Day 6 thru Day 8

Day 6:The next morning, Callie and I bore silent witness to Anna's sending off. We stood at the edge of the village as she went through the process. At dawn, the three of us walked north of the village.
The pull was so strong that I felt like running, as if my sword were just around the next bend or over the next rise. Anna and Callie chatted, but I found it difficult to follow their conversation. I informed them of what was going on with me. They said they understood, but I could still see the worry in their eyes.
We reached the next village shortly after sunset. Anna said she had an uncle here who would put us up for the night. Anna's uncle greeted us warmly. He was glad that she had companions and told us that, due to her size, he feared she would be mistaken for a child and forced to return home time and again. He, unlike our parents, seemed thrilled at the idea of unearthing the swords. He had a bit of knowledge about them that we knew not.
"Each sword has a spirit, almost a living soul. They are not prisoners, as some texts claim, but willingly occupy the sword for the benefit of its holder. Each sword is said to impart a special ability to its guardian. The guardians are unaffected by the sin of either their sword or the swords of the others. The powers are muted when guardian and sword are together.
"I have one request of you three. When you have your swords, return here so I may see them. Even just three of them would be such a wonder to behold."
We promised that we would return to show them to him.
That night, I barely slept. My sword was so close, I felt I could look out the window and it would be right there. Callie and Anna awoke several times in the night to find me staring out the window, as close as I could get without falling out. They were both worried.
Day 7:We left in the morning with breakfast and a bit more travel food. Callie and Anna spoke to me, but I barely heard them. We entered and area of stone outcroppings and small caves. I stopped.
"Kayla, what is it?" Callie asked nervously.
"It is here, but I can't tell which way. The feeling is so strong that I feel like I'm standing in the middle of it. I don't know which way to go."
Anna piped in, "Uncle said they have spirits. Maybe it can hear you. Try calling to it."
I nodded, cleared my throat, and called, "Sword of Power, hear me! I come at your call! Show me where you are so we can be one again!"
There was silence. I took a breath to call again, but used it to gasp when I got a response.
"Daughter of the sword, I hear you. I feel you just as you feel me. Come this way."
A pinpoint touched my right hand and I nearly ran that way. I skidded to a stop when I saw the sight before me. Inside a large cave, nearly the size of the front of my parent's home, a wall of ice glittered in what little light hit it. In that light, embedded in the ice, I saw a delicately curved sword with a light handle decorated with tiny disks so polished that they were as mirrors. The blade, too, was mirror-like. The three of us just stared for a moment until it spoke again.
"I have been frozen in this ice for so long. Please, daughter, release me from this cold. I cannot stand it one moment longer."
"She wants out," I told the others.
"'She'? This sword is female?" Callie asked, glancing between me and the sword.
"Yes, the voice is definitely female, which kind of makes sense. Such a delicate-looking blade would hardly be suitable to hold a male entity."
"Which one is it?" Anna meekly asked.
I looked at the sword to ask, but she answered before I could speak.
"I am Vanity. The wizard Andros made me to cause those of the new faith to turn on themselves and each other instead of persecuting the Old Ways."
"She is Vanity," I told my sisters.
"Vanity!" They shouted in unison
"That makes so much sense, Kayla. You never put yourself before other, or gloat about yourself, or talk about how good you are at something or..."
"Callie, she wants free, not to listen to us prattle on so."
"Right, right, let's get to it."
We picked up stones to attempt to chip away at the ice. Anna gathered some wood and built a fire. We chipped and heated at the ice while Vanity told me, and I told the others, how she came to be here.
