Kara says, “It’s a few things. Sylnoa, please keep the open mind I know you have.” Sylnoa looks worried but nods. Kara says, “Do you remember someone in Silent Star would leave food at the threshold of your door?” Sylnoa nods, “It made me hope that not everyone was filled with hate.” Kara says, “What you hoped for was true. At least one elf there despised what they did to you. When she heard what happened, she left.” Sylnoa says, “I remember one, I never felt the hate from her that I felt from the others. But she always kept her distance, like she was afraid.” Kara says, “She’s here.” Sylnoa says, “Who?” She looks at Sister Maen. Sister Maen remains expressionless. Kara says, “She remembered me also, and when I disappeared. Are you okay with this?” Sylnoa nods, “I remember the food. I understand why she was afraid. They would have probably done the same to her if she showed any sympathy. She can’t control what others do.”
Kara says, “Her name is Xanathe Silentstar,” Sylnoa thinks for a moment before she replies, “Xanathae, she was the Elder's daughter. I would like to meet her when she’s ready.” Kara says, “I’ll make that happen. Now, the other thing. I’ve been thinking, I know, that’s dangerous when I think. All of you have seen me, us, when you allow Sasha to use your body.” Everyone but Sylnoa and Sister Maen roll their eyes. Sylnoa nods, “Well, I’ve decided that it’s inappropriate as much as I love to think that Sasha is here. She’s only here in mind. I don’t feel right about kissing you like you’re Sasha. So, the next time you stop her, I’ll explain things to her. Clear?” Sylnoa tries to hold back from jumping joyfully; instead, she nods and smiles.
Kara gets a huge, toothy smile. Aran says, “Uh oh, something big, and she can’t hold it.” She says, “I have a sister, a real sister. Her name is Ravalee. She escaped the village like you did, Sylnoa. A real sister.” Sylnoa asks, “Do you know where she is?” Kara shakes her head, “No, but I believe in my heart she is out there, somewhere, happy. I will find her after we get home and get my children back.” She looks at Ava and Sylnoa, “Now, what did you two want?”
Ava and Sylnoa stare at each other for a while. Ava says, “Screw it.” She goes over to Sylnoa, pushes her back on the bed, and kisses her deeply. Kara nods, “Right. I knew it.” Aran asks, “Do we need to leave?” Lines asks, “Do we have to?” Shae kicks Lines’ shin. Ava and Sylnoa sit up laughing. Ava says, “We don’t know where this is going. Our policy is no secrets, right.” Kara nods, “Do you two need the other room tonight?” Sylnoa jokingly slaps Kara’s shoulder and blushes, remembering what she saw in Ava’s thoughts, “I don’t think we’re there yet.”
Kara says, “Well, with all that, wow. I think we got a lot done today. Met two gods and found out I was better off being tortured than raised by a bunch of assholes. I found someone from Silent Star who wasn’t a xenophobic maniac. I have a sister, and I tried to kill everyone.” Aran says, “Wait, what?” Ava says, “It’s taken care of, and it wasn’t as bad as she made it sound.” Kara continues, “Ava and Sylnoa announced their undying love. I realized I have two daughters I didn’t know I had this morning.” Everyone stares at Kara, and then she says, “What’s a mother to do when her daughters fall into mad, passionate love with each other.” As she starts laughing. Then Sister Maen starts laughing, forcing everyone to start laughing. Ava moves to Kara's other side so she and Sylnoa can hug her. Kara stops laughing, “I need one more thing, if you don’t mind, Sylnoa?” Sylnoa says, “Anything.”
Kara says, “I need you in my dreams tonight. Maybe you can feel or see what may have happened earlier.” Kara looks at Ava. Ava nods, “Sure, I don’t mind.” Kara says, “In my dream, I saw you and Sylnoa as my daughters, playing with Lydria. Several Silent Star surrounded all of you. I couldn’t get to you. The stairs disappeared, and the railing turned into bars, separating me from all of you. I just lost it.” Aran says, “That reminds me, Sasha hasn’t contacted you or Sylnoa in a while. Do you think everything is alright?” Kara replies, “I hope so. I’m sure they are just busy. The last time, Sasha said a lot, and I mean a lot, was going on. Dwarves moved into some mines that were discovered nearby, setting up trade agreements and trying to establish contact with nearby cities. She doesn’t know the meaning of rest. Plus it takes a lot to establish a connection like that.”
