When Anna returned to her room the next day after her chores, she noted a small stack of new robes outside her room. The bottom stripe on the new robes and her room's nameplate were now green. Anna just smiled. They were quite blunt about her only getting promoted to a new rank when she proved she earned it and her instructor agreed she could handle the change. Obviously her ability to learn quickly was being noticed, and they approved of her responses. She had thought this instructor had it in for her, but the promotion indicated otherwise. Her holy education had been intense from the man and he jumped on her for the smallest wrong answer. She was very tired of explaining herself over every little thing, right down to wrinkles in her robes.
The rest of the day went as normal, except Decant elected to skip magical study due to the nights activities. Near midnight, Decant led a skeptical Dixx to Anna's quarters and gave her the rope to carry around. Anna checked the rope already in place at the west wall before going to the east wall for the same reason. After confirming Anna's decoy ropes and the guards with bows, she let them to the north wall slightly west of center. Here she secured her rope and threw one end over the wall as midnight approached. Within a minute, a hooded figure climbed over the wall.
"How did you know to come here?" asked a mystified Dixx.
"We all know I made it known I wanted to meet an old friend. Anybody who knew me would have no problem figuring out it was Miss Patty. While in the dungeon, Patty and I worked out how to lie to each other so only we knew it was a lie. That way I could warn her if I was captured and they wanted me to open a door blocked for Patty's safety. I told her west was no good for me, and lied about the east being a good next choice. South has the gate so that's ruled out automatically. That left the long north wall. Since west was no good FOR ME, it implied good for her and told her to look to the west half. Patty knows how I think better than I do so if I could dream this up, she'd know what I intended. Anybody other than Patty would either think the west wall was a lie to avoid, or believe what I said about the east. They wouldn't realize I meant north because I never once said north or south."
Decant chuckled before saying "You took a big chance that poor girl wouldn't garble your message."
Anna smiled and turned to Patty. "Show them."
The figure turned to the men and removed the cloak. There stood Patty wearing Anna's slightly oversized assassins outfit. At least it was oversized for Patty, though not by much. The girl flipped half her hair over her face and rubbed in some dirt from the path. Next she pulled a tiny water skin from her cloak and squeezed out something dark. She turned away and rubbed some around her eyes and one cheek. When she turned back, she looked like she was on the wrong end of a hammer. Patty took about three normal steps away from everybody, turned, and walked back with a limp identical to the battered girl the day before.
"That was YOU? Anna, why didn't you tell us then that Miss Patty was the messenger girl?"
"Elsa's ice guards may have attacked Patty if I said anything to identify her as the shooter with them around. We needed to meet away from them before i said anything. Let's get the east and west ropes removed. Nobody will try to use them and they are now a security risk for Sanctuary." As she spoke, Anna pulled her rope back and coiled it up.
Once all three ropes were back in storage, Decant led them back to his meeting room. Anna filled a shallow basin with clean water and gently started washing the younger girl. The contented smile on her face almost glowed as she cleaned off the grime. Everybody in the room couldn't help but notice the tension melting from their muscles as Anna worked, oblivious to the effect she was having. Tensions that were still running high when they got to the room were gone in moments. Decant and Dixx waited patiently for Anna to finish, not wanting the pleasant tingling to end.
"I want to know what you've been up to, but there are other things we need to discuss first. Now that you're cleaned up.." Anna was interrupted by Patty's desperate hug.
"I missed you. I've been watching in case you needed me. I eventually figured out why you pushed me away, and prayed you'd come out looking for me before you got yourself in trouble. Does this mean you can control your.."
Patty's outburst was interrupted by Decant clearing his throat. "Miss Patty, after all I've heard happening to you, I'm glad to find you well. Before you say anymore, you need to know that miss Anna and I have agreed that certain truths are not ready for public knowledge yet. I believe you were about to reveal one of these truths."
When Patty looked at Anna in confusion, Anna added "you almost gave up a secret we weren't ready to be known by everybody." She turned her head to Dixx before continuing. "This secret was never intended to be forever. Mr Dixx, you've been honest with me, even when it wasn't something I've wanted to hear. I need to ask you this. If I tell you this secret, will you agree to not disclose it without my or our patriarch's permission? If it becomes public or I prove myself a danger to the order, I would not blame you for revealing what you know."
