Chelsea Stoneshield loved her grandfather. He was a famous man, a god, her ancestor, and a living hero. He had gone to the northern war and fought the Minotaur. She had grown up hearing stories of his exploits, and she had dreamed that she could be like him when she grew up. Now she was living her childhood dream. Like many childhood dreams, she was starting to feel disappointed when reality did not live up to her childish fantasies. A part of her knew that the stories people told were only the exciting parts. Most of them skipped over the tedious travel, smoothed over or summed up the politics with wit, and skipped the nights of boozing and brotherhood when the stories were told to her.

She was a Knight-Errant, traveling from town to village to defend the just and defeat the wicked. When she was a child, she had dreamed of defeating Goblin hordes, evil Sacred Beasts, facing mighty Knights in tournaments, and sallying forth on a grand quest. All for glory, valor, and to bring honor to her family and Order.

There were no Goblin hordes. Not even one damsel in distress to be found, even if the reward of rescuing one would, according to the minstrel tales, be wasted on her. No powerful Sacred Beasts running rampant. At most, she offered counsel in disputes, helped to find lost livestock, or dispatched a corpse possessed by a Lost Soul. Worthy endeavors, but lacking the splendor a story needed. They were also unlikely to earn her merit on her return.

The training she had received in the Order of the Stone Circle felt like it was going to waste. Their way was to be stout and stalwart in battle, unmovable bulwarks from which their allies sallied forth, or the ramparts from whence Knights and Wizards hid as they fired volleys into the enemy. They were not the vanguard, but they were renowned as heroes among the Midland Orders. Her grandfather was not the only one to return from the Northlands with distinction.

Chelsea was the honored daughter of the main family of her Order. So, when she went forth in search of adventure, she was forced to bring along a retinue. Three other knights, ready to go on their own journey, were her bodyguards. While she knew that was what they were, she had been told that since she was raised to command, she should have subordinates. Provided the command was not 'wait in this city while I go looking for glory,' they followed orders well.

Her band even had a Healer, Anya, and this was a precious resource that had been hired to accompany her. Anya was a nice enough woman in most ways, but she was a beautiful, slim waisted woman with immaculately curled hair, and a smile that dimpled prettily. In comparison, Chelsea was a tall, strong woman with well-defined abs, practical short hair that spiked from her helmet. To sum it up, she was solid, muscular, and maybe even mannish, even if she was told she had pretty eyes. Normally this didn't bother her, but with Anya around it was hard for her not to feel inadequate. What was unfair was that she was perfectly happy with the way she looked, so feeling like she somehow lost to the other woman was to add insult to injury. That Anya had a penchant for married women was the only character flaw she knew of, but Chelsea cherished the feeling of moral superiority.

Chelsea had a lover in Sir Richard, one of her escorts. Their relationship was casual, and so far as she knew Sir Richard had no other lovers but her among the retinue. There could be no lasting romance, not when her family would plan her marriage once she had enjoyed her adventure. She understood that she was privileged in many ways, in part due to her grandfather's doting. She was allowed to become a Knight, and she had done extremely well in her training, even discounting her advantages. Chelsea was still the daughter of a powerful Order family. Her husband would be a political advantage for the Order, and she would be an advantage, a tie to a god, for the family she married into. Part of her suspected she would be married into March Shadow Gate's family, to bring the Order and their noble patrons closer together. Sir Richard, a valiant knight, had no prospects that would make him worthy of a daughter from a named family.

With her Grandfather's accomplishments, her family could establish themselves as a noble family with the heroic name Eugene. Thus, if she was married into a noble family, she would become Chelsea Eugene Stoneshield. The rest of her family would wait for his Ascension into the Heavens, or their own marriages if appropriate.

Her penultimate minder was Alan, her squire. Each of the Knights had one, and most had two. That didn't include a handful of servants, cart drivers, and other professionals that were required for a team of Knights on the road. None of those servants would presume to command her, and only the Knights could truly countermand her for her own safety. Alan could not tell her what to do, but he could advise her. That was little different, when he knew her well enough to make her see reason.

Her final minder was her mount, Anton the Reglad. He was a large beast, covered in scales and bony plate, with thick rear legs, a long tail, a broad spade shaped head, and long, dexterous forelimbs. His back was black, his belly red, and it mottled from one to the other along his sides. While she rode, he would walk on four limbs, but he was equally comfortable on two. Anton had been her father's mount, and while he was old now, he was one of her lifelong friends. When she was a child, she had called him Uncle Anton.

Still, despite her five minders and one friend (Anton), she did her best to be the hero she always dreamed of being. So far the worst they had come across were some random bandits. The other Knights had allowed her to take them on by herself, since they were no threat to her.

It was nighttime, and it was only the tossed flames of the mage that had warned them that bandits had come to rob the village. The moon was bright and silver above, offering a clear monochrome view of the bandits in a clearing outside the village. The village had no wall, and there was no manor in this village to defend the villagers. The Knights would fight the bandits, while the village militia kept the security of the village itself.

Chelsea left her minders to protect the village from the occasionally lobbed fireball. Sir Richard erected a dirt wall around the village using [Reinforce Wall] to make it strong. Sir Leon and Sir Stuart stood just outside the walls and deflected fireballs lobbed by the pathetic mage using the technique [Be the Wall], which allowed them to absorb the fireballs as though they themselves were a section of a curtain wall. She went forth to do battle on foot. There were only around ten men in the assault, each a ragged vagrant with only a few pieces of poorly kept armor among them. Perhaps they were people who had fled from the northern war, although between the distance (a thousand miles at least), and their ill equipment, that seemed unlikely.

