I feel a familiar tingle run down my spine, one so strong that I know that hundreds of people are dying. I close my eyes and focus on the signal. When I open my eyes I am on a bloody battlefield, I look around and see a castle "Rennes" I think to myself.
I cast out my senses in desperation hoping beyond hope that I do not feel the duchess' soul. I calm down a bit, a soul that strong would certainly stand out among these dishonorable brutes. So, I walk invisible to these men and touch one by one as their time on earth comes to an end. Some fight against my touch, but I am used to the struggle by now and ease their souls out gently. When finally the battle comes to an end I am saddened for all left now will have a slow, bitter death, then I sense a living being, and not the dull flicker of life that is the wounded, a bright flame. Looking up I see my daughter Ismae carrying my dagger, the Misericorde, she wanders and I can see that the lingering souls bother her as much as they do me. After a few moments someone catches her eye, she bends down and speaks quietly to a dying man, before touching the blade to his neck. I am overjoyed for now his soul can depart and it does not have to suffer, lingering over its body, for days.
She stands and I walk over to her, still unseen I whisper into her ear, "Show them my mercy."
She looks to the next fallen soldier. I grip the hand with the dagger in it and together we press the knife into the man's shoulder, I feel a rush as the soul joyously departs, and together we whisper to it "peace."
We move from man to man, traitor to hero, soul to soul, with each one I feel more and more exhilarated, we are one at last. Ismae's eyes widen, finally she understands she is not my weapon, she is my mercy. She no longer needs my touch to guide her, so I walk a short distance to a crop of trees and watch as she frees the final souls. She turns and her eyes catch on something, she swivels her head and looks directly at me. It has been long since God has allowed someone to see me and it knocks my breath away when she starts to move toward me. "Daughter" I breathe.
She looks surprised, "Father?"
Her knees give way and she bows her head, I feel the fear radiating off her. I look at her in love and grace, sending out all of the things I wish I knew the words to say, I lean down and kiss her brow as a father ought to kiss his daughter. After a few moments she looks up at me understanding what she was meant to do. And with that she gallops off to do my will. As a parting gift I give her the speed to save her love, I just hope I don't beat her there.