Days 21 thru 22

Day 21:
We awoke to a pleasant day and a beautiful sunrise. With all of us having swords, we found ourselves speaking more mentally than verbally. We had entire conversations without one word uttered aloud.
We arrived in a town a little after mid-day. The swords pulled in their influences as much as they could, which was far more than they had previously, but their effects were still visible on the people and animals we passed. We were able to get directions to Thantos and made innocent inquires as to Lord Carmon's leadership and personality. We received honest answers that he was just but a bit cold and interacted with his people only rarely. Lisa was still convinced of a trap. I told them that one more day's travel would get us close enough to project an image to her so we could talk.
We did see someone unexpected in this town. While walking by the shops, Mattis walked out of one, turned towards us, and smiled when he saw us.
"Hello, girls. One more than the last time I saw you. My wizard's sight shows such strength from all of you. You are each...paired?" he asked in a secretive way.
I smiled, "We are close to a full family reunion," I informed him.
"Oh, my, that is wonderful. So, where to now?"
"Thantos, although there is doubt in our minds as to the safety of that place for us and our swords."
"Come with me and explain these doubts."
We followed Mattis to a small cottage off the main street. Lisa was informed as to where and how we met Mattis. She was on her guard, but understood why we trusted him. Inside, we told Mattis of our encounter with Lord Carmon's men. We also told him of the image we had seen of our last sister. He listened intently, then offered his opinion.
"Lord Carmon has been secretive for a few years now. People say his daughter is ill. She has been secluded for about the same time. The nature of her illness is unknown as he allows only a couple of selected servants to tend her and has refused all medical and magical aid."
The six of us just sat there in shocked silence. It had not occurred to us that our last sister could be Lord Carmon's own daughter. But, as the holder of Envy, a lord's daughter, who has everything anyone could want, would be the best choice. I broke the silence to let Mattis know what was on our minds.
"His daughter is not ill. She has the sword Envy. He is keeping her away from others to prevent Envy from influencing the rest of his household. I still wonder at her sadness. If she's been with her sword for this long, why is she so lonely? Envy is her constant companion. Even without other people, she still has her."
We all wondered on that point. I looked at Sarah and an idea hit me. I heard Vanity laugh when my thought hit her as well.
"Is Lord Carmin's daughter still a maiden? Do you know how old she is?" I blurted out.
The others got the idea, too. Mattis, still in the dark, looked at us, puzzled. We explained how Sarah was pulled before her moon time as compared to after. Mattis finally caught on.
"She may be physically with Envy, but the two are not mentally and spiritually connected like you six. She's not hearing Envy at all or at least not very well. How do we get her to connect with her sword?" Mattis asked us, hopefully.
"Can you boost our magic?" I asked him.
He lit up and began scrambling around, gathering items and muttering to himself.
In silence, we mentally discussed what needed to be done and how to do it. Once Mattis had everything together, we began. Mattis began drawing a circle. We formed up inside it. The others circled around me. Their swords formed another circle between me and them. With Vanity before me, Mattis closed the circle. We reached for our last sister.
My vision shifted. I saw a very elegant room with expensive furnishings. In it was the girl from the image. I could feel her sadness and loneliness.
I spoke, "Greetings, Sister of the Sword."
Startled, she looked at me. She made a move as if to run, then stopped. Slowly, she turned back to look at me.
"You said 'sister'. You have a sword?"
"Yes, I am bonded with Vanity. The rest are here as well, you just can't see them as I am the only one being projected at this moment. You are the last to be with us, but the first of us to be with her sword."
She sighed, "I have it here, but I'm not with it or a part of it. While I feel we need to be together, we as still apart."
"Have you had your first moon time yet, sister?"
She blushed, "No, I am late to receive my first. Sixteen years old and I am still a child."
"That is why you are separated. Guardians usually are pass their first and well close to womanhood. Have you cut yourself and shared your blood with her?"
"Wait, 'Cut'? 'Blood'? 'Her'? Are you saying I need to give blood to it and 'it' is female?"
"Yes, it is what the rest of us have done to complete the connection to our swords and yes, Envy is female."
"Envy! That explains it! As soon as I returned with it, her, people began acting weird, even my father. Fights broke out in my wake over the smallest of things and about each others skill and what all. Will this, this blood thing solve this?"
"It will lessen it until the rest of us get there. When we arrive, the power of us together can suppress their effects. When we are all together, no one will suspect they are anything but common swords."
