Again Bespelled

"Mother, you must believe us! We are who we - we say we are, n-not, uh, not immmmposssss..."

The rest of Astra's protest trailed off as Xyllis cast a minor slumber spell. Fred and Astra quickly lost consciousness, although they continued to stand upright within the etched circles.

"That should keep them quite pliable," Xyllis said. "Less distractions, and much easier to learn the truth from them. Princess, you may leave your circle now."

"Thank you," said Princess Astra, stepping over the etched line. "I was beginning to feel a little trapped in there."

"Please proceed," Queen Helia said, "And report back what you find out. Come, daughter, we have a very worried Council meeting to return to." And with that, the two royals left Xyllis's chamber.

The next day, Xyllis requested and was granted an audience with the Queen. "Your Highness," she said, "I have completed my study of the two intruders."

"And what have you found?" Helia asked.

1. "I have restored their minds, and they are again the bawdy girls they truly are. A crone named Norla gave them these false memories, but I cannot determine why."
2. "I have restored their minds, and they are again the bawdy girls they truly are. It appears this was done to them by the King of Allaria in a bid to destabilize the matriarchy before an invasion."
3. "I was unable to restore their minds. I believe they are quite insane, but they appear to be harmless."
4. "Your Highness, I should show you this rather than try to explain - I request you accompany me to my chambers."
5. "I found multiple layers of enchantment on and within them - so I took no chances. I have reduced both to an essential energy and locked them away for future studies."
6. "Their true identities are assassins. They work for Armetha, the Ruler of the Amazonian nomads."

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