Day 84 (62nd)

Day 84(62nd):
We awoke to the sound of bells. Small bells inside the room and large bells outside. Bells rang from towers, from the street, seemingly from everywhere. We looked at each other. Lehand, after the ringing ended, explained.
"It marks the 'official' beginning of the day, the 'official' end of the night. We arrived too late for the night bells. You will hear them this evening."
Lehand was delighted he could share this information with us. A knock interrupted his beaming. Both valets entered.
"Their Royal Majesties request your presence for the morning meal. We are here to escort you to the dining room."
Quickly, we dressed and followed them. Good thing they were guiding us. With all the twists and turns, it would have been very easy to get lost.
After a seemingly eternity of walking, we arrived at a set of ornate doors. Each valet took a handle and opened the doors. They stood in the doorway and announced us. Fortunately, they only used titles, names, and "Sister of the Sword" for the appropriate people. Once finished, they parted and motioned for us to enter. The men led, went to opposite sided of the table, and stood there. The seven of us entered and stood at the end of a very large table. At the other end sat a richly dressed couple, two young men and a girl, also richly dressed, a military man, a female I could not quite place, and the elderly cleric we met in Thantos. He smiled at us. The male from the couple motioned for us to sit. Somehow, Callie and I ended up at the foot of the table, side by side. Once we were all settled, we were introduced to the others at the table. There was an awkward silence. I saw the emotions quickly swirling under calm masks. Only Cleric Mamar's outward features were the same as the white-yellow glow radiating from him. King Droland had a shell like Kendar use to have. His glow was thin and a little dark, but not black or a cloak. Queen Darla had a rose-white glow, no shell, but it did not radiate. Both Prince Vangar and Prince Gavin showed the early signs of a shell. Vangar's glow was redder then Gavin's, who's was slightly blue. Princess Margret radiated blue-white, the largest of the royal family. General Barvann had a steel-hard shell, very thin, painfully white and cold. Guild Mistress Beatrice's was the hardest to look at for more than a second. Cold white covering a dark red glow with sparks of green shooting through it.
Finally, Beatrice spoke, "We are interested to talk with you ladies. Our dear cleric has told us things some of us find a little hard to believe."
"Anything specific?" Alice asked.
The other end exchanged looks. Fear, anger, confusion, and doubt swirled around all of them.
The general answered, "When he said you can see a person's history and heritage, what does that mean?"
"A person's past plays before my eyes, behind the person I focus upon, like theatre. Beyond that, it is like a series of portraits when I go beyond their history to the past generations. Below the portrait is a name. I have gone back as far as eight generations," Alice informed them.
They all nodded, our escorts included.
Beatrice spoke again, "Who is the one that detects the value of things?"
Gretta raised her hand. Beatrice motioned for her to explain.
"As I told Commander Lehand, fake things feel dead, lifeless, and hollow. The more value it has, the more alive it feels. Your jewels, Your Majesties, are so alive to me that they nearly sing."
They nodded emphatically. Princess Margret giggled, Queen Darla smiled, and King Droland puffed himself up.
The general spoke again, "What about strengths and weaknesses? How does that work?"
"Strong things feel stable, secure, safe and whole. The weaker something is, the less complete, safe and firm it feels. Visibly, weak things look like they have holes or missing pieces," Callie responded.
Only the men and boys nodded, the females seemed still confused. They said nothing.
The Cleric Mamar spoke next, "Kayla, are we all shining to your sight?"
I was reluctant to answer.
Mamar read my apprehension, "I take your silence to indicate you see problems?"
"Not problems, sir, just not all of you shine."
"Do not fear, child. Tell us what you see."
I did, exactly as I saw it. I was greeted by a collection of confused looks. I began to explain, but Mamar stopped me. He indicated that my words would be meaningless at this time.
Fortunately, breakfast arrived. So much food! We ate timidly, not wishing to seem crude before our royal hosts. Kendar and Lehand quietly assured us to eat our fill. Except for utensils clicking and cups tapping the table, the room was silent. As we ate, Callie squeezed my leg.
"Leo is not far away. He says he will stay hidden until we tell him that he has permission to land," she told me mentally.
I cleared my throat to get every one's attention.
"Your Majesties, a friend of our's wishes permission to enter the city and palace."
They looked at each other.
King Droland finally spoke, "Why does this friend require permission?"
"He is a dragon and doesn't want to alarm anyone."
All activity ceased. Beatrice went red in the face. General Barvann sputtered, trying to spit out his drink and swallow at the same time. Mamar smiled broadly. Both Queen Darla and Princess Margret fainted. Prince Vangar made a move as if to draw a sword he realized he didn't have. Prince Gavin attended to his sister who was at his side. King Droland just sat there, staring at me, letting Jerome tend to the unconscious queen. Finding his voice, Droland asked, "How are all of you acquainted with a dragon?"
"He is the dragon I pulled Wrath from," Callie replied a little nervously.
"You didn't slay him after getting your sword?" Prince Vangar asked angrily.
"There was no need. He was happy to have Wrath out of his leg and allowed us to sleep in his cave and flew us back to Uncle's house to show him the swords and flew us to Thantos to meet Alice," Callie answered, sort of rambling.