Sasha tries Sending to Sylnoa again since Kara hasn’t replied. She waits, pacing around her room and looking out toward The Needle. Nothing. For two weeks, nothing. Three more times today to Sylnoa. She opens the door, and the guards snap to attention, “Go get Avvaran and Anya, tell them to come to my room.” One guard runs off while the other remains at her post. Sasha closes the door and waits. Minutes go by that seem like hours. The door opens, and Anya walks in, “A very out-of-breath guard said you needed me. I think Gunthar needs to run these guards more.” She sees Sasha sitting and staring at the floor, “What’s wrong?” Sasha looks up at Anya, “I’ve tried Sending to Kara and Sylnoa repeatedly. Neither has replied. Something,,,”
There is a knock at the door. Anya opens it; Avvaran is standing there. She looks down to meet Anya’s eyes, then past her into the room at Sasha. Anya steps aside and motions her to enter. Once she’s in, Anya closes the door. Avvaran stands there, waiting as Sasha repeats what she said, then continues, “Something is wrong. Do we have anyone, maybe locals, that can do a Sending to someone they know?” Anya replies, “It would have to be one of the dwarves. We can check. Wait, The Laughing Ogres had a gunslinger. He’s staying here now. I think he said he’s from The Ostralor Empire.” Sasha says, “Get him.” Anya says, “I don’t see it doing any good. He has no spells and can’t cast Sending.” Sasha sags back down in the chair, “Avvaran, can you Scry Kara or Sylnoa? See if that will work, or any member of their group?” Avvaran replies, “Of course, Your Highness.”
She moves to the mirror, “Would you like me to cast it through you like we’ve been doing?” Sasha shakes her head. Avvaran casts the spell, the mirror clouds. An image tries to form, but nothing appears, “Something is blocking the spell, Your Highness.” Sasha looks up, “So it’s not that they’re not there? Something is interfering?” Avvaran nods, “Maybe it’s where they are or an external force at work. I can’t tell.” Sasha says, “I still want to question this gunslinger. Maybe he knows someone or something. You can go Avvaran. Let me know if you discover anything.” Avvaran bows and leaves, closing the door behind her. Anya says, “Kara can take care of herself.” Sasha stands and looks back out at The Needle again. She changes the subject, “Any news about that dragon.” Anya shakes her head, “It’s in the wind. You hurt it. Sentries are watching for it. Gunthar is working on getting at least one battery ready. Captain Bloodhammer is working on building the new ship, but that is still a work in progress. The Phoenix wasn’t much more than kindling when we crashed here.” Sasha asks, “And Nexus?”
Anya smiles. Sasha turns to her when she sees Anya smile. Anya never smiles. Anya says, “Some guards brought a basket of fish from Mosshore into the Portal Control Room to show you. I was so pissed. They got scared and accidentally dumped the basket onto the control table. I was about to make them wish they had perished in the crash when I felt a pulse, well more of a thump, from Nexus.” Sasha sits back down, “I need good news, Anya.” Anya says, “Well, a “thump” is good news. So, I had them clean off the table, get more fish, and dump them. It’s weak, but it’s something. I’m running experiments to find out what’s with these fish. I wasn’t going to say anything until I knew more. There’s your good news.” Sasha says, “Take whatever resources you need.” Anya replies, “I already have. I want to get back to work.” Sasha says, “What are you still standing here for then? Send in a guard on your way out.”
Anya leaves, and the guard who summoned Anya and Avvaran enters, “Your Highness?” Sasha says, “Find the gunslinger that joined us from the Laughing Ogres and send him to me. Gunthar will probably know where he is.” The guard bows, “At once, Your Highness.” He leaves. Sasha continues to pace the room, still hoping for a reply. She loses track of time when there is a knock, “Enter.” The guard enters with a shadow elf dressed in black leather, a pistol at his side, and another in a holster under his right arm. The guard stands next to the door. Sasha motions to him to leave, “You may go.” The guard looks at her, “Your Highness, he is armed, protocol…” Sasha stares at the guard, “I faced a dragon. I think I can handle a lone gunslinger. Stand outside and shut the door behind you.”
Sasha pours two drinks, “This is a wine from High Throne.” The gunslinger stands casually, watching her, “The guard said you wanted to see me?” Sasha hands him a glass, “I’ve never met a shadow elf that wasn’t trying to prostrate themselves when meeting me for the first time. You’re very casual. Do you not worship Raventh?” The gunslinger smells the wine, takes a sip, and then downs the glass, “Oh, I follow her; I just don’t get all the oohs and aahs. I understand you’re important, but I’m not getting on my knees.” Sasha takes a sip from her glass, “At one time, I would have had you beaten to within an inch of death for that, but that was a very long time ago. What’s your name, gunslinger?” He smiles and poses, “Casmos Hyro, and I already know you’re Princess Cinderblade. I was here when you crashed.” Sasha offers to pour him another glass, but he waves it off. Sasha says, “Casmos, I heard you’re from The Ostralor Empire.” Casmos nods, unsure of where this is going.
