Raylynx's POV

First things first, I had to look for a new wand- but not just any wand. My experiences with Ollivander, Gregorovitch, and Dumbledore had taught me that the wands of our modern age did not hold the same immense power as those historic wands.

I knew that the Elder Wand was in Dumbledore's hands. Which ones are left? I had thought hard on the question, and finally remembered that dreary day in Ollivander's, when he had been teaching me about the history of wands.

"There is a wand known as the four-point wand, elsewise known as the Crowned Wand, or King's Wand. The theory goes that if you collect the four swords that represented the four largest blood kingdoms during the Medieval Times, two wizards and two incredibly powerful Muggles, who took it upon themselves to protect nearby Muggles from the constant warfare for land going on at the time, and laid all four of these swords in a four-point cross, a wand of Kings would appear to you if and only if you were worthy of it. Rumor has it that this wand is equally powerful in its ability to channel Dark Magic as the Elder Wand is."

"What are the four swords, Mr. Ollivander? Do they actually exist?"

"Oh yes", Mr. Ollivander nodded, "Arondight, Sword of Steel. Ragnarok, Sword of Mithril. Excalibur, Sword of Adamant. Joyeuse, Sword of Gold."

"And have any of them ever been located?"

"Only one. Joyeuse is said to be found in Lower Saxony, Germany where the Massacre of Verden happened. Unable to protect the Pagans from Christian revolt, the king Charlemange left his sword there by the graves of those who died out of loyalty to him before he chose a path of exile…"

I knew the location of one sword. But what of the other three?

The four largest blood kingdoms during the Medieval Times?

King Charlemange… Excalibur? Wasn't that King Arthur's sword? King Arthur, the great king of Britain who defended Britain against Saxon invasions. I remember my father reading me the tales of King Arthur when I was very little. With Arondight as well, I feel as though the name is related to Arthur, but I don't recall how.

Also, two are wizards and two are incredibly powerful Muggles. To the extent of my knowledge, King Charlemange was a Muggle.

I don't have a real lead on any of the other three. Where can I go? Is there someone who can help me?

Bathilda.

I hesitated, then sighed. This is far too deep into Dumbledore's allies for comfort. But it's the only chance I've got.

I knocked on the front door and waited nervously. It's only been a day. It's too early for anyone to notice my absence yet.

Finally, the door opened.

"Well, well, Raylynx Kingsley."

"Yes, Ms. Bagshot."

"What is it?"

"Is anyone else here?"

"No."

"Then, I was wondering if I might have a bit of your time."

"Hmmph. Well, be quick."

As she wished, I got straight to business.

"What names consisted of the greatest bloodline kingdoms in Wizarding history?" I asked.

Bathilda clicked her tongue. "There aren't many kingdoms in Wizarding history. The notion of kings was mostly a Muggle tradition. Wizards and witches harbor too much power within one individual for such bloodlines to hold. Royal power filters down in other ways, in the form of interest groups. Most Wizarding 'kings' were wizards who wanted to do some good in the Muggle world. Their guise as a 'king' allowed him to do just that, while hiding away their true magical abilities."

The way Bathilda said that made a very old memory clunk into my mind.

Flitwick was standing atop a stool, looking serious in a way he rarely was as he spoke to us: "Now I must impress upon you a different wizard's name. Damocles. He was a Greek courtier who commented to the King Dionysius that he believed the King to be incredibly fortunate because of his great power. The King suggested they switched places, to which, of course, Damocles agreed. However, the King, arranged for a huge sword to hang above the throne, held at the pommel only by a single horse hair. Of course, the King was a wizard, and the horse hair was a unicorn's hair, so strong that when tied to an object by magic, as the King did, it could not ever accidently release that object. However, Damocles, being an unidentified Squib, did not realize this, and instead, begged the King to switch back places, for Damocles had realized that with great power comes great peril, temptation, and anxiety."

"Was King Dionysius one of those wizards?" I asked uncertainly.

Bathilda's eyebrows rose. "Why, yes. A famous Greek king known for spreading wisdom on power structures and judicial systems…"

Dionysius had a sword. I wonder if it still exists today.

"Are there relics of Dionysius left?" I asked.

Bathilda thought for a moment and said, "Not in the Muggle world. But there are rumors of inheritance in the Wizarding World…" She looked away from me for a moment.

"You know," I said without delicacy. "You know who the inheritance is."

Bathilda smiled wryly. "So do you, foolish girl."

"I do?"

"I believe you are acquainted with someone with the surname of Kaius."

"Kaius? Wait, you don't mean Jared Kaius?"

"Of course. Didn't you hear of his royal bloodline during the TriWizard Tournament?"

"At Letra Damien, we don't have Houses like you, just the Greek word for your year embossed on your robes. But there is a sort-of unspoken hierarchy even amongst purebloods. And this lady's son has the purest blood out of anyone. He's in the unspoken, highest acclaimed ranking of the Meraclus."

