(( The story resumes in the late evening in front of the Palace in Divinity’s Reach. ))

They arrive at the palace, and Mirex approaches the palace
doors with Adri, exuding the confidence of her place as an Exemplar. She returns
the salutes of her comrades in uniform and enters without issue, bringing Adri
with her.

<I’m alright. Let’s go to my office and we’ll have
everyone brought to us.>

<All right, love.> She shivers a little, then chuckles
softly. <Gran isn’t too sure about waypoints, but she’s still with me.>

<They are a bit different than they were in her time>
she agrees with an audible giggle, as she leads them to a side door along the
edges of the throne room. Passing through the door, they descend into
windowless halls that slowly wind and spiral downward. Many more Shining Blade
are met along the way, and there are offices and meeting rooms and a whole
subterranean complex set aside for the Queen’s guard, while keeping them all
within easy reach of their charge and sovereign.

<She says they mostly weren’t in her day.> She keeps
note of their path, simply because she does that, and makes another soft
chuckle as they wend their way. <Gran’s glad to see the Blade have grown in
number from what she was expecting.>

<Only the High Exemplars and the Master know how many of
us there really are. Even I don’t know.>

Mirex’s office turns out to be a fair ways down as far as
anyone could determine, and she snags another of her fellows as they near it.
“Would you please have Sam Ingrams brought up from protective holding to
my office? Also there should be Ladies Valeria and Victoria Valdis. Have them
brought as well.” The Blade salutes and turns around to head deeper to
carry out the order.

Mirex’s office is modestly sized with a desk and a number of
chairs, as well as a small loveseat, plushly upholstered. Unlike Cristian’s
utilitarian, minimal office, Mirex’s is a bit more personalized and comfortable.
As much as the redhead wants to plop down on her little sofa, she slips around
behind her desk to sit.

Adri manages not to pout at not getting to sit with her on
the loveseat, and decides to leave it for the Valdis lasses. She takes the
chair furthest in, turning it so she can see the door as well as Mirex.
<Considering how many secret operatives the Blade have to have, besides the
uniforms, I’m not surprised the number’s not widely known.>

<We all have the uniforms, we just rotate usually between
the field and playing bodyguard. Only a few stick with one or the other.>

They don’t have to wait long before there is a tap at her
door, and Sam is shown into the office. Right after comes another tap to
announce another Blade bringing in Val and Tori.

Mirex smiles wanly and gestures at her seating.
“Please… sit wherever you like,” she invites them all in.

Adri strongly suspects there really are some who are always
secret, else the spies in the capitol would eventually get too good an idea of
who was who, but she keeps her thoughts to herself.

Sam nearly stumbles when he spots Adriwyn, considering her
armour and swords. She smiles and waves her hand at the chair nearest her. To
his credit, he recovers quickly and nods to her, taking it – though a bit
nervously.

Val and Tori enter in and do opt for the loveseat. Well, it
might be more accurate to say that Tori launches herself at it, dragging Val
with her. They don’t seem to know who Adri is, perhaps in part because Tori’s
still occupied with bouncing on the furniture (nicely, though). Val and Sam nod
to each other.

Mirex giggles fondly at Tori, then looks among the rest.
“And so… here we all are. I’m pleased to say that the Baron Valdis is no
more. You are all free now.” She includes Adri in that as she looks among
them. “Val, Tori, you both know Sam already, but this is Adriwyn
Jardin.”

She gives them as cheery of a wave and smile as she can
manage, in large part to overcome the creepiness of the enchantments on her
armour and blades. Even with the helm and gauntlets off and the swords
sheathed, she can’t help but look like some kind of assassin. ‘Baroness.
M’lady.’

Val gasps a little, and looks almost as nervous as Sam,
who’s still trying not to fidget.

Tori gets all wide-eyed, then beams a very big smile and
waves. ‘And Auntie Dree! Hiiiiii!’

Mirex laughs fondly. “Yes, I forgot, Lady Adrielle has
decided to accompany Adriwyn for the time being. You’re welcome to visit us in
Ebonhawke to visit her, Tori.” She looks among them again.

“You are all free to go, but there is business first we
must discuss. First, my Lady Valeria, you are hereby granted your uncle’s title
as Baroness, as well as all his assets and holdings as his heir apparent. You
and Tori will be able to go home as soon as the team I will be sending to sweep
your home gives the all clear. The Baron left a number of nasty and dangerous
traps hidden through the house. Adri and I disabled some of them but not
all.”

Val takes this all in, having started when Adri called her
Baroness. She seems to hear it all just fine – she just looks a bit
overwhelmed.

‘Also, I’m afraid we did do a little damage. Nothing that
makes it uninhabitable, especially not in the traditionally Valdis sections. I
believe a repair crew will also be on the way, Baroness, and you won’t have to
worry about that, but they may be there after it’s cleared for you to take up
residence again.’

Tori is bouncing happily, in the excited way, and seems to
have her attention raptly held at about Adri’s shoulder.

Sam simply keeps quiet, still nervous.

“Indeed. The repairs will be seen to as soon as the
house is safe. Lady Adriwyn here will be assuming her ancestral title of
Countess. I will leave it between you two, Baroness, to sort out properties and
so on since the homes are combined and Valdis likely seized the assets of the
other two houses when he destroyed them.”

Her gaze turns to Sam. “Master Ingrams. Your
information proved invaluable in the handling of this case and my mission. I
regret that your former partner, Reg, was found to be a White Mantle
sympathizer of his own will. He also sustained severe injuries in the final
confrontation. As punishment for his crimes, and mercy for his broken body, I
executed him.”

Val takes that in, with another nervous glance Adri’s way,
but she nods. She’s heard it all, at least.

Sam winces a bit, but sighs heavily, shaking his head in a
way that isn’t refusal. ‘I’m … maybe I shouldn’t be, but I’m sorry to hear
that. I… can’t say I’m too surprised for him to come to a bad end, though.’
He sighs again, and looks up, startled, when Adri’s hand pats his shoulder and
gives it a quick squeeze before she withdraws it again.

Mirex smiles sorrowfully. “I wish there’d been another
way, but his neck was broken badly and he was barely alive. There was little
that could have been done for him.” She sighs softly before steeling
herself. “You, however, have earned the protection and pardon I promised.
You are a free man, Sam Ingrams, and your life is yours. With your skill set, I
would offer you a place as a contractor for the Blade, but I will understand if
that does not appeal to you. If you wish to begin a new life, you will be
provided with the means to do so. Funds, a new name and identity if needs
be.”

Sam sits back in the chair, not quite believing what he’s
just heard, and having to quietly repeat it to himself. He then looks nervously
over at Adri again, who chuckles, shaking her head.

‘Really, Sam. Please stop being so twitchy. I hope you’ll
take a position with the Blade, but take your time deciding and don’t let any
of us pressure you. And sure, I’m not necessarily going to promise you nice
Wintersday presents – but you have absolutely nothing to fear from me. In fact,
I might even owe you a thank-you. And I saw Mirex’s report. I know how badly
the Baron was in your head. You’re safe from me.’

