Day 270 (248th) ((back in time to Day 238))

Day 270 (248th) back to ((238)):
A firm knock woke us. Lord Carmon entered with a handful of papers. His face and emotions showed his confusion.
"These have been arriving since dawn. It seems the Assassin Guild was keeping people away so my death would cause as little disruption as possible to the area. Now, all of these are clamoring to meet with me to discuss their future in Thantos. Also, Alice, your suitor wishes a face-to-face meeting with you."
As we dressed, we began scheduling meetings with the business people and when to meet Alice's suitor. There was no more word from those who had decided not to pursue her anymore. We took breakfast in the dining room from a much happier staff. After breakfast, we went with Lord Carmon to a conference room to begin receiving his guests. Those who we met were enthusiastic about their business ventures in Thantos.
Just before mid-day, a group arrived to receive the seeds and pollen for the blighted areas. One lady among them caught my attention. She was the same lady I saw in my vision. My sisters also noticed her. We said nothing to Carmon. When they met, I saw something strange. They clasped hands and their glows merged for a moment. For a few breaths, from their hands to nearly their shoulders, their energies became as one. They waved, pulsed, and flowed exactly the same. I had seen other couples with energies that were identical or nearly identical before, but I had not seen two strangers suddenly become as one. Even when they parted, those parts acted as one for many moments as they sat and discussed the seeds and pollen and how to get them to those in need.
This group was invited, by the staff, to have lunch with us. This lady, Julia, and Carmon spent most of lunch in private conversation. The rest of the group talked with us easily and told of the flood and the blight they, and we, hoped these gifts would aid.
We helped them load their wagon and get on their way after lunch. As we watched them leave, another group arrived. We detected mental chatter, which told us elves were among them. An ornate carriage pulled by beautiful horses that were definitely elf bred. Four guards rode similar horses in a square around the carriage. The guards stayed mounted as the occupants of the carriage exited. Two elderly-looking men stepped out first and stood at the carriage doorway. A woman of uncertain age exited next and approached us.
"I am the mediator for Lord Eyeshaw to meet Lady Alice of Thantos, who is to be betrothed to Lord Earshaw, to make sure she is a lady of good virtue and suitable to wed."
Lord Carmon stepped up to her and greeted her. He introduced himself and introduced Alice. A male voice sounded in our heads.
"I know you. I have dreamt of you. I have seen your face in pools and mirrors. You are real."
Out of the carriage stepped a man a bit taller than elvish men, but shorter than most human men. He looked at Alice and his mind voice became silent. Alice inhaled sharply. Her mind replayed dreams where she and he spent "days" in each other's company. They approached each other. Lord Earshaw took and kissed Alice's hand. Just like Carmon and Julia, their auras blended from their hands up their arms. Their blending, however, was much faster and, in the short time he held her hand, the effect went up to their heads and covered half of their torsos. When he released her hand, the change stayed on both of them well after we had entered the castle and got comfortable in a parlor.
"I have many questions my Lord Eyeshaw must know before he can permit this union," the mediator, Darlene, told us after we were arranged in the parlor.
"I have nothing to hide, madame. I will answer as truthfully as I can," Alice replied.
"I am glad to hear it. Now, can you lay out your heritage for me?" Darlene asked as she organized her papers.
Alice rattled off the names of her ancestors on both her father's and mother's sides. When she reached her elvish kin, both Darlene and Earshaw exchanged looks. Nothing mental passed between them, but an understanding was reached. Finally, Darlene stopped Alice, informing her that she had sufficient records on that topic. Taking another sheet, she looked around at us.
"How much will these ladies influence your role as Lady of this region?"
"I hope to be able to call upon any and all of them in times of need and converse with them socially. But, I doubt, they will be a deciding factor on all of my decisions as Lady. My husband and my father will always be my first council."
Darlene copied Alice's words and shifted the stack again.
"Do you seek a human style of rule or an elvish style?"
Alice thought before replying, "I hope to take what I have learned of both and use the best of each to make Thantos grow and prosper while remaining healthy and strong."
"What elvish style have you experienced?"
"Several," Alice replied, and she began ticking them off, "The Brimgrove elves, the cloister in Aldoahrn, the cities of Scarnac and Orda, and Crialas Pagoue."
Again, Darlene and Earshaw exchanged looks. This time, quick streams of mental chatter crossed between them. There were some phrases I did not understand, but they both seemed to know those places well. Remembering that, as of this point in time, the portal was still damaged and its taint widespread, we could see how they would be uneasy with some of those as examples of elvish rule. They reached some sort of agreement. Darlene shifted her papers again.
"I hate to ask this, but can you prove your virginity?" Darlene asked, blushing a bit.
Earshaw also blushed.
"I can answer that," Lord Carmon interjected, "To bring me the message that her return to Thantos was delayed, a large male unicorn strode through the city to my door and told myself and others, 'The virgin-lady Alice and her virgin sisters are attending important concerns in Crialas. They promise to return as soon as possible.' "
Darlene scribbled his words upon her sheet. Lord Carmon offered to get the others who had heard the unicorn, but was told it was not necessary. Darlene pulled the last paper and placed it before her and Alice.
