Sasha’s Sending says, “Just answer me and let me know if Sylnoa is ready for scrying. I will go directly into her. Private.” Kara looks at everyone, “Sasha just said she wants to connect to Sylnoa. Sylnoa, can you handle this? We can wait until tomorrow.” Sylnoa takes a deep breath, “I can. I’ll probably sleep like a log tonight. But I can do it. For her and you.” Kara looks around the room, “Sasha said she wants it to be just her and I, but I want Shae to stay. I’m sorry. I’ll let you know what she says.” Persi says, “It’s no problem. You two have fun.” Sylnoa blushes. Persi holds out his hands like he’s herding children, “Come on, you heard what the Princess wants, let’s go. I heard they were singing and telling stories in the chow area. Let’s go check it out.” Everyone except Shae and Sylnoa leaves. Shae sits behind a crate, trying to fade from sight. Kara holds a hand out to her, “Come on, Shae. Kara is not mad at you, and Sasha won’t be either. Kara is the only one to blame here.” Shae takes Kara’s hand, “Shae doesn’t want Kara to be blamed.” Kara smiles at her, then looks at them both, “Okay, here I go.” Kara replies to Sasha, “Babe, we’re ready.”
A minute passes. Sylnoa closes her eyes, focusing her mind and allowing her consciousness to drift. In the back of her mind, she hopes she gets to kiss Kara again.
Her eyes open. Sasha grabs Kara for a long, deep kiss—both close their eyes. When Sasha opens her eyes, she sees Shae standing behind Kara. Shae smiles, “Shae welcomes Princess Sasha.” She looks at Kara. Kara still has her eyes closed and is still caught in the moment of the kiss, “I thought I said private?” Sasha looks around, relieved not to see an audience. Kara opens her eyes, then gets that look Sasha knows all too well from her. She screwed something up, “What did you do?”
Kara puts her finger to her lips, “I’m sorry, I, I.” Sasha puts one hand on the small of Kara’s back, places her fingers on her chin, and turns her head so their eyes meet. She gives her one tiny kiss on her bottom lip to focus her. Kara blurts out, “I accidentally bound Shae into a pact divine.”
Sasha blinks a few times, as what Kara just said processes, “You what? You spent all that time in High Throne with Mother going over that. Tell me what happened, the exact words.” Kara repeats what she said and then what Shae did and spoke about. Kara says, “I’m stupid, just a stupid girl.” Sasha grabs her face gently, “You’re not, and don’t ever say that again.” Kara looks down, “I’m sorry. I said the words and didn’t realize Shae was so fast.” Sasha looks at Shae, “Come over here, Shae.” Shae moves over to Kara and Sasha. Sasha pulls Shae in with her and Kara, “Shae, I’m sorry, but you’re part of the family now. I know your oath was just words of meaning to you, but it has done more and bound you to Kara.” Sasha kisses Shae on the cheek.
Shae tears up. Kara says, “If I die, she must die too. Even if it means killing herself?” Sasha nods. Shae cries, “Shae can’t kill herself.” Sasha looks at Kara, “Shae’s people believe killing themselves will send their souls to the Abyss for eternity.” Sasha presses her forehead to Shae’s, “Shae, do you follow a god?” Shae shakes her head, and Sasha smiles, “Well, I don’t know if Kara still has it, but I gave her my holy symbol a long time ago. If you would like, she can give it to you.” Shae wipes her eyes, listening, “I know Raventh isn’t for everyone, but if you would swear yourself to her, she can protect your soul.” Shae smiles, “It would mean you would follow her tenants and commands. But your soul will have an honored place among her courts when you die. Possibly even serving my father until you reincarnate. Would this be pleasing to Shae?”
Shae’s smile grows, and she nods. Sasha asks, “Is the shadow elf Lines still with you?” Shae nods. Sasha looks at Kara, “Is he a true follower of Raventh?” Kara says, “Yes, and he owes a penance.” Sasha looks at Shae, “Shae, you are immortal now and forever bound by this contract. This means you will be drawn to Kara for eternity. Kara and I are bound for eternity, too. So, we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other. Now go find Lines and ask him to teach you of Raventh, by my command.” Shae turns to run from the tent, comes to a sudden stop, then kisses Kara and Sasha on the cheeks. Then is gone.