Vangar quietly seethed. Both queen and princess came around. Barvann was nearly as livid as Vangar. Beatrice was shaking, several emotions raging inside her that she was trying hard to contain. Kendar, Lehand, and Markus sat as if this were completely normal. Jerome returned to his seat and mirrored our three soldiers' composure.
Droland broke the silent tension, "Why is he coming here?"
"The Faerie Queen said he could provide information on Maalicus' heritage that was blocked from Alice's sight. Maalicus is not fully human and knowing his ancestry may aid us in fighting him and finding out why he wants the swords so badly," I told them.
Queen and Princess fainted again. Beatrice was close to passing out. All but our four men and Mamar were beside themselves, unsure of what to say or do.
Mamar brightly asked, "Was the Faerie Queen as beautiful as the stories say?"
I smiled, "The stories pale in comparison with the real thing. In moonlight, there are no words to describe such a gorgeous being."
The queen and princess were carried out of the room by servants. Beatrice stiffly left at their heels. Vangar stormed out pass them. Barvann was right behind him. Gavin sat in shock. Droland went out another door and was gone. Only Mamar remained sitting and unchanged. We continued to eat. Callie told Leo to wait as the humans were having trouble understanding our friendship with him, the Faerie Queen, and other things we had told them. Callie said he laughed and agreed to wait.
Gavin came around after a few minutes and also left, leaving only Mamar to be our host. We chatted about small things. Even the swords took part from time to time, not speaking for themselves, but telling us to tell the men something.
A little over an hour after entering, we all left to let the servants do their jobs. Mamar walked us to the gardens. It was a fantastic array of styles, colors, and types. A lot of romance had taken place here, for the residual emotion made a rose-pink haze over everything. We had been out here only a short while when Vangar, Barvann, and other soldiers came running towards us. They all stopped a few dozen paces away. Vangar was glowing fire-red.
"Mamar, step away from them. They are under arrest," he barked.
"Arrest? On what charges, my prince," Mamar asked politely.
"Consorting with dragons and demon kind. We all know the Faerie Queen is really the Queen of the Abyss. I told Father these girls and their swords were evil. Take them!"
"Stay your ground!" another male voice ordered.
Looking around, we watched King Droland exit a large gazebo. Vangar took half a step back. Barvann and the other soldiers bowed. Droland told all of the soldiers to leave. Barvann stayed. Father and son stood arm's length apart.
"Vangar, I am at my wit's end with you. Only one church in all of Raval teaches that all non-humans are products of devils, demons, and the Abyss. Why does that have to be the one authority you pay any heed?"
"Because it is the only one that speaks the truth! Elves, dwarfs, giants, dragons, and the rest are evil and foul creatures of the darkest depths of the Abyss. When I am King, they will be eliminated from Raval, forever!"
I witnessed and tasted a darkness on Vangar but not in him. It was similar to Abigail's darkness. I informed the rest. We knew the soul poison chant would not work. I tested Mamar and found him receptive. I, quickly, filled him in on what I felt. His expression hardened. He knew this darkness.
"You keep up this intolerance and you will not live that long. Anger and hatred make poor armor," King Droland warned him.
"Test them," Mamar interrupted.
"Cleric, I am tired of your ... " Vangar started.
"Silence," Droland cut him off, "If you are certain of their evil, prove it. Your church claims it can detect and remove evil. Do it. If you prove they are as evil as you say, I will expel them from Raval, never to set foot within our borders again."
Vangar stood silent for a second, then smiled, "Fortunately, I sent for the Bishop after I left and he will be here soon. He will prove their evil for all to see," he said smugly.
"They will be out here when he arrives," King Droland told his son.
Vangar left the garden with Barvann hot on his heels. Droland sat on a nearby bench. The sadness rippled his thin, dark glow. I sat next to him. Mamar, Kendar, and Lehand moved to stop me. Jerome gasped.
"Your Majesty, I can see how deeply the Prince affects you. Your glow is very thin and dark and the shell around you is so hard. We are here to help everyone we can, including kings. Tell me, let me know how we can bring light back to your soul."
Droland looked at the men in a way that indicated they should leave. As they went, Sarah sat on his other side while the other five positioned themselves around us and him.
"It is my fault. The nanny who tended him as a child was of that faith. She taught him to believe that way. He refuses to acknowledge any treaties we have with other races. He has harassed three churches into closing. I fear for Raval when he becomes king."
"This nanny, is she still alive?" I asked politely.
Droland paused, "Yes, she is, why?"
We recounted Abigail and her darkness. Then, I told him of the darkness hanging around Vangar. Droland summoned Mamar and asked him about it. Mamar informed us all that the darkness was familiar to him and he believed it was affecting Vangar. Droland sent him and the other men to find the nanny. Droland sat down with us again. His emotions were causing his glow to pulse and writhe erratically.
"What are your feelings towards other races, King Droland?" Alice asked softly.
"We have so little contact with them that I only know them diplomatically. They seemed like good people, but it was a diplomatic meeting so everyone was on their best behavior. I would have liked to speak with any of them person-to-person, not king and diplomat."
