Days 30-41 (8th-19th): Feast of Spring

Days 30-40 (8th-18th):
For the next ten days, our days were sort of routine. We did go beyond Thantos and talk with the fey and others of the Old Ways. In Thantos, we made ourselves useful and earned our keep. We even moved out of Lord Carmon's castle to a place of our own. We maintained it through the money we had left from our journeying, selling old songs and stories to bards and travelers, and odd jobs here and there. Alice finally had her first moon time. She and Envy were complete. Vanity told me I could enchant my pen to write for me, but I need to feel the whole of it to get my thoughts on paper.
A few days before the Feast, Lord Carmon set seamstresses to get us attired to meet the other leaders. We thanked them and him, but informed all that our wardrobe was all ready and we had no need of anything else. Mildly annoyed, they all left.
We spent the night before at the castle in our old suite. Tess and Mara were pleased to see us. They told us that the whole of Thantos was abuzz about our visitors. Of course, no one had spoken to us about it. Why we were left out was never revealed.

Day 41 (19th) Feast of Spring:
In the morning, we could see, outside our balcony, a tent city erupt. A large pavilion was erected a few dozen paces outside the door of the castle. We witnessed grand carriages wheel-to-wheel with crude farm carts and heavily laded merchant wagons. Most of the carriages ended up at the castle. Tess and Mara hurried in, looking worn out and tired. They apologized for not being able to stay. We told them we understood. As they left, we sent some healing energy to aid them. Not long after, Lord Carmon and a woman we didn't know arrived. They both looked at us with disappointment. Lord Carmon stayed by the door. The woman looked at us, our few items we had brought with us, and the room as a whole. She returned to the area in front of the door and put her hands on her hips.
"You were offered the best seamstresses in Thantos. You, kindly, refused. You claimed to be ready for this day. I do not see anything worthy to be in audience with leaders of countries or heads of all the major faiths in the area. I hope you have something hidden?" she said in a scolding manner.
We looked at each other and burst laughing. This made both she and Lord Carmon look at us crossly. We stopped. Alice and I stepped forward.
"Lord Carmon, my lady, we are more than ready. Our attire will be sufficient for our visitors. There is nothing to worry about," I calmly told them.
"Father, remember the hill? Inside the carriage, our clothes were normal. Outside, we had those wondrous gowns. As then, so are we prepared today. We will not embarrass you, our guests, or ourselves. Remember, Envy was a half-elf seamstress who's designs are still in use nearly a thousand years later. All is well, Father."
Alice made a point of not addressing the woman as, in this place, only Lord Carmon was above her in station. The woman accepted Alice's lack of attention as appropriate but looked down on the rest of us. Lisa tensed, but we mentally told her not to cause any trouble. Lord Carmon said nothing but motioned for the woman to leave. He looked back at us with a puzzled look then left as well. The woman huffed and muttered as she and he walked out.
Tess and Mara returned for the dishes and told us to be in the pavilion in two hours. They seemed more relaxed and actually talked with us for a while before they left.
We went to the balcony and watched the visitors walking around and arriving. Alice informed us that only certain people would be housed in the castle. Others, like clerics, would stay at a church of their faith and the rest would be at inns or the homes of friends and family. We saw some look up at us. We waved, but they did not return our gesture. Farmers and merchants, however, waved and called to us. A few with strong arms tossed things up to us: fruit, a bag with some beads, a sock of fragrant herbs, and a wineskin of honey mead. We returned the skin after pouring the contents into a pitcher in our room. When we saw a lot of people heading to the pavilion, we left and headed downstairs.
The large outer doors were closed when we arrived. Lord Carmon, Major Kendar, and the woman were there. She stepped up to stop us but Lord Carmon held her back. He looked at us as if to let us know that it was time to do what it was we were going to do. We faced each other in a circle. Holding hands, we hummed and put out hands towards the center. In one continuous action, we pulled our hands out, released, and spun to face the doors. The look from those three was comical and priceless. I know what they saw. In an instant, we had changed from peasant garb to gowns that even a master tailor would have been hard pressed to produce in a year's time. Carmon and Kendar slowly smiled but the woman's expression darkened. She walked off. Carmon and Kendar opened the doors for us like valets. They proceeded us to the pavilion. They did not introduce us or say a word. The whole area under that canopy went dead silent as the seven of us stepped inside. We walked onto a raised platform so even those at the back could see us. A movement at the edges told us that someone had snapped out of their shock and was looking for some chairs for us. As one, we turned, waved, and sat down in seven identical newly materialized chairs and faced the crowd. This acted as a cue and they all sat, Carmon and Kendar finding seats on opposite sides of the platform. For a few tense moments, no one moved or spoke. Finally, an elderly cleric rose from near the front, tottered into the aisle, and addressed us in a strong voice that belied his appearance.