Chelsea was in her hauberk, vambraces, armored boots, helmet, and cuirass. She held up a tower shield to protect her face while her heavy mace rested upon her shoulder, ready to smash in the bandits' skulls. Her equipment was made of steel, all except the mace which was a heavy ball of iron bound to a thick wooden haft.

The first man she engaged was a shabby man with a long dagger, growling something she couldn't quite make out, especially after she smashed her shield into his face and broke his nose. The man bounced off, and she proceeded to the first of the armored opponents. She felt the slam of an oak staff from another scruffy peasant, and it bounced off her technique [Stone Skin] that enhanced the toughness of her armor and body. It was unnecessary, the man was too weak to damage her mana enhanced body or steel armor. The strengthening of her arm to crash her mace through the blocking staff and pulp the man's head was necessary, but only barely.

The remaining men tried to surround her, too desperate to stop their assault even though they had to know they would fail and die. Ravenous wolves then, and any desire she had to apprehend them was gone. She waded through the men, dispatching each one easily. One man attempt to strike her armpit with a spear, but a twist of her arm protected it. Not that she thought the weakling could manage to harm her.

Another man was set aflame as he moved to engage her, hit by a stray shot from the mage who had switched from trying to burn down the village to trying to burn down her. Mages were often a problem, but she doubted the man was experienced enough to defeat her defenses. Even if he was, well, Anya had only healed a squire's sniffles so far. The Healer could use a bit of real work.

Suddenly, from out of the darkness, came a sudden strike, and the mage gave a short cry as something bloomed from his chest. He fell to the ground as another appeared just as quickly. Chelsea renewed her assault, though without the mage the men finally broke. A child in clothes a peasant would be ashamed to wear strode out from the darkness to fire a bow into another man, while Chelsea let the remaining men flee. The man ran a few steps, then collapsed while grasping at the arrow while crying out in pain.

Facing the stranger, Chelsea lifted her shield in readiness to fight the Elf. There was no doubt it was using a bow, and the fact that it had struck the weak mage did nothing to assure her it was on her side. Readying for what might be a real fight, she shouted out, "Elf!" loudly so her companions could hear, and they rushed to her support.

The small figure had scanned the dark after the fleeing men, but hearing Chelsea's shout it tossed down its bow and raised its arms in surrender. "Human!" it cried out. The eyes glimmered in the light of the moon as the figure stared at her. It gave a tentative bow, not lowering its gaze, and said, "I am Biyu Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods Exile. I greet the mighty Knight."

That surprised Chelsea, but she responded, "Chelsea Stoneshield, of the Order of the Stone Circle." She gave a slight bow, not trusting the diminutive figure. "Thank you for your help. You swear you are not an Elf?"

"By the Dragon Gods, I so swear I speak truly: I am not an Elf."

The child was not struck down by lightning, killed by a strange ethereal beast, disappeared into a sudden rend in the earth to plummet to its doom, nor the dozen other ways those who made false Oaths died, and so Chelsea relaxed her stance slightly.

"Why," Chelsea asked, "would any good noble of the Empire use an Elf's bow?"

"My Master decided I should. She is a Sacred Beast, and I trust her wisdom." There was a pause. "You need not treat me as a noble."

That surprised Chelsea in more than one way. Students of Sacred Beasts were a popular, if uncommon, subject of minstrel songs, and until this moment she had thought they were only stories. She was also an exiled noble, another popular character type from tales in general. Being both, she was sure the minstrels would salivate to meet her. For now, she would believe this 'Lady' Biyu, but she would keep up her guard.

Chelsea's entourage arrived, their weapons ready. They had seen them parley, and so they were awaiting further instructions. "Prepare the bodies," Chelsea decided. They took a moment to ensure she was not making a command under duress, before they began stripping and arranging the bodies. Villagers were called upon to bring wood and other burnables to prepare a pyre.

Watching carefully, she saw the child reclaim its bow and remove the string. Treating it like a walking stick, she walked up the road a short distance to collect someone. It was a tall figure wearing a hauberk, sword and shield, although it walked with care. Chelsea assumed it was someone injured. They came to stand near Chelsea, where she could make them out in the moonlight.

"My companion," Lady Biyu said, indicating the tall figure. It was a woman. Chelsea smiled a moment at seeing another woman-at-arms. It was rare for her to meet one outside an Order.

Giving a slight bow, the woman demonstrated she truly was injured, for it was not deep enough to be properly polite. "My name is Lily May, but I go by May. I am a former merchant's guard."

"I am Chelsea Stoneshield, of the Order of the Stone Circle. I… thank you for your help."

Lady Biyu and her companion both bowed again. Being so close, Chelsea could make out Biyu's mask. "Lady Biyu, is it a bad disfigurement?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"The mask."

"Ah. No. My face…"

The mercenary guard, giving a bow for the indiscretion, interjected, "Milady was blessed with fine features. The mask discourages pests."

With an exaggerated sigh, Lady Biyu said, "You need not call me a lady, May. I am just Biyu, your companion."

"But, Lady Biyu—"

Lifting a hand, she silenced the taller woman, clearly demonstrating who was in charge. "We have spoken on this, May."

Giving another slight bow, May said, "Very well, Master." Biyu was obviously annoyed, but she did not argue with this form of address.

