Forgotten Shadows

[Laurna]

((Nezz has been fantastic at getting this next full scene set up and pointed in the right direction.  I just added some Amy and Gwen stuff.  Thank you Nezz!))

Saturday September 14
Before dawn
Grecotha University infirmary

Amy glanced wearily at Elspeth, slumped and napping in her high-backed chair. She considered waking her mentor so that she could get a bit of shut-eye herself, but then changed her mind: Elspeth had been working twice as hard as usual over Edwin and his injuries; she'd refused to allow anyone to take on even the simplest of tasks of his care. Hours passed before Amy, finally, could convince her that Edwin would be better off if Elspeth were not sleep-deprived, and she'd reluctantly acquiesced and closed her eyes "for just a minute or two." That had been an hour ago.

Amy herself was also feeling the exhaustion of constant rapport with Edwin to monitor his sleep and pain levels. She attempted to use that fatigue-banishing spell on herself,¹ but that failed miserably—if anything, she was more tired after; she would have to ask Airich to show her how to do that spell correctly. Damn... she prayed he was alright and would return to her side soon. She glanced enviously at Aidan, curled up on the floor next to the wall with a blanket thrown over him. But the lad had worked hard through the evening, using his new Deryni powers to keep Edwin sleeping peacefully; he had to be utterly exhausted. Amy remembered how worn out she'd been that first time or two when she'd worked with Airich to help Robert Thorne.

"Lordy, lord! Is Edwin Scrivner in here?" Lady Gwendolyn exclaimed as she opened the infirmary private room door. "What happened!" she demanded of Amy, even as Amy tried to shush her, while pointing to the sleeping people around her.

Dean Nathaniel's niece halted mid-step, noticing Mistress Elspeth stir but not wake. She then stepped urgently, yet more quietly, over to Edwin's bedside and looked down at the student. She placed one hand on his head to read his injuries for herself, and the other hand on Amy's hand to open Rapport. Amy found Rapport was easy with Gwen, even being this tired; their shared portal transfers had opened this connection the day before.

I overheard my uncle giving orders last evening to his man to help the bishop's men in diverting the horror that could have taken place last night. I sat in the staircase listening for hours, not knowing how I could be of help.

Then the fire in the stables started, she continued, and I ran out to calm the terrified horses running loose in the streets, allowing them to be caught up by the students. I helped families get out of the buildings that were too close to the fire and was glad to see that only a few of our city folk were injured. But then I returned home, only to learn about Edwin! If I had known, I would have been here sooner. Tears grew in the corner of Lady Gwen's eyes as she looked down upon her one-time rescuer.

Amy smiled at the true concern that came over their rapport. I am glad you have come. Aidan and I have numbed his pain—

Aidan McLain? Gwen interrupted. Canon Damian's assistant?

Yes indeed. It seems he is also Deryni. Amy pointed to where the boy still slept on the floor. He and I have seen Edwin through the worst of it. But this will be a very long time healing for him, and he needs all the care we can give him.

He needs a Healer!

Aye, if any can be found. Amy sighed. Not even she had been able to reach the one healer whom she knew. I learned from Airich that an attack in the city of Valoret has stolen our chance to bring one here. Would you help Edwin until one can be found?

"You do not need to ask that of me. Of course, I will." Gwen said aloud.

The two women joined in a deeper connection with Edwin, and Amy showed Gwen all they had done. Gwen was quick to take the lead with a fresh strength that Amy envied. Amy found more and more that she could ease away from Edwin's support and finally broke rapport to find the rest she had been longing for. But that only let her mind worry about her other friends, and even more so about Airich; it had been hours since his last contact with her.

As if he'd known Amy was thinking about him, the door opened, and Airich entered. Filthy, stinking of smoke, limping... Neither these nor Amy's fatigue stopped her from going to him and embracing him tightly. He rested his head on her shoulder as he held her.

She probed Airich a little more closely, and only after she was assured his injuries would ease up soon did she relax into his arms and hold him like she would never let him go again.

"How is Edwin?" he asked, his voice raspy from breathing smoke. He made no move to release her.

"He lives, for now. He's sleeping, and he feels no pain. But I don't know what the future holds for him. People with burns that bad don't often survive."
¹Amy banishing fatigue 2d6: 3, 4 = Fail

[Nezz]

(All five of us—Laurna, Revanne, Jerusha, Marc, and me—contributed to the writing of this scene. Go team!)

Airich finally pulled away from Amy's embrace, but didn't release her hands. "I hope Theo is executed as a traitor for his plans and deeds." Amy knew that this meant hanging, disemboweling, and finally death by drawing-and-quartering. Her empathy did not allow her to wish ill upon most people, but for this case, she would make an exception.

