Selease came down and landed just north of Harris and ran on up to the north gate. Like Aaron Springs the wall was ten feet of wood on top of ten feet of stone. The guards outside stood in awe as they saw the great bird and then Sir Cabe helped Allie get down before he got down. "We'll try to be quick Selease but it could take a while," Sir Cabe told her.

Selease bobbed her head and looked about as she slowly moved off to the side of the road.

"Sir Cabe?" One of the guards stared at him.

Sir Cabe looked at him, "Do I know you?"

"I was a Keep guard for a time before my wife and I moved here to be with her Mother after her Father died," the guard told him.

Sir Cabe nodded, "Hope you are enjoying the change then."

The guard smiled and rocked his hand back and forth.

Sir Cabe laughed as he walked on into the town holding Allie's hand. Cabe asked, "So where to first? Do you want to go see your sister?"

Allie smiled, "We probably should go buy the supplies first. Don't want the produce merchants to close before we get to them."

Cabe nodded and they walked to the market. Allie was less than impressed with the quality and quantity of their vegetables. But after visiting three stands and the one store selling produce she had acquired enough. Cabe was sure to get a lot more coffee. Allie stopped as she looked at a package and she held it up to the proprietor, "Do you know how they do this?"

He shook his head as Cabe looked over, "Decaffeinated coffee?"

Allie nodded, "Since our Lady likes coffee so much, this might be something to try. May I get a couple of packages so I can test it to see if it would be acceptable for her?"

Cabe smiled as he nodded.

After Sir Cabe paid for everything Allie asked for directions to her sister's house and the proprietor nodded as he gave them directions.

As they walked the streets Cabe put his arm around Allie's shoulders and they just enjoyed being together without the others around them. The candle lit street lights provided just enough light but were fairly romantic.

Cabe frowned as they were approaching the residence of the town, "Did we take a wrong turn?"

Allie shook her head, "I don't think so, why?"

Cabe pointed, "That's the Lord's residence. The governor would live there. Why is your sister staying there?"

Allie frowned, "I don't know. She hadn't mentioned it."

The guards outside stopped them, "I'm Sir Cabe, Lord Walter's advisor. Stand down and let us pass."

"Do you have any proof of your identity?" One of the guards asked.

Sir Cabe's eyes went dark, "Get the governor or Jon if he is still here."

One of the guards walked up and knocked on the door. A few moments later the door opened and a middle aged man stepped out, "Sir Cabe, its good to see you again. Come on in, the governor will be surprised to see you," Jon told him.

Sir Cabe and Jon shook hands, "How have you been? It's been a while."

Jon nodded as he turned and entered the house, "The governor keeps me busy, how about you?"

As Sir Cabe and Allie stepped inside Jon stare at Allie, "Amanda?"

Allie looked at him sharply, "Amanda is my sister."

Sir Cabe looked at Allie and back to Jon, "That's actually why we are here. Our Lord sent us to pick up supplies and Allie wanted to visit with her sister before we go back. We had thought we took a wrong turn when the directions brought us here."

"Of course, let me go get Amanda then," Jon told them.

Sir Cabe noted the sweat on Jon's forehead at the mention of seeing Amanda, Sir Cabe frowned.

Allie looked up at him, "Jon is very nervous for some reason."

Cabe nodded, "Did you see how he started perspiring after seeing you and thinking you were your sister? Something isn't right."

They stood there as the minutes ticked by and Cabe looked at Allie, "This is certainly taking a lot longer than it should. This house is not that large."

Allie nodded as she allowed her power to rise up and her eyes went white as she reached out with that power. Cabe looked at her as he heard her growl. Her arms stretching outward, swung together to her right and she screamed as energy crackled about her and she flung her arms in the direction that Jon had left and the energy shot off destroying a huge section of the hallway and ripped through wall after wall of the rooms down the hallway until it struck the wall of the room her sister was in.

Jon froze as he stood just outside the room and the maid who was in the room trying to dress her fainted. The front door burst open after the explosion of energy. Sir Cabe spun around and slugged one of the guards knocking him down as the other guard looked at Sir Cabe before he began restraining the guard Sir Cabe had knocked down.

Allie spun to look out the door, /Selease, we need our Lord, now!/

Selease looked up and gave a shrill shriek as she turned and ran off to the north and took flight.