Both Sam and Val seem taken aback by that, though to
different degrees. Sam slowly smiles, nodding to her. ‘Thank you, Countess. I
appreciate that. I appreciate it a whole lot.’

Mirex simply giggles. “Just so. The choice is yours,
Sam, and no penalty will be had whatever you choose. I’ll have a formal pardon
written for you, just to avoid any difficulties.”

She looks about the room again, “I think that’s all the
surprises I have for you all. Do you have any for me?”

Sam shakes his head, looking around. Tori is still mostly
occupied staring in the direction of Adri’s shoulder. Val seems to shrink in on
herself and not meet anyone’s eyes.

Adri sighs heavily, gives Mirex an apologetic look, and
turns to Valeria. ‘Baroness!’ She snaps it out like a school-marm.

Val stiffens suddenly, bolt-straight, looking at her like…
a student who’s been caught cheating, perhaps. ‘C-countess?’

‘Stop it. Please. You heard what I said to Sam – and he
actually shot me! Three times! Well, three times that counted. Several shots
were fired the first time. But never mind that! What matters here, is that you
didn’t. You are not your late uncle whom I will not lament at all, and I do
know the difference. I have it on good authority that you’re my second cousin.
I may not know a whole lot about the notion of “family”, but I’ve
been trying to learn. And you are family. Not my enemy. Please stop expecting
my wrath.’

Mirex nods in agreement, giggling at Adri’s methods.
“She’s right, Val. Your families are very closely related. And you and
Tori are no more the enemy then Sam is. You were all played by the Baron, and
he’s facing Grenth’s judgement now. You were all his victims, which makes you
all allies at the least. No one’s going to harm anyone here.”

Valeria blushes a little, and nods. She starts to duck her
head again, but stops, blushing further, when Adri waggles her finger at the
motion.

‘That’s better, cousin. Please don’t feel you need to hide
from me. We’ll need to be able to work together, at least on figuring out what
to do with that compound.’

Val nods, holding her head up properly with an obvious
effort of will, but managing it.

“You’ll be a fine Baroness, Valeria, I’ve no
doubt.” Mirex nodded approvingly. “Maybe if Sam wishes to go home
instead, he might help you with some of that,” she added with a thoughtful
look at the man.

Sam and Val give each other an uncomfortable look, more so
on Val’s part. He turns back, shaking his head. ‘Begging your pardon, ma’am,
but I’m pretty sure I’d be too much reminder of … her uncle. At least. And I
think… I don’t know what I’d try to do with some other new identity or
anything. I’d like to join up with the Blade, ma’am.’

“That’s your call, Sam. We’re always looking for people
with talents like yours. You’ll have to start as a contractor. It’s not really
very different then what you were doing for the Baron, I’ll be honest. The
difference is, assets that show skill and reliability have been invited to join
our ranks as full agents. I think if you stick with it, that could very well be
an option for you.”

He nods, and sits back in his chair just as Tori bounces up
and launches herself at Adriwyn, who barely gets her hands up to help catch her
and keep her from hurting herself on the armour. The redhead gives the blonde a
sloppy kiss and an unrestrained hug. ‘I love you so much, cousin Adri!’ She
blinks, terribly nonplussed, and tries just patting the girl-woman on the back,
until Tori abruptly stands and spins to face her sister. ‘Val! Guess what Adri
did! She-’

Tori cuts off, blinking, turning to look just above Adri’s
shoulder again, even as Adri tries to shush her.

‘Um… about that… I’m glad you approve, Tori, but I don’t
think the Baroness needed to hear about it with quite that much enthusiasm,
sweetie.’ She sighs, and turns to face Valeria’s clear look of “somebody’d
better tell me what in the Mists is going on with my baby sister.”

Mirex blinks a bit in surprise as well, frowning in
confusion, “Um… Well, one of the ghosts that is friends with Tori is now
traveling with Adri…but…” she trails off, unsure what exactly Tori was
getting at that was not something to just blurt out.

Adri takes a deep breath, composing herself a little. ‘There
were undoubtedly those at the Settlement who heard or saw, so… you do need to
know. First, people probably heard that your uncle was White Mantle. I think
our public support there of you as the Baroness has helped forestall any
official trouble, but that may affect the family reputation a bit more, I’m
sorry to say. But what your sister was getting at… is that Mirex’s mental
battle with him was exhausting for her. I was his executioner.’

Val looks taken aback at that, before mulling it over.
‘Oh…. Oh. I see.’ She nods to herself, then manages a smile. ‘Thank you. Both
of you. I… I should have said “thank you” earlier. I’m sorry. But
thank you not only for … taking care of him, but for letting me know.’

“You’re welcome, Val. I’m sorry it had to be done. But
those caravans you saw… they were slave trains to the White Mantle in the
Maguuma, to be used as sacrifices and test subjects. He was one of them.”
She smiled sadly at Valeria.

Val shudders, takes a deep breath, and nods slowly. ‘I… I
see. That’s… worse than I’d really expected. Though it makes more sense than
what I was thinking, I suppose. I just… I had no idea….’

‘Of course you didn’t, cousin. He made sure of it.’ Adri
gives her a smile, trying to be reassuring. Maybe it even works.

“No one did, Val. But it’s over now. The team that will
clean out his traps will locate any more documents that identify his trade
routes and any co-conspirators. I’ll also come visit you and Tori once you are
settled back in so I can help Tori’s mind. I think I can help her. Maybe not
heal her completely, but maybe at least give her more ability to
understand.”

Val nods to that, smiling more, though it’s not without a
measure of hurt behind it. ‘That would be good. I … I wonder what will happen
to her… if something happened to me, I mean.’

Mirex frowns. “What do you mean dear?”

‘I… if I can’t take care of her, who would?’ She bites her
lip, hard, trying not to show just how worried she is for her sister.

Mirex smiles gently. “Hopefully I can do enough that
she’ll be able to look after herself if it comes to that. If the need arises
that she needs care and you aren’t there to give it, well, then we’ll make sure
she’s some place where she will be alright.”

Tori, fortunately, is still being entertained by Adrielle.

Adriwyn nods. ‘It’s a quandary, to be sure, but as Mirex
says, we’ll see how she is after… well, after Mirex gets a chance to rest up
and be able to give it a proper effort. I’m told you’re still nervous about her
friendships with the ghosts, but… they will help. And, really, they’re not
such bad minders for her, either, I think. They’re mostly of our extended
family, too, and they do care for her.’

Val swallows, but nods with a brave attempt at a smile. ‘I’m
glad to hear it.’

“I know it’s a lot to take in all at once, Val. I wish
I could ease you into it more, but we don’t have that kind of time. I’ll do all
I can to help you, though. The ghosts are trustworthy, and will keep you two
safe, I’ve no doubt.”

‘Aye. Oh, and fair warning, cousin Baroness. I will be
visiting soon enough. But I think you can count on company that doesn’t put you
so ill at ease, too.’

Val looks a bit confused, but smiles.

Mirex chuckles softly, and begins penning some documents
while they talk.

‘I’m sure Aly and Orchid will be visiting, when they can.
Assuming they’re welcome, that is.’