"This is the betrothal agreement. Upon Alice's eighteenth birthday, arrangements will begin for the marriage of Lady Alice of Thantos to Lord Earshaw of Marlask. As Thantos is the larger of the two areas, Marlask will become Thantos property, but still retain the name for the city. This is Alice's agreement to court no other man, to keep herself pure of another man's affections, and to inform Lord Earshaw should another catch her heart."
Darlene handed the sheet to Alice. She and Lord Carmon read it over and approved. They both signed it.
"Lord Eyeshaw will be, upon receipt of these questions and your agreement, send you his and Lord Earshaw's agreements to do likewise for you until you are wed."
"We greatly appreciate this, madame," Alice told her, bowing slightly.
Earshaw rose and knelt in front of Alice. Speaking aloud for the first time since arriving, he presented Alice with a small box.
"This ring has been passed through my family for centuries. It is replaced by the marriage ring at the wedding. I have no doubt my father will sign the betrothal agreement, which is why I give it to you now."
Alice opened the box and gasped. Gretta winced as its song was released from within. Set went around to look at the "treasure".
"She wears that? How? It is a shiny rock."
"Under the rock is a ring that holds the rock."
"Is Alice mated?"
"It is a promise to be mated. They want Alice to be more mature and older before they officially mate."
"Like Mara and Gavin?"
"Some of the details will be different, but, yes, it is like that."
Alice slid the ring on and Set sniffed it. Darlene and Earshaw watched Set warily. Once satisfied, Set returned to my side, which made our guests relax.
"It smells old but clean. No one has worn it for a long time. They must have kept it with other treasure. I smell other things on it."
"His sense of smell is that strong?" Darlene asked.
We all snapped our heads toward her.
"Ma'am? What do you mean?" Lord Carmon asked.
"Sir," I answered, "elves can hear Set's mental voice. Set was inspecting the ring by scent. He could smell the other items stored in the same place as the ring. So, yes, Lady Darlene, his sense of smell is that strong. As he ages, it will only strengthen. My teacher, Falcon, can actually smell bloodlines and tell relatives by smell alone."
Darlene slowly nodded. Earshaw returned to his seat. Carmon was puzzling over all of this information. He began looking at Darlene with critical eyes. Perceptive Darlene noticed his critical looks, but did not acknowledge them. With a casual flip, she moved her hair and revealed a very elvish ear. Carmon noticed. His posture and emotions indicated his displeasure.
He could hold his tongue no longer,"Why are elves interested in my daughter? Are there no elves he can wed?"
Darlene and Earshaw bristled. This was a sore subject, that I could tell. Darlene started to speak, but Earshaw stopped her. He stood to face Carmon.
"Lord Carmon, I do not know what experience you have with elves. Some tribes, families, are less lenient than humans. My father chose to incur their wrath for the love of my mother. Her father accepted their union of true love. That made him Lord of Marlask. As half-elf, I age faster than pure elves. Other elves my age are still young children. Alice, as she reported, has elvish blood. That, in my father's eyes, made her worthy of pursuit. Her bonding with her sword and, as we see, this grand bird, only made her more worthy. We did not feel threatened by her status as a Sword Sister. Also," looking at Alice, "she has been in my dreams for years. On those dreams alone, I have rejected five other ladies and never participated in High Summer. Does that satisfy you, my Lord?"
The two stood, eye-to-eye, facing off as the rest of us looked on. Carmon weighed his words. I watched his emotions shift chaotically. Slowly, everything reordered itself.
He gave a terse nod and muttered, "I need air".
With that, Carmon walked out of the room. Alice was torn between her father and her fiance. I fed her what I saw of his emotional state. She settled back into her seat.
"He needs time. He's been like that before. Even though I couldn't see his emotions before, I know this state."
We sat and talked. While Earshaw appeared about twenty years old, he confessed he was over thirty years of age. Darlene confessed to being over five hundred years old. They asked me about the connection between Earshaw and Alice. I told them about their energies merging and being similar after parting.
"If we held each other longer, they could be identical?" Alice asked, looking between me and him.
"For a time, yes, but your individual energies will come back the longer you are apart."
The pair looked at each other. They stood.
"Tell us when they are the same," Alice requested.
They clasped hands. The energies changed rapidly from their hands and raced over both of their bodies. As soon as it covered them completely, I told them.
"That was fast," Darlene gasped, "Have you seen this happen before?"
"Lord Carmon and Miss Julia had it happen, but not so fast. King Sarvicnal and Queen Elenvarna had nearly identical auras. King Droland and Queen Darla had completely different auras, but she is Faerie. Queen Mara's and King Gavin's were becoming similar, but he is half Faerie and they had demon troubles. These are but some couples, but they are the only ones you know."
Darlene and Earshaw nodded, understanding that others I could name would be meaningless to them. A staff woman interrupted, letting us know dinner was ready. We met Lord Carmon in the dining room. He had gotten his emotions under control and was able to be civil during the meal. Rooms were prepared for Darlene and Earshaw to spend the night. Alice did not want to part from him, but did at Dawn's urging. Set embarrassed her by suggesting that they share a room and mate tonight. That caused her to race to our room and hide in the privy until she could get over it and realize he was not saying it to be mean. We laughed about it as we settled in to sleep.