"Are you injured, May?" Chelsea asked.

With a smile, May tried to bow again, but Chelsea signaled for her to stop. "I am still healing, Lady Chelsea. A few cracked ribs, and an injured arm."

Puffing out some air, Chelsea waved them toward the village. "We have a Healer with us. I'll have her take a look at you." At this distance, she could tell neither were Elves, and the small woman still had not suffered under her Oath.

"I will help with the bodies," Lady Biyu said, and she moved to help the Knights finish preparing the bodies and starting the pyre.

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Anya blinked at them sleepily. She was in a dressing gown to keep her decent, though her feet were bare. Seeing the tall freckled woman with Chelsea, she blinked herself rapidly awake.

"She has partially healed injuries. Would you mind looking her over?"

"Yes, Lady Chelsea," she said, giving a bare curtsy before ushering the tall woman into her room.

Chelsea followed the women in. "Take off your clothes," Anya said.

Looking perplexed, Lily May stripped off a layer at a time. Armor and weapons first. Her boots were drawn off, followed by her tunic and hose. Down to her undergarments, she gave Anya a curious look. "Yes, completely naked. I'm going to do an old-fashioned examination."

Chelsea knew Anya pretty well by this point. The woman was a pervert, but she really did prefer to examine patients in the nude before treating them. She did the same when she gave men an examination. While May stripped, Anya was painting a ritual circle on the ground. It was not particularly large, but it was full of increasingly tight symbols, leaving a rather small area for a person to stand.

"Are you Awakened, have a blessing, are wearing any charms, on any medication, or otherwise affected by magic?"

May began to shake her head, then thought better of it. "I'm under an Oath."

"Alright. I will start by checking if you have any mana anomalies. Once I establish them, I will do a shallow check of your body. Obvious damage. Then I'll do a deep check. Cracked bones, internal bleeding, and such. After that, I'll check your health, like if you have any diseases. Once all that is done, I will begin fixing you from most to least serious."

"Um," May began. "Aren't you a big 'H' Healer? Don't you just magic me and make it go away?"

Anya gave a smile. "A lot of big 'H' Healers do that, but there are conditions that the careless use of magic can make worse. For example, if your bone is poorly set, it can cause a deformity and loss of motion. If you were in critical condition, I would risk it, since we could just fix any mistakes later. Since you are walking and talking, I would prefer to do it correctly the first time. Do I have your permission to begin healing you?"

"I thought getting naked when you asked was enough permission," May said. She was not shy in her nudity, standing tall and proud.

Anya directed May to stand in the center of the circle, and she began. After a few moments, she stopped and stared at the circle. "Well, I do detect an Oath, and it is kind of a big deal. What god witnessed it?"

"Dunno," May admitted. "I wasn't trying to make an Oath, just jesting a bit and reciting an Oath from a minstrel story. Didn't think a god would just, uh, witness it I think they said?"

Anya looked at Chelsea, who looked back with her own frown. Well, that only happened in minstrel stories too. This was getting stranger and stranger. "Lady Biyu, who is she really?"

May gave a shrug of her shoulders. "Don' really know that much. She's told me she was exiled, but not much more. But… she's kinda my hero. I was being all beat up by bandits, and my brother and his buddy were killed. Got jumped by bandits who used slings of all things to ambush us. I got lucky, my back was to 'em and they hit my shield. Still rung my bell, and then I was getting battered by men with sticks. Then she pops up, and starts killing 'em like they was insects. Saved me life. Just kinda wish she had been quicker about it."

"She's Transcendent," Chelsea told the curious Anya. "Probably ten or eleven, if I had to guess."

Anya gave a nod, looking thoughtful. "Too bad. You only hear horror stories about Eternal Children. Like that one puppet show we saw a while back. What was it, the Fire Flower of the Slums? It had a catchy between acts interlude."

Shaking off the distraction, she went on, "Also, you have a blessing on you. Not too strong, but think it's from the same god?"

Puzzled, May shrugged. "I'm not especially devout. Maybe I should be, but… I was too busy living every day, I guess."

"That can happen with travelers," Chelsea commiserated. They had a small temple in one of the wagons, and she would lead services once a week when time allowed. A lot of fellow travelers who participated in worship with them would admit it had been a while afterwards.

Anya inspected May, having her lift her feet, spread her hands, and allowing her to massage her body. Again, these were all things she had done with the men of her retinue when required. She demanded a chaperone rather than be left alone with naked men, and it usually fell to Chelsea to do so. Normally Chelsea did not watch, just sat in the same room, but with another woman she felt the need to make sure Anya did not take advantage.

Done with the exam, Anya said, "Well, you are healing faster than usual. Probably a part of the blessing you have. There is some deep tissue damage I am going to heal up. Nothing terrible, but it will help you feel better faster. The ribs and arm were patched up well. You should not be traveling yet, but you haven't strained yourself so you should be fine. I will fix up your bones starting tomorrow." Then she broke the circle, and the energy wafted out. She put her hands onto May's belly to activate her healing techniques.

Treatment complete, May began to dress in her travel stained clothes, but Chelsea stopped her. She ordered a bath drawn, and had her servants clean up the commoner woman and provide her clean clothes.

"Lady Chelsea, do you want me to check the little girl too?" asked Anya, rubbing her eyes once again. It was already past midnight, and it was obvious the woman wanted sleep.

"Tomorrow. She looked like she was in good health when she fought earlier."

