“What mortals toil to the coiling thread. Why weave the same when knots form in the line. The loom feeds a snag in Fate looming. So seek first those of second death. Find tears in time before time unravels. The weave undone. To walk away. To stay. Embrace death by the first fallen leaf - and tie ends or end in Void.”

Julian had thought Gerda must’ve had a social obfuscation skill to maintain her secret identity… but perhaps that wasn’t the case. As he repeated the celestial’s words, Gerda flinched. Her hands lifted and she pressed them together against her chin, contemplating.

Everyone watched her and waited.

“Okay…” She started and then stopped. Looking around the room. “Before I tell you what I know of Fate, you should probably activate a truth spell.”

Wizard Lorthar didn’t need to be told twice. He raised a hand and lowered it, silently casting a spell. A faint glow appeared around Gerda like an aura that would change color if she lied. It was similar to a Skill that John had.

The troll spoke slowly, “Fate’s riddles almost never involve just one person - she is looking at the entire weave and how threads come together across worlds. That is why she will try and narrow it down by indicating who is involved and what can be changed. In this case I think Alice assumed the prophecy is about ‘So seek first those of second death’. Combining it with the previous lines, Alice is focusing on two things. One, those that have died and come back when they were not fated too, like myself. And two, anyone who was fated to die but was saved, like Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep.”

The light remained constant and no one interrupted.

“But-” Gerda shook her head. “those who escaped their fate like Rowen aren't on a second death. They're on their first life. And even if they had died, they would be on their second chance at life, not death.”

The light remained constant. Her logic was sound, and her points succinct… so Julian didn’t know why there was a growing feeling of unease in the pit of his stomach.

“Why isn’t it a warning that those of second death aren’t causing the problems? Not Their Highness who has fully escaped their Fate, but those who have died already and were brought back outside of Fate’s plan?” Witch Agatha questioned.

“Because Fate is looming.” Gerda replied, as if it were obvious. “That is the point.”

“Explain further.” Wizard Lorthar spoke quietly.

“The prophecy was for the Champion of Fate, by Fate.” Gerda said, stressing her words. “Which is why we have nothing to fear. Since Fate herself is the answer.”

Julian did not see how there was nothing to be afraid of when they were discussing the unraveling of time itself and made to say as much, “I don’t understand--”

Master Thomas snapped, “No one does, the troll is speaking in circles. Is this really the expert you praised, Duke Julian?”

“I thought it was obvious, but I guess I could dumb it down for you Master Thomas.” Gerda shrugged, her voice too-kind. Witch Agatha made a choking noise that Julian was all too familiar with. It probably wasn't the best insult because even though she had aimed it at the mage, everyone in the room was an unintended target. Julian including.

"If you please, Miss Gerda." Wizard Lorthar appeared unaffected by the insult, saying simply, “I would like to hear your thoughts.”

“The prophecy is Fate telling her chosen to go sort out the new timeline and clean up any loose ends. The point is that Fate will smooth things out and keep weaving and it would be nice if her chosen helped her. We aren't supposed to go back in time, which is why Shadow stresses walking forward and Fate is talking about the coming autumn leaves. She wants things sorted and the new storylines stable before the end of summer, not reverted back to the way they were.”

“An interesting take.” Wizard Lorthar leaned forward in his chair and scrutinised the bridge troll. “Not one that Mistress Alice would agree with.”

“How do we know you aren’t trying to convince us to ignore Fate’s warning because the other way to interpret the prophecy points at you, Madame Potts as a thorn in Fate’s side? She threatened to out ravel the weave of time and space if matters aren’t fixed.” Master Thomas said, mockingly. “The ire of a goddess can destroy worlds, and you want us to do nothing?”

“I am not going to claim innocence. Because I’m obviously one of the people Fate is talking about in her message.” Gerda shrugged nonchalantly. “Since I’m one of the people changing her story. But if you listen to the riddle it should be clear - Fate is asking herself about time. She talks about mortals, but from a place where she is interacting with them as a deity. And she refers to her own struggles with the weaving."

Julian wanted to add his own piece, and told Master Thomas.

“I think that the other gods would have said something by now if we were on the path of world ending drama.” Julian tried to keep the ridicule from his voice, but there was a hint of sarcasm. The more he thought about it, a single obscure message was gaining too much attention. Alice had gone too far.

Besides, the light didn’t flicker when Gerda had spoken, so she believed what she was saying. And Julian had to admit he trusted the troll far more than the guild mistress.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Why don’t we just ask them?” Witch Agatha asked, the ice witch shaking her head. “We have two other chosen in the palace. Queen Henrietta is the Heroine of Justice, is she not? And your own sister, Your Grace, is the Paladin of Light. It should be that simple.”

The door to in the opposite side of the wall opened and Their Royal Highness stormed out of the room in a fit of red and white smoke. The fox was obviously in an ill temper, and slammed the door behind themselves.

“That celestial.” They growled, running a hand through their long hair and then eying the room. Rowen walked over to Julian and patted the half-elf gently on the shoulder. “I think you should keep her locked up until the Winter Ball. For extra precaution.”