Jimmy and Bede came into the room then, waking Elspeth from her nap. "I was just resting my eyes," she said with a yawn. She looked around at the newcomers to the room: Lady Gwendolyn and the three men. "Three of you are here, and my infirmary has not been burned down. Does that mean you've been successful?"

"More or less," said Jimmy.

"I'd say more more than less," Bede said with a smile, still flush with the victory of having discovered an enormous, unexpected cache of Byzantyum fire. "I think if they had any more of that heathen fire, they'd have set it off already."

"Yes, but that hasn't stopped a dozen normal fires from springing up," Jimmy told her. "We've finally gotten everyone on our lists accounted for, but there must be other Willimites helping who even our Custodes didn't know about. They've been out wreaking havoc."

"We haven't heard of any new fires in over two hours, so we think they're finally finished," Airich said.

"Captain Phineas is supervising the teams now," Bede said. "They're still out there criss-crossing the city. He'll probably keep them going until dawn. Oh, and Pietre de Guerra is working with him, if ye can believe that. He's actually helping us against the anti-Deryni faction. 'Tis as though he were a changeling, so unexpected it is."

"That is astounding! Your doing?" Amy asked, looking up into Airich's eyes. He managed a half smile and flashed her an image of himself pulling the sword master from a blaze. Amy grasped his hand harder.

I think it was not me so much as his desire to help his city. He is planning to be magistrate some day, and he can't do that if Grecotha has burned to the ground.

"What about the other injured people?" Airich asked. And by "other injured," that includes you, he added for Amy's benefit. He lightly touched the bruise on her chin. Don't think I haven't noticed this little beauty that some soon-to-be-dead person inflicted upon you. Amy merely smiled and swatted his hand away. She fingered the colorful braid he'd put into her hair a few days ago and wondered how much worse her injury might be if she hadn't had that protecting her.

Father Trevor entered their room, answering him when the women could not account for the activities in the other room. "From what I could tell, mostly the injuries are smoke inhalation and superficial burns. At the moment, Master Bonhom and his assistants are working on three schoolboys with blistered burns, and Darius has joined them."

"It sounds like everyone's got everything under control, then," Jimmy said, stretching and letting loose a great yawn. "If you will excuse me, I'm going to take this opportunity to return to the barracks to get cleaned up and maybe a few hours of sleep before I'm needed again."

Trevor gave Jimmy the side-eye. The priest obviously knew what Jimmy was about. Not that this changed anything. Jimmy did indeed plan to return to the barracks, but not for long.

He would have preferred to leave without delay, but he would not be able to collect his pay until  morning. He smiled to himself; there was no point in raising suspicions now, for no guardsman would leave without his pay. A few hours sleep, and then he would report to the paymaster in clean, non-descript clothing, turn in his purple sash and helmet, and simply say that he had decided to move on. He could pick up the Jimmy Taylor persona at a later date with no hovering questions about his coming and going. He felt no need to report to Bishop Bernard; Archbishop Duncan could provide any explanation that he felt the bishop needed.

Sir Iain Cameron would then make a last trip to the transfer portal and return to Rhemuth. He had much to report to his king.

"I should let ye ladies know," Bede began hesitantly as Jimmy left the infirmary, "I... need to leave ye in Sir Airich's noble hands. I am going to track down Father Gilbert, tha' one who got away. Ye see, I found a scrap of parchment in his chapel, and after asking the right people, I've concluded he's heading towards Saint Jarlath's monastery, and it will eat me like a wolf if I don't bring him in alive or dead. Rauf and Quigley have asked permission to come with me and been granted it; they're very eager to avenge their dog that Gilbert's pupil killed. I ha only to ask Muirea to join us, and to ask for my pardon. How are ye likin' me odds there?" He laughed with unusual anxiousness.

"For receiving forgiveness from church and state? That depends entirely on your attitude, you young villein." Elspeth spoke in fond tones. "For taking our friend Muirea on a possibly dangerous journey? I can't speak to such things myself, but what's one more chance to take? I will be sorry to see both of you go, but you have fulfilled your original task," Elspeth said. "I'm afraid you must journey to Carbury to collect your pay from my brother."

"In due time," Bede said. "The way I figure it, Gilbert has got a half-day head-start on us. And I suspect he won't know anyone is after him; he likely thinks he covered his tracks pretty well. If we ride hard, mayhaps we can catch up to him before he arrives at the monastery. And then..." Bede smiled with the unrepentant cruelty that made him a soldier of the wrong side in the first place, now put to better use. "Well, let's say he can expect fire of one kind or another depending on his choices then, yeah?"

A groan from the bed made everyone look: Edwin was waking up. Gwen moved away from his side as Amy fed him sips of broth from a spoon.

