[WitchQueen]

The Magic Show and the play were now over. Ishtar and Criossa walked back to the orphange with the children. The night was clear. The stars were bright. One could see the planet of Gerra in the night time sky. Gerra is the blue planet with the rings around it. You can see it even better early in the morning around the time of four o'clock. Tonight though it was exceptionally clear and the planets were aligned so it was possible for them to see Gerra.

The children were chatting excitedly as they walked along the streets of Addas. Adonis was with Cassem in the carriage and Neeta and Moara were also walking along with Ishtar and Criossa. Now they all reached their destination of the orphanage and it was time for the children to go inside with their teachers. They bid farewell to Ishtar and the others and this brought the evening to an end.


Ishtar tells Criossa they will pick her up in the morning for the journey back to Najat. This will be a long journey of about four hours. Criossa tells Ishtar she will be ready by four o'clock. With that Ishtr, Neeta and Moara board the carriage for the journey to the Hotel of Addas. The ride through the city is sort of mystical. Amist now hangs in the air around the city and the lights project a foggy glow.

At the hotel Ishtar tells Cassem to be there at about three thirty in the morning and they will be ready for the trip home. Then Ishtar, Neeta and Moara go up to their rooms. Ishtar readies for bed and then she calls Ahmed on the cell phone. She wants to know how he is doing on Queeta. Ahmed answers his phone and greets Ishtar. He explains that, "Munna has decided to remain in Quetta with her family. Since Ahmed is to marry Ishtar she feels there is no place for her on Xanthia now. The agreement has been made. Ishtar I only took the concubines because it was so lonely here waiting for you to come. I hope you understand this." "I understand Ahmed. I an happy that you have waited for me to be here with you. And also you do have the children." "That was part of the deal that the children were to be mine. This is something I am adament about. It will be I who raises them. Ibraham is traveling around by himself and I must spend some time with him. I will be taking him to Kruata when I go there. This will be soon. I hope you understand that I must leave and speak to the council in Kruata. Both continents must be prepared for any kind of attack. To the north and the south there are ice caps. Most planets with water are arranged this way. There are a few people who like to go to these places and explore from time to time. I do not know if we will be able to reach any of the explorors. We just have to hope for the best for them."

"Ahmed, I will make sure I keep up my guard at all times. I will also continue to practice with my powers so that I can perfect using them. We will be on our journey home early tomorrow morning. All of the children truly had a happy time at the theatres and we really enjoyed the walk through the cities. I would like to come and see them at times when I can. The night was very clear and then the mist rolled in and gave an eriey glow to the city. We did get to see the planet Gerra though before the mist rolled in."

"Ishtar I want you to come here to me now. I want to see you and I want to know if it is possible for you to do this, so try. Come in your nightgown to my room. I think I can help you to do this. Just think to come to me. I want to know how far you can travel. I will be waiting."

Ishtar gets out of bed and keeps her cell phone with her. She concentrates very hard to be with Ahmed on Quetta. When he does this she feels a strange sensation throughout her body but she continues to concentrate as Ahmed has told her to do. All of a sudden she realizes that she is now in a strange room and Ahmed is in front of her on the other side of the room. Ahmed is very happy about this and welcomes Ishtar. "Ishtar, you did very good and I am happy about this. I want you to continue to practice doing this when you can. I will have to practice with Ibraham also. He is still inexperienced but he learns very fast. If danger presents its self I want you to go to another location right away. A Mosque may be a good place to go." "Ahmed I will remember the things that you tell me to do. Shall I go now?" Ahmed kisses Ishtar on the cheek and bids her good night. Let me know that you have returned to Xanthia safely." And then Ishtar was gone. Her room at the hotel seems lonely. Ishtar goes out onto the balcony and causes a powerful lightning storm. She even strikes a large tree on one of the nearby farms. The problem is that she is upset with the thought of the Druids and she realizes that she must help protect the people of Xanthia from such evil.