“You need to summon her before the Council.” Master Thomas reminded, and Julian felt the urge to agree with Rowen if for no other reason than he would be upsetting the mage.

“We can discuss that in future.” Julian answered politically instead. “In the meantime, Gerda has kindly let us know that the message from Fate probably isn’t as foreboding as we’d first assumed.”

“Technically,” Wizard Lorthar countered, “We haven’t heard her thoughts on the time unraveling or the part where everything ends in Void.”

“And, to be fair, Shadow only implied that He wouldn’t end the world… the god said nothing about Void choosing to do so.” Witch Agatha added, unhelpfully.

“I think we shouldn’t even be listening to Madame Potts.” Master Thomas griped, looking down at Gerda with contempt. “Since she is not an impartial party and already admitted that she is part of the problem.”

Gerda shook her head. “I never said there was a problem, just the opposite. Fate never mentioned ‘the out raveling of the weave’ that you so impressively misquoted.”

Julian coughed into his hand to hide the laugh. He recovered himself to add, “As you say, Miss Gerda. Find tears in time before all time unravels. The weave undone.”

Their Royal Highness swept around the room to stand between Wizard Lorthar and Master Thomas, facing the troll. “What did you find?”

“I was merely pointing out,” Gerda nodded at the royal, “that if you didn’t die once already, then you aren’t living a second death, and even if you had perished in that Molten Ash Vane, you would be living your second life. Simple, but these things usually are.”

“And the Void?" Wizard Lorthar repeated. He didn’t seem too concerned, but persisted anyway.

That was when Gerda’s aura did light up, but Julian didn’t know why because what she said next made perfect sense to him.

The troll waved at the door in the wall. “Have you considered that Guild Mistress Alice is a Void Mage? Why isn’t it just saying that she’ll need to use her Void powers to complete a task?”

“Why is that a lie?” Witch Agatha asked.

Gerda sighed. “Because I’m self-centered and it might also be about me. I’ve died already and I’m on a quest that can unlock a Void based skill. But if that’s the case I would be most pleased if I finished the task and tie ends or end in Void’.”

"And still you would turn our eye back to the Keeper of Fate?" Wizard Lorthar's voice took on an edge that was not previously there. His voice remained calm, but Julian could feel the tension in his back and neck when the otherwise gentle wizard turned serious. Even Thomas looked cowed; though Witch Agatha was rolling her eyes. "The very woman who's a representative of the gods, where you are just a bridge troll with a few sight perks?"

That same bridge troll stood her ground admirably. "There is another reason Fate gave that message to her chosen - but you won't like it."

Lorthar's lips pulled into a thin smile. "Tell me."

"Fate doesn't care about you, me or her chosen. All she cares about is a good story." Gerda stated, matter of fact. Julian wasn't surprised when the truth aura held steady - not everyone got their happily ever after... as his own family had personally experienced.

The bridge troll stood up suddenly, and Julian found himself automatically taking Gerda's offered hand. The bridge troll met the eyes of everyone in the circle except his own. Oddly, that didn't bother him; it was as if she assumed he was on her side and felt no need to defend herself to him.

"The guild mistress was already frustrated that things were going off course, and it wouldn't take much to point her in the wrong direction... So it would be easy if Fate told Alice exactly what she needed to hear in order to abuse her power over the Blackfog spies and cause all of these problems. She's an easy new villain that everyone can focus on." Gerda said. Her eyes were sad when she smiled and said, "And Fate loves a good villainess trope.”

Julian squeezed her hand, and Gerda squeezed back.

"That is my final word on the matter, you may summon me if you have any more questions later..." She curtsied to the room, “but I really do have to be on my way.”

“Thank you Miss Gerda,” Wizard Lorthar nodded his approved dismissal of the bridge troll.

“Wait,” Master Thomas also stood. “You aren’t arresting her? She’s Madame Potts.”

“I don’t see how that has anything to do with anything, Thomas.” Witch Agatha rebuked.

Master Thomas grew red in the face as he argued, “She has broken multiple international laws; operating the Crystal Cast without a permit, inciting civil unrest, defamation of royal personage, slander against the state, cross-border oracle espionage without a license –”

“And saved us all.” Julian cut in, holding Gerda more securely. The troll stared up at him in appreciation.

“Don’t mind him,” Wizard Lorthar waved at the pair and then turned a dark eye on the mage. “You two go on while we have a word with Master Thomas. But don’t leave before the Council Meeting - we’ll have to make time for a proper trial with each of the kingdoms.”

Their Royal Highness reached out and rested a not-so-friendly hand on the young mages’ shoulder, forcing him to sit back down. “Now Thomas, I have questions.”

Julian nodded at the council members and left with Gerda still on his arm.

When they were alone in the hallway, she sighed, “Does this mean you can’t take me north?”

“If you aren’t detained indefinitely, I don’t see why not?” Julian didn’t know, but the idea of her traveling north alone irked him. “We can simply leave after your meeting.”

He realized that he had no idea where the troll was headed to next. It seemed important, if she risked angering members of the council to leave before they dismissed her.

He asked as much.

“To my rooms, or a bathhouse if you have one.” She lifted one of her long strands of braid. “I need to wash my hair.”