Day 5
Bloodstone woke with a pounding head ache, it was like a knife behind his eyes. Perhaps he over did it yesterday, He couldn’t hear anyone up yet. He stumbled out of bed, and opened the door. The light burned, making the pain behind his eyes an agony, he closed the door, and crawled back to bed.
Newton knocked on Bloodstones door, “You up?”
“Go away,” The voice said from the other side.
“We need you up,” Newton said.
“Ugh,”, Bloodstone showed up at the door. He looked pale and tired.
“You look awful, did you get any sleep.” Newton asked.
“I don’t think so, pounding migraine, I think I overdid it.” He replied squinting.
“Over did it? Your wife was exhausted as well, and she’s up”, He said.
“No aspirin, I think I know why I didn’t level, never actually fell asleep. Way too much on my mind. I need to talk to you real quick.” He said opening the door wider.
“What’s up?” Newton asked stepping inside.
“A couple of things, first like I did over exert myself. I hope though it was worth it, that what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to know if what I did was ethical, I think it was, just need a second opinion.” Bloodstone said holding his hand on the bridge of his nose.
“Ok, so what did you do this time?” He asked.
“I interfered with a group under king’s orders, I saved a girl’s life, someone from our world. I just am not sure how the king might see it.” Bloodstone said.
“It depends, personally, if no one else was hurt, and you saved lives, only a fool would punish someone for that. You may get a reprimand; the king has never struck me as foolish. A little too trusting at times, I feel he’s a little overburdened trying to run the kingdom without help. It might be why he elevated you and your wife as a lord, keep your friends close and your enemies closer, kind of thing. Once he saw the ledgers, he was the one who asked me about the discrepancies. The steward kept trying to distract him.” Newton said.
“Well that’s one less thing to worry about. The unethical thing was messing with someone’s mind.” Bloodstone said softly
“Whose?”, he said a little alarmed.
“Well the girl, they though she was dead, might as well have been. Would have been if I didn’t notice.” He looked up at Newton.
“So what did you do? I have a feeling your feeling guilty because of what you did, so what was it.”, Newton asked.
“The girl, the only reason I heard her was she was screaming in her own mind, she wanted someone to save her. I offered her a choice, to serve me or to stay as she was. It was a spur of the moment thing, she needed something to believe in, I gave her that something.” He said looking at Newton with bloodshot eyes.
“You want me to tell you what you did was ok? If you’re worried about the question, I think what you did might be a bad thing, or a good thing. I don’t even have an idea how your able to read people’s minds or some of the other things you’re able to do. The fact that you’re worried about doing the wrong thing, well as long as you’re worried about that I think you should be fine. You look horrible.” Newton said.
“Yeah, I’ll live and so will she.” Bloodstone said sitting back on the bed.
“Oh yeah! we got some magic items and that box from the enchanter, your daughter opened it. You will never guess what was inside.” Newton said changing the subject.
Bloodstone looked at him skeptically,” Your messing with me, Kuya?”
Newton nodded, “Freaky silver cat was inside the box, didn’t want anything to do with us, and your son said he didn’t do familiars and it locked itself back inside the box.”
“I have a headache, so what did the cat want.” He asked.
“To choose a new master, your daughter and son turned it down.” Newton shrugged.
“Why do I have the feeling your just messing with me, a cat in a box, why does that sound familiar?” He asked.
“Uh, now that you mention it. Schrödinger wasn’t that an experiment about a cat in a box?” Newton groaned.
“You think someone is messing with us?” Bloodstone asked.
“I hope not, don’t we have enough problems now. Speaking of which we need you out there for the meeting, you’re the guy with the plan.” Newton said reaching for the door.
“Ugh, fine, if I scream don’t take it personally.” He said grabbing a blanket off the bed. He wrapped it around himself and pulled it over his head to block the light.
Newton shook his head, “You’re such a weird guy, you know that?”
