“Pain comes strangely, but is never a stranger.”

- Anthony Liccione

Maximilian sat at his desk writing. The glowcrystal illuminated his features in a pale light. With a look of concentration he finished, capped, and put away his stylus after cleaning it in a small basin of water. A knock sounded again.

“Please excuse the interruption, Master Maximilian, something happened to your sister!”

Maximilian stood up hastily and hurried to the door ripping it open. Mr. Brache stood in the darkened corridor. “Please we must make haste. I already sent someone for Ms. Annirstochter.”

“Can you tell me what happened?” The young man asked as he pulled on his coat and grabbed his sword.

“There was an attempt on the life of either the princess or the lady Theresia von Dornenfurt.”

“Is Alea hurt?!”

“No, as far as I know, she thwarted the attempt with an impressive display of light magic but something is wrong with her. She is still unconscious.”

“Is the carriage ready or do we take the horses?”

“The carriage is ready. Ah there is Ms. Annirstochter.”

They exited the building and saw a red-haired girl running towards them while struggling into her academy robes followed by a maid who seemed out of breath.

“What has happened, is Alea...”

“Mireille! Let us talk in the coach.” Maximilian firmly cut off the questions bubbling from her.

Inside the coach, Mireille could not sit still and half stood, half leaned out of the window.

“Please don’t kill yourself before we arrive. It will not make the road any shorter. I don’t know much. A courier of the royal knights brought the news just a quarter of an hour ago. Alea is hurt but stable and it seems to be an attempted murder or assassination probably targeting the princess.”

“If they hurt Alea I will make them suffer. She is such a shy, sweet girl. If I could choose my relatives she would have a spot. I would trade her for my brothers any day.”

Maximilian looked like he would like to laugh and cry at the same time.

Arriving at the Dornenfurt mansion they exited and Mr. Brache spoke to the knight still guarding the door then they were let in and guided to the room where Alea was resting.

Opening the door they saw Cyrus sitting on the small chandelier barbed tail at the ready. Alyssa was in a half-sitting position while fast asleep and had pulled the unconscious Alea onto her lap, hugging her.

Maximilian hurried towards his sister and took her hand while looking anxiously at her pale face. “Alea, sister. Do you hear me?”

Mireille was tempted to use lightning on herself to get there first but thankfully refrained. She sat down beside Alyssa and softly shook her awake.

“Mh, what is it?” Alyssa mumbled still half-asleep then opened her eyes with a start shouting “Alea!” while frantically looking for her friend. As she saw that she was still breathing and did not seem to be in pain she relaxed a bit. “Maximilian, Mireille. I am so glad you are here.”

“Has she been like this the whole time?” Maximilian asked.

“Yes. She was even worse off when I came even though Margravine Heloise already healed her. I tried my best and I think she is calmer somehow.” Alyssa recounted.

Mireille looked at Alea and brushed loose hair from her face. “Nothing for it. Let us get her out of here. And I would really like to know what happened.”

“She could remain here with us girls. I don’t know if we should move her. If she gets worse while we are in the carriage…” Alyssa worried.

Maximilian nodded. “I think that might be for the best. I will inform the academy that you two might be excused…?” He trailed off and looked at them questioningly.

“Naturally.” Mireille looked faintly affronted. “We cannot leave her alone in such a state.”

“I think the same.” Alyssa nodded.

As they sat together there was a knock on the door and they heard the voice or Mr. Brache, “My lord, Theresia von Dornenfurt.”

“Please, enter,” Maximilian answered.

Theresia von Dornenfurt entered the chamber inspected them and gave a small curtesy, “I regret that I have to greet you under such inauspicious circumstances.” She righted herself brushing back her auburn hair. “I had to say my farewells to princess Lieseleta who wanted me to extend her deepest regrets that she could not be here at the moment. She was probably the target of attempted murder and Alea helped her immensely.”

She drew a deep breath. “But because of the still uncertain situation, the orders from the palace were for her to return posthaste. And thus it falls to me to apologize for her absence.”

“What exactly happened?” Maximilian asked with a hint of sharpness to his tone.

Smiling wryly she answered. “There was a servant, probably controlled by some means, who used an artifact to cast a spell intended to kill. Alea stopped some of it, the rest was deflected by Jera and me. You know her attendant?” as they all nodded she continued. “We contacted the academy too and Mrs. Heloise von Margrinar was thankfully near and able to help. I would like to extend an offer of hospitality for Alea and should you wish it anyone else interested.”