"Our dragon friend is close by. he would love to talk with you," Callie said casually.
Droland thought a moment. I saw the increased glow before he spoke.
Standing up, he said, "Yes! Yes, call him. Let my son see a friendly dragon who aid people. This garden should be large enough."
"More than enough, Your Majesty," Callie smiled.
We had not long to wait. Leo landed on an open area of grass. He took in the view before his large eyes found us.
"Hello, ladies. Who is this now?" Leo asked.
"Mars-in-Leo, meet King Droland of Raval. Your Majesty, Mars-in-Leo, Leo for short."
Leo nodded and approached us. Droland made a move to step back, then changed his mind and stood his ground. Leo laid down before us so he would be at eye level.
" 'Droland'? My, that is an old name. Is it a family name?"
"Yes, my father's grandfather."
"Ah, makes sense. So, are we just being social or is this important?" Leo asked off-handily.
"Right now, King Droland needed someone not human to talk with one-on-one without diplomatic airs," I informed him.
"Well, it is nice to talk with a man who does not wish to use my hide to decorate his bedroom. So, Droland, what is it you wish to talk about?"
Droland took a moment to find his voice. 
He replied, "Are all dragons so straight forward?"
" At my age, dancing around the subject is boring. 'Get to the meat', I say."
We all, even Droland, laughed. His glow was slowly clearing and brightening. Droland and Leo spoke for quite a while, discussing all manner of things. Their conversation was interrupted by a shriek. We all looked at the source. Our men had returned with the nanny, who was almost as elderly as Mamar. She screamed until she was out of breath, inhaled, then screamed some more. Droland, finally, ordered her to be silent. Even quiet, her face was a mask of terror. Mamar introduced himself to Leo and he did in turn. Droland addressed the nanny. I could see her thick, dark cloak flapping with the fear she was feeling.
"Nanny Holly, tell me the truth. Have you done anything to Prince Vangar magically or otherwise to corrupt his mind?"
She froze. I could see her trying to come up with a plausible lie.
When all had escaped her, she said, truthfully, "By order of my master, I placed a spell upon him to harden his heart and make him believe only the words of our church. General Barvann helps maintain it. Prince Vangar must be in sight of him, myself, the Bishop, or three other people or it will slip."
Droland fumed, " I am your master! You answer to me!"
Holly laughed, "My true master is far above you in power. Maalicus rules over me."
"He does what?" another male voice asked.
We all turned to see Vangar, Barvann, three soldiers, and a fancy dressed cleric.
"Holly, you follow Maalicus? You are a Baaloc?" Vangar asked.
Holly sputtered, tried to accuse us of bewitching her, that the dragon made her say that. Anger overwhelmed Vangar. He drew a knife, threw it, and it thudded in Holly's chest. In shock, she fell backwards, dead before she hit the ground. I could see an energy backlash on the Bishop, general, and the three soldiers. The Bishop winced in actual pain while the others paled visibly.
"Kayla, did you see what I saw?" Leo asked quietly.
I nodded. Mamar looked at me in a questioning manner. I replayed what Leo and I had seen.
"With Holly dead, the burden of the spell falls to you, Bishop. Can you handle it?" Mamar asked almost as a tease.
"I...I don't know what you mean," the Bishop said, trying to hide the pain, "The woman was senile. She didn't know what she was saying. My Prince, I will prove the evil of these girls, their swords, and this beast."
"Be silent, old man!" Vangar shouted.
He looked at Holly's body, his knife still in her chest. Suddenly, another knife in his hand, he spun and brought it to the Bishop's throat. The Bishop gasped.
"Mamar has never lied to me. Even when I didn't believe a word, I knew it was true. Release the spell or die!" Vangar threatened.
"My... my Prince, control yourself. This is madness!" the Bishop said as he tried to enforce the spell.
It failed. Vangar's anger was so hot, the spell sizzled and died. Bishop, general, and the three soldiers were hit with the full repercussion of the death of the spell. Blood flowed from their noses and mouths. Sarah quietly cried as she watched their health deteriorate very rapidly. Callie and I comforted her. Vangar stepped away as they started coughing and gagging on their own blood.
Before the life left him, the Bishop croaked, "My study... all there... the plan... details..."
I pulled Sarah's face to my shoulder so she would not see them die. Tears soaked my shirt as she felt their lives leave them. Five heavy thuds marked their passing. Vangar stood, looking at the bodies. The darkness was gone. As the red faded from his glow, it grew a little bigger, shell gone, and a spark flitted here and there. He turned and faced us all, face wet and eyes red. He looked at his father.
Soundlessly, he said, "I am so sorry."
At this moment, they were not King and Prince, they were father and son. They walked towards each other and emphatically embraced. They both glowed brighter and cleaner that I had yet to see them. Sarah indicated a malady she had seen was lifting from them. She described that around their hearts had been dark. Now the darkness was fading. Leo whispered that the malady was heartache. We all nodded in understanding.