After, Elspeth knelt by Edwin's side. She leaned forward and sniffed at his bandages, checking for any hint of supperation. To her relief, she found nothing but the faint smell of honey.

"I'll leave these bandages on for a bit longer; the less we disturb the blisters the sooner they will heal. You should have more of the broth," she said in a firm but maternal tone of voice.

Edwin nodded, then turned his head. "I heard Bede," he rasped. "Is he still here?"

"Aye, brother." Bede moved within Edwin's field of vision. "I hear ye were quite the hero, facing down Father Theo like that."

"Ah'm sorry that I fought wi'thee sae much. Ah've bin naught but a pain in th'arse ta ye all. But ye're a guid yin an' I wish thee well."

Bede waved a dismissive hand. "It's all trifles now. I sure egged ye on, even without knowing it at times, didn't I?"

Edwin drew a rasping breath through his seared throat and lungs, which pained the others just to hear. "Is Airich nigh?" Edwin asked.

"I am," Airich knelt by the bedside and clasped Edwin's right hand, then mindspoke the student. Don't talk; save your strength. Amy and Elspeth and Aidan and Gwendolyn have kept watch over you all night.

Sitting vigil for me. That's kind o'them. Tears pricked at the corners of Edwin's closed eyelids. Once again 'tis for me ta ask pardon o'ye. Ah'm afeared ah've no taken guid care o' your shirt.

You're alive aren't you? The shirt fulfilled the measure of its creation. Mi madre will be pleased to hear that it gave its life in exchange for yours.

Airich, will ye forgi'e me fer bein' such a fool ta ye. There's sae much ah didna ken. Ah spiered ye were just makin' sport wi' me. Ah should'a known better. Ye are a true noble man.

You and I, we are young men; it is in our nature to be fools. Despite our arguing, I consider us friends, and I trust you. And really, no one is keeping vigil for you. You just picked the worst time possible to have your accident: apparently Primate Hugh was hurt during a Willimite attack in Valoret and the healers have been with him. But as soon as his heart is stable, I'm going to harass Washburn Morgan non-stop until he comes to see you. Then you'll find out for yourself just how amazing it is to be healed by Deryni magic. Airich recalled an early discussion he and Edwin had had regarding Deryni healing.

Thank ye. Ah'm glad to leave this world at peace wi'ye and Bede. An' now I'd best be aboot makin' ma peace wi' God. Would ye be guid enow to ask your brother the priest ta hear ma confession and gi' me the last rites.

Airich thought that Edwin was not in immediate danger of dying before daylight, but who was he to get between Edwin and God's mouthpiece? Airich motioned for Trevor to take his place. As the priest brought forth his purple stool and kissed it, Airich and the others stood away from the bedside to give privacy if Edwin sought confession. He sought out Amy, standing back and simply watching, and took her hand, seeking and receiving solace after the night's events.

Can you give me any good news? she asked him. Is your trouble with the King resolved?

And there was the question he'd been dreading more than almost anything else this foul night. He didn't want to dissemble—and in fact, couldn't dissemble in Rapport—but he couldn't bear to tell Amy the full truth of his conversation with the King. Only Kelson's final offer of negotiating the identity of his bride made this conversation bearable.

 But the fact of the matter was: part of Grecotha had burned. People had been killed. True, the investigators had stopped most of the mayhem, but would it be enough?

I hope that the trouble is over, Airich replied, pulling Amy to the furthest corner of the room. And the King has not outright refused my wish to marry you. But there is some difficulty with an Andelonian nobleman, and the King had hoped I would wed the man's daughter. When we're all finished here in Grecotha, I can renew my petition to Kelson, using our success here as additional leverage.

Amy gasped. The King... wants you to marry someone else? She spun around and looked accusingly at Father Trevor. But the priest was listening deeply to Edwin's words and Amy found she could not accuse the priest of outright lying to her, "Your brother held the truth from me, when I could not fathom what held you back in Rhemuth. I should have realized you would already be spoken for." Amy began to pull away, wanting to run from the room. But the son of the Earl of Derry would not release her hand.

"Amaryllis Aldan, please stay!"

To which Amy turned back to her beloved, touching his cheek with her fingers. "Do I have any hope at all, against a nobleman and his daughter?" Anger and tears warred with her expression. "I am nothing compared to that. Is there any hope that I can hold on to? I love you, Sir Airich O'Flynn."

"I am not yet spoken for. And you are not nothing. You are the woman I love beyond reason," Airich said fiercely. "And I will do anything in my power to marry you and ensure the happiness of you and your son." He added softly, "And I never want to hear you call yourself nothing again."

"I thank the Lord for you coming into my life every minute of the day," Amy said. "But the King...  I am a commoner, and you are a knight, a nobleman; we dare not run away. But I don't see any other way."