Day 269 (247th) ((back in time to Day 237))

Day 269 (247th) back to day ((237)):
Knocking woke us. Lord Carmon entered as we got up.
"Ladies, I hate to bring bad news so early in the day. Only one of my letters returned with a positive answer. The rest do not trust you. Tales of you activities has made them wary and distrustful of you. Also, your dragon is 'a sign' that you are one of 'them'. Demagram is still foreign to this area and rider finders are almost seen as kidnappers. Only their role in getting rid of the Baalocs keeps them from being barred entirely. Your true story needs to be told or no one will trust any of you."
Listening as we dressed, Lord Carmon's sadness radiated and saddened us as well. We asked him to get the city to gather in one place so we could tell the true events to as many people as possible. His sadness lifted with a solution now in hand. He left us to gather his people. We began to wonder how to tell an entire city such a long and complex story so no one would be missed or only half hear.
Figuring it would take a while for the people to gather, we sat on the floor in a circle, holding hands.
"Powers of the Immortal Realm," I began, "we seek your aid. The truth must be told to an entire city. We need a way to impart our deeds and the things we have learned to all of these people."
We sat in silence and waited. Keeping our minds clear and expectations open, we did not know when or if we would receive an answer. Eyes closed, I felt a swirl of wind on my face. I could tell my sisters felt it, too. As it died, I heard a light thunk in front of me. We waited until the wind was gone before opening our eyes. Looking in the center of our circle; a long, slender, silver tube lay on the floor. Anna's, Gretta's, and Sarah's eyes went wide.
"Siren Silver!" they exclaimed in unison.
"I don't understand," Lisa argued, "how is this going to help?"
"It is a speaking tube," Sloth explained, "used in theatres and during speeches. I suspect there is more to it than it appears."
Anna picked it up and concentrated. After a few moments, she laid it down and shook her head, "I get nothing. I don't know what to do with it."
Alice tried, also with no success. They all looked at me with silent pleas. I was a bit leery. Cautiously, I took it in my hands. I held it for a second while nothing happened. I began to relax when a flood of images raced through my mind. I dropped it. It took a moment or two before my head was clear enough to realize my sisters were talking to me.
"Sorry, I was reliving everything we have done between Thantos and Crialas. I'm still a bit dizzy."
The others re-examined the simple silver tube. No one else got anything. They looked at me as I was still trying to clear my head.
"How do we get that information to the people?" Callie asked as she looked through the empty center.
"Play it," I blurted out, not really sure I had spoken out loud.
"How?" they asked as one.
"Does Lord Carmon have horns like Sarvicnal has, to make announcements and such?" I asked, getting a little clearer.
"No, Father has never needed such. There is a piper at a local shop. He many have something," Alice told us.
A staff man we saw in the hallway volunteered to get the piper for us, with explicit instructions to bring some wind instruments. He raced out. I looked at that tube like a poisonous serpent. I did not want to touch it again.
Lord Carmon and the piper arrived at the same time. Lord Carmon looked at the piper, puzzled. Callie still had the tube and began comparing it to the instruments he had brought with him. The third instrument, a trumpet of some sort, fit the tube once it was separated and reassembled with the tube in the center. They fit together as if made for each other.
"Father, are the people assembled?" Alice asked Lord Carmon.
"Yes, that was what I came to tell you. What is that?" he asked, looking at the instrument.
"We'll explain later. Sir," Alice said, turning to the piper, "we need you to play this as loud as you can for those people assembled out there. It sounds odd, but it will make sense afterward."
The men looked at us oddly, but went along with us.
All of us went outside, but on a third floor balcony. The whole city, it seemed, was standing below us. As soon as we were seen, shout went up. In the midst of that noise were shouts of "Tell of us the truth!"
Lord Carmon waved to get them settled. Once it was silent, he spoke, "My people, your concerns have been heard. All will be told to you now."
The people looked at us expectantly. We moved the piper to the balcony's edge. We told him to play whatever he was moved to play. He placed the trumpet to his lips and began. The tune I did not know, but I could feel the information being imparted to everyone. Lord Carmon's expressive face displayed the variety of emotions we had experienced. Everyone else, including the piper, was also living through what we had done, if at an accelerated rate. Even my sisters were reliving it. Perhaps my prior experience kept me from sharing. In spite of what he was going through, the piper played steadily without faltering. He played until the song ended and the last part of the tale was told. The last note died away to complete silence. A multitude of looks shown up at us. Without a word, the crowd began to break apart.
We went back inside in silence. The piper tried to give us back the silver tube, but the trumpet would not come apart.
"Keep it," I told him, "it has done its job, we do not need it."
"But, it is god silver! I am a lowly instrument maker. It is too fine for me, even if it is only a piece in a put-together horn."
I looked at the instrument and smiled, "Look again."
He lifted the horn and nearly fainted. The entire horn was Siren Silver. We all stared at it. Not only was it solid silver, but it was now one piece. No amount of force could make it separate. It took all seven of us and Lord Carmon to convince the piper to keep the horn.
It was still morning when this was finished. We went to the kitchen to get breakfast. The house staff was unusually quiet. Eyes followed us all the way. Those in the kitchen parted as we entered and exited as soon as they could. We prepared our own meals plus something for our companions. We were left alone long enough to finish our meal and clean up.