Sasha looks at Kara. Kara looks down again. Sasha pulls her back close, “Who knows, our souls have found each other after every reincarnation after Mazinall’s soul was split. We found each other and will be together forever? Having a friend with us to guide us isn't so bad.” Kara looks at Sasha, “You assume we will die. I plan us spending this life together." She grins, "At least for the next 10,000 years to make up for the last 10,000 years. Thank you for finding a way to make Shae happy. She has been crying all day. I know you came to do more than kiss. What’s goi….” Sasha presses herself into Kara again. When they open their eyes, Sasha laughs, and Kara asks, “What?” Sasha says, “Sylnoa likes kissing you.”
Kara’s eyes open wide. Inside, Sylnoa blushes and is embarrassed. Sasha says, “No, it’s okay. It makes it easier to do just that, and it makes it easier for me to feel you. She doesn’t resist at all.” Kara looks down, “But aren’t you jealous?” Sasha says, “At this point, no. She has opened herself to me completely. She wouldn’t do anything to come between us. But you seem to like it too.” Kara blushes. Sasha laughs, “By Raventh and the Seven Raven Knights, I’ve made Kara blush. I didn’t think that was possible. Will someone tell me you're embarrassed to be seen naked next?”
Shae runs into the common area where chow is served. Those not on duty, sleeping or otherwise, are here; she looks for and sees Lines, Aran, Ava, and Persi. Persi is showing some simple cantrips and entertaining some Crownsguard and Sisters. Lines is talking to Aran and Ava when Shae comes running up. Ava looks at Shae, “Is everything all right? Did the Princess connect to Sylnoa?” Aran laughs, “Are they sucking face?” Ava and Shae glare at Aran, “Sorry, too far?” Shae looks at Lines, “Sasha found a way.” Lines asks, “To break the contract?” Shae shakes her head, “No, to protect Shae’s soul from eternal torment. Shae will now follow Raventh.”
Shae smiles, “Lines is to teach Shae of Raventh. By command of Sasha.” Ava asks, “How does this help.” Lines thinks about it momentarily, “Raventh will protect her soul If Shae accepts her.” He looks at Shae, “Does Shae understand what this means? To follow Raventh means you dedicate yourself to destroying the undead and not judging the living on whether they are evil or good?” Shae thinks for a while, looking at the stars, then back to Lines, then back to the stars. Shae sees a shooting star flash in the sky above, “Shae accepts Raventh. Lines will teach Shae.”
Kara smiles at Sasha, “No, I still love to be naked, and you don’t have to worry. I’ll only kiss Sylnoa while you’re with her, and only if she approves. I wish you could shape change in her body.” Sylnoa blushes as she gets a brief image of what that implies. Sasha coughs as she tries to block her surface thoughts again and change the subject as images appear to her for other things she could do, “I also wanted to tell you, we’ve got a steady supply of fish contracted from a village not too far from us. Fortunately, it looks like new teleportation circles are working, and we’re experimenting to see how far apart they can be laid. So, we’ll be able to use that. Depending on what we find, I may send a mage to meet you and lay out one. That would cut your travel time in half. More dwarves showed up from the clan that owns the dark mithril mine. There are too many to live there, so they are helping us rebuild. It’ll be a while before our bedroom is rebuilt.” Kara asks, “What happened to our bedroom.” Sasha grimaces, “It was blown away in the wake of falling through the atmosphere of this world. So, I’m living in one of the Ith and Alhi’s rooms. Speaking of that, have you had any luck?” Kara shakes her head, “I’m sure she took another route. I’m still looking. So, still nothing from any of the Guardians?” Sasha shakes her head, “We’ve stopped trying…”
Kara wipes some tears from her face. Sasha kisses her cheek. "Regardless of what may have happened, you know, as well as I, that death is not the end. Kara, she would not want you moping around and crying. She is with the Chain Breakers. They have come through so many things I thought they had no chance of surviving. We've stopped trying to contact them. That does not mean we've given up hope and neither should you." Kara nods, "You're right."
The crowd around Persi Oooo’s and Aaaah’s at something he’s doing. A column of fire roars from the sky next to him. The crowd applauds as Persi tries to step away. An armored hand reaches from the fire, grips his neck, and forces him to his knees.
A commotion can be heard from outside. Some people yell spells go off, and blades clash. Kara grabs Misery and Dawnbreaker and runs with Sasha on her heels. “Kara, stay out of it, whatever it is.” But Sasha sees that Kara already has tunnel vision; she is one hundred percent focused on a possible fight. Nothing will stop her.
