laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

As the hours wore on, Kailee crouched in the wet, rocky room that had become smaller with each passing moment. To stem the boredom, she replayed the events of her life since being released from her world in Laksay. All of her friends had become her family and she would never forget them, but now was her time to be with the one who brought her into the world and another part of her missing life would be filled. She smiled as the dream of her mother took her back to being held like she was needed and she couldn't wait to feel that again.

Suddenly, the sounds of combat echoed outside in the large torture chamber which prompted her to rise. This was it. Moans of the dying guards could be heard, muffled in the distance as footsteps ran up to the door and her rescuers magically opened the lock. Creaking open, the door revealed Bianka in the darkness who reached out to her.

"Come on, darling. Let's go home."

Kailee quickly ran to and hugged her mother again. They turned and quickly moved out of the detention area and up the stairs to enter the main hallway. She finally noticed the other four females that were with them who all stopped.

"Relax," Bianka told her, wrapped her right arm underneath Kailee's and within an instant, she felt the odd sensation of teleporting. After the dark swirling cloud dissipated, they stood outside the walls of the city and she noticed the large wagons that awaited them as well as the men who stood by. Bianka led her into the back of one of the large transports and she quickly noticed the caskets that lined both walls and the pair that were suspended above them.

"You can create your body into a mist?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Do so and come with me," her mother instructed whose young, strong body dissipated into the dark wispy fume and seeped through the cracks of one of the long containers and Kailee followed suit. As they reformed inside, she lay beside Bianka and held her close. She suddenly felt the presence of another arriving whose power made Kailee nervous for a moment as she perked up.

"Don't fear, my love. That's my husband and your true father, William."

* * *

That following night, Kailee awoke as the wagon stopped.

"We're here," Bianka stated and they both concentrated. Within a moment, five dark, gaseous forms re-emerged outside. "Kailee, these are my sisters: Nellina, Catherine, and Sarah. Girls, you know my daughter," she introduced.

Nellina, a gorgeous brunette whose striking blue eyes shimmered in the moonlight approached and hugged her. "We've all been waiting for many years to finally have you come visit. Welcome home."

"Thank you."

Catherine's red hair and green eyes reflected the torchlight as Nellina backed and she neared. "Nice to meet you, Kailee. I guess this makes us all your mothers, doesn't it?" she mentioned with a smile and hugged her, then retreated.

Kailee chuckled as she accepted the arms of Sarah, another attractive brunette with hazel-brown eyes who hugged her. "Welcome home."

"Thank all of you," Kailee never felt kinship and smiled as they all turned to the remaining couple who approached. Both very attractive, and both with dark black hair. She with brown eyes and he with steel-blue.

"William," Bianka began. "This is our daughter, Kailee. Kailee, this is Sir William, Duke of Warwick and his first wife, Anita De Mirijan."

Kailee bowed respectfully as William gently took her hands in his own. "Mine eyes have never looked upon one so beautiful and innocent. Had I not known better I would've thought I had strayed into a dream. I hope that you will look upon me and us as your family and I promise you that you will have want for nothing. To that I vow, my love." Raising her hands to his lips, he kissed both and stepped back as Anita neared.

Appearing no older than Kailee herself, Anita kissed her on the cheek and looked her in the eyes. "We're all here to teach you what you need to know to survive in this world. William and I have lived here for a very long time and we all know what you've been through and I look forward to getting to know everything about you," her mature, calming voice also had a strong undertone of authority within it.

"I look forward to learning more." She felt a bit nervous amidst the adults that all looked as if they had all grown up together. But, she knew in her heart that their accumulated years of survival hadn't been wasted. Anita took her hand and they all walked into the large castle as the drivers drove the wagons to a long barn that was built against the main wall near the front gate. Towers rose into the night sky from each corner and pointed to the distant snowcapped peaks that touched the stars. They stepped inside to the long, high ceilinged Great Hall whose hearth was large enough for a tree. Servants bowed and continued about their chores and William led his wives to chairs around the head of a large, oaken table, drawing seats for each and claiming his own last.

"I'm sure you have questions, Kailee," William's strong hands motioned.

She didn't know exactly where to begin, then looked to her mother. "How long have you been here?"

