Duty and Destiny - Part 7

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Ace_of_wands.jpg
duty and destiny
part 7
 
by armond

 

War between the Three Kingdoms is inevitable now, and events move to the invisible hand of the King of Arcum.
In Parasia the image of Princess Caden burns the mind of the slave-mage Faolá¡n, while in Glamorgan, the newly made woman reaches out to her sisters for support; her first steps toward new life.

 


 
 

Part 7

 

~o~O~o~

 
The Ace of Wands signifies new beginnings, and new ways of looking at things. A new way of life is at hand.
 
 
23.

“I'm scared.”

“Caden, they're your sisters, not tripled headed hydras,” Rose said, as she, Cunedda and Caden walked the Celyn Castle halls.

“I'd rather face the hydras,” Caden said, as they arrived at the entrance to the small dining room. “What will I say? What if they don't like what I've been changed into? What if-”

“-It's just breakfast, sweetie,” Rose said. “If you're stumped for conversation, eat a pancake; I know you are hungry. I heard your stomach growling when I bathed you.”

But what if-”

Cunedda put a finger to Caden's mouth, opened the door and said, “Go, child!”

Caden nodded, and took two tiny steps in and stopped. She felt eight eyes scanning her, and looked downward. She wasn't wearing a dress, but the over-sized page shirt and legging seemed almost as bad. She shuffled to the vacant seat between Rhonwen and Carme and sat.

Caden hadn't the slightest idea what she should say, or where to start. Should she laugh? Cry? Introduce herself?

Instead, she turned and thwacked Rhonwen on the arm.

“Hey! What was that for?” Rhonwen said.

“All those years I've been smacked on the arm, I thought, since I'm a girl now too, a little payback was needed.”

“But why did you hit me?” Rhonwen said.

“Because you hit the hardest.”

“I still do,” Rhonwen said, and punched Caden's arm. “What are you going to do about that?”

“Oh, I don't know,” Caden said, with a sly grin.

She took her spoon, scooped a little oat porridge, and launched it at Rhonwen. Who ducked, causing the oat goo to splatter Gwyneth's face.

“You are so going to pay for that,” Gwyneth said, and launched an egg in Caden's direction. Soon food was flinging back and forth between the princesses, followed by laughter. At some point, Caden's laughter turned to tears.

“Caden, are you okay?” Laelia said.

Ignoring the obvious, 'no I'm not, just look at me,' Caden instead scanned her sisters' eyes.

“I was scared about what you'd think about me… I know I've always been Dad's favorite and now I'm…” Caden sighed. “I don't know what I'm trying to say.”

“You thought we would extract our own payback now that you are one of us,” Gwyneth said, her eyebrows raised. “We knew that was Dad's problem, not yours. The thing we are jealous of is …how, erm, stacked you are.”

It took Caden a moment to figure out what Gwyneth meant. When she did, her face reddened.

“I hoped these…” She motioned to her chest.

“Breasts,” Rhownen said, “They're called breasts, among other things.”

Caden reddened further. “I'd hoped they only seemed big.”

“Oh, no, the Goddess was extra generous with you,” Carme said.

Caden's eyes looked down. “I need your help. I feel so lost and-”

They were on her in a second hugging and kissing her.

“These are dark times, sister,” Gwyneth said, “and we Glamorgan princesses, all five of us, must stand to fight the storm. But today, just today …we will have a 'Princess Club Meeting' in my room.”

Caden knew their code words; a 'Princess Club meeting' meant slumber party, to which, as a young boy, she was barred. But now…

Caden blanched. “What will we do?”

“Oh, sweetie, you ought to be scared!” Rhonwen said. “You are getting the crash course!”

At some point, Rose and Cunedda slipped from the room. They gathered their traveling bags and headed to the Castle stables for their mounts.

Rose looked back down the hallway to the dining room. Cunedda saw her expression.

“What's wrong, dear?”