As they embraced, other voices were heard coming into the garden. Queen, princess, and prince raced out to us. Seeing Droland and Vangar hugging, they were confused. Seeing six dead people at their feet shocked them. Realizing a full-grown bronze colored dragon, a living one, was standing with us, the two females fainted and the other prince's legs gave out, making him thud on the ground. Those three thuds made Droland and Vangar part. Droland ran to Darla, Vangar ran to Margret, and Sarah saw to Gavin. Gavin was staring wide-eyed at Leo, who lowered his head to regard this prince a little closer. Gavin was stuttering, trying to speak. Sarah was trying to calm him.
Leo told him, "Deep breaths, just breathe, everything will be fine."
"It...talks, " Gavin said hoarsely and fainted.
Sarah caught him so he didn't hit his head on the ground. The rest of us didn't know what to do at that moment, so we asked Mamar what to do with the six bodies bleeding over the royal garden. Leo volunteered to cremate them, but Mamar said proper burials would be best. Lisa removed Vangar's knife from Holly's chest, wiped it off, and tucked it away to return later. Mamar went to the door and called for servants to aid us. They were sort of told the truth. They were informed that Baaloc magic had ended their lives. Sheets and branches became litters as we all helped carry them. The Bishop went to his church, the soldiers and general to a military cemetery, and Leo got to cremate Holly, since she had no family and someone might try to use her body for more evil. During all of this, Lisa gave Vangar back his knife.
By the time we were finished, everyone was recovered and we were all starving. The night bells rang and valets came to tell us dinner would be ready soon. Droland had a meal prepared for Leo. He also ordered that dinner be a picnic. While we went inside to clean up, Leo made the bloody grass clean again.
Dinner in the garden was a pleasant affair. The royal family was much more cheerful than this morning. Leo told us of the area he had been hiding. Slowly, they got use to conversing with a dragon who alluded that he wasn't far out of the shell when the swords were made.
During our meal, the real reason for Leo's presence was told. He thought it over as he chewed on the leg bone of the side of beef Droland had the servants bring him.
Setting it aside, he commented, "There are a couple of reasons why Alice's sight would not help see Maalicus' heritage. First, his non-human side may be of a race Alice is not familiar and would be unable to name it. Second, it may not be a heritage thing at all. I have seen people of all races give up their 'humanity', so to speak, in order to gain power. If he has done this, then there is no heritage to see. The 'theatre' of his past would be an empty stage."
We all pondered his words. Since the only two times we have seen him were images only, we still had not "seen" him.
As we ate, a servant came out to the garden. He begged our pardons, but told us that a man matching Maalicus' discription was seen in the city at the dead bishops' church. Droland called for guards and told them to follow the one who had seen him and make sure it was truly Maalicus and not an innocent man who just looked like him. They saluted and took off at a run with the servant. We all concurred that it would be ridiculus for Maalicus to come in person to see any of his agents, even if they were corrupting the heir of Raval. We decided to continue our picnic and wait for word.
We had finished eating, and the servants were cleaning up, when the guards returned. They reported that the man was a Baaloc, but not Maalicus. They decided to detain him until the King told them what should be done. Droland said to bring him into the conference room. He asked if we would join him in talking with the Baaloc. We agreed and followed him to the conference room.
The conference room had a throne and two tables flanking it. We seven, Lehand, Kendar, and Jerome took places at those tables. Mamar stood of to one side. Only the King was there, no other member of the royal family. We were told they only took part when asked by the King.
The guards entered surrounding the Baaloc who was in shackles. I could see red streaks of anger, ripples of hate, and a shell of white pride, rock hard, in and around his black cloak of evil. He had no fear, his pride convincing him he was superior in every way to all of us in the room. Lehand stood when they had placed him in a circle before us.
"State your name, rank, and purpose for being in this city," he ordered.
The Baaloc said nothing. He looked straight ahead at no one. Lehand repeated his order, but received the same answer. Alice touched Lehand's arm and nodded. Lehand sat as Alice rose.
"Barram, son of Ramak, the agents you were ordered to get a report from are dead. The spell on Prince Vangar is broken. He is his own man now. Maalicus has failed."
"Lying bitch!" Barram exploded, "Maalicus is supreme. His plans are flawless and perfectly executed. Prince Vangar is his puppet. No one cuts the strings but Maalicus."
Alice had sat during his tyrade.
As he caught his breath, King Droland asked, "Why do you obey him so? What has he given you to ensure such obedience and loyalty?"
Barram puffed out his chest, "It is not what he has given, but what he will give. When I have proven my worth, he will make me immortal like him."
I could see that he believed every word he said. I let everyone know that fact. Barram looked at me, then went down the tables to look at each of us in turn.
Counting seven, he smiled strangely, "The Seven Sisters of the Swords. Maalicus said you were close. He will be pleased by this news. I will be rewarded greatly."
"Not if you never leave the city," Lehand said grimmly.
Barram's confidence shook at this statement. It never occurred to him he would not be set free. A signal from Droland and the guards encircled him to take him away.
"Wait! Wait! I will tell you anything! I cannot be imprisoned," Barram pleaded.
Droland waved the guards back. I stood.
"What evidence do you have that Maalicus is immortal?"
"He has lived for a thousand years. No weapon can harm him, that I have witnessed. He carries the original words of the faith etched in his skin. No secret can be hidden from him. His is as close to a god as any can hope to be."
