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.