She runs for the common grounds with Sasha, trying to keep up and grab her, but she can’t get close enough. She comes running in from between a wagon and a tent and slides to a stop. Sasha slides to a halt next to her. They see her brother holding a battered and bloody Persi on his knees with that sword, Night Talon, sunk into his shoulder at the base of his neck.
Aran and Ava lay on the ground. Lines is attending to Shae, who is lying in a collapsed tent. Three other Sisters lay on the ground with several more Crownsguard, all of them dead.
Sasha tries to cast, forgetting this is not her body, so nothing happens.
Gaelan looks at Kara, “There you are, sister. We’ve been waiting. I wanted to make sure you see this. I told you I would take them one at a time.”
Kara says, “I know you’re not my brother. You’re a husk.” She drops Dawnbreaker and grips Misery in both hands. Her brother lets Night Talon slide a little further into Persi’s shoulder. Persi screams in pain as the black veins spread, “Oh, no, you don’t, sister. Not an inch closer. All I need to do is release my grip.” He looks around himself, “They put up a good little fight. Some of them were kind enough to feed me their souls. I want you to watch this. I want you to savor this. Now, there should be one…”
A radiant beam of coherent sunlight strikes Gaelan as Sister Stoutstorm steps into view, “Release him, and I’ll make your death quick.” Gaelan takes the blast, with flesh burning from his face. Persi screams, the black veins extending to his hands, and the flesh on Gaelan’s face heals; he laughs, “When I finish playing with my sister, I’ll turn my attention to your Sisters. It looks like some of them will enjoy being broken. Now that everyone is here.”
Gaelan shoves the blade down through Persi’s shoulder, through his heart, and it exits through his waist. Persi doesn’t have time to scream before his lungs are impaled and his heart is cleaved. His eyes turn black. Gaelan pushes the blade forward and yanks, nearly cutting Persi in half. Gaelan laughs as a column of fire appears around him.
Sister Stoutstorm yells as she casts another spell, but the column of fire vanishes. Gaelan is gone before she completes it. Persi falls forward and hits the ground with a wet smack into a pool of blood.
Kara screams as she rushes forward; she sees that there is no life in him; she casts revivify on Persi but feels nothing like his soul is gone. Kara carefully turns him onto his back, holding his head in her lap, and tries to heal him, but nothing happens.
Sasha runs over, kneels behind her, and wraps her arms around her wife. She can feel Sylnoa crying; it makes her want to, but she holds it back. Kara looks up at the sky and screams. It makes Sasha jump because she has never heard Kara scream like this. This isn’t a scream releasing anger; this is torment and helplessness.
Sisters run in to check the fallen. Sister Stoutstorm checks Shae and heals her; Shae opens her eyes. Other Sisters heal Aran and Ava. They awaken to hear Kara screaming. They look at her, cradling Persi in her lap, and Sylnoa holds her from behind.
Sasha says to Kara, “Kara, he’s gone.” Ava and Aran kneel behind Kara, placing their arms under hers. She says again, “He’s gone, Kara; let the Sisters take care of him.” Kara rocks with his head in her lap, and she cries, “No, I yelled at him.” Aran and Ava try to move her, but she doesn’t budge, “No, no, no. I yelled at him, he can’t go.”
Sister Stoutstorm kneels before her, “Kara, let me hold him.” She places her hand under Persi’s head. Kara relaxes her grip a bit and allows Aran and Ava to pull her away. She stands. “Shae wraps her arms around her.” Kara goes limp in Shae’s arms; Ava catches her. Sylnoa tells Sasha, “I need control now; she’s slipping….”
Sasha staggers back as the connection breaks. She turns to Anya. “They were just attacked. Persi is dead. Something is happening to Kara.” Anya sees that Sasha has gone pale, and she sees genuine fear in her eyes. “What can we do? They are on the other side of the world.” Sasha sits on the floor, holding her knees, “I’ve never heard her scream like that.” Anya asks, “Is she safe?” Sasha looks at Anya with tear-filled eyes, “I don’t know, she collapsed. Sylnoa said she was slipping. Then, we broke our connection. I’m afraid to try to connect to her again. I’m afraid not to.” Anya sits down next to her and leans against her, “You survived when she was sucked out of Nexus. You’ve survived every time she went off to another world into the unknown. You’ll survive this.”