Our swords vibrated so much, they were humming.
"The Maalicus we fought had words on his skin. He is the same, I fear," Sloth said, "We need to find out how he came to this power. Only then can we know how to defeat him."
We let the men in on Sloth's words. They decided to hold him a day or two to see what else he might tell us. Barram pleaded as the guards nearly drug him out the door.
Droland suggested that it was time to go to bed, "It has been a long and emotional day. Let us put it to rest."
We all agreed. Valets escorted us to our room and we fell into a deep slumber.

Days 81-83 (59th-61st together)

Day 81 (59th together):
I awoke with something tickling my senses. It was still dark, but the moon was bright. Vanity also sensed it. As we extended ourselves, I felt a warmth that was friendly but unfamiliar. Finally, I located the source. Behind a tree, I saw movement. Cautiously, I approached. There, behind the tree, was a woman who's beauty took my breath.
Before I could ask, she pointed at Vanity and said, "You are bound to my granddaughter. Welcome to the land of her birth."
"The Faerie Queen," I whispered, moving to bow.
She stopped me, "You have no cause to bow before me. We are kin. Why do you think Vanity sung to you? Also, why do you think the entities who are the swords were once of races other than human? Even Baracabas was not fully human nor have any of the sisters been totally human. Let Alice search your bloodlines, then you will see what I mean. Callie is your best friend as the dwarfs are friends with us.
"But this is not why I am here. I bring news. Maalicus is not fully human even though he thinks he is. That is part of the reason he wants the swords so badly. After you get to the palace, call for Mars-in-Leo. He will come because of Wrath. A small sliver is still in his leg. It binds him to you and you to him. It does not hurt him in any way nor can it be removed. He has knowledge to determine Maalicus' heritage that Alice cannot discern. I must go now, child. The Men stir and I cannot be seen by them yet. Fare thee well, daughter of the sword, and best wishes."
She kissed me on the forehead, turned, and vanished into the foliage. I stood there, looking at the place where she vanished until a hand on my shoulder returned my attention to the human world. I turned to look Callie in the eye. She said nothing, verbally or mentally, to me, but her face showed concern. I smiled and took her hand. With the slightest of nods from years of friendship, we returned to camp to gather our things. I said nothing to anyone about our visitor. We got ourselves ready and on the road by sunrise. As we rode, I mentally asked Alice to trace my bloodline. She squinted and stared. Her expression of complete surprise was so innocent, I had to laugh. The men gave me sideways glances. My sisters asked. Both Alice and I told them as one.
"She has/I have faerie blood."
The others were just as surprised. I, then, informed them of our early morning visitor. Questions bombarded me. Finally, I bade them to stop. I recounted the entire encounter.
"Let me get this straight," Lisa started, " we all have non-human ancestors and part of the reason we are with the sword we have is that the entities who became the swords are the same race as our ancestor. Since I am with Gluttony, I am part elf?"
"Yes, both Lisa and Alice are part elf. I am part faerie, Callie is part dwarf, Sarah is part fey of some type, Gretta is part leprechaun, and Anna is part..."
"Gnome," Sloth responded, "specifically brownie."
"Are you sure?" Gretta asked.
"Alice can confirm it for all of us. With a mirror, she can find the elf she has in her bloodline," I told them all.
There was silence for a long time. Callie broke it with her question.
"The piece of Wrath in Leo doesn't hurt him?"
"She insisted he was in no pain from it. You can check. Through Wrath, you can talk to Leo."
Callie concentrated. I felt her shock when she connected with Leo. While I could not hear what they said, Callie's emotions indicated he confirmed his lack of pain. She relayed that he would meet us at the palace after we got there.
Alice wondered, "Why can't I see Maalicus' heritage? I've traced the bloodlines of dead people, fey, and other races. Even if he isn't human, I should be able to see it."
"I can't tell you. She just said we needed Leo to find out."
We rode is silence for a while. Around mid-day, we stopped to eat and rest. Kendar noted our silence and preoccupied looks. He asked and, having been honest with him since the beginning, we told him everything. He went pale and sat on a stump. Lehand, having heard nearly all of what we told Kendar, was also pale, but recovered quickly. Lehand brought Jerome over to get his educated opinion. Jerome fainted. Kendar regained his composure as we tended to Jerome.
"I do not know have much more I can take. The longer I am with you, the less I am certain of the world I live in. First, you all are legend in the flesh. Second, a being out of the oldest of tales speaks with you like old friends. And, now, you tell me a dragon will arrive at the palace for a consultation? My world use to be so simple. I don't know what to think anymore."
I could see his shell cracks growing wider than ever. A whisper of wind tugged at my senses. Vanity resonated to let me know she had felt it, too. We went to Kendar and looked him in the eye.
"Release these past teachings. Let the shell fall."
He spoke without sound, "I am afraid."
"I am here. No harm will come to you, I promise."
He took a deep breath. Looking into my eyes and holding my hands, he let the cracks he had been holding closed by sheer will grow and fracture even more. With a shudder, the shell fell away. His glow, however, did not diminish. It got brighter. We were far enough from the others that only I and Vanity witnesses the twin tears roll down his face.