Tori reacts to that quite happily, giving Adri a big sloppy
kiss on the cheek and a hug. Val chuckles, smiling and bobbing her head. ‘Yes,
of course they’re welcome!’

“There’s someone you might talk to in the off chance
Tori needs somewhere to go. And she can teach her to use her gifts as
well,” Mirex points out as she signs and seals the first item and hands it
to Sam. “Take this down the hall to that foyer with the counters. Those
are the records keepers. They’ll get you sorted out and get you a training
officer along with all your forms and so on. If I can manage it I’ll have you
be attached to Cristian’s command so you and I can work together, if you
like.”

Sam takes the papers and salutes Mirex, then bows to each of
the other women. ‘Ah, thank you kindly, ma’am… but that, well, that might
look like some sort of favouritism. Well, I reckon you’d know better than I how
it might be taken, so I’ll leave that up to you, after all, ma’am.’ He carries
the papers carefully, turning for the door to go.

Mirex laughs, returning the salute, “You’ll do just
fine here, Sam. Off you go.”

He chuckles, giving another salute, and heads out into the
hallway.

Adri waits for him to be gone, and turns to Mirex. ‘Just how
free are my cousins, anyway? They don’t exactly have anywhere else to stay at
the moment, but can they visit friends or the like now?’

Val blinks at that and looks over eagerly. Tori is still being
entertained by an invisible spirit of their acquaintance.

“Of course, they can go where they wish. A raven will
be sent once your home is ready for you to return to it.” Mirex smiles
warmly.

Val nods, smiling rather more now. ‘Oh, thank you!’

‘I’d offer to put you up, Baroness, but… the places I have
to stay aren’t mine to offer, and I’m sort of pushing my luck just with
bringing Gran home.’ She sort of points with her head at the seemingly empty
space that has Tori’s attention, and Val picks up on the meaning after only a
couple of beats.

“I’m sure they could stay in Ebonhawke, with Father.
Might have to share a room though, it’s getting a little full there. But we’re
going on to the Refuge right? That’s where Alex is?”

‘Arranging that, I have to leave to you, love. But yes,
we’re for the Refuge. I’m sure I have overdue work there, building up on my
desk, and that’s where our Alex is.’ She turns to the Valdises.

‘Oh, and by the way – Tori, please listen, this is very
important.’ She locks eyes with Victoria, waiting for her attention, rather
like she’s dealing with a hyperactive eight-year-old. ‘If you notice any signs
of your uncle trying to haunt the graveyard or your home, check with Claire and
Jaine as quickly and safely as you can – and if they agree, make sure you let
Val know. Can you do that for me, sweetie?’

Valeria’s eyes widen and she bites her lip, but doesn’t
interfere or even squeak.

Tori nods solemnly. ‘Yes, cousin Adri.’

Adri nods with a bright smile and kisses her cheek. ‘That’s
my sweetie! Now you can get the rest of your story from Gran. Thank you, Tori.’

She looks toward Valeria again. ‘Sorry – but one can’t be
too careful. If Tori has reason to tell you of such a thing, please notify us
at once. By “us” I’m including Aly, as you might expect.’

Val takes a deep breath as she gives a slow nod. ‘Yes,
Countess.’

Adri frowns briefly, but then nods.

Mirex listens to the exchange, and eyes Val and her many
nervous responses, but doesn’t say anything. She begins penning more letters.
One to Lord Torik to inform him of Val and Tori’s imminent arrival. Another is
an order for a hex sweeper team and clean-up crew for the estate. The next,
orders for a repair crew to be organized for the compound. The last takes a bit
longer and is her initial written report. She’d debrief with Cris later once
they were back in the Refuge since he was likely still there. She makes a note
in her letter to Lord Torik to keep an eye on Valeria though, and a note in her
request for a clean-up team to also set surveillance and a monitoring agent on
the estate and the two girls.

Adri sighs softly, giving Val a weak smile. ‘I’m sorry I …
seem to disturb you so much, cousin. I hope that, someday, you’ll be able to
see me not just as a… cousin of obligation, but even as a friend. But for
now, I’ll stop pestering you. I’m sorry.’

Valeria flushes. She tries to answer, but can’t, finding
that words fail her. At last, she manages, ‘I’m sorry, too. Perhaps… some
day.’

Mirex finishes her letters and orders and reports, “I’m
sending a letter to Father in Ebonhawke to expect you and Tori, Val. You’ll be
taken care of there until your home is ready. Feel free to come and go as you
wish while there.” She starts to rise from her seat, and has to grip the
arm firmly to finish straightening herself up as another dizzy spell hits her.
Aside from that subtle motion to catch herself though, she gives no sign.

Adri stands as well, flashing a concerned thought at Mirex,
but not interfering with her facade. ‘Tori, sweetie, I’m sorry, but we have to
go. I can wait for this story to finish, but that will have to be all – for
now.’

Victoria pouts a bit, but then nods. ‘More stories later?’
It’s not quite a demand.

‘If we can, Tori. I won’t promise, because I don’t like
breaking promises – ever. But I will try to make that happen.’ She’s carefully
not looking at Val – because she doesn’t want Tori to pick up on how it’s at
least partly her sister’s decision as well.

A sigh and a nod. ‘All right, cousin Adri. But you try
hard!’ That gets her a nod and a smile.

“I’m sorry to cut things short, but we have other
things to still take care of. Your Blade handler out in the hall will see you
safely to Ebonhawke.” She recovers quickly, and makes no comment to Adri’s
expression of concern as she heads for the door, informing the Blade waiting
outside of what the next step is, and hands him her letters and reports to drop
off and have sent before he takes the girls where they wanted to go.

Adri lags just a little, letting Tori hear the end of the
story. Tori demands and gets a hug, then they wave to each other as Adri takes
up a position at Mirex’s side and the Valdises are escorted away.

Mirex watches them leave, along with her various reports and
letters, and lets out a weary breath. “And that’s that. You are safe at
last, my Adriwyn….” she murmurs, seeking Adri’s hand.

‘Mmm.’ She grins impishly as she gives Mirex’s hand a gentle
squeeze. <And here I was hoping you were going to ravish me or something.
{mental-only giggle} But I suppose we need to get to the Refuge first – and
Alex will be in more need of ravishing than I.>

Mirex giggles aloud, then glances conspiratorially up and
down the hall. <I mean…Alex can wait another hour or two… right? And it
would be very naughty to use my office….> She eyes Adri with a suggestive
look in her eyes.

Adri flashes a big, bright smile, looking back, then sighs softly.
<As tempting as your naughty thoughts are, love – and they are! – I can’t in
good conscience do that to her.>

Mirex pouts her lip a moment with a sigh. <I suppose
you’re right. I don’t think we’d ever get away with all three of us in here,
though. Maybe another time we can come back… after we make Alex feel
better.>

She squeezes Adri’s hand and casts a brief longing look back
into her office and the small sofa that would be ideal. Or maybe her desk. The
redhead blushes faintly at her naughty thoughts, and steps out into the hall
with Adri to firmly close the door before she gets any more ideas. “Let’s
go home then….”

‘Aye, darlin’. And indulge those thoughts another time.’ She
giggles, giving her hand another little squeeze.

