you may leave. As for you Feldspar Ironfounder and Boril the Bold take my offer to your king,” ordered Raalouf.

= = O = =

Half an hour later Eveningstar watched with Jill, now in her humanoid guise as the Alessandrina’s Glory sailed out of Dramatine’s harbour. “Interesting terms Jill, Raalouf is a slippery fellow and a bit too easygoing. Thanks for the enchanted ring. It’s interesting being so small.”

* * * EARTH – FROG * * *

Driven by curiosity Doris Mayhew decided to go and look at the barren piece of contaminated dirt she had sold young Frog. The seller had been satisfied to offload something that kept getting him fined for contaminating the local bayou. She had warned Frog but she wondered if he had truly realised the implications behind the regular fines.

She stopped her car in a lay by and walked down the road. Well truthfully it was little more than a track but it satisfied the conditions of the bet Frog had told her about.

She came to a halt, her mouth a perfect O of surprise. The lot that had been totally barren less than a week ago was now covered in lush vegetation. And in the centre of the lot a small grove of trees was growing around a large oak. There was no way Frog could park a mobile home in this lot, his Harley barely fitted between the trees. The rest of the plot was covered in large bushes or small trees with hanging yellow flowers. She spotted Frog’s pixie flitting among them.

Frog, alerted by Angel emerged from his cave, patting the oak in passing as he made his way to his visitor.

“Hi Doris. What do you think? My friend Mary figured out how to decontaminate things and we applied her methods. I think it was well worth the hard work.”

“But, but how did all this grow so fast?” asked Doris.

“That was down to the Oak Maiden. She lives in the Oak and well, she wanted a forest around her. She’s a Dryad. She moved in when Angel and I cleansed this plot.”

“You could make good money cleansing places. This wasn’t the only place those bastards poisoned.”

“I don’t think people would want dryads moving in. Make no mistake the Oak Maiden is nice. If you’re friendly and she’s happy that is. Thing is, she can control all the plants around her and use them as weapons if need be. Then too, the swampy bit seems to have attracted gators.”

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

Mary released her human avatar and reformed her new giant octopus avatar. She explored the sea floor of her growing domain and went to visit one of her new plantations. Soon she was sixty meters under the surface and right at the edge of her domain. She examined the unboosted liftwood plantings as they arched over the sea floor setting down roots at regular intervals. A bit like ivy on a wall but working their way along the sea floor.

About half the plants were outside her domain and Mary satisfied herself that despite being slightly smaller and less developed than their fellows in her domain they were not suffering. If an octopus could grin Mary would have been grinning.

Then she set off even further under the surface and further towards the centre of her domain. She soon came in sight of her domains guardians. The second plantation was far more developed. The plant’s woody branches and their associated trunks were comparable in size of that of a ten-year-old tree. She marked the two biggest for harvest. Then she ordered a third pruned. Trees grew back after all and these should too.

Gathering a large escort of guards and workers Mary headed towards the island of Hawaii itself and away from her domain. Finally after travelling for about an hour she picked a spot about eighty meters deep. Her octopi assistants plant fifty seedlings. She fed the seedlings manna and nursed them until they matched the growth of the first plantation she had studied. Satisfied she left a few guards and returned home with her entourage.

* * *

Conferring with Mycroft gained her the seeds of potential spacecraft. Slowly the Far Voyager began to come together in one of her undersea caves. In an armoured cell within the spaceship to be one of her specials took shape, and with the assistance of Mycroft, Moriarty and Carroll, Hawaiʻiloa the Navigator was born and started to learn, even as he became the heart and soul of the Far Voyager.

« Are you planning a new avatar to take to space in Mother? » asked Mycroft.

Mary shuddered, “By all the gods and little fishes NO! ... I’m a water girl, me. I’ll leave space and the moon for Lewis an’ Hawaiʻiloa. But the challenge of getting there an’ overtakin’ the local governments, now that looks like fun. A dungeon on the moon for Lewis an’ a base for me to boast of. I had you give Hawaiʻiloa wanderlust ‘cause I figure he could make it to Mars. A Mars base an’ dungeon would be cool.”

Mary stretched and smirked. “But Mycroft, everythin’ I’m doin’ on Earth is secondary ‘cause I can’t get away with what’s really important to me. On Parthia an’ Tarifax an’ possibly Ambuila if I can get there, I’ll control the orbitals. I’ll be able to rain down pure hell on my an’ Ocidon's enemies.”

« Why not here on Earth Mother? » asked Moriarty.

“’Cause everyone knows just how dangerous it is to cede the orbitals. They’d all come down on me like a ton of bricks. I am absolutely not placin’ anything in Earth’s orbit. Not that I’ll have to with bases on the Moon.” She grinned.

“Anythin’ else Mycroft?”

Mary could have sworn Mycroft sighed, « Please can we implement another of us, one fond of talking with people and happy to answer phones all day? »

“’K. Can see the need. Drivin’ you all nuts?”

« Yes Mother! » replied Mycroft and Moriarty in unison.

“’K, I’ll clone another units. Will the three of you prepare the personality. How ‘bout callin’ her Lois Lane? ‘Bout time there was a girl ‘mongst you lot to stir thing up. Sorry Mycroft.”

« You’ll have to speak to Meadows. I believe the government wants to – guard, or should that be, control, your liftwood plantation. »

Mary smirked, “Yeah, figures. Better give ’em the bad news that they’ll need scuba gear suitable for a dive of eighty meters.”

« You sure you want to give them that? »

“Yeah, have to feed ’em the occasional treat to avoid getting’ drafted or sometin’.”

= = O = =

Commander Meadows was playing host to two biologists. The jar of anti-gravity wood and the little model had both been removed to undisclosed locations. He had been surprised that someone had bothered to inform him that the slivers of wood did in fact seem to have anti-gravity properties. The two biologists in his study seemed to be sulking. It would appear from their conversation that they resented having been removed from the vicinity of the samples.

He was actually glad when his mobile phone rang and it was Mary.

“Hello Mary.”

“Hi Simon, if you want to see my plantation you’ll need scuba gear rated for an eighty meter dive. Quite happy to take you. Got the Storm Dolphin ready to go.”