Again, soundlessly, he spoke, "Thank you."
I said nothing, just nodded and smiled. We rejoined the others. My sisters could sense Kendar's change and they smiled, too. Lehand perceived a difference, but didn't know what it was. Jerome woke up. Once he was steady, we got back in the saddle and underway. Even Kendar's horse reacted to his change. The horse walked taller and nearly pranced. It was a good thing to see.
Lehand informed us we would see the palace well before reaching it. We, again, slept under the stars.


Day 82 (60th together):
The morning broke cool and a hint of rain could be tasted in the air. Kendar was cheery and the men followed his example. Lehand's shell was thinning but his glow remained strong. Jerome was slowly developing a glow, but it was still weak. Alice had confirmed all seven of our bloodlines. Sarah was part mermaid! She said it made sense as her father had told the nuns before he died that her mother's family were a sea faring lot. Callie reminded me that her father's family were "mountain folk", as her mother put it. Both Lisa and Alice recounted stories of a distant relative being "a stranger to the land". Gretta only remembered hearing about "puny" relatives on her mother's side. Anna could not recall either parent speaking of their ancestors. I told them of the story that a distant grandmother was a "princess". We were amused at how our families had glossed over any notion of non-human blood in our heritage.
After three hours in the saddle, Lehand yelled, "Behold! The palace ahead!"
A flag waved at the top of a hill. As we climbed, a tower grew under the flag. Then, more towers, each topped with a flag, appeared flanking the middle, tallest one. At the top of the hill, the palace rose majestically from the plains and city at its base. Even from this distance, it was huge! We were informed that it was still a day's ride away. It was our turn to be shocked. We watched both palace and city grow as we approached. Even at sunset, the city and palace were still on the distant horizon. We did not have to sleep outside. There was an area where a few inns and a fort here at what Lehand called the foot of the palace. The place we were staying, while full of military people, was much livelier than previous military inns. We were assigned a dorm-like room with tiered beds. It was nice.


Day 83 (61st together):
Horns woke us up. A soldier we didn't know barged into the room shouting for us to get up. Lisa snapped to her feet. The rest of us took a moment to figure out what was going on. He stopped in mid-yell. He looked around at the seven of us. Lisa realized what she had done and relaxed.
"You are not the new recruits?" he questioned us.
We all shook our heads, kind of puzzled.
He sort of shrank, "I am so sorry. My lieutenant sent me to rouse the new hands. I though you were they."
Vanity and I extended ourselves. "They are two doors down, away from the stairs. Two snore like cows giving birth."
He nodded, my sisters laughed. He apologized again and left. Since we were wide awake, we started getting dressed. Kendar and Lehand were surprised we were awake. We recounted our wake up call. Lehand was livid. He started to go find the man, but we stopped him. Letting him know we had no hard feelings toward the man, Lehand let it go. Going downstairs, we encountered the man and his recruits. They looked half asleep as they slung their gear over their shoulders and stumbled out the door. We saw the looks our guards gave them. Smiles as remembered emotions bounce between them let me know they felt for the new soldiers. We joined our guards and ate with them. One at a time, one of our guards would ask one of us about something only that sister could answer. Was a ring handed down authentic? Will my sword last another battle? Do I have noble ancestors? Why does my knee ache before a rain? Plus other questions. We finished eating and got ready to go.
Outside, the palace and city seemed even larger in the morning light. We saddled up and headed towards that massive structure. Silently, we asked Anna why it was so big and why the city was also huge.
"It is tradition for each ruler to add to the palace, leaving his or her mark long after their reign. Likewise, an area is built to the city to reflect the current ruler's taste and style, even their personality. Even unpopular rulers still have their sections of the city alive and thriving long after both they and their reigns are gone. Dynasties expand their families' work while usurpers and invaders start somewhere else entirely. The largest tower is the result of a seven generation dynasty. The flagpole was added by their conqueror to let all know their influence was over. That, too, became a tradition, to top your predecessor's work to indicate their end."
We listened to her explanation with interest. It did help us understand the reason behind its size and odd construction. As we got closer, the different styles and materials became more apparent. Slight color variations in the large tower spoke of the age of the stones. By mid-day, we were close enough for me to start feeling the totality of emotions emanating from this city. I warned Anna and Alice about the sheer force of the history of the city and its people. They acknowledged it had started pressing on them, too. We told the other four we were pulling our senses in to keep from being overwhelmed. They understood and we withdrew into ourselves. Like setting aside a great weight, the pressure ceased. None of the men seemed to notice any change. By evening, we finally entered the city. Our passage through the city caused the barest of ripples in the mass of people. Lights bloomed as darkness fell. The men indicated that magic powered these lights. We did not reach the palace until an hour after sunset. Guards and a valet met us at the door. Our mounts were taken by our guards. Kendar, Lehand, Markus, and Jerome went with us into the palace. Inside was just as huge as the outside. The valet informed us that we would meet His and Her Majesties in the morning. We were taken to a huge suite that was bigger than the house where I grew up. Even the four men were impressed. They chose beds towards the door and allowed us the ones toward the windows and balcony. Food was waiting on a large table for us. We had to ask about a few items that we didn't recognize. There was another valet who had a pen and paper who entered about half an hour after we had entered the room. He walked around, asking our names, titles, village of birth, and family names. Other than Alice and Lisa, none of us seven had any titles. Most of us had to spell our home villages names. Sarah gave the name of the convent, not remembering the name of her birth village. Except for Alice, our family names meant nothing to the valet. Once he had gotten everything down, he thanked us, told us to leave everything on the table as they would be gathered later, and left. We continued to eat and wondered about why he needed all of that information. A couple of hours later, two female servants entered and gathered the dirty dishes. We tried to speak with them, ask their names, just get one of them to talk. Nothing. In silence, they took the dishes and left. We talked for a while then decided it was time to go to bed.