Just as we were leaving, a surly woman charged in, radiating pure anger.
"See here! What right have you to enter my kitchen and take what you want and expel my workers?" she yelled at us, waving a spoon threateningly at us.
Lord Carmon faced her, "You mean my kitchen, my food, and my workers," he said flatly.
She looked at him for a second. Her anger did not lessen as she faced off with the head of the realm.
"You scared my workers!" she said loudly, "They will be useless for the rest of the day. Your 'heroes' are not welcome in my kitchen!"
Lord Carmon stepped closer to her, "How dare you! These girls have risked life and limb for this and many kingdoms. Say one more thing against them and you are expelled not only from my kitchens but also my household."
The woman actually laughed. The staff hung at the door to watch this exchange. When she could speak again, she waggled the spoon in Carmon's face.
"I answer to no one, Lord Carmon. Not them and not you. My guild placed me here and, until I am replaced by another guild cook, only they can remove me. So, out of my kitchen, now!"
Lord Carmon said nothing. He went to a bell pull and yanked. Guards parted the crowd soon after he returned to our side.
"Gentlemen, this woman is no longer welcome in my household. Remove her now. Her belongings will be tossed into the street once she is outside."
The cook screamed as four guardsmen bodily carried her out. Her threats and curses continued until she was too far away to be heard. The staff gingerly crept into the kitchen.
"Beg pardon, my lord," one woman spoke softly to Carmon, "Mistress Belinda threatened us after this morning's magics. She said the tale was false and any who believed it would not stay in her employ. She forbid us to make you breakfast or to associate with you in any way. She is Kremorick, one who denies magic is real and does not believe in gods, powers, or immortal anything. Your steward hired her on guild word alone. She has made our lives harder than they should have been."
Lord Carmon stood shocked. Alice stepped up to speak.
"Why did you not tell anyone? Me, the steward, the guard captain, anyone would have listened and helped."
The staff shuddered and cringed. The one speaking continued.
"My lady, we tried. Every time we went to report this, there she was or one of her 'helpers'. They would ask what we were doing. If our answer displeased them, we were beaten and told not to say anything. You may have noticed people disappearing and not seen again. They ran away instead of staying here with her."
Heads bobbed as she spoke. Carmon was livid. He asked to be shown Belinda's room.
Even with her gone, the staff dared not enter it. Inside, Carmon sorted, finding things he had "lost" years ago. Alice, too, found "lost" items among her things. Almost dragging the staff in, we all went through the room. Everything that was truly Belinda's was piled in the hall. The staff recovered their own items "confiscated" as punishment. The room was stripped in two hours. Sacks were found and all of her stuff was crammed inside without regard for fragility or delicateness. We carted these down to the front doors. We saw and heard Belinda just outside, attempting to get in and cursing the guards who kept her out. She stopped when she saw all of us.
"Came to your senses, I see. Tell these fools to let me back inside. My house needs fixing," she said, her eyes threatening the staff.
Carmon stepped between the guards, "This is not your house. It is mine. You have overstepped your authority and abused my staff."
He motioned and we walked beside him and tossed the bags beside her.
"This is all that is your's. Leave. If you and these are not gone by mid-day, you will be arrested and charged with every act of violence you have committed upon this household."
She looked at the sacks, "Where is my bed? Where are my chests? Where is my horse? My cart is not here, either."
"Those are household items belonging to my house. You may have used them, but they belong to me," Carmon told her as he tried to control his anger.
Belinda paled. She opened the sacks, rummaging through them, and started naming "her" items that were not there. No one spoke. She went through all of them, then demanded the return of "her" property. No one answered. Carmon motioned for us to return inside. The guards shut and locked the door behind us, cutting off Belinda's shrill voice. He gave strict instructions that she was not permitted in any door, any building, or under any roof of his house. The guards saluted and spread out to tell the rest of the guards. The staff was told not to let her in for any reason. He asked them to identify Belinda's "helpers". They were not hard to find. In fact, they were in the room we had just stripped, chiding each other about "forgotten treasures" hidden somewhere. There were four of them.
Carmon said only this one statement, "Stay if you are with me or leave if you are with her."
They stood still as they balanced the choice. One fell to her knees, begging forgiveness, saying she only went along to avoid Belinda's wrath. The staff confirmed this one had let them "slide" on a few occasions. This caused the other three to turn upon her, berating her for her "crimes". Carmon called for silence. The begging one was called over to be with the staff. He passed judgement on the other three.
"Out of my house by mid-day or to jail you go."
Unlike Belinda, they did not argue. As they cleaned out their rooms, guards and staff watched for any ill-gotten items. They left with one-third of what was in their rooms. They were peacefully escorted out the front door, where Belinda still stood, still screaming to be let inside. She was silent as she watched her lackeys being marched out. The door was closed and locked just as she slammed herself into it.
Carmon gently told the staff to return to their duties. He found the steward and informed him about Belinda. The steward told us that he had no idea and promised better vigilance. Carmon was not angry at the steward, but told him to take better care of his people.
