A Green Foot runner came in the afternoon to ask if Rider G'ladheon and Mr Harlowe could attend the king and his advisors in his private study.
As they made their way through the castle Cade followed Karigan quietly. He observed with grave interest the corridors they passed and all the people they saw.
Karigan sensed he was slightly uneasy, she reached out to touched his elbow and smile at him reassuringly. "Don't be anxious."
"I'm worried I'll say or do something wrong." Cade admitted.
"Just be polite and truthful." Karigan told him, "And remember, this is a report not an interrogation."
Karigan though her words seemed to reassure Cade. She tried not to admit to herself that she was nervous as well, although for different reasons. She slowed her breathing to calm herself, and quell the flutter in her chest.
A familiar face was standing guard at the door to the study. Fastion broke his usually serious expression to give Karigan a smile. Her heart swelled at the sight of him uninjured and whole. Thinking of the version of him she had met in that dark future Karigan swore to herself she would save him, and all her friends from that dark fate.
Fastion stepped aside to admit them to the study and spoke as she passed. "Glad to see you on your feet, sister."
The king's new study wasn't as nice a room as the old one. Karigan remembered most of the furniture and decorations, they were arranged much as they had been in the old study. She didn't however recognize all of the king's advisors, two new faces stood with Captain Mapstone and the king before his desk.
Karigan dropped into a simple, formal bow.
"Majesty."
"Rider G'ladheon, I'm pleased to welcome you back after your long absence." The king said.
Karigan looked up to meet his gaze. He still looked as thin as he had been when shown to her in the minor shard. His face bore more lines now, and a fresh scar. These things spoke to her of the trials he had faced and worries he's shouldered since she last saw him. She wondered if everything she had lived through was as visible to him.
She was very conscious of Cade's presence behind her, and that the eyes of both men on her.
"You and Mr Harlowe have quite the tale to tell us, from what Captain Mapstone has said." King Zackary continued. "I don't believe you have met Tallman or my new Castellan Javian."
The Castellan nodded to Karigan while Tallman, dressed in Weapon black gave her a hint of a smile.
The king gestured to the seats before them and sat down behind his desk.
"When you are ready Rider G'ladheon."
Karigan began. First she spoke of Blackveil, a short and impersonal account of a series of events in the unemotional delivery of a messenger. Occasionally she looked at the captain, or at King Zackary but she found it easiest to keep her gaze fixed on a large seashell at the front of the king's desk. When she spoke of Ard, she didn't speak of his motives as he had told them to her. Karigan met the Cpatian's eye during this part, who gave her a stiff nod which clearly said 'we will speak of this latter.'
All too soon Karigan reached the events after the breaking of the mirror.
"I was taken forward in time. To a future where Sacordiahad fallen, I believe I was taken there so that I could bring back information to change the course of events that led to our fall. I had not been in the future for very long before I met Cade Harlowe."
"I'm sorry," Javian interrupted, "But are you saying his young man is actually from a future time?"
"Yes." Said Karigan.
"I believe I was born some hundred and sixty years from now." Cade offered.
Javian gapped at them, "And you expect me to believe the two of you are not just completely mad? Really the Eletian sleepers were enough."
"You believe, do you not Javian, that our ancestors possessed the magical abilities necessary to build the D'Yer Wall though such an act is hard to comprehend today?" Asked Captain Mapstone. When he nodded she continued: "You believe it because you have seen the result. The potential for great acts of magic is not gone from this world, we have just lost the ability. Just because we have no experience of something, that doesn't make it impossible."
Javian seemed to have finished with his objection, the captain having put him in his place.
"Please continue, Karigan." The king asked.
Karigan described her first impressions of the future and Mill City, giving an abridged version of meeting Cade and then Professor Josston. She saw him wince when she said he drugged her.
"I'm sorry," Cade said. "I thought you where crazy then, and I did have to get you off the street before an Inspector found us."
From that point they both told the story. Karigan would describe an event or an aspect of that world and Cade would add his knowledge to hers or explain a detail. They explained about the secret history, Arhys and the opposition to the Emperor and Cade's resistance group, as well as the practice of enslaving people and the treatment of those who's lives where considered worthless.