Maximilian shook his head. “I have to be in the academy tomorrow but I would like for Alyssa and Mireille to remain with my sister. The bed seems large enough. But if necessary perhaps some temporary sleeping arrangement could be found?”

Mireille nodded, “That is fine with me.”

Alyssa nodded too.

“Then it is settled. I will have a servant bring you anything you might need. He knows how to contact me too. You would be able to call him with this bell.” Theresia put a small silver bell on the side table. “Are there any other questions?”

“How exactly did my sister come to be unconscious? You said she stopped or mitigated an attack, was that the cause? She does not seem injured.”

“As far as we know there was something else. I think that is best spoken of privately?” She looked at Alyssa and Mireille.

“I don’t think there is anything you would need to keep from them, please talk.”

“Your sister was the target of mind magic suppressing some memories, probably traumatic ones.”

“I can guess. It was strange that she did not remember much of her early life before her parents died but I was young then too and did not realize. Probably Gallius doing.” Maximilian sighed again. “Is there anything we should do?”

“Not that I know of. If it gets bad we can appeal to a temple, Meloris or Jaros would be an option I think.” Theresia nodded she looked exhausted. “If there is nothing else I will leave you to it. And as I mentioned use the bell for anything you need.”

“I will take my leave also, I have to get back to the academy and there is some work that needs to be done.” Maximilian stood up. “You two, please remain with my sister. Don't leave her side. I will contact you tomorrow. I will also message Adelaide, her grandmother, and my uncle Demavar. There have to be consequences.”

Theresia gave an apologetic nod and bade them goodbye, Maximilian left shortly afterward.

Mireille looked at Alea then Alyssa and sighed. “We can't leave her for a minute. Lieseleta has some explaining to do.”

“She was the target, if we want to be friends with her it is near certain that something like this will happen again, I think,” Alyssa said sleepily. “I am glad that you are here. I will scoot over, let’s put Alea between us.”

“Nothing to it. Let’s try to sleep.” Mireille raised her torso and looked over the prone Alea at her friend but saw that she was already asleep. “Good night Asandria, Cyrus.” She pulled the blankets around herself and closed her eyes but sleep was something that was slow in coming for her. The carriage ride and the worry, the adrenaline kept her awake and she tossed and turned until she finally fell into a fitful sleep, half-glimpsed nightmares kept her company.

The next day dawned and rain splattered against the shutters a steady dripping sound came from outside together with the rushing noise of the wind.

Alyssa opened her eyes and after a disorienting few seconds remembered where she was and why she was here. She turned and looked at Alea, to her surprise the little girl's eyes were open. She held Cecily and stroked her carapace. Not wanting to wake Mireille, Alyssa whispered, “Thank the gods, Alea are you alright? How is Cecily?”

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Alea turned, and her eyes teared up, “I don’t know. There are so many memories, it's all jumbled. I don’t know if I should be thankful for that. There is a memory of me...of me dying and my grandfather he…” her breath hitched.

“Shh. Don't think about that. The important thing is that you are alive. Does anything hurt?” Alyssa softly hugged her.

“No, yes, a bit. I think I stubbed my toe somewhere between jumping on the table and trying to get down again. Don't you think that is ridiculous? My chest hurts but I think that is not real. There is a memory of my grandfather…” her voice left her again.

“Don't think about it. What about Cecily?”

Alea brightened. “I know what's wrong. She was so hot to the touch and the brass most likely heated and cooled too fast, I will have to change some gears but then everything should be okay.”

“Your brother was here and a Theresia von Dornenfurt. Lieseleta was forced to return to the palace. She left you a message saying she regretted deeply that she could not tell you herself.”

“She was not hurt, at least I don’t think so. I have to get Cecily repaired. We could drive to Willibald’s, he should have the components I need. And wasn't there talk of making an appointment with the snake-people?”

“Do you really want to do that now after all of that?” Alyssa looked apprehensive while stroking Cyrus.

“Because of all that I would like to do something instead of brooding about it.” Alea rubbed her eyes. “If I get time to really think about what happened, what I remember, it will be worse. Grandfather seemed to think that he had to conceal a lot from me. But some things I don’t think are so bad. That he wanted to save me so badly, that he cared so much about me. I miss him so much more now. Before yesterday I did not really know him, I had forgotten so much. I think this is better, don’t you think so too?”

“I think I would have wanted to remember too. If you have no memories how can they form your perspective, your self. Without them, it is as if you had not lived that time. But there are memories that harm you, make you worse than you could have been.” Her mind shied away from the events in the Lady of the Night.

They fell silent and the rain rattled the shutters and wind hummed around the corners.