“She is opening herself, and they are there for her, but…” Rose bit her lower lip. “Did I do enough for her? Was there something else I could have said, some other bit of advice that would have helped her more?”

When she saw Cunedda's face, Rose scowled.

“Don't you dare give me the 'all-knowing High Priestess' look; I'm so worried for her!”

“And that's why I'm giving you 'the look'. Don't you think I have the same worries? About when I changed you, or any thousand other times, when our sisters ask gut-wrenching no win questions and expect me to have the answers. How do you think they would take my advice if I wore my 'I'm clueless too' expression?”

“Oh, great …so it's a practiced look? And -now I'm really confused- …why are you telling me this?”

Cunedda took Rose's face and turned it to hers.

“Lilly is such a wondrous and loving daughter; between the two of you, I am the most blessed woman in Argentia. But one thing she is not is a leader. And you are, love.”

Rose scanned her mother's eyes and stammered, “I'm not sure I understand.”

“I'll spell it out. One day, you will be the High Priestess, Rose, and you will need to have 'the look' too. I'd start practicing it now.”

Rose's mouth gaped, but no words came out.

“I've actually left you speechless!” Cunedda spread her arms wide and looked up. “Eternal praise to you Selene! Of all your miracles, this must be the most amazing!”
 

~o~O~o~

 
24.

A spark flashed, and ozone wafted into the air, but the collar remained firmly in place. Faolá¡n slammed his fist on the table.

“No, no, no!”

“Me-oooow”

“It's no use, Zoe, I will remain a slave forever, and …I deserve it.”

He could fool himself no longer; since he transformed Caden, his power was diminished. A karmic reaction, he thought, since he had rammed the changes on an innocent man. One who, in the end sacrificed his life so Faolá¡n could live.

“The one noble who turns out to be decent and I destroy him.” Faolá¡n shook his head for the ten thousandth time since that moment.

Or …maybe it was a case of his concentration being shot, for he could not, could not, could not get her image from his mind, that perfect peaceful face, framed in blue.

He sighed, rose, and walked to his window.

Below, all was noise and bustle, for the king had called the Muster, and the reserves flowed in from all of Parasia, wide-eyed farmers mainly. King Coel had ordered the army to march southward as soon as it reached strength, for Arcum forces were rumored to be marching north.

Faolá¡n saw none of this; his eyes were fixed to the west. The distance was too far, but still Faolá¡n imagined the pine-forested Glamorgan Highlands, green and shimmering. And he wondered, did she suffer? Did she curse his name? How could she not?

His head pulsed and pounded, but after a moment, he realized, it was someone knocking at his door.

When he opened it, a woman greeted him, wearing a forest green dress with gold trim. Greeted him, with batting eyelashes.

“Princess Avila …is there something you need?”

“I've never been inside your inner sanctum,” Avila said, pushing past him into his chamber. “Is this where you turn people into frogs?”

If Faolá¡n was worried Zoe would hiss at Avila, he shouldn't have been; the feline didn't acknowledge the princess existed, choosing instead, to lick her paws.

“I don't turn people into frogs!”

“But Caden-”

“-was a mistake forced on me by your father. Still I should have refused. If I had been stronger…” Faolá¡n's hand went to his metal collar. Then he sighed. “Why are you here?”

Avila walked to Faolá¡n's window and peered out, first at the steady stream of men come to fight, then the cold afternoon sun.

“Everything has changed and is so dreadfully serious,” Avila said. “No one has time for me.”

Zoe mewed, and Faolá¡n struggled not to laugh, but his familiar was right; how could he have been smitten with someone so vapid?

“I'm young, okay? Give me a break!”

“Excuse me?”

“Um, sorry, I was speaking to …never mind.” Faolá¡n shot Zoe a dirty look, who, of course, ignored it. “We ready for war, Princess, people are going to die!”

“Can't you stop it? Cast a spell or something? Like you did with Caden?”