"My guardian was running from soldiers who were attempting to take me to their ruler. She ran in here and come face-to-face with an ice dragon. The dragon become enamored with me and snatched me from my guardian's hand. The soldiers arrived to receive the full blast of ice from this dragon. That blast imprisoned me here and froze both guardian and soldiers. Their own weight and the rumbling of the dragon caused all of them to shatter like crystal. I wept bitterly yet could not go on to my next guardian as this magical ice has kept me here."
We all had tears in our eyes as we, I especially, could feel her pain and grief. We worked well after dark. Finally, Anna saw a bit of the tip was free of the ice. Focusing on that point, we worked feverishly. After about six inches of blade was free, I cut myself on the still sharp edge. For reasons I cannot explain, instead of pulling back to tend the wound, I pressed my bloody finger to the polished blade. In awe, we watched my blood soak into the sword. After a moment, I pulled back my finger and saw the wound was gone. While we marveled at this, Vanity breathed a sigh of either relief or pleasure. She began to glow. We stepped back as the glow got brighter and brighter. Soon, she was so bright it was hard to look at her. After what seemed like both an eternity and a brief moment, the glow died to reveal that she was completely free of the ice. I reached up and pulled her out of the hole that had formed around her. We both sighed as the feeling of completion washed over us. I began to weep in joy. I didn't know, at the time, whether it was from the ice or what, but Vanity was also wet. Using one of my other shirts, I dried her and my face. All of us curled up by the fire. I had never slept so soundly before in my life.
Day 8:In the morning, I fashioned a sling out of a spare belt to carry Vanity. She had no weight to me. I felt lighter as well. The pull had changed to a constant and loving embrace. I never wanted to part from her and she said she never wanted to part from me.
As we broke camp, we pondered as to where to go now. Anna, in her quiet way, said her pull was very strong. Callie said her's was no stronger than yesterday. Unanimously, we decided to follow Anna's lead, north.
Vanity explained to us, I speaking her words to the others, that she imparted to me the gift of true sight. I could see if someone was hiding their true self or being honest. She also said that others would be influenced by her presence when we went through towns. She assured us, now that we were bonded, that this influence would be slight, but she could increase it at will.
We saw the truth of this the next town we came upon. People fluffed up their hair, straightened their clothes, and the like as we passed. At the inn where we stopped, talk turned to bragging and boasting the longer we stayed. We were wondering about staying there when I saw three men glaring at us. Vanity's gift let me see that they had evil intentions towards us. I let my sisters know.
"What do we do?" Anna whispered.
"Run? Leave? I'm not sure," Callie added
"Leave them to me," Vanity chimed in.
I told them Vanity would take care of them. I felt her heat up. The men began pushing at each other to reach us. They bumped into other men and a fight started. The innkeeper rushed us upstairs and told us to stay put.
We heard the noise grow, then fall away. Callie and Anna looked at me to tell them what had happened. I laid Vanity on the bed. I started to ask her, but the innkeeper opened the door and told us it was best for us to stay the night in this room. After he left, we all turned back to Vanity.
"What did you do, Vanity?" I asked, trying not to sound mad or upset at her.
"I did what I was made to do. I boosted their vanity so each man thought that he alone could have all three of you for himself. They fought each other instead of hurting you three. I was only doing what I do."
I relayed her words. We all sat in silence, soaking in this information. We got ready for bed in silence, at least outwardly. Vanity and I talked between us. I told her that I understood, but didn't know if Callie and Anna really understood. I had seen the intent in their faces and knew they meant us harm. They only saw three nice looking guys paying us attention. Maybe I lacked so much vanity that I could not accept any man looking at me with desire or even appreciation.