We had a quiet walk back to our room. His emotions were a mess and he needed the silence to sort them out. In our room, we showed him the pollen and seeds Aloriana had given us for Thantos. He was amazed. We could not tell him why we were given these things. He thought a moment then told us of an area that was flooded and had laid underwater for many weeks and was now barren. We all felt that would be a good use for the seeds. A staff woman heard us and told us that the northern region of Thantos was going through a rough patch where crops were poor or did not grow at all. We retrieved a map and found both areas. We began to plan to take the seeds to the barren area so they could winter in the ground. The pollen would have to wait until spring, but farmers of the area could be given the pollen for their fields at this time.
Lunch arrived as we were penning letters to those farmers to let them know such an asset was available to them. A letter to us also arrived. The only acquaintance willing to speak to us wanted to have dinner as soon as we were able. Lord Carmon invited him for tonight or tomorrow, which ever he could make. The letter arrived with a cask of wine that was cooling in the cellar. Also, other letters arrived from Alice's suitors. Each one "regrettably" removed themselves from "pursuing relations with the Lady Alice of Thantos". Each one stated that they "no longer felt deserving of her attentions" and cited her "heroic acts" as the deciding factor. Lord Carmon looked at all of the names.
"One is missing," he announced, "Alice's suitor list had ten gentlemen. There are only nine here."
My sisters' heads snapped to face me. Lord Carmon looked up from the letters to see the scene.
"Ladies? What are you not telling me?"
We told him Fate's prediction. He was silent. It took a few moments for him to understand what we told him.
Finally, he replied, "My future son-in-law is half-elf? I will not see my grandchildren born? This is hard to take. Are all of these predictions so brutal? I have heard my share of prophesies. Usually, they are full of flattery, poetry, and meaningless blather."
"Those words were from Fate directly," I told him, "I have it in my journal if you wish to see."
"I should have stayed for the Coronation to hear it myself. Such revelations are rare. However, it would be nice to see my grandchildren."
He rose and paced about the room.
"He looks so helpless," Alice told us sadly, "Can't we do anything? You said before that a small step can change Fate. Maybe that step has been taken?"
We watched him pace.
"You haven't touched him, Kayla," Callie noted, "A new look may reveal more information."
We decided no harm could came from a second look.
"Lord Carmon," I said as I stood, " Things may have changed since that prediction. Sit with me, please. Let us see if your fate has changed."
He looked at me for a moment, then motioned for us to take a seat. My sisters arranged two chairs facing each other. Set took up a guard-like position beside me as Lord Carmon sat down. I took his hands in mine.
"Fate, honorable Patron, please show me if Lord Carmon's fate has changed. He desires so not for glory but out of love."
I felt his hands grow hot in mine. My head popped up. Lord Carmon's eyes growing wide was the last thing I saw before everything shifted.

Alice and her husband are standing at the altar in a large temple. A woman near Carmon's age is standing near him, happy tears rolling down her face. The scene changes. It is fall. Alice and her husband approach Carmon and this woman and hold out two babes bundled tightly. Another couple, a male elf and a female human, come from another area and receive the babes from Carmon and the lady. They also hold them tightly before handing them back to Alice and her husband. The scene changes again.l It is summer. Carmon and his lady are holding a pair of toddlers on the edge of a fountain, letting them splash in the basin. Alice, heavy with child, playfully chides them for it. Alice's husband arrives, in dented and dusty armor, carrying a banner unknown to me. The scene changes once more. It is winter. Alice, babe in her arms, her husband, Carmon's lady, the other couple, plus many others stand near a huge mausoleum as a coffin is carried in through the door. Rain begins to fall and the vision melts along with it.

My eyes stung as the room and its occupants came into view. I blinked furiously to get everything back into focus. Set laid his head on my lap.
"They told him what you were seeing. Everyone is leaking. Are they happy or sad? It is hard to tell."
I looked around at my sisters and Lord Carmon. The swirls were certainly confusing and I could understand why Set had to ask. They found it hard to talk, both verbally and mentally. Lord Carmon rose to pace some more, this time, other questions bounced around in his mind. He ordered them as to their importance before sitting back with us.
"I take it the plot to poison and curse me is thwarted?"
"It would seem. You were healthy during the whole vision," I told him as I sought to return to normal.
"This lady? Have you, any of you, seen her before? I am courting no one. This was a bit of a shock to have you tell me I will be keeping a lady's company."
We all shook our heads. The lady was unknown to us. He looked at Alice and smiled.
"Three babes before I pass. Such a blessing. Have you met this man, this half-elf suitor?"
"No, Father, but Fate has said I have dreamt about him and my dreams will match his face."
Carmon pulled her into his embrace, "He will make you happy, which pleases me greatly. I do wonder why his father would allow him to pursue you, even before your bonding with Envy."
"Elves have their own magics. He may have received news to make a match to Alice," Lisa answered.
Carmon nodded, releasing Alice.
A servant tapped upon the door, presented Carmon with a letter, and left. Carmon read it and told us we would have guest at dinner tonight. The guest wished us to share the cask of wine he had sent. The staff was notified.
We continued to talk out the vision until Lord Carmon was through examining it. He pulled out all his corespondance with the last suitor. For some reason, there was no mention of his heritage. The only hint was his boast of "an ancient bloodline related to many royal lines". Unfortunately, we could get nothing from the pages as it had been too long since the suitor had held it.
