"Good evening family." Paige read from Aine on the next page. "I was able to complete my meditation last night. And I am certain we need to go down to San Deggo. We'll be here one more night. Dai said he was sick this morning, funny he didn't have a fever but the smell of alcohol from him said all I really needed to know." Paige looked at Walter and saw him frowning. She squeezed his hand and continued to read. "I decided to walk around the city for a while today. I was greeted warmly by many of the citizens. I don't know if they were greeting me because of me, or because they had bet on me to win at some level." Paige smiled.
"I'd stopped in at one of the orphanages I saw and I was rather appalled by what I saw. Eight kids crammed into such small rooms, with barely enough room around each straw bed for someone to walk sideways around. I spoke at length with the kids, being careful not to just accept what they said at face value. But what I saw with my own eyes told me all I really needed to know. I went to the temple next door and demanded to speak with the temple Priest. I guess some of Father's habits are still within me." Paige smiled as she looked at Walter and saw him nod.
"The temple Priest wasn't too happy with my tone or words. But I didn't expect much from one of the clergy of Dionysus." Paige looked at Walter but his wink and strong grip helped settle her nerves. "You might say he 'politely' asked me to keep my nose out of their business and to move along. This did not sit well with me so I raised my voice and he called for the temple guard. While I was not, in the least, concerned about a fight with them, I didn't want to start an interfaith conflict. Luckily the head guard was at the tourney and knew who I was. He refused to let the guard engage me and asked if I would kindly leave. I countered with the Priest. I told him if I could make arrangements to relieve his orphanage of some of the excess children if he would promise me not to accept any more than he'll have at that point."
"He was hesitant but agreed slowly. So I went to the temple of Athena and spoke with the temple Mistress. I hope you don't mind but I promised the Mistress if they would take thirty of the kids there into their orphanage then we would take thirty into ours. I even gave her money to see to their transfer." Paige smiled proudly even as Walter squeezed her hand again.
"Will we be able to accommodate that many?" Paige asked as she reviewed her knowledge of the orphanages that were run in each of their towns.
Walter slowly nodded.
"We'll be fine. Even if we just put them into two of them, they would only be close to max capacity but we wouldn't do that of course. Thankfully things have really been quiet with Aaron Springs and Harris. So their orphanages are down right now. We can put ten in each and then spread the rest around, depending on family groups." Walter told her.
Paige nodded as she turned back to the letter since everyone was getting antsy.
"The temple guard came and found me after I came out of the temple of Athena. He apologized for the Priest's attitude toward me. He explained that the priesthood still has it out for Mother and by extension your children. His name was John and asked to buy me lunch as a gesture of thanks for being as diplomatic as I was and for arranging for so many of the kids to be taken to other places. I was hesitant but finally agreed." Paige read even as her thoughts wondered about this encounter.
"John was fairly polite the whole time, but clearly he was hitting on me off and on. I chose to just ignore it, at least he didn't push it too far. I'd have hated to have broken his nose." Paige grinned looking at Walter who chuckled quietly. "He asked how long we'd be in town and seemed rather disappointed to learn we were leaving tomorrow. I began to suspect he had some kind of ulterior motives over it. So I pressed him on the issue. He actually blushed as he said he had just wanted to get to know me a little better. I read that he was telling the truth. I think my words hurt him as I explained as a Paladin of the wise Lady, I wouldn't ever consider anyone from outside of my faith. That it was actually a tenet of being a Paladin." Paige read proudly.
"Wait…" Young Cabe interrupted her again. "You mean, if I become a Paladin of Athena, I can only choose someone who also follows her?"
Paige and Walter both nodded.
"While she allowed your Father and I to begin our relationship before I formally changed my allegiance to her, she had already taken me as her child." Paige told him softly. "We were allowed to become betrothed, but we couldn't marry until after Sir Cabe had performed the ceremony that bound my allegiance to Athena." Paige smiled at him sweetly before returning to the letter.
