Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 23: The Judge's Lament
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
Alecrast, two years prior…
Rain poured heavily near the Mitani Clan's homestead as Ash was on his way home with some supplies for the teahouse within it. Even though he was cautious, he had to get out of the rain as he also saw the lightning striking all over the place. By the time he got to a dry cave, he sat down as he was shivering from the cold weather that kept going in which he was also cautious against the Executive Division. When he found some withered wood and rocks, he crafted a campfire as he poured a little lighter fluid onto it and set it alight with a match. Even though he was here for the warmth, he never expected himself to be in a forgotten tomb as he noticed a door that was unopened for years. Being a crafty lockpicker when the teahouse doors were jammed, he picked the lock carefully as it fell off the doors in which he decided to go in a little further. What he found in there was what remained of the Alecrian royal family as there were countless books and tomes that were placed here after their downfall, for Ash made one of the most unusual discoveries that he ever made.
"I bet that Ginryu never knew about this until now," he said to himself.
When he went further into the tomb, he noticed a portrait of the Emperor and Empress along with their two children as they were happy in that drawing. He also noticed a mural of a pair of silver dragons on the wall as they were an omen that was never realized due to the Four Stewards' constant meddling. Like most of Alecrast's population, the Four Stewards themselves were also afraid of the Executive Division coming to their doorstep as they were mainly the remnants of what was left of the First Galvanic Uprising many years ago. Ash made a huge discovery on why Alecrast never had a monarchy for a long time in which he later saw another mural of a wintry tree the moment he saw some writing on the wall, for this was a warning for the Four Stewards who have held onto power in their palace for a long time.
"'Eternal winter is coming if the royal family isn't restored?'" he said as he saw it.
"Hey, Dr. Badass!" said Shigeru as he was looking all over the cave. "Ellen's pissed that you didn't get back here in time."
"Take a look at this… This place must've been a dumping ground for the trinkets that were left behind after the Emperor and Empress died."
"What the hell's all this?"
Shigeru began to explore the tomb as he saw several manuscripts that weren't catalogued by the Order. When he picked up one of them, he noticed it to be in the writing of the Emperor in which he detailed what his past self endured in the Middle Days. When he saw the portrait of the Emperor and Empress along with their two children, he was shocked to see one of them to be none other than Dad when he was a little boy. The revelation shook him to his core as he began to read some of the manuscript that was unpublished in which he was fearing the worst for the safety of his children, for this was something that couldn't be contained forever.
"So, the missing link with the Winchester family happens to be that of our late Emperor and Empress," said Shigeru. "Emperor Henry feared the Stewards for a long time in which he paid for his life once he had to safeguard his kids to the Order."
"For a long time, John Winchester was a soldier who was in the Hunter Corps and fought alongside James Farragut during the First Galvanic Uprising," said Ash. "I never pictured him being royalty before, but this is a discovery that needs to be revealed to the public ASAP. I bet that Ginryu never knew about this place before until now, but we should also be aware of what's gonna end up hitting the fan along the way."
"What are you talking about?"
"We've been ignoring the real omen for a long time in which we're about to be blanketed by snow that won't stop falling."
"An eternal winter?"
Shigeru sees the mural on the wall as he had a gut feeling that everything would end up going sideways after seeing the heavy ignorance coming from the ones who usurped the Alecrian royal family. He had to tell everyone about this as this was an omen that couldn't be ignored, for he never expected the Alecrian royal family to be that of the ones who fought any type of threat in the Elder Days.
"Well, Sammy, what will you think once this revelation will end up coming true?" he said.
Present day…
I was back at the home in the villa as I was more than likely to be going on a mission despite the fact that I would be going against my furlough. Since yesterday, we discovered the shrine of the Triumvirate in the cave where the Clampett was as it was a reminder of how and why the gods have been hidden all this time, but we also had to make an entrance to the Trujillo Clan's homestead, which was called off until today. When I went towards the nursery to check up on the younger children, I noticed Reiko caring for them as I also had to help her feed and change them just in time for their naps in their bassinets. By the time we finished up, we would soon be on our way to the Trujillo Clan's homestead as it was far up in the mountains, for we were more than likely to go there. Just as we were about to do so, we noticed a letter near the changing table as I opened it up to see it from Lyra, who had to cancel the meeting in which there had been heavy rains and travelling up the mountains would be dangerous, for it was delayed for now.
"It's been raining for a while now," said Reiko.
"I know," I said.
"I hope that Lady Lyra isn't cross with us…"
"Lyra doesn't want any accidents on the mountain trail. That's what was written in the letter in which her homestead is settled in the mountains, but doesn't want anyone travelling in the rain due to possible mudslides occurring."
