Bash stared at the sword wondering if what had just happened had really just happened. There was really only one way to be sure unfortunately. He took a deep breath and flexed his fingers a few times before reaching out to touch it once more. Slowly he could see Francis appear before him.
"Francis? Is that really you?" he asked.
"It's really me brother." Francis said.
"But how?" He wondered.
"You have a gift Bash, I don't have time to explain how it works, not that I'm entirely sure myself. I came here to tell you that you have to go back to France. My mother needs your help." he said.
"Your mother is the devil. She doesn't need help." he replied.
"My mother is the devil? And what does that make yours?" Francis asked. Bash only made an angry face. He didn't feel like using this time to argue with his dead brother. "Ii used to think my mother was selfish and power hungry too, but from where I am now i can see more. Past, present, future. She isn't as bad as you think. If Mary can see the good in her, don't you think perhaps you should try as well? Besides, it doesn't matter, this isn't about her. It's about our brothers and sisters. Even if you're right, and my mother is the devil, they still need you." Francis reasoned.
"How am I supposed to help her after what she did?" he asked.
"I think you're more worried about how you are going to help her after what YOU did." Francis said.
"You know?" he realized.
"I know a lot of things I probably wouldn't if I were alive." he told him.
"Can you see...everything?" Bash wondered how far his knowledge spanned.
"I don't SEE much of anything. Bit's and pieces, But we get senses here. Feelings. I know our family is in danger, though I don't know what kind, and I know it's you who has to help them because it's your fault they are in this mess." he said.
"Alright, fine. I'll do it. For you." Bash said.
"I want you to do it for them. And one more thing, tell Mary...well tell her I'm here. Tell her I'm with her." he said. Bash nodded.
"Is there..." Bash started, but Francis began to disappear.
"Good luck brother." Bash could barely hear him say as he vanished. A moment later Mary came back in the room.
"What are you still doing in my chambers?" she asked sternly.
"I...I'm sorry. The sword." He swallowed. "I saw Francis. I spoke with him."
"Francis? Are you sure." Mary asked.
"Yes. Yes I'm sure." he said.
"Well, well get him back. Let me talk to him. Through you maybe..." Mary began.
"Mary, Mary. I can't. I can't control it. I don't know how to get him back." Bash explained.
"Well, what did he say?" She questioned.
"He wants me to go back. He wants me to help Catherine...I agreed to go." he told her.
"Good." she deadpanned.
"He also wanted you to know that he's here with you." he said, trying not to look her in the eye.
"Somehow, I knew that." she said. He nodded.
"I should go pack if I am to leave for France." He said as he started to leave. Mary stopped him.
"Bash, you can do this." she said.
"I hope you're right." he answered.
Meanwhile, in France, Catherine had been struggling with The Brigade. They protested, stole and attacked something nearly every day. Catherine had been spending all her time, effort and even money, trying to squash these devils to no avail. She knew they likely had an inside source just as The Red Knights had, but without someone in the kings guard to trust, she had no way of weeding the traitor out. She had a feeling it was one of Martel's men, or even Martel himself, but as he had become one of Charles most trusted advisors, there was nothing she could even do to cajole it out of him. She couldn't even get near him. What's worse, she was almost sure Martel had something to do with Leith's death. She didn't dare tell Claude though, she'd never believe her. She needed proof first.
"You're majesty, a word?" Narcisse said as he jogged up next to her in the hallway.
"Unless it concerns my grandson, there isn't anything you could say that I want to hear." she said as she continued at her hurried pace.
"It's about The Brigade. I have intel for you." he said as quietly as he could and still be heard.
"Don't you want to bring it to the King so you can gain even more favor with him?" she said sarcastically.
"The King, with all do respect, would not know what to do with this information if I did give it to him. His mistakes are piling up. I never thought I'd say this, but we need to get the regency back in your hands. I'd rather have you running things than have a de Guise pulling Charles's strings." he told her.
"Or are you just acting as though you're helping me when you are really just planning on throwing me to the wolves once you have what you want. I help prove to the council that Charles needs a regent, only for you to steal it out from under me again. Charles can make a good king one day, he just needs to learn, and I won't have you trying to take that away from him." she said. Narcisse grabbed her arm to stop her from walking.
"No tricks. I'm not trying to steal anything. Not when France is so close to ruin. France needs stability, and you are the only one who can provide that right now. Even I know that. I've already lost the regency once, to try for it again would be foolish. Let me help you." he said. Catherine pursed her lips and thought a moment.
"Fine. Tell me what you know, but if I do find out you're plotting something, I swear you will find yourself begging for death." she threatened. She knew he was likely hoping she would trust him enough to start taking his advice. If he couldn't be regent he would try to rule France through her, but she needed him, so she decided to let him think it was working.
"My spies discovered what appears to be a code they've been using to inform their members where they are meeting and what they are planning. They haven't been able to crack it yet, but they are almost certain this is for a raid that hasn't happened yet. If we can get there before them..." he started.
"We may be able to take them down, or at least find out who their informant is." she finished. "Well, let's go crack it then." she started toward her chambers and Narcisse followed suit.