Sasha says, “My wife and some of my people are stuck there. They are trying to make their way home. I need your knowledge of area. Can you help me?” Casmos shrugs, “As much as I can, I guess. Depends on what you want to know?” Sasha pulls a large scroll case out, unrolls a blank scroll on her desk, and hands Casmos a piece of charcoal, “I need to know as much as you know, starting with a map. They started in Everwind, traveled to Cragcall, then went to Flamegarden en route to Port Summereach.” Casmos gives her a curious look, “That’s taking the long way. Why did they go that route?” Sasha says, “I have no idea. I don’t know what the continent looks like.”
Casmos starts drawing. He begins with a rough sketch of the continent of Eyeron, then marks Everwind, “This where they started. ”He makes another mark to the south on the coast, “They could have gone straight south and been in Goldport within a few weeks, a month at the most.” He makes several more marks and draws some big triangles, “This is Cragcall, Flamegarden, and Port Summereach. These are The Bellowing Mountains, and this is the only pass through them. It’s not a pleasant place, and this route takes much longer. It may shave a few days off the sailing time, but it would extend the trip by months. Why would they go this way?”
Sasha looks at the map, “If Kara chose that route, there must be a reason. Flamegarden was going to be their next stop. Is there anything that would block magical communication, like Sending or block Scrying?” Casmos shrugs, “That I don’t know, I don’t think so.” Sasha asks, “Do you know anyone there you can contact?” Casmos shakes his head, “Sorry, no one I can think of. Most of the people I know were from east of Cragcall, and I don’t have a way to contact them; they would have to contact me.” Sasha says, “Kara has a shadow elf named Lines in her party. Have you ever heard of him? He has tattoos of lines from head to toe.” Casmos shakes his head again, “Sorry, there are a few clans of shadow elves in the Empire and the Dynasty. I wish I could be of more help.” Sasha says, “You’re being a tremendous help. Just draw everything you can remember. I remember we went to Shadowbel once.” Casmos makes another mark and continues to mark cities, mountains, and roads he knows about. Sasha stands and watches each mark, writing down notes when he finishes, and she thanks him. The sun has gone down; there is a plate of bread, some cheese, and a bowl of soup on a nearby table; she doesn’t remember when it was delivered. She heats the soup with a simple spell and eats some of it.
Kara falls asleep in the room with the larger beds, Ava on one side of her and Sylnoa on the other. Kara was concerned about keeping Sylnoa up all night, but Sylnoa explained that she could “ride” Kara’s dreams as if they were her own. Ava softly snores as Sylnoa sees Nexus for the first time in Kara’s dream. Sylnoa thinks, “Nothing can be this beautiful.” The stars are so bright and slowly turning in a black sky, yet the whole place glows in a supernatural light. Kara sits outside a tavern on a stone wall; the sign above the door says, “World’s End.”
She walks over and sits beside Kara. She can’t see her in the dream unless she wants her to. Several people walk by, smiling or offering greetings of one sort or another. Sylnoa sees a girl that looks about Kara’s age approaching from the castle. She has golden skin, copper red hair, pointed ears, and eyes the color of the bluest lake. Sylnoa has let Sasha wear her a few times but never imagined she could be this beautiful. She feels like kicking herself for even imagining she could compare or compete. Kara’s smile lights up when she sees her approaching. Behind Sasha, Sylnoa sees a blonde elf following and closing the distance.
Kara tries to stand but can’t. She tries to shout, but no sound. She holds up her hands, waving to warn Sasha. Kara’s smile is gone. Her face is now a mask of fear. Sylnoa feels another presence. Something strange and dark. She reveals herself by taking Kara’s hand. At first, there is no recognition on Kara’s face; there is only some surprise in wondering where she appeared from. “This is only a dream, Kara. Someone else is here.” Kara’s eyes finally focus, showing recognition. Sylnoa stands still, holding Kara’s hand. Sylnoa places a finger over her lips, “Let me look. I will let you go; when I do, you won’t be able to see me. Watch, but do nothing. None of this is real, no matter how it feels. No matter what you see, Sasha is safe.” Kara nods as Sylnoa releases her hand and fades from sight. She walks past Sasha and toward the elf. The elf is unmistakably the one Kara thinks is her birth mother from her dream. The one that told her to die when she was a child. As she walks past, the elf’s eyes follow her.