Days 79 & 80 (57th & 58th together)

Day 79 (57th together):
We did not awake before sunrise. We awoke on our own: no soldiers, Kendar, or Lehand. Unsure, I extended Vanity's and my senses. We hid a knot of anger, hate, and cold pride. I let everyone know. We quickly dressed and headed to the source. The seven of us entered a mess hall to see Kendar, Lehand, the captain, and a cleric facing each other over a table. Kendar, Lehand, and the captain shown red glowing torch bright. The cleric had a thin dark cloak with red flashes and an ice-white shell around it. It made my head ache to look at him. They stopped talking, shouting actually, when they saw us. The captain stood and ordered food brought to us. Kendar and Lehand paced, trying to control their anger. The cleric stood and regarded us coldly. He spoke with a superior attitude.
"The girls are up, I see. I have been told of your little performance last night. Nice trick. It must have cost Lord Carmon a lot of money to buy a squad of Baalocs to set up camp for you to do your little show. You have these simple men convinced. I, however, do not fall for seven cute girls so easily."
"Sir, the Council of Faiths gave us a proclamation that they support and endorse us. We brought it with us if you wish to see it," Sarah told him.
"Ah, yes, the proclamation. I refused to sign it. I was not impressed by your little show then or now. Anyone can learn magic and you seven working together do nice tricks, but I have seen better by better people."
We kept each other from responding in anger. Our food arrived and we sat down and began eating in silence. The four men just watched us. In our minds, however, we were abuzz.
"Who does this joker think he is? 'Tricks'?"
"My father paid them to pretend? Ridiculous."
"He is mildly evil. I can see the darkness around him, but it's thin and there's a shell I think is pride."
"So, what do we do? Tell the soldiers? I'm a little confused."
"Alice, how important is he to their faith?"
She glanced at him, "No where near the top. He was sent to Thantos because they were sure we were fakes. He didn't sign the proclamation because he didn't have the authority. He wasn't even asked."
"So he is a self-important nobody trying to throw around weight he doesn't have?"
"Exactly," we all said at once.
"Are you girls just going to eat free food or are you going to prove your worth or validity?" the cleric asked smugly.
I swallowed then replied, "We are continuing on to Raval to defend it against the Baalocs. That is our destination and purpose."
Kendar cracked a slight smile then smothered it quickly. Lehand covered a laugh as choking on his drink. The captain and cleric both paled.
The captain walked over to us, leaned low, and whispered, "Are you mad? Even if what we saw was real, you can't effect the huge forces they have."
We all just looked at him and continued eating. The captain slowly stalked away and fell into a chair. The cleric cleared his throat a few times until we stopped eating and looked at him.
"Lord Carmon's coffers are not that deep, children. The army of the Baalocs will not stop because a bunch of girls waved some shiny toy swords at them."
I was about to reach my fill of this man. Even Callie was getting annoyed. After a quick consensus, I stood and came eye-to-eye with the cleric. He did not like me not cowing to him.
"Sir, I have seen your soul. The darkness within you is small and can be conquered. We are not your enemy. You do not have to be our friend, but do not be against us."
He started fuming. Words escaped him as he sought for a response. Kendar and Lehand were beaming. The captain laid his head on the table in defeat. The cleric finally found his voice.
"How dare you speak to me as an equal? My soul is cleaner than anyone here. If there is anyone evil here, it is you lot. I will prove it."
From inside his robe, he brought out a vial just like the seamstress Georgina had the day of the Feast. We couldn't help but laugh.
"That has been tried before, sir. It didn't work," Lehand told him.
"This sacred water is the purest available. Only clerics have this. Whomever used some before, their's was not this pure."
He uncorked it and started splashing us. This tingled a little more than Georgina's water, but still nothing happened. He was just as shocked as she had been. He looked closely at us for any sign of burning or blistering. Lisa even licked the water off the back of her hand. My sisters stood, I went over to them, and we began the soul poison chant. All four men watched black puddles form underneath them. When we were done, Lisa took Gluttony and dispelled the puddles. As we expected, the cleric's puddle was far larger than the other three. In face, his was larger than the others' put together. I could see the cloak of darkness was gone. There was no glow, but it was a start. All of them were speechless. We all sat down and continued our breakfast. The cleric left. The captain left. Kendar and Lehand sat down with us and shared our drink. We finished before one of them spoke. Kendar broke the silence.
"That was the soul poison Carmon spoke of?"
