Days 88-90 (66th-68th)

Day 88 (66th):
We did not hear the morning bells. The meal on the table wasn't cold but not hot either. No message was left for us. Feeling out for the others, none of them were anywhere near us. They were also struggling with the events of last night. Between the revelations and Shandara's suicide, there was a lot to process. We ate and stayed in the room. We did not want to inflict our presence on the others. The servants came and went without speaking. We used our seclusion to feel out our abilities. It suddenly dawned on me that none of us have actually trained to use these gifts or the other magic that we have performed. All of it is either pure instinct or just asking for something to be done. Grant it, with Sloth, we do have a master wizard and, with Gluttony, a master elf cleric or druid, I'm not sure what title he went by among others. Vanity's Faerie magic is still with her as is Lust's mermaid abilities. Greed's knowledge of gems, jewels, and the like is not diminished a whit in spite of his centuries as a sword. Wrath's military knowledge is just as sharp as the day he melded with the sword and Envy's knowledge of clothes, material, and weaving aid us the same now as it would have a thousand years ago. The sharing between us gives all of us access to this seemingly limitless knowledge. I understand why even our friends find it hard to remember that we as still young women, two of us under eighteen years of age. Looking as on outsider, I was beginning to get the feelings they get when we do something they deem extraordinary. I needed to remember that the others could not call up a thousand years of skills and knowledge as instantly as we did.
Some of us, in experimenting, found we could reach farther then we before believed. We also experimented, one at a time, with the swords' effects. We only used them a little, but stretched their area of influence. We kept it to one person being effected, picking them from a crowd. Not enough to cause trouble, but just enough to see their attitudes and behavior change. While doing this, we saw Barram as we stood on our balcony. He was now working for a merchant. He seemed to enjoy it as his glow was bright and strong. Damas was also busy. We saw him wearing the clothes of the wizard's guild, which, with his magic reopened to him, he was able to join. He, too, was happy and content.
When the servants came for the lunch dishes, Mamar, Mattis, and Kendar were right behind them. For some reason, they seemed weaker, almost smaller, than yesterday. Their glows were not as bright or large as before. We all sat down and got comfortable. For a few tense moments, no one spoke.
Finally, Kendar broke the silence, "Shandara was buried with honors. Her information has provided us with many avenues of attack. We have made it certain that she is chronicled as another Baaloc who flung off their armor to join our side, even if it was for a brief time."
We nodded, glad she was given those honors. Kendar cleared his throat a few times before speaking again, "King Droland has suggested moving all of you to better, serparate rooms. He and others do not think this suite is appropriate for ladies of your discovered stations. But, it is up to you. You can stay here or have the other rooms."
We seven looked at each other. The suite we were in was massive. After the men had found rooms of their own, we had more than enough space. We had found out that, usually, the servants of dignitaries stayed here, but we didn't care about station or any of that. I could see some of this bothered the three men. They did not want to offend us, but they were torn between knowing us as friends and what was expected behavior towards people of our new stations.
After a quick poll of my sisters, I responded, "Sirs, we are happy where we are, in this room. Please, do not be so formal with us. We are still the same seven girls you rode with from Thantos, Kendar. Mattis, six of us slept on you floor. Mamar, where is the kindly smile you used to greet us? I know you feel duty-bound to offer this and to be official with us, but we are still the same girls you chastised for talking mentally in front of you. Please, be our friends again, not diplomats."
My sisters nodded and also asked to be friends again with the men before us. I could see the conflict warring in each man. Mamar was the first to resolve his internal dispute. He smiled at us like a grandfather. We cheered. Mattis and Kendar realized how foolish they had been. We all stood, hugged, and laughed about it. By the time the last dish was removed, we were all friends again.
A knock on the door interruped our conversations. A servant told us there was a package for us outside the front doors. He stated that it was too large to bring inside and was clearly marked for "The Seven Sisters of the Swords".
Following him to the front of the palace, we found it and everyone else there. Many from the city were also there, Barram and Damas included. It was large, a cart holding something that was covered. I sensed no evil from it. Callie commented that the cart was strained from the weight. We seven stepped forward and pulled off the cover. We revealed a mass of armor, weapons, and tools. A piece of rolled up paper was being held by a gauntlet. I pulled it out and unrolled it. To everyone, I read:

"Greetings, Honored Sisters,
We could not send you soldiers as we are dealing with a crisis of our own. However, we have assembled as much human-size equipment as we could find. We hope these things will aid you against the Baalocs.
Allies forever,
King Gorval of the Dwarves."