We were informed of the arrival of our guest for dinner. We did not realize it was that time already.
We met the man introduced to us as Oscar as we entered the dining room. He was pleasant enough, but something was odd. Most people with glows, the glow flows and shifts. His did not move. It was as if a painting surrounded him. My sisters were also struggling to read this man. Set's pressence shook his composure for a moment, but he regained it quickly. Dawn and Bo did nothing to him. As we sat, I noticed he still had his gloves on.
"Oscar, sir, you neglected to remove your gloves. Do you intend to eat with them on?"
"Gloves? Oh, right, yes, I do. My hands are badly scarred. I do not with to ruin you meal with the sight of them."
Set was sniffing more than usual.
"What do you smell, Set?"
"I don't know. It smells sweet, but bad sweet. Like rotten fruit. I think it comes from him. It is strongest around him."
"Could it be from the wine? I think someone metioned he makes and sells wine."
"I can't tell from here. I will go and smell the wine then smell him. If they are the same, then it is just the wine."
Set got down and went to the cask. He sniffed it thoroughly, which aroused Oscar's attention.
"Hey, you, away from there. That is for humans, not animals. Get, get, get," he told Set as he rose to move Set off of the cask.
Set sniffed the man's gloved hands. The odor he sent to me had nothing to do with wine. Set was also close enough to smell something hidden around Oscar's neck, which he referred to as "bad treasure". Oscar noticed nothing of our exchange as he was too caught up in getting Set away from the cask. He looked at me, intent upon telling me how to handle my "pet" when he saw the look in my eyes.
"I will gladly give him a sip if that is how you handle him," Oscar tried to lighten the mood.
"He will have none of it. Neither will anyone else," I told him sternly.
"Kayla? Why?" Lord Carmon asked as he witnessed our conversation.
"I suspect him and his wine, my lord," I replied, not taking my eyes off Oscar, "Lisa, please check his gloves and the wine."
Like a shot, Lisa jumped from her seat to where Oscar, Set, and the cask were standing. She held his wrists and looked over the gloves. Perhaps her hands disrupted his cloak, but even I could see the taint upon the leather.
"Poisoned, my lord," Lisa barked as she ripped off the gloves and threw them to the floor. They landed with a slightly wet smack. She took hold of his wrists once more. Oscar was wide-eyed, trying to counter our accusations.
"Lord Carmon, really, poisoned gloves? I think your ladies are a bit paranoid," he said in near laugh.
"Gretta, around his neck, could you check that item, please?" I asked my sister, still not looking at anything but him.
Gretta rose and, while Lisa still held his wrists, felt under his shirt collar and uncovered an amulet. She winced when it was fully revealed.
"It is a necromancer stone. Inside is a spirit, giving him a false aura and hiding his past. It is very old."
She slipped it over his head. As the chain cleared, the static glow disappeared and a fluctuating cloak popped up in its full measure. Gretta placed it in front of Lord Carmon. Alice, Anna, and Lisa, who looked at the back of Oscar's right hand, announced the same conclusion as one.
"Assassin."
"WHAT?!" Lord Carmon exclaimed as he stood.
Lisa drew Oscar over to him. She flattened his palms on the table to show the mark on his right hand; an A in red with a dagger forming the crossbar.
"Assassin Guild, my lord. This man was hired to kill you," she explained.
Oscar tried to laugh it off. He stammered, searching for the words that would free him.
I held out my hand, "Contract, please come to me," I requested.
Out of his satchel, a scroll rose and came to my hand. I stood and unrolled it. I flattened it out before Lord Carmon as Lisa pushed Oscar into a chair. Carmon read aloud for all to hear:

"This is a Guild contract upon the life of Lord Carmon of Thantos. The undersigned, in accordance with Guild rules, has paid the required amount to issue the order of assassination upon Lord Carmon of Thantos. This Contract, upon completion and verification of said order, will pay the Guild member the standard price plus one-half of the order fee."

Carmon looked at Oscar in horror, "All these days? I have spent all of these days, weeks, in your company, trying to bring prosperity to my land, just so you could set me up to kill me? Why all of this playacting? Why not kill me dead the first time we met?"
Realizing he had no choice, Oscar began spilling his tale, "If you read further, the contract stipulates that your death must look like a natural illness. The parties who paid the order wanted your death to be slow and painful. Also, it had to be incurable by any magical means. That amulet was also a part of it, a cursed item to be 'lost' in the castle that would slowly rob you of your strength and, eventually, your life. I was going to wait until they," indicating us, "had left to continue their travels, but when I found out they were delayed, I stepped up my timetable and placed myself to insure you noticed me. When they arrived, I could not turn back. The poison in the wine makes it undrinkable in one month. It had already been in it for two weeks. Both the poison and wine are expensive and take nearly a year to be perfect. The contract expires in the spring. It was now or never."
"And those," Carmon pointed at the gloves, "where do they figure in this?"
"That links you to the amulet. Touch the amulet, then touch you. You touch your food, mouth, nose, or eyes and it is now inside you. The spirit within slowly steals your life."