The beginning of our journey.

All of my life I have felt what I call a "pull" towards some distant place. My family has lived with my "silly idea" for just as long. I am not alone. My best friend also feels a pull like mine. We have told our families that, when we reach the age of journeying, we will set out for those pulls. Since it is a tradition to travel at that age, they cannot stop us. We sat down a couple of days before to sort of plan out a bit of our journey.
"My family has given me fifty gold coins on top of what I've saved. We should have enough to stay at a couple of inns while it's still cold at night. What about you?"
Callie scratched her head, "I'm not sure. My parents haven't given me my away money yet, but I have saved about twenty. Which direction are we headed?"
Without thinking, I said, "North."
Callie looked at me in shock, "Kayla, north, really? I feel the pull to the north, too. This is incredible! Do you think they're in the same place? That would just be too much if they were. We could stay together, not have to go alone, and not have to face strange things or eat weird food without the other's help..."
"Callie, Callie, calm down. It is good that we can travel together for a while. I don't know how far we can travel until we are pulled towards our separate destinations. Let's just take it one step at a time."
"You're right. We're leaving in two days. Let's get our stuff together so we're not rushing at the last minute."
"Right. Dawn on our eighteenth birthday. Just before the sun peaks over the horizon, not one moment later."
"I'll let you know what my away money is so we can spend wisely. See you later."
"See you, Callie."
We parted to go to our own homes. I had been packed and ready for a week. I had had to pull clothes out to wear a time or two. My money was safely stowed. Callie would need the next two days to decide what to take and what to leave behind. I hoped we would travel quite a while before parting.
Day 1:Callie needed every second. She was still sorting by candlelight when I got to her door. She rushed out to meet me, a little flushed from running around. Still, we made it to the edge of town before the sun was visible. Our families saw us off in traditional fashion, parents telling us to be safe and all of that stuff. We walked out of town as the sun broke over the horizon. A bit out of town, we totaled our money and looked forward to our journey.
Fortunately, in this area, villages are about a day's walk from each other, so we got to the next village, north of our home, before nightfall. A friend of our families let us stay at his place for free, as a birthday gift. He also fed us and provided an updated map for us to use. We asked him and his wife many questions about the area ahead of us. They both seemed puzzled that we wanted to go north.
"After Matthias, there isn't another village for a week. Are you sure west is not a better choice? Can't experience too much of life where there is none."
"We have to go where we are led. This pull is too much to bear one moment longer. I'm sure it would drive us insane if we resist any more." I informed them.
He shrugged, "I don't understand it, but it is your journey."
Day 2:We left early the next morning with breakfast in our bellies and travel food from the wife, who insisted we take it and the western road. We thanked her for the food, but informed her again that the path was not a choice. She watched us leave with a worried look on her face.
Days 3 & 4:The second and third villages we stopped at were much like home. A few people treated us as was tradition for your journey time.
Day 5:
In the fourth village, as we were eating a modest meal, one of the serving girls caught our attention. Even though we had never seen her before, she seemed familiar to us. We caught her looking at us from time to time. Our mutual conclusion was that she felt the same as we did. When the lady of the inn came over to ask how we were doing, we inquired about the girl.
"Anna, my daughter, she is a hard worker. It will be rough while she is gone on her journey time, but we will manage."
"She's eighteen?" I asked since Anna was a small girl who looked barely twelve.
"Tomorrow, this is why she is extra busy today. She wanted to be sure to leave no chore undone before she left."
I looked at Callie, she nodded, then I asked, "Has Anna been feeling a pull or tug towards a direction, say north?"
The paling of the woman's face told us all we needed to know. She looked around and tried to come up with a logical response. I stopped her.
"We, too, have felt a pull towards the north. I believe Anna, Callie, and I are being drawn towards the same place. We would gladly travel with Anna, as we are headed the same direction."
Relief washed over her expression, "I was so worried about her going alone, especially, well, you know. It would so ease my mind knowing she has company. I will tell Anna. Your food and room are on me. Anything you want."
We ordered a little more. She called Anna to our table while she went to get our food. Anna timidly approached us. When she got to the table, I launched into the reason she was called to us.
"We know about your pull to the north."
Anna paled so fast we feared she would faint.
Getting her to sit, I continued, "We, too, have felt a pull in that direction as long as we can remember. We are also eighteen. Your mother knows this and we would like to travel with you as long as three of us can. I know we have never met, but a the legend says, those who hold the swords are sisters. I believe , I think we both believe, that those holding the swords are closer than even blood sisters. Callie and I are nearly twins. We feel a kinship to you even though we just met. So, please, let us know your feelings on this. What say you? "
Anna took a moment to think over my words. Callie and I allowed her that silence. Finally, she began.
"I knew not that it was the legendary swords that caused the pull, yet it now makes sense. As soon as I saw you two, I felt a connection. I would appreciate and cherish the opportunity to travel with you. I was afraid to go alone. I would like to learn more about the swords while we travel. My parents are not the type to believe tall-tales or ancient legends, so I know very little about them."
Anna looked around as her mother brought us our food. She stood up and excused herself. Her mother sought for words but gave up and returned to the other patrons at the inn.

Legend as I know it.

Many centuries ago, a wizard of the Old Ways saw the arrival of a new faith. Seeing the followers of this new faith doing horrible things to others like him, the wizard decided to use their faith against them. He had seven distinct swords made and endowed each with one of their deadly "sins". To guard each sword, the wizard chose each of his seven daughters to counter each one. One daughter per sword, he chose them to hold the sword that was opposite their own personalities. Those seven sisters guarded and used the swords until their deaths. As each sister died, the sword vanished to later return in the hand of another young girl who had the same kind of personality as the sister who had last held it. These girls felt as if they were sisters even though they had never met before. It was this way for five generations.
Eventually, kings sought the swords for the powers they held. One king commissioned a team of wizards to make a keeper for all of the swords so they would not vanish when their guardians were killed. They succeeded. Imprisoning the guardians, the king forced the sisters to impale a magical sword holder with each of the swords. When all seven were encased, the sisters were slaughtered.
The king's victory was short lived. With all seven swords together and no guardians to balance them, their "sins" radiated out and permeated the castle and surrounding area. The king died at the hand of his own son. This same son shattered the holder and watched all seven vanish before his eyes, much to his dismay.
The whole set would not be together for another four generations. The set of circumstances that brought them and the girls holding them is lost to history. During their time, the area was in harmony and peace. But, again, they would be killed and the swords lost due to a king's pride.
For the past six generations, only two or three swords have been brought together, usually magically encased or otherwise imprisoned and usually in a monastery. Personally, I've only heard of rumors that Lust and Greed are is a remote monastery where the vows of poverty and chastity are the only things keeping the monks from succumbing to the power of the swords.