Bloodstone just laughed, from under the blanket, “Yeah, I never said I wasn’t, at least you can count.”
They went out into the larger common room, where most of the group were eating breakfast. Amethyst came out of the spare room helping the small blond woman to the table, she was very unsteady on her feet and leaned on Amethyst for support. Everyone turned from Bloodstone who was wrapped in a blanket his eyes face shrouded in shadows, to the woman being helped to the table. She still had a large purple bruise on the right side of her face, that seems to go back to her neck. She finally sat in the chair and relaxed putting her head on the back of the chair. She was wearing a simple sun dress, that showed off more of her skin than it should. Most of her right arm was purple splotches. She winced when she rested it on the chair.
“That looks painful, and who are you?” Xach said looking at her bruise.
“Xach, don’t be an ass” Kuya said.
“This is Mouse, until she remembers her name,” He glanced at Newton.
“Hi, Anyone an aspirin, or a healing potion.” She said looking around the room more with her eyes than turning her head.
“No healing potions, at least not for a couple of days, your body needs to heal naturally.” Bloodstone said
“Wouldn’t a healing potion fix the bruises, we have a bunch we got yesterday.” Eve asked looking at Newton.
“No, healing potions, unless you really want to kill her.” Bloodstone sighed. “Listen, all of you, I have been pushing myself for two days now, farther than I really should. I’m using three classes in a way they shouldn’t be used.”
“What, I don’t understand” Beth said.
“It’s time I come clean about the classes I have, [Swordsman], [Psion], [Wizard] and [Engineer]. Simple classes at least on the surface. First off why am I the only one with [Wizard]. Most of you have a [Mage] class. Let’s go over what that means, A [Mage] uses mana they have within them, let’s say this bowl represents your mana pool, or how much magic you can put into a spell.” He said grabbing a bowl and setting it next to Newton. “A wizard’s mana pool is smaller, because a wizard uses magic a little differently. We encapsulate a spell with the mana needed to cast it, using the magic itself to keep it ready for use.”, He started to explain.
“How does a mage use mana?”, Eve asked.
“Mages use mana a little differently. Mages use it to generate an effect, ice, lighting, fire or water, to name a few. Mages have a larger mana pool, and it fills faster. You’re wondering how I know this.” He asked.
“Yeah, you are not a mage so how would you figure something like that out,” Beth asked.
“Well I am going to show you, this needs to be kept a secret.” He said pulling out a small leather looking bundle and his phone from his pocket. “These two things, your phone, and what is in this bundle.“ He unrolled the leather looking material, and under it was a purple felt. He unrolled that revealing a single large quartz crystal along with three small marbles that looked a sickly green and red. The crystal itself was a slight brown color though clear and tapered to points on both ends.
“Where did you get those,” Newton asked.
“From a few places, I have two more crystals. “ He nodded to Lady amethyst and again at Kuya. They each produced another crystal though the one Amethyst had was not uniform along the length but even more tapered, where Kuya’s was mostly clear but one point was cloudy. They placed them on the felt that was on the table. The three crystals glowed with a soft blue light.
“How long have you had them?” Beth asked Kuya and Amethyst.
“Since the first day when we got new clothes, my dad said they were acting strange and didn’t want all of them in one place.” She said.
“They are like mana batteries, no, that’s an oversimplification. They are amplifiers; they each act a little different. The bloodstones,” He pointed to the marbles, “are even stranger. They seem to focus the mind, I think that they helped me get the [Psion] class.” He sat down looking at the group.
“You are making that all up,” Eve said reaching for one of the crystals.
“No, just don’t drop it; I think you will see what I mean.” He said as she picked up the tapered and oddest of the crystals. Eve grabbed it tightly pulling it close to look at it.
“It tingles, like a mild shock.”, she offered it to Beth.
Beth held out both hands, and Eve dropped in gentling onto her palms, “That’s weird, why do you have them in the first place.” Beth asked placing it back on the table, where the felt was.