"After leaving John, I walked back through town towards the inn we were staying at. Several townspeople were in need of assistance over a few different things so I paused in my walk to assist them. I miss Brightsong, it's clear out here away from those good people, people only care about what they can get out of you. Once you set a limit they become ungrateful. After I got back I discovered there were a few women there who were waiting for Dai to come down. They were having a standoff with Tessa over it and boy she was not happy at all." Paige read with a large grin.
"I spent a couple of hours with Elizabeth and she taught me a little more about Abigail's language. I'm not sure how you learned Selase's language Mom, but this isn't easy. Thankfully Abigail is patient with me." Aine explained.
"Dai joined us just before Elizabeth had to go get ready to play. I told him he couldn't over drink tonight. He seemed a little upset with that but I told him if he chose to do so then he could try and catch up with me in San Deggo. His eyes got pretty big as he realized I wasn't kidding. He promised, along with Tessa to be ready first thing. Well it is nearly nine, I think I will go to bed so I can be ready as the sun rises. I love you all and will write more when we get to San Deggo and know what we're supposed to do." Aine told them.
Paige pointed out that the next page was from Daithi.
"Well I see my big sis ratted me out." Paige told them Daithi was teasing, she could feel the humor he injected into the line he wrote as a Bard. "I didn't mean to drink so much the night before. Tessa and I tried a new Dwarven ale and man, did it pack a punch. But it was really sneaky. Neither of us even realized how it was affecting us until I tried to leave the barstool to go to the relief room. My vision spun something awful. At first I was laughing and then I realized I was lying on the floor and we both began laughing at that."
Paige reached over and squeezed Walter's hand trying to calm him down.
"It is odd though, how comfortable I am with Tessa. As twins Aine and I fit neatly together, but Tessa and I fit even better. It seems like one of us can be thinking or feeling something and the other picks up on it as well as Aine and I do. I was looking forward to exploring the world of relationships and it seems like I might not have to." Paige sighed as she felt this was going to happen whether she wanted it to or not. "Elizabeth let me step up in between her performances to perform myself. I didn't get much attention or tips but it was mostly men in the inn and they were there for Elizabeth." Paige told them she could feel the humor in that as well.
"But even still, I got some and Elizabeth said she approved of how you trained me. She felt like she couldn't have done any better with me. I'm not sure if I should be insulted by that or not." Paige smiled as Walter reached over and squeezed her knee.
"Tessa was just as happy there weren't as many women there. She had made it clear I wasn't to walk past her table as I performed." Paige laughed at the humor she felt. "My last song I made Tessa get up and sing along with me. And she really surprised me. She has a very nice voice. I think I'll try and work with her if she is willing as we travel. A guy showed up after our performance. Told the barkeep his name was John and that he was looking for Aine. The barkeep had glanced at me and I shook my head no and he told him he didn't know anyone by that name. He suggested he go try the Red Dog Inn just down the street. I don't know if it was the same John that Aine spoke of, but it was definitely too late."
"Morning came too early and Tessa and I struggled but we got up and got ready. Thankfully most of our gear was already packed. As Aine said, those bags Dad had made for us are a real lifesaver. Tessa was very jealous." Paige laughed again. "While her family paid for her to become a Cavalier, neither they nor her mentor really gave her much to start her career with. I guess her Dad was really upset at her choice. He had been planning to marry her into another business family to form a powerful consortium between them."
Lord Walter sat shaking his head. Many were the times that people would do that to their children, using them as property solely for their benefit. He'd sworn if he ever had children, they'd be free to choose as they saw fit.
"Aine was already downstairs eating breakfast when we arrived. I described the guy who came looking for her and she nodded that it sounded like the fighter she had met yesterday. I will say one thing I've learned since we left the Keep…No one makes a meal like Mom. How do you mess up eggs?" Everyone laughed as Paige read that. "I always enjoyed it when Mom had the time and made meals for us. I might not have always properly expressed my appreciation for it. And so, let me just say again Mom, I love you and everything you did for me. You are an amazing cook." Paige had a tear run down her face as she felt his emotions he had inscribed in the words.
All her children echoed those same sentiments of their brother and she just smiled at each of them.