The psychic hammer slams into her mind like a boulder. Sylnoa wakes screaming, holding her head like it’s about to explode. Her nose and ears are bloody. Ava and Kara instantly awaken. Kara pulls her around so her head is in her lap, sending healing energy through her. Ava is trying to do the same; she cries, “What happened?” as tears fall. Sylnoa continues to hold her head. She writhes around as her body recoils from a direct assault on her mind. Aran runs in, half-naked with the mace, ready to strike at anything. Shae is on his heels, daggers out. Sister Maen stands at the door, trying to determine the threat so they’ll know what spells to cast. Ava wraps her arms around Sylnoa’s legs to hold her still. She’s kicking so hard that Ava is afraid she will hurt herself more. Kara casts the most powerful healing spell she can, but Sylnoa keeps screaming and trying to kick. As she’s getting ready to cast again, Sylnoa goes still, lets out a breath, and opens her eyes. Ava goes into a panic, feeling for her heartbeat. Kara yells at Sister Maen, “GET ELRA NOW!” Sister Maen takes off at a full sprint.
Ava looks at Kara, barely able to see through the tears, “What happened?” Kara says, “She was in my dream; she said someone else was in the dream with us and vanished. Then she screamed.” Ava starts stroking Sylnoa’s face, “Come back to me, come back, Syl, please come back. Please, please, please come back.” Ava looks back at Kara, “Please do something. I can’t lose her.” Kara casts a spell that transfers some of her life to Sylnoa; it feels like a war hammer hits her in the head, but she grits her teeth as the injuries transfer from Sylnoa to her. Seeing that she had done something, she cast a restoration spell. Sylnoa inhales but again slowly exhales. Ava cries out, “Oh gods, please. SYL!” Kara casts a spell meant to grab a recently deceased soul from the void and force it back into the body, and she breathes again. Elra pushes past Aran. She looks at Kara, “Restoration seemed to help, some, then we lost her. I cast a reviving spell and got her back.” Elra casts a much more powerful restoration spell. Sylnoa blinks. Ava cries, and Kara asks, “What happened? You said someone else was there.” Sylnoa blinks a few times and touches Ava’s face, “It’s okay, Beautiful, I’m here now.”
Elra looks at the others in the room, “I think all of you can find a better place to be and give the girl some air to breathe.” Aran, Shae, and Sister Maen enter the other room. They see Lines still there, meditating. Aran grabs and starts shaking him, “Wake up, you idiot, what the fuck. We’re under attack, and you’re still sleeping?” Lines eyes focus on Aran and the room, “Huh, what?” Shae sits next to him, “Sylnoa was attacked, and Lines sleeps through it.” Lines jumps out of the bed, “No, I would never. I didn’t hear anything, and I’ve never gone that deep into meditation. By Raventh, I swear to you, I didn’t know. I, I, don’t… Is Sylnoa…” Shae replies, “Sylnoa is safe.” Sister Maen adds, “There was nothing you could have done anyway. There was nothing any of us could have done.” Lines lets out a long sigh of relief, “Thank The Mother.” Aran moves so he is in his personal space and eye to eye, “Seriously, dude, if you sleep like that when an attack is happening.” Lines reaches for Aran’s hands, but Aran steps back. Lines tells everyone, primarily Aran, “Seriously, I’m usually always aware of what’s happening around me. I thought I was. I didn’t notice anything. It was all quiet, and everyone was sleeping until you shook me. It won’t happen again. You have my word.” Aran looks at Shae and Sister Maen, and they both nod, “Okay, I guess I should use my teacher as an example and say all is forgiven this time.” He holds out a hand to Lines. Lines grasps his hand, “Now, what happened?” Everyone updates him.
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Elra walks to the door and closes it as the others leave. She turns back into the room, “Does anyone care to explain.” Kara looks up, “She entered my dreams at my request. She was looking for clues about what set me into an uncontrolled rage when I dosed off earlier today.” Sylnoa continues to stroke Ava’s horns, “Someone else was there. When I walked past your mother, she looked at me, then hit me with a psychic attack. They followed me back into my mind and just kept slamming me. There’s another mystic near. They must have fled when,,,” She forces Ava to look at her, “I’m okay, Beautiful.” Ava wipes her eyes. Elra looks at Kara, “You’re hurt too.” Kara shakes her head, “I’ll be fine. I can take care of it. I transferred some of my life to Sylnoa.” Elra casts cure wounds on Kara before she can protest, then turns toward the door, “SISTER MAEN!” Sister Maen is in the door instantly, “Go into the vault; a small red wooden box is on the west wall. Do not open it. Bring the box to me.” Sister Maen is gone without a word.
Ka'Amas moves swiftly from rooftop to rooftop, dropping onto the balcony of an inn. The doors open, Gaelan asks, “Is it done?” The cloaked figure says, “Yes, the mystic girl was there just as I planned. Trying to help Kara find what had set her off earlier. I destroyed her mind. Best of all, I used your sister’s mind to do it.” Gaelan says, “The moment grows close. She will come for me soon. You need to meet the wagon and get them ready to transport her. The others can take care of the rest of her companions.” Ka'Amas e says, “Can I have the inferni?” Gaelan chuckles, “If we can take her alive. I don't care what you stick your cock in. Maybe you can use her to entertain Kara on the trip.”