Faolá¡n blinked. “Are you serious? Is it your belief I have godlike powers? Why would I be enslaved if-”

“-And speaking of Caden, can you change him back? He's going to be so mad at what we did to him; he won't forgive me for the longest time, I bet.”

“Mad at …change him…” Faolá¡n was spluttering. “The transformation spell escalated far beyond anything I could control. I felt the Goddess' hand at work and-”

“-Change him back for me.” Avila took his hand in hers. “Please?”

“I can't change her back! My magics haven't worked right since I cast the spell!”

“You don't want to.” Avila yanked her hand back. “You're jealous of him.”

How would he answer that? In truth, he never thought of Avila at all now. He was riddled with guilt, and filled with new-found admiration for the former prince. And whenever he closed, her face waited for him.

“What don't you understand? I cannot. I'd be lucky to pull a rabbit out of a hat.”

“Then what good are you?”

He stood looking at his door long after Avila had gone. Finally he trudged back to his table to sit again.

“She's right, you know; I'm too stupid a mage to free myself, and now I've destroyed the life of an innocent. I'm worthless.”

He lowered his face into his hands, and cried, until he felt a soft scratchy wetness on his hand.

“Meeeew.”

“Thanks, Zoe; s'kind of you to say. But you're hardly unbiased.”

Faolá¡n stood and walked to the window, to see the sun was not long from setting. The frenetic activity continued below, the steady stream of men and barking of orders. Above that din, the clanging of the blacksmiths' shops, as weapons were repaired and sharpened.

Faolá¡n heard and saw none of it, his gaze again captured by the Glamorgan horizon. On a whim, he took up his wizard's staff from the corner of his room, and pointed it toward the western kingdom.

“Forgive me Caden; may the Goddess guide you to find your way from the pit I've cast you in.” He closed his eyes and chanted:

good_wishes_chant.jpg

He had thought his energy was gone, but the surge he felt was the strongest since he cast Caden's transformation spell. His staff glowed bright blue, and a dove, made of light, formed and flew off to the setting sun, and Glamorgan.

“Now that was interesting.”
 

dove2.jpg

 

~o~O~o~

 
25.

“The Ibion district reports 20 men, Actis 12, Egur 22, Seganul 31-”

“-Wait, did you say 12 for Actis?” General Gares said. He shook his head when the lieutenant confirmed the figure with a 'yes sir'.

“Damn, we are a quarter down in our numbers!”

Yet a little voice in the General's head wasn't upset at all; it said fewer to die.

The Muster Call continued with the same depressing trend, until the king and his retinue approached.

“Well, General? Are we at full strength?”

“No, sire, not nearly so. It will be another day at least before we-”

“-No, General, we will not wait another day; we move tomorrow,” Coel said. “Fortune favors the bold but-”

“-all good things come to those who wait, sire,” Gares said. “The extra men could make the difference, especially since we can count no help from Glamorgan.”

“I was going to say fortune favors the bold but abandons the timid,” Coel said, as he drew his cloak tightly about his body. The temperature had plunged with the setting sun.

“Our agents report the Arcum army has cleared Belldell Forest,” Coel continued, “and has entered Drachill Basin, which-”

“-Is well within Arcum's borders,” Gares said. “Though their likely destination is Westfalon, at present they can still claim to be 'on maneuvers'. If we cross the border to meet them, they will say we started this war.”

“Perhaps you have grown complacent since your retirement, my general? We know well Arcum's hand was behind the unfortunate incident with Caden; Gritha's intent is clear. He who hesitates is lost; and-”

“-you should look before you leap, Sire. This morning, all the carrier pigeons of one of our deep cover spies returned with no messages. That means he was discovered, perhaps in the process of trying to relay some key piece of information-”

“-I have spoken! Time and tide wait for no man, not even the extra cautious General Gares. We march at dawn.”