Frowning, Anya asked, "She fought?"

"With a bow, if you can believe it." Chelsea shook her head. She still couldn't quite accept what she had seen.

"She's not an Elf, right?" Anya asked. Suddenly she was tense, her sleepiness leaving her once more.

"That's what you'd assume, right? I got near her, and there was no telltale. However," Chelsea suddenly barked a laugh at the absurdity of what she was about to say, "she was trained by a Sacred Beast."

Blinking, Anya stared at Chelsea with disbelief. "Well, you got the beginning of the epic you were hoping for," she said.

"Maybe," Chelsea agreed. She glanced around. "I thought you found a companion for the night?"

"Oh, she left earlier. She didn't want her husband to suspect. Goodnight, Lady Chelsea."

"Yeah, goodnight, Anya."

Chelsea left the inn to find her companions and the strange woman. Sir Richard was tearing down his temporary wall, while Sir Stuart and Sir Leon helped flatten out the rubble. The woman was busy setting up a tent outside the village, which earned her strange looks from the two men.

"Aren't you going to stay in the village?" asked Chelsea.

"No, thank you. I make the villagers nervous, so better I stay outside the village. I am used to living in a tent."

"I'll keep an eye on… her," Sir Stuart offered, his eyes never leaving the woman. A handsome, stocky, swarthy man, he had an aquiline nose, proud jaw, dense and well groomed beard, and wavy, shiny black hair. Back in the Order he had his fair share of admirers. So far as she knew, he had no romances to his name.

With a sigh, and a rub of her face, Chelsea said, "Alright. Lady Biyu, Sir Stuart is keeping an eye on you. Please don't do anything to provoke him. We will talk more in the morning." She paused, something on the tip of her tongue. "Oh, yes, Anya will give you a checkup tomorrow."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Where is May?" Lady Biyu asked.

"I had her take a bath and get into something clean. She should be sleeping in my room in the inn."

Lady Biyu seemed to ponder that.

"I can get you a bath too, if you want," Chelsea said.

Shaking her head, Lady Biyu finished erecting her shelter. "I will be fine, Lady Chelsea. See you in the morning." Then she disappeared inside.

The men and Chelsea shared a glance, but with a shrug they turned in for the night.

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In the morning she found the villagers were forming a crowd near the village edge. There Chelsea found Sir Stuart watching with a frown while Lady Biyu went through a series of kata. They were elaborate things, more defined than the brawler swordplay she was used to from her own Order. She was also almost naked. She wore short pants, had her chest bound in a cloth wrap, and wore her mask. Even her feet were bare.

When the woman had finished her kata, she began to practice dancing of all things. Not country dances, or the religious dances everyone participated in at festivals. It was a court dance with an imaginary partner. She flowed through the motions elegantly, and her mana suffused physique was obvious. She also looked a lot less childish than Chelsea had expected. When she was called an exiled noble Chelsea had her doubts, but only a noble or entertainers learned to dance like that. Chelsea had a few lessons, but she only had the bare minimum not to embarrass herself.

"Lady Biyu, you should dress up more than that in public," Chelsea said as the woman stopped, sweating, during a break.

She looked baffled by the comment, her head tipping curiously. "Why would I do that?" she asked.

"It's undignified for a lady."

"I do not intend to present myself as a lady," Biyu replied firmly. "I am an exiled noble. I need not comport myself as a 'lady'."

"Why were you… no, never mind that. I am a lady, and you are now part of my entourage. You must show a certain level of decorum, particularly while I am around, just like the peasants do." She gestured at the villagers, while ignoring the young naked child playing in a mud puddle.

Biyu frowned, as though checking her memory. "I suppose that is true, Lady Chelsea. You are allowing us to use your Healer, so we can be considered to be in your company."

"Finally," Sir Stuart said. He had apparently missed the court dance, perhaps thinking it was another kata. Sir Stuart was a man who believed in propriety, however, and he would be adamant she showed some. "A woman should never show that much flesh in public, even if she is a whore. Even a child like you should have more shame than that."

"Why did you not say something sooner, Sir Stuart?" asked Lady Biyu. Her eyes were narrowed. "You were watching me for a while."

Sir Stuart was flabbergasted. "I was not about to chastise a young woman I am unrelated to in public! You know I was tasked with keeping an eye on you. I was watching because it was my duty! How dare you imply… that's just disgusting." He glared at Lady Biyu for a moment, then turned to Lady Chelsea. "I will go get something to eat. I turn Lady Biyu over to you." He gave a short bow, then stalked off to the inn angrily.

Chelsea looked at Lady Biyu with a mix of mirth and exasperation. "Well, Lady Biyu, will you accompany me to breakfast?"

"I am not a lady," grumbled the masked woman.

"Most girls your age would love to pretend to be a lady, and gossip about the handsome noble men they hope to marry."

"You did that, Lady Chelsea?"

"Yes, I did, with my maids and the women studying in the Order."

"I never had the opportunity. It must be nice."

"Only when you don't have an infatuation with a man who turns out to be a scoundrel. Women can be cruel, and there is no better fodder." She let out a laugh. "That was an embarrassing couple of weeks, but it passes."

Lady Biyu gave a nod. "I would like to make friends."

"Isn't May your friend?"

"She is a woman who swore an Oath by accident. Also, you saw what she is like. Master." She shook her head.