She picked up Envy and tentatively pricked her finger and cautiously pressed it to the blade. Even through a magical sending and distance, I felt the click of their connection. Envy started talking to Alice so fast that we were all getting a headache. Calming her down, she started again, slowly.
"Alice, finally, I tried so hard to get you to hear me. I didn't know about... well, your womanhood. I am so glad that we are together now, finally. We have so much to talk about. Our connection will strengthen when you receive your first. Kayla, can you and the others leave us to get truly acquainted?"
"Of course, Envy, we understand. We will see you in flesh and steel very soon."
We severed the connection and my image faded. When I could focus, I saw my sisters crying. I was confused at first, but then I realized they were tears of joy. Sarah was sobbing the hardest of all. Lust explained to us that Sarah realized that someone else was just as lost about "womanhood" as she. Mattis, literally on the outside, looked at us completely lost. As the only one not crying, I told him what had happened.
"You are still a more than a week from Thantos. How are you going to get there 'soon'?"
The swords murmured and hummed. "In the morning, Mattis. That answer will come in the morning. That is when it will all be figured out," I said with a weary smile.
We made camp in this cottage that was part shop and part Mattis' new home. The feeling of completion and the humming of the swords carried us to sleep.
Day 22:
We were startled awake by screams from outside Mattis' house/shop. We ran outside to see Mars-in-Leo splashing in the fountain of the square. We assured everyone that we knew him and he was civilized. Leo puffed a few smoke rings and went back to bathing. Those there explained to the new arrivals and Leo was unharmed. Mattis was in awe at our ease around Leo. Even though only three of us had previously physically met Leo, we all knew him through the sharing we gained from the swords. We went back to the shop to get our gear. We returned to the fountain to find Mattis and Leo in a deep discussion over some magical theory. Seeing us, Leo told Mattis he would return to talk more about his subject. Mattis was confused. I explained.
"You asked how we would get to Alice 'soon'. He is the answer," indicating Leo.
Understanding dawned on Mattis' face. He wished us a safe journey. From the ledge of the fountain, we climbed Leo's wing like a ladder and took our places between the ridges on his back and between his wings. We held on as he beat his massive wings and began ascending above the square. Sarah, Anna, and Callie squealed in terror and hid their faces. Lisa and Gretta showed their previous riding experience in their posture and behavior. I felt no fear. I held on, but I was calm. It was as if this was the most natural thing in the world to me. Vanity laughed in my mind and showed me at least three previous guardians on dragon back. I guess, with her, I did have dragon riding experience even though I had, physically, only ridden a very slow mule.
We shortened the week's journey to mere hours. As soon as we could touch Alice and Envy, we let them know of our arrival time and method. She said her father would make a place for us.
We saw the city come into view just before sunset. Sarah, Anna, and Callie had gotten over their fright a few hours prior and were actually enjoying the landscapes rushing under us. On the roof of the castle, a ring of torches burst into flames. Alice said she was up there and that her father would see to our safety.
Leo settled onto the roof, making the torches dance with the wind from his wings. We climbed down in the same manner we had climbed up. Alice held herself back until the last of us was off Leo and he was aloft. She rushed and hugged us together and separately with a strength that spoke volumes of her loneliness and isolation. With all the hugging and talking, we did not notice Lord Carmon and a troop of soldiers arrive on the roof. The swords alerted us. We faced them, united. Alice addressed her father.
"Father, you promised us safety. What is all of this? Is 'safety' being imprisoned?" she asked.
He cleared his throat, "We merely seek to escort you to the suite we have prepared. We are no threat."
He and the dozen with him stood before us. I drew Vanity, point down, so the mirror disks were facing them. I commanded, "Reveal."
Lord Carmin and about eight of those behind him stood still, unaffected. Two of the others began weeping and begging us not to hurt them. The other two brandished their weapons and demanded we surrender our weapons to them or be killed. Lord Carmon ordered four of his eight to take the other four back inside. When they left, I sheathed Vanity.
"Sir, we trust that you are honest. Those who stood with you are also honest. Only these will we allow to escort us anywhere. Know this, we are strong. We can handle ourselves. We have learned from the mistakes of our past guardians. We will not be easily convinced or swayed."
Lord Carmon nodded at my words. Two of the remaining soldiers began marching back inside. We followed them. He and the other two took up the rear.