I left the nursery as I was on my way towards the sitting room. When I was going there, I decided to take a look downstairs as I found myself in a basement. When I found a door within it, I opened it up to find a room with a red rubber ball in it as I went inside the moment I saw myself trapped in it. With the red rubber ball glowing I had to get out until I opened up the door to find myself in a familiar place that I hadn't been in a long time. I was in Winchester Castle as I found myself back in Kanto Village for the first time in a while. Going upstairs, I noticed members of the Medical Corps coming and going in which I had to keep my distance. When I went back downstairs, I went back to the room with the red rubber ball as I closed the door behind me in which I returned to the villa on Valinor the moment I went out of there. By the time I went upstairs, I noticed Guido standing there as he wanted to know where I was, for I had to answer directly anyway.
"You must've took a trip, didn't you?" he said.
"I went to Winchester Castle on Alecrast, but had to return here just to take care of everyone." I said.
"I heard about that place in which it became the temporary home of the Medical Corps after their place blew up. I bet that you have a love/hate relationship with them due to them looking over you for your assessments."
"They assess me because of the raw power that I have in which it exhausts me to no end. The only time I overexerted it too much was when I had to face off against Sawney Masbath on the Sol-3 when I destroyed Project Amaterasu. Even though I hate being hospitalized, I also have to respect the decisions of the Medical Corps being the Order's resident guinea pig."
"I can see that, but you went through the ringer too many times."
"And I also have the most hospitalizations because of what I keep going through. Still, we have our trials and tribulations, but there are others who fought and died for all of us."
It wasn't long until I returned to the sitting room as I began to marvel at the books that were on the shelf. When I looked at the ledger that I copied Shigeru's letters into, I was ready to copy a little more as I noticed the one that was on the table that was unopened. By the time I opened it, I read it as I was aware of the thirty days that were given to the Four Stewards, but met with resistance from Iago Arkhelios on the sly. Even though his father made a demon deal to overthrow the Alecrian Emperor and Empress, he was bearing the full brunt of his actions in which the time to concede was running short. When I copied the letter into the ledger, I became busy doing it as I notice Lyra entering into the sitting room, for she wanted to speak to me at the utmost importance.
"We need to talk, Sam," she said to me.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"You're being forced to go against your furlough, aren't you?"
"I'm not thrilled with it, but I don't have a choice. The Four Stewards have been living on borrowed time for years and not leaving their palace too much due to it being heavily warded and mixed with salt and goofer dust."
"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but a Crossroads demon finally broke into their humble abode just to give Iago a warning about his time running out and we all know that the hellhounds pacing through his palace won't rest until they have their jaws filled with their rare puppy chow."
"The Four Stewards are slipping, for Shigeru's forces have been busy sabotaging everything that gets thrown at him."
"House Maitland and House Dunford may be down for the count, but House Grimaldi has voluntarily left the Stewards after being bombarded by the resistance. All that stands is House Arkhelios in which Iago and Desdemona are trying to hold onto power, but their chances are slipping quickly."
"I saw the video about what happened in which one of the people that signed the death warrant against me took his own life. As for what's been happening now, I can't just flee from the danger in which I have no choice but to aid in the effort."
I continue to copy the latest letter into the ledger as I finished it up before putting it up for now. Even Lyra was impressed that I was busy copying Shigeru's letters as they were the most vital of what he was doing. Still, she didn't want me to do anything else as she stopped me the moment I was about to write in my journal, for she was concerned about something that worries her to no end.
"You went to Kanto Village, didn't you?" she said to me. "I can tell that you went downstairs to the room with the red rubber ball to go there to your castle, but went back here on Valinor."
"I did, but I also didn't want to go against my furlough," I said.
"If you plan on going back to your castle, I must warn you about House Arkhelios and the remnants of the other Stewards. Iago is dangerous, Sam! He will cut you down without a moment's hesitation in which he'll stop at nothing to kill you!"
"Dirk told me about what happened to Reiko when Iago kicked her. He also told me about what he did to you after your husband's passing. What he did to you was vile. He violated you, impregnated you, and even kicked you to cause a miscarriage because of the fact that you were carrying a girl. He has no morals or dignity in which he doesn't give a damn about anyone other than himself and his ongoing lust for power."
It wasn't long until I heard a commotion coming into the main hall as I rushed out of the sitting room to see what was going on. What I didn't expect was that Chitorin was here once again as she brought her sons with her the moment they stepped out of the rain that was pouring outside. Still, she was adamant about goading me to go towards Alecrast as she couldn't let anything else slide right now, for this was the time to overthrow the Stewards, who only have twenty-nine days to go.
