Outraged.

NOT ALLOWED! HOW DID A SWORD COME HERE?

There had been no hint. No whisper. Marrin had just been...there. Just a below average Middling. He clearly had no training or barring of an Heirling. Elswith had only vaguely recognized Marrin. Marrin was not important. Marrin had never been important.

The Law of Fae swirled in amused colors. I did not do anything. He was here. He has been here all along. All his life.

Because all along...Marrin had been there. And Marrin, unknowingly, may be the strongest person in the room.

Perhaps even stronger than the Shadow Warbler.

Daniel swallowed drily.

The training required to wield one of the 37 Great Swords was extensive. The Mental Fortitude needed. First time wielding one of the Great 37 Swords was dangerous.

The first time Elswith even held the active Red Sword...

Daniel pushed that dark memory away.

There was no time. Kane needed to go, right then and there. It was no longer just about winning this round of the Game.

Marrin may be something of a temporary ally. But he was not safe.

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Marrin stood over Frank, sword held directly to Frank's neck.

Marrin had never been a violent person. He was well accustomed to abuse and mocking. His large frame had always singled him out, and his stocky build had been unattractive to the Fae of the Citadel. His personality was quiet, and he took joy in tending small plants.

But he had never felt so willing to 'do what needed to be done' before.

It was almost alarming.

Something in Marrin's bearing must have been different enough, because Frank paled. Whatever he hope to gain, or wrangle, he discarded.

"I yield." The more powerful Middling said.

The swirling wind began to blow harder. Marrin could see the debris, and moved out of the way. He could see Frank. Frank still held a sword. Still dangerous.

"Didn't you hear me? I yield!"

The wind swirled higher and higher. Ezra made some grunting noises, but despite 'seeing' him clearly, Marrin couldn't heed him.

Past grievances flared to Marrin's mind.

Frank had abandoned responsibility often. Mocked him often. Betrayed confidences often.

"You would have let me come here and die." Marrin said.

Just because someone surrendered...forgiveness? Where was the redressing of wrong?

"Spare me!" Frank cried, becoming afraid.

Ezra cried "The Shadow Warbler is getting out again..."

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Daniel fought Kane on the wall. Esra's control was slipping, and 'downward' that was the wall was beginning to feel soft. Daniel led the fight to the center stainglass window. Kane had been avoiding stepping on glass, but Daniel had been showing her how solid and firm the glass had been as their duel raged. He had even used some of his limited power to reinforce the glass.

Kane was smart, and she absorbed new information quickly. It made her so dangerous to the Dread Hordes, as she adapted swiftly to changing approaches and different mechanisms. But it did mean that she would also take things for granted, subconsciously.

His strategy finally saw results, as Kane strode onto the stain glass in pursuit. Her attacks still poured down, and Daniel made sure to stumble.

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Her temper flared, as she believe Daniel was hiding his true strength.

He was.

But it was like hiding a small copper coin, while they assume you have hidden a chest full of gold.

Daniel had hoped that he could truly show her that he, the Servant Branch, was powerless. The Elswith was dead. That there had been no great conspiracies between himself and other hidden masters.

But now, watching Marrin begin to tip and slip dangerously into the influence of a Great Blade, Daniel had to take on that mantle. Better those watching believe Elswith was still an Heirling of the Red Sword. Better that than they realize that the green hatted Marrin was the culprit.

Like the poets say. When you are powerful, appear weak. When you are weak, appear strong.

Marrin, poor, hapless Marrin.

The Citadel politics would eat him alive. He was already under the command of the Sky Court. What would the Waasla alliance do should they suddenly find a Fae with one of the Great Swords?

And most of all...without the proper training...Marrin would lose himself in the sword.

Elswith knew. His Lordly Father had shown him the tombstones of all the previous Heirling of the Red Sword, who had succumbed to the Great Sword. Generations of sons who had failed. Elswith's brother would have been about 35 years old now if he hadn't died. But if he hadn't died at just 15, then Elswith would have never been created. Elswith had been brought into the world with the sole purpose of being the Heirling.