“You are going to laugh, I am one of those crystal collectors, they have always fascinated me. You know quartz is in every cell phone, it is used in timing circuits. I had them on me when we were summoned.” Bloodstone rambled.
“So why tell us about them,” Newton asked.
Bloodstone looked at each of them, “We need every advantage we can get here, If I expect you to trust me, then I have to trust you first. You said you have magic items, let us see what we ended up with.”
Newton began placing the items on the table, and Kuya put the strange wooden box in the middle.
“I think a fair way of dividing these up is a majority vote, need before greed kind of thing. Also keep in mind that sometimes putting a good item in a teammates hands helps you even more. Ok Newton what did you end up with?” He asked.
Newton smiled and put his phone down and hit play. The enchanters voice explained about all the items.
“Armor, cloak, belt, ring, amulet, wand, and the mystery box. Who wants what” He asked.
Beth looked at the wand, “I wanted to try out the wand.”
Amethyst picked up the cloak, “Let us see how warm it is?”
Newton, grabbed the belt, “How much stronger I wonder”
Eve picked up the amulet, “Too bad I didn’t have this the other day.”
Kuya said, “I don’t want anything”
The blond girl who had been silent the whole time asked,” Can I get something” she said eyeing the box.
“Well unless you can open the box, right here, then the only thing left is the armor.” Newton said giving her a look.
“That armor looks gross, can I get the box?” She asked.
“Sure, if you can open it.” Kuya said shaking her head slightly.
The girl reached out and picked up the box, she turned it over and over a few times,”I don’t want the armor, help me open the box”
Everyone was looking at her, as she tried pulling on the box. This went on for five minutes before she tossed the box back on the table. “Stupid box”, she said.
“Kuya, would you be so kind as to open the box, and talk with this cat.”, Bloodstone asked Kuya.
“Fine “, she set the box on the table correctly, the soft glowing ball of light dropped into the box and then few behind her ear as there was a click, and the box opened.
Bloodstone pushed the lid up and the silver cat stood up in the box.
“How adorable,” Amethyst said.
The cat looked over at her, with one eye opened, “Humph” The cat looked around the room, “I still don’t find any of you worth my time. Except maybe you,” He said focusing on Kuya.
“Listen here cat,” she said pointing a finger at the cat. “I don’t need any of your shit.” The cat blinked.
“I would imagine that the cat has a name.” Bloodstone said pulling the blanket off his head. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were bloodshot.
The cat looked over at him, “I do, and who might you be?”
“I’m her dad, so pardon me if I start asking questions of a weird silver cat who is interested in my daughter. “He said in a serious dad tone. The cat blinked again, and then stared at him.
The blond girl reached out towards the cat holding her hand out to it. The cat looked at her, “Touch me at your peril,” it said in threatening tone, almost a growl. She pulled her hand back quickly. The cat focused back on Kuya, ”The offer still stands, you opened the box, twice now.”
Bloodstone reached over and closed the box. The cat looked at him eyes narrowing, “That was a mistake.”
“No, it was deliberate, now you will listen. No one here is going to enter into any contracts with some cat in a box, without reading the fine print.” He said glaring back at the cat.
“Fine print?” The cat asked.
“What is your deal, why are you in a box? Seems kind of weird to me.” Bloodstone said looking at the others, “Right?”
Newton nodded, “Is this a joke, cat in a box?”
The cat leaped up on the box, and continued to stare at Bloodstone, “You smell strange.”
The cat looked back at Kuya, “Would you open the box,” It asked.
“Nope, not taking any shit from you.” She said.
The can glared, at Kuya and then at Bloodstone. “You are messing up my purpose, I am supposed to stay with the box until it is opened by the heir to my master’s legacy.”
“How is that working for you.” Newton asked.
The cat glared at Newton, “You are not worthy, of being the heir, you can’t even open the box.” it sneered.