Chelsea nodded along. "Well, if she's sworn to you, that's the proper address. Besides, you can have friends from a lower rank. After all, I'm friends with my cousin Sir Leon. We use honorifics, if you'll notice."

The crowd had thinned as they talked, but they suddenly surged and spread out of the way as a bulk of black and red came through the crowd towards them. Anton approached, his head swiveling to take in Chelsea and Lady Biyu.

Lady Biyu stared at Anton with wide eyes. The Reglad rested on his haunches, and lifted his arms to begin to gesture. Around him, the villagers shied away. Some of the young boys were too enthralled to see Anton as a danger, but their mothers pulled them protectively away. Many of the men tried to look unbothered, but they also shuffled away.

"Lady Chelsea," he signed, "who is your new friend?"

"This is Biyu Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods Exile. She helped during last night's bandit raid."

"I see. Hello, my name is Anton," he signed to her. Actually, his name in his native tongue translated to 'Taker of Bones', but that was a mouthful. Her father had given him his older brother's name, who died in the northern war.

Turning to translate, she found Lady Biyu making gestures of her own. Anton stared at them, and then shook his head. Lady Biyu looked disappointed, but then brightened. She started saying words, and the amused Anton would show her the gesture. She repeated the gestures, and they worked through some ten words while everyone around them watched in silence.

Pausing, Lady Biyu turned to Chelsea and gave an apologetic bow. "I apologize. I thought perhaps I knew the gestures, but it seems my… friend used different ones. What did he say?" Chelsea provided the translation.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Anton. Will you teach me to speak with you?" Anton made the weird high pitch squeals and clicks that was his laughter, and the people around him, even the boys, shied away in surprise and worry. He made a gesture, and Lady Biyu smiled at that.

"Do that at breakfast, will you?" Chelsea grumbled, and all but dragged the two after her.

May was dressed in casual village clothes and sitting with food outside the inn. There was no room inside for a commoner when a Knight's entourage was in town. She looked embarrassed as Lady Biyu came to join her, and started with apologies for starting without her that the small noble waved off.

Anton and Lady Biyu spoke a fair bit during breakfast, or rather Anton taught Lady Biyu a lot of the Trade Sign that he used to talk. Lady Biyu was enthusiastic, and they talked about a variety of topics while she learned.

"How do you fish?" Lady Biyu asked with interest.

"Usually nets. Sometimes drag lines. I have seen the pole method, but it would not be enough food in a day. It is not sport for us. Or so my father told me. I was born up here." She knew Anton liked fish, but she had never heard him talk about fishing before.

"Do you hunt?"

"Yes. I have been on a few hunts, but it has been some time."

Lady Biyu's eyes gleamed. "Would you like to go on a hunt with me?" she asked.

Chelsea was too proud to admit she felt a stab of jealousy then. That was not why she said, "Civilized Humans do not hunt. Especially nobles."

Lady Biyu gave her a slight shrug. "Then I will not be civilized."

After breakfast, Lady Biyu said goodbye to Anton with promises to talk later on both sides. Chelsea introduced her to Anya.

"Wow, you are pretty small for a Transcendent. I've got some treatments to prevent you from staying a child for too long, but I can't promise how well they will work until I at least get an idea about your condition."

With a shrug, Lady Biyu said, "I am nineteen. Master said I was fully grown."

"Well, I'll be the judge of that. Can you undress for me?" She repeated her spiel from the previous night, while repairing the circle she had used on May.

Lady Biyu squirmed uncomfortably. "Do I have to remove the mask?" she asked.

Chelsea scoffed. "You'll be showing everything else, why would you hide just your face?"

"May told you yesterday. My face makes people respond strangely." That was not the way she remembered May explaining it, but she made no comment.

Anya pursed her lips, curious. "You may face the wall with your mask off if it makes you more comfortable."

Lady Biyu gave them suspicious looks, but she stripped facing the wall.

"Are you Awakened, have a blessing, are wearing any charms, on any medication, or otherwise affected by magic?"

"I am Awakened, I have a blessing, the mask and several other items I own have magic, no medication, I may or may not be under Oaths, and I have a technique for enhancing healing. I am not sure how May's Oath works, but I can tell where she is through it."

"How long have you been Awakened? I want an idea how long your growth was stunted. It might mean I have to refer you to another kind of Healer."

"Three years," Biyu said.

"That is interesting," Anya said, frowning at the magic. "This may take extra time, then. Will you please…" She trailed off, her eyes sharpening as she stared at Biyu's backside.

"You had better not be checking out her butt," Chelsea warned. Hearing that, Biyu tightened her cheeks, and her hands went to try and cover herself.

"No, Lady Chelsea. It's just… Lady Biyu, I need you to turn around for a moment. Let me get you something to put over your head." She produced some bandaging, clean and purified cloth that she could use to bind wounds. She carefully wrapped up Lady Biyu's head.

"Are you comfortable that enough of your face is covered?"

"Yes."

Anya carefully helped Lady Biyu to turn around, and then inspected her body. First she used her eyes, then after getting Lady Biyu's permission, her fingers. She mumbled under her breath, leaning back from Lady Biyu with a frown. "You are an adult, but a bit underweight," she pronounced. After giving them a moment for that to sink in, she continued, "I will be starting the scans now."

Anya proceeded with the examination, much like she had with May. She warned Lady Biyu before she touched her, but the woman still flinched at being touched. Anya pursed her lips. "You do not like people touching you?"

Lady Biyu was quiet for a long moment, and Anya almost repeated the question, when she answered, "Most people, no. I was fine with my friend, but it took time for me to get used to it."