"I came here the night after they buried me, eighteen years ago. I remember seeing William and Anita who invited me and introduced me to Sarah, Nellina and Catherine who've been with them for many years. I wanted to return to Carbost to bring you with me, but we decided that it may attract too much attention. And then idiotic Alisandro locked you away in that dungeon and ran when the temple was attacked, more interested in saving his own skin than freeing you."

Her mind drifted to the sight that Lericanin was greeted with when he visited her father.

"I didn't know about your whereabouts until William mentioned that you and your friends had been not fifteen miles from here last week. That was when we decided that it was time you came home."

Kailee nodded. "I'm glad you did." Her green eyes drifted to William. "What's going to happen to Lericanin?"

"He was freed and cleared of all charges. It seems that the baroness stepped in and spoke to the judges on his behalf."

"That's good to hear."

He smiled. "Your friends are survivors and I'm glad that they've looked after you the way they have but, it's time for you to come into your own. You realize that you will outlive their descendents for many generations. But, all of us will be here for you always. Make yourself at home."

* * *

Bianka showed Kailee around the extensive floorplan of the castle which was separated in half. One side included guest rooms and large baths, the other housed the military and the workshops and storerooms for their gear as well as the library and kitchen that bordered the great hall. They crossed the immense dining room and Bianka opened the ornately carved door and led her into the chapel dedicated to Sater. Kailee stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" Bianka asked as she turned.

"You worship Him?" Her eyes noted the large fiery eye sported in the center of the columned sanctuary's floor.

"He's kept us alive and helped this town flourish. I don't offer to him like the townspeople do, but I do appreciate what he's done."

Kailee remained quiet.

"Don't fear, it's alright for you to believe as you wish. All of us come from various backgrounds and beliefs. But, listen to their stories before you judge them, alright?"

She nodded as she continued following her mother through the gate, across the long drawbridge and out into the town whose buildings rose with the contours of the mountainside. A large clearing was bordered by the church, theatre, marketplace, hospital and strongly built, large residences that also contained an inn on the north and south sides of town. Farms dotted the hillside on both sides of the river as well as mills that hugged the passing flow that divided the scenic surroundings.
They soon entered The Onyx, a tavern whose lively music flowed into the streets and she finally got to see some of the locals who all stood and bowed to them as they passed. Bianka approached a shapely woman in her mid forties who bowed. Long, curly brown hair flowed down her back and framed her tanned skin as light green eyes rose to greet them.

"My lady, how may I serve you?"

"Margelina, this is my daughter, Kailee. I'm showing her around town and was wondering if you could entertain her for a moment."

"Of course, I'd be delighted."

Bianka turned to Kailee, kissed her on the cheek. "I have some things to tend to for a moment. Why don't you sit and talk to her for a moment, I think you'll enjoy the company."

"Alright," Kailee nodded and watched Bianka head upstairs as the owner motioned to a table nearby. They sat across from one another.

"How do you like Warwick thus far?"

"Actually, I like it a lot. I'm amazed that a town of this size has so many things to offer. Most of the performances that I've heard of took place in the street, not a large ampitheatre."

Margelina smiled proudly. "The lord and ladies take great care of us, to be sure. I look forward to their performances on the weekends and I enjoy taking part in some of the plays that they've done."

Kailee's attention had been fully grabbed with that revelation. "They conduct plays?"

"Oh yes, the duke recites poetry, they all reenact plays from the capitol that they enjoyed as children. I sing as well as Lady Catherine and Lady Sarah. It's a lot of fun."

"How did you hear about this place?"

Her aged eyes drifted for a moment as her smile faded a bit. "Lady Anita found me in an alleyway in Glencoe almost ten years ago. I had endured the dungeon below the church where the priests tried to purge me of the sinful life that I led. I was beaten, burned, nearly drowned and starved for weeks. All in the name of a loving god that cherished his children." Kailee could feel the anger well up inside her host. "I've done nothing to deserve any of that and I know that there will come a day when they are judged for torturing people who are a little different from them, stealing their money and making them believe that they have all the answers. All they know is their own greed and arrogance." Margelina sighed and looked to her tanned hands. "I'm sorry."

"Actually, it's alright. I know exactly how you feel."