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

Up into the main temple, Kailee led Sceva and Marian into the scene of the first battle with Sater. From the hallway which two alcoves, one to each side, rested five tall metal tubes and where she and Tess made their entry into the battle. Beyond the banded door, they noticed the central pool which flowed around a stone island sporting a tall, thriving oak tree surrounded by tall stalks of wheat and a sword whose blade sank into the stone foundation. The very symbols of those who helped the group survive that day. The high ceilinged temple was open to the gorgeous vista on the left wall through a columned wall. The inner walls were decorated with fluted columns, carvings of various scenes in vivid detail of the surrender of the elves, the marriages of Arhus and Elminoir as well as Yaeby and Archantael with Sater looking on in both as well as a host of knights and priests as they celebrated the events. Once Kailee noticed and recognized his face, she tore her gaze from his handsome face in anger and disgust as Sceva detailed some of the battle for Marian.

"...and the dent you've seen in his armor, he received that right here shortly after Arthur fell. When I saw him fall, I must admit that I thought it was all over for us. We were fighting for our lives when suddenly, Sir William charged and slayed the demon. Or so we thought," his croaking voice proudly explained as it echoed within the vaulted hall. "Kailee and Tess revealed themselves afterwards and she and Selyria healed everyone, then we sailed back to Nordkapp, courtesy of the now King of De Haan."

"He charged? What was he thinking?"

Quietly, she allowed their moment together as glowing eyes soon caught sight of a scene that she didn't recall or could discern. As she studied the battle between a host of knights charging into a fiery circle, a trio emerged in the flames as their footsteps approached and soon stopped beside her.

"This artwork is fantastic," Marian commented.

"Hmm," Sceva agreed. "Well, I'll be. Kailee, you remember this?"

She glanced to him and shook her head. "No clue. I thought I could figure out the rest of them but, this one's a bit confusing."

He shook his head and smiled. "That's us."

Quickly, Kailee glanced back to the scene done in bronze. "What?"

"Yeah. We charged into that mess like fools and then ended up in Rimnicu, which I'd like to see again someday also, time permitting."

"Oh my," Marian chuckled. "That is us."

Kailee studied the moment caught in stillness and tried to remember that day without much success. "I have no recollection of this. Those days were such a blur to me." She stepped closer and studied the armor and faces of those looking back, encouraging the rest to follow, and recognized her friends immediately. The group of warriors stood staring at the trio in the center - except one. One warrior was running across the scene, frozen in time with shield and spear. Kailee turned to Sceva, surprise and bewilderment in her eyes.

"I learned here in Dirge that victory will never go to the timid."

"And so you..."

"Yes. I regretted not having joined Sir William in his charge here in Dirge, and had vowed to myself that if I got another chance, I would not repeat the same mistake."

She shook her head as emotions welled again. "You people were so stupid," she blurted as her eyes burned and clouded with tears. "Going to get yourselves killed, and for what," she turned to them. "He could've killed all of you with just a thought," she sniffed as streams of gold poured down her cheeks. "You had no business there."

Surprised, Sceva and Marian eyed her. "We were there for one purpose alone," Sceva began as his hand took hers. "To rid the world of that bastard or die trying and finally get you back home. Many died that day and I'll not have you dishonoring their memories like this, understood? Kailee, this life chose us, not the other way around and I'm proud to have called so many strangers as friends. People I never would've met any other way. You going around blaming yourself for everything is going to stop right here and now, got it?"

Kailee's brow furrowed. Arguing this point was useless and she knew it; this visit was about them and not her she surmised and soon relaxed. Nodding, she wiped her cheeks as eyes fell. "I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize," he hugged her tightly.

* * *

Allowing them to read once the tomes had been found beyond the reliefs, Kailee made her way back to the open, circular veranda and sat down, drawing her knees to her and rested her head atop them. Staring out across the jagged and rolling white carpet, she let her mind drift with the breeze and closed her eyes and allowed it to take her across the arctic on a flight. Drifting among the clouds she listened to the wind as it carried her over mountains and jagged glaciers, broken up on it's slow journey southward through rocky channels vainly covered by feet of snow.

As she enjoyed the calm ride, a presence nearby interrupted the pleasurable journey and prompted her to awaken and turn to the right and notice her friend in mithril platemail, kneeling beside her.

"Hello there," Kailee greeted the golden haired champion whose blue eyes turned to her.

"You act as if I've left you."

"We don't talk all the time," she shrugged.

Nodding, the angel grinned. Her sparkling blue aura danced and cascaded around her entire body and was not out of place here in Dirge. "True. Are you okay?"

Kailee straightened. "I'm tired," she revealed as her eyes turned back to the vista below.

"You've been busy. Adventuring is much different than governing a town, seeing to their security... while keeping up with friends." Her voice drifted off and hit the main point of Kailee's emotional rollercoaster.

Sighing, she nodded. "It's hard watching them grow old when I don't, have families when I can't and...passing while I remain."

"You're not here alone. Tess, the queen and her family as well as Bhatar. You've got me." A comment that gained Kailee's attention.

"It's odd. After all we've been through, I guess I've taken you for granted," she glanced to the spectral guardian. "Sorry about that." She chuckled as she lowered and crossed her legs. "I don't even know your name."

"It was never important, I guess. I serve them and keep an eye on you and am only a tool to that end."

Kailee sobered. "I would never call you a tool. That's degrading. You had a life just like everyone else, right?"

"Yes," she nodded. "We all did once."

She studied the perfect, beautiful face before her. "You're not a servant or slave are you?"

"No. We happily took on this mantle when asked," she shook her head, creating a small whirlwind of activity with her long hair as if she were underwater. "All of us."

"So, you don't consider yourself as having a life now?"

Quietly, blue eyes studied her for a long moment. "It's not the same. Not worse, by any means. Just different. No offense but, you wouldn't understand. The mentality is totally different on this side. Ask Allaster again about his talks with Avion and he'll tell you how she enjoys herself, not having to worry any more about trivial things like aging, sickness, disease or evil. I see it around you but, aren't affected by it any more. I guess you could say I'm above it."

Kailee thought on her words, trying to grasp the concept. "You're right, I can't imagine a life like that."

"It's where they're going to and some are in now, which is why you don't need to worry about them."

Nodding, the point was taken as Kailee realized the focus of the discussion. "It's just that...I can't visit them any more. Spaces are empty at the table."

"Only physically. Be happy for all of them. For them to grow old, grow sick and have to deal with age is much worse, this side is like being reborn and being a child forever. Nothing to fear at all. To hold them there in their present state for selfish reasons is wrong. Enjoy what you do have; their children and grandchildren. Who else knows their stories better than you?"

Kailee agreed. "You're right."