Chelsea asked without really meaning to, "It took you time to get used to her?"

Lady Biyu nodded. "She was very physically affectionate. It took time, but she wore me down. About two years."

Anya was frowning at what she heard, but she remained professional in her work. "Alright. You have no major issues. A few old wounds that look like they healed a little wrong. I can easily fix it, but it will take some time."

"What do I owe you? For May and I."

"My Guild, the Guild of Salutary Fellowship, do not require payment for our services. We rely on patronage by nobles. We also encourage donations after treatment." She gave a bright professional smile to Lady Biyu's unseeing bandaged face.

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After treatment, Lady Biyu was given a private bath and change of clothes from Chelsea. Chelsea joined her Knights for lunch.

"So, have you seen her face?" asked Sir Leon conversationally. Her cousin was, in Chelsea's opinion, a somewhat more feminine version of herself. Not that he was actually feminine, just that if they stood side by side she imagined that half of people would guess her cousin with a wispy beard would be picked as the woman between them.

"No. She's a very private person, it seems. Anya gave her some bandages to wrap her face with. She is definitely a woman."

That caused a pause. "You mean girl, right?" Sir Leon asked.

"No, she's nineteen by her own account," Lady Chelsea answered. "Anya agreed."

"She did not correct us for calling her a 'him'," Sir Richard said thoughtfully.

"Maybe she wants to be a man," Anya suggested.

"Or she doesn't mind being mistaken for a man. She wears a mask. Have we confirmed she is who she said she is?" Sir Stuart asked. His face was dour.

"No. It was late last night, and she offered no reason for us to suspect her," Chelsea said thoughtfully. "Besides wearing a mask and using a bow."

"Well, what do we know about her?" Sir Leon asked conversationally, obviously not interested but knowing it was the conversation they were going to have.

"She's got a heroic name and two place names. She's very likely a daughter of Defender Elderwoods, who I remember seeing was the brother of the current March Lostlakes. I'm pretty sure the current Defender is the first head of that particular hold. Unless she's a fraud, in which case she's the daughter of someone rich. The last 'kata' she did this morning was a dance that was popular in the courts about five years ago," Chelsea said.

"Really? That explains why it looked so strange for a kata," Sir Stuart said.

At that, Anya blinked. "What, really? You just introduced her to me as Lady Biyu! I thought you were just humoring what you thought was a kid!"

Chelsea ignored Anya's outrage. "They both came from the west."

"We were heading that way because of the rumors of the Sacred Beast in Elderwoods," Sir Leon said, making a point of rubbing the wispy beard on his chin.

"She said she is the student of a Sacred Beast," Chelsea said with a slow nod.

Sir Stuart was frowning. "Defender Elderwoods is a Kimmel, yes?"

Chelsea replied, having made a point to look it up, "Lord Gerald Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods."

"So, chances are she's being honest with us," said Sir Leon.

Chelsea nodded, her expression difficult to read. "She's most likely one of Lord Gerald's daughters."

Lady Biyu came out then, fresh from the bath dressed in a tunic, robes, and her mask. She went to collect food from the innkeeper.

"Off to join May?" Chelsea said cheerfully.

"I would like to talk with Anton some more," Lady Biyu said. She took her food outside.

Waiting until Lady Biyu was out of earshot, Sir Leon continued. "So, now the question is, why is a daughter from Elderwoods a Transcendent wandering around as an exile instead of… is he Awakened?"

"He is not."

"Then why is she an exile instead of the new family head? I mean, even if she can't do that job…"

"There's a simple enough explanation. She doesn't want to do her duty, like a proper noble, so she ran away," Chelsea said.

"You're kidding, right?" Sir Leon asked. "She's Awakened. Why run away when you can just walk? Besides, people don't typically exile themselves."

Anya pressed her lips together. "I probably shouldn't say this, but… she shows signs of being mistreated."

"What do you mean?" Chelsea asked.

"The way she dislikes being touched. The thing with her face… she claims her face affects people. Maybe…" She didn't elaborate on her last thought.

"Like, she's horribly ugly?" Sir Leon asked. It was obvious he would want to see that.

"No. The way May and Lady Biyu put it, she has a very pretty face," Chelsea said.

"Right. So, were there rumors about one of the Elderwoods's daughters running away?"

"She was Awakened for three years," Anya said. "So it was at least that long ago."

"She knows how to use the bow, and that would take time. She had to be with the Sacred Beast for a while," Chelsea said.

"We can check with the Treasure Hunters at Trade Town," Anya said.

"Might be best," Sir Leon agreed. "Or we can just go ask her about it."

Anya shook her head. "No. We should do our best to become friends with her." At the questioning looks from the Knights, Anya said, "She could use friends. She saved that girl May, and she helped fight the bandits. I don't think she's a bad sort, but her circumstances don't sound very good. Lady Chelsea, figuring out this mystery might make a good story when you return home."

"Yeah. Even if it ends with a punchline, all the details are a hoot," Sir Leon said, bobbing his head.

"Right. That makes sense." Chelsea looked at Anya speculatively while ignoring Sir Leon. "There's something else, isn't there? What are you scheming?"

Anya shifted a little, frowning. "I… want to approach her with a marriage proposition."

Sir Leon burst out in laughter, but Sir Richard and Sir Stuart looked completely confused by the announcement.

"You sure?" Chelsea asked, and the disapproval dripped from her tone.