"The Seven Sisters of the Swords have not assembled in many generations. Why have you been brought together?"
"The most immediate reason is the Baalocs. They present a threat that even others have stated will take nearly divine power to stop. Beyond that, it has not been revealed," Sarah told him confidently.
Nodding, he returned to his seat. This encouraged others to come forward. A very decorated man stood up next.
"Why are you in Thantos? What is so special about this place that you have assembled and stayed here?"
"I was the last to connect with my sword. Lord Carmon is my father and he has given us leave to stay here as long as we wish," Alice explained. He sat down.
Another cleric stood up and approached. He had a hard look on his face. He stared at us for a moment before speaking, "May we see them? We have only vague descriptions. I have several artists to capture their likeness fully," he indicated a knot of people behind him.
Without a word, each sword rose from their sheaths and hung in front of us. Seven clerics with paper in hand rushed up and began drawing. They circled many times to get every detail. As they drew, the cleric who spoke returned to his seat.
Several military men, Commander Lehand included, approached next. The oldest and most ornamented spoke tersely, "To fight the Baalocs, do you intend to usurp our authority and take command of the troops yourselves?"
"No, we do not, " Lisa answered crisply, "We are here to protect. Only when needed will we attack and only as the last option. You are the leaders, not us. We will follow the choices that bring the greatest good to all involved."
They seemed satisfied and went back to their chairs. The artists finished and left as a group of wizards stepped forward. The swords returned to their holders as the wizards took a moment to decide who should speak. The one chosen cleared his throat and began.
"From you accounts, the being formerly known as Baracabas resides with you as Sloth. His knowledge is priceless. Much magic from his time is lost or forgotten. Are you willing to share his knowledge?"
"We have shared, " Anna's young voice carried to all, " and will share with those who are honest and open-minded enough to listen. Some of his knowledge and magic may seem disturbing or evil to certain individuals who are not open to other ideas."
They murmured to themselves and sat back down. Before they had reached their chairs, a cleric in billowing robes hurried to the front.
"You have hit on the subject many are afraid to ask. Are they, and you because of them, evil? Physical forms of the seven deadliest vices in many different faiths. It is hard to believe they are good and benevolent."
"Sir, at the time of their creation, one new faith was wiping out others in the claim that their's was the only true path. Andros and Barcabas used their beliefs against them. They could have used anything to empower these swords. Would you be asking about evil if they were earth, air, fire, water, heart, day, and night?" I countered.
The cleric thought a moment. The crowd murmured as they pondered my question.
 Finally, he answered, "You have made a good point. To them, those seven ideas were as powerful as any other. Just because that faith feared them and were behaving unrighteous made them more suited to use as weapons. Thank you. The candor you have all shown speaks volumes to both your character and your swords' valor," He actually bowed to us and sat down.
I saw a couple shifting as if they wanted to stand but felt unsure. I stood and addressed them, "I see your apprehension. Please, come forward without fear," I gently encouraged them.
Tentatively, they rose and approached us. She was blushing and he was pale. Alice stood by my side, concentrating on the pair. Before they spoke, Alice answered what they didn't ask.
"You are both of royal descent, but different royalty. Cassandra, daughter of Roland, direct descendant of Maldar the Red. Fredrick, son of Kelvin, direct descendant of Rodrick the Giant. Your bloodlines are pure."
The couple hugged each other tightly and bounced in joy. Back where they had been sitting, their families also rejoiced.
Alice interrupted by adding, "Common names should not lead to assumptions."
The couple and their families left. The crowd buzzed. Five people, two women, two men, and a small boy, approached. Alice sat down and Sarah joined me in standing. They began to speak but Sarah went off the platform to the two women.
Looking up at them, Sarah smiled and said, "Congratulations. Two healthy pregnancies."
The women began to cry. The men shifted and the boy stared.
Sarah continued, " To you," she told the one on her left, "I say do not worry about gender. You are blessed with one of each."
The woman shrieked and hugged the taller of the two men.
"To you, " Sarah said, turning to her right, "you will have the girl you so desperately desire."
The woman stood still and her eyes darted between the other adults. The shorter man fixed her with a cold look.
Turning to him, Sarah said, "The child is your blood, without a doubt."
The two slammed into each other as they ran and embraced. The boy kicked at the ground. Sarah squatted to be at his eye level. All she said was, "Ask."
Almost in a whisper, he said, "Who's my daddy?"