The Swords would destroy their Master, if their Master did not master them.

So...time to impress Kane, and all those watching the Game.

"You finally caught on to my master plan!" Daniel said, finally moving with strength as he countered Kane over the stainglass window.

"I knew it!" She said, almost madness in her eyes.

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The Shadow Warbler was getting out, and yet Marrin...struggled to care. He could see the Shadow Warbler. He could even hear the deranged whispers and pleas for help from its gagged mouth. His wounded shoulder burned. His pride smarted. It would answer for what it did to him.

But first Frank. The stronger Fae had surrendered, but Marrin knew then that the world was full of liars. Liars liars liars.

There was no justice in the World. No Truth.

Only power and plays for power.

Marrin's heart lurched painfully, as the power raged around him.

He could see Frank. He could image, no, somehow it was imaged for him, how Frank would ruin his life after this. Frank would talk and talk, and suddenly the story would switch. Frank and Vye's betrayal would be turned into heroism. The loss of face. Poor, stupid Marrin, ridiculed again.

Liars.

They tell the truth, but they were lying.

Marrin gripped his sword. Nothing would have ever happened to him if only...

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Daniel realized he didn't have much time as he continued to block Kane's strikes. She was toying with him now, trying to spur him onward.

Looking past Kane's shoulder to the floor below, he could see that the situation was getting out of hand. Frank had surrendered, but Marrin had not moved on. His eyes were wrong, clouded. Seeing everything but missing everything. The Torn a Doe was spinning faster, and ripping into the old tiles and foundation of the room.

If Marrin lost control, they may be truly lost. The Swords. Only to be used by the High Fae. Too powerful. Too helpful.

Honestly, Daniel would have liked to drag this out. Kane was dangerous, but even then, he knew the best way to do well in the Game was to put on a show.

Since he could not make it long, it would make it interesting.

Standing there, in his borrowed Hall Attendant uniform of red, Daniel spent much of his influence acquired influence.

He brought strength into his exhausted body. His hunger was at last sated. And the wounds he had acquired mended, all except the wound on his arm. But those changes mattered little. What really mattered was what those watching could see.

He told the fabric of his jacket that it was smoother, brighter. He told the buttons that there was a faint, sparkling light almost of gem stones, not the dull wooden hue. His boots took on a completely different style, the leather starting to gleam at though it was freshly shined. The wild wind sweep back his ash blond hair from his forehead, and Daniel took special pains that it glowed softly.

The borrowed sword in his hand changed the most, transforming from the standard single handed to almost like his old sword, stolen from him. The sword he had taken into battle and campaign. Elswith's sword had been a lesser sword, but it was still blessed.

Temporarily transforming this sword was the edge of what Elswith...no, Daniel, he was Daniel. Daniel was his true name. This moment would not be given over to the past. This was his new beginning.

Temporarily transforming this sword was the edge of what Daniel could accomplish.

But he needed a sword like one he had used before.

Because his sword had been special.

Kane watched this transformation, as was polite in all Fae and Saiyan circles. Indeed, attacking while your opponent 'powers up' was dangerous because that power might lash out and explode if the tightly controlled flow was interrupted.

"Finally. Show me what you have been hiding!"

Finally, Daniel reached with his magic to the almost forgotten jar of lightning he had gathered for Esra.

Daniel reached to the unkempt power of the Torn a Doe and lanced red tinted lightning through it. Marrin had brought this here. But Daniel would use it. Someone needed to claim.

He could almost feel the 'ooo' and 'aaaas' of the High Fae watching the Game at that. Viewing the Game was not as clear, and many details remained shrouded in mysteries until brought to attention. If Elswith was truly all powerful scheming Lordling, then there would be spectacle.

He was not actually powerful. In fact, he was weaker now than before he had spent so much effort on this scene.

But Kane did not know that. And neither did those High Fae watching him.

They demanded a show.

Let them have it.