Carmon sat heavily. He looked at the amulet, gloves, and contract. His mind was trying to get a handle upon this event. He cast his eyes to the cask were Set stood guard. He tossed the amulet onto the cask.
"Set, please take those things somewhere and destroy them. The gloves as well," he gently ordered.
Set barked, flipped the gloves to him with his tail and onto the cask, and vanished with them all. Carmon took up the contract and began thoroughly examining it. Oscar, defeated, pushed the food around on his plate as Lisa stood guard over him. He flicked his gaze to me a few times. My purple eyes seemed to increase his feeling of defeat.
"Sister, you can sit now, he is not going anywhere," I informed Lisa.
With a curt nod, she took her seat, eyes still upon Oscar. While we could get his story without a word from him, I felt that him telling it would be the best.
"Oscar," I began, "how did you become the agent of this contract?"
He sighed, then started, "As the contract states, the manner of death was to be subtle. My family worked on a vineyard, so it made appearing as a wine merchant very easy. Lord Carmon made it known that he wanted to increase commerce, now that the Baaloc threat was gone. A wine merchant was less conspicous than a weapon's dealer or a wizard trader, which my guild also has available. By appearing harmless, I would be, and was, easily trusted and be able to be in Lord Carmon's pressence long enough to make sure his death seemed like an illness that no one could cure."
"These people," Carmon interrupted, "who are they? There are at least twenty names here. I don't recognize any."
"I don't know. Save for the last, it is as I received it," Oscar admitted.
Carmon looked at the last name and exclaimed, "Guild Cook Belinda! When did her name get on this?"
"This afternoon, a few hours ago actually. She arrived at my guild house and demanded your death. She dropped some sacks and said she would pay for your death with all of her worldly goods, which were in the sacks. My Guildmaster asked for the contract and she added her name. She smiled when she saw all the people who wanted you dead. My Guildmaster tallied the worth of her goods and added it to my payment. He returned the contract to me just before I headed here for dinner. She is the only one on there I have seen."
Alice rose and joined her father. Taking the contract, she began to read the people who had signed it. The first was Seamstress Georgina, whom we remembered from the Feast of Spring. She was joined by wizards who had bought spells from us and found them "abominations of magic". Clerics were also on there, viewing Carmon as "beyond redemption" for not only being Alice's father but for housing us as well. Nearly everyone was punishing him for our sakes. A few were punishing him for not siding with the Baalocs to bring "holy order" to Thantos. All total, there were twenty-six names and over thirty-five reasons for his death. Carmon was dumbstruck. Set returned, smelling of smoke and burnt wine. I mentally told him to get clean as his food was still waiting on him. He vanished again.
We all, Oscar included, ate in silence for a while as we all sorted through this information. I looked up at Oscar.
"What now? This plot is foiled. Will they try again?"
He swallowed then replied, "Until spring, yes, it will be tried again. If not successful by then, the signers must pay extra to re-instate it for another season."
Lisa was furious, "We shall destroy this contract. Then it cannot be carried out."
Oscar shook his head, "There are four copies. Destroying this one changes nothing."
Lisa banged her fists on the table. Alice began to cry. Dawn cheeped sadly. Bo coiled around Lisa as a living restraint of her temper. The rest of us looked at each other.
"What was my price?" Carmon asked out of the blue.
Oscar bowed his head, "Fifty thousand gold in money and items," he replied in a whisper.
Carmon became outraged. He paced around the room, shouting about placing a monetary value on a person's life. He paced, ranted, and swore as he vented all of his penned up rage upon anything and everything. We stopped Alice from going to him, letting her know he needed to do this.
During a quiet moment, I turned to Oscar, "What option do we have? We can continue to guard him all winter, but is there something else that can be done?"
Oscar thought before replying, "The simplest is buying the contract. Pay the Guild to not carry out the order."
"How much is that?" Alice desperately asked.
"The original price plus fifty percent," he answered.
"Seventy-five thousand gold!" Carmon bellowed, "It costs more to save my life than to kill me! Outrageous!"
Carmon went back to pacing and muttering. I sent to Set to retrieve the "shiny stones" from our room. He popped in, slightly wet, with the bag in his mouth. I took it from him. My sisters understood instantly when they saw it.
"Oscar," I began, "you take other things than gold coins. We wish to buy back Lord Carmon's life."
"What?" Carmon roared, "Girls, this is my fight. I cannot let you spend all your goods on my behalf."
"Sir, my lord," I gently told him, "this was a gift. We have shared it already. We cannot let you die nor spend all you have when the answer is right here."
Carmon returned to the table to watch the exchange. I asked Gretta and Greed to find enough to pay for the contract plus the cost of the wine, amulet, gloves, and poison Set destroyed. They talked it over as Gretta poked through the bag and its contents. They agreed, took out the items out of sight, closed the bag, and secretly handed the gems to me. Keeping them covered, I gently laid them on the table.
"We are of the opinion that this will not only buy the contract, but cover your expenses as well."
I pushed the covered gems over to Oscar. Slowly, he uncovered them and nearly fainted. With a flurish, he revealed two apple-sized diamonds and three fig-sized rubies. Carmon almost fell backwards. He tried to speak, but his mind and tongue would not cooperate. I held up a hand to stop his attempt.