To Alice's delight, we were given the suite adjacent to her room. We each picked a bed, settled on where to keep our gear, and went to sleep.

Days 19 thru 20

Day 19:
Before dawn, Vanity woke me up.
"Many men are riding this way, fast. I can't tell their intentions, but they are looking for all of you."
Holding her, she extended my senses to reach the riders. With me awake, both of us could sense more than she alone. Three of the riders were the ones we saved from the bandits, but the rest were unknown and of mixed emotions. A lot of them were simply curious about the girls with swords. A few of them were wondering about the swords' values and how to get us to give them up. One had the darkest of intentions and wanted us dead. Vanity and I calculated how far they were and how much time we had before they reached us. The other swords were listening but did not wake anyone else. Fixing a point ahead of the riders but far from us, the swords encircled me and projected an image of me at that point. I held Vanity before me and was able to see them in her mirror-like disks that resembled eyes.
The party skidded to a halt before my image. The three from before identified me as one of their rescuers. I told them it was nice to see them again. Someone from the back interrupted.
"Enough idle chatter. Hearing these three describe your swords, our lord surmised their identities. He has sent us to bring you to him so he may be sure that they are the fabled swords."
I looked at him. He was not the dark one but he was one that wanted us parted from the swords. He seemed agitated.
"Sorry, " I replied, "but we cannot do that. We are not willing to go with you to some unknown lord who's true intentions we know not. I do know that you and a few others seek to separate us from our swords while that one with the blond hair on the spotted horse wants us all dead."
The others turned to the one I indicated. He did not even deny it, but charged at, and through, my image. He was quickly subdued. The others looked at me. One come forward.
"I understand your caution. When you are ready, Lord Carmon of Thantos wants to speak with you. He is a just man. Please, see him soon."
I nodded and my image vanished. I returned my awareness back to myself and and saw the other girls awake and looking at this strange scene: four swords rotating around me as I stared at Vanity and spoke with no one. The swords returned to their partners and they were instantly filled in on my activities. We verbally explained to Lisa. We agreed that finding both Lisa's sword and the last guardian were of utmost importance.
We set off to the north. Lisa's military background was evident as she settled into an easy march. Around sunset, she didn't want to stop, but we assured her that continuing in the dark was unsafe. We made camp and ate. Lisa fidgeted and kept looking to the north. We assured her that we understood what she was feeling and how she ached for her sword. We promised her we would set out as soon as it was light.
Day 20:
Before dawn, we broke camp as soon as there was enough light to safely travel. At times, we has to physically hold Lisa to keep her from running towards her sword. Finally, she reached that point where the feeling seemed to come from everywhere. It took Callie, Gretta, and myself to hold her as we tried to get her to focus.
"Lisa, running around won't get it found. Stop, breathe, regain yourself. Call for you sword to guide you," We told her, shouted to her, right in her face.
She regained her composure and called out, "Sword of Power! Gluttony or Envy, I am here! Show me where you are!" She looked towards a group of trees, "Over there, that way."
We all took off that way. After working through the trees, we stopped at a truly bizarre sight. We looked upon a field covered in all matter of stuff. An area of about ten acres was between chest and head deep in all kinds of items: swords, armor, helmets, furniture, chests, wagons, harnesses, and clothing of all sizes and styles.
 Lisa nearly collapsed, "Where can it be?" she said, almost weeping.
The other five of us gathered around her. We felt something stir in us. Instinctively, we drew our swords. I instructed Lisa.
"Stand before us. By our swords, through you, we will summon Gluttony to you."
Lisa nodded and stood facing the field. We touched the sword tips together and placed them on her head. In my sight, I saw the power pulse through Lisa's body. She raised her arms to the mess before her.
With a magically enhanced voice, she called, "Gluttony! Partner! Rise from this rubbish and come to me!"
We saw the heap shutter and items fly off. A sword almost as large as Sloth rose from the heap. He was suspended for a few seconds then flew to Lisa's outstretched hands. She held it with awe on her face. I took one of her hands and gently cut her finger on Gluttony's large blade. She gasped until she remembered Sarah's action. She pressed her bloody finger to the place where it was cut. We all saw the blood vanish and felt the click of connection. Finally, Gluttony spoke.