Walter was standing near the campfire watching as Paige cooked when they heard Selease's shriek. Ralph smiled as both Lord Walter and Paige looked up to the south. "That didn't sound right Walter," Paige told him standing up.

Walter shook his head, "It was a warning. Something is wrong." Selease swung around to the north side of the camp and swooped down and grabbed Lord Walter by his shoulder pads with her front claws and yanked him off the ground as she flew off to the south.

"Walter," Paige screamed.

Shocked at first, Lord Walter had started to struggle before his thoughts overrode the shook Selease's action elicited.

Sir Cabe had run over and slugged Jon, knocking him to floor. He wasn't sure what was going on but he knew it wasn't right and Jon was complicit in it.

Allie ran after him and into her sister's room. "She's been drugged," Allie said as she opened her sister's eyes and peered into them.

"What are you doing to this woman?" Sir Cabe demanded of Jon.

"I'm not doing anything to her, the governor bought her debt. She has to work off that debt before she can leave. The drug just keeps her from running away," Jon told him.

Sir Cabe's face darkened, "That's slavery and not only is it against Scorpion Keep tenants, it is against the wise Lady's tenants."

Allie put her hands along the sides of Amanda's face and her eyes went white and as her power rose her hair began standing on end. Slowly the drug was being burned out of her system.

They heard Selease's shrill shriek.

Lord Walter looked down as Selease dove down until at the last moment she flared her wings and her momentum dropped drastically. She let go of him as she started flapping her wings and rose back up flying off to the north. Lord Walter tucked and rolled as his feet touched the earth before springing up on the second roll. Landing on his feet, he moved quickly into the residence.

The guard standing over the subdued guard saw Lord Walter and his eyes went wide as he came to attention and saluted his Lord.

Lord Walter saw the guard standing over the other bound guard saluting him. Lord Walter returned his salute as he saw the destruction of the hallway and rooms, "Sir Cabe?"

Sir Cabe turned, "My Lord, my apologies for having to disturb you."

"My Lord, they have been drugging my sister," Allie pleaded.

Sir Cabe saw Lord Walter's face go deep red. "Dreakus," Lord Walter commanded at the top of his lungs.

"Jon claims Dreakus bought Amanda's debt and has been forcing her to work it off. Drugging her to keep her from running off," Sir Cabe told him as he secured Jon's arms.

Dreakus who had hidden when he heard the explosion of energy downstairs panicked when he heard Lord Walter's angry voice and he quickly opened the window of his bedroom and was trying to climb out while carrying several heavy bags of gold he'd siphoned out of the taxes.

Paige could feel Walter's anger through the ring as she stood looking to the south. When she saw Selease flying in, she smiled as Selease landed and ran up to her and began nuzzling against her. Paige quickly moved around and climbed up in the saddle. Happy moved over, "My Lady?"

Paige smiled, "I'll be fine Happy, Selease will see to that. I need you to take care of Ralph while we're gone. Dinner will be done as soon as it starts bubbling."

Happy nodded reluctantly as Selease shrieked and turned around to take off to the south.

Lord Walter looked at Allie, "How is your sister?"

Allie shook her head, "Unclear. I've burnt off most of the drug but she isn't really responding."

Lord Walter stepped up to Jon and grabbed him by his throat and picked him up in the air. "I gave my beloved my word I would do my best to control my anger, so understand right now I am in control of it. Irritate me further at your peril."

Jon was choking and wheezing as he thrashed about, "P-pl-please." He barely managed to say.

Lord Walter slowly lowered him until his feet touched the floor and he weakly stood as he began coughing and sputtering as he could finally breathe. "Where is Dreakus?"

Jon choked out, "Upstairs, his bedroom."

They heard a noise and then a man's scream and a thud outside the back of the house along with a strange clatter. Sir Cabe moved into Amanda's bedroom and looked out her window and saw a figure lying on its back over a garden fountain. He saw a number of gold coins some lying on the ground some rolling around gleaming in the moonlight. "Dreakus may have escaped your wrath my Lord. Looks like he was trying to escape with a bunch of gold," Sir Cabe said as he turned around.

The area around the front of the residence was becoming active with townspeople as they first came out hearing the explosion, then the shrill shriek of Selease followed shortly by Lord Walter's voice and now the short scream of Dreakus's voice.