The four adults stopped. The entire pavilion stopped all motion and noise. All eyes focused on Sarah and the boy. Sarah stood up, took him by the hand, and placed his hand in the hand of the shorter man. They erupted in tears, hugging him, his wife, knowing once and for all that his mother's husband was his real father. The five also left, talking and crying as they went.
"Any other shocking news?" a man in the back asked.
Gretta stood up and Sarah and I sat down. Gretta identified that one third of the jewels the visitors were wearing were fake, including holy relics, talismans, family heirlooms, and "one of a kind" creations.
Next, Lisa identified an entire order of nuns with metal poisoning from the well from which they get their drinking water. She also diagnosed the "soldier's itch" was a reaction to their metal buttons on their pants, not a sign of loose morals. Many military people breathed a sigh of relief.
To end things, I revealed seven "noble" families to be false; two bought their titles, three blackmailed for them, and two prostituted to get them.
As the sun faded, we stood as one, vanished the chairs, and left. Carmon and Kendar jumped up and followed. They, again, opened the doors for us. Inside, they were beaming. Carmon expressed how well we handled ourselves. Kendar proclaimed that we had expelled all doubt.
Citing fatigue, we excused ourselves to return to our suite. Our old clothes returned as we entered that familiar place. Tess and Mara had a large dinner waiting. We dove in as if it were the only food in the world. Tess and Mara talked as we ate; gushing over our gowns, talking about the reactions of our visitors, and all the stuff we had done. As the food disappeared, they remembered their duties and rushed out apologizing. We continued until no food was left. Exhausted, all we wanted was to sleep. When the door opened, we thought they had returned for the dishes. Instead, the woman from earlier entered. She radiated such hostility that everyone felt it.
"Quite a show you put on. Now everyone believes you lot are the real thing. So, what now? Con some sappy nobles into marriage? Squeeze the land for all their wealth? Drop the act! I demand the truth!"
We faced her together.
I spoke, "Who do you think you are? If you have doubts, why voice them now? We intend to return to our house, do what we've been doing, and wait for Raval and Cassabla to ask for aid against the Baalocs."
"LIARS! Evil little bitches! I am not fooled! I will prove to all what evil creatures you are!"
"How do you plan on that, Georgina?" a male voice asked from the door. Carmon, Kendar, and Lehand entered, staring at the woman.
"With this, " she said as she pulled a vial out of her bodice. A clear liquid sloshed inside it. "This will reveal their evil for all to see."
She took the stopper out, placed her thumb partially over the opening, and began splashing it on us. It smelled salty and fruity. Other than a light tingle, nothing happened. When she finished, she turned to face the men and proclaimed, "Behold their evil!"
"What evil?" Lehand asked.
Georgina turned around and went pale. Other than wet spots on our skin and clothes, nothing had changed. She took my hand and place a large drop, the last of the liquid, on my palm. Nothing. She even smeared it around. Still nothing. She looked fit to faint.
"But... it should... they should be... no, no, no. This is not possible! These evil creatures should be burning! I know, it is an illusion. You are hiding the burns. Drop it! Show your true selves!" she screamed.
She slapped my hand a few times. As she leaned back to slap my face, Lehand stopped her.
"That is enough! You have proven they are not evil. Let it go."
"Never! I will be the last to accept these bitches as good, holy, or even special. Except for Alice, they all belong in the dirt that spawned them. I will see all of you, even Alice, brought to holy justice and burned for the demons you are!"
"So, you are an expert on demons, eh, Georgina?" a fourth male voice asked from the door. It was the elderly cleric who had asked the first question.
"Eminence," she cooed as she knelt before him, "I only seek to purify the world of this black mark," indicating us.
"I see, so you splashed the sacred water on them, expecting them to writhe in pain and develop sores where the water touched skin. Is that it?"
"Yes, Eminence, but they are hiding the burns. Their foul magic is preventing anyone from seeing the truth. Please, vanquish this poison! Damn them to the abyss that created their foul swords!" she bellowed again.
The cleric muttered something and laid his hand on Georgina's head. She slumped to the floor at his feet.
He faced us with a grandfatherly smile, "Why do the fanatical ones have to be stupid, too?" he asked laughingly.
We all relaxed. Carmon, Kendar, and Lehand bid us good night and took the limp Georgina out of our room. The cleric remained.
"I know you are tired. I only came up here to tell you that, should Thantos turn on you, Green Spring will welcome you with open arms."
"Thank you, sir. We appreciate that. We have received the same offer from the fey, " I told him.
"Good, the more allies you have, the less likely her type will cause you trouble. I will speak with my fellows and let them know my position concerning you. Good-night, ladies. Sleep well."
"And to you, sir," we answered as one.
He smiled and left.
Tess and Mara claimed the dishes and we all settled down to sleep.