Elra yells again, “SISTERS!” Three sisters rush into the room, “There is an intruder somewhere near. Look for them. In threes.” All three run out. Shae looks in the hall and sees at least twenty Sisters rushing away. Sylnoa says, “I think I can sit up now.” Kara helps her, and Ava holds her, sniffling and wiping tears. Elra says, “Looking at the two of you, I’d think the inferni was the one brought back from the brink of death. Straighten up, girl.” Ava sits up, still upset, but she tries to laugh. Sister Maen returns with the red box and hands it to Elra. She traces a pattern on the box with her finger; lines appear in the pattern she traced, and an audible click is heard. She opens the box, and inside are several rings. She removes one and hands it to Kara, “These will hide you and keep anyone from entering your mind.”
Kara looks at it, “If Sylnoa tries to connect to me and forgets I have it on, or if she’s wearing it and Sasha tries to connect to her without warning us first?” Elra says, “She will find nothing.” Kara hands one to Sylnoa, “If Sasha needs to connect, she can Send to me, and then we can prepare. For now, I want you hidden.” She gives another to Ava and pockets another, “I’ll give one to Aran later. Keep them on.” Ava says, “What about you?” Kara shakes her head, “If the mystic wanted to turn my brain to mush, they could have. They were in my mind, in my dream. No, I think this was an ambush, waiting on Sylnoa.” Elra puts the rest back in the box and searches through the other rings. She pulls out another ring, “Maybe this, it’s nowhere near as powerful, but this is a Ring of Warning.” She hands this one to Sylnoa, “You can’t be surprised as long as you wear it. I would assume it works inside your mind as well as it works with the body?” Sylnoa looks at it, “Thank you, Elra.”
Three Sisters enter the outer room, and one steps to the door, “We saw a figure running from the temple. We couldn’t catch them. They were running quicker than possible and cloaked, so we couldn’t get a look. It appears they were hiding just outside this wall.” The Sister points to the wall behind Kara. Elra stands, “Clear out some of the extra dorm rooms. Our guests can stay there with us.” The Sister says, “At once, Sister.” then leaves. Elra says, “I hope the men in your company don’t mind sharing a privy or bath with my Sisters.” Kara smiles, “Tell your Sisters to have fun with them.” Elra gets a big smile, “Let’s get you moved. Come with me, Sylnoa.” She puts an arm around Sylnoa’s waist to help support her and leads her from the room, “I hope Kara told you about Sister Silentstar because you’re about to meet her.” Sylnoa nods with a weak smile, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Kara helps Ava up after Elra and Sylnoa leave. “Ava, I love you.” Ava looks at Kara, “But you need to hold it together. I know you and her care deeply for each other, but panicking worsens things.” Ava nods, “I know, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” Kara picks up Misery in her other hand. “Come on, everyone. We’re moving to a safer place.”
Aran looks around as he enters the dorms, “Hey, where are the doors?” Each room is open, with no door and two beds. The beds are little more than wooden tables that double as desks, with no mattress or pillows, two stools in each room, and a single locker. The rooms have continual flame torches above each bed so Sisters can study. Kara tells Elra, “These rooms are wonderful, thank you.” Ava and Sylnoa take a room, Lines and Aran take another, Kara and Shae take a third, and Sister Maen heads back to her old room just down the hall. Elra yells, “MEN ARE STAYING IN THE DORM. ACT APPROPRIATELY!” Several faces appear in the openings of rooms.
Elra glares at Aran and Lines, “I hear a single moan, or especially “oh gods,” and it will be snip, snip for you two.” Kara laughs but then sees Sylnoa appear to be getting ill. Sylnoa waves her off, “I’ll be okay. It’s just my head hurting.” Kara casts another healing spell, but nothing happens, “No, really, I’ll be fine.” Ava sits on the bed, pulls Sylnoa’s head down into her lap, and massages her scalp with her fingertips. Ava says, “I’ve got this.” Kara steps back out of the room. Elra whispers, “I can get some mattresses for you if you want.” Kara shakes her head, “I’ve slept on far worse, Elra; it used to be that I couldn’t sleep on anything as soft as a mattress. My brothers thought I was weird because I would sleep on the floor under the bed.” Kara imagines she sees gears turning in Elra’s head, “Don’t you make them start sleeping on the floor. To tell the complete truth, I did it as a defensive measure, too, so I could hide. It made me feel safe.”