"So, have you thought about going back to Alecrast?" she asked me.
"There's a room with a red rubber ball here," I said. "I can come and go to Kanto Village at any time, which is feasible, but my furlough isn't all the way up yet"
"You can't sit this one out, Sam. We need you on this… Dean also needs you on this in which he's poised to be the next Emperor of our homeworld. We can't let tyranny win! We can't sit by and let the Stewards walk all over us! Most recently, Iago had a Crossroads demon visit him just to give him a warning in which he's not unfazed by what he saw. He's stubborn, but not about to go down for the count yet in which he'll stop at nothing to keep a stranglehold on the power over our homeworld and he doesn't go away quietly."
"From what I know, House Grimaldi fled voluntarily."
"Wrong… Iago sent his troops and killed them all in their home." I gasp in shock as I heard the news. "Ginryu sent in his people to investigate the carnage in which the head of the family, Giselle Grimaldi survived, but the rest of her family were gutted like cattle. She's in custody, but is adamant into taking her own life after what she saw. She blames Shigeru for Iago lashing out on her, but he's cautious and not stepping onto a hornet's nest. And what's even worse is that some of the surviving retainers have ended up getting killed by werewolves in which the bulk of them came from House Fitzgerald. Still, I need you to get your ass in gear and get back to Kanto Village ASAP! I can't do this alone, Sam, and neither can Shigeru. You'll do us all a favor in stepping up and kicking ass right now because there's no room for tyranny!"
I was forced to go along with Chitorin's plea as I had no choice but to aid in the effort. Still, I couldn't let everyone down as I also had to go on this mission to overthrow the Stewards in which I was more than likely to be put there against my wishes. Just as I was about to go downstairs, I was stopped by Lyra as she was against me going on this mission, for she was deathly afraid of what Iago could do if I was out there.
"Out of my way, Lyra," said Chitorin.
"I won't let you take Sam," she said.
"He's more than qualified and I've gotten tired of him being stuck in that furlough all the time!"
"Let me remind you that he's given birth not once, but twice! He's still reeling from what ails him in which even Reuben goes against him going out of his furlough."
"Doesn't matter 'cause I can't do this alone!"
"Yes, you can…"
"Enough!"
Reiko emerged into the main hall as she had to diffuse the situation in which she also didn't want a small quarrel to be a heavy brawl. Still, she had to do something as she ended up putting her foot down when it came to my health and safety in which I had to lay low for now. The very reason? She feared Iago after what happened to her as she didn't want me to face his wrath when it came to going back to Alecrast. She never forgot about what happened to her when Iago kicked her in order to cause her to miscarry as she also didn't want me to go out there to our homeworld on my own, for Iago was waiting for the right moment to take me down without warning.
"Sammy can't go anywhere right now," she said.
"We need him on this," said Chitorin. "It's best to do so than having Iago throw another baby fit!"
"Iago will kill him!"
"Iago won't do shit to him 'cause he'll have Dean and Shigeru for backup. Once I get his ass on board, we'll have enough firepower to turn the tide in our favor and it's best not to sit around with our thumbs up our asses."
"Shigeru laid low for a long time, but this isn't my place to intervene," I said. "During one of his letters, he didn't want me to do too much because of the fact that he overheard some of House Arkhelios' retainers telling how he bragged about signing a death warrant against me that ended up getting lost until Phyllis found it."
"There was a death warrant against you?" I nodded sincerely. "If so, there's no point in hiding forever 'cause this is an direct order coming from the newest Review Board judge! Just because there's a death warrant against you, doesn't mean that you can sit on the sidelines! We need you, Sam! I'm telling you to lend me your—"
At that moment, I started to become exhausted as I fell to my knees. As usual, I was overwhelmed by everything as I was also feeling the pinch of what my body was going through, for giving birth twice took a toll on my health. When I got back up, I had to stand up to the pressure as Chitorin wasn't about to back down, for she has her reasons to take me back to our homeworld.
"I would go with you, but I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to decline," I said as I was trying to maintain my balance. "I've read Shigeru's letters and copied every single one in the ledger I have. I also read about the Mitani Clan homestead destroyed along with the Kingdom by the River in which House Arkhelios refuses to let go of power."