Mirex flashes a last impish smile amid her blushing, then
leads the way back up the labyrinthine halls of Shining Blade headquarters, until
they eventually came out in what was obviously the palace. This time, though,
they leave by a different gate, the one that opened onto the Grenth high road.

<Which way are we going, love? Via the Arch and with
Blue, or is Nas going to flirt at us?>

Mirex giggles. <I suppose either works, really. Nas’s
ship is faster, though. But it depends where she is right now on if it’s faster
to wait for her or just go to the Arch.> She leads Adri toward the high road
to stroll comfortably down it, away from the palace. “Did she flirt with
you recently, my love?”

‘Aye. Hard for me to figure how serious she was about it. I
think she’d rather have you.’

Mirex laughs fondly. “I’m sure she would. She was… my
first. Woman, I mean….” She blushes rosily and chews her lip a moment.
“She was a good friend to me when I needed one.” She glances at Adri.
“And she’s always serious when she flirts. She can be as bad as Evienne
sometimes when she wants to be.”

‘Oh, I didn’t mean to say she was only teasing.’ She ponders
her wording for a moment. ‘More like… not sure if she was looking for just a
tumble, or what. – And I see. That makes more sense of her interest, then.’

“You know… I don’t know what Nastya wants. Cristian’s
the only man she wants. Otherwise it’s always women. She told me some of her
stories when I was on her ship after she came back into his life, but that
wasn’t something we talked about. Might be a tumble, might be more. It’s been a
while since we’ve spoken, admittedly.” She smiles softly, then eyes Adri.
“It’s up to you, if you want, darling. We can go through Lion’s Arch, or I
can call her and see what she’s doing and if she’d come pick us up.”

‘I just wasn’t sure if you had a plan that way, love. If
it’s not already arranged, well, we know Blue’s schedule. Or at least I do,
though I have lost track of the hour in all our nocturnal prowling and
travelling. Not that I’d at all mind seeing Nas again, but… I’d feel like I
was bothering to ask for a ride without any warning.’

Mirex shrugs. “Up to you, darling. She told me if I
ever needed a ride she’d be glad to if she wasn’t on another continent.”
She brings her free hand to her ear to touch one of the studs she wore, and
seems to be listening to something as they walk down the high road toward the
Grenth statue.

‘Well, you can ask… I can’t. So it’s up to you, not me!’
She sticks her tongue out impishly, and squeezes her hand again.

“Well fine, I’ll ask then!” she quips back
playfully with a laugh. After another moment, she lets her hand drop.
“She’s already in the refuge but said she could come pick us up and to be
in the Queen’s Pavilion district.”

‘All right – but I’m broke, so you’re paying.’ She sighs.
‘Sorry. That’s not really very funny.’

Mirex laughs softly. “Oh, we won’t owe her any money,
darling. Or anything else, for that matter.” She smiles gently, and leans
down to touch Adri’s cheek with a kiss. “It’s alright, beloved. We’ll get
you solvent again. I don’t mind taking care of you.”

‘No. Neither of you minds. For which, despite how grumpy I
get, I am grateful. I just don’t like having to be taken care of. Makes me feel
like a leech. And no, I know you don’t see it that way! But, well, when it
applies to me, I do.’

Mirex laughs fondly. “Fair enough, my love. It’s too
bad we didn’t stay in my office. Could have indulged while we waited for Nas to
come get us,” she teases playfully. Reaching the statue of Grenth, Mirex
turns them left to start down the ramp in the direction of the Queen’s pavilion
on that side of the city.

‘Mm. That sounds like we’d be rushing things, even as worn
as you are, love. Why don’t we owe her, anyway? Besides that she’s angling for
something bigger than a passenger service….’

Mirex frowns briefly. “I’m all right,” she
objects, even though she knows Adri is right, and she was pushing herself
pretty hard as it was and was even using a tiny bit of illusion to hide how
tired she was. “And why don’t we owe Nas anything? Because she’s nice, and
because Cristian already pays for the upkeep of her ship in exchange for the
free rides. Even when she’s doing other jobs, she only has to worry about her
crew and her profits.” Down the ramp, and another right puts them on the
main boulevard loop headed toward the pavilion.

Adri nods with a small smile. She keeps an eye out, of
course, but she’s been in the habit of scanning rooftops since long before
anyone took it in mind to shoot at her. ‘Well, you can prove you’re all right
to Alex, I think. Not that I’m not as eager, but… she hasn’t had our company,
and we’ve had that, at least.’

“Hm… I suppose so. Although you’ve been in that armor
the whole time…” she complains as they walk, flashing a smile.

‘All the more reason, love. I need a bath before either of
you should want to be that near me!’ She giggles, giving her lover’s hand
another squeeze.

Mirex sighs, then giggles. “That’s true. Don’t want our
Adri to smell like an iron works.” she wrinkles her nose, then bends to
kiss Adri’s crown and squeeze her hand in reply.

She tips her head up to try to get a kiss in, at least to
Mirex’s jaw. ‘Aye. And a little swim would do me good other ways, too.’

“Well, soon as we get there, we’ll take Alex down to
the beach and we can bathe and relax and other things.” She giggles with a
slight blush, kissing Adri to make it a promise.

Adri kisses back and nods with a happy smile. ‘That sounds
good!’

Eventually they arrive at the pavilion district, with its
gardens and open walks and paths. Mirex looks around the area, then sighs softly.
“Now we wait.”

‘Aye. Though probably not for all that long.’ She smiles up
at the redhead.

They find the rail to look down into the fight pit, so Mirex
has something to lean against to stay upright while hiding her exhaustion as
best she can.

It doesn’t take long before the redhead perks up, and
glances up at the clear sky above. “She’s here.”

‘All right, love. Your beacon or mine?’ She wraps her arm
around Mirex’s middle in either case.

She blinks a moment in surprise. “Oh… either one, I
suppose.” She puts an arm about Adri, then touches the bean at her belt. A
moment later they are pulled skyward on a bolt of aetherlightning. Only when
they are past the glamour shield are they able to see the bright red hull of
the Current as they drop on deck. As soon as they appear there, the ship lurches
into motion, heaving over to come about and head back to the Refuge, picking up
speed rapidly.

After only another couple minutes the Captain comes out to
greet them. “Welcome aboard once again, my dears.” She moves straight
for Mirex to embrace and kiss her.

“It’s been too long… oh!” and suddenly her mouth
was busy and she was blushing at the Captain’s greeting.

Adri giggles, keeping her hold on Mirex, mostly to be
offering her support, and definitely trying not to be interposing at all.
‘Still an interesting ride up.’

With Mirex a bit breathless from the surprise greeting, she
has to cling to Adri a bit, while the pirate laughs warmly. “You’ll get
used to it, Adri. I’m glad to see you, too.” She winks at the smaller
woman, the pirate being even taller than Mirex. “We should be back at the
refuge within the hour. Reg’s been tinkering with the engine again and so far
we haven’t exploded yet so I’d say we’re definitely the fastest ship in the
skies now. Not that we weren’t before.” She grins proudly, then eyes
Mirex. “It has been a while. How’ve you been doing, Mir?”