Amethyst laughed, “It can’t open the box either.” The cat glared at her.
Eve asked, “Who is your master, mr. cat.” The cat looked at a paw, ignoring Eve.
Beth looked at Kuya, “Maybe you should open the box again so it can climb back in like a good little kitty. It doesn’t even know who its master is.”
“Ok so I guess I get the armor,” Bloodstone said ignoring the cat on the box and picking up the armor.
“What do we do about it,” Eve said pointing to the box and the cat.
“Ignore it for now, since it’s not going to talk with any of us except Kuya, stubborn cat”, Bloodstone said.
“I heard that, I am only doing what I was told to do, and your causing me all kinds of problems.” The cat said getting comfortable on the box.
“What were you told?” Eve asked.
The cat turned at looked at her, “I was told to wait in the box until the heir opened it.”
“Seems to me Kuya is the heir, she opened the box.” Beth said.
The cat turned to Beth, “Then why does she refuse to accept me as her servant.”
“I don’t do that kind of thing, suck it.” Kuya said.
The cat sniffed, “So aggravating”
“Hold on a sec, do you mean to tell me, that you have to be a servant?” Bloodstone asked.
“It is what I was created for.” The cat said.
“That’s sad”, Eve said.
“Maybe the cat can hunt the mouse.” Xach said grinning.
“Mouse?” The cat asked.
Everyone pointed at the blond girl.
“That’s not my name!” She snapped, “Its….I can’t remember”,
“Of course not, you were mostly dead yesterday.” Bloodstone teased.
“Kuya open the box for the cat, he looks so out of sorts.” Amethyst said.
The ball of light zipped into the box out the other side, and nothing happened. It did it two more times, and the box didn’t open. If flew a lazy circle around the cat and returned to Kuya, skittering in her ear. The voice sounded high pitched, and agitated, though the content was unintelligible.
“Uh Neo says he can’t open the box, somethings missing.” She said.
The cat looked over at her, and didn’t say anything.
“There was a knock at the door, and the maid, opened the door. A soldier was outside, he entered, ”The King has returned and requests your presence.”
The cat looked over at him, and yawned, showing a set of sharp teeth.
“Whom, did he want to see”, Newton asked.
“All of you, including the dead girl.” He said answering Newton.
“I’m not dead,” the girl said giving him a look.
Bloodstone looked at the cat, “Hey watch these for me will you.” He pointed to the crystals on the table.
“I am not your servant,” The cat intoned. The guard looked over at the cat, “Uh, what is that?”
“A pain in the ass,” Eve said, picking up a crystal and putting it in her pocket.
The other two crystals were picked up by Beth and Xach who got to them before Newton.
Bloodstone dropped the blanket by the table, “Great, this should be fun” He said under his breath.
The group of them filed out, leaving the cat sitting on the box.
When they arrived in the throne room, the King was pacing. He looked up when they arrived. There were many people standing off to the side, some they recognized some they didn’t. The prince was standing off to one side near the throne. “Finally, my son says you are working on several projects, to help with the wall.”
Newton stepped forward to the front of the group, “Your Majesty, we are still doing the preliminary investigations, to see if we can improve your infrastructure. We haven’t even gotten to the cost analysis.”
“Good, good, you still have three weeks or so, I was just looking to see if you had any break troughs.” He said looking over Newton.
“We have several things we are looking at, Steel factory, Trains and Cement. They all can be worked on in parallel, as each one would require some elements of the other.” Newton said.
“I see, this cement, how would you transport it?” He asked.
“Well, it is like a powder when its dry, you would add water, and other materials if you needed to and it would be set in forms, kind of how a cake is made, from a batter, it dries and you have a solid layer”, Beth explained.
“How much of this concrete can you make?” He asked.
“There are a few key ingredients, one is limestone, another is clay. The biggest issue is heat, to cook the material.” Beth said.