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Gaelan asks Ka'Amas, “Did you do it?” The cloaked figure says, “I pushed her to after she broke. This will be good, and the shadow elf belongs to us now. I need to touch his mind now and then. The best part is, he doesn’t even know it. He'll follow every command we give him.”
Kara sits next to the torture rack with the girl she chose to take her place, sobbing. They made her watch everything they did to her. The sounds she made while they did it haunt her. Every time she tried to close her eyes, they threatened to get another one. She sits with the girl’s head in her lap, telling her, “It’ll be okay. Please, I’m sorry.” The girl lies there staring up at her, trying to talk, only managing to cough and make choking sounds. Kara strokes her blood-encrusted hair and looks around for some water. They took it all, “Stay with me, it’s okay.” Tears keep falling from her face. Kara wipes them off the girl’s face, along with some of the blood. The girl, Kara, realizes she doesn’t know her name, “I’m Karael; what’s your name?” She coughs and chokes out, “kill me, please.” Kara starts sobbing again and holds her tight. She feels someone touch her shoulders and jumps; there’s another girl behind her; she hasn’t seen this one. She’s clean; she feels she should know her, “Help her, please.” The other girl looks over her shoulder, “Kara, we need to go. This is a memory.” The girl in her lap whispers again, “please kill me.” tears streak the blood on her face as they slide from the corners of her eyes. The girl behind her says, “Slimy and naked.”
Kara feels a tug. She looks down at the girl, and Persi stares back up at her with lifeless eyes. She opens her mouth to scream, but nothing comes out—the cells and walls around her start to melt away. To a tent, an inferni, Warden is holding one arm, a goliath, Broma is holding her other arm. She flails, tossing them, screaming. Aran and Ava are tossed like rag dolls across the tent and under the walls, rolling outside. Shae and Lines try to grab her arms. Sylnoa takes a chance, bends over, and presses her forehead against Kara; she yells, “Kara, wake up.” Warden and Broma disappear, and Lines and Shae appear. Kara goes still, and Aran and Ava come running back in. Kara closes her eyes and starts crying. Everyone sits on the fur with her except Lines. He stands next to the center support.
Sasha looks up at High Priestess Avvaran, “My wife is in more pain than I’ve ever seen. What are the implications of Scrying or Sending to her or Sylnoa?” Avvaran shakes her head, “You said slipping, Your Highness. What does that mean?” Sasha looks at Avvaran with an expression she doesn’t intend, Avvaran steps back, and Sasha says, “I apologize Avvaran, I don’t know what it means. When we pulled her away from Persival’s body, she went limp, and her eyes rolled back.” She wipes tears away, “Then Sylnoa said she was slipping. I could see into Sylnoa’s mind when I was connected. It caused Sylnoa to panic. My attention was on my wife. Sylnoa is a mystic. She’s been helping Kara with memories, whatever that means.”
Avvaran thinks briefly, and Anya says, “Before Kara came here, she went through hell.” Sasha says, “Yes, we talked about it, some, but she didn’t want to talk much about it.” Anya frowns, “Actually,,, she did. She was just afraid to talk to you about it. Avvaran, please leave. We’ll call for you if we need you.” Anya stands and looks at the two guards in the room, “Clear the room.” Both guards and High Priestess Avvaran leave without hesitation.
Sasha remains sitting; she feels it’s for the best. Anya sits down beside her, “Kara asked me never to tell anyone, but under the circumstances, I think it's appropriate.” Sasha turns and looks at her worriedly, “What can be so bad?” Anya says, “Kara told you she was host to the devil, Azura, right?” Sasha nods, “Father wanted to send the Legions to destroy her.” Anya says, “She told you that when Azura wasn’t wearing her, she was held in prison.” Sasha says, “I know all of this.” Anya says, “What you probably don’t know is, and what she didn’t tell you, that this prison was not built to hold her for when Azura wanted to slip into her. It was designed to break Kara and turn her into the perfect regent to rule this world. They would rape and torture her over and over. They would force her to drink potions or use spells on her to make her crave sleeping with them. But she wouldn’t break. Well, that’s a partial untruth. They did break her but were too stupid to realize it. So they kept at it, but then she learned to disassociate herself from her body. To her, sex became a weapon to be used for control or punishment. It didn’t matter what they did to her body. She locked her mind away in a safe place. From how she would describe it, she would project to Elysium and wait until they finished with her body. At least that’s what she did until they brought in a mystic to keep her from doing that. Then she just endured it. The things they did to her... She is so in love with you but afraid she couldn’t show it. She didn’t know if she could return the love to you because of how she numbed her mind and body to the physical. She sealed away affection, love, and every other emotion that could lead to real attachment. I helped her understand that the real love she felt for you, and you felt for her, is different than what was done to her in that prison.”