"Do we have a deal? These items for Lord Carmon's life?" I asked flatly.
Oscar retrieved the contract. He pulled at the red seal on the bottom and uncovered a green one. The red part he handed to Carmon.
"Your life is now your's again. Until someone can pay fifty percent more than what lays here, no Guild member will touch you. In fact, the Guild will make sure only age or accident ends your life. Your ladies have just bought you an unseen army."
Carmon just sat with his eyes wide and him mouth slack-jawed. Oscar scooped up the gems, contract, and the last bit of food on his plate. He bowed to us and left. Carmon, finding his voice, asked about the gems. We told him their source and why we had them. He was overjoyed. The weight had lifted and years seemed to fall from him. Alice raced to embrace him tightly. They cried tears of joy.
We all left to let the staff to their job. The emotions left all of us spent. We quietly retired to bed.

Day 268 (246th) ((back in time to Day 236))

Day 268 (246th) back to ((Day 236)):
As the sun rose, we removed as much of our presence from the Shrine as possible. Walking out the doors, we began to steel ourselves against what might happen as we entered Thantos. When we had left, none of us had any companions and none of us had changed to be more like our non-human ancestors. We could not be certain of how good our welcome would be by those who did not understand.
Within a few hours, we stood at the city's edge, watching life go on as usual. We had been there only a few moments when we heard someone shout.
"They're here! The Sisters have returned!"
The whole city seemed to stop and look at us. I wanted to vanish. I felt like every inch of me was being examined for various reasons. A living corridor formed, guiding us to the castle. We heard, among the cheers, people commenting on our appearance, our companions, and the tales, as they had heard them, of our adventures. A few, from what I could make out, did not sound anything like what we had done. My sisters were also troubled by some of the wild bits we could make out.
On the castle steps, Lord Carmon stood, as healthy as we saw him last. Alice dropped her things and rushed to him. She engulfed him in a crushing embrace. Carmon had to nearly pry her off in order to speak to her. Set picked up her abandoned pack and flung it between his wings. They were nearly oblivious to us as we caught up to her and stood beside them.
"Father, we have so much to tell you. Such wonders we have seen..."
"Yes, yes," Carmon interrupted, "I am certain of that. Let us go inside and you can tell me all about it."
He ushered us inside as one last cheer drowned out the sound of the door closing.
The castle was reassuringly the same as we had left it. Many servants we recognized, which gave us great hope. Carmon walked us into a parlor and invited us all to be seated. Dawn took her place on the back of Alice's chair. Bo laid out across the couch Lisa, Sarah, and Gretta shared. Set posted himself, head on my feet and body stretched before Anna and Callie, in front of the couch we shared. Carmon took in this sight as he sat in a large arm chair.
"Before you launch into your adventures, I am curious about your companions. They look larger and different since last I saw them. Set is much larger. Dawn is larger and brighter. Bo, it seems, has new additions to his physique."
We explained Bo's wings, Dawn's changes, and Set's growth. During this, clever Lord Carmon noticed our hooded looks at each other. He stopped us and asked. After a few moments of tense silence, Alice began to explain. Lord Carmon's eyes grew wider and he paled more as the whole story unfolded before him. It was evening by the time the entirety of it was lain out for him. He stood and paced as he worked it out.
"If I heard correctly, you were told that, sometime during this month, I will be poisoned and cursed unto death. To prevent this tragedy, the Faerie Queen brought you into the Faerie Realm, gave you the antidote to both poison and curse, and sent you back in time to around the moment of this occurrence to either prevent it or cure me at the appropriate time. Did I hear right?"
We all nodded. Nodding as well, he paced a bit more, still hammering out the information.
"My soon-to-be attacker, once this deed is done, has to watch me constantly to prevent my recovery and insure my demise. His or her vigilance is what keeps me so ill that a wizard I barely know is compelled to call upon you for aid as no one and nothing else will work."
More nodding. He sat down rather heavy as he weighed it all. He turned to Sarah and Lisa.
"Am I ill yet or did you arrive before the vile act?'
They looked at him closely.
"It has not happened, yet," Sarah quietly replied, "You are still healthy."
"There is no poison in you," Lisa stated, "We got here before it happened."
Carmon sat silently, the gears of his mind working the problem from every angle. His face darkened.
"Have you considered this may be a trap? This wizard may have turned evil and tricked you out of Crialas at its most vulnerable time. He's tricked one guardian to death. Who's to say he will not do it again?"
We could not bring ourselves to accept that option. We had come to know Mattis fairly well and felt it would take a lot to cause him to be evil. Our sister's death at his hands was fifty years ago. He had been duly punished for that by Greed himself. We told him how unlikely that scenario would be. He agreed, realizing he was grasping at straws.
We continued our talk over dinner. We were able to secretly check most of the household. None harbored any ill will against Lord Carmon himself nor Thantos as a whole. He told of new acquaintances that we could look at when they next met. He sent word to them of our wish to meet.
When dinner was over, we were taken back to the suite we had once occupied many months ago. We made a bed for Set near mine as the bed was not big enough for us to share. Mice and squirrels were still abundant enough for him to hunt at his leisure and Bo could also hunt without causing any problems.