Days 137&138 (115th&116th)

Day 137 (115th):
I was awake after the first rap on the door. My sisters struggled awake as I opened the door. Kendar was smiling as he stood there. As he entered, a young girl entered behind him.
"Sisters, this is Mary. She is the soldier we have chosen to be Mara's double. What do you girls think?"
We looked her over. Physically, she was the same height, build, hair and eye color. She had more of a tan than Mara, who spent most of her days indoors. We agreed that she was outwardly similar, but attitude could make or break this deal. Mary straightened up and adopted a haughty attitude. We all looked at her in a disapproving manner. She immediately changed. We explained Mara's personality and behavior. Mary became more like Mara as we explained. By the time we reached the front doors, she was very close to Mara both mentally and physically. We reached the doors before the bells. We fine tuned her guise as the bells sounded. Before they died, we opened them to find the Baaloc standing there in his arrogant pose. He sneered at us.
"Good, you can keep your word. Now, show me Princess Mara."
Mary shyly came to the front of our group. She barely glanced at his face and mainly stared at her own feet. The Baaloc circled her several times. He flipped her hair, examined her hands, even opened her mouth like a horse trader. He stopped and looked her over.
Boldly, he asked, "Are you a maiden?"
In a whisper, Mary responded, "I am unmarried, sir. I have no father or mother to arrange any union. Simply surviving has left little time for romance or courting. In all truth, sir, I am a maiden in all ways."
"Excellent, I will not bring used property to my lord. In two days, before you leave for Baaloc Prime, a physician will inspect you for proof of your virginity. I suggest you keep you purity intact or I will remove your head, then my lord can be a true king as no royal family will be alive to deny him the crown. Selvis blood ends with you. Also, you will again be checked outside the gates of Baaloc Prime, so keep you legs together and don't let the Sisters turn you into a whore like them. All of Baaloc knows they have screwed every man, woman, and beast in their camp and this palace. Keep you distance from them, Princess Mara, they are pure evil."
"Sir," I stepped forward, "how dare you talk like that in front of her, and us, for that matter?"
He patted me on the head, "Young ears are easily offended. I am only warning your lady mistress, and you young ladies. Avoid those...women at all cost. The king is their pawn, but he may be saved since he has allowed this marriage. If you see them, run the other way. Do not let their evil or their demon-forged swords anywhere near you."
"That is enough!" Kendar exploded, "You have done your inspection, asked your questions, and confirmed her identity. Leave now before I am forced to bodily remove you."
The Baaloc shook his head and "tsked", "See what corruption they have wrought. This honorable warrior has become a puppet. I will leave. My physician will be here in two days time, in the morning, so keep yourself pure, Princess, and good day."
He bowed and swaggered away. We closed the doors and started laughing. We could not believe it. He had looked at us, at me twice, and did not know who we were. Even Kendar was laughing so hard he had tears running down his face. As we were trying to compose ourselves, Mara, Marrissa, the Royal Couple, Mamar, and Tymara arrived at the front entrance. Confusion was plain on all of their faces. We relayed the meeting to Tymara and Mamar mentally. They began laughing. Mamar told the rest what had happened. Everyone, even Droland, burst into hysterical laughter. When we regained control, Mary and Mara were introduced. Seeing them together, their similarities and differences became obvious. Servants arrived to inform us breakfast was ready for all of us in the formal dining room. Mary joined us to learn more about Mara and her life at Thantos castle and what little she remembered of life in Selvis as a princess. The two of them and Marrissa spent most of the meal talking low among themselves. Kendar, Vangar, Droland, and Tymara were discussing travel routes and personnel placement and other things I could not follow. Fortunately, Darla, Gavin, Margret, Mamar, Mattis, and the rest of the troop talked with us about magic lessons, cleric versus arcane magic, the sight we could expect through the forest, plus other things. Servants came and left with reports and updates on the preparations. When we had finished, we all sort of split up. Callie was asked to inspect the carriage and other items. Alice was called upon to make sure none of the guards were Baaloc spies. Gretta went with Callie to validate the weapons and items. Lisa, Sarah, Anna, and myself went with the troop out to the garden to visit with Leo. When they returned, they told us about the massive changes to the carriage that had been expertly camouflaged and hidden. Only two guards were rejected as they had been paid to lead the carriage into an ambush by a thieves' guild. We took the troop to the rebuilt wall and recounted how it had fallen. The idea of dead being pulled from their graves to fight for someone they didn't even know in life was an unforgivable act of evil incarnate to them. They didn't even know anyone in their tribe who could raise those who had been dead that long. Tymara arrived and was very vocal on the subject of necromancy. As she spoke, she told the story of an encounter with a necromancer and his undead squadron that had invaded their area of Brimgrove. As the tale unfolded, her glow flared red from the memory anger she was feeling. She almost punched a tree until she remembered herself. By the time we returned to the gazebo, lunch was being served. Everyone settled up to the round table and more discussion took place on the method of travel through the forest and whether to have the wedding party travel extra slow to allow for unexpected encounters. It was decided that it would go slow enough taking the main roads and going around other travelers without slowing down on purpose. Tymara and her troop produced an elaborate map of Brimgrove, completely in elvish, and showed us the exact route we would take. It was fascinating to see the towns marked in an area that, on human maps, was just a big blob of trees. Droland and Vangar told us all that, after the Baalocs were gone and Selvis restored, they would propose to declare Brimgrove an independent territory where logging and hunting would be by license only under the elves jurisdiction. The troop was please to hear that. Mara said she would try to get that done from the Selvis side of the border. A valet told Mary she was needed for her final fitting and drills. She said good-bye and followed the valet into the palace. One by one, our group went to separate duties and tasks. We seven, Mara, and Marrissa were all that was left when the dishes were removed. We ended up just wandering the halls. Everything was planned or being planned. Our skills and knowledge was not needed. I almost longed for our cottage in Thantos. At least there, we had a garden to tend, clothes to wash and mend, and people sort of needed us. Mara brushed against me and broke me out of my musings.
"I have heard about the room you go to in your visions. It is a room in Thantos castle or Raval palace or somewhere else entirely?"
"I am not sure. Tharinzar recognized it and was afraid. Maalicus didn't act as if he had ever been there before or knew it. Vanity, what is that room we go to?"
"It is a part of Andros' home. I am not sure the original purpose of it. Breanne and her sisters met kings and peasants there, so I suppose it is the foyer of Andros' old castle."
Telling this to Mara and Marrissa, they seemed to understand. We began to discuss other things about the swords, how it felt to switch with them, the oddness of feeling our bodies move without our control, and other things. Anna stopped us.
"We need to go back. This is the private area of the Royal Family. We should not be here."
"No, you shouldn't," a male voice echoed. Vangar stepped around a corner, "Lost?"
"No, we just weren't watching where we were going. Sorry to have trespassed," Alice explained.
Vangar said nothing. He circled the nine of us like a predator. He stopped in front of me.
"Am I evil in your sight?" he asked bluntly.
"No, Your Highness. Your glow is clean and bright. The blue swirls among the orange and the white is thin and flowing," I stated simply.
"That means what, exactly?"
"Good people glow. Honestly brightens it. Blue is wizard magic. Orange is authority. White is pride, but since it flows, it is not arrogance," I explained.
He actually smiled, "You are straight as an arrow, Kayla. Others would have flattered me about power and virility and other nonsense. It is much different than your first readings of me. The bells are about to sound. Dinner will be ready by the time we reach the dining room."
Vangar walked with us back the way we had traveled. The bells sounded before we had gone far. We were nervous. Vangar wasn't angry, I could see that. He was acting as if he was angry. Mara and Marrissa were frightened and worried. My sisters and I tried to let them know he truly was not angry with us, but their years of servitude and abuse did not allow them to believe us. When we got to a familiar area of the palace, Vangar stopped and we with him. He looked at us crossly, then burst laughing. Mara and Marrissa huddled together.
"Fear not, you are not in any trouble. In times past, I would have punished you because I was told many times of my superiority and how servants were lowly and stupid. I know, because of all of you, this is not the case. Mara is a princess of a very old bloodline. Marrissa is a lady of the same. The rest of you are nearly equal to me in station. If you chose, I know the power is in you to take over this palace and kingdom. The swords chose well as the sense of duty and honor I have seen you, all of you, display is astounding. Do not be afraid of me. I am only human, even if my mother is a Faerie. My powers are nothing compared to my sister or even my brother. I can only hope to be a good king and, thank to you seven, I can be one," Vangar actually bowed to us.
"Well said, my son," Droland spooked us as he spoke from a doorway, "It pleases me to hear you speak like that. I have no fears about Raval in your hands now."
Father and son clasped hands. Upon parting, we all made our way to the dining room. The troop was already there as were the rest of the Royal Family and our usual assembly. Leo said he would be elsewhere and was not in the room. Conversation was light as nearly all of the preparations were complete. Messengers were sent ahead to inform those on the wedding route of the coming procession. Only key individuals were told of its true nature. Everyone else was told that it was what we wanted it to appear. Letters of advice had begun arriving, trying to deter this event. After dinner, we returned to our room. The anticipation made it hard to relax, but I slept nonetheless.

