Epilogue.

(Aurelia)

Countless Etherite lamps illuminated the wide underground tunnel leading into the immense training chamber.

The Ether flowing through the rock made the Etherite lamps glow brightly.

The heels of my boots clacked loudly as I strode with pride and authority.

Following a path down the middle of the tunnel, with my escort of guardsmen behind me – a wholly unnecessary measure since I was quite capable of defending myself against any man, woman, child or beast off this world – I made sure to restrain the Void-field close to my body.

I didn’t need to be distracted by the flickering of Etheric lamps robbed of the Ether.

I had an important task to perform, and important message to deliver.

The tunnel came to an end, and I stepped onto the wide, permacrete walkway travelled all around the interior of the chamber.

A thick parapet prevented me from stepping off the walkway and into open air.

I knew the layout of the chamber well, so I had no need to pause and gain my bearings.

Turning to the right, I walked with even steady strides for a dozen or so meters and arrived at a collection of steps that led up to an overhanging, observation balcony, enclosed by a smooth, beveled parapet serving as a guardrail.

I climbed the steps and walked to the far end of the balcony.

My escort came along as well, and chose to position themselves a few feet behind me.

From this elevated position, I could sweep my gaze over the interior of the chamber and the square arena it contained. The arena was forty feet deep, with slanted walls a thousand feet long. The chamber itself spanned a half kilometer in breadth and length.

I focused my attention on the spacious floor of the arena, and the individual occupying it.

Sophia Romanova of Clan Korvinus.

Under her will, the Warlord she operated moved with a grace and fluidity born of countless hours of practice and training.

It was poetry in motion, a beautiful dance without wasted movement.

The personification of efficiency.

The swords her Warlord wielded flashed as they caught the Etheric light in the chamber.

They moved with precision, striking blows against the Etherite engorged training drones flying around her like insistent flies.

The drones resembled a cross between a spindle and inverted cone. A dozen gossamer wings extending from the round head, glowing strongly due to the Ether saturating the chamber. They flew under the skilled guidance of a dozen training specialists – men with enormously high Ether Kinetic talent.

However, it wasn’t just men that occupied strategic points atop the arena’s walls.

Women stood between them as well. They were strong Empath Weavers with the ability to keep the Ether flowing richly through the chamber and arena. If not for their influence, the drones would lack the Ether that kept them aloft.

The reason was simple.

A Warlord warded away the Ether. Its movements in the arena disrupted the flows, and threatened to rob the drones of the Ether they needed to stay aloft in the air. Hence, the women, the Empath Weavers, worked in concert with the men to keep the Ether flowing through and around the drones, while the men used their Kinetic talent to will the devices about.

The Khan Orden paid them handsomely for their services, and when they weren’t occupied here, they would work elsewhere across the immense estate that was large enough to be considered a province in some of the eastern lands.

For a minute, I continued to stand and silently observe the training session.

The Warlord, Kali, spun like a top, a children’s toy. Its Impulse Wings fanned out behind it, ringed by halos of blue-white light.

Unlike the mythical goddess from that ancient religion, this Kali was black yet covered in armor panels of silver. While it did not possess the ten arms of its namesake, its two arms served it well.

The swords it gripped would deftly deflect the drones as they drew near, tapping them with either the tips or the sharp edge.

It required a gentle hand.

Too hard a strike, and the drone would break. That wasn’t to say they were feebly constructed. On the contrary, they were light, yet incredibly sturdy.

The need for a gentle touch was due to the enormous kinetic energy a single sword tap could deliver.

Many people would be surprised to see drones powered by the Ether in such close proximity to a Warlord.

However, what they didn’t know was that an experienced Khan could contain the Void-field close to the Warlord’s skeletal chassis. In fact, a Warlord could walk side by side and in close proximity to a platoon of Jotnar.

It all came down to practice and hard earned skill.

I was certain there was no need to master that skill. It was my ardent belief that a Warlord’s Core Awareness could just as easily restrict the Void-field on its own. There really wasn’t a need for us to do so through our own will and concentration.

I found it annoying that the Core Awareness rarely chose to make life easier for its bonded Khan.

Twelve rapid strikes, and the drones retreated in a flurry from Kali’s swords. However, they began orbiting the Warlord and made no further attempt to approach it.

I looked over to my right at a tower some two hundred feet away, intersecting the arena wall.

A large man stood on the tower’s battlement, arms folded across his chest, dressed in the cloak that identified him as a senior trainer. A similarly cloaked woman with short blonde hair stood a few feet to his right. She gave him a sidelong look as he turned his head in my direction and raised his right hand high over his head.

In an instant, the twelve drones flew away to the walls of the training arena.

I offered him a faint smile, and a polite bow. He returned my gesture with a cursory nod.

I smiled inwardly at the manner of his response, and looked down at the Warlord.

The eyes of its Khan met mine.

Kali floated gracefully across the arena, and touched ground a hundred feet or so away from the observation balcony.

I studied the woman who wielded the Warlord on a level few Khans of the Orden would ever attain.