With that, the king strode to the palace, followed by his flock of courtiers. Gares shook his head as he watched them scurry back to their comfy palace hearths.

“Yet, sire, if we are to trade clichés that will place our men in harm's way, I would add one more; fools rush in where gods fear to tread.”
 

~o~O~o~

 
“General Baurdu reports the main body of our infantry is in position sire.”

“Very well, Captain Faro,” Gritha said, scratching his chin. “Any word on whether King Coel is taking the bait?”

“We think so; the Parasian Muster is underway, and-”

“-Think so? Captain, I will not operate on supposition, I need facts! Has the Glamorgan army crossed our borders?”

“No sire, but-”

Gritha slammed his hand down on the arm of his throne chair.

“No buts. I want you to ride to Baurdu and tell him to double his pace. That will draw old Coel down for sure.”

“Yet if he does, he will overshoot the location we have chosen to engage Parasia's troops,” Faro said.

“Exactly,” Gritha said, once again stroking his chin. “Tell Baurdu to first engage Gares to the north of where we planned. In that encounter, have our troops give way, and then retreat …to the original location.”

“Yes …yes!” Faro grinned. “We will suck King Coel's army down like a fly to honey. They will be chasing our troops …disorganized …and then we spring the Black Brigade on their rear guard for maximum destruction. Brilliant, sire.”

“I'm so glad you approve. Now go!” Gritha barked. “Tell Baurdu I will join our troops when I receive word Parasia has crossed our border.”

Captain Faro's exit was followed by Colonel Shalean entrance. Several cloaked figures accompanied Shalean, with Agent Vaego sandwiched between. Though he knelt before Gritha, Shalean's deep set eyes flicked back and forth around the throne room.

“Yes, Colonel?”

“Sire, I wish to report Agent Vaego discovered a spy on General Baurdu's staff.”

Gritha's eyes widened and his back straightened. “Blast! Are we compromised? Is all for naught?”

“No sire,” Vaego said, “I stopped the traitor before he could warn Parasia.”

Gritha regarded the speaker, and noted the man was so squatty, he couldn't tell whether he knelt or stood.

“Excellent! You are a true hero to Arcum. And what further information has the spy revealed under questioning?”

“Alas, nothing, sire, for Agent Vaego terminated the spy,” Shalean said.

“I killed the man, and released his pigeons,” the grinning Vaego nodded. “Let the Parasian pigs wonder at that!”

“Did you now?” Gritha sat back in his chair; his eyes darkened. “Do you realize, had you stayed your hand, we could have sent Parasia a false message, Agent Vaego?”

“Er, no, sire I-”

“-Or that the return of all the pigeons at once is a message of itself? A warning?”

“Um …no, sire …I didn't think …you see-”

“-Colonel Shalean, I'm searching for a word. What do we call someone who warns our enemies of our plans?”

Colonel Shalean grinned. “The word you are searching for is 'traitor', sire.”

“Yes!” Gritha clapped his hands together. “That's it.”

“No, sire!” Vaego started rise, but felt the strong hands of the cloaked men clamp his shoulders. “I wasn't trying to betray you! I acted in the heat of the moment; I took initiative, I-”

“Silence!” Gritha shouted, and stood. “Colonel Shalean, take our hero to the processing room in the dungeon, and show him the reward for exercising such …initiative.”

As Gritha exited the throne room, he heard Vaego's plaintive 'noooo' and smiled.

“Initiative indeed.”

janus3.jpg

 

~o~O~o~

 
26.

"Fold the left strand over into the center, catching the center strand underneath."

"Like this?"

"Perfect. Now, fold the right strand over into the center, and...

"...catch the center strand underneath. Got it."

After several minutes ticked by, Caden held up the end of her long black braid.

“What do I do with-”

Before she finished the sentence, Carme tied the end with a blue silk ribbon. Then she let the braid fall behind Caden's back.

“What do you think?” Laelia said.