“Let's try to get up and do as you suggested. I don’t know what we could do other than lie around in bed all day.”

“That seems a splendid idea, could’ve been mine.” pale, slender arms stretched into the air and a tousled head of red hair emerged from a heap of blankets.

“That is the reason I was freezing! You stole my blankets!” Alyssa looked mock-outraged.

“I love you too. Thanks for sharing.” Then she hugged Alea. “Good to see that you are awake and mostly alright. Let's go see the snakes and repair your spider.”

Alea looked a bit happy to be coddled by both of them.

Alyssa called for the servant and they were fitted with new clothes that had been brought from the Graufurt townhouse.

Afterward, they ate a quick breakfast. They were informed that Lady Theresia had been called to the palace. There had been talk of bringing Alea but it was decided that she needed calm and quiet more than a consultation with the royal physicians. Heloise had a very good reputation as a healer after all.

They then left by carriage and went directly to Willibald’s shop. The rain had slowed and only a light drizzle fell from a slate-grey sky. Clouds laden with smoke and soot hung low over the city. Cyrus folded his wings and screeched unhappily.

It was still morning when they exited the Ivy Terrace where the great townhouses were located and they made good time to the market. The wheels of their carriage sprayed water and the coat of their horses gleamed wetly.

The shop was as they had first seen it in a sidestreet without much in the way of ornamentation, simple, large apartment houses with shops built into the lower floors. A jingling sound from bells affixed to the door alerted the gnome to his visitors.

“Ah, Alea good to see...what happened to you!?” Willibald jumped from his seat and walked up to them. “You shouldn’t be outside in your condition, whatever it is. Please wipe your boots!”

“It’s Cecily, she is damaged and…” she shook her head. “I can't see very well at the moment.”

“Come here. Let's have a look. I can't condone your recklessness but I understand where you are coming from. A clockwork familiar is an impossibility in and of itself. So.” He grabbed his glasses and adjusted a few screws then fit the lenses over his eyes. “Mh, I see. What did you do?”

“I used the time compression mechanism. It was an emergency!”

“It has not been used in years probably. There was a build-up of other magics. Most likely earth or water. That would have damaged the more sensitive gears.” He mumbled. “Come to my workstation.”

Mireille and Alyssa looked at each other then Mireille said. “Should I turn the sign?”

“Yes please.”

The sign reading ‘open’ was turned into ‘closed’.

“I don’t get many customers on Monday morning. I won't ask why you are not doing something more productive with your time.” He loosened the screws and removed a bit of plating. “Mh. That here is the culprit.” He pointed with his screwdriver at some discolorations on a few gears. “We will have to exchange them and I cannot get the mechanism to completely stop. But I will manage. Are you proficient in time magic?”

“Not yet. I had my first two classes just now.”

“Mh. Then take this wand and when I say it speak the command word- Horas.”

“Understood.”

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then please on three…” He counted down. “Now!”

“Horas.”

The wand flashed with color and then the whirring lessened as the white glow of temporal magic encased the spider.

“Now I have some time.” He grinned at his joke and went to work.

Half an hour later the glow diminished and then faded completely. “All done. How do you feel?”

Alea was holding her head. “Nauseous, headache.” Her tone was clipped.

Alyssa sang and gestured and streams of glowing water converged on her neck and head.

“Ah. Much better. Thank you so much. And I can see again!” Alea sagged.

Mireille took her arm. “Steady. If you need to, you can sit down.”

“No. I am better already. Many thanks, master Willibald!”

“Wait until you see my bill!” He laughed. “Glad to have a challenge and a good outcome. Those are the best! Give me something for the gears and we call it quits. The wand will recharge on it's own in a few days.”

Alea fumbled a few gold coins onto the table. “Please drink to my health and the remembrance of my grandfather.”

“No need to tell me, lass. If you feel better come by whenever you want. I live in the apartment above the shop so simply ring there if I am not in the workshop.”

“Thank you and goodbye!”

“Be well!”

They left and walked back to the road.

“Please wait in the carriage with Mireille. I will organize the meeting.” Alyssa looked worried at Alea’s pale complexion. “If Maximilian hears that we dragged you through half the city after your ordeal yesterday he might well kill us.”

“I needed to. If I had not repaired my spider I would be effectively blind, and who knows if it would have gotten worse!”

“True.” Alyssa nodded.

She left Mireille and Alea at the inn and began to walk towards the market.

Asandria gave a hiss and Alyssa turned seeing a young thin man in shabby clothes reach for her belt pouch. She slapped his hand away with her left and he hissed in pain as a dark red rash formed where she had touched him with void in her agitation.