"This trash was my prison. Many of these items have magic, however small. Together, they were enough to bind me to this place. Ogres view this place as the holy site of their deity. My influence made them believe that their god wanted this stuff. My previous guardian was brough here to be sacrificed to their god. At the time, only a tenth of this was here. A strongly magical chest was near and they placed me in it. They, then, covered it with a cloak infused with strong magic. I would not see her death, but I would feel it. Over time, all of this was piled and the magic intensified. I have been in darkness and silence ever since."
Lisa was crying as she felt his pain the most. The rest of us found it hard to speak for a while. Sloth broke the silence.
"There is an orb close by that will aid our search for the last sister."
Following his lead, we located a bluish orb about the size of a large apple. We also found a cloak more suitable to Sarah's size than the huge one she was wearing. It only had a keep dry spell on it so we took it. Gluttony also recovered his old sheath and belt which Lisa strapped on with the ease of practice. We found a better fitting sheath for Lust. We also found some coins.
With our finds, we left the heap. I made a note of it on our map, in case we needed something to sell on our journey.
Lisa was so happy and smiling more than we has seen her since our meeting. We walked away from the heap and back towards the road. Before we got there, we stopped in a clearing to use the orb Sloth told us to get. We sat in a circle, swords before us, touching tip to pommel, and the orb in the center. Anna placed our finding stone on top of it. We began a chant for our last sister to be known to us. Our energy built and built until we, the swords, and both stones were glowing with it. In the air above us, an image formed. A girl in a regal pink gown materialized before us. She was very pretty, but seemed sad. We changed the chant to show us where she was. Our map floated to the image. A dot appeared on a spot near the coast of a river. We did not stop the chant, but I noticed that it marked the city state of Thantos, where that lord who wanted us lived. We changed again to ask for Envy's location. To our amazement, the girl's image changed to show her holding Envy. A couple of us faltered in the chant, but the image held. Together, we dismissed the image. As we stood and sheathed our swords, Lisa began fuming.
"I knew it! Lord Carmon means to trap us! He has Envy and her guardian and want the rest of us too. Damn him! We're going to have to deal with him to get them free."
I piped in, "While she seemed sad, I don't think she is a prisoner. I did feel that she is lonely, but nothing to indicate she is a captive. It is hard to get more so far away."
Lisa seemed to calm some, but she still clenched her hands like she wanted to punch or strangle something. As it was getting dark, we made camp where we were. Callie whispered if I could do that projection thing I did earlier with the soldiers to let our last sister know we were coming. Vanity and the other swords hummed. An answer popped into my head.
"Too far away, we can try in a day or two."
Callie accepted that answer. We made a fire, ate, and went to sleep.

Days 17 thru 18

Day 17:We awoke, dressed, ate, gathered our gear, and left in near silence. Once outside, we asked Sarah and Lisa which way and how strong were the pulls of their swords. Sarah indicated it was pulling from the east and it was strong but far away. Lisa, finally comfortable enough to speak freely, said her's was northeast, strong, and kind of far away. By consensus, we headed east. We let them know that whoever pull got strongest would take the lead.
As we walked, we spoke of many things: Lisa's training, Sarah's routine at the convent, each of us of our home villages. We stopped around mid-day for food and rest. While resting, Sarah and Lisa re-evaluated the pulls of their swords. It was determined that neither was stronger than the other, but that we were on the right track. So, we continued east.
A few hours later, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, and Vanity told us to stop. They said to get off the road and hide. We found an area large enough to conceal us all. Once hidden, the explanation came.
"I sense pain and anger approaching."
"There is a trap just ahead."
"This place is favored by bandits."
"Much gold has been lost and stolen around here."
We relayed this information. Lisa wanted to charge in and take them out, but we advised her against it. As we hid, discussing our next move, three riders galloped down the road. They triggered the trap Wrath had warned us about and the bandits Sloth mentioned converged upon the trio.
"Can't we do anything?" Lisa asked, almost ready to dive into the thick of it.
Words, ideas, plans, and spells rattled in our heads as the swords discussed the situation. Finally, all of them, and us, agreed on a course of action.
The four of us with swords left our hiding place and went into the middle of the road. Lisa and Sarah crept through the brush at the side of the road to get behind them. Wrath, having the most commanding voice, spoke through Callie.
"Unhand those riders!" Wrath's voice boomed, echoing off the trees lining the road.