Karigan spoke around their developing relationship. And yet she worried it must be clear to the audience what was left out. She did her best to maintain her detached 'messenger voice' but I was difficult when Cade spoke with clear emotion for the people they had known.
The King displayed disbelief when Karigan explained the Emperor was Amberhill.
"I know it's hard to believe." Karigan said. "But he was possessed by Morhovan, and someone else, the sea king from legends. The sprit of the sea king wielded a terrible mystery power that defeated all our armies. It was this power that Morhovan wanted, he possessed Amberhill to get it."
"Do you have any idea what this weapon was?" Tallman asked.
Karigan shook her head and looked at Cade. "The professor said you saw evidence of it at a number of sites."
"We had no idea what it could be, but it involved fire." Cade said.
When Karigan tried to describe the guns she saw the king and Captain Mapstone exchange speculative looks.
"Karigan the words you are saying don't make any sense." The captain told her.
Karigan turned to Cade to ask if he understood her.
He looked deeply troubled. "Karigan, I know I've held a revolver. I know I've shot one a hundred times but I can't remember what they even look like."
Karigan though of when Cade had tried to teach her to fire a gun. "I don't think the Gods wanted us bringing knowledge of those weapons back."
Touching his injured shoulder Cade nodded. "Sterling shot me in the shoulder. He had the healer leave the bullet in, but it's gone now. That must be why the wound re-opened"
When Karigan's report had brought her and Cade through the Emperor's palace to the Eletan Moondial some hours had passed since their arrival. It was beginning to grow dark and Karigan was stiff from sitting still for so long.
There where a number of questions of course, mostly about the dragonfly device and details of timing. When Karigan and Cade could not tell them any new information the king stood and walked to the darkened window.
"I know that I will need some time to think all of this over. Undoubtedly there will be more questions, but I think we have kept Rider G'ladheon and Mr Harlowe sitting here long enough." Zackary said.
Everyone stood when the king did. Karigan tried not to stretch her stiff back to obviously.
The king turned to face them. "Mr Harlowe, you have our thanks for the assistance you gave to Rider G'ladheon. It is clear you risked much to help her and to aid our cause."
"Your cause is mine, sire." Cade replyed.
The King accepted this with a nod, and looked to Karigan. "Rider G'ladheon, you have given more than this kingdom had any right to ask of you. You will not be sent into such danger again, I will not have it."
Karigan hear some hint of emotion waver in the king's voice, and she looked away.
"I want you to take as much time as you need to rest before you return to duty." He finished, reclaiming his calm and detached manner.
Bowing again to the king, Karigan and Cade left the study. Captain Mapstone stepped out with them momentarily, into the corridor where another Weaopon had replaced Fastion.
"We will speak in the morning." The captain said. She held Karigan's gaze meaningful before returning to the study. It seemed the king and his advisors would have a longer night.
Karigan walked back to the mending wing very much consumed by her thoughts. It had been something of a test, to stand before Zackary and look at him again. She was still moved by the sight of him but she did not feel all that she once may have. The hint of emotion in his voice, his expression on concern for her did not affect her in the way it would have before. Yes she still cared for Zackary but everything was different now.
She looked to Cade to find him studying her with a small smile.
Taking Cade by the arm she pulled him into a corner of corridor out side the mending wing and wrapped her arms around him. He had been through so much for her, been tortured and shot, then he had left behind everything he'd known to be with her.
"I'm glad you are here." Karigan said resting her head against his chest.
"I'm glad too." Cade embraced her with his good arm.
Karigan lifted her head to look up at him. "I love you Cade." She said.
"I love you too Kari." He dipped his head to meet her in a kiss.
AN:
I took a few liberties here: firstly, It's isn't stated that Tallman is a Weapon, however the last two people to hold his position where Weapons and in the book he displays the kind of trust and respect for Karigan that Weapons always show. Secondly, nothing is said about Cade and Josston making a connection between the Sea King's weapon and fire. They say they saw evidence of it an at number of sights, as we know what the weapon is now I don't think it's unreasonable that they would have been able to tell the weapon produced fire.
This chapter makes me feel sorry for Zackary.
It'd like to thank everyone who had reviewed, favorited or followed the story. It's nice to know that people are enjoying it.