Cursing he stumbled back and was lost in the crowd.

Asandria hovered beside her ‘I will keep an eye out. Without Jera and the guards you look like easy prey.’

But the rest of the way, perhaps because of the display she had given, was uneventful.

‘You still react instinctively but you should really use some technique. That was a few days of your life you squandered. Approximately.’

Alyssa looked a bit pale and whispered back. “I will practice more. But I couldn’t help it.”

And then they were at the shop selling exotic wares where they had met Iseret Sekesh.

The woman with the reptilian features looked up and met Alyssa’s eyes then deliberately nodded and gestured inside the shop.

As she entered the strong odor of spices and sweet wine permeated the air. A long counter sat beside a door leading further into the building the windows were and every available surface was covered by shelves, only a little light fell through small cracks between the merchandise. From the ceiling hung a large glowglobe that emitted a soft, dim light.

Iseret walked to the back leaned through the doorway and asked something in a hissing voice.

A bald, olive-complexioned man of perhaps thirty years with a slaves collar exited and bowed to Alyssa and Iseret both before taking his place behind the counter.

“Come here, it is good you came so quickly.” The snake-woman gestured.

The room behind the salesfloor was mostly a storeroom with a table and some chairs set to the side. A steep ladder ascended to the next floor while a hatch probably led to the basement.

Iseret looked at her and then gestured towards the chairs. “Please excuse the lack of accommodations. Have a seat. Can I interest you in some wine?”

“No, I don’t think I should.”

Iseret settled herself opposite Alyssa and poured herself a glass of dark red wine. Her movements were elegant and fluid.

Alyssa looked at Iseret and then spoke quickly, “We would like to arrange a meeting.”

“That is our intention also. Where and when?” Iseret looked at her searchingly.

“Do you have any preferences?”

“It would be best if it were somewhere out of the way. I would recommend the ‘Sturdy Mast’.”

“Then the ‘Sturdy Mast’ it is. When?”

“I think the weekend should be best? Saturday, the tenth hour?”

“Then it is settled.” Alyssa felt exposed and uncomfortable even though Iseret was courteous and had a friendly smile.

“Please take some Io-berries. Compliments of the owner.” She pushed a bag of rough linen into Alyssa’s hands.

“Then I will take my leave. Thank you for your time.”

“No, thank you for acceding to our wishes. If all goes well we will be allies.” Iseret looked at her with slit yellow eyes.

The man behind the counter nodded at them as they left. And soon she was on the way back to the inn.

Asandria tilted her head and smiled. ‘There was a very large, black snake underneath the boards of the floor. Nearly as large as two grown men.’

“As much as I appreciate you telling me, I don’t really appreciate it right now.”

Asandria laughed while rain drifted through her ephemeral figure. Passerby shivered and instinctively avoided her, frost formed in her footsteps.

As they reunited at the inn Mireille asked. “Where do we go from here? We still have to be at the academy but I don’t know if it is too early for Alea.”

Alea looked up and adjusted her blindfold while stroking Cecily. “I would say we go to the dorms. Even as I would like to go to my room and not come out again Alyssa has the duel in two days and we all have to go to class. I am very confused and my memories are all over the place but that will have to wait for the weekend.” She laughed sounding a bit forced. “How does the saying go- Time and the tides wait for no one?”

And the carriage clattered over the pavement towards the academy while Alea remembered.

Her grandfather raising her up in the air laughing, she was laughing too.

Her parents at her fourth birthday, smiling faces, candles, a cake.

Her friends playing hide and seek with her.

Tinkering with a broken clock, her grandfather's warm hand on her shoulder.

So many memories. If you lose them are you still you? Without memories did your life happen or is it as a forgotten dream on waking?

----------------------------------------

Somewhere in the academy.

Vivienne looked down from the terraced roof she was standing on. Melissa stood with her back to the dorm building and hugged her chest, face contorted with pain. She spoke a short spell and the air towards the sides began to waver like the heat-haze over a furnace. She fumbled a small pouch from her hip and opening it withdrew a small flask. The pouch fell to the ground, unheeded.

A thin trickle of bluish powder fell into her cupped hand and she desperately drew it into her nostrils. Blue energy crackled from within her flesh lighting her bones as a look of ecstasy came and went on her face. Looking around her fearfully, she gathered the pouch and smoothed her dress before walking quickly towards the front of the building.

Vivienne smiled a smile tinged with cruelty, eyes hidden behind her green tresses whipping in the wind.