The bandits and riders looked around until they saw us. The bandits sneered at us. Ignoring the riders, the half dozen bandits slowly advanced on us. Anna vocally and Sloth mentally began chanting a spell. The bandits grunted and growled as they made their way to us. On cue from Sloth and Anna, we pointed our swords at the ground they were walking on. The normally solid road turned into sludge under their feet. Before they knew it, they were sunk to their waists. With a flick, the ground hardened and held them fast. Lisa and Sara were beside the riders, explaining that we were there to help. Lisa's knowledge of military protocol eased the riders' nervousness. Not long after, a small band of soldiers came upon the scene. Lisa and the riders were able to explain what had happened. The leader of the soldiers asked us to release the bandits so they could arrest them. The four of us, again, pointed our swords at the ground around the bandits. The ground again turned to sludge. The soldiers and riders pulled them out with a slick sucking sound. As soon as they were out, shackles snapped around their wrists. The soldiers thanked us for capturing these men. They tossed Lisa a pouch and said it was the reward for aiding in the arrest of the bandits. The riders also thanked us for saving them and their lord's property. We were asked where we were headed. Looking at each other, we simply answered, "East" in unison. The soldiers and riders just looked at us and each other. They parted, soldiers going back west with the bandits and the riders continuing east. We recovered our gear and also continued east.
With the next town in sight, Sarah began the agitation four of us knew all too well. However, this pull came from inside the town. We were curious as to how a power sword was hidden inside a busy town with no one knowing. That question was answered when we were guided to a church. Sarah relaxed slightly to be in familiar territory, but the closeness of her sword was gnawing at her. Around the church was a barrier that, we guessed, kept the sword's influence out of the town and contained solely inside the building. We entered the church to witness a sight I never thought to see in a church. Instead of singing and praying, the people were in various stages of undress, groping, kissing, fondling, and other acts my eyes had never seen. Above the altar where the statue of their god usually resides, a delicate sword with fine details was suspended by thin chains that, to my eyes, radiated strong magic. The people did not notice us as we stepped over, around, and through the copulating congregation. We reached the altar. I was able to hear her speak to Sarah.
"I am Lust. A priest of this church imprisoned my guardian a century ago. He hung me here as a trophy of the success of his faith over our's. With magic from another, he charged these chains to keep me as he burned my guardian at the stake. My influence has produced the effects you see here."
Sarah was nervous about removing Lust in front of so many people. Callie and Anna stepped forward, one on each side, raised Wrath and Sloth, and chopped through the magical chains. Sarah caught Lust, slicing her hand as the fine blade slid across her flesh. She gasped in fright, but I held her bloody hand to Lust. Sarah and Lisa watched in fascination as the blood disappeared into the metal. Sarah's fear and nervousness visibly vanished as Lust made the connection. The rest of us with swords sighed at the mental click. We turned back to the congregation, but no one seemed to notice the loss of the sword.
Back outside, we made our way through the dimly lit streets to the nearest inn. Lust was such a delicate sword that Sarah easily slid her under her belt and she rode without problems. We chose to take the food to our room so we could lay out the swords and get Sarah use to the idea that she could now have nine voices in her head at once. Sarah slept with Lust in her arms like a strange toy. Lisa told me that she wanted to find her sword now more than ever. She also said it was now almost due north.
Day 18:
While gathering our gear, Callie found an abandoned sheath under one of the beds. A little cutting provided Lust with not a secure holder, but better than hanging out in the open. It was a good thing we had her hid. The members of the church were hunting for their "sacred relic". When pressed, however, they never explained what it was or why they wanted it. They walked pass us without a second look. The other wondered why until I winked at them and pointed to Vanity. Out of earshot, I explained.
"Vanity convinced them that a gaggle of girls could not successfully enter their church and take their most prized possession literally from under their noses. She also convinced them that they could spot Lust no matter how well anyone hid her."
We all laughed, even Lisa. We left the town as the members of the church continued to turn it upside down, vainly searching for a sword we were now carrying.
We went north, following Lisa's guidance. Sarah's face showed a variety of emotions as Lust instructed her on her guardian gift. We, with swords, barely listened but offered help when it seemed they had trouble getting an idea across.
Lisa began speculating on which of the two remaining swords was pulling her.
