Day 232 (210th)

Day 232 (210th):
When the bells rang, we were a little confused. A look out our small window revealed not a setting sun but a rising one. The swords confirmed that we had slept through dinner and the whole night. Set also said it was so. We straightened our clothes and headed to the dining hall. We saw the other clerics as they walked around us. Their auras were bright and clean, with no trace of the shadows that had marred them since our arrival. Alice confirmed everyone in the ritual had slept as we had.
The hall was buzzing. Everyone was speaking about how much better they felt, how different the building and town felt, even the weather seemed better. Some of the transformed clerics had returned during the night and were recounting their brief experience as animals. The noise died when Lord Bishop and a female cleric entered and stood by his table. She was wearing the Lady Bishop mantle. While she was familiar, we could not remember her name. Lord Bishop spoke.
"Brothers and sisters, please sit. I can trust that everyone who took part in the ritual is as well rested as I."
Giggles peppered the assembly.
"Since I had announced I would introduce a new Lady Bishop last night, I thought it was better now since I could not at dinner. So, to make it official, Sister Cypress has accepted the mantle as our new Lady Bishop."
She stood to thunderous applause. Her aura was a clean yellow with the thinnest of white pride and no hardness at all. It was definitely better than the last Lady Bishop's aura. Everyone accepted her easily. She sat down, as did Lord Bishop, and the food was served.
While we were ravenous, we ate at a sociable pace. A note was handed to us, telling us our escorts were arriving tonight to take us to Crialas. We would have time to meet them before heading out.
Once dismissed, we took a look around the cloister and some of the town. The tree, though bare, still radiated with magic. The people walking around were happy and seemed healthier and more at ease than when we arrived. We also noticed a marked increase in animal life. Even with the snow on the ground, we saw squirrels, mice, birds, and even spotted a deer out beyond the edge of town.
Back inside, we returned to our room to get everything ready for tomorrow. Set needed tending as he was showing signs of a new growth spurt. We had started in our room, but my supply of cream wasn't enough for today or our travels. Set and I went to the apothecary while my sisters fanned out to refill other supplies and check on various tasks.
At the apothecary, I showed the cleric the cream and explained its use. Fortunately, a list of ingredients was clearly written on the bottom of the container. She set to work making more as I used what little I had on Set. He purred and cooed as I worked it into the stretching scaleless skin. Two men came running in as I worked. They stood in silence, watching both me and Set. One produced a flute and began piping in pitch with Set's noises. The other revealed paper and coal and scribbled furiously after every utterance from Set. When we were done, Set looked at the men and growled low in his chest, which resulted in more scribbling and left the flutist baffled. He tried playing as low a note as the flute would produce, but it was nowhere near the deep tones Set made.
While his body was growling, he asked, "What are they doing? I don't like to be mocked. Make them stop or I will bite and flame them."
"Easy, Set," I said out loud, "I am sure these gentlemen meant no harm and are not mocking you."
"No, no, young emperor, we are the music instructors at the cloister. Our practice room is next door. We were doing musical scales when we heard these otherworldly sounds. We though our fellows were pulling a joke on us. When we heard it from this direction, we grabbed what was at hand: flute, paper, and coal. We raced to find the source. To our delight, we found it to be you," the scribe told us in wide-eyed excitement.
Set cocked his head and pondered this information.
He, then, turned to me, eyes beginning to tear up, "I don't understand. Did I do bad? Am I in trouble?"
I held my growing charge tight and explained to him out loud so everyone would understand.
"You are not in trouble. You did nothing wrong. These men make music. The noises you make, they like them. So much so, they want to copy them with their noisemakers. They want to make dragon music," I explained as I rocked Set in my lap.
Huddled against me, I felt his emotions swirl around each other. The men did not speak, to keep from upsetting him further. Through the apothecary's window, Dawn squeezed in and landed near Set and I. She regarded the situation and began a beautiful song. Both men leaped into action, grabbing more paper and writing furiously. Set watched as I explained to him alone.
"Your noises and Dawn's singing are new to them. They want to be able to hear them when we are not here. If they write it down, they can play it back whenever they want."
Set thought some more as he watched Dawn sing for the men. When he realized her singing made them happy and his noises also made them happy, he nuzzled my cheek and pulled out of my arms.