We all nodded.
"What do we look like now?" Lehand asked.
I looked up, "Kendar's glow was softened a bit and the cracks are smaller. Your's lost a lot of red but the hardness is still there."
Lehand nodded. Kendar just looked straight at me.
Finally, he said, "Explain 'softened'."
"Before, it was armor hard. Now, it is a little more pliable, but still strong."
He accepted my explanation. We returned the empty dishes to the kitchen and got ready to leave. Outside, we found a surprise. The captain and a dozen soldiers were holding our horses. The cleric was between us and them. However, he was in plain clothes instead of his robe. It was obvious he had been crying.
"My order says you are fakes. I can no longer be a part of that order. I wish to go with you, learn from you, and chronicle your journey and encounters with the Baalocs. These men are also committed to being your honor guard."
He and the soldiers went down on one knee before us. I think I blushed. I know some of my sisters blushed. Vanity trembled. They stood up and helped us get our stuff on the saddle and us into the saddle. The former cleric, named Jerome, got into the supply cart while the soldiers mounted their horses. We went from nine to twenty-three. We found ourselves encircled by soldiers. Kendar, Lehand, and Captain Markus were at the lead with Jerome and the cart bringing up the rear.
We were not able to gallop, but the sense of urgency had lessened so that need was gone. Even encircled, we were able to enjoy the countryside. Our escort did not speak. We kept our comments mental. A soldier at the back passed food up the group around mid-day. Water was accessible with simply asking. We were informed that our next stop was a town on the border of Raval and Cassabla. We got there just at sunset. We went to a building that looked like an inn, but there were only soldiers around it and inside. It reminded us of the place Lisa's commander father had us stay the night we met her. In here, too, very little was said. After placing orders, the men just sat, drank, and stared into their cups. This was getting on our nerves. Wrath remembered an old battle song used to stir the spirits of troops. Without a word spoken, we seven stood up and went to a small stage in the corner of the room. The swords vibrated, causing a hum that made a slight melody. We began singing. All heads snapped to look at who had broken the silence. As the words echoed, they began to relax, tap toes and hands, and smiles slowly blossomed on weary faces. People from the kitchen, outside, upstairs, everywhere wandered in as the song continued. Jerome was writing it down as fast as he could. By the end, men were on their feet, singing, swaying in time, and giving each other one-arm embraces. The whole place erupted into cheers when the last note died away. We were cleared a path back to our table. Now it sounded healthy, with the men chatting, laughing, and toasting one another. Our food was served with a flourish. We helped Jerome fill in the words he had missed or heard wrong. Kendar ordered a soldier to have copies made and distributed to every fort, outpost, and barrack.
After dinner, we saw knots of men talking and looking at us. I assured my sisters that no evil intent hung over any of these men. One soldier went from knot to knot with something in his hands. Kendar went to the bar to arrange for our rooms. The same soldier went to him and gave him a pouch. He indicated it was for us. Kendar looked inside and was shocked. The innkeeper handed Kendar several keys. He held one longer than the rest and pointed at us with it. Again, Kendar looked shocked. Almost sleep-walk fashion, Kendar walked back to us and sat heavily into his seat. We waited a moment before Lisa asked what was wrong. He said nothing. He let the pouch slide from his hand onto the table. Callie quickly grabbed it and looked inside. She passed it around. I saw coins of several types plus some jewelry inside. Gretta indicated it was all genuine. A clunk on the table brought our attention back to Kendar. The key that had been pointed at us lay on the table. Etched into it was "VIP". Not understanding, we looked at him, but Lehand was the one who explained.
"That room is for no one ranked below a general. Even we have not set foot inside it. It is yours, for free."
Kendar was still in shock. Lehand and Markus had to nearly carry him to his room. We took the pouch and key and headed upstairs. The room had the same letters on the door. We opened it and found a very large suite with many large beds. We each had a bed that three of us could have slept on easily. We got our things stowed and went to sleep.

Day 80 (58th together):
A knock on the door woke us. Kendar, Lehand, Markus, and Jerome stood at the threshold. We invited them in as we got ready. They stared at the room in awe. I could see they wanted to ask something, but didn't know how to ask.
"We don't get this treatment all of the time. We have slept on the ground and on floors at a friend's house. Alice is the only reason we had that suite at Lord Carmon's castle. So, no, this is not typical."
The men relaxed some and helped carry our stuff downstairs. Breakfast was light and we were in the saddle just after dawn. Our escort seemed in better spirits today. We heard snatches of last night's song as we rode out of town.
Not two hours in the saddle, we crossed into Raval. Lehand took a small lead as this was now his country. We were informed we were headed straight for the palace. We wondered why but didn't ask.
We had to make camp as there was no outpost, fort, or barrack in this area. We were told they had all been destroyed and there was not a chance to rebuild. We didn't mind. Summer was nearly upon us and the nights did not get cold. There was no indication of rain. Jerome made a nice stew and we found a clear spring. Checking for fey habitation, we found no one living there. Canteens, skins, and barrels were filled. Lisa informed everyone that it was pure. Sarah concurred. For the first time in a long time, we slept under the stars again. It felt good.