Sylnoa doses back off to sleep in Ava’s lap. She guides her dreams back to her village, trying to remember Xanathae Silentstar, but no clear images come. Kara cannot sleep due to thinking about the attack against Sylnoa and wondering why Sasha hasn’t contacted her. As they walk by, several Sisters look in Aran’s and Lines’ room. There seems to be a lot of traffic in the hall because it is the middle of the night. Lines says, “Women everywhere, and all of them off limits. I’ve died, and Raventh has sent me to Hell.” Aran says, “Shut up and go to sleep. I’m not getting snipped because you can’t keep it in your pants.” Shae comes out of meditation and sees Kara sitting on her bed with her back in the corner, “What bothers Kara?”. Kara’s mind returns to the real world, “Kara is sorry if she bothered Shae. Kara is just thinking.” Shae moves over to Kara’s bed, “What is Kara thinking about? Maybe Shae can help.”.
Kara turns around on the bed and lays her head in Shae’s lap, “Kara is wondering if the attacker was trying to lure Sylnoa into Kara’s dream to ambush her and how the attacker knew where we were inside the temple.” Shae wrinkles her nose, “Shae would set a trap like that if she could. As for how the attacker would have knowledge of the temple and have eyes inside, Shae has no idea.” Kara looks up at Shae, “How can we set a trap for the thing in Kara’s brother’s body and his associates Shae? Kara is tired of us getting our asses kicked by them.” Shae scratches her head, “First, Shae and Kara must know the enemy. Then, a trap can be set. Shae has only seen Kara’s broth,,, the thing that wears Kara’s brother. Shae has not seen the others. Could the others be the ones that escaped Kara?” Shae waits for a reply, then looks down to see Kara has dosed off. She leans back against the wall and starts meditating again.
Sylnoa wakes sometime later, her head lying on Ava’s shoulder. She thinks about just lying there for a long time. This deep inside the temple, there is no way to know what time it is. She gets up to find the privy and steps out into the hall only to look down and see who she assumes is Xanathe meditating outside her room. The elf’s eyes open, and they look up at her.
Sylnoa says, “Xanathae?” The elf holds her hands out, cupped up and together in the position of someone asking for forgiveness, with her eyes down to the floor so she won’t see the killing blow if forgiveness is denied. Sylnoa takes her hands, turns them over, and pulls her up, “The first thing you should stop is the archaic, stupid traditions of that horrible place. There is nothing for me to forgive you of, Xanathae.” Xanathe nods, “I did nothing to stop them.” Sylnoa squeezes her hands, “You brought us food when you could. If you had stood for us, they may have killed you or worse. Now, please show me to the privy before this gets embarrassing.” Xanathae leads her to the privies.
She stands outside the privy, telling Sylnoa, “When they returned, they claimed they had killed you and your mother. They held a feast to celebrate your uncle as the one who murdered you both. I sneaked out that night and never looked back. My father was going to give him me as his prize. As he put it, I was supposed to breed him “A glorious grandchild to guide us to divinity.” Sylnoa says, “I doubt they called it murder.” Xanathae replies, “No, I won’t repeat the word they used. It was murder. I didn’t leave because I was his prize. I left because of what they did.” Sylnoa comes out of the privy, “Did they bring my mother’s body back to the village?”
Xanathae looks down at the floor and shakes her head, “I listened to their tale very closely. I followed the path according to what they said. I found your mother’s body and buried her, not according to their tradition, but according to what I knew of Veleris. I said a prayer for her. Then, I felt compelled to come here. I found the Sisters. Sylnoa, your mother’s body was wedged tight in the crevasse and untouched by nature. I could tell they tried to pull her out, yet she fell free easily when I took her hand.” Sylnoa tears up and slides down the wall to the floor with her face on her knees. Xanathae sits next to her, “I’m sorry.” Sylnoa wipes her eyes, Xanathae hands her a hand towel, and she blows her nose, “She yelled for me to run as the arrows struck. I saw life leave her, and she still yelled for me to run. Thank you, Xanathae, for the kindness you did for her. Thank you for the kindness you did to us. I should return to the room if Ava wakes and sees me gone.” Xanathae walks her back. Ava comes running out of the room just before they get there. She slides to a stop, looking relieved, “Thank the Dawn Bringer. I woke up, and you weren’t there.” She looks at Xanathae, “You must be Xanathae Silentstar?” Xanathae takes Ava’s hands, “Love her and care for her. She is a treasure.”