I wanted to ask if she knew exactly what the inheritance was, but I knew that might be pushing it.

Instead, I moved on. "Who else masqueraded as kings, I wonder? In the Muggle stories, they tell of King Arthur and his knights. Is there any equivalent story in magical lore?"

Bathilda shook her head. "You're asking all the wrong questions, my dear. The question is: who is King Arthur?"

My forehead wrinkled in confusion. "King Arthur is King Arthur."

Oh! "You don't mean to say he was a wizard!?"

"Of course he was," Bathilda scoffed. "How else could he have pulled the sword from the stone?"

The sword! Of course, Excalibur.

"But there is no King Arthur in magical lore," I countered. "No king famed for his bravery and chivalry. Nobody called the champion of courage…." My voice trailed off as I realized. Goodness, the answer had been in my face the whole time.

"…Godric Gryffindor. It's Godric Gryffindor, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Bathilda inclined her head. "It is not a well-known fact yet, but historians recently made the connection. Of course, we do not know if Godric Gryffindor is King Arthur or a descendant of…"

The rest of her intellectual recitation of the debate did not reach my ears, however, as I marveled at my realization: Godric Gryffindor's sword is Excalibur!

I wanted to ask about Arondight, but I knew that this last figure had to be a Muggle, and Bathilda was a historian of wizarding times. Besides, this might be pushing my luck. With her intelligence, she would be sure to figure out what I was after and report it to Dumbledore.

So, I simply thanked her and got out of there as fast as possible.

I'll have to go after the other swords first and just see what happens from there.

As I left, I tried to catch a glimpse of Lily and James before I went. But their home was no longer visible to me and I realized that their home was under the protection of the Secret Keeper. I had not been allowed in on that secret.

"Stay safe," I whispered.


I decided to go by the less-obvious route of Muggle transport.

I stepped into King's Cross station, marveling at the thick rays of sunlight filtering down.

I was headed for the nearest airport to catch a flight to Poland.

"Poland, huh?" Sirius commented. "Now some of those cryptic comments about red-and-white Letra Damien folks make sense."

Alexia laughed and said, "Yes, we're very proud of our national colors."

I was exhausted by the day of travels. The Kaiuses owned a grand estate and as such, they were far out of the way of ordinary Muggle roads. Wearily, I knocked on the ornately carved wooden door.

A butler opened the door and addressed me in Polish.

"Oh, I only speak English, I'm afraid," I said, embarrassed.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"I would like to meet with Jared Kaius."

The butler answered smoothly, "He is not here at the moment."

"Then, what of Mrs. Kaius, does she reside here?"

"Perhaps," the butler said protectively. "What is your name?"

"Raylynx Kingsley."

"Wait one moment, please."

The butler came back and said, "Right this way, please."

I followed the butler down marble hallways and past gold mirrors and into a small sitting room.

"Mrs. Kaius," I greeted her, bowing my head a little.

"Ms. Raylynx Kingsley, the champion from Hogwarts. Welcome." Her voice was elegant, but stern. She was dressed simply, but finely. Her presence commanded the entire room. I could easily see how she could guard Alexia.

"Thank you."

"And for what purpose did you take the trouble of coming so far?"

"There is something in your hands that I am willing to bet my life on," I replied.

"And what might that be?"

"A sword you inherited. The sword of King Dionysius and Damocles."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"What gives you the right to ask me for such an important relic?" she asked me, eyeing me harshly.

"I need it," I answered honestly. "For you, it is an important historical relic. But for me, it is a necessary item to be used in the present."

She ran a finger across her lips before she asked, "Used? How?"

"However I can against the Dark Lord. However I can to protect my friends and family."

Something in her eyes flickered at this and then she said, "That was a dangerous thing to say. The Dark Lord has committed terrible deeds, indeed, but I am a pureblood aristocrat. How can you be sure that I want the Dark Lord to fall?"

"Jared is your son and Alexia, his… cousin," I indicated. Her eyes flashed and her lips grew into a thin line at my words.

I continued on, "You have raised and protected them both. I do not believe that you support the Dark Lord."

She was quiet for a long spell. Finally, she asked me, "What will you offer me in return?"

"The downfall of Lord Voldemort or my death, whichever comes first."

Mrs. Kaius studied me with her sharp eyes. I felt her probe my mind, but my Legilimency reflexively pushed her away.

Finally she said, "I request you stay here until I have corresponded with Jared. Considering my old age, this is more Jared's choice than mine."

She turned away from me, saying, "I will have accommodations ready for you shortly."

I hesitated. What if she betrayed me? What if she contacted Dumbledore?

But I have no choice. I need this sword.

I sighed deeply as I resigned myself to her offer.


