"Besides haven't you ever seen me drop my blacksmith hammer?" Happy asked.
Sylvester nodded.
"Of course I have, it is a common thing when a nerve acts up." Sylvester commented looking at her puzzled.
Happy shook her head as she pointed at her arm.
"Now that I know more about this with Lord Walter, I know what is going on. I was struck by a Necromancer here. I'd always thought it was just nerve related as it has never felt normal since. And it always hurts. That's why I thought it was something with the nerve, because once you're healed, you're healed, or so I thought. Sometimes the pain gets to be too much and I'll lose focus and drop the hammer. Like if I have a headache, I can deal with one or the other but not both at the same time. The pain is just too much." Happy told him even as Toby reached his arm across her shoulders and hugged to his side.
"I wish you had told me, I could prescribe some medicine to see if it would help with this pain." Toby told her.
"Thanks, it is part of the reason I'm so grumpy." Happy smiled at him.
"You've been grumpy? I hadn't noticed." Toby teased and then everyone heard him let out a grunt as Happy elbowed his ribs.
"So, we're all going to feel this?" Sir Cabe asked a bit apprehensively.
Sylvester shrugged.
"I guess, though I don't think Allie and Amanda will, since they revere Mielikki. I don't think she would take kindly to the wise Lady doing that to them." Sylvester said.
"I don't understand, what pain are we talking about here? I haven't sensed our Lord's body, or Happy's feeling pain." Allie said looking at them.
"That's because it isn't cellular but soul related." Lady Paige said wearily as she entered the great hall.
Happy's eyes opened wide even as she saw her and she leaped from her chair and ran over and took hold of her arm.
"My Lady, what happened to you? You look like you feel really bad." Allie said as she jumped up and moved over.
"I'm fine." Paige told them.
"Surely the wise Lady didn't make you suffer that pain too. You look horrible." Sylvester said. And grimaced as everyone but Lady Paige glared at him.
"Thank you Sylvester. I'd hate to feel this lousy and no one knows how bad I feel. But actually, according to the wise Lady, what you felt was less than a tenth of what Walter feels." Paige said even as Happy got her to sit in a chair by the fireplace.
Allie stepped up and took her hands in hers and let her power rise up.
"It isn't anything you can deal with Allie, but thank you. After Walter and I retired I had a hard time sleeping. I kept wondering about the pain that the wise Lady made them feel and how I could help to minimize or help Walter block it. And sometime during that I fell asleep and the wise Lady pulled my soul to some other realm. It was sort of like the astral plane but instead of greys it was golden hues." Paige told them as she passed a weary hand across her eyes.
"That was most likely the positive material plane. It's a place where part of my Master's tower exists. It isn't a good place for a physical body to be. Good thing she only took your soul there." Sylvester explained as he moved over with everyone else in concern.
"I don't know about that. It wasn't the place that has me feeling this way. She introduced me to Lord Markus's soul and he explained more about the nature of the pain from the wounds that Walter feels. Compared to Walter's wounds Lord Markus's wounds were more like a scratch to be honest. But even after about five years they still weren't healed. So how long Walter's will be the way they are I can't imagine. Athena wasn't going to make me feel that pain but she offered me the chance to feel it. So I took it."
"She let me feel it unhindered. And then she let me feel it under the mental control Walter developed from the abuse of Lord Weir's keep. Then she let me experience it salved by the love we share. And then finally she let me feel it with both the control and our love together. I've been sick to my stomach ever since she sent me back thinking about the more than ten years Walter has had to suffer with that pain because I had gone with Drew instead of going to college in Los Angeles." Paige told them.
"My Lady, that isn't your fault. You were manipulated into going with that, person." Happy said with compassion but spat person out in disgust.
Paige smiled at her and nodded.
"I know Happy, the wise Lady says the same thing. But it still hurts to know what he's had to live with because of it. I just wish there was an acceptable way of removing or blocking it." Paige told her.
"What do you mean acceptable way? Is there some means of bringing him relief from it?" Sylvester asked almost desperately.
Paige shrugged.
"Apparently it can be redirected onto someone else but Lord Markus made it clear that would hurt Walter worse, knowing someone else was suffering with it." Lady Paige told him.
Sylvester frowned.
"It must be something akin to voodoo then. That's a bit out of my area of expertise, but I might know someone." Sylvester half whispered.
Paige frowned at Sylvester but looked at Allie.
"I need to speak with you for a moment, privately Allie, and Happy I'd like for you to attend." Paige told them.
Both ladies nodded as Happy hovered over her as she stood. Once she was steady Happy walked just a half step back on her right side as Allie walked with her. They went to the relief room just down the hall from the great hall and faced each other once they saw no one inside the room.