"Envy and Gluttony are left. I will admit to being guilty of envy, even now as the only one without a partner. We are trained to exist on the barest of supplies so we can make them last longer. So, I really have no experience with gluttony, just as Sarah, being just short of a nun, was unfamiliar with lust until we walked into that church. As I travel with the rest of you, I can see why you were paired as you are. Kayla, I have never seen someone like you, willing to risk everything for another with no thought of how it will inconvenience you. You are willing to be last at everything, yet you take the forefront when we meet new people. You are also the picture of patience, guiding all of us through this strange and wonderful time without showing off or bragging about yourself. Callie, don't you ever get mad? Even in the couple of days we've been together, there have been times I would have flown into a rage if it was I being spoken to in such a manner. Yet, you smile and take it without so much as a twitch of anger. Anna, for someone so slight, you are the busiest little bee I've ever seen. The rooms we have stayed in you kept them so tidy and kept our gear easily reachable so we could get on our way quickly. You probably left them cleaner than they have been in some time. Gretta, you would give your last coin to anyone who asked without a second thought. You act as if everything is only precious if it helps someone else. I wonder of past guardians were this way."
I faltered in my step then Vanity addressed Lisa.
"Yes, our previous guardians were much like you and these others. Our first ones, the original seven sisters, were just like all of you. Breanne, my first partner, was a beautiful girl, yet would always insist that another was far more attractive. She always found a way to compliment even the homeliest, most awkward individual to let them know they had worth in the world. Claire, my last guardian, tried to reason with the queen who wanted me, but Claire's kind words were mistaken for insults by that self-absorbed woman who thought I would increase her beauty. Over that, Claire was pursued by soldiers and killed by an ice dragon over one hundred years ago."
Anna was counting on her fingers as Vanity returned control of my body to me.
"Vanity has been alone for over one hundred years, Greed was trapped for fifty. How long was Wrath stuck in Leo?"
"Seventy-five years," came the male voice from Callie's gentle face. "Leo had attempted to scratch, claw, and bite me out of his leg for that long. Five guardians lived and died during that time that I could have been partnered. " Callie shook as she returned to herself. 
"Alright, one hundred, fifty, seventy-five. Sloth says he was last paired about sixty years ago. Lust was in that church for one hundred years as well. So, other than Leo, Mattis, and the people of that church, no one living has seen even one of these swords. Now we have five out of seven in our possession. When Lisa gets hers, probably in the next day or so, we will have all but one. I do not wish to be negative, but that could be a dangerous time, " Anna finished gravely.
"I agree," I said, "we will start attracting attention but not be complete to stop it. We really need to find the last guardian and complete the set."
The swords hummed and murmured just below our ability to hear them. Finally, Sloth informed us that we would "call" the last guardian to see if she could come to us. With nods all around, the subject was dropped. We spent the rest of the day walking, talking, and learning old songs from the swords. As villages were wider spaced, we camped under a canopy of willows just off the road.

Day 16

Day 16:
We arose at dawn and had a simple breakfast. We went outside to get a sense of where to go. Anna had the stone this day. We had walked away from the inn when Anna commented that the stone was hot. She pulled it off and held it by its string. The familiar light was spinning, as if searching. Callie and I stood between it and Sarah to help it focus better. Apparently it helped as a beam of light lanced through the morning air, headed to the south of town. We followed the light right to the edge of town. It went up the wall of a tower into the lookout post.
"Hello, up there! May we speak with you a moment! " I called.
I called twice more before I received an answer.
"What do you want? I am on duty here, protecting the town from raiders, " came back a voice that did not seem right.
"Are you alone? Is there only one up there?" I asked.
"Yes, just me. If it is an emergency, go to the red building on the corner. My commander is in there. I can't leave my post unless he orders it," the voice replied, wavering in pitch and volume.
"Is there a red beam of light touching you but not harming you, positioned over your heart?"
Silence.
"We are the source of that light. It is a way to find our lost sisters. We already know you must be a girl if the light is upon you. Female soldiers are not unfamiliar to us.
Silence.
The five of us stood at the base, looking at each other, not sure what to do next. Above us, we heard hinges creak and saw a door open. A soldier and the beam of light descended the ladder. At the bottom, the soldier's helm was removed to show a girl about our ages yet hardened by her service. The light faded and the stone went cold. She looked at us in shock.
"This is a dream. I have had this dream before. Five sisters claiming I am one of them, taking me to a fantastic place where we are treated like queens. I must be dreaming."
The four of us with swords drew them and saluted her. She fainted. One of her fellow soldiers saw the sight and called for others. We were surrounded, she was picked up, and all of us went to the red building on the corner she had indicated earlier.
Inside, she was placed on a cot and we were marched to another room. An impressively dressed officer sat at a desk. He looked up when we all entered.