She blushes and giggles. “Oh, I’ve been keeping busy,
Nas. You’ve already met Adri.”

“Aye, you always do get the pretty ones. I’d suggest my
cabin, but our flight won’t be that long, and I don’t think the third to your
trio likes me very much, so I’ll be a good girl.” Her lips twist.
“I’m being much too nice these days. Must be getting soft….” she
mutters.

Adri chuckles, shaking her head, still trying to give Mirex
inobtrusive support. ‘Soft, or just playing the longer game?’ It’s the sort of
teasing question that doesn’t really expect an answer.

Nastya snorts in amusement. “Nah, it’s soft. I’m
growing too fond of you lot. Makes me actually care about the feelings of all
your lovers.” She grimaces in annoyance and pain a moment then shakes it
off. “Anyway, we shouldn’t be long.”

‘Well, I appreciate it, even if you don’t.’ She crinkles her
nose impudently, but smiles warmly. ‘And I do appreciate how fast your ship
is.’

Nastya smirks, and runs a finger along Adri’s cheek that
ends with a playful tap to her nose. “Too bad for you, pretty girl”
she teases, then touches Mirex with another kiss that the redhead was able to
better respond to this time. “Enjoy the trip.” The Captain turns to
make her way back inside, leaving them on the outer deck.

Adri chuckles more, shaking her head and smiling. ‘I do like
flying.’

Mirex blushes hard as the pirate sways her way across the
deck, and she bites her lip and clings to Adri more tightly. “I always
forget how good she is at that….” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry
dear one… I should have not let her do that….” She moves with Adri to
the rail to watch the world fly by below them.

‘That’s… mostly up to you and your conscience, love. I
can’t know how hard you were tempted.’ She gives Mirex a gentle squeeze as they
look out over the world passing beneath them.

“Well, if we’d gone with her to her cabin, I can tell
you it would certainly have been a pleasurable experience.” She giggled.
“It doesn’t bother me, really, what she did in kissing me. I just… don’t
want to make you jealous. I know it would have upset Alex….”

‘Aye. It would. And that’s the main reason I wasn’t…
taking the bait, you might say. For all I’d be a poor second.’

“Hm, maybe we’ll talk to Alex about it. Nas is nice and
I don’t think she’d want to come between any of us. She just gets lonely
sometimes.” She seeks Adri’s hand again as they lean at the rail.

‘For all she tries to claim not to be.’ She sighs softly.
‘But you and Alex need to talk, anyway. I’m not sure if you’re likely to need
me for a mediator on some of it, or if I should leave you two to it….’

“There is nothing I will ever need to say to Alex that
you cannot also be there to hear, Adri,” Mirex asserts firmly. “We’re
adults and we can be civil. And we three are in this together, so I have no
secrets from either of you and there’s nothing I will ever say to either of you
the other is not allowed to know or be there to hear.”

‘Fair ‘nough. Some things can be easier … well. We’ll see.
Maybe you’ll both want me there for it, or maybe not. Allowed to be, I’m sure –
but that’s not always comfortable for some things.’ She shrugs, looking ahead
some as well as down, gauging their progress as best she can.

“If anyone has an issue saying things in front of you
it will be Alex, not me,” the redhead asserts, then turns her gaze outward
as well. Below were the tangles of Brisban, although it was showing signs of
rocky outcrops that heralded the sands of Dry top and the Silverwastes.

‘Sorry I brought it up, then.’ She sighs, but is still
tenderly holding her lover’s hand.

She gives Adri’s hand a squeeze. “Don’t be. It’s a good
thing to have known between us.” She smiles and brings her lover’s hand to
her lips in reassurance as the wilds race away into the dusty scrub of the
desert that separates everything from the jungle proper.

‘Mm. But I’m not looking to make more divisions. I’m looking
to try to get some healed.’ She sighs, shaking her head, even as she gives her
hand a squeeze. ‘We all three of us have tempers. Some day, it will be mine
that’s the issue – and you two will need to be able to weather that. And that’s
likely to need some mending of the hurts between you first.’

Mirex purses her lips thoughtfully. “I suppose. If Alex
wants to talk, I’ll listen. I always do. Always will. I do love her, very much.
I just can’t quite… forgive her yet, or trust her like I did before. She
makes promises and tries to change, but they don’t last. She’s always gotten
herself into trouble and been too rash. I admire that about her while hating it
as well.” Another kiss to Adri’s knuckles. “But we’ll see. Maybe this
time will be different.”

Adri nods with a slow sigh, and then gives Mirex a small
smile and another hand-squeeze. ‘I think… well. Doesn’t matter what I think
or have to say on that, really – that’s sort of my point.’

“Maybe, but I don’t mind hearing your thoughts all the
same. This affects you as well, beloved. You should be part of the
conversation.”

Below, the wastes whiz by, and the ship begins to make a
noticeable turn, veering north toward the deep canyons along that edge of the
jungle, where the Refuge is hidden.

‘Oh, aye, it certainly affects me. But there comes a point
where all I can really do is try to get the talking to happen. Even if I’m
completely right in what she thinks now, and has thought before – and there’s
no guarantee of that! – it still doesn’t mean enough coming from me. It can’t.’

“I suppose so….” she murmurs pensively.

There is a stir among the crew and more shouting as the ship
begins her descent lower, and to the magically sensitive they might perceive
the lowering of the glamour shield, even though nothing visibly changes from
their vantage.

“It seems we’ve arrived,” Mirex states as they
make out the buildings and gardens that have begun to bloom in the refuge, and
the movement of the slowly growing citizenry like so many ants.

‘Aye, pretty near.’ She watches the bustle and preparations
with a soft sigh escaping her.

There are echoes of cries from the dockhands below as the
ship returned, to settle lower until it comes in range for the Current’s crew
to throw down mooring lines for the dock hands to catch and help pull the ship
down. The engines get set to standby and gangplanks are run out to the ship.

Nastya comes out on the deck as her crew bustles with making
the ship fast, tying off the mooring lines and disembarking. “Well, here
we are. Thank you for flying Spectral Air!” She giggles. “Don’t be a
stranger, you hear? Either of you.” She winks at Adri and wiggles her
fingers at Mirex then moves to leave the ship and talk with the dock master.

‘Thank you, Nas.’ She squeezes Mirex’s hand
again and prepares to disembark. <Alex, love – we’re home!>

(( The story resumes during the evening in the Ascalon Settlement. ))

Adri smiles warmly and gives Mirex’s hand a gentle squeeze
as they walk back and out. ‘You know… as much as I’m not thrilled with him in
some ways… I might have to visit Sam and thank him.’

“I’m not so sure about Reg… but Sam seemed like a
decent enough sort. When this is closed and done with I was thinking of
suggesting him as a contracted asset for the Blade. I think he’d like a visit
from you.” She squeezes back as they leave the manor and started back
across the night dark town to the graveyard and their makeshift camp.

‘It’s funny to think… if they hadn’t shot at me in the
Arch when they did, so Cristian heard about it… we might not be together.’

