Relma felt like she was falling through an endless void of nothingness. Her body, if she had one, she was numb and unfeeling, yet she felt more than ever. As if she was more herself in the nothingness than she ever had been amidst everything else. Or perhaps she rely felt who she was now that it had all been stripped from her.
As she opened her eyes, she wished sothing more was around her. She did not need it; she could exist here as the only being for eternity. But she desired things other than herself.
Into the darkness ca light. A great light emanated from her in an all-encompassing wave. When it faded, there was a world around her.
And then she awoke. Her eyes opened blearily, and she saw Aunt Pan sitting over her knitting. She felt detached again. Relma had a splitting headache on so level, but it didn't bother her on another. "Aunt Pan?"
"Well, you are lucky to awaken," said Aunt Pan, not looking up. "After what you did."
Relma's mind was a blur. "What did I do?"
"You brought back the dead," said Aunt Pan. "Not an impossible task, given it was a recent death. But a very difficult one and generally not worth the effort. People are usually back in a generation anyway under a new na.
"I've only done it once or twice."
"Oh, co on, you could at least pretend as though I did sothing remarkable," said Relma, more herself now.
"You did do sothing remarkable," said Aunt Pan. "And you did it very well and in the perfect context. Gel Carn is positively abuzz with rumors of your nature. But, if I were you, I shouldn't try anything like that again."
"Why not?" asked Relma.
"The universe tends to even itself out," said Aunt Pan. "Pull the threads of fate one way, and you ss with other stories. That is why a subtle touch is best."
"Are you saying I should have let Ajax stay dead?" asked Relma.
"Of course not," said Aunt Pan. "While there might be a price to pay, it won't be nearly as bad as it could have been. You see, you were willing to give up your life."
"What?" said Relma.
"When you defeated Fayn, you fully believed her guilty," said Aunt Pan. "But you willingly went to what you believed would be your death solely to save her and Ronald. Of course, we didn't allow it, but you did not know that.
"Magic is a strange thing, Relma. It is based on the soul of the one who uses it. The power does not co from so magical spring within you. It cos from who you are. Deals with spirits are rely one way to channel it.
"In giving up your life, taphorically speaking, you were able to draw back the life of another."
"Sohow, I don't think I'll be able to go around bringing people back," said Relma.
"Of course not." scoffed Pan. "This was a miracle, not healing magic."
"What's the difference?" asked Relma, feeling she already knew the answer.
"Healing magic is inspiring the elents within the world to restore the body," said Aunt Pan. "Taking the power inherent to yourself and others and bringing it into play. A miracle is when a force outside the normal order intervenes to perform a wondrous deed.
"The forr is business as usual for so people. The latter is never routine."
"So how did I perform it?" asked Relma.
"Another, greater force worked through you," said Aunt Pan. "Quite frankly, I'm very well pleased with how things turned out.
"The Tournant of Kings is a beginning of sorts. And in my experience, the beginning of things almost always foreshadows the end. A reign that begins in blood will end with blood. However, a reign that has its source saving lives will end far better."
"And how did this beginning rank?" asked Relma.
"Well, as far as I can tell, it sets so very hopeful trends," said Aunt Pan. "It shows that you willingly take on the punishnts of the unworthy of saving them. It demonstrates that your focus will be on saving others. This foreshadows the healing of old wounds, as opposed to the dealing of death.
"All hopeful signs. For a holy man. I'm not sure it will translate well into a King."
"I will be King, and I'll end the hatred between the nobles," said Relma. "I'll establish friendship where before there was hatred. I'll make peace with all my neighbors and help people. And I'll only fight to defend, never to attack."
"All admirable desires, Relma," said Aunt Pan. "But I don't think you'll manage it. Power ruins everyone who gets it. So more than others. But no one remains wholly good when they have it."
Relma shook her head. "I will show you, Aunt Pan." And she stood up and began to get dressed at once. "Where are William and Estela?"
Pan put down her knitting. "When last I heard, William has been tending to the sick and injured and playing the harp for that beast when he is not. He seems quite intent on overshadowing you."
"And Estela?" asked Relma.
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"Training with Ajax in one of the courtyards at the mont," said Aunt Pan. "She's been helping him with the sword."
"Have they reconciled?" asked Relma.
Aunt Pan shook her head. Relma finished getting dressed and walked to the door. "I'm going to go see them."
Relma found Ajax and Estela in the training yard. Both were wielding swords, and Estela seed to be instructing him. She was probably doing a lot better job of it than Relma had. "Two, three, four, good. You're getting better. Relma really didn't do an excellent job of teaching you."
"Not very surprising," said Ajax.
"Well, that's so thank you, Ajax," said Relma coming forward.
Ajax looked up and smiled. "Relma, you're awake. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine; I just have a headache," said Relma, rubbing her head. "Estela, I need to talk to you about William."
"What about him?" asked Estela, sheathing her sword. "He's spent the past few days healing every sick and injured person he can find. People called him one of your disciples, and he flatly denied it."
"Well, that's to be expected. William wants to be a ssiah himself," said Relma.
Estela looked at her oddly. "What do you an?"
"He feels obligated to seek glory and power for his house," said Relma. "He feels obligated to help others as a Paladin of Elranor. Becoming a ssiah who brings salvation to the people is the perfect way to do that."
"Nothing he said gave
that impression," said Estela.
"Of course not; he hasn't fully realized it himself," said Relma. "He thinks he is just putting on appearances to increase the glory of his house. But the appearance you put on often becos true in your own mind."
"You seem different," said Estela.
Relma was a bit too certain in what she was saying. "Maybe I am.