Her skill, and her devotion to the Orden, were the reasons I was dispatched to fetch her.

She looked up at me, her face covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Her clothes were damp and clung tightly to her skin.

I held out my right hand, and one of the guardsmen accompanying me stepped forth and handed me a bundled towel.

I tossed it over to her using the strength granted to me by the Seal of Arcala within my body.

The towel sailed through the air until caught by an effect-field generated by Kali, whereupon it appeared to float into the Khan’s waiting hand.

I smiled down at her, folded my hands behind my back, and then used the Seal of Arcala to generate an effect-field that would amplify my voice well beyond humanly possible.

“I see you’ve recovered quite well. Your movements were as beautiful as ever. Truly exquisite. I could compose a song in praise of them.” I clicked the fingers of my right hand. “Oh, but I don’t know how to write music, much less play an instrument.”

She wiped at her face with the towel.

Tsk. I clicked my tongue while still smiling.

A lady does not wipe. She pats herself dry.

I sighed inwardly.

When will she learn to be a proper lady?

Wiping down the bare skin of her neck, she regarded me with a stony expression.

“What are you doing here, Aurelia? Did you get bored dallying with those pompous asses from the capital?”

“Not at all, my dear Sophia. Not all. For last night, a delicious young debutant and I shared a most passionate encounter.”

I wiggled my fingers at Sophia.

“I certainly haven’t lost my touch.”

The towel flew back at me with enough speed to outrun an arrow.

I smiled when it struck the barrier-field my Seal generated before me, stopping the fabric missile a few inches shy of my nose. Cancelling the barrier, I reached out and caught the towel before it could fall to the floor.

Then I raised it to my face, and smelled the sweat freshly wiped from her body.

My head became light and delirious.

Sophia's voice cut the air like a stinging whip. “You disgusting slut.”

I lowered the towel, and folded it neatly. “You praise me too highly.”

“I wasn’t praising you, you whore.”

“Tusk, tusk. Flattery will get you somewhere.”

Of a sudden, Kali reduced the distance between us by jumping fifty or so feet, landing elegantly on its feet.

“I’m going to ask you again, Aurelia. Why are you here?”

“Well, if you insist.”

I took a deep breath which served to push up my modest breasts under my white uniform.

“The Quorum has come to a consensus.”

Sophia’s eyes visibly narrowed. “A consensus on what?”

I gave her my most charming and winning smile, one known to make many a virgin maiden blush from her cheeks to painted toes.

“The Quorum has chosen to assign you to the ranks of the Six Peers.”

Sophia reached up and casually stroked the ends of her long, crimson hair. “Are you lying to me, Aurelia?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I patted the pocket under my short white coat. “I have the written declaration right here. Would you like to read it?”

Sophia continued stroking her hair, her eyes narrow and hard. “Why make the decision now?”

“A situation has arisen in a land far to the east.”

Her hand stopped moving. “What?”

“Yes, it’s a rather complicated matter. It would appear that our esteemed Quorum Secretary Ravinia Claudia Eldridge and her lap dog, Iris Dirac Korvinus, have drawn the ire of the Archduke of Caldera. At least, that is what I’ve garnered from my various sources. The Quorum is being rather tight lipped on this occasion. No doubt Kapernia remains fresh in their minds—”

I stopped abruptly because Sophia was suddenly smiling from ear to ear.

Her tone was deep and her voice carried courtesy of the effect-field generated by either her Seal or her Warlord.

“So…Ravinia Eldridge finally stumbled and fell.”

She planted her hands on her hips and began to laugh.

“Oh, this is majestic. How many years have I waited for this?”

I glanced around me. The guardsmen behind me were keeping their faces unreadable.

With another sigh, I called out to Sophia. “Do you really need to be telling everybody how you feel?”

Sophia stopped laughing. “Do you think I care? How many times have I argued against her reasoning before the Quorum? That woman doesn’t deserve to hold the title of Quorum Secretary. She never did. She was much too soft. A typical diplomat. A parasite.”

I held back a sigh – Sophia made me sigh too often for my health – and tried not to sound too dismissive of her childish opinions.

“Well, in any case, your presence is required before the Quorum in order for you to be officially appointed to the Six Peers.” I took out the letter and placed it on the balcony’s parapet. “It’s all there in black and white.”

I started turning away to my right, but halted when Sophia asked in flat voice, “What of the remaining vacancies in the Six Peers?”

I looked down at her over my left shoulder. “What of them?”

“Are they still vacant?”

I shook my head casually. “No. The Quorum has filled the remaining two positions.”

Sophia willed her Warlord Kali to step closer. “When did this happen?”

“Today. This morning, actually.”

“What?” Sophia lowered her chin and peered up at me. “Who are they?”

“Gerhard Gherling Kerensky.”

She raised her chin in surprise. “Seerkhan Gherling? The Iron Wolf of Kerensky?”

I nodded faintly at her.

“And who else?” she asked.

I touched my left breast and slowly broke into a wide smile that drew its warmth from the smoldering passion I held for Sophia in the burning cauldron of my heart.