Day 138 (116th):
On this day, there was little to do but wait. All the preparations were finished. All the gear and supplies were assembled and ready. I could feel the tension, apprehension, and worry everywhere I went. We did get to pick our own horses and tack. A few of us went with the military style. A couple chose side-saddles. We were able to find saddles for Sarah's and Anna's small frames. Gretta found a large saddle that I thought looked awkward, but she liked it. We met the soldiers and people traveling with us. Most of them had faced the Baalocs with us, so we were acquainted if not on speaking terms. Some of the support we didn't know, but they were friendly enough. When we went inside for lunch, a pale servant said a package had "appeared from nowhere" on the table in our room. We went there and saw a basket of woven gold sitting in the middle of the table. Inside were many identical stone pendants on simple strings. I could feel Faerie power radiating from all of these. A piece of paper was folded and tucked in the basket. It read:
Dear grand-daughter,
Have each member of your party, including the elves, take and wear one of these. They will let any fey know you are a friend and not a threat. Tread carefully though, as wild animals may become attracted to you and become a nuisance. Furthermore, if anyone uses this power to lure a creature, animal, or beast in order to slay it, the stone will shatter and be useless. Send me word of your success when this task incomplete.
Love and good wishes,
The Faerie Queen
P.S. Don't worry about running out of stones. The basket is magic.

We told Kendar about this at lunch. Afterwards, we found everyone traveling with us again and gave them their stones. Some were reluctant to wear it even after we explained their purpose. They said they would have them on tomorrow when we headed for the forest. Tymara and the elves took them in silence. They bowed deeply when they received them and put them on as if they were priceless jewels. We went back inside with an empty basket. Mattis found us and asked, even though he was not going, if he might have one, to study Faerie magic. His face fell when he saw the empty basket. Before all of our eyes, one more materialized inside, somewhat larger than the others. A small tag on it read: For experiments only, not for practical use. Mattis quickly took it and the basket, as we didn't need it anymore, thanked us, the Faerie Queen, and any other power involved. He nearly ran back to the area he had been given for wizardly activities like a child with a new toy. The rest of the day and night were uneventful.