Caden shook her head several times and sighed. “Goddess, this feels so much better. It was driving me crazy the way it laid on my neck.”

“No, silly, how do you think you look?”

Caden blinked at her reflection in Gwyneth's dressing table mirror, her four sisters smiling faces crowding her shoulders.

“Um …good?”

“Good?” Carme snickered. “Caden, you're gorgeous. This accentuates your cheekbones.”

“Gorgeous? I…” Caden sighed again, and not a happy one this time. “Assuming you are right, this is a lot of trouble to look 'gorgeous.' Why not cut it off and be done with it?”

After their shrieks died down, she held up her hands in defeat. “Alright, fine, I won't do it but …so far, everything about being a woman seems to involve tons of extra preparation.”

“You'll get used to it,” Gwyneth said, giving Caden a gentle swat to her head. “Welcome to our world. Now, I hate to interrupt your 'lessons', but it's time for a much needed 'planning session', so; everyone over to my sitting room.

Caden hopped up from the dressing table stool and followed her sisters out of Gwyneth's bedroom and to a chamber room filled with sofas and chairs.

“When will our guest arrive?” Gwyneth said, looking at Rhonwen.

Rhonwen turned to a window and squinted. “At dusk, so he should arrive soon.”

“Guest? He?” Caden gulped.

“Don't fret, Cadie, it's no one that hasn't already seen you,” Rhonwen said. “It's Jaussen. He's going to give us a briefing on …the state of things.”

“Cadie!” Laelia squealed. “I love it. That's so much better than calling you Caden.”

“Laelia! Focus!” Gwyneth growled. “And Cadie, just so you know, Rhonwen has her eye on Jaussen, so he is off limits.”

“Sorry?” Caden said.

“She means, Jaussen is spoken for,” Carme said.

“I'm …still not following what you mean.”

“We mean, hands off, no touchie, Jaussen is Rhonwen's,” Laelia said.

Caden's forehead scrunched as she tried to figure out what they were telling her. Her eyes widened when she did.

“Are you saying I'd …that he and I would…” Her mouth flopped open. “If you think that I could ever, be interested in a man romantically, you are sadly mistaken. Need I remind you I was one just days ago?”

“Not good enough, sweetie,” Rhonwen said. “The 'sister pact' is what keeps peace and unity among the Glamorgan princesses. You feel this way today, but tomorrow? We need to know you are with us.”

Caden rolled her eyes. “Fine whatever. I swear, by Selene and all that is holy, that I will never …um …poach …a man any sister has claimed. Good enough?”

“A bit more formal than needed, Cadie, but yeah, that works,” Rhonwen said. “And we swear the same to you.”

When her other sisters voiced their agreement, Caden shook her head. “That will be a promise easily kept, because I will never be interested in a man that way.”

Before any sister could provide a crushing reply, they heard a knock at Gwyneth's door.

“Ah, the man himself; his ears must be stinging,” Gwyneth said. “Jaussen? Come in; it's unlocked.”
 

~o~O~o~

 
“…as yet unconfirmed. But my gut instinct tells me Arcum's invasion army is marching to engage King Coel's forces on the flats of the Drachill Basin.”

“Does that make sense, Jaussen?” Rhonwen said. “Arcum's strength is not in its infantry.”

Caden saw the flicker of attraction in the young spy's eyes when he glanced at Rhonwen. Yet she saw nothing but indifference from her auburn haired sister. She leaned to Gwyneth and whispered,

“Are you sure Rhonwen likes him?”

“Oh Cadie, you have so much to learn; now, pay attention.” Gwyneth whispered back.

“To which? Jaussen's briefing or the little dance between the two?”

“As your head is no longer ruled by your missing 'little head,' you should be able to pay attention to both. Now, sshhhh.”

“I agree, Princess,” Jaussen said to Rhonwen. “It is odd for Arcum to play to Parasia's strength.”