“Tis I, the beautiful seducer of maidens. The exquisite flower of the West. The sweet dew of the spring morning. The Seerkhan, Aurelia Augustine Kerverus.”

I curtsied to Sophia who stared at me mouth agape. Then her face darkened ominously.

“What did you say?”

I waved goodbye to her. “By your leave, my beloved.”

“Don’t you call me that!”

With a gentle flutter of my left hand, I motioned to the guardsmen that we should depart. “Let’s go, boys.”

Wordlessly they turned and followed me off the observation balcony.

Sophia’s cry filled the air behind me.

“Aurelia, get back here! What do you mean you’re joining the Six Peers?”

I fanned myself lightly with the other letter in my coat pocket that was addressed to me.

Keeping the smile from my face was an impossible task.

My beloved Sophia. Oh, what fun we shall have travelling across the Northern Continent—cutting down one Khan Wilder after another.

I stepped into the tunnel, and extended my arms wide as I danced in a circle.

A violent tremor shook the floor as Sophia and Kali rampaged about the arena.

“AURELIA!”

I resumed walking elegantly down the tunnel, and tapped the letter to my lips.

Two girls. Two sisters. Both of them Khan Wilders gifted with Seerkhans.

I knew the name of one, but not the other.

Fallon Kassius.

I tipped my head slightly to a side.

Why did that name sound so familiar?

Hmm, maybe I should visit the archives and do a little reading. I should brush up on my history.

Pocketing the letter and with my interest piqued, I picked up my pace.

After all, it was only a matter of time before the Quorum deemed it necessary to dispatch the newly formed Six Peers out in the wilds.

I would need to borrow books from the library.

I did so love to read on long journeys.

And I should purchase a new pillow, and a new sleeping bag – one large enough for two people to snuggle up inside.

I pursed my lips together.

Perhaps, I should read up on the young Archduke of Caldera.

I had to admit, I was surprised that Sophia failed to flutter an eyelid when I mentioned him. After all, she was rather crushed when he failed to win the Tournament of Jotunn Meisters a year ago. She had bet a considerable amount of money on him as well, and she drank herself silly when she lost it all.

To my shame, even when at her most vulnerable, I failed to seduce her.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I remembered that final match.

Everyone had said it was impossible to operate a War Jotunn without a working Etheric Drive. Yet Claymore had not only wielded the Jotunn like an extension of his body, he had very nearly defeated his opponent. To be robbed of victory on a technicality was seen by many as a crime.

However, his opponent was a Knight-Captain who hailed from Dal Anderas, the capital of the Anderas Empire, and a lord belonging to a branch of the Imperial Family. It simply wouldn’t do to have some noble from an obscure eastern land defeat an esteemed member, no matter how low on the totem pole, of the Imperial Family.

Certainly not before the spectating eyes of the Empress.

To shame the Empress with defeat was akin to open treason.

I snorted softly to myself.

The men of strong Ether Kinetic talent employed by the Khan Orden did not hold a candle to the bonfire of that young man’s talent.

I slowed to a stop and again tapped the letter to my lips.

Falken Galen Claymore, a most frightening, intriguing, and handsome young man.

I could count on one hand the number of men who could boast of having met the Empress’s gaze and not faltered.

Falken Claymore was one such man.

With a deep breath, I pocketed the letter and resumed walking down the long tunnel.

I had much reading to do…and much to contemplate.

# Fin – Book One #

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Afterward

My many thanks to those of you who read through to the end.

I apologize for this being a draft.

Around half the novel has been re-edited but those are the early chapters.

With this posting, it brings to an end a two year journey.

I wrote the first incarnation of "Andraste" in late 2013, then shelved it.

I went back to it last year, and decide to rewrite it again, removing the original badly thought out ending.

I was trying to do too much with the original version.

By simplifying the story, I was able to space it out more.

There was no need to rush. The series, "The Seals of Arcala" is a long one that will possibly span as many as six novels.

Of course, this all depends on how the final product is received once it goes onto Amazon Kindle.

Based on its reception here, it will be a complete failure.

However, I have faith in it.

I truly don't believe this novel is as bad as the comments people have posted.

My intention was never to write "web fiction". I wanted to give readers a proper novel to read.

I have no regrets on the way it turned out.

Anyway, at present I'm busy trying to get the cover done, and balancing my day job with the rewriting and editing.

I'm also building a set of the scene described in the Epilogue.

It should be completed, along with the Warlord Kali, sometime around the end of February.

It's a big, big set.

About two thousand pieces are going into it.

When finished it will be roughly 1.5 x 1.5 meters.

And it will be mostly out of Lego.

Those of you that enjoyed this work, please look forward to Book Two, "Gehanna".

Book Two will deal more with Fatina, and her growing relationship with Falken.

Lisanna's family will also come into the picture, and Falken's decisions to protect the Khan Wilders will bring him into conflict with Kaden and Alleyne.

I won't spoil it for you with too much info.

For now, adios.

Simkin Four Fifty-Two

January, 2016