"Well let me end this here as we need to put it in the post on our way to the harbor. Aine said we need to take a ship to San Deggo. She felt that by not leaving yesterday it put us behind whatever time table the Wise Lady has for us. Tessa said to tell you not to worry, she'd be watching our backs for you. And not just my butt." Paige read and was torn between growling and laughing.
Selase chirped before she sighed. Paige smiled at her and rubbed her head.
"I know. It is so hard letting our little ones go out without us." Paige told her.
Selase just nodded before she rose up. She shook her body, reorienting her feathers.
Everyone stood up and began moving over to the table for breakfast. The Lord took his Lady into his arms and they grinned at each other as they stared into each other's eyes.
"I know what you want Raynold to do, my love, but don't. Our daughter took care of Sir Leonard. You summoning him here to chastise him wouldn't be right. She publicly humiliated him into confessing the truth and Lord Barbaris further bolstered her honor. Let that stand." Paige told him through their connection.
Walter sighed.
"I suppose, perhaps you and I should go to Los Angeles to pay our respects to the new Great Mother and to the burial of our friend. Perhaps I can bump into this Sir Leonard and add to his humiliation." Walter responded mentally to her with a grin.
"Now, that sounds like a wonderful idea." Paige told him out loud.
"What's that?" Happy asked as she looked back at them.
"Since the Great Mother we all knew passed away, Walter thought we should go pay our respects to her and to the new one." Paige told her as they walked to the table.
"Oh, can we go too?" All their kids asked quickly.
"We'll see." Paige laughed as she sat down in her chair as Walter held it for her.
They all looked as they heard the clacks of Selase's claws on the stone. She was almost to the door when she paused and her head came up. Her head turned as she looked back at her family and she chirped.
"What did she say Mom?" Little Veronica asked.
"I'm not sure, I've never heard that word before." Paige frowned as she looked at Allie who also seemed puzzled. "Selase?" Paige said even as Selase moved over to the table.
Selase moved up to the side of Paige's chair and forced her head between Paige and the table. Paige's chair was pushed back as she did so.
"What is it?" Paige asked as she stroked the great bird's beak.
Selase's eyes seemed to open a bit wider and then she moved back and began prancing as she whistled and chirped.
"No way." Paige told her. "I'm too old, Selase." Paige told her as she looked at Allie.
Walter stood up puzzled.
Allie's expression looked as puzzled as Paige's but she scooted back and stepped over to Paige's chair. She slipped her hand under Paige's blouse and settled against her stomach. Allie's eyes turned white as she began chanting. Her hair rose up as her power came to bear.
Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as they watched what was going on.
For several very long moments Allie stood there focusing her power as Paige felt her heart constrict. Selase just had to be wrong.
Slowly Allie's eyes changed back to normal even as her hair fell back around her head and shoulders.
"I'm at a loss to explain it my Lady. But you two have brought forth the egg of life." Allie told them before looking at Selase. "She isn't that far along, it is all I can do to detect it. However, did you know?"
Selase just chirped even as Lord Walter pulled Lady Paige up into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! It looks like the Lord and Lady's "adventure" is far from over after all...LOL
Railman - hehe Looks like it is Walter more than Paige wanting to head south. lol We'll have to wait and see.
2LawDog - She's a total package for sure! hehe Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it! It was very sweet of him and Elizabeth to go speak with her and help her settle her feelings for sure!
LouBe - hehe Glad you approve! Hopefully the mods will agree. lol Oh good, we can abide no nagging! lol So glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, Aine put up a good front about the situation, but she's only human, those pesky emotions have to be dealt with! And now you know...down to San Deggo(Diego)! hehe Seems Daithi is thinking along those same lines to Tessa. But like everyone, they have the free will to decide otherwise, but if it is ordained, they might just find it more rewarding to...go with the flo(w)...LOL Thankfully Bards and Cavaliers aren't under the same restrictions as Paladins and Priests...*wink* No quickie wedding needed. lol
Margaret - So glad you enjoyed it!
To the Adventure! -Tim