“We need better information,” Rhonwen said. “And so I will ride south within the hour to learn what I may.”

“What?! Are you insane? I forbid it!”

“Oh?” Rhonwen stood and moved close to the broad shouldered man. “Have you recently been promoted to king?”

“Er, no, princess, but it is unthinkable to consider allowing you to go.”

“I rather think you have no say in whether I come or go, good sir,” Rhonwen said, flashing a wicked grin.

“Then, if you insist on following this mad course, I will accompany you,” Jaussen said.

“Be careful sister. We know how dearly Arcum would love to get its hands on a Glamorgan princess.”

“But I won't be a princess. Merely a peasant girl and her husband traveling south for work. Come Jaussen, we've preparations to make before we leave.”

Caden watched open-mouthed as the couple left. “Are all men maneuvered so easily?”

“No, but a man in love is,” Gwyneth said, staring after the couple as well.

“This is insane, Gwyneth! How can you let her go? She's-”

“-A helpless female? Is that what you were going to say, sister?” Gwyneth put a hand on her hip. “Perhaps later we shall play that role. For now, the High Priestess has charged us with different roles, and by Selene we will do them!”

She turned to Carme and Laelia.

“Come! We have work to do. There are several ancient pacts I need to consult, for tomorrow I confront the council. We must order the Muster, and if they will not or cannot make the decision, then I will!

You two have chores as well, for when the Muster is called, we will need food and shelter for our troops. An encampment must be set up for them; start with the quartermaster.”

“And what of me?” Caden said softly.

“Cunedda said you have a part to play, too, though I don't know what,” Gwyneth said. “You've been through so much already. Why don't you rest for a while; take some time, and try to get used to your new self.”

Caden shook her head. “All my life, it's been my duty to serve Glamorgan, training to lead her one day. Since before I could walk I knew this was my task; I never once considered doing anything else. Now that is gone, and I feel so …weak and useless.”

Her sigh was heavy as she walked to Gwyneth's window to gaze on the evening star.

“In my dream, the Goddess asked me to show her my nature, and I couldn't. I don't know what it is!” Caden looked at her trembling hands, and then grasped the stone window sill to cry into the dusk,

“Please Selene, at least show me the first step I must take!”

A bright bird of purest white flew in the window and sat on Caden's shoulders. She sang a sorrowful song, that brought tears to Caden's eyes. When the dove finished, she flew up into the night. Caden watched the bird join the stars as one of their lights.

When she turned back to her sisters, her face was pale. “Well, that answers that.”

“Holy Selene, what message did she give you?” Carme managed to whisper.

“There is a man who dies from the loss of a beloved son. I am to go to him and mend his broken heart.”

“What man?” Laelia said.

“Father.”
 

dove2.jpg

end part 7.
 
Author's note: This story is set in the same world as two earlier stories I have written called The Necessity of Winter, and After Winter (a pdf of After Winter can be found here.) duty and destiny follows After Winter by three years. A map of the Argentian Western Reaches (where this story takes place) can be seen by clicking here. A cast of characters (evolving) can be seen by clicking here.

Author's note 2: Since reader interest has been a bit tepid, I'm not sure if I'll post the final chapters here. I'm posting an 'in progress' version of Duty and Destiny 8 here, if you are interested.

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Comments

Nice chapter Armond

I especially liked the last para, a daughter looking after Father!

LoL
Rita

Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!
(Mark Twain)

LoL
Rita

Daddy time for Caden

Thanks, Rita,

Yup, there is definetely daddy time coming next chapter for the former prince.

So Frustrating!

"All my life, it's been my duty" and it still is! Changing genders does not make him stupid! I know, I know, it's a part of the story but...ooooh! I get so angry!
You are still grabbing my emotions, Armond, and I wish I could do it as well. It's something I have so much trouble capturing in my stories. I look orward to the next chapter!

Wren

Self discovery, then self confidence

Thanks, Wren,

You are right, none of Caden's options are really gone, but she needs time to figure that out.

