Day 168 (146th)

Day 168 (146th) 1 day until wedding:
We awoke, ate, and went back into Baaloc Prime. Our friends shared the fantastic deals they had made on the dragon eggshells. Wizards had started a waiting list for the next batch.
As we visited, that weird horn sounded. Yet, this came from the gates. Having missed the procession leaving Raval, we raced out to watch it entering Baaloc Prime. It was as grand as we had imagined. The honor guard on horseback pranced in wearing their fancy uniforms. Even the horses were done up fancy in silver and gold. The carriage, even slightly dusty, was still magnificent. Mary, still playing the role of Mara, shyly waved to the people of Baaloc Prime. Behind that, a small squadron of wizards and clerics road uncomfortably in the carriage's wake. At the rear, a dozen servants rode in a wagon with a sheet protecting them from the sun. We followed them, along with a lot of other people, to the palace doors. Cornwall, Tharinzar, and Robear stood just inside the door as the procession came to a halt. The servants jumped out of the wagon and began collecting everyone's gear. The wizards and clerics got comically out of their saddles. Even Cornwall chuckled. Once on their feet, they assembled behind the door of the carriage. The honor guard, with practiced precision, dismounted and formed two lines, one on either side of the door. Wizards and clerics scurried back as they formed ranks. When the last was in place, Lehand opened the carriage and helped Mary out. She was lovely in what everyone believed was her simple traveling outfit. Many peasant women would do anything to get married in such a dress. Cornwall took a few steps out of the doorway and watched the pair walk towards him. Pride and arrogance formed around him like a stone shell. Mary pretended to be fearful of the people and Cornwall. Her emotions practically sang, "I can kill him where he stands." They came together on the front landing of the palace. Lehand introduced himself and "Mara" to Cornwall. Robear stepped forward to verify that this was the same woman he had examined and matched every visual record from Raval to Baaloc Prime. Cornwall was pleased and introduced Tharinzar as "the physical representation of the one true god". Cornwall stepped aside and bid "Mara", Lehand, and their people to "Mara's" new home. Slowly, wizards, clerics, servants, and four guards entered. The rest took horses, carriage, and wagon around to a side building and disappeared inside.
When the door closed, everyone outside began returning to their daily lives. We watched Baaloc soldiers emerge with signs in hand. Everywhere they hung "Wedding Tomorrow" banners on any place big enough to hold them. The stage was reinforced magically and mundanely.
We returned to the inn. Our friends said it would not be until after lunch when the wedding would begin. Also, there would be no reception, at least not for the public. We went over our plans as Mattis demonstrated the fire powder they would throw at us. While we watched, I felt a familiar pull on my perception.
"Sisters, Tharinzar is sending a vision," I told them mentally.
We all sat down and allowed me to receive it.

I was standing before the Baaloc palace, Vanity at my side. Tharinzar, in his true form, walked out of the palace doors.
"Watch the end of all your plans," he said as he motioned behind us.
Turning, we saw the wedding taking place. Mary and Cornwall were holding hands and a cleric was speaking. A noise drew all eyes to the back of the crowd. The seven of us, swords in hand, stood there, announcing the end of the wedding. The crowd began to shout at us. At the back, our friends stepped forward and told us we were not wanted, that they would not listen to our lies anymore, and to return to the Abyss that spawned us. They threw the fire powder on us and it burst into flames, along with us. A large wall of fire engulfed us for a moment or two. When it burned out, there was no sign of us or the swords.
"See, your friends will regain their senses in time to stop you. The wedding will proceed and Selvis blood will join Baaloc faith. With her blood tie to the land, we can expel the unwanted raced above and below ground and bring the oldest of gods back where they belong, with humans as willing slaves and cattle before us."
"Tharinzar, the future is not yet written. Your master doesn't know everything. When your plan fails, he will not be pleased with you. Besides, there are more races inside Baaloc Prime than outside of it. Their expulsion will reduce your population by a third."
"LIAR! Only humans inhabit Baaloc Prime! Not a drop of non-human blood flows through a single vein of the citizens of Baaloc Prime. Maalicus purged them before his failure on the battlefield. Baaloc Prime is pure human and demon hybrids. No other race lives here."
"We shall see. Besides, we were wondering if you replaced the part of your spell we erased on Cornwall."
He huffed, "Yes, that is repaired. I don't know what spell you used, but it will not work again. Plus, your vanquishing spell will also fail, if you can use it before you die."
"And what of us, Tharinzar? Will you allow us to slip through your fingers, again?"
"The swords are of little concern. If you do survive the fire, any guardian will be too weak, young, and stupid to be a threat. My master is certain you will be destroyed tomorrow."
"Then your master is a bigger fool than you. We have foreseen Mara's wedding and Cornwall is not there. I tire of your face. Be gone!"

I returned to my normal vision. My sisters opened their eyes as they separated from my vision. Our friends had stopped all activity and were just staring. One of the innkeeper's maids was lying, unattended, on the floor, items she had been carrying laying where they had landed. A nod sent Sarah to her side. The others slowly assembled together. Sarah got the poor woman up and sent her to go lie down a while. She returned to us and we sat there, waiting for the others to finish their conference. Mattis seemed to be the main speaker, but everyone was speaking. It was several minutes before they faced us. Mattis, Kendar, and Sadal approached us.
"Who initiated that?" Kendar asked almost fatherly.
"Tharinzar did. He was trying to scare us by sharing his master's vision of the wedding."
Noise erupted. When quiet was restored, Sadal spoke.
"They know our plan, but want it to proceed? I do not understand."
"We think that, when clothed in magic garments, he cannot see us at all or incompletely. As we will be wearing magically produced armor, in his vision, we vanished, presumably consumed by the flames."
They thought on that.
Kendar asked, "How can we be sure these men won't be corrupted and truly set you aflame?"
"Even if they are, the powder they have will barely light a campfire. Magic will cause the dramatic large fire and it is only an illusion."
They were silent again.
"Besides," I added, "the woman in the palace is not Princess Mara. Even if they do marry, he's marrying the wrong woman."
Silence. Finally, they burst into laughter once they realized how thoroughly we had planned this out. The rest of the day went into the final details of their parts in this strange play. Our friends returned to their homes and we went to our room.