“Your majesty, we are looking to get a small demonstration for you, once we can get that, we should be able to move to larger scale production. It is going to take time to get to that point. I don’t think you understand how fast you could have your wall built with a large-scale concrete factory, a steel factory and a working train system. The startup for them will take a bit of work, but once done you could see the wall build in years instead of decades, and even start work on a sixth wall, in your lifetime.”
The king paused, turned at looked at Newton “What you say sound like a fantasy, or a story. You seem to believe what you’re saying. What would you need to start this concrete?”
Beth looked at Newton, then back to the king,” Concrete isn’t too hard to make, it’s just a process. You’re going to want a large scale, production, to supply the wall, wagons would slow that process. A train would greatly speed that up. You would need a steel factory to get train parts. Only me and Bloodstone have the engineer class, anyone else who has that would be very helpful”
The king nodded, and turned and looked at Bloodstone “Yes, that much we understand. I have only been gone a day and I have heard some very interesting things about you.”
“All good I hope?” Bloodstone said putting his thumb above the bridge of his nose.
“Bringing people back from the dead, and not being a necromancer, that’s very interesting. The girl you brought back from the dead, how did you do it and can you do it with the rest of the dead heroes?”
“Uh, she wasn’t dead.” Bloodstone said looking at the blond girl.
“Someone is not telling the truth here,” He looked at the three drivers who were standing off to the side. “They signed that the bodies they were transporting were dead. Would you care to explain how you knew she wasn’t dead, when these three said she was?”
“I heard her, your majesty.” Bloodstone said.
“Would you care to elaborate?” The Kin asked.
“She was screaming, up here.” He pointed to his head.
The king smiled, “Does it have to do with one of the seven classes you have?”
“Seven?” Bloodstone said naming them out loud, “[Wizard], [Hero],[Engineer],[Swordsman], [Lord] and [Psion]” He said the last one at a lesser volume. “That’s six”
The king stared at him, “There is other class that is not named. I have a skill [know class], so I have been finding out some very interesting things.”
“I see.” Bloodstone said meeting his gaze.
“What class is it that allowed you to hear her?” He asked.
“[Psion]” Bloodstone said.
“What kind of class is that and what skills does it have?” The King asked.
Bloodstone glance over at the blond girl, and then back to the king, “It allows me to hear thoughts, in a focused area. I finally have it under control. There is another skill that I have.”
“Oh! what skill would that be.” The king asked.
“Epiphany, it lets me make connections with my knowledge. I am a book worm, reading all the time, still do, well just the books I brought with me. “, he said sheepishly.
“Books? I don’t recall you having any books.” The king looked skeptical.
“They are on the laptop and on my phone, some people collect music, I collect books.” He shrugged.
“You heard her, with your class, then what did you do?” The king asked, glancing at his ring.
“I asked the soldiers to get a board, a stretcher and rope. I also asked if there was a place I could work, were it would be warm and elevated, my wife was with me.” The king nodded, everyone was listening to the explanation. “Two of her neck vertebras were shattered, and several bone shards had cut into her spinal cord. Her arm was broken and she had some swelling, and bruising you can see. She needed to be moved, but with spinal damage you can’t just move someone, you can cause more damage, so I tied her to a board. There was the remain of an arrow still in her back.”
The healer was still looking at the blond girl, “You Majesty, it sounds like ritual magic, what do you say Evanguard.” He glanced over at a man standing off to one side.
“If its ritual magic it’s not something I am familiar with.” A lean looking man wearing a dark robe, and a strange cloak replied.
“It is common practice, from where we are from, immobilize the spine, to prevent further damage. Dam Blood, that’s crazy, even modern medicine would have left her paralyzed.” Newton said looking at Bloodstone then at the girl.
The blond girl looked over at Bloodstone, her lower lip quivering slightly.
“Girl what is your name, do you recall any of this.” The healer asked. The blond girl looked over at the healer, and shook her head no.
