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

That following morning, Kailee awoke on the couch, still in her armor with Tess on the other couch nearby. They had talked long into the night about the incident and what she could remember about the form in the dark cloud. Another threat had been introduced which had to be faced, one way or another. She sat up and stretched, then yawned as the ornately carved, oaken door opened and revealed Duke Otnel and Count Gamardin who both bowed and approached.

"I hope my liege is well rested finally," the count's deep voice awoke Tess also who sat up with a start.

"I am, thank you."

"The army is ready to march upon your orders."

Kailee nodded satisfactoraly. "Thank you, sir. I'm awaiting some news, I'll let you know then. Allow them to get more familiar with that area, it's terrain and other dangers that we need to know about."

"Very good, Your Highness," he bowed, spun on his heel and exited the room as her captain stepped forward.

"Good morning, Otnel. Is everything okay?"

He nodded. "It is now, milady." He hesitated and she could hear concern in his mind.

"What is it?"

"Eliane says I should be ready to awesome my place that you assigned me. I'm not sure...."

She grinned. "You'll do fine, sir. I have great faith in you."

He bowed respectfully and turned to leave but lingered.

"The answer's already no."

Otnel grinned. "My lady is most wise. But, I wasn't going to bother with that request to come with you, only that...," he sighed and glanced to Tess who turned to listen. "If I'm not allowed to fulfill my duties as your personal guard, then I want assurances that my appointment is only temporary."

She admired the honorable male standing before her who she knew would follow her to Nurmes itself. "If I'm able, I will return." A comment that gained her friend's attention also. "I promise." As he bowed, and turned to go, she felt the powerful pulse in the air which prompted both ladies to stand and turn towards the front gate. Bhatar's magic always had a distinctive feel to it, but surely he wasn't coming here. Otnel moved quickly out through the doorway and began barking orders to his men, then continued on to the main door.
Concentrating, Kailee felt the presence of Katsandra, Danaca, Lyvyrikka and a male that she didn't recognize. What were they doing here?

"Interesting time for an unexpected visit," Tess mentioned as she moved through the throneroom.

Concentrating, Kailee felt Baithen's frustration at her guests and mentally contacted him. 'What's wrong?'

'They've decided to force their way through our gates, instead of being invited.'

Immediately confused, she nearly laughed at the thought and moved to Tess who quickly moved through the motte and into the bailey. 'Let them in.'

'I will. Seems someone is more tired than you.'

Kailee smiled, then broke her link and sat back. Soon, the quartet was led into the living room by Tess as Eliane and Otnel and ten of his knights stood nearby. Kneeling out of respect, Katsandra, Danaca and their male counterpart stood out from the shorter archmage standing defiantly.

"You'll respect the Lady of his house," Eliane's frustration at the insult filled the air with anger as Lyvyrikka stood resolute in defiance. Kailee wasn't sure this was necessary with her friends in the first place, but also knew that the sense of honor in this room from the dark elves was more powerful and demanded the courtesy. Eliane then motioned to Otnel to arrest the teenager and Kailee stepped forward.

"Otnel, belay that. Eliane, it's okay. Please give us a moment, if you will."

Sighing, the oracle turned and bowed respectfully to the queen, then angrily strode out, glaring at the young girl the whole time, the knights trailing her and shut the door. Moving to each, she hugged the girls as Danaca motioned to their newest addition.

"Kailee, this is Sir Dillon of Sarkad. Dillon, this is Kailee, Queen of Wroclaw."

"An honor to meet you, Your Highness," he finally pushed out.

"Pleasure's mine." She turned and led them to the couches, then motioned for them to have a seat as she claimed her normal spot, joined by Tess. "So, how've you been?"

"Good," Danaca began. "Busy as usual. Sorry for coming unannounced but, we've found something that Bhatar and we thought you could help us with." As they watched, the young brunette whom they had watched grow up in Warwick reached into a small pouch and produce a sandstone colored, crystal shaped device and hand it to Kailee. She took it and studied the interesting rows of titan lettering in three long rows etched upon all four sides. Quickly recognizing the same symbols that had been on the platforms in her vision, she began turning the dials.

"We found out the 'T', 'R' and 'L' but, I didn't want to spin it and open the container," Lyvyrikka explained as Kailee did just that. "Bhatar said it contained a key that belongs to a prison that's holding two titans jailed for their illegal delving into the primal."

One end opened and Kailee's thin fingers pulled out the thin, crystalline device within whose clear interior shimmered like a diamond and morphed as she spun it between thumb and forefinger into a split, jagged edged device, still no more than four inches long.

"Once it was removed, he felt the device could be tracked by the one that made it," Danaca finished, knowing the warning was too late.

"What else did he relay," Tess asked as Kailee became lost in her own thoughts. What was this supposed to unleash upon the world? Would those two titans actually still be alive after all this time?

"Sixteen titans delved into the primal which they all felt was forbidden and thirteen apparently are the ones that govern our gods on some island."

"Ciechanow," Kailee stated and returned the key into the container and closed it, then respun the dials.

Katsandra chuckled, "Bhatar said you would know that name".

Kailee nodded and grinned. She had learned a lot in that cave, many years ago. "Languages, histories of cultures and races. Too much really." Motioning to Tess, she nodded which prompted the nightblade to retrieve another recent delivery which she gained and handed to Danaca. The letter and long, wrapped item were received by the young warrior who opened the penned thoughts from Lericanin. Tess motioned to the others and led them to their rooms as Kailee sighed, then studied the newly acquired secret to the one that had forced her to hurt her dearest friend. They would have to find out how this could lead them to this powerful mage who wouldn't get away with what they had done.

Danaca unwrapped the thick, purple velvet cloth to reveal Lericanin's warhammer that never had left his side since that day in Baden. Kailee turned and noticed the reverence that the young girl admired the gift, holding it with both hands and recalling all she had heard he had done with it.

"I can't believe he would do this."

"I didn't read the letter, but Sir Nicholas delivered it some days ago for you. His champion told him you'd be here and he knew it would be in safe keeping until you arrived."

Smiling uncontrollably, she continued to caress the weapon with her eyes and hands.

"You know he would say your greatest weapon is your heart and mind, not that," she recalled their long talks and how she missed them now.

Danaca nodded. "I know. Trust me, this will never leave my side."

"Why don't you put your things away and freshen up. Dinner should be ready shortly."

Rising, the darkly armored teenager headed to join the others as Kailee returned her attention to the key on the table before her. She was going to have to make some hard decisions very soon concerning her future as well as their impact on everyone else. Resolved to do the right thing, uncertainty as to what that was still eluded her. One thing she did know, thousands wouldn't die on some foreign field to end this battle.