Xanthia being one of the most beautiful planets in the Universe is considered ideally a Paridise of rare living things. This is why the trees and plants are so unique. The treasure on the planet is also unique. Some of the foods on the planet are very unusual and healthy to eat. The plants and the animals and the fruits and vegetables may be exported to other places but the mineral and treasures will be depleted if they were to be sold to other places so this is limited. Of course there may be welcome visitors who can buy limited jewelry. It is Ahmed's job to monitor this kind of exporting. Only if another planet has something of value to sell to Xanthia is it then possible for Import/Export. Of course there are other planet with items of value for exchange. Ahmed watches this Quadrant of the Universe. He is considered the War Lord of Najat.

The Druids want control of Xanthia and her commerce. They wish to make slaves of the people. Argos is a dismal place to be and they know it. Ahmed had caused an Ice Storm on the planet as a warning to the Druids. Remember that Ahmed has the power of Rain and the Cold. There will not be drought on Xanthia. Ahmed monitors the weather. The weather occurs naturally but if Ahmed thinks it needs some help he will assist. Except for the Rain Forest. The Rain Forest monitors its self. Fluctuations of the temperature can cause problems with the plants and the trees. Best to leave it alone. But Ahmed will help the farmers if necessary. He leaves the Black Sand Desert and the ice caps alone although he could cause blizzards on the ice caps. Ahmed has studyed the weather patterns when he gained his powers.

It is now morning and it is time for the women and Adonis to leave Addas. Ishtar checks her room to make sure she does not leave anything behind and then she meets Neeta and Moara in the lobby. Ishtar pays the bill and then they go outside where Cassemis waiting for them. Cassem helps them to board the carriage and then they make their way to the theatre where Adonis is waiting for them. Adonis climbs aboard and then Ishtar thanks him for all of his help. Adonis is pleased about the adventure they have been on but it is now time for him to go back to Masra. Next it is time to pick up Criossa at the orphanage. Some of the children have come outside to bid them farewell. The children want to know if Ishtar caaused the lightning storm the night before. Ishtar tells them yes she did do that. She missed Ahmed. Now was time to say their farewell and be on their way.

On the journey home they bypassed Constantine and went straight to Masra. This took about three hours. In Masra the left Adonis at the theatre and said their goodbys and then they took Criossa to her home where she could have some time with her family.

The other women and Ishtar decided to stop in Najat and have some food. Cassem was anxious to return to the Fortress. The horses were now tired. After about an hour they reached Najat and stopped at the Local Cafe in the village. Ibraham rode up and greeted them. He asked how his mother was and Ishtar told him see talked to Ahmed and he told her that Munna wanted to stay on Quetta. Ishtar also told Ibrahm that Ahmed wants to take him with him to Kruata when he speaks to the council. Ibrahm is pleased about this. Ishtar asks him if he would like to have lunch with them. Ibraham says no, he will have lunch at the Palace. Nadia will fix him lunch. "Alright, Ibraham, I will talk to you later in the afternoon." He departs on his black horse Ebony. The women and Cassem go into the cafe and have their lunch. Lunch consists of fruit, bread and cheese with ice tea. They do not have ice but the water is very cold here. It is from the well.

After lunch Ishtar, Neeta and Moara leave in the carriage with Cassem driving. He is not only the driver he is also the bodyguard of Ishtar. Ishtar enjoyed the journey but now she is happy to be back in Najat. They have reached the end of the village and are now driving up the road to the Fortress. Finally they stop by the stone stairs of the Fortress. The three women climb down from the carriage aand thank Cassem for all of his help. Cassem is happy. He likes Ishtar and is happy to assist her with what she does. Cassem has his house in the back of the Palace not far from the stable.

Once inside of the Palace, Neeta and Moara are given the rest of the day off. They really enjoyed the journey and they like their jobs at the Palace. They get to do different things with Ishtar.

Ishtar now is alone in the Palace. She searches for Tartufe. He is out in the garden by the pink roses and he is watching the birds. He barely looks at Ishtar he is so intent on the birds. Finally he decides to go inside with her. Nadia is in the kitchen straightening the cupbaords and Ishtar thanks her for watching Tartufe. "Nadia, I will go to my room and put away my belongings and my clothes. Tomorrow I will go into Najat to the Cosmetic Shop."

WitchQueen