Cheers erupted, slightly spooking us seven. Kendar explained that there had been a shortage of metal to make arms and equipment. I could see a weight of doubt and fear lift off many gathered around us.
I stepped over to King Droland, bowed, and, in a voice all could hear, said, "Our gift is your gift, Your Majesty."
More cheers drowned out Droland's acceptance of the gift. Kendar and Lehand got people to begin unloading the cart. Droland and the rest looked at us as friends again. We all felt much better now. We watched and marvelled at the amount and quality of this stuff. Underneath it all was a box. On it was written, "To my distant cousin, Callie." Callie accepted the box and opened it. Inside were treasures. A detailed family tree showed how Callie was related to them. A ring with the family crest, which happened to be a sun inside a mountain, that fit Callie's finger perfectly. An overdress with the family crest sewn on the front. Lastly, a beautiful silver circlet with the crest in the center like a shield. We were so happy for her. As one of a large family, Callie rarely got anything new and never custom made. Alice was reading over the family tree. She asked to see the note I was still holding. A look of shock whitened her face. We stopped.
"What's the matter? Alice, what is it?" Calle asked nervously.
"Look at your tree, Callie. King Gorval is related to you. In fact, you are decendant of three dwarven kings. Callie, you're royalty!"
Callie looked fit to faint. Our village was as far from nobility as one could get. Even when on "royal inspection", we only got the lowest of the royal family, like the seventh child of a count or something. We looked at the others, hoping to avoid a repeat of the ackwardness of earlier. Smiles and winks were the replies. We relaxed. After the cart was empty, we gave it to a farmer who was watching this whole scene. We all followed Kendar and Lehand to where the stuff was being stored. Armor was sorted and matched up for complete suits. Pole arms along one side, swords on another, and shields took up a third. Daggers, axes, and tools were laid out on a table. Helmets not belonging to the suits of armor were set on shelves, along with mismatched gauntlets and shoes. Soldiers, guards, and servants trickled in to either just get a glimpse, inspect them, or request an item to replace one that was lost, broken, or in really bad shape. Requests were written and the one asking was told that they would have to wait until everything was counted and cataloged. Those just inspecting remarked on the quality and strength of the equipment. This sorting went on almost to the evening bells. The arms master sent word that those who had made requests were to meet with him to get their items. Droland told us to head to the garden for dinner. Using Leo's presence as an anchor, we were able to get there without escort.
Dinner was far more relaxed today than last night. Talk about the items monopolized the conversation. Callie's ring, she didn't wear the circlet, also drew attention. Leo noted that it was a very old family and many human kings could also be traced back to it. We regained our former level of comfort with everyone. Vangar's glow was taking a blue tint but nowhere near Margret's or even Gavin's shade or intensity. Droland's was slowly brightening to an orange hue with sparks of yellow and losing the shell. Darla's was a brilliant pink and radiated softly. Mamar's yellow was intense, strong, and had so many sparks that the color was sometimes lost. Pride white was thin on all the royal family. I felt that was a good thing. Leo's was still so clean, pure, and easy to deal with in its simplicity. Talk about Shandara's information was light. They did mention some differences between her's, Barram's, and Damas' reports. Shandara had access to Maalicus' private chambers as well as the private areas of other high-ranking officials that the men did not. She was also present during high-level meetings that the men knew nothing about. Plus her's was more recent than either man's as she had left mere days ago compared to Barram's month or Damas' year.
Before it got dark, we all went to the garden wall to check its progress. Men must have been working non-stop. Already, it was waist high. Callie reported that the completed part was strong and secure. The workers' pride widened and they picked up their pace slightly. We returned to the palace as it was getting too dark to see. We returned to our suite in much better spirits than when we had left.

Days 89-90 (67th-68th):
Over the next couple of days we didn't do anything special. Reports were examined. Drawings were scrutinized. Plans were made, discarded, and remade. Leo flew over Baaloc Prime to validate the outer structures and arms. Workers finished the wall and made the ceiling window easier for Leo to enter and exit, but very difficult for anything smaller than he to even try to open it.