Lora had come with me and though that was going to probably be most unfortunate later, right now it proved useful as I practiced the things I would need for my Ireneon Plan. My hands were going numb from the ice casting when Lora decided that she was tired of watching and scolding me for not doing it the way that she would -- well, okay... for not doing it the right way. I now had no worries of numb hands because the lightning I was playing with now was burning them. These things always look so easy when someone else is doing them.
I was able to rest a short while before the Tir appeared getting larger and larger in front of us. We were rushed off to Theseus’s castle, and I noticed the Tir was a castle short -- Osrics, in fact: maybe it was off being redecorated, he's just showy like that. We were strolling through the castle and into the sitting room where my jaw dropped and... my whole world spun around me and... everything was just so not right. Osric sitting comfortably in a chair just relaxing, in less then a second my mind then went "CRAP!" I jumped just in time to keep Kethos from attacking Osric. Theseus had better have a damn good reason for having the man who would kill our family for fun here, and... why was I holding Kethos back anyway? Listen to the story and then decide.
It was a tale of mystery, intrigue and something like what a family (well ours anyway), does to each other. I really didn’t want to be here, I was thinking even Amber looked good right about now, and wondering both what I had gotten Lora into and more importantly how the hell was I going to get her back before this all became my fault. More story and more enemies… Osric was on our side until it was over, then he would be back to the man we love to hate. I can deal with that, I guess, although I still wonder what he is really after. I convinced Kethos that after it was over he was free to pursue his interest in parting Osric’s head from his neck.
I went to the room that by design had become mine. I had tastes for decorating which I am sure kept Theseus tossing and turning at night just knowing it existed in his home. This had been a long day and I was more then happy to see it come to an end. I was dreaming, but it seemed very real. I am not sure now that it was a dream. I am so very reminded that I am an outsider in this realm.
I was walking with Vaughn and we were walking in circles, but neither of us seemed to mind. The scenery was quite breath taking. He told me he had to leave soon, and I was going to be sad to see him leave. He told me Kethos would be going soon to but Lora would be staying on a bit. Great, the one person I want to send back as soon as possible is the one who will be hanging around the longest. I know I am not to blame that she is hear, but my family has a rationality that doesn’t.
Vaughn and I were soon with Kethos and Lora. Vaughn gave Lora a hug, and asked if he was going to get one from me and as I reached to give him one the collar he was wearing pulled him away from me. Vaughn was going back to Amber, and Kethos was going back to the Forge. I would miss those two. When everything else is crazy they can make it fun. Lora was staying with me for a bit longer and we both agreed to wake up and go to breakfast and then after breakfast more training.
At breakfast we ran into Quinn who was being so not Quinn. He had a suicide mission that he himself had planned. I was even more amazed that the plan including him doing the dirty hands-on work that he so tried to avoid at every twist and turn. He must not be feeling himself, perhaps it's the lighter air up here. Either way I agreed to help him. Lora and I made our way outside and the practicing began.
Lora and I practiced for hours and she taught me to hang my spells in the dagger Artanis gave me. I felt really prepared for Operation Ireneon Extermination. I went back to my room for a nap: this spell-slinging stuff takes a lot out of me. I am still reminded almost hourly by Lora (and daily by Quinn) that I very much need to learn the theory behind the practice. As if theory had a place in what I needed sorcery to do for me -- I needed application.
I was asleep and had been for awhile when Artanis woke me and said there was a skirmish in the city. I hurried to get dressed and bolted out the door.
I whistled and my trusty steed pranced to me. I think he missed me. Well, okay; he missed battles -- which he needs me to find -- I'm good at that, and I need a horse almost as psycho as I am; most would have turned their tails up and run the other way at the sound of me whistling, but not Cuculin. He was my friend and never abandoned me in my time of need.
Magistrates: how do I hate you, let me count the ways, better yet: let me count the bodies.
Four Mori bolted over the barricade. I shot one, but I saw a magistrate and decided he was the first thing that had to go, then hopped the barrier and shot him again. He looked stunned as I am sure I did too -- because he didn’t die. I was going to capture him for torture and information and was well on my way to doing so when I heard clapping. Ok that is so not good so I put my sword behind me and just leaned onto the magistrate and ruined my plans.
Suddenly, there was Ireneon and I wasn't sure how to react. I bet he didn’t even know that this was it for one of us. I cleared my mind and ran through things very quickly and calmly and then acted.
I teleported him and then myself. He was so cocky he had no idea what I was doing. He found himself in the fountain outside of the Palace, which hardly gave him a moment's pause. I activated Lora’s illumination spell and now he was trapped here. No turning back now. He mocked me by giving me a free shot which I used to freeze the water. He looked shocked and while he did I put the lightning bolt between his feet in the ice. He was very fast -- he reacted, but I was already unloading my gun into him. Okay, maybe I unloaded at him, but for historical sake...
The fight was not going well even after I got another good shot at him and nearly hacked his arm off. Things were still very rough and I was just barely on the losing side of things, so it was time to take a chance. I remembered a saying of Benedict's -- I think it was him -- if not, it seemed like something he’d say. "How do you win a sword fight… is to be the only one holding a sword." I quickly ran through some scenarios in my head -- I was not going to come out of this looking pretty, and I was already fairly beat up. I blocked his thrust with the palm of my hand and ran it through until I could grab the bell-guard and pull it away from him. MUCH more painful then I had anticipated. With another shot, the fight was over; Wow PAIN. I hadn’t noticed my hands or body very much, but I could feel every nick, cut, frostbite and electrical current burn. I was in need of some medical attention, and good drugs wouldn’t hurt either. In the end though, it would be well-deserved rest.