"I've been there, Sam. I watched those scumbags pillage through my home all because of what was discovered in an unmarked tomb," said Chitorin. "Matsuo and the others took mainly the women and children away from there and straight towards Erebor where they will be safe. Iago and Desdemona aren't just wanting power, they're eager to silence their enemies and critics just like what happened in the time of the Elder Days on Earth. It didn't just start with the misogyny, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia, but with the executions of those who spoke against that rhetoric. Afterwards, America was flung into civil war when everything fell apart the moment that some of the states on the west coast became independent and unable to reunite due to the irreparable damage that was caused. Yes, the Four Stewards had given every single chieftain free rein, but at a price due to tithing just like most of America's citizens voted for cheaper prices at the cost of Terran lives!"
"And most of their families refuse to leave their palace, which is warded with salt and goofer dust mixed within its walls. Iago and Desdemona don't just fear the resurgence of the Alecrian royal family, but the presence and aftermath of the demon deal that their father made."
Chitorin was stunned to hear my words as she never expected the Four Stewards to go so low in having the former patriarch of House Arkhelios to sell his soul to overthrow the Alecrian royal family. It was a revelation that no one wanted to hear until now as I had to tell the truth about what was going on. Still, I sensed her fear as she was also worried about those who lived in the walls of the Mitani Clan's homestead. In the end of this debacle, I had to decide against my own wishes to see what was going on, only to faint onto the floor.
"Damn it!" yelled Lyra as she saw me unconscious from exhaustion. "You overdid yourself again!"
I was being dragged away as Reiko was left standing with a hint of further concern. As for what was yet to come, I had to stay put in my furlough as this wasn't the end of what got put in front of me, for I had a part to play whether I wanted it or not…
Desdemona arrived at the Mitani Clan's homestead as she saw the damage that her troops had caused in which she was seeing everyone on guard. When she went towards what was left of Ellen's teahouse, she entered as she noticed it to be empty with nothing more than a few tables and teacups. She wasn't about to back down on her search for Shigeru as she wanted him eliminated for causing such sabotage against the Four Stewards in which Iago's temper got the better of him while she watched him kill most of the members of House Grimaldi. When she got out of the teahouse, she was fuming with anger as she wanted to do away with whose who fought on Shigeru's side, for she refused to relinquish power to the Alecrian royal family without a fight. She was still ready to attack as she flipped a picnic table over while screaming loudly in which she was fuming at what was discovered two years prior. She and Iago had ruled Alecrast for a long time, but it was starting to get short as there wasn't enough staying power to continue their long and strangulated reign. She was also seething at the fact that Shigeru was busy taking part of the movement that could lead to the Stewards' downfall in which she wanted to destroy the teahouse she came out of, for she was itching to track down and kill those who aided in the resistance.
"You can't be here," said Matsuo as he returned to the homestead. "Haven't you caused enough damage already?"
"Where is Ellen Harvelle?" asked Desdemona with a hint of venom in her voice. "Where are her daughter and that layabout who caused this mess?!"
"They aren't here and neither are my own family."
"And you refuse to give them details just like you refuse to tell me the whereabouts of your brother, who continues to be a thorn in my side! My brother and I won't rest until I find him and have his head stuck onto a stick!"
"You won't find him and neither will you find the occupants in that teahouse, either! This is a form of intimidation in which you refuse to relinquish power to the Alecrian royal family. Sooner or later, they'll return or else we'll face an eternal winter forever."
"There is no eternal winter! It's all lies!"
It wasn't long until fresh snow began to fall all over the Mitani Clan's homestead. She refused to believe in the threat of eternal winter as she left the area the moment she heard the sounds of hellhounds bellowing in the distance. She wasn't afraid of them as she was clutching at the pendant made from amber and Devil's Shoestring around her neck. When she saw mysterious footprints walking into the soil, she had to get away as soon as possible as she rushed towards her ship the moment she fled from the region where the Mitani Clan's homestead was, for she wanted to return to Isildur as soon as possible…
I woke in a hospital room as I found myself in familiar territory. I wasn't in the villa on Valinor as I sat up and looked out the window to see a glimpse of Kanto Village on the spot. When I got out of bed, I noticed that I was handcuffed to the bed as I later noticed Chitorin entering into the room, for she had to resort in the worst example imaginable.
"About time that you woke up, Sam," she said to me.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked.
"I'm doing this because Shigeru's trying to keep his head above water after Iago and Desdemona put a bounty on his head. Dean also can't do this alone 'cause of the fact that he's next in line to be Emperor of Alecrast."
"You're violating your oath of conduct as a member of the Review Board. If Ginryu hears of this, then—"
"I had no choice, Sam! When you fainted, I decided to tell Reiko and Lyra everything about what was going on: our homestead ravaged, the Kingdom by the River turned into a cesspool of misery, most of our family members going into hiding in which Iago and Desdemona continue to throw tantrums every time Shigeru busts up their shit, and the Zenith Vectors coming and going in which the ringleader has to look over his shoulder while vampires and werewolves are there to add his ass on the menu!"