"I know you don't approve, but I also know you understand my circumstances. She's likely a noble, and even if she's not, she is a Transcendent. My Guild is still trying to arrange a marriage with that Northern Lord."

"Just say you aren't interested," Sir Leon said with a sigh.

"You have a duty to them," Sir Stuart said.

"I have. They don't listen. It's always the same. 'This will be good for you.' 'It's time to stop with your childish games and start a family.' The same rot I've heard since I was a girl. And excuse me, Sir Stuart, but I don't owe it to anyone to spend the rest of my life in the Hells."

Sir Stuart glowered, but he had said his piece and he remained quiet.

"She isn't married," Chelsea said. "Not your type at all."

Giving a grin, Anya replied, "That's rather the point. If I marry her, she will be a married woman. One that you can't complain about me inviting to my room."

All of her table mates stared at her dumbfounded. Each one of them knew that logic did not hold, but she gave them a beatific smile anyway.

"Right, so, I will go invite Lady Biyu to travel with us. Anya's plot aside, she made a good point."

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Chelsea and Anya approached May and Lady Biyu. They were in the square with Anton, their meals finished while May watched the conversation between Anton and Lady Biyu. Chelsea took the lead, with Anya following.

"Lady Biyu, May, may I have a moment of your time?" Chelsea asked.

The two looked up at her, and then rose to their feet to greet her. She waved them off. "I wanted to invite the two of you to journey with us."

"We are heading east, and you were heading west, Lady Chelsea," May spoke up.

Chelsea shook her head. "We were going west to see if the Sacred Beast would meet with us. We wanted to meet one, so we could tell the story. After running into you two, we've decided it would be more interesting to travel with you."

Glancing at Biyu, May cut in, "Lady Chelsea, why is that?"

"We have a woman who studied under a Sacred Beast who wears a mask, saved a damsel in distress, and helped defend a village with no offer of reward. It's a bit like stumbling into a minstrel tale. We are playing the odds that the gods will challenge you."

"I could do without the interest of the gods," Lady Biyu said.

"Apparently, you already have it," Chelsea said, giving a meaningful look at May. "We would like to accompany you."

Lady Biyu looked at May for her opinion. "They seem nice enough. I haven't seen 'em trying to extort the villagers, and Sir Richard is building them a really nice wall in case they get more bandits." She pointed at the part of the wall visible from where they sat.

Chelsea was giving her a lifted eyebrow. "I'm going to dedicate the wall to my Grandfather after its finished too," she said. She smiled at Lady Biyu. "You want to see Anton for a while longer, too, don't you?"

Lady Biyu's expression became a little more skeptical as she saw through Chelsea's attempt to bribe her.

Sighing, Chelsea motioned for Anya to step forward. "Also, Anya wanted to ask you for something, and she can't if we aren't going the same way. While this is my journey and my agenda, it's still not a good idea to piss off your Healer."

Anya was giving Chelsea a dirty look, but she smiled at Lady Biyu. "I'm not sure how to say this, but… I would like to arrange a marriage with you."

May blinked at that. Lady Biyu lifted her brows in surprise. The way her mask relayed her expressions were novel. Chelsea kept her face neutral.

"You like women?" May asked, and her arms lifted to cover her body obviously remembering being naked in her company.

"Yes, but I assure you the checkup was necessary. My training includes visual and physical inspection. And my vows preclude taking advantage of my patients."

"That was why I was in the room, to chaperone. You're examinations are just like the ones she gives me and the men."

"I have a chaperone for all my patients," Anya said. "I do not feel comfortable alone with naked men, and women feel safer if there's someone there to protect them if I get 'ideas'."

Biyu gave a nod. "You are attracted to me?"

"No," Anya answered.

"Then why?"

"You are a noble Transcendent and you… Lady Chelsea, May, I would like a moment alone with Lady Biyu."

Lady Biyu nodded to May, while Chelsea stepped far enough away that she could watch without hearing.

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Once Lady Chelsea had left, Anya moved closer to Biyu, but not too close. "You said you have been touched in a bad way by a lot of people. Women tend to hit you, and men tend to fondle you?"

Biyu nodded.

"I want to marry you, because otherwise people will keep trying to force me into a marriage with a man. I will not do that. You are a Transcendent, and even if you are exiled you are still a noble.

"If I marry a common girl, they will accuse me of," and she scowled at the next words, "avoiding my duty. As a Transcendent noble, no one would have grounds to object to me becoming your consort. I am also a Transcendent, and a member of a reputable Guild, so I have the freedom to marry whom I choose. But, you know how these things are I'm sure. They'll try to pressure me. Marrying you, they will have difficulty trying to force me into the marriage of their choice."

"I do not have the backing of my family," Biyu said. "My ability to protect you is weak. If they kidnap you and force things, I may not be able to retrieve you."

"That is not something my Guild would try, and the Northern Lord they want to marry me to doesn't have that much personal power. Mostly they want him to let them open up a clinic with his backing in the north, to expand their influence." She shrugged. "We will be given their patronage. Frankly, the man wants to do it anyway. Backing us is better for him than it is for us. He just struck a fancy for me, so he's trying to use the deal as leverage to get me after I already refused him."

"You have no better options?" asked Biyu. "You do not have a friend you can marry until you find a better match?"

"I will only marry a woman… and while if I were already married they wouldn't try this, a woman I could freely marry in defiance to the Guild without a drawn out fight would have to be someone like you. There are not many Transcendent noble women who would consider marrying me."