Anya sits beside Sasha and leans on her, “What they did to her was things of nightmares. She wanted to die. She wanted to kill herself. She didn’t think she could love or even know it. The first time she saw you, she felt it but didn’t know how to express it. It took talking to me a lot. But when Alhindri chose her as midwife to Cubbie, that.” Anya hugs Sasha, “When she held Cubbie, Kara looked at you and understood what real love was at that moment.”
Sasha turns to face Anya, “I always suspected there was far more she wasn’t telling me, but I never wanted to pressure her. When she first arrived, she would recoil from the slightest touch and would never make eye contact. But why did she come to you and not me?”
Anya says, “Because she saw in me the same pain as she saw in herself. I have experience shutting away memories. Do you know what it’s like to sit in darkness for thousands of years, alone, with nothing but your mind to keep you company? What I showed her was nothing magical. We just talked. She used the happiness of being with you, then you and the children. What happened to her happened; she knows that. But she had nothing but happy, new memories for fifteen years here. I’d imagine coming back to this world has awoken those old memories, and trust me, Sasha. When memories like that come back, they can hit as hard as any sword. They can grab you and pull you into them. I know. I’ve struggled with them myself. Many times, Kara sat with me and held me. How many years have I been here? I still can’t walk into a dark room. A member of The Six thought setting up a ward to trigger antimagic in the lower tunnels once would be funny. She set it to trigger on me and to cause the ever-burning torches to go out. I don’t know how long I was down there screaming when Kara found me. She could barely hear me because I had lost my voice. But she stayed with me until I could function on my own and never once complained. When we came out, Klozal paid for it on the training grounds. Kara just about beat her to death.”
Sasha says, “I didn’t know that about you, Anya. You could have told me. I knew, deep down, she,,, I, I thought she was afraid of what I would think. I never thought she was afraid she couldn’t show love.” Anya smiles, “Know this, Sasha Proudshard Cinderblade. Kara can and does show love. She loves you more than you can begin to comprehend. I’ve never known anyone to love another as much as she loves you. Well, maybe you love her that much. Do you trust this Sylnoa?” Sasha nods.
Sasha sits on the floor holding Anya, “Anya, I swear, I didn’t know. You always seemed so; I don’t know. You’re like a rock. I’m sorry I didn’t see it.” Anya runs her hands up and down Sasha’s arms, “I never intended to let anyone know, but when Kara found me, I had nowhere to hide it anymore. When she opened up to me, of all people, I couldn’t hold back. So, while you were wrapped up in business, we talked. I couldn’t advise her on intimacy, but I showed her how I avoid the memories I don’t like by replacing them with new, good memories. She was so afraid she couldn’t be a good lover for you.”
Sasha laughs, “Wait, how much as she told you?” Anya looks over her shoulder at Sasha and smiles, “Only that she had no idea making love could be so wonderful.” Sasha hugs Anya so tight she grunts, “Hey, you’re squeezing me to death.” Sasha says, “Then use some of that necromancy on yourself. If you need to talk, I’m here.” Anya says, “Then trust her. I know if I tell you to get some sleep and wait until tomorrow, you won’t. I hear those dwarves have brewed some real dwarven ale. Let’s go down to Ugly’s, get sloppy shit-faced, and laugh at the dwarves getting outdrank by two little girls.”
Sylnoa asks, “Are you with us?” Kara says, “Yes. I’m,,,” Sylnoa says, “No, don’t say it.” Kara asks, “How do you know what I was going to??? Never mind.” Kara sits up and looks around the tent, “Are all of you okay? Did that sword cut any of you?” Everyone shakes their head, and Aran says, “We were bugs to him. He swatted us aside. How do we deal with that?” Kara says, “I don’t know, you don’t. I do, somehow.” Ava says, “We can’t,,,” Shae says, “No.” Kara says, “I’m sorry, guys, but he is beyond you. We do what we did with the Raiders: you deal with any support he has, and I deal with him. My brother has never been able to beat me; this thing sure as the hells won’t.”