Selease let out a loud shriek and the townspeople looked back and seeing her coming down towards them scattered in fear. Selease flared her wings and slowed until she touched down fairly gently and moved on up to the entrance of the residence and Paige hugged her before she jumped off and ran inside.

Paige saw the two guards and the destruction of the hallway. Before Paige could do anything the guard brandished his sword, "Identify yourself."

Lord Walter turned and his eyes went wide, "Paige." Just as he began running Paige grabbed the cape around her shoulders and ripped it off and twirled it around the guard's sword and twisted and pulled in a fluid motion yanking him off his feet and over her shoulder. Lord Walter leaped through the damage of the hallway after the guard slammed against the door jam leading outside. As the guard started to stand Lord Walter struck him with his shoulder knocking him out of the residence, off the porch and into the front yard.

Walter turned and grabbed Paige and pulled her in tight, "My Love, you handled that rather well." They smiled as they kissed. Walter broke the kiss as he caressed her cheek, "How did you get here?"

Paige laughed, "How do you think? Selease came back for me. Though I don't know if she did it because she wanted to bring me here or because you and Allie were no longer at the camp and she wanted to be sure I was safe."

Walter looked out and saw Selease keeping the guard down on the ground, "I suppose I should go fetch the guard. As annoying as he was concerning you, he was technically only doing his job."

Paige smiled as Walter walked out. She turned and walked down the hall towards Sir Cabe and Allie.

Cabe saw Amanda finally and he stared, "You didn't tell me you were twins."

Allie nodded with a slight smile.

Cabe looked closer at Amanda, "How is she?"

Allie shook her head, "She is beyond my knowledge. Whatever drug they have used it is wreaking havoc on her mind. I don't begin to know how to address it."

"We may have to take her to the temple then, this isn't a simple heal but will call for a restoration. Depending on who she reveres we'll need the Lord to get the Cleric's assistance," Cabe looked to the entrance.

Paige looked through the doorway, "Is there anything I can do Allie?"

Allie shook her head, "I don't believe so my Lady. The drug they have been giving my sister either over time or perhaps they gave her too much today has caused some kind of mental problem."

Paige nodded sadly.

Lord Walter finally joined them and Paige pushed into him, hugging him tightly. "My Lord, we think Allie's sister Amanda needs the help of the Clerics to correct what has happened to her," Sir Cabe told him.

Lord Walter nodded, "I'll take her to the temple and get her aid. Sir Cabe, check on Dreakus and get the constable to secure the residence. He can take Jon into custody. Have him sent to the Keep's dungeon to await my return there." Lord Walter pointed at the older woman on the floor, "Is she involved in this?"

"I don't know my Lord, but I will question Jon extensively concerning what has happened. Whoever knew what was going on will be arrested and sent to await your return to the Keep," Sir Cabe told him as he held out Lord Walter's sack.

Lord Walter took the sack and tied it to his belt. He nodded as he stepped up to Amanda and picked her up in his arms and with Paige and Allie walking with him he carried her out of the Residence and over to the local temple.

Paige opened the temple door as Lord Walter carried Amanda on in and along with Paige they were warmly greeted by the Cleric inside the hall. The Cleric looked at Amanda and Allie and her expression became disapproving.

Lord Walter looked at the Cleric, "Where is the temple Mistress?"

"She has retired for the evening Lord Walter," the Cleric told him.

"Then go and fetch her, her day is not yet over. Amanda needs her aid," Lord Walter told her.

"We do not fetch the Mistress, she serves when she serves," the Cleric told him.

Lord Walter's eyebrow rose, "I am the Lord of these lands and a Paladin of the wise Lady. You will take my summons to the Mistress immediately and she will answer it, now."

The Cleric gasped at the command but hurried off. Lord Walter gently laid Amanda on the altar as they waited. "My Lord, thank you for this," Allie told him.

Lord Walter nodded, "Allie, I owe you so much. This doesn't even touch that debt."

"Lord Walter," the temple Mistress called out as she walked out of the hallway.

Lord Walter turned, "Mistress, I'm sorry for the late hour but your services are required."

She paused to look at the woman on the altar, "I'm sorry. She is not a child of the wise Lady. I can not help her." She turned as if to leave.

"Hold," Lord Walter commanded.

She turned back around.