"I will sing for them so they can make happy dragon music. When Dawn is finished, I will sing."
"I am glad you understand. Sing something simple. Dawn's song is wearing them out."
The men's hands were nearly useless when Dawn was finished. Rubbing them, they examined their writing. They seemed pleased.
"Set," began the flutist, "could you sing for our class? I'm sure they would love to hear it. You, too, Dawn. No one should miss out."
The apothecary said it would take a while for the cream to be usable, so we had time to go to their music lesson. Still holding Set, I followed the clerics to the next room. Dawn walked behind me.
We entered a quiet room. All eyes were on us as we proceeded to the front of the room. I felt like hiding, but pushed through that feeling knowing that Set and Dawn were the stars, not I.
"Brothers and sisters," the flutist began, "those noises we heard were from this young dragon. The other music, I am sure you all heard, was from this fine bird. Everyone, get out your writing tools. Set is going to since a dragon song for us."
The other clerics scrambled to get their tools as I placed Set on the instructor's table. He stretched and got himself comfortable. When everyone was ready, the scribe turned to Set.
"Whenever you are ready," he said and backed away to another table and sat down.
Set took a few deep breaths then began. The notes he made took everyone by surprise, to the point a few forgot to write. Fortunately, they snapped out of it and began furiously writing the representation of Set's melody. He kept it simple, a lullaby of sorts, and repeated it twice. At the end, the dozen or so clerics rose and applauded thunderously. A few passers-by clapped from the doorway.
Set looked at me, "Are they happy? Did I do good?"
"Yes, they are very happy. You did wonderful. They will try very hard to imitate you with their instruments. They may have to make new instruments just to get the sound right," I told him mentally.
As they settled down, Dawn flew up onto the table by Set. The scribe got every one's attention and told them it was Dawn's turn. Dawn fluffed her feathers and began a slow, melancholy song. Many were wiping their eyes as they copied the sad notes.
Dawn finished to dead silence. So moved were they that not a one uttered a sound.
Set looked at them all and began to panic, "What's wrong? What's wrong? Are they mad? Are they hurt? What are they so still? Kayla, I'm scared. I don't understand."
I picked him up and held him as I showed him the emotions they were feeling, that Dawn's music had stirred.
"You are too young to know real sadness and pain. Dawn's song has awoke memories of old losses and forgotten sorrow. They will be fine, but they must reface that pain and deal with it anew."
As they recovered, they clapped sporadically. The two instructors excused everyone to take a short break. They filed out like ghosts, barely aware of their surroundings or each other. When the room was empty, the instructors faced us.
"How can she do that? King's birds are not known for stirring people with their songs. How?" the flutist asked, trying to clear his pain out of his throat.
"She is also part phoenix, sir. A parent of her parent was a phoenix. It is also where her sparks come from, a diminished form of phoenix fire," I informed them both.
Dawn shook, sending those sparks harmlessly over the table and all of us. Set and I laughed, but the two clerics were startled. They tried to catch them, but they vanished in their hands.
"Remarkable. We will be hard pressed to reproduce these sounds. I am not sure our instruments have that range," the flutist commented.
He picked up several instruments that were lying around. None could go as low as Set nor as high as Dawn.
As he was testing, I felt four dragons with riders approaching. Set felt them, too. I reached out and found our dragon rider cleric plus others we knew were on their way to the cloister. In moments, I had informed them of what had happened here. They told me they suspected as much and to get Lord and Lady Bishop to meet them in the courtyard.
I excused myself from the two men, grabbed Set and Dawn, found kirlan, and appeared in Lord Bishop's office. The new Lady Bishop shrieked when she saw us appear out of nowhere. Lord Bishop, startled by her scream, instinctively ducked. Seeing it was only us, he laughed.
"It must be very important. What is it now?" he asked as he reassured Lady Bishop that all was well.
"Four riders are approaching to confer with Lord and Lady Bishop about the change in this area," I told them somewhat formally.
Lady Bishop looked out the window that allowed a view of the main roads into and out of town.
She turned, rather puzzled, "I see no one. Is this a vision?"
"No, they are near. They are not on the roads but in the sky. They are dragon riders, like me," I stated as a matter-of-fact.
They were both dumbstruck. As they tried to find their voices, the two music instructors ran in, flinging the door wide.