Sister Stoutstorm walks in and says, “Good, you’re back with us.” Kara takes Sylnoa’s hand and looks at Elra. Elra shakes her head, “I’m sorry, that blade takes their souls. I’ve heard of blades that will hold souls for a time, but I don’t have my hopes up. Maybe a Wish spell.” Sylnoa looks at Sister Stoutstorm, “I broke off with Sasha abruptly. Is there any way we can get a message to her?” Sister Stoutstorm says, “The nearest person I or any of my Sisters may know is Timberunn. That would be over a week from where you said your Nexus is. I imagine your Sasha will contact you after she’s given you time to deal with the situation.” Elra looks at Kara, “Look, I know it’s soon. But I don’t know your rights.” Aran says, “Pyre. We burn our dead so they can’t be corrupted.” Sister Stoutstorm says, “I’ll leave all of you be.” She stops, “If it’s any consolidation, my Sisters tell me he put up one hell of a fight.” Then she steps out.
Kara looks at Aran, Ava, Lines, and Shae, “What happened?” Ava says, “Shae ran to us and told us how she is now a follower of Raventh.”
Lines says, “I was explaining to her what it meant.”
Aran says, “Persi was entertaining Crownsguard, Refugees, and Sisters, then there was a column of fire. At first, we thought everyone thought it was part of the show, but the look on his face said otherwise.”
Shae says, “Shae saw an armored gauntlet grab Persi by the neck. Persi did fight. He used the tattoo you gave him first. Shae leaped into the fire, but the sword's flat hit Shae three times. Shae is sorry. Shae saw nothing after that.”
Lines says, “He was hasted. I tried to dispel it, but I couldn’t. Then Aran and Ava ran in. The column of fire dissipated, and he was standing there. He yelled out, for you. Fists are no match for adamantine armor. Several Sisters ran in, and that sword killed them all with one stroke. He seemed to grow in strength when they fell. Persi used another spell and hit him with a jet of acid. He slammed Persi’s head to the ground and plunged the sword through his back. Several Crownsguards tried to grapple with him and pull him down. He threw them into the air, then murdered them all.”
Aran says, “I tried to get to Persi, but the sword's broadside hit me in. I don’t remember anything after that.” Aran wipes his tears away, “Persi,,, is there nothing we can do?”
Ava says, “I tried the same. Kara, he seemed much stronger than before. I remember running in, and then it was like I felt so heavy I couldn’t move. Then a Sister was kneeling over me, and you were screaming. I’m sorry.”
Kara says, “You did your best. There are monsters you are helpless against sometimes. All you can do is your best. None of you are to blame. If anyone is, it’s me. I failed you.” Everyone starts to say something. Kara holds up a hand to silence them. “I should have dealt with my brother fifteen years ago, but I didn’t. If I had, Persi would still be alive. The last order I gave concerning my brother still stands. You run; you only fight if you have no choice. He made it clear to me that he plans on killing each one of you, one at a time, to torment me. You run. Clear?”
Shae looks Kara in the eyes, “Shae will not run. Shae will fight by Kara’s side no matter what Kara says. Shae’s soul belongs to Kara.” Ava jumps up, slapping both hands to her forehead, “Shae, Shae you beautiful elf. You are a genius.” Shae looks at Ava, dumbfounded. Kara says, “No, I know where this is going.” Ava says, “You want to protect us. Then this is the way.” Aran and Lines both look at Ava. Aran says, “I don’t get where this is going.” Lines says, “I agree with Aran. I don’t get where this is going.”
Kara says, “Ava, I can’t. I don’t even know if it would work.” Aran says louder, “What are you talking about?” Ava looks at Aran, “We make a pact divine with Kara. We swear our souls to Kara, and then the sword can’t take our souls because our souls will belong to her. Yes, we can still be killed, but Kara would own our souls.” Aran holds up his hands, “Whoa, that’s pretty deep shit.”
Kara says, “Ava, you don’t know what this means. It’s very complicated. In most cases, a contract like this, with me, the Cinderblades. It means you would stop aging, and trust me on this. The prospect of potentially living forever sounds good, but time begins to have no meaning. To bind your soul on that level is for eternity, not just until death.”