Lord Walter's face had darkened, "She is a resident of the lands of Scorpion Keep and that fact alone demands that you do everything to aid her. And as the Lord of these lands and Paladin of Athena I demand you restore this woman's mind regardless to whom she reveres. She has been the victim of slavery perpetrated by my own governor. Tormented by drugs to keep her from escaping and by all that is holy, you will do everything to help her. Is that understood?"

Paige stepped up and placed her hand against his cheek, "My Lord, calm yourself. I am sure the Mistress realizes she is out of order and doesn't wish to experience first hand, what it is like to be choked slammed by you, as so many others have."

The Mistress's eyes darted back and forth as she tried to gauge if Paige was telling the truth and she swallowed, remembering all the stories of his almost legendary anger as she stepped back up. "Let me see if there is anything I can do to help this woman, after all we should always be willing to help those in need," the Mistress said as she touched Amanda's head.

The Mistress reached up and took hold of her owl emblem as she began praying over Amanda. Yellow energy enveloped Amanda as the prayer went on. For almost ten minutes she prayed and as she came to a conclusion, Amanda's eyes opened as she looked about.

Allie had tears in her eyes, "Amanda?"

Amanda sat up quickly, "Allie?"

The sisters embraced as they cried.

Paige smiled with tears in her eyes as she watched.

Lord Walter turned to the temple Mistress, "You have my gratitude Mistress, thank you."

The Mistress smiled, "You are most welcome my Lord. May the wise Lady continue to guide your steps." She turned and left.

Allie pulled back from her sister holding her face in her hands, "Amanda, this is our Lord and our Lady Paige."

Amanda nearly fell off the altar and bowed down before Lord Walter, "My Lord and Lady."

Lord Walter stepped up quickly and lifted her up, "Greetings Amanda, do not do that, ever. We are not royalty."

Paige stepped up and hugged her, "We are very happy to meet you Amanda. I just wish the circumstances had been better."

Amanda got scared as she seemed to recall something, "Dreakus is going to be furious with me. I'm not supposed to leave the residence without permission."

Allie stepped in, "You don't have to worry about Dreakus anymore. You are free now."

Amanda looked at Allie and then to Lord Walter and he nodded, "Allie speaks the truth. You are free now."

Amanda smiled, "So we can go to your home in Aaron Springs?"

Allie laughed, "Well right now I am serving in official capacity to our Lord and Lady. After our current plans are completed I'll be traveling with them to Scorpion Keep to live. But you are most welcome to come live with me there."

Amanda looked at Lord Walter and Paige as they both nodded, "You are welcome to go straight to the Keep to await our return."

Amanda smiled, "I think I would like that."

Allie smiled as she brushed her sister's hair out of her face, "First I have to introduce you to someone important, my Lord?"

Lord Walter smiled, "We'll go back to the residence and check on Sir Cabe."

As they made their way back towards the Residence Paige began sniffing the air and looking around and saw Bynum's steak house and her eyes went wide. She grabbed Walter's arm and pulled hard, forcing him to stop and turn. She pointed at the restaurant and raised her eyebrows.

Walter smiled, "Let's us check in with Sir Cabe first, I would certainly welcome a steak dinner. No offense Allie."

Allie smiled, "None taken my Lord. I've been rather impressed how long all of you have put up without meat in your diet."

As they were walking up to the Residence they saw Sir Cabe talking with the constable of the town as they went over everything. Jon and the maid who was passed out in Amanda's room sat on the side of the porch restrained and a sheet lay over a body in the yard.

Sir Cabe pointed and the constable looked out and saw Lord Walter and his eyes went wide as he gave a little bow to him. Lord Walter's eyes closed as he shook his head in disgust, "Has it all been resolved Sir Cabe?"

Sir Cabe nodded, "Their words have rung true. All for the greed of gold they sold their respect to fulfill Dreakus's desires."

Lord Walter nodded, "Very well, come with us and we'll all have dinner before we return to the others."

I hope you all are doing well. Still doing good here, if the weather will just make up it's mind. After using the A/C the other day we had bad storms blow through and the temp dropped at least 30 degrees. Ended up having to turn the furnace back on the next day.

Dragon breath, LOL That's a good one Franxine! Thanks for the laugh. Yep, there are a lot of things the writers don't cover for sure. How nitty-gritty do we go? I'm just going to assume at some point they use a good salt water gargle to slay those breaths.

Leave it to Selease to want to spoil the surprise. LOL To the Adventure! -Tim