"My lord! Kayla disappeared! We looked down a moment and ..." they stopped when they saw all three of us here, "But ... we ... you ... how?" they stammered.
"That will have to wait," I told them, "we have company to greet."
Outside, screams and other noises heralded the four riders as they settled into the courtyard. Lord and Lady Bishop, the music instructors, and I, with Set and Dawn near and on me, went out to greet them.
In the courtyard, I found my sisters already there and chatting with the cleric, our male dwarf friend, a female elf, and a woman who's race I did not know. They stopped talking as we approached. The four riders bowed to the Bishops. The elf addressed them.
"Lord and Lady Bishop, we were sent to investigate the pleasant change our clerics felt in this area. Kayla has informed us of what took place here. We offer the alliance of Demagram to you, your clerics, this cloister, and town."
The Bishops struggled for words as the cloister emptied to study the arrivals. People from the town also came to see who they were and determine if they were a threat.
Lord Bishop finally found his voice, "Riders, we are greatly touched by your offer. I cannot speak for the townspeople, but we, the cloister, accept you alliance and welcome you all."
An old man with long white hair approached, "As the elder of this village, I accept the riders' alliance and welcome them to Aurdoahrn."
A great cheer went up and people came forward to see, touch, and speak with the dragons and riders. The music instructors talked about Set's singing, which elicited a chuckled from the riders. The rider cleric, who was the tallest person there, got every one's attention.
"Two of your clerics mentioned dragon song. For them, and all of you, we would like to show you what dragons can do when they put their hearts into it."
He motioned for everyone to get comfortable. Snow was cleared from benches and blankets were laid to protect them from the cold ground. Set and I were asked to join. We were to sing the song in the common language, then the dragons would repeat it in true draconian. It was a simple song, one that thanked the elements for their gifts and all they provide. When the dragons took it up, everyone was mesmerized. Their deep voices rumbled the ground, causing snow to sift off trees and other things. The people sitting on the ground nearly jumped when they realized they were moving slightly. The song finished and the audience was silent. They waited for the vibrations to die away before cheering. The lunch bells interrupted the cheers and the riders were invited to join the cloister for lunch. The townspeople returned to their previous activities. The stable master offered to house the dragons, but he was informed that dragons tended themselves and they took off to claim their own lunch.
We all proceeded into the cloister and entered the dining hall. Lord Bishop informed those who had not gone outside of our new arrivals and the alliance with Demagram. I could see the doubt around many as they worried about the meaning of all of this. There was still the belief that the troubles the kingdom was experiencing were the result of "unclean" outsiders and "foreign" magics. It was explained to the riders, who understood and promised to behave appropriately. They sat at our table.
As we ate, the fourth rider kept drawing my attention. I could not understand why. She was attractive, but it was not her appearance that drew me. Finally, I could not keep silent any longer.
"Excuse me," I mentally spoke to her, "I do not mean to be rude, but I feel a bond between us. You are fey of some kind? Fear not to speak, these words are between you, me, my sword, and my dragon only."
She blushed a bit, then nodded as she replied, "You are perceptive, Kayla. My mother was a dryad. My father was half-elf. They met when a storm damaged my mother's tree. He had a stately oak near his home that she bonded with in order to heal. They fell in love and I was born. She lived with him until his death. She left the mortal world and became one with her tree. Every new owner of my old home makes a pledge not to damage it for her sake. I visit when I can."
I thanked her for her honesty and promised not to say a word.
As the meal was winding down, odd noises were heard down the corridor. A small herd of sheep, some donkeys, and a collection of other animals ran into the dining hall. They stopped and looked around. Spying the riders, they raced in our direction. Clerics ran, jumped, and fell in every way to avoid them. We drew our swords and stepped between the animals and riders. They skidded to a stop on the stone floor. They began a cacophony of noise, very angry from the sound of it.
"What is this, ladies?" the rider cleric asked, "I have never seen animals behave this way. They seem to behave as a group, almost an angry mob."
"You are more correct than you realize, Duncan. These are the clerics who sought to take our swords, destroy their holy book, take over the cloister, and kill the Lord Bishop and Oracle," I informed him as we continued to keep the animals at bay.
"So, even as animals, they seek to remove our influence from 'their' cloister," Maudrin, the male dwarf, observed, "How stubborn of them. Are you sure they aren't dwarfs?"