Anna watched Dixx carefully. After a moment, she realized she hadn't checked his aura yet, although she did expect a fairly good one. When she made the effort, she squinted out of reflex. He had an intense, light aura. It was a startling revelation in the man's favor, one she wished she had checked sooner.
"I assume master Decant understands the risks if he is willing to keep the secret. That would be enough for me, but given those terms I would keep your little secret." If anything, the man's aura got more blinding than before.
"Very well. The secret is known to Patty as my previous 'keeper', master Decant, and his two most senior cardinals. I'm assuming it hasn't accidentally leaked any farther. Everybody knows my sister has magic and accidentally made me resistant to cold. That much couldn't be hidden, especially coming in so publicly without a coat right after a blizzard. What isn't known is that I also have magic. It had been subtle enough that I didn't even know until I was abducted a while back. When I first came here, I needed a new tutor desperately. I failed with my first tutor, and master Decant has been that tutor up to now. Our private meetings have been for that reason. I don't want to actually become the monster everybody feared Elsa was.
"My magic has a wild side which we believe goes beyond the abilities I'll have when I'm properly trained. As is, I can heal which is why I do so well as a healer trainee. The more emotional control I have, the less we see of the wild side. The reason we searched for miss Patty was to help with that stability.
"The biggest problem is the fear my magic may cause. We don't really know how far my magic can go or what people will do if I can't control it well enough. I've gained control with healing because I worked with the healers, although they don't know the real reason I do so well. I've never actually harmed anybody directly with my magic, although it may trigger randomly if I think I'm in danger. It's like being protected be a very strong toddler, it's that unpredictable without training."
"I.. see," was all the startled man could say.
"Welcome to the elite few," said Anna quietly.
"So. Well, why did we make all this effort to meet this young lady?" asked Dixx.
"Things here have been harder on my emotions than I thought they would be. People still blame me for my past actions and I'm not able to prove I'm trying to change. Not well enough anyway."
"Anna's emotions need to be kept calm to prevent a random part of her magic from acting up. The more threatened she feels, the more likely her magic will try to defend her without her control. She needs somebody nearby that she trusts to counter those feelings. Because of her magic, an exception to our housing rules may be necessary," said Decant.
"The patriarch has been teaching me better control to prevent accidents, but progress is slow. I'm looking to hire miss Patty as a guard of sorts, if she's willing. We could say it is to make the crown more comfortable about my presence here. I'm sure Elsa would agree. She would be with me at all times except when I'm meeting the patriarch or learning doctrine. The thing Patty needs to understand is that we both won't be able to leave. It helps protect from malicious intent of anybody holding a grudge."
"Anna, I thought we discussed this," said Patty quietly.
"We did, when it required you to join the order. Master Decant and I know how vehemently opposed you are to that idea."
"Uhh.."
"Patty, things have changed. I was wrong to push you away and I need you, if you can forgive me. It's not just protection. I feel.. incomplete without you. Would you be willing to stay as my personal guard?"
"If I don't have to join, we can try it," mumbled Patty uncertainly.
"In that case, if you have to get anything now is the time. After tonight, leaving means you won't be able to return. Ever." Decant stared hard at Patty to emphasize how serious he was.
Decant's face caused Patty's jaw to harden. Scare tactics couldn't be allowed to work where Anna could be in danger. "I'll leave tonight and be at the gate by midday tomorrow. I need to speak with the family I'm staying with and gather a few things I brought from the palace."
"We'll leave word with the gate on your way out. Return when the sun is highest, so as to not interrupt Anna's classes on our order's current policies and procedures." Patty just nodded once in response.
"Mr Dixx, miss Anna, please escort our new guest to the gate while I arrange a room for her."
"If I may," said Anna. "She can stay in my room. We still need to agree on the reason for her staying on though."
"Elsa is worried about her sis.. her representative here and asked for a guard not of the order. With my known lack of skill in a fight, I would be the least threatening person. I'm a pretend guard."
"I think you mean a figurehead. Good a reason as any," said Dixx.
Anna hugged Patty with a huge smile on her face before leading her out the door.