The healer looked over at the king, “perhaps this man is some kind of necromancer, I know of no such art, or healing technique to restore a broken spine. It is remarkable, and would involve further study.”
The King returned his gaze to Bloodstone, “Go one, how did you do this feat, my best healer and one of the highest mages in Rhir, have no idea what you have done here, please explain.”
Bloodstone, stared at the king and then continued, “I was taught, by the enchanter about magic thread. I took that and applied it to hold the broken ends together, using magical energies to hold the broken ends together. I used the same principal to hold the two broken bones in her arm together as well as the bones in her neck.”
The girl touched the back of her neck reflexively.
“Is that all you did?” The King asked.
There was a long silence, “No, I blocked out some of her memories, and made her sleep while I worked.”
“Why,” The king asked.
Bloodstone looked at the king, “To help her heal, the trauma was driving her insane. She was in a wagon for three days, and everyone thought she was dead, she was begging someone to help her. What would you have done?” He asked.
The king nodded, “So you made her forget her name, and what had happened.”
“I wanted to make sure she got a chance to heal, maybe it was wrong, to do that, I can undo the mental block.” He said turning to the blond girl.
The healer turned at looked over at the king, “This girl should be studied, have you decided what you are going to do with her?”
“Could you block all of her memories if you wanted,” The king asked.
“I could, not sure why you would want that. I would refuse to do something like that, king or no king.” Bloodstone stated.
“Have you altered my memories,” The king asked.
“No, I have not.” Bloodstone said seriously. The king glanced at the ring on his hand and seemed satisfied.
“Well what to do with,” The king paused for a moment, “What is her name?”
One of the drivers was looking over the sheets of paper, and said “Ah here, it is, Sarah Whittaker. Hero and cook, killed by a troll” He read off. Hearing her name was like a switch, and her face turned, pale and she sat down on the floor. Her gaze was unfocused.
“Sarah, would you be willing to return to help your associates” He asked. She didn’t seem to hear him.
She let loose a scream that sounded inhuman, everyone took a step back. The wracking sobs that started as her hair covered her face, the king looked at Bloodstone.
“I told you, she needed to heal, it not just physical, but mental and emotional healing.” He said dropping to one knee and brushing her hair back.
“Don’t touch me!” she glared at him. Tears were rolling down her face.
“I don’t care if you hate me, you’re welcome.” He stood and walked to the far wall away from everyone and sat down back against the wall.
The king smiled, “You see, Heroes is what we need, not adventurers. Today you have all witnessed something wondrous, a Hero who did something no healer or mage has ever done, return a fallen soldier. A soldier who needs to heal”
The [mage] and the [healer] went over to the girl who sat sobbing in the middle of the floor. Amethyst stood next to her, the look she gave to the healer and the Mage made them keep a few feet back. She knelt and put the cloak over her shoulders. She sniffled, and looked up at Amethyst.
The healer turned and looked at the King, “Whats to happen with the girl?” he asked.
The king walked over to Bloodstone, “What should I do with the cook?”
“Does it matter what I say?” Bloodstone asked.
“I haven’t decided yet, she isn’t a hero anymore, so her usefulness to the kingdom is marginal at best. Tell me what you would do.” The king said.
Bloodstone looked beyond the king watching Sarah and Amethyst. The others had stood closer, not sure how to approach the situation. “Kindness, and compassion if your able to” He said looking back to the king.
“I didn’t know my [steward] was a spy. I have enemies who are trying to undermine, the wall. I have lost over half the heroes, and yet you save one of them, I can’t overlook this.“ He said to Bloodstone softly. He turned to the gathered group, “She is no longer a Hero, so she shall be allowed to heal, once that is done her fate is her own. If she wishes to be examined you can make her an offer. I have made my decision, now for other affairs of state. Ferald bring them in”
The guardsman nodded, and brought in the large blacksmith and his daughter Isabel was with him. The king looked upset, “Blacksmith Gant, you have been a loyal subject, even when your first born was taken from you, you have always remained loyal to the crown. Recent events have found a Hero, one that I charge with helping you in any manner he is able, to return your daughter sight, “He looked at Bloodstone.