Mirex giggles softly. “You might be right. Maybe I’ll
have to thank him as well. And then ask him not to shoot at you any more.”
She asserts, “We’re together now, and I’m in love with you. Don’t need any
more help from snipers.”

Adri nods, giggling herself. Before she can reply, however,
her ancestor turns out to have solidified a little on their walk, and she
speaks first. ‘I would greatly prefer not to have my line die out entirely, so
yes, please, let’s not have any more even partially successful snipers.’

Mirex blinks a moment then laughs a bit embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, Lady Adrielle. I won’t be so neglectful again in my duties.
If she’ll have me… keeping Adri safe will be my life’s work… and
privilege.” She blushes faintly and casts a shy glance at Adri.

‘Oh, psh, youngster. You’ll both have your duties, and they
won’t always be together. But I’m not trying to spoil anyone’s night. I just
agree that we don’t want more snipers.’

Adri giggles, shaking her head. ‘Aye. Especially not
accurate ones.’

“No indeed. No more snipers,” she agrees
fervently, and squeezes Adri’s hand again affectionately despite being rebuked
for her admittedly silly declaration. “Will you be coming with us, Lady
Adrielle? When we leave that is? If Adriwyn’s powers are in fact those of a
Revenant, it would be possible.”

‘I would like that… and I think hers might well be of that
sort. Certainly it’s more than just her being my heir that makes it so I can
move with her here. How is your… Alex, was it, you’ve been sharing with? How
will she react?’

Mirex blinks a moment then laughs. “We’ll have to
convince her not to turn Adri into a lab skritt, or to pester you with too many
questions, but I doubt it’ll be much of a problem.” She eyes Adri,
“That’s up to you though, my dearest. You’ve already got Alex and I in
your head. Maybe some of your others as well….”

‘I reckon Gran might keep some of the others out when I need
to sleep. I guess Alex didn’t tell you about my dreams. Though they have taught
me some things….’ She sighs. ‘But how to make a bit of the Jade Wind is only
sometimes useful.’ She shrugs. ‘Anyway! We should ask Alex, or at least warn
her… but I’m getting pretty used to having Gran in my head.’

Mirex blinks, “No… she hasn’t told me…” she
murmurs. “Well, I guess that’s that, then. It’ll be nice to have one of
your family around too.” She doesn’t ask about the dreams for now, but
brings Adri’s hand to her lips to kiss it tenderly as they arrive at the
graveyard again.

‘Well, they haven’t been too bad, so maybe she thought they
were over. That’s Jocasta’s grave, over there?’ She points, and has the right
one.

“Yes, that’s the one. Let’s see if she’s willing to
talk to us. There’s a fair bit of the night left.” She nods at where Adri
pointed, and they steer together toward the plot and the proper headstone.

Adrielle laughs, walking along with them, far more solid
now. ‘Oh, she’ll talk. Maybe I even have the energy to make it so I don’t have
to translate.’

Some leaves on Jocasta’s grave swirl about briefly, even
though the air is otherwise nearly still.

“That certainly would make it less roundabout,”
Mirex agrees. “I wouldn’t want to overly tax you, though, my Lady.”
She eyes the swirling leaves in the dead air and smiles slightly and she clasps
Adri’s hand in both of hers. “Good evening, Sister Jocasta.”

‘G’day, Sister Jocasta. Or should I talk like I used to, to
be sure you know who I am?’ She’s teasing, apparently pretty comfortable with
the notion of talking to ghosts by now.

Adrielle makes some sort of amused motion, thinning and
getting colourless again, but Jocasta’s ghost takes on enough form to be able
to respond directly.

‘I’m just as glad to have you speaking properly for once,
Adriwyn. It is so very good to see you again.’

Mirex dips a slight curtsy, then giggles a bit. “I like
the sound of Countess Adri over street Adri,” she confesses with an
apologetic smile.

‘It’s been a long while, Sister Jocasta. At least a long
time to me. I’m gathering, though, I should’ve dropped by for more visits.’

‘Is that your gentle way of saying I should have told you
who you are, child?’ Adri tries to demur, but is cut off. ‘Never mind – you’re
right to. I should have told you when you had to leave that last time. I’m
sorry. I was so used to trying to protect what little of your remaining
innocence I could… I forgot just how old you were getting, and what that
would mean.’

Mirex listens quietly for now. She’d promised Jocasta a
reunion with her former charge and liege lady. She would keep that promise.

‘Aye. Should have. Can also sort of understand why you
didn’t, though… and talking about then doesn’t really help now.’ She shrugs. ‘And you probably saw
Nicholi’s death. But… I can’t make sense enough of the message in your
brother’s death notice, besides knowing it has to be some sort of message. Do
you know where I should look for any proof of who I am? I mean, that I can
present in a court? Gran’s proof enough for me,
but likely not for a Krytan court that meets only in the day.’

‘There… are things you were supposed to know, but… I
didn’t see you soon enough… and then my mind started going. What papers
Pierre had, though, should be something you can get by dropping the false names
from his notice with the priests of Kormir. By now, you may need to find ones
who have been around a few years – I’m not sure.’

Adri nods slowly. ‘All right. That’s about what I’d planned
to do on my own before, anyway. Good to know I wasn’t too far off.’

<Alex, love? You awake?>

“So these names are the passwords the priests of Kormir
were told to listen for when Adri comes looking for who she is?” Mirex
asks in clarification.

‘Close enough. Passwords for part of the story, held by
various of them. Those we could trust not to compare notes and potentially
become part of the problem.’

“Impressive. And they’ll be able to for sure prove Adri
is who we know she is?”

‘I don’t know that for certain, but Pierre went to a lot of
trouble if they can’t. It may depend on who hears the case, though, as well.’

Adri sighs. ‘So you’re saying it’s going to be political, no
matter what the evidence.’

“It always is, my love. And right now I wouldn’t hold
my breath if we stood in front of one of the Ministry’s magistrates right now
to plead your case. In any case, Nobility is legitimized through the Crown, not
the courts. We’ll put something together.” She smiles reassuringly.

‘Aye. That’s likely the better route, considering. And for
the other side of it… Ebonhawke courts I think are where I’d apply for…
notice, I guess. Isn’t that the phrase? “The court takes notice”?
Just to be sure the House’s continuance is covered by Ascalonian law, too.’

Jocasta’s spirit looks back and forth between the two living
women. ‘Appealing to the Crown is easier? What is going on that I don’t know
about, Adriwyn? What trouble are you mixed up in now?’

“It’s not trouble she’s in, Sister. It’s the trouble
Kryta is in at the moment. The Ministry has grown very conservative under
former Legate Caudecus. And I don’t see it improving any time soon with him
being a traitor of the worst sort now, and casting suspicion over the entire Ministerial
body.”

‘Aye. And some of them being rather suspicious of some of my
friends. But my friends include enough nobles and Shining Blade that I think an
appeal to the Crown would make more sense anyway.’

“I’d agree with that. It’s not like the Ministry will
refute your claim to nobility anyway. They aren’t that fastidious.”

‘Aye. Just better not to go through them to start with. Not
now that I don’t have to.’