I think you capture emotions every bit as well as me in your writing, Wren, or better. I can't wait for the next installllment of Unexpected.

Well...

It might be a while, unfortunately. Angela, my editor, wants me to wait until I've finished the storyt before I post it. I messed up and posted chaptere 1 before she told me that. She's really helping me to do a better job, and I respect here, so until it's done...
I am working on it, though, and as soon as I can, I'll post it! Thanks for the interest though. And I still think you do a better job.

Wren

Broken heart, Father

those last three words filled my eyes with tears. Oh my, do you know how to touch the heartstrings Armond! This is such a wonderful fantasy tale and I'm enjoying it immensely!

Hugs!

Grover

Called by the Goddess

Thanks, Grover,

Yes, the Glamorgan king is in dire need of healing, and Cadie is tasked by the Goddess to do it. But in the end, a person must want to be healed,and Caden will fight this battle ...next chapter.

Duty and Destiny - Part 7

With war looming, what will be the outcome? has the Goddess lost to the darker gods?

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

So Cadie, um won't she object to THAT name? Caden/Cadie will ...

start to find her new role her new place in the scheme of things. IMHO from the hints at the end here, her almost unearthly beauty yet her retaining all she learned of command her task is to be the central unifying source. Her father in his grief is leaving his nation leaderless, he needs healing so he can rule again but now with or eventually resigning in favor of his FIVE daughters. IE if they can ALL work together that example of *family* would inspire the kingdom and others allied to it.

She also has magical talent, from before her transformation and likely far more powerful now with Celine's intervention. That may be a key to defeating the enemy and rooting out the last infestations of the dead god kings sickly powers.

She also seems linked to the mage slave and he to her. the intro to the story suggests in future they are co rulers of some kingdom, a mage king and a sorceress queen, the founders of some great benevolent dynasty.

The former ally king is stupider than he first appeared. He is falling into Arcum's trap and his daughter is not only a petty, cruel, class conscious , slave owning bitch but an airhead, immature vain bimbo!

Caden is SOOOOOOOOO lucky to now be a woman. Marriage to her would be a torture.

Would have posted earlier but had problems.

Another fine chapter, Still waiting for King Idiot and Princess Barbie Doll to get their comeuppance. the kings will be if the old general can't keep them out of the military trap being set for them. Hers?

Stan may have something. With the God King of corruption finally , gone, he IS finally gone?, there may be a power vacuum that Selene can't fill. There may be lesser corrupt or dark gods/godlings eager to gain territory .

John in Wauwatosa

John in Wauwatosa

It didn't start out that way, but...

When I first thought of the characters of Gritha and Coel, I had something pretty stereotypical in mind, John; Gritha standard antagonist, and Coel was a ruler who was basically good, but in his rage makes a terrible mistake. As the writing continued, the characters sort of took over on their own, and Coel became far less good, turning vain and incompetent. And Gritha, while he is not a 'good' man, is actually a smart and competent ruler.

I intended to try to redeem Avila as well, but so far, her character hasn't wanted redemption. Maybe in the end, justice is all we can hope for with Avila and Coel (and a good Old King Coel pun).

You're right, John, Caden and Faolán are linked, and even their familiars will like one another. Faolán is figuring it out now. Did I say familiars? We get to meet Caden's in the next chapter.

If reader interest is tepid...

Then they be but fools, and should be ignored. This story has it all, adventure, tragedy, romance, wisdom, foolishness and love! What a wonderful story! I am reading it again for the third time at least, and I love it all the more every time I read it! Please! More!

Wren

Hm... this is an ultra

Hm... this is an ultra captivating story... Once one survives the first two chapters. You might consider revising them, because they were a really hard read.

So she'll have to kick daddy in his ass so he'll get over the fact his child is now a daughter and not a son.

Thank you for writing this awesome story,

Beyogi