There was a silence as what the king was saying sank in. The blacksmith crossed the room and loomed over Bloodstone. “Can you do this, is it within your power?”
Bloodstone looked up, “Honestly, I have no idea, I would need to look at Isabel’s eyes.”
The Blacksmith nodded, and returned, to where he had entered and walked Isabel back over to him. The crowd was hushed, as the king returned to his throne. She was wearing a blue dress, that seemed to be more for warmth than for the color.
Bloodstone stood up, the rest of the group stood watching as well. “What we are dealing with here.” Bloodstone stood studying the girls face, there were scars around her eyes and face, that were visible once you were close. “Can you open your eyes” He asked. The damage to her eyes was extensive, and very little was left except white scar tissue.
“I have no idea,” Bloodstone looked over at the king then to the blacksmith. “Can you tell me how this happened?”
The blacksmith tensed, slightly, “It was close to ten years ago, when I lived on the edge of the blight, my girls were attacked, my eldest, daughter, was murdered. They would have taken Isabel, had I not been there. “I will trust you, the king trusts you,” He held out his hand.
Bloodstone shook the blacksmiths hand. It was rough and strong. Before he let go of he put Isabel’s hand on top of Bloodstone hand. “You will look after my daughter.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from Isabel as her hand touch his. He moved her hand to the joint above his elbow. He looked the Blacksmith in the eye and nodded, not confident enough to speak. The Blacksmith returned to the edge of the room, watching.
Bloodstone guided Isabel back over to the group. “Newton, Beth, either of you have any thoughts on how to fix someone’s eyes.”
“Uh, no”, Newton said, “Even modern medicine can’t do that.”
Beth put her hand on Isabel’s shoulder, “I’m Beth, let me know if you need anything.”
Eve grabbed Bloodstones other arm, “You should ask the king about Miguel.”
“Oh right, I will be right back. “ He said guiding Isabel’s hand to Eve’s should.
“Your Majesty, if you have a moment I was wondering what the disposition of Miguel is.” He asked as he got closer.
“Who?” The king asked.
“The guy that was here after Eve arrived that was a bit of a hot head.” Bloodstone replied.
Ferald leaned forward, and said, “The one you sent to the dungeon.”
“Oh him, well I suppose you could speak with him tomorrow. Ferald, please arrange it.” The king asked.
“Of course”, He said leaning back.
“Is there anything else?” The king inquired.
“No your Majesty, “Bloodstone said turning to return to the group.
The king returned to speaking with the three soldiers and Ferald. “I don’t know what I should do with you three, what do you suggest Ferald.”
Bloodstone turned back, “Your majesty, these three, is there a problem?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. They did a lousy job of checking the bodies. I can’t have them breaking my decrees without repercussions.” The king replied looking them over.
“Promote them, they did precisely what they needed to do, if they had been late, or slacked off Sarah would not have survived. There was nothing they could have done to help her, even by my standards it’s a miracle she’s alive. I also can’t take all the credit, my wife helped. She channeled magic into both of us for hours.” Bloodstone said looking back to the group.
“Hummm, that’s a valid point. What do you think Ferald.” The king questioned.
“He makes a good point, and I was going to recommend keeping them where they are.” said as he looked over at the three soldiers standing there.
“With your permission we would like to return to our suite”, Bloodstone turned and walked back to the group, they had gotten Sarah standing while he was talking with the king. The king waved him off without saying anything further.
It was a quiet trip back to the suite; no one seemed to want to break the silence. Bloodstone led Isabel, through the corridors the rest followed, even Sarah. Upon arrival, the maid greeted them with tea and small flat biscuits. Everyone sat down to have tea, and no one notice Bloodstone fall asleep, until tea was being passed out.