Jocasta shakes her head, then smiles. ‘Well, I suppose you
do have that worked out. Certainly the Blade can take your request to the
Crown. You have been coming up in the world, my dear.’

“I’d be happy to pass it on to the Master Exemplar
personally,” she replies as she squeezes Adri’s hand with hers.
“We’ve grown rather fond of Adri,” she assures Jocasta.

‘And to think I was so alarmed when that Kurzick woman took
you in for a while, knowing her to be displaced nobility back in Cantha. But
now, unlike then, you look and sound like a noble, my dear.’

Adri chuckles, grinning impishly. ‘Said Kurzick was almost
here on my behalf to talk to you, Sister, when you were still being a crazed
spirit. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay her for the things she’s done for me –
but she’s a very good friend.’

<Hello my angel, I’m awake yes.> Even Alex’s thoughts
sounded weary.

“I know my list of indebtedness to Lady Dore is growing
with how well she’s looked after you. You’re lucky to have a friend like her.
She was kind enough to even see Tori and Valeria safely to the Reach.”

<I expect we’ll be home soon, love. But… I hope you
don’t mind if we bring my…
great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother home to live
with us? Well, “live” might be an exaggeration, but….>

Jocasta looks surprised. ‘Well, she did that, too? I … I
do owe little Victoria an apology, I fear.’

<Your what? Mirex? Did something happen to Adriwyn, or
has she just not slept? Either way, I’m glad to hear you’ll be home soon, and
um… sure, the more the merrier?>

<The Mantle’s folly gave Gran too much energy for her to
be happy just haunting her grave site, love. But she’s been there too long to
wander on her own, and she can only wander with me.>

<She’s got the right of it, Alex. Lady Adrielle and the
other spirits of Adri’s ancestors have been a great help out here. We couldn’t
have succeeded without them. Adri seems to have a Revenant’s gifts. It explains
her dabbling abilities. Lady Adrielle has helped her realize it a bit more. And
since she’s helped so much, it might be nice to have one of Adri’s family with
us, in a way.>

<So we’re getting ghosts? Wait, wait. Revenant?> There
is a long pause before her thoughts come again. <That actually makes a lot
of sense. Huh, that could shed a lot of light on some things. Regardless, I’m
glad we know now… but I still can’t wait to see you both, I miss you so
much.>

<We miss you, too, love! We’ll have to stop by the Palace
first, before we can ship out to the Refuge, but we’ll be there as soon as we
can!>

‘From what I hear, Sister, I suspect you do – but I’m also
told that she’ll just be happy you’re being nice to her. She’s… a very
damaged lass.’

Mirex nods sadly. “She’s a sweet girl, though. I’ll do
what I can for her once I’m rested and we see her again.”

<We’ll be home soon, my Alex.>

‘I’m sure if you do it here, you’ll have a lot of help.’ She
ponders briefly. ‘I hope that’s more a good thing than not.’

“I think it’s a good thing, yes. In that case, I think I’d
like a bit of time with you and Alex before I come back to do that. Val will be
able to care for Tori until then, and I think Tori will be all right now that
she has her sister back.”

‘Aye. And from what Aly’s been telling me… I think having
to watch after Tori will help Val keep steady. She needs help, too, I gather.’
She sighs heavily. ‘I suppose I should see them before we get home, too, and
not just Sam.’

“Well, if we stop over in the palace, we can take care
of everything then. I’ll file a report to push through recognition of your
inheritance of the title of Countess in Kryta, on my recommendation while
pending formal evidence, and we can also release Sam and set him up as a
contractor. Tori and Val will have to remain there until a team has swept the
house for more traps and located all information of import to us, since I’m two
winks from burning myself out right now.”

‘Oh, aye, love. I reckon we found what matters most inside,
anyway – including his style for traps. Some team of fresh investigators is a
much better idea now! We… should just walk over to that waypoint and use it,
I think, very soon now.

‘Sister Jocasta, I’m sure we’ll be back for visits, though
maybe not often at the same time. But Val and Tori will need our support, I
think, besides just wanting to visit here – and catch you up on just what sorts
of trouble I did get into!’ She giggles.

“Hopefully not too much trouble,” Mirex teases affectionately,
leaning over to kiss Adri lovingly a moment, audience or not. “You’re
right though, we should be going. Sister Jocasta… thank you. And Lady Jaine
and Lady Claire as well. I couldn’t have done this without your help.”

‘Aye! Thank you, ladies. And I’m sure we’ll see you all
again soon! But duties at the Palace await, and then our sweetheart who can’t
sleep without us.’ She gives each of the ghosts a cheery wave. Maybe she can’t
hear them all, but she can sense them that much now.

“We’ll try to be back soon. And maybe even with Alex in
tow.” She smiles at the ghosts she can perceive, then looks to Adri and
brings her lover’s hand to her lips to kiss it tenderly. “Are you ready,
my Countess?”

Adri giggles at that, smiling warmly at her. ‘I am, love.
Shall we?’ She gives the ghosts another wave and turns toward the waypoint,
with whatever stop they need to talk to the Seraph on the way about the dangers
inside the compound.

Mirex tugs Adri along to the barracks, where she requests the
Lieutenant from earlier. She smiles warmly at Adri and her tiredness was
replaced by excitement at finally going home with her mission complete – and
then it occurs to her. “Damn it. Where are they keeping Reg?”

Reg’s keeping turns out to be in the officer’s portion of
the barracks, to keep anyone from summarily doing him in without due process.
The lieutenant was taking no chances.

Mirex gently lets Adri’s hand go as she approaches the
paraplegic while they waited for the Lieutenant to arrive. Lightly she touches
the man’s face, taking a sounding of his mind and maybe trying to wake him with
that touch if he was at all lucid still.

Reg was barely reachable. Between the mess the Baron had
made of his mind, and how much agony he was in, getting lucidity from him
wasn’t going to be easy. On the other hand, aside from the little obstacles
Nicholi would no doubt have left, he was completely open to Mirex’s efforts.

Mirex purses her lips a moment, seriously debating just
annihilating the man’s mind and being done with it. But he might have useful
information, if he survived her efforts to break through the Baron’s influence.

She sighs in vexation. “Someday I’d like to be able to
just kill someone and not have to feel bad about it…” she mutters aloud,
then places her hands on the man’s temples and closes her eyes, bringing her
domination magic to bear.

Adri fidgets a little at that, but she doesn’t comment – mostly
because she sees Mirex is already working on his mind. As tired as the mesmer
is, she has no wish to disturb or distract her.

Reg’s mind is a very tangled mess. Claire offers her support
in energy again, having been following the two out of curiosity.

Mirex gently pushes Claire’s help away this time <Thank
you, my Lady… but not this time.> She sends the thought toward the spirit.
Rather than trying to untangle things, she simply starts using blades of
dominating thought to try and straighten things out. If that didn’t work, she’d
just cut right through, digging for his consciousness buried under all those
bits of magic and memory. She was like a surgeon searching for a bullet.

There’s the faint sense of a nod from Claire as she
withdraws. Pushing through, even with the knowledge of the sorts of twists Valdis
was in the habit of leaving, does quite a bit of damage on the way, of course –
but the aim hadn’t been to try to rehabilitate this one. Mirex reaches his
consciousness, but holding onto it for any length of time may be another story.