"I need this to stay between us three as I haven't even discussed this with Walter yet. I wanted you with me Happy because you are entrusting me with precious things and I want to share mine with you as well. Allie you know my cells, how fit am I to continue having children?" Paige asked.
Allie frowned.
"You are completely fit my Lady. Is there something I should know? Has something happened that makes you question it?" Allie asked as she slipped a hand under her blouse and let it rest against her abdomen and her power rose up.
Paige shook her head.
"No, but while I was with the wise Lady, because of what she said the other day, it made me wonder if Walter and I were supposed to have more children. She pointed out five souls of children that were on a hill not too far from me playing. They were the as yet unborn souls of our children. I have to give them their chance in this world. But it is our shared love that gives Walter his best chance against this pain of his. And I'm not sure but I think that is why the wise Lady told you to keep me safe for Walter would probably give up and succumb to that pain if I died." Paige told them.
Happy grinned in spite of that thought.
"You're going to have five more children? Oh that will blow everyone's mind. And it will make so many of us happy." Happy told her.
Paige smiled gratefully to her.
"Thank you Happy." Paige told her.
The glow of Allie's eyes slowly faded and she withdrew her hand from under her blouse.
"You are very fit my Lady. I see no problem with you giving birth to five more children. I just hope not all at once." Allie smiled.
Paige and Happy both laughed at that.
"Oh wise Lady, please no. Well if going by what I saw and what Athena said, we should have a little boy next, then a little girl and then another set of twins, another boy and girl, and finally another girl." Paige told them.
Happy grinned.
"Even number and two sets of twins? I like it." Happy told her as she hugged her.
"When do you think it is going to happen?" Toby asked Sylvester.
"When is what going to happen?" Sylvester asked puzzled.
"What the wise Lady said, about the pain. I don't have the best pain tolerance." Toby told him quietly.
Sylvester shrugged.
"Not sure to be honest. She said when they announced what happened yesterday it would flow out with the words. So I don't know if that means if it will happen when people hear about it or if it will just happen as it is told." Sylvester told him.
"It will happen all at once and in a very short time. The governor of Harris is about to make the announcement. I would suggest everyone take a seat before it does." The temple Mistress said as she walked on into the great hall.
"While I am not unaccustomed to pain, I have to admit I am apprehensive about this. I've never been affected by the magic of Necromancers." Sir Cabe told them.
"I'm wondering if it will be the same level of pain that we felt last night or the full force. Since our Lady said that what we experienced was only about a tenth of all of his wounds." Sylvester told him.
"Are you guys exempt from it since you got hit with it last night?" Sir Cabe asked.
Lady Paige stepped into the hall with Happy and Allie. While she still looked like she felt bad, Lady Paige was at least smiling with Happy and Allie.
Happy waited until Paige sat in her chair before she stepped back to hers and sat down.
"In answer to your question Sir Cabe, no one who experienced the pain last night will feel it today, with the exception of the governors. Ralph, Happy and our Lady are also exempt from it." The Mistress told him.
"Does that mean you are going to feel it too?" Sir Cabe asked.
"Unless someone has been excused or reveres another power, everyone in Lord Walter's lands will feel the pain." The temple Mistress nodded.
"Hey, I just wanted to tell you in advance that I'm sorry if I scream like a little kid when I feel this pain." Toby whispered to Happy as he leaned over close to her shoulder.
"Apparently I don't have to feel it, but I'm right here. Squeeze my hand if you have too." Happy nodded and reached over and took his hand.
"Linda, Walter should have already joined us, as should our parents. Would you have someone go check on our parents and have someone ask Lisa to check on Walter for me please?" Paige told her as she moved into the room with a pitcher of orange juice.
"Linda, please get word to everyone quickly. Everyone needs to sit down or at least don't be doing anything that can result in harm. In about fifteen minutes they are going to experience an unbelievable amount of pain." The temple Mistress told her.
Linda's eyes went wide as she nodded.
"In that case, forgo sending anyone to get them Linda. This is more important." Lady Paige told her.
"Of course my Lady, I'll see to it at once." Linda tried to smile as she sat the orange juice down on the table and walked back out of the hall.
"I didn't realize it was going to happen this soon." Lady Paige half whispered to the Mistress.
Just then Veronica stepped into the great hall just after Linda left and Paige smiled.
"Good morning Mother. I was wondering where you were." Paige told.
"I'm sorry Paige and good morning. Sir Frederick and I were up pretty late last night talking about this assignment in guarding Sylvester. I think since you are going to be gone for a few months with your family I'm going to go with Sir Frederick, at least to this Harris. I'll have to think about the rest of the trip before we leave Harris. I don't know if I want to be away from my grandbabies that long." Veronica told her as she sat down.