“He fell asleep, it’s not even noon.“ Eve said.
“He was exhausted from last night, he looked horrible this morning.”, Newton replied, eating a biscuit.
The cat and the box were still on the table, the can had sprawled across the top of the box its feet tucked under its body. The cat opened one eye, “You people are very noisy, can someone open the box.”, The cat said eyeing Kuya its tail swishing back and forth.
“I don’t recognize that voice, who is it?” Isabel said.
“What is she blind?” The cat asked.
“Yes, yes she is,” Eve and Sarah both said together.
“Jinx,” Kuya said to the two of them.
The cat opened the other eye, “really, how inconvenient. if you must know, I am Azalar Gin Evazes, House protector of the Wizard, Amalathian Teivel.”
Isabel gasped, “I know that story, Teivel, the wizard of Terandria back in the golden age of dragons. I heard the story from my mother when I was younger. So the story goes, over a thousand years ago a great wizard knew he was dying and wanted to leave gifts for his children, and grand children. It is said he crafted a box to put the gifts in, of all his knowledge, and his greatest possessions, to pass on to his heirs. When he died, they only found a small box in the room with the wizard, and his silver cat was nowhere to be found. A note was left on the box in the Wizards handwriting. It was a simple thing all his gifts and blessing to his children were in the box, and the box would open for those who knew him best. There were six children and nine grandchildren, they all wanted the box. Siblings and cousins fought over the box, until one slew another and escaped with the box. The box has appeared throughout the ages, and only brings death or folly to those who possess it, as the surviving ancestors are always watching for it, to steal it back and plunder its contents. It’s also why calling someone a Teivel is considered a grave insult. “
The room was silent after she spoke, and everyone else looked at the cat.
“How would I know what happened I have been locked in a box.” The cat said stretching and walked on the table towards the blind girl.
“I like that story, there is the one about the dragon, and the princess, that’s my favorite. Two lovers, forever meant to be kept apart, one a great and powerful dragon the other a Princess of a small kingdom.” She hugged herself, “It’s totally implausible, and no dragon would ever love a human. Not that there are dragons anymore, at least not the smart and spell casting ones. At least no stories, I have ever heard recently. Those tales are very old.”
The maid hearing about the stories answered, “Well there was the recent tale about a dragon. The dragon was looking for a hero to slay him, rather sad tale that one.”
Isabel said “I have not heard that tale“
They chatted for a half hour more, and then Newton and Beth said they would be going to the library. Kuya and Amethyst went with them to see where it was. Xach excused himself and went out to the training fields. Sarah and Isabel went to the women’s side of the suite and closed to door as not to wake up Bloodstone. The silver cat followed them into the suite.
“I heard them talking about what had happened to you, would you tell me? “ Isabel asked.
“I.. I was attacked by, I don’t even know what it was, I only saw it for a moment before it hit me. I remember waking up to a strange sound, like squeaking and wanting to tell someone to stop making that noise. I couldn’t moved couldn’t see, and then the noise continued, I remember hearing voices. I must have slept, it was like that for a long time, and I thought I was dead. Just that weird noise and I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t my mouth was dry, I was having a hard time breathing and then everything would fade. I knew I must have been dead, I just wanted the noise to stop, I couldn’t move, couldn’t feel anything but cold. I started to scream in my own mind, I just wanted it to all stop. Then the noise stopped and a voice in my head said I would be all right. Then there was light, sounds a feeling of being moved. I have no way to describe the feelings I had. I am still coming to grips with it all.” She said softly. Her voice trembling at the descriptions she gave.
Isabel hugged her, “Do you think that he can help me?”
“I don’t know, maybe, if he can’t I will find a way to help you myself, or make him help you.” Sarah sniffled.
When they returned later in the day they found the two of them asleep, and a silver cat still sitting on the box.