Mirex slices away more of the Baron’s entrapments, then
latches on to Reg’s consciousness, and pushes him back into the depths of his
own mind, away from all the snares into that protected recess where everyone’s
true self lived. That fine line between the conscious and subconscious. Here,
she could establish a sort of encephalon where they might speak, and she
projected herself into his mind in her usual nude, slightly glowing form.

While her own personal mind palace was the world’s most
wonderful and elaborate walk in boudoir, she always had a fascination with
where other people’s selves lived. Her magic only created the ability for her
to exist in that space with them, but it was their mind that created the
perception of what that space looked like.

This home inside the mind turns out to be a workshop of
sorts, but not so straightforward as Sam’s had been. This… if he’d imagined
it with a higher level of sophistication, it could have been an Inquest lab. As
it is, it’s part engineering lab and part torture chamber, for all Mirex can
tell.

Reg’s inner self tries to sneer at her for … who knows
what. The nudity? Invading at all? Whatever his motivation, he’s too well aware
of his damage even here, and it comes out as a hiss of pain instead.

Mirex regards his consciousness calmly, unbothered by her
naked state as she took in her surroundings, “About what I
expected…” she murmurs a bit sadly before regarding the man himself.
“You know the baron has twisted your mind into this. Although, from what I
hear, he had something to work with already.”

Reg grunts, levering himself around with his arms. ‘The
Baron was at least a friend to me!’ He fights against the damage to draw
himself up. ‘Him and Sam. Nobody else ever was.’

“I’d hardly call a man that has done what he’s done to
your mind a friend,” she points out. “You are aware that your body is
badly broken. Even using advanced magitech that only a few in all of Tyria are
qualified to use, your body is likely beyond repair.”

‘And I have you to thank for that!’ He sneers, this time
managing it. ‘You and that Jardin bint.’

Mirex raises her hand and uses a little chaos lightning on
him, a mind wrack. “You’ll speak more respectfully of her, Reg. Yes, your
body is broken because I wasn’t going to let you put more holes in my Adri
again.”

He hisses and growls, holding himself up on the bench. ‘Not
sure she’s mortal, anyway.’

“All the better for me if she isn’t.” The redhead
giggles softly. “Now, what can you tell me about her heritage? Does the
Baron have any documentation that survived the internal war among the families
that confirms Adri’s lineage?”

He snorts. ‘If he did, he never showed me any. Don’t see how
it’d be to his benefit for there to be any, neither.’

“Hm, just so.” She nods once. “What about his
deals with the Mantle? Is there a shipping route for the slaves he sends
west?”

‘I don’t do shipping. There probably is such a route.
There’d have to be pickup scheduled of some sort. Not my line of work.’

“I thought since he was your ‘friend’ he might have
confided in you instead of treating you like a lap dog.” She shrugs.
“I was able to save Sam, you know. He’s in Divinity’s Reach in protective
custody. Now that the Baron is free, he’ll be free to go his way. I was thinking
of even offering him employ.”

‘Sam would work for the Blade.’ He spits. ‘He never had the
guts for the work. Not really.’

“Hm… no indeed. He has a conscience and remorse.
Which is why he’ll have the option to start his life over if he wishes, with a
little help. You, however… you’re different than he is. You sympathize more
with the Mantle. Maybe you are even one of them.”

‘Not like the Six have done us any favours since abandoning
us.’

“Perhaps so, but I’m not interested in theology. I’m interested
in treason,” Mirex explains evenly. “And I think that’s all I needed
to hear from you. Good bye, Reg.” She pulls her thoughts from his,
drifting back to just outside the area of his consciousness and its strange
workshop of torment. Melding chaos into her domination spells that let her
explore his mind, she directs a massive spatial surge inside his head at his
consciousness to annihilate it, withdrawing the rest of the way as she burns
his mind to nothing.

Adri watches from outside, and sighs, shaking her head, as
the man convulses briefly – not that most would be able to tell, given his
level of paralysis, but she knows – and then expires.

By the time Mirex is back in her own mind, he is dead. She
takes a deep breath, but as she opens her blue green eyes, the tears already
stand in them to roll down her cheeks as she takes her hands from Reg’s face.

Adri wraps her arms around Mirex. She’s a little surprised
by the tears – she’d expected to have to hold her up after the additional
energy expended. ‘I would have done it, love. I’m sorry you felt you had to.’

“It’s… it’s my job…” she murmurs. With the
tears came a wave of weariness, now that she’s let her magic go again, and she
slumps into Adri’s supporting arms. “It’s… what I do….” Her voice
catches though, and a small whimper escapes her as she buries her face in
Adri’s shoulder while trying not to knock her over, shoulders shaking with
quiet sobs.

‘Seems to me like it’s breaking you, love. Maybe you need me
along to finish them off for you.’ She looks around. ‘Lieutenant Chalmers – do
any of the trebuchet crew know Reg?’

The Seraph, quite nonplussed already, thinks that over and
nods slowly. ‘Yeeees….’

‘Think they’d get a kick out of making him more useful in
death than he ever was in life? I’d hate to put anyone to the work of digging
him a grave, but maybe launching him at centaur would do.’

Chalmers herself doesn’t quite seem to approve, but there
are some definite approving noises from troops behind her.

Mirex sniffles a bit, then lifts her face and masters her
composure, pushing Adri away so she could be taken seriously. “Lieutenant.
Reg here was an accomplice to the Baron Valdis, and also a Mantle sympathizer.
I’ve ended his pain as punishment for his crimes against the Crown and Kryta.
Do with his remains as you wish. Also, set a perimeter around the Valdis
compound. No one goes in or out. There are a number of dangerous mesmeric traps
scattered through the house. Please keep it secure until a clean-up team
arrives from the capitol to sweep through and dispel them.”

Chalmers salutes. ‘Yes, Exemplar. Thank you for the warning.
Any idea how long before that team will arrive?’

“We’re returning to the palace now, so they should be
on their way by tomorrow. A couple days at most for the area to be totally
cleared.” She salutes the Seraph. “You’ve been most helpful,
Lieutenant. I’ll be putting in a notable mention for above and beyond services
to the Crown in my report. Six bless and keep you and your men.”

Chalmers salutes again. ‘Thank you, Exemplar. And may they
keep and bless you as well.’ She steps aside to clear the doorway for them.

Mirex inclines her head, and seeks Adri’s hand again as they
leave, gripping it tightly as she fights a wave of dizziness while they leave
the barracks and the corpse.

<Lean on me when you need to, love. Just warn me a little
first. I’m strong enough. It’s only the height difference that makes any issue.>
She keeps her offer of support silent, just holding her hand and smiling as
they walk, helping Mirex keep up the appearance she seemed to want to maintain.

<I’m all right.> she assures her lover, although in
reality she wasn’t. But she had to play the part in front of the soldiers as
they approached the waypoint. Once there, she set the destination for the
palace waypoint in the heart of Divinity’s Reach.

<Just remember that falling over is worse for your image
than leaning on me.> She had expected that destination, and transits with
her.