Day 24,(2nd day together)

Day 24, 2nd day together:
As we woke up and discussed what to do today, Lord Carmon entered with the same historian and several clergy from different faiths as well as two wizards. We stood together and waited for an explanation. Lord Carmon nodded a signal to the clergy. They began chanting in an old tongue. We listened to it. They were performing an exorcism! We all started laughing. Our swords also laughed. We watched these men concentrating so hard that some were sweating. They came to the end of the chant and looked at us. In response, Sloth and Anna led us in a chant of an even older tongue. They all paled, except Lord Carmon who didn't understand a word. By the time we finished, some of them had this black puddle underneath them. They stepped away from them and stared. Lisa took Gluttony and touched the puddles. Each shuddered and dissolved before them. Lisa explained that the puddles were stains on their souls, spiritual poison. The clerics begged for that secret chant. Anna waved a hand at the historian. His papers shuffled and a piece popped out with the whole chant and ritual transcribed. The clerics left with it, assuring Lord Carmon our swords were not evil and we were not possessed. He signaled to the wizards. They pulled out an assortment of talismans, amulets, orbs, and other items. They attempted to use them. Gretta pulled out Greed and pointed. Every item that was fake shattered. The few real ones became etched with their true use on the back. Not a single one was a banishing or dispel magic amulet. The wizards concurred that they were outmatched by our swords and, through them, by us. They, too, left. Lord Carmon was alone with us once more.
As one, we asked "Anything else, my lord?"
He was startled that we spoke in unison. He shook his head and left.
Alice gave us the idea of exploring Thantos. She had been a near prisoner for two years and ached to see the city. We agreed.
Out in the city, no one even suspected the power we carried. Of course, people recognized Alice and conveyed their pleasure at seeing her well and about. Remembering that everyone thought she had been sick for the past two years, Alice graciously accepted their good tidings. Fortunately, little had changed in Thantos during that time and Alice found her way easily through the streets. We followed her lead about the busy city. During our outing, Callie though to ask how Alice and Envy came to be together. Under a canopy, she told her tale.
"As a child, I was always wandering, usually towards the west. Finally, Father allowed me to wander as far as I needed to go, with escort of course. I went where I was led. By a spring, I saw a strange rock formation. Getting closer, I realized it was a person, turned to stone. Clutched in her hands was this beautiful weapon. My escorts began to fight each other for it. They ended up knocking each other out cold. Alone, I grabbed the bit of handle above the stony fingers. I wasn't sure why at the time, but I remember saying, 'If this sword is mine to hold, then release your hold, my sister.' The words just came to me. I pulled and it slid out with a sound half between a sigh and a groan of pain. Then the stone woman fell apart. I got home alone, but everyone around me acted weird. Father, finally, concluded that it was one of the swords of legend and isolated me from all but a few servants. He told me to try to connect with it. Until the other day, I had been unsuccessful for two years."
"I tried to reach out to her, but she was not receiving me. When Kayla showed up and explained, it made sense. She was unprepared for what I hold and cutting her finger was the only way to connect until her moon time."
"How did you get trapped?" Lisa asked.
"I'm sure you realize that the stone woman was my previous guardian. The spring was the home of some member of the fey. She was angry that my guardian had drunk from it without a gift in return. Of course, I was the gift she wanted. When Sharon refused, the fey muttered some words and splashed Sharon. She began to stiffen and turn grey. Unfortunately for me, her hands stiffened first and she was unable to let me go. I had to witness the horror of her becoming stone. For eighty years, I was in her grasp, unable to go because of the magic and having to watch time and weather erode her features until there was nothing to identify her as my friend."
We all felt her heartbreak and understood her sadness. We left the canopy to walk off the melancholy mood. We returned to the castle just as it was getting dark. The same servant as before followed us to our suite with food and drink. Lord Carmon was nowhere to be seen. We ate and talked about the city.
After eating, we began to wonder at why we were all together. Recalling the last reason all seven were assembled, we worried that such was now the case. The swords buzzed and hummed. Instructions pulsed through our minds. Our suite had a balcony. We took a mirror off the wall and placed it on the small table that was out there. We found a glass bowl, filled it with water, and placed it in the center of the mirror. Standing around the table, we drew the swords. They balanced themselves on point on the edge of the mirror. No sound, mental or vocal, was made. Lines of light started at the points of each sword and met at the bowl of water. The water sparkled and began to glow. The bowl rose above the mirror. The light lines widened and completely covered the mirror. After a few seconds, an image formed cone-shaped with the bowl at the apex and the mirror as its base. We saw a place none of us recognized.
As we pondered, a male voice said, "That is the plains of Cassabla, the country to the northeast. We are allies of a sort, barely speaking but not hostile to one another."
Lord Carmon walked fully out onto the balcony. He studied the image closer.
"That is summer, high summer actually. It is barely spring. You are not only looking at another country but into the future as well?"
"We were wondering about why we were assembled. This is for finding the answer, Father, " Alice explained.
He nodded then looked back at the image. We all watched. Suddenly, the scene erupted in flame. Behind the fire, a fearsome sight emerged. Riders in black armor fashioned like demons rode over the burnt plains, kicking up ash, dust, and bits of burned grass. Behind them, huge animals that Lord Carmon recognized as elephants pulled massive carts carrying more men in black demon armor. We counted fifty men a cart and two hundred carts. After these, smaller carts drawn by horses followed. Lord Carmon said they were supply carts; food, medicine, cooking items, etc. At the rear were cages being pulled by horses. Lord Carmon gasped.
"I know those people. They are leaders in Cassabla. This hoard will kidnap them. I must send word to them. There is still a season to stop this."
As soon as the words were spoken, the scene changed slightly. The plains still burned, the army still proceeded, but the cages were different. Instead of a couple dozen live captives, it was piled with bodies. The same who had been living were now stacked like firewood, limbs sticking out at odd angles, flies swarming over and around them. Lord Carmon collapsed into a chair.
"If I warn them, they are surely dead. I will hold my news."
The cages were again filled with living captives. Lord Carmon's sigh was half relief and half defeat. We watched them progress as they crossed over Cassabla into this country. Their evil countenance scared most into giving up without a fight. Those that did were mercilessly slaughtered. More leaders were added to the cages. Apparently, captives were not fed as dead ones were tossed out and left as they moved on.
Lord Carmon approached and asked, "Will I jeopardize anyone to ask if others have seen these warriors before?"
The scene did not change. A piece of parchment floated from inside to land at his feet. On it was a drawing of the leader and a note asking for information on this man and his people. Lord Carmon went inside and rang the servant bell. As soon as she was in the door, he gave her quick instructions to get a messenger to Cassabla to get information on this man and anything else they knew about this army. She took the parchment and ran. He returned to us to see the army outside the walls of Thantos. At that point, the image faded, the now empty bowl returned to the surface of the mirror and only the night sky could be seen. Lord Carmon started wiping at the mirror as we collected our swords.
"Do you defeat them? How much damage do they cause? Show me something!" he ordered.
"My lord, " I gently responded, "from that point, there are too many options to clearly show. Our swords could only show the most likely course of events. We have done all we could."
He sat as we returned the bowl and mirror to their proper places. He was still sitting when we got ready for bed. When he finally realized the time, he got up, bid us goodnight, and left. We settled into exhausted sleep.