"He may be a King, but he is also a mortal man with mortal passions. He knows what it is to lose love. And if he didn't know about Carwyn, I would risk running away with you. But he knows that you are the mother of a boy who will likely grow up to be a powerful healer. And he knows I will do what it takes to keep the boy a secret."

Amy grasped his tunic. "He knows about Carwyn?  What am I thinking, of course he would know. Washburn would have told the king after finding out yesterday. I don't want to lose my son, no more than I want to lose you."

"Truly, my love, hope is not lost. Grecotha is intact, and we have succeeded in stopping the Custodes in their evil plan. You were part of that. The King knows that we have done much to save this city, and he has often granted boons for such deeds. That may be enough to tip the balance into our favor."

Amy looked deep into his eyes and saw a fragile hope there. Her hands reached up around his neck and pulled him closer. "Whatever happens, know that I will respect and love you for the effort that you have put forth for Grecotha and for me. I will do what needs to be done to stand tall at your side." 

Much of the dread he'd been feeling melted from Airich's heart. "I adore you," he said, gazing into her amazing lavender eyes. He glanced up to see those in the room watching Edwin, ignoring the two of them. He stole a quick kiss from her full lips and then pulled away for propriety's sake.

Looking around the room, Airich felt a sense of satisfaction: Grecotha had been wounded, but it lived. They'd routed the Custodes, and after Father Theo's open attack using Byzantyum fire and his murder of two students, word would spread like—well, it would spread like Byzantyum fire, and Airich suspected the Willimites would no longer be welcome in the city. It wouldn't surprise him if Bishop Bernard called for the arrest of any who claimed to be Willimite, and not just those who'd planned to torch the city.

Yet with that satisfaction came a certain sadness. It had only been a week since Canon Damian had gathered them together over the unconscious Robert Thorne and the murdered Alfie Meadows, yet that week had felt like a lifetime. They'd been joined in their quest by allies like Muirea, Trevor, Jimmy, Aidan, Lady Gwendolyn, and Collos and his team, but here in this room, Airich considered the futures of the physicker, the student, the empath, the knight, and the archer. It was possible the five of them would never be together again in the same room, and this realization made Airich a little wistful.

Still, they had each accomplished what they'd set out to do. Elspeth had discovered the secret of Talicil. Amy had been set free from the specter of her unknown knight from long ago, and had finally come into her true power. Bede had more than earned his pardon. Edwin—who Airich felt in his heart would not die—had won the respect of the leaders of the city and university. And Airich himself had found healing far beyond anything he'd hoped for.

Their mission was complete.
End of Part 1

((I want to offer my sincerest thanks to Laurna, Revanne, Jerusha, Marc, and of course Bynw. They've all been so great to work with, even those *coughmarccough* who have such completely different writing styles than I have. Hats off to all of you.))

[Bynw]

Some days later
Somewhere in The Connait

King Jerik Haldane, the King in Exile and the rightful ruler of Gwynedd, listens as his privy council and bishops argue over the setbacks in Grecotha. Slamming his dagger pommel end on the table, he shouts, "Enough with this squabbling like old women. You are the Lords of the Realm. Behave accordingly!"

His steel-gray eyes scan the gathered men, meeting each gaze in turn.

"We will tell you what comes next and how we will end the rule of the false king and his hell-spawned Deryni. The failures in Grecotha are glaring. The city still stands. Four of our priests have been captured. And the Willimites lack leadership in the region."

The councilors try to offer excuses and accusations, but the King raises his hand, silencing them. "We do not seek to assign blame. These failures arise from multiple causes. Let us learn from them to avoid repeating the same mistakes."

"Rhemuth, the seat of the false King, will be the place of our victory."

"Your mission," he says, pointing to the bishops around the table, "is to rally the Willimites throughout the kingdom. Promise them absolution, gold, titles—anything to unite them under Custodes leadership. They will be our army against the forces of darkness and the corrupted wicked degenerate line of Haldanes."

"The Willimites are to destroy the fields, burn hamlets and villages, and drive the people toward the safety of Rhemuth. Fear will spread along the roads and in other cities. Like sheep, the people will flock to Rhemuth from all directions."

"Let the Willimites keep whatever remains in the fields for themselves. They will not starve, and the rest can be burned or left to decay."

"Empty villages should be set ablaze or looted for the Willimites' enjoyment, who will earn full pardon for any crimes committed. The key goal is to flood Rhemuth with refugees from across the kingdom—an overwhelming tide of people seeking shelter and safety."

"Then we wait for winter. Rhemuth will not be able to sustain everyone, especially with the burning of the fields, they may not even be able to sustain themselves. Unrest will grow in the city. And then we will strike."