Ava looks at Xanathae and Sylnoa, saying, “Yes, she is. I plan to if she’ll let me. She had better not scare me again, like last night.” Kara walks into the hall, yawning and stretching her arms, “Up already?” She looks up one hall and down the other, “I don’t know which way is out.” Xanathae says, “Follow me. Sister Stoutstorm has ordered that none of you are to leave the temple alone. I don’t think it’s an order for you. I’m pretty sure it was an order to us to follow you everywhere you go.” Kara smiles, “Then you can join us for our morning prayer.” On the way out, Xanathae asks, “How does one follow two gods?” Kara replies, “In my case, Veleris offered me forgiveness for things I had done while seeking redemption with Elirae, so I follow Elirae and Veleris. Redemption for those seeking it, and judgment for those who are irredeemable.” Xanathae stops on the temple's steps and looks at Kara, “Do you think Elirae would hear me if I prayed?” Kara sits and holds her hand up for Xanathae to join her, “Of course.” Ava looks at Kara and Xanathae, amazed at how much they resemble each other, except for the eyes. Kara’s are bright, glowing blue, and Xanathae’s are bright green. What is spookier is how much Xanathae looks like Alhindri.
Sister Stoutstorm joins them before dawn; she, too, says the tenants of The Dawn Bringer, followed by Veleris. Then Kara says the tenants of Galathor with Ava. Elra says, “I think I’m going to have all the Sisters do this every morning from here on out.” Xanathae says, “Thank you, Sylnoa, Kara, Ava, Sister Stoutstorm. I’m in charge of kitchen duty today, so I must supervise the acolytes. If you will excuse me.” She leaves. Elra waits for her to get out of earshot, “The girl sat in the hall all night, guarding your room.” Sylnoa says, “The Silent Star nation could learn a lot from her, but I think they are lost.”
Kara feels a sudden wave of nausea and runs for the flower beds, barely making it. Ava and Sylnoa start to chase her, but Elra grabs them both. Ava says, “Something is wrong.”. Elra shakes her head, “Nothing is wrong, go comfort, hold her hair, but relax before you go squalling.” Ava blushes, “Oh.” Elra nods, “Oh, get used to it for a little while.” Ava takes Sylnoa’s hand and tells Elra, “I’m sorry for last night.” Ava and Sylnoa go to help Kara. At the same time, Elra looks out onto the city, “Where are you rats hiding?”
Kara walks back to where Elra is standing, with Ava and Sylnoa trailing behind her, “Sorry.” Elra laughs, “Flowers need food too. Get cleaned up, and I’ll meet you in the main hall for breakfast.” Kara feels her stomach lurch, returning for revenge at the mention of food, and runs for the flower bed again. Ava and Sylnoa watch her run past, then turn to follow again. Sister Maen walks up to Elra while she watches Kara puke from a safe distance, “Mother, the one called Aran says he spoke with a Sister Fastbrand out here last evening.” Elra looks at Sister Maen, slightly tilting her head to the side, “We don’t have a Sister Fastbrand.” Sister Maen nods, “Kara implied she was an avatar of Veleris.” Elra says, “What did this Sister Fastbrand look like.” Sister Maen rubs her chin, thinking, “I believe he said she was a halfling, and she spoke very fast. She told him to call her Fasty and gave him some excellent advice.” Elra looks almost stunned, “I’m guessing no one else saw her?” Sister Maen shakes her head. Elra looks at Kara, “If she believes it was Veleris, then it was Veleris. Don’t leave their side.” Sister Maen walks over to the flowerbed with Ava, Kara, and Sylnoa as Kara straightens up, wiping her mouth. Ava says, “Don’t mention the B or F words.” Kara spins and starts puking in the flowerbed again. Sylnoa glares at Ava. Ava shrugs, “What? I didn’t say it.”
In the main hall, Ava brings Kara some fruits and water. She sits beside Sylnoa and Sister Maen, “What will we do about the attack last night?” Kara nibbles at a berry, “This may be a stupid idea,” she looks at Sylnoa, “they may think you died last night. I think we use Sylnoa to lure them into attacking. I think Night Talon didn’t come here because it couldn’t, so it sent a lackey.” Ava sees Aran, Lines, and Shae approaching with plates of sausages and bacon, and she tries to wave them off. Kara says, “It’s okay. I think I’ll survive now.”
They stand there looking confused, and then Ava motions them over. Aran asks, “What was that about?” Ava says, “Morning sickness.” Aran sits, still looking confused. Ava sighs, “Morning sickness. Women get sick sometimes when they are pregnant.” Aran shrugs, “I don’t know these things.”
Sylnoa says, “I like the plan.” Aran says, “What plan?” Lines says, “The plan.” Sylnoa says, “We’re going to lure Night Talon out by using me as bait.” Aran shakes his head, “Now I’m really confused; remind me who, Oh, the sword. We’re calling him Night Talon. No, I don’t like the plan.”