Ava says, “Unless it’s worded correctly, and there is an out. Say, until your brother is destroyed, until we get to Nexus, anything like that. I’ll start working on it right now.” Kara says, “I haven’t agreed to anything, and I refuse to, at least until I talk to Sasha.” Ava shrugs, “That’ll give me time to get the contracts worked up.”
Kara lays on a fur staring at the tent ceiling, "I hope that didn't scare Sasha too bad." Sylnoa whispers, "Sorry, surface thoughts. She is probably making sure to give us time to deal. She'll contact us soon. I wish I had someway to Send to her to let her know you are,,, That you are doing okay. I'm not strong enough to communicate with anyone that I see. Sorry." Kara pulls her head so she is lying on her shoulder, "You're amazing. You got to me before that memory finished. Thank you. Thank you for coming up with the idea of having a phrase to break me out. Let's try to get some sleep."
Kara wakes up before dawn, holding Sylnoa. She tries to get up without waking anyone, but Sylnoa reaches for Kara’s hand and opens her eyes. Kara puts a finger to her lips, and Sylnoa quietly gets up and follows Kara out. The morning air is cold, but the boots Kara gave her make it feel warm. Sylnoa looks up at the stars and whispers, “I know you like praying at dawn, but it’s at least an hour away.” Kara whispers back, “I want to visit Persi.” Sylnoa walks quietly beside Kara, holding her hand. They enter a larger tent with a Crownsguard and a Sister posted outside. Both snap to attention as they approach. Kara and Sylnoa walk in. Six Crownsguard, three Sisters, and Persi have been laid on hay bales and draped in white cloth. As many times as Kara has seen death and even had people she knows die in her arms, she can’t hold back the tears. Sylnoa forms a connection with Kara. Kara doesn’t resist.
Kara and Sylnoa kneel next to Persi. Sylnoa sees memories replay in Kara’s mind as she remembers interacting with Persi over the years. She’s surprised at first to see Persi looking as young as Aran, then gradually growing older. Then, there were fresher memories of seeing Persi as he fell from Nexus and then a flash of Persi kneeling over her, trying to save her life. Of Persi, when she Knighted him and how proud he was, Kara repeatedly starts saying, “I’m sorry,” as she remembers chewing him out. Sylnoa puts an arm around Kara, “I know he didn’t mind the ass-chewing you gave him. It made him realize there is more to being a leader than being a friend. When you and Shae left, he had a long talk with all of us. If anything, you opened his eyes, and he saw you with a respect he had never had before.” Kara closes her eyes and recites the tenents of Galathor. She loses count of how many times she says them; Sylnoa joins in with her, and then she hears more voices behind her as Ava joins, then Aran, Lines, and even Shae.
When dawn breaks, Kara, Sylnoa, and Ava simultaneously switch to the tenants of The Dawn Bringer. Kara hears many more voices outside the tent, reciting tenants of other gods. Even though dawn is barely breaking, the sun shines directly on the tent so brightly it glows.
Kara, Sylnoa, Ava, and Aran open their eyes and find themselves kneeling on a beach in Elysium. A star descends from the sky and stops before them, hovering just off the ground. It dims, becoming a woman with golden wings. The Goddess smiles, “It’s not often I’m surprised.” She looks at Sylnoa and Aran, “You two are not my followers, but here you are.” Neither Aran nor Sylnoa can find any words, but both mumble,“I, I, I follow Kara.” Elirae says, “I’m sorry to all of you. Your friend can’t be returned, but the gods have heard your prayers. Persi’s soul and the souls of the others have been taken from the blade. Their souls are safe; even now, Persi is having a drink with Camiella.” Kara asks, “Can we return them to life?” Elirae answers, “No, but one day they may reincarnate, but not during a mortal's lifetime.” The image of Elysium fades back to the tent.
Sister Stoutstorm comes running in. She sees Kara and freezes in place, “Girl, you. Arden told me you were special. Veleris herself told me that she heard your prayers and freed the souls of my Sisters. How?” Kara stands, walks over to Elra, and wraps her arms around her in a hug, “I don’t know, it just felt right.” Elra says, “I have something to show you.” Kara stands and walks out with her. Every person in camp is there, facing the tent. A ray of sunlight still shines on the tent as dawn breaks in the east.