His comment caused another loud round of noise from them. The birds made to attack over us, but the force of the swords kept them from doing harm.
Lord Bishop, with Lady Bishop huddled behind him, marched over to this confrontation.
"See here!" he barked, "You are still clerics of this order. You are still under our authority. Leave now or you may face further punishment."
The animals regarded him and his words for a moment. It seemed the whole room held its breath. One donkey stepped forward, looked Lord Bishop in the eye, and "hee-hawed" loudly in his face. The other animals, also, made rude noises or displays.
I think I felt it before anyone else, an increase in the air pressure of the room. I looked for the source and spotted Sis. Willow by the high table, but something was different. She walked stiffly towards us. She was nearly upon us when I realized her eyes were solid black. She raised both hands, palms together, level to her shoulders. Slowly, she moved one hand apart while the other was still. The animals slid backwards as if pushed or drug. When a large enough space separated us, Sis. Willow walked between us and faced the animals. We lowered our swords but did not sheath them.
"Hear my words and know Lor-O-Va speaks," a powerful male voice echoed from Sis. Willow's thin frame, "You have already received punishment from betraying your faith and seeking power over your fellow clerics. Give me just cause as to why I should not remove your mortal minds and leave you as animals all of your days."
Lor-O-Va waited for a response. The silent animals looked at each other. The same donkey as before made to kick Sis. Willow's body, but encountered a barrier that caused it to jerk as if struck by lightning and collapsed on the floor, dead and smoldering.
"Does anyone else wish to attack me?" Lor-O-Va said almost with humor.
The animals, plus everyone else in the room, were shocked into silence. A couple of sheep stepped forward, bowed as best they could, and made some noises that, apparently, Lor-O-Va understood. With a wave, they became clerics again and rejoined the cloister. A few other animals followed suit and were restored. Less than half of those that had entered remained animals. When no more approached, Lor-O-Va passed sentence.
"You show no remorse, no sign of apology or regret. Therefore, I remove the part that was once elf, gnome, halfling, or any other race and commit you to an animal's existence. By my will, it is done."
Lor-O-Va clapped once. I watched the intelligent spark vanish from the eyes of the animals. The birds flew off in panic, searching for the closest open window. The rest were taken by the other clerics and escorted out. The dead donkey was also removed. Lor-O-Va nodded once at me. I sheathed Vanity and reached Sis. Willow just as he left her. She nearly dropped into my embrace. I helped her sit as she succumbed to unconsciousness. Sarah was beside her in a flash, checking mind and body.
Lord Bishop excused the remaining clerics, telling them "No mass today."
Lady Bishop barely kept from fainting, but sat off to the side as we tended Sis. Willow and explained things to the riders. They decided to head back to Demagram to report and finalize the alliance. We went back to the courtyard and bid them farewell.
We watched the animals that were once clerics being given to some locals or being put to work at the cloister. I felt bad that they could not admit their error and be forgiven. Those who had changed back were recovering from their time as animals and being, slowly, reintroduced to cleric life. Even though they had been animals less than two days, the effect appeared profound. We found many examining themselves in reflections, as if making sure they were no longer animals.
Sis. Willow had been taken to the infirmary as we had said good-bye to the riders. We all went in to check on her. I knew she would want to talk with me, as the only other person to have hosted a god. In the infirmary, Sis. Willow was the only patient. She was awake, but seemed disoriented. When she saw us, she began sobbing very hard. We found places to sit around her. Set jumped upon the bed and laid across her feet and turned to look at her with those innocent eyes.
"Did it hurt? Is that why you are crying?" he asked softly, not wanting to add to any pain she was feeling.
"No," Sis. Willow replied between sobs, "It is just that I woke up alone, unsure of where I was or even who I was. Out of every person in this place full of people I call brothers and sisters, you are the only ones to check on me. It made me both happy to see you and sad that no one else has cared or bothered. So, Lor-O-Va did not hurt me, my fellow clerics are the ones who caused me pain."
We stayed with her until the medic, the only cleric to see her, released her from the infirmary. We walked with her back to the Oracle chambers. Inside, we found the human eunich cleaning. He started to leave but he locked eyes with Sarah and a spark of recognition flashed across his face. Information burst into my mind.