"How do you envisage this marriage?" Biyu asked.

"You will be the head of the family. I will be your consort. If that is too much, I can be your concubine, but… that does leave me less secure. The Guild is more likely to try and pressure you into letting me go if we aren't spouses."

Biyu looked at her for a long moment. She compared her circumstances with Anya with those with Indu. Biyu loved Indu. She could be honest about it now, though if it was more than friendship she could not know. Her fears of what might become of Indu in the Empire did not apply. Anya was, for now, someone she did not know. Until she did, she had no reason to refuse her request. "I will not tell you no, but I do not think it is a good idea."

"Because I am a woman?" Anya asked.

"The only relationship I have considered was with a woman. Someone I could not be with, for various reasons."

That piqued her interest, and Biyu could see that Anya was feeling some hope. "Then, why not?"

Biyu took a deep breath. "First, tell me, what do I get out of this arrangement?"

"I'm gorgeous, so you can flaunt me. I am a Healer, and one of the best from a well respected Guild. You will have access to my skills, and I will give you a portion of my earnings. Finally, I can't upset you too much, because divorce would put me back in the same situation I find myself in now. "

"And you get?"

"I can tell anyone who wishes to force me into a marriage that I am already taken. I will only demand you never make me lay with a man."

"If I demanded you lay with women for my own advantage?"

"I would do it."

With a frown, Biyu shook her head. "No. You will not. If you wish to do it, I will not say no, but not for me. What do you wish for?"

"I wish to have a happy relationship with someone who accepts me. Love would be better, but… I stopped hoping for that years ago. I want a family who accepts me. But, more than anything, I want to feel safe."

"People will call me Elf-friend. Being my consort could be dangerous."

"My Guild affiliation will help shield me. We are that well regarded. It will also benefit you."

Biyu had to admit that was a benefit she could use. Furthermore, a consort would stymie efforts by the family to marry her if they thought she was useful as a political tool once more. She considered the woman before her, from her pretty face to her figure. Seeing the look, Anya shifted and moved, displaying herself.

"I am not sure if this is a good idea," Biyu said.

"What do you want, Lady Biyu?"

"Biyu, please. 'Life's meaning is found in a man's family, friends, convictions, piety, accomplishments, and passions.' I wish to have family, friends, convictions, and accomplishments."

"I am offering two of those. Maybe three," Anya said.

"I see. Family, but what else?"

"Marrying me will be seen as an accomplishment. The other is passion."

Biyu pressed her lips together. "I do not know if I am made for passion. Not that kind."

"You have never felt the yearning of the flesh?" Anya asked in curiosity.

Seeing Biyu's shake of the head, she gave a nod. "I see. Perhaps that will change, or perhaps what passion means for you is something different."

"What do you mean?"

"That is a difficult thing to discuss, and I am not able to speak from personal experience. But we are getting off track. I still wish to court you," Anya said, smiling.

"Very well." Biyu was quiet for a moment. "I admit, I do not know how to court someone."

"We should do things together. We should also have a chaperone when we are together. It's a little silly, since you are Transcendent, I am far from pure, and we are both adults, but if we are to court properly, then needs must."

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Sir Leon was drinking with Anya that evening. The woman was drinking lightly, but she was cheerful and paying for his drinks.

"So, Lady Chelsea said you were propositioning the mysterious Biyu."

"I don't think she'd like that. No, I asked to court her."

"Really? You gonna marry a poorly dressed tramp?"

"She's probably a noble, and she is Transcendent. Most importantly, she's a woman."

"Yeah, but still. I thought you had better taste is all."

Sighing, Anya sipped her drink. "She's a bit of a hero, you know? Rescued one damsel, and maybe a second one. Me."

"Yeah, so? You said she doesn't like being touched, right?"

"Yes?"

"So, like, how is that going to work?"

"I suggested she whore me out, but she turned that down."

Sir Leon spluttered, chocking on his drink. "You what? Seriously? Well, I can see how that could work out, but Hells."

"She refused unless it was what I chose to do. Makes it hard to say 'yes please' when I'm trying to marry her."

"You know this ain't gonna work out. That girl is off something fierce. She's an Elf-friend too, and marrying into that kind of trouble… You have it hard enough already."

"She told me something similar," Anya said. "But, we are a bit alike."

"Your luscious, she's tiny. You are pretty fun to be around, she wears a mask. You—"

"Don't like some people touching me, and neither does she. I ran away from home, and that's probably half the reason she's an exile. I'm lucky to be Transcendent, and I think so is she."

"Well, I'll drink to your success." He lifted a drink, and praised one of the many minor gods of luck. Anya joined him, and just felt good that the first hurdle was behind her. For a little while, at least, she could hope again.

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Before they left the village, Lady Chelsea fulfilled her promise. The mobile temple was set up before the wall, and the village came to bear witness and join in worship. Offerings were made on the altar, and Lady Chelsea gave a sermon about her Grandfather. Who he was, and what made him a god of protection and defensive walls. The villagers cheered in all the right spots, and when they were done, and she spoke the final words, they all felt the power of a god descend upon them.

Biyu had only felt power like that once before, from Shishi when the Elves had angered her. It was living power, and the formations Sir Richard had etched into the walls gleamed as a god's blessing filled them with power. All the villagers watched in awe, and they took up an Oath to worship the walls as his divine instrument this time each year with a feast in his name.