"At any rate, Estela, I need you to reconcile with William. If House Vortegex and House Gabriel are at each other's throats, it could cause many problems."
"He broke my sword and my shield," said Estela. "I'm going to have to have it reforged."
"And he nearly killed ," said Ajax. "He did kill ."
"But he only did it because of the underhanded way you won, Estela," said Relma. "And Ajax, going into a tournant where people use real weapons with no armor, was not a good idea. You could have just as easily killed him in that lee.
"Fayn nearly killed Reginald, and that was deliberate. No one is complaining about that."
"Garrick did," noted Estela.
"I go into battle with no armor," said Ajax, apparently uninterested in Fayn.
"Yes, but in battle, you are allowed to cheat," said Relma. "You can ambush and trick. Here the expectation is fair play."
"I told you I needed the money," said Estela.
"And you have it," said Relma. "It can't hurt to reconcile with an enemy and part in friendship. Or at least not parting in bitter hatred."
"Since when do you have authority over ?" asked Estela with an edge in her tone.
"I'm not commanding you to do anything," said Relma. "I'm rely telling you that William is a bad person to have as an enemy. And you two really should be friends. But, unfortunately, you're far more alike than either of you want to admit."
Estela remained silent for a long mont. "...Alright, I'll find him and apologize before he goes."
Ajax sniffed. "What happened to you? Your scent is different."
"I don't know," admitted Relma. "I feel as though who I usually am is the surface of what I am. When I brought you back, I think more of myself erged. It's sort of fading away now.
"What was it like, being dead?" Sohow, Relma thought she already knew.
"Strange," said Ajax. "I felt I was between several worlds. An eternal wildland on the one side and a great palace on the other. And then, dimly, I saw a soothing light.
"Then I was drawn back by the threads of a spider. It was furious, I could tell. I could see its children scuttling around , weaving new threads. But they weren't the sa as the old ones."
"Do you know what happened to the scarf that William used?" asked Relma.
"He gave it back to the Baroness," said Estela. "And thanked her quite politely. Then he split the loot, just like had been planned."
"And Garrick?" asked Relma.
"He left after the tournant," said Estela. "He tried to challenge Fayn to a duel of honor. But Benarus dismissed the cause as frivolous.
"See, Garrick wasn't the one who was betrayed. Saphra was. And she apparently found it hilarious."
"Her cousin was nearly burned to death!" said Relma. What was wrong with Saphra? What, was she a demon in human form? That actually seed more likely than she would like to admit. She was from a family of vampires.
"Yes, she found it funny," said Ajax.
"I think she found it funny that people think she should care," said Estela.
There was silence between them for a mont. Sothing occurred to Relma. "...Can I ask you sothing, Ajax?"
"Of course," said Ajax.
"Why did your father agree to shelter Ronald in the first place?" asked Relma. She suspected she knew the answer.
"...I may have asked him to do it on your behalf," said Ajax.
"Thank you, Ajax," said Relma.
"It's not a problem," said Ajax.
And then Ronald rushed into the training yard. He was wearing ordinary clothes rather than armor. But he hugged her. "Relma!"
"What is it?" said Relma.
"Sir Frederick says he plans to head to Escor as soon as he is well," said Ronald. "He ans to take
with him. We're to represent Gel Carn in the coming wars."
"Oh, that's good," said Relma.
"But it gets better. Sir Varsus and Reginald have also agreed to co," said Ronald. "They an to take their personal forces to aid House Vortegex. They don't want the Dragon Empire to expand either."
"Well then, it looks like I'll be alone for a while," said Relma.
At that mont, William entered the training fields. He was clad in his armor, but his helm was held under one arm. His hair had fallen around his shoulders. With him were Massacre and Felix. He approached in swift strides and bowed slightly.
"Lady Relma," he said.
"William?" asked Relma. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you had awoken," said William. "I ca to say goodbye. Felix and I will be leaving tomorrow morning. I've healed most of the people in this area; I plan to start working on the other areas on my way back."
"That's good to know. I'm sure the people appreciate your efforts," said Relma.
"It is my responsibility to aid my House's reputation," said William.
Estela stepped forward. "Sir Gabriel?"
"Yes?" said William.
Their gaze t. Finally, Estela spoke. "...I wish to apologize for my underhanded thods in our battle. And I would take back my words in the tent."
"As would I," said William, too quickly to be genuine. "Ajax, are you well?"
"Better than ever," said Ajax. "I an, we both know I won that match. Lucky for you, I don't care about money or pride. Putting on a good show is enough for ."
"Perhaps," said William. "It was a good match against both of you. But, Lady Estela, I would offer you this." He motioned to Felix, who brought forward a small chest.
Estela took it. "What is it?"
"Compensation for the armor and weapons I destroyed," said William. "I fear I sotis don't know my own strength."
"Thank you," said Estela.
William bowed slightly, then turned away, his cloak flying around him. "Co, Felix. We have plans to make."
And he was gone.
"See?" said Relma. "Wasn't that better than eternal hatred?"
"Yes, you've made your point," said Estela. "Listen, Relma, how would you feel about becoming my squire? It'll give you a good reason to go with
to Escor. You could get so more experience there."
"Of course," said Relma.
Estela looked annoyed. "...You realize this is a great honor, don't you?"
"Right, of course," said Relma, bowing her head. "I'm deeply honored, Princess Estela, that you would-"
"Forget it," said Estela before looking away. "It's strange. It's only been a few days. But it seems like everything had already changed."
"Everything shifts, Estela. Let's just hope we're shifting in the right direction," said Relma.
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