"Cain, do not fear to speak. Your heritage will not affect us. You must will the siren power in order to sway people. Sarah is of mermaid heritage, that is what you see in her eyes," I calmly told him.
Cain's eyes widened. His unused voice was scratchy as he spoke, "Your powers are great if you can see that in me. My grandmother was a siren. My former owners used my gift to gain wealth for themselves. They told me that just speaking put people under my spell, that is why I took the vow of silence and remained a permanent novice. I did not want to corrupt these good people."
We stayed in the Oracle chambers, talking with both Sis. Willow and Cain until the evening bells. We headed to the dining hall. Even in the corridors, the other clerics gave us wide berth. Seer abilities were not needed to see the fear on their faces. The tables were rearranged. Sis. Cedar stepped forward and showed us our new place, right next to Lord and Lady Bishops', but not raised like their's. A third place was added to their raised table. We were standing in our new place when the Bishops entered. They arrived at their table and motioned for Sis. Willow to take the third place. She went nervously. Lord Bishop told everyone to be seated.
"Our Oracle has demonstrated a renewed link to the gods. For this reason, we had added a place for her beside us. We feel she belongs here as a leader to this cloister in her position as Oracle. For those who did not witness it, the god Lor-O-Va inhabited Sis. Willow's body and passed a harsher sentence upon our brothers and sisters who were still animals. Our studies revealed him to be a Treegal green man, the god of the primal forest. In some ways, he is a partner with Treenaliza, the goddess of the wild forest. She is the one who brought our attention to our errors about the language of the Treegals and the discovery of our holy book. As our fellow clerics were still unrepentant, one even attempted to attack the god, he removed their sentience and made them true animals. Those who were birds flew away. Sheep and donkeys have been put to work as those animals normally work. We kept a few in the cloister and gave some to the local people. We are sad that this has happened, but Lor-O-Va is not to blame. He gave them the opportunity to return. Some before me took his offer and are themselves once more. We celebrate their return and mourn the loss of the others. Let us receive those who are with us and remember fondly those who are not."
No prayer was said. The clerics chatted easily as they ate. We were still avoided, but only because we didn't know the restored or lost clerics personally and could not contribute to the conversations.
Shortly after we began eating, six uniformed elves approached us, bowed, and stood at attention before us.
Lord Bishop left his table and introduced them, "Ladies, this is your escort. They are royal guards and will take you to Crialas safely. Officers, these are the Seven Sisters of the Swords. Take good care of them, they may be this land's only hope."
"We know our charge, my lord," one of the two closest to us replied almost in anger.
"We appreciate you concern, my lord," the second one stated in an attempt to counter his fellow soldier's harsh words.
The second speaker gave the first a hard look.
The first sighed, "Yes, we know your concern, my lord. I am Major Rajar. My cohort here is Major Janesh. Eat well tonight, ladies, as we shall be us and in the saddle by the morning bells."
We indicated that we understood. The six bowed again and went to an empty table by the doors. We commented to each other the stark contrast between Rajar and Janesh. Lisa also noticed that, at a distance, they all seemed to be dressed alike. Up close, however, there were subtle but noticable differences. Alice informed us that these two groups of three never trained together at any time even though they used the same field. I told them of the animosity I saw between the two groups and their conflicting loyalties. We decided not to bring it up to avoid hurt feelings.
The apothecary brought the finished cream, pride showing at her accomplishment, "Knowing its use on dragons, I am curious to try it on others. Some of the locals have commented on the snow and cold causing their skin and their animals' skin to crack and bleed. I am hopeful this may relieve these wounds."
Seeing the searching in her eyes, I opened to Fate. Smiling, I told her that it would be well applied to their wounds. I told her I saw mended skin and nearly scarless hands. She beamed, rushed to her seat, grabbed her plate, and ran out with her food. She, obviously, wanted to get started on more cream.
While my sisters ate, I tended Set, getting the stretched spots I could not before. His coos and purrs caused everyone to be silent for a moment. Some of the musicians tried to mimic his noises, but stopped to rub throats and massage chests. Others stared for a while then returned to their food. Set was thoroughly satisfied and I ate the remains of my dinner and we all left as the dishes were being gathered.
We were packed by the night bell and ready to leave in the morning.