"I sent servants to warn everyone my Lady. Did you want to go ahead and order breakfast?" Linda asked as she came back into the hall.
Paige smiled and shook her head.
"Thank you Linda. As for breakfast I can wait for my love to get here." Paige told her.
Raynold stepped into the great hall and smiled at Amanda as he walked up to Lady Paige.
"My Lady, you wanted to see me about something?" Raynold asked.
"Good morning Raynold, yes. I want you to assign that suite you put me in that first day I came to the Keep to Lisa. And then tomorrow I want a number of strong men to go down to her apartment and at her direction, move all of her belongings up to the Keep." Lady Paige told him.
Raynold looked puzzled.
"Lisa? Is this your servant Lisa?" Raynold asked.
Lady Paige nodded.
"Is that a problem Raynold?" Lady Paige asked.
"No my Lady, it is just a little unorthodox. Is there some reason she needs to be assigned to a suite? Plus that is used as a visiting dignitary suite." Raynold said still puzzled.
"Not anymore it isn't. It is Lisa's home. She needs to be assigned to it because I wish it." Lady Paige told him. She didn't appreciate the way Raynold was acting so she went with authoritative command to cut through the nonsense.
"Of course my Lady and our Lord is on board with this as well?" Raynold asked.
Lady Paige frowned at that but her attention was divided as she looked at her wedding ring and then up towards the direction of their chambers.
"Is there some reason you need his approval for what I want?" Lady Paige nearly demanded as she returned her attention him.
"Oh, of course not my Lady I just didn't want there to be a problem. Some of the staff might get jealous and I just wanted to be sure that everyone involved knew what might happen." Raynold tried to back peddle what he'd started.
"Be that as it may, I've made the decision that is within my right to make Raynold. I know I don't throw my weight around very much but you seem to be challenging my decisions more and more. And that is going to change. I am the Lady of Scorpion Keep and it is time you remember of that." Lady Paige grew irritated.
Raynold blushed.
"My apologies my Lady, I certainly didn't mean for it to come out as a challenge or to suggest you didn't have a right to make this decision. There isn't anything about the Keep or lands, that aren't within your right to change. I promise to strive harder not to come off in such a way." Raynold told her.
"Thank you Raynold. I think you better have a seat." Lady Paige told him.
"I have many things to see to my Lady. I don't have time to have breakfast with you right now." Raynold told her.
"While you are always welcomed and wanted to dine with us, that's not what I mean. It is almost time and everyone in our lands is going to experience Walter's pain." Lady Paige told him while pointing to the empty chair next to Amanda.
Raynold nodded and stepped over and sat down next to Amanda.
Greetings! Hope this finds you all well! Well, one more chapter and it is about 4k words, nearly double the length. Monday is another visit to the VA so I'll try and get it posted before I leave. Had an idea for a new fix it story this morning. lol But the crux of it is a bit out of my wheel house to borrow from Allie, so I'm not sure about it. And I realized the other day at the VA we're coming up on Oct which will be the first anniversary of Cathy's death, so while I am coming out of it from the wedding anniversary I suspect I'll be experiencing writing difficulties in Oct. as well.
Lucy - Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! hehe
Railman - Thank you! So glad you enjoyed chapter 17! No, hopefully this chapter clarified it, the souls Lady Paige saw were the unborn children, 2 boys, 3 girls, included in that is another set of twins both a boy and girl like Daithi and Aine. No, the pain that Happy feels happened long before Sylvester joined them. It happened in the small backstory I told after they left Aaron Springs and stopped to wait for Cabe and Allie. Happy and Walter told Paige about the first town they rescued together, Dusksong, when they confronted the Necromancers responsible for that is when Happy was struck in her arm. So nothing for her to really be upset with Sly about.
Margaret - No, Lady Paige wasn't unfaithful to Lord Walter. People assumed because their daughter had red hair that she must have had an affair and while the allegation was denied and no proof was ever offered, it still drifted around and of course kids heard it and it kids being the jerks they are, use to make her life miserable about it. Or will since it hasn't happened yet, unless they can stop it from ever starting in the first place.
Susan - Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! It will be an adventure, right now the plan is not to really chronical the trip but I do have plans to maybe do some 1 or 2 chapter stories as they travel to tell backstories of the group.
So Wednesday will start "The Masked Calculator" story, chapters 1 and 2 are finished, chapter 3 is about 400 words give or take, so still some work to do. "Littlest Knight" is done, all 3 chapters so that will follow TMC. And then we'll see where I am, how things are going. UC is not ready, WUTB is not ready and I don't want to do anything that might get interrupted next month so. I might just have to take time off after that.
To the Adventure! -Tim