"Lieutenant, explain, " his deep voice ordered.
The officer approached him and told him what he had witnessed. The man sitting scowled at us as he listened. Sarah was shaking, but the rest of us met his gaze unwaveringly. The officer finished his tale and returned to his place behind us. The man excused them with a wave of his hand. They left quickly and shut the door behind them.
"What do you want with Lisa?" he said sternly.
We looked at each other, then I began, "Sir, we are the guardians of the Swords of Ancient Power. By their power, we have identified Lisa as one of us, a lost sister. We did not mean for her to faint. We were just introducing ourselves."
I paused for breath, but he held up his hand to stop me. He stood up and came closer to us, towering above all of us and mentally appraising both us and my story.
"Are you telling me that five young girls hold the legendary swords of power?" he asked almost in a condescending tone.
"Actually, we have only four. Sarah has yet to find her's," I replied casually, meeting his gaze and not feeling any fear.
"Show me, " he ordered.
We drew them and held them for his to see. With a warrior's gaze, he appraised each one. After looking at them, he began to talk to us like a father scolding his children.
"You stand before me with these things, claiming they are the Swords of Power? I don't know who sold you these shoddy pieces of junk or from what waste pile you retrieved them , but they have no power whatsoever."
The swords raised from our hands to float between us and him. He seemed unimpressed. We watched them come together and form four sides of an empty space. The commander looked into the space framed by the swords. He pose dropped. An expression of fear formed on his face. He began to physically shake. Callie, Gretta, and Sarah moved as if to see what he was seeing. Anna and I stopped them. We shook our heads and, as we held them, told them that this was for him alone. After a while, the swords separated and returned to our hands. The commander tried to regain his composure, but just fell into his chair.
"I believe you," his commanding voice now shaking as much as his body, " for only those ancient swords could know and show such as I have witnessed. Stay in town today. I will talk with Lisa and prepare her for this new duty. Return here by evening and I will have her ready."
We nodded and sheathed our swords. As we left, the commander stopped me alone. He drew me back into his office.
"I have one request: watch over Lisa. I have not told anyone this, but she is my daughter. I have let her believe that she is an orphan so no one would think I favored her. I have probably been harder on her for that. You seem to be strong in mind and character. Guard and guide her well."
I assured him I would and he let me join the others. We walked pass a still unconscious Lisa, being tended by a nurse.
We spent the day just looking around the town, checking out shops and the like. We did notice that we were being followed. A quick glance revealed that soldiers where keeping a guarded distance, but always in sight of us. We decided not to pay too much attention to them or try to hide from them and let them do their job.
As evening approached, our shadows surrounded us and escorted us back to the command building. Inside, we saw Lisa awake, packed, and ready to go. The commander informed us that rooms and food were waiting for us at a nearby inn. Our guards escorted all of us to that inn, a different one than we stayed at last night.
The food was decent, but the place felt cold and hard. Vanity said it was mainly used by the military and held their energy within its walls. Lisa said nothing through the meal. Most of our conversation was mentally conveyed, since talking aloud caused the other patrons to give us nasty looks. Sarah, unfortunately, was left out of our conversation, but she seemed too preoccupied to notice. It wasn't until we got to our rooms that we could talk openly. Lisa still seemed a little afraid of us while Sarah seemed lost in her thoughts. Callie and I approached Sarah.
"Are you alright, Sarah? You seem a little preoccupied or distracted. What's wrong?" Callie asked gently.
"I think I'm sick, " Sarah quietly replied.
"What makes you think that?" I asked.
"My stomach hurts and there... there is blood on my inner thighs." she whispered the last part.
We did not laugh. We asked her if the nuns ever explained moon time to her. She went very pale. She took a step back from us, slowly shaking her head. When she regained her voice, she began loudly shouting reasons and excuses as to why this could not be happening to her. Anna, Gretta, and Lisa ran in from their room to see what all the noise was about. We informed them and told them how freaked Sarah was about it. Sarah finally ran out of breath and slumped onto the bed, sobbing. The rest of us huddled around her to give her comfort. Even Lisa expressed her sympathy. Sarah allowed me to take her to the privy and get her set up. This was when she informed me that the pull of her sword was stronger even though it still felt far away. Vanity confirmed that most guardians were pass their first moon time when bonded with a sword. It was to keep young children from bonding too early. I told this to Sarah. She seemed to understand.
After this minor crisis, we all went to bed.