Two nights later, Mrs. Kaius visited me in her guest room. The accommodations were very comfortable and the furnishings were all very expensive. I sat at the red oak table, scribbling away in frustration on paper. My hours traded off between practicing magic with only my wand shards in my pocket and trying to perfect the potion Dorcas and I had begun.

"Ms. Kingsley."

I rose from the table.

"Have you spoken with Jared?" I asked.

"Yes."

"And your verdict?" I asked, more than a little nervous.

"He asked me to give to you- on one condition."

"Yes?" I inquired, tense.

"He asked that no matter what, you stay alive. That is the condition on which he gives you this sword."

The unexpected kindness of his condition struck me deep in the heart. For a moment, my voice was stuck in my throat. Finally, I managed to whisper, "Thank you."

"It is not an easy condition," Mrs. Kaius said, gracefully approaching me.

"I know that," I replied. "I do not take it lightly."

"Very well." Then, her eyes flickered over to the papers I had been working on.

"What is this?" she asked, her wise eyes scanning over the alchemic formulas she knew so well.

"Oh," I said, embarrassed. I hurriedly piled them up in my arms. "It's a failed project."

"Let me see those," she commanded, holding out her hand.

"They'll be a waste of time for someone as accomplished as you, Mrs. Kaius," I said.

"I'll determine that myself," she said sharply.

I hesitated, and then reluctantly handed over the papers.

"I'll look over these," Mrs. Kaius said promptly. "As for the sword, I shall have to make a visit to the forest tomorrow."

With that, she left my room, requesting only that I see her for dinner later that evening.

When she closed the door, I collapsed on the bed. I have been so certain that Jared would disagree, claiming that magnificent relic as his. I couldn't believe the limitless of his kindness. I became determined to pay him back. But in order to do that, I really do need to fulfill his condition first. I have to be strong enough to make this out alive.

I got up from the bed and raised my hand again. I tried to focus on the flow of energy running from the wand shards in my pocket to the tingling in my outstretched fingers.

"Accio quill."

Nothing happened. The quill barely shivered.

"Accio quill."

I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate again. Feel the flow of magic. There is no difference between this and your wand, except in your mind.

"Accio quill!"


When I came down for dinner, Mrs. Kaius was already sitting at the huge table, lit by three gorgeous crystal chandeliers hanging overhead.

"This is most impressive work," Mrs. Kaius said, as I took my seat beside her. "You did this all by yourself?"

"No, I had the help of a-" My throat closed in on itself, but I managed to finish quietly "-friend."

"The alchemic processes have never been considered in this way. It's very exciting."

"Well, it doesn't work," I said, trying not to reveal my utter frustration with the project. Of course, Mrs. Kaius noticed. She raised an eyebrow at my less than dignified behavior.

"I've tried everything I can think of," I said, a little ashamed.

Mrs. Kaius merely looked down at the parchment again.

"Forgive me if I'm prying with my explicitness, but this is an attempt for a werewolf transformation prevention potion, correct?"

"Yes," I answered. "Although ultimately, Dor- that is, my friend and I agreed to sacrifice physical transformation for mental preservation."

"A smart move," Mrs. Kaius judged. "I commend your friend."

Oh, Dorcas. Before my emotions overwhelmed me, Mrs. Kaius spoke again, "However, I do have a few suggestions to make. Would you like to hear them?"

"Oh, please."

"Then put your frustration aside and sit closer to me. I shall show you my thoughts."

We spent the rest of the evening, the next day's breakfast and lunch together as she explained several errors or wrongful assumptions that I had made with the alchemic theories.

Finally, we straightened out almost everything except-

"I still can't think of any known ingredient with a purity and luminosity that high." I bit my lower lip. "Can you, Mrs. Kaius?"

"No," she agreed. "I do not know. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist or that the formula is useless. It just means that there is some more research to do."

I nodded.

"But this part, I'm afraid you'll have to carry out by yourself. I know you're restless here. You must set off to accomplish your missions and I shan't keep you here."

With that, Mrs. Kaius suddenly summoned a treasure chest over to her. It opened with a click and inside- I saw-

"Take it. It's yours."

With trembling hands, I reached in and took the scabbard and handle of the sword. Slowly, I drew it. Its silver sheen was breath-taking and it was clearly still in finest form.

"Mrs. Kaius, I-"

"Show your gratitude with your actions. Finish the potion, and live through the war," Mrs. Kaius said sternly.

I never got to properly thank her for she left right after she delivered the sword, and sent the butler to tell me that I was free to go. I knew that she did not want to burden me with emotions as I left, and so I thanked her in my heart as I set off from the Kaius house. I raised the hood of my cloak over my head. I stepped out into the bustling wind, hearing it fly through the shaking leaves as I made my way to my next destination in Lower Saxony, Germany.