There were a few reasons I couldn’t just use my skills right here and now... but I wasn’t going to tell everyone my prophetic weakness. Namely, that my powers were once a day at best and at the whims of Fate.

“I already checked on tonight… but that doesn’t account for something I did in the meantime unknowingly changing things.” I offered instead.

Knowing Julian sent John was reassuring. Hopefully the rogue would find Lady Amy right away, but I was unsure. Even in my future visions, I didn’t remember seeing the elf saintess at the ball.

The first vision was from Julia, who pulled Chloe out of the way when the woman in pink crashed into the drinks. The second was from Pirate Abra and her band of Misfit Undead, who were sailing past Telv today and were attacked by a hundred foot sea serpent. The last showed me was Rebecca Smith, the Herald of Void, battling a stonebutt wombat this morning. It was rare for Rebecca to appear in my visions, since she wasn't a very active champion, but she was following a distress signal from her sister and set out to find out why.

At this time, the last of the stragglers entered the hall and the doors closed behind them.

"I shouldn't worry, since Slake said he would keep an eye on Amy while she was here..." I sighed. The grimalcat was also no where to be seen.

I was distracted by a blinking notification.

[Passive Perk: Sense Fate has activated. [Duke Julian] will be shot through the heart on the eve.

You have crossed paths with a Fate that can be changed. Area of effect radius Level 65 x Perception 42 x [Foretelling] Skill Level 4 = 11180 sq/ft. Fate herself will guide you.

“A battle rages within, but slips the weak hand to the bow. Love strives but a heart shaken is a heart still determined to quest. Her breath a choice has delayed the point but soft spoken are empty words against action.”]

“Gerda?” The gentle breath on my ear sent a shiver down my spine and pulled me from the perk. Julian was very close and I felt my cheeks flush. His silver eyes were so striking and this was not the time to be distracted from my distraction.

“A new prophecy.” I said, waving at the notification only I could see. “You are going to be shot.”

"When?" Just pulled me closer and stepped away from the table. Suddenly, we were engulfed in a clear magical shield. People looked our way, but only in passing interest - back stabbing or hidden attacks were a staple of any good ball.

I shook my head. "It doesn't say specifically.”

Erik's friends were whispering amongst themselves.

"Amazing."

"Did we just get to see a prophesy first hand?"

"Melvin is going to be so jealous that he missed this year."

"He decided his research was more important the his debut." The catkin who said this smirked.

The shield disappeared, and then Julian let go of my arm. He took a step back, “Then it would be better if we parted ways here.”

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“No need - I won’t let you die.” I said, matter of fact, and quickly reclaimed his arm before he reactivated his shield.

“Death is only a slight inconvenience,” Julian glanced near the front of the hall, where his mother stood. “Though I would hate to ruin my sister's reception. Chloe would never let me live it down if she had to revive me the very day she joined the family.”

“True.” I agreed.

“If you get the chance, would you revive me instead?” Julian asked.

“Of course.”

“Shouldn’t we, I don’t know, inform the guards?” Shiro cut into our back and forth, concerned.

“The sooner the better.” Erik said, picking up his drink and downing the entire glass. “I’ll get to it.”

“Wait.” I stopped him, closing my eyes and going through my different visions. I didn’t see Lady Amy in Julia’s story… or Julian. Which meant that he wasn't on that side of the ballroom during the errant fire ball.

He was standing on this side of the hall.

When I opened my eyes, everyone was staring at me - including a few masked individuals from outside the group.

“You should probably raise that shield again...” I told Julian.

"I'll do more than that," He put his glass down on the table and then reached out to poke my forehead.

My mouth opened a bit in shock. It snapped shut and I asked, “What did you do?”

“[Guard].” He explained. “A simple defense spell.”

"Am I or am I not going for help." Erik asked.

“No time.” I said, sounding like I’d foreseen it but in actuality I just watched Grand Duchess Calisto let go of Rowen’s arm and raise her glass.

“Greetings and warm welcome, everyone.”

Calisto’s voice echo’d across the room, amplified by magic so that all could hear her with at conversational volume. The room quieted and everyone turned to face the duchess with their glasses ready.

Erik cursed under his breath, ducking his glass below the table and refilling it with something from a flask pulled out of nowhere. Julian picked his up from the table again, making sure to tap the side with the index finger holding the glass.

No poison.

I tinked my own glass, just in case.

And just in case was right. The note was distinctly different from what I had heard earlier that evening.

“It is with great pride that I invite you all to toast the brides. Countesses, Julia and Chloe von Slyke.” The pair stepped forward, hand in hand. Both wore purple, Chloe in a smart five piece suit with heeled knee high boots over black pants, a long black linen tunic that fell to the thigh over a purple silk tunic embroidered in silver crescent moons. Over top laced a black and silver corset, and draped over one shoulder, a black mantle trimmed in purple. Julia wore a long purple gown that showed off the taller paladin’s curves.

Everyone raised their glass and took a sip. I simply pretended to drink mine.

Only one person collapsed, a rabbit beastfolk wearing Peldeep style robes. His friends cursed and there was a minute lost while they argued over which [Antidote] would work on the unfortunate fellow.

They guessed right, and the beastman survived. He nodded apology to the room.

Calisto continued, used to these kinds of interruptions.

“Julia, you are my pride and joy. I am so pleased that you have found your other half, the woman who completes you. Let her be a companion and guide, a word of wisdom and a lifelong friend.” The duchess placed a hand on her daughter's shoulders, smiling with love. She turned to her new daughter-in-law. “And Chloe. You are my own from this day forward. I am so thankful that you are my daughter’s wife and know that we will always be here for you. We are your Family.”

“Thank you, mother,” Julia squeezed Chloe’s hand, who was just standing there stiff. The necromancer’s face was hidden by a mask, but a slight glint betrayed tears on the small woman’s face.

“I love you both, so much.” Chloe whispered, my perception only barely picking it up.

Julia smiled warmly at her love and lifted Chloe’s hand to her lips. “May I have this dance, wife?”

Chloe’s lips pulled into a flirtatious smile through the tears. “Darling, that’s my line.”

The crowd parted to the sides of the hall as the couple walked to the center of the dance floor. A soft note carried and then the musician’s played a slow song while the two began the first dance.

Julian leaned down and said, “Really… thank you.”

“I only introduced them.” I said, knowing exactly what he was thanking me for. “The rest was all them.”

“No foretelling? No matchmaking machinations to force them together on some heart throbbing adventure that would have them falling head over hooves?” He asked, half-joking.

I swirled the poison in my glass. “I might have done a bit of matchmaking… but only a little.”

Julian was about to say something when a figure rose from his shadow.