Everyone looks at Aran, “What’s your plan?” asks Ava. He says, “We use an illusion to make Sister Stoutstorm look like Sylnoa, then lure him out. Sister Stoutstorm stomps his ass.” Kara says, “No, I’m not…” Not what?” Elra says from behind Kara, making her jump. Kara says, “Using you as bait. This is our, my fight.” Elra says, “They attacked my city and Veleris’ Temple under my protection last night. If anyone is playing bait, it’s me.” Kara shakes her head. “It’s wearing my brother’s body because I failed to deal with it before. If you go, I go.” Shae says, “If Kara goes, Shae goes.” Aran says, “We all go, that’s the deal. We put an end to the bad guy’s helpers while Sister Stoutstorm deals with the bad guy, and you stay safe.” Lines looks at Aran, “I think they’re called minions.” Kara opens her mouth to speak when Elra says, “Then it’s settled; we all go, and Kara stays out of the fight.” Ava looks at Sylnoa, “I think you should stay here.” Sylnoa looks at Ava, shaking her head, “You don’t get to tell me that; plus, if there’s a mystic out there, I owe him or her some payback, and we’ll need more than illusions to fool them.” Kara asks, “Like what?”
Kara looks at everyone, “Then, no illusions, we go in headfirst. Elra, you take some Sisters and do what you do when you enter the city. Suppose you go to a tavern, which is even better. Is there any way we can keep him from teleporting away or doing whatever he does to get away?” Elra nods, “I think we can do something. Let me work on that.” Kara continues, “I’ll take Sylnoa and Ava.” Shae interrupts with, “And Shae.” Kara smiles at Shae, “and Shae. Lines, Aran, and Sister Maen. I want you close to the other Sisters, but not too close. In other words, I want it to look like you’re unaware of each other. When they see Sylnoa, I think Night Talon will want her, but he could change to Ava. He wants to hurt me. He made it clear that he wants me to be the last, and he wants me to see all my friends die.”
Aran rocks back in his chair, “What if you get sick when all this starts?” Kara gives him a look that makes him sit his chair back on all four legs, “Then I puke on him while I beat him to death. That blade is coming with us and will be placed in the Nexus vault. Elra, can you Send to Arden and let him know.” Elra nods. “Also, do you know someone in the city who will betray us?” Ava looks confused, “Why would we want that?” Kara smiles at her, “So a Sister can let it slip that there was an attack on the temple, but Sylnoa survived.” Elra smiles at Kara, “You’re devious. So, when does all this happen?” Kara says, “It’s the devil in me, and as soon as we’re prepared. The big thing is finding a way to keep him from escaping when his plan goes to shit. Let's figure that part out first.”
Kara’s demeanor changes, and she reaches into her bag with a genuine smile. “Now, onto something else. Elra, I have something for you. It’s not for you to keep. I will want it back. You can transcribe it, duplicate it, whatever.” She pulls her journal out and hands it to Elra, “This is my journal, my life. I’ve been trying to catch it up because I didn’t write in for a long time.” Elra, realizing what it is, takes it in both hands, treating it like it’s the most precious, powerful item in existence. Her eyes get watery, “Girl, this, this is the most valuable treasure in the world to me. I’d heard that you kept one. I’ve looked for it for years. I had heard stories that you gave your journal to some kobolds. I disregarded that story until you told me about Sydra. Thank you. I’ll get it transcribed and just tell them, well, I don’t know what I’ll tell them. I’ll tell them something.” She sniffles and wipes her eyes. Elra notices the main hall has grown quiet; she looks around, and her sisters look at her. “WHAT, BY ERATHIS, ARE YOU GIRLS DOING? IF YOU HAVE TIME TO OGLE, YOU HAVE TIME TO WORK!” The main hall suddenly gets noisy again, with people eating, talking, and not looking at Elra. Everyone at the table laughs. Kara puts a hand on Elra’s forearm and smiles, “I did give the original to Sydra. Kobolds guard her, so I guess,,,” Kara continues to grin while Elra processes this.
Elra says, “I need to hear the full story about this, not the abbreviated one you told before; for now, let me get this into the vault, and the transcription started. I’ll let you know what Arden says. Again, you don’t know what this means to me. You have my eternal thanks.” Kara returns to nibbling on some berries, then reaches over to Aran’s plate, takes a pickled egg, cuts it in half, layers some berries on it, and eats that. Everyone looks at her strangely, “What? That was good. Do they have any pickled or fermented fish?” Aran shakes his head, “Oh, I hope not.” She takes his last pickled egg and does the same as before, “What about pickled cabbage? Never mind, I’ll go look.” Kara leaves the table. Aran looks at Ava, Shae, Sylnoa, and Sister Maen. They all shrug. Sister Maen says, “I’ve never had a baby. I don’t understand this.” Shae smiles, “When the women of Shae’s village are with child, they crave strange foods.” Shae makes and yucky expression.