"I get your point, but my furlough isn't all the way up yet."
"It is when you have to get your ass in gear and help Dean out. I've been through hell, Sam! You could at least do this for me, right?"
It wasn't long until I saw Guido rush into the room as he had a lockpick in his hand. When he got me free from the handcuffs, he was ready to take me back to the room with the red rubber ball until he was stopped by Chitorin, who was displaying her angelic aura. She wasn't here to play around as she also wanted me to step up and do my part in stopping the Zenith Vectors and the Four Stewards, for she didn't want me to shirk my duties at this crucial time.
"I won't let you leave, Sam!" she cried. "You can't abandon Dean or Shigeru in the hour of need 'cause our enemies are not stopping their power trip until they kill us! I've lost friends all over our homestead and I won't lose any more!"
"You can't just keep him here like a trained poodle," said Guido as he helped me out of bed. "He's still exhausted after giving birth and it's also taking a toll on his health."
"I don't care!"
"Really, Chitorin? Are you really that desperate to force Sammy to go out there on the battlefield half-cocked?"
Shigeru arrived just in time as he was there to see me. He was also not too happy with Chitorin as she was about to be in hot water due to her violating her oath as a judge of the Review Board. When I got up on my feet, I was steered by Guido as we were ready to leave the hospital room, for we had to go downstairs to the room with the red rubber ball as soon as possible.
"This has gotten from bad to worse," I said.
"Hey, I'm not done!" yelled Chitorin.
"You are when you're taking Sammy against the wishes of all of us," said Shigeru. "We've got this, okay?" He looks at me as he was ready to give us to go-ahead to return back to the villa. "You may think that I'm in grave danger, but I've laid low just to bust up what the Four Stewards have stashed in their stockpiles. I've been in the shadows, but I'm not dumb enough to go into a gunfight with a sword in my hand."
"C'mon, let's get back to the villa," said Guido.
It wasn't long until we left the hospital room as we were out in the castle's infirmary wing. When we reached the elevator, we took it down as we made it all the way to the bottom. By the time we got there, we went downstairs to the basement as we reached the room with the red rubber ball. With the door closed behind us, we saw the ball glowing as we were reaching our destination in which I had to return to my furlough as soon as possible. By the time we got to the door, we found ourselves back on Valinor, but in the basement of the villa where we left it. I was glad that Shigeru gave us the go-ahead to get back as I followed Guido upstairs to the main hall the moment I saw Reiko sobbing over a letter in her hand, for she was distraught at what was going on.
"Chitorin was right," she sobbed.
"Is it about what happened in the Mitani Clan homestead?" I asked as Reiko nodded. "I should've stayed in Kanto Village…"
"Wrong," said Guido. "Your friend, Shigeru, has a point in which he doesn't want you to be out in the field too much."
"That much is true…"
"Our home is gone," sobbed Reiko. "I hope that everyone got out safely…, especially Ellen, Jo, and Ash. They've been here since Grandfather took them in… I can't bear it when they would end up in harm's way."
"What are you talking about?" asked Guido.
"The people who ran the teahouse in my homestead are dear to me because of what happened to their past selves in the Elder Days. They've been through so much in which they also went through the horrors of the war that ended a year ago."
It wasn't long until we saw Lyra sprinting towards us as she was glad that I was safe. Still, she wanted to chew Chitorin for trying to steal me as she was also aware of what was going on in which she was on guard to keep me staying put in the villa. In a brave way, I was thankful that I wasn't put on the battlefield as I was happy for Lyra for keeping me here, for she wasn't about to let me out of her sight yet.
"It's about time you came back," she said.
"You're not too happy with Chitorin, are you?" I said.
"After what she tried to pull, she's on strike one for being a Review Board judge. I know of what goes on in which I'm also afraid of what House Arkhelios would do to you if you're caught loitering all over Alecrast. Iago and Desdemona never come here, but they'll stop at nothing to find and kill you the moment they had a renewed interest in snuffing out the rest of the Alecrian royal family. I know of them very clearly in which I hate Iago the most after what he did to me."
"I know… Any man who would do their damnedest to harm or malign a woman isn't qualified to be a real man at all. Any man who displays toxic or narcissistic behavior isn't fit to be made to be a real man. It's what I lived by for years, for my father taught it to all of us in general."
Lyra was moved by my words as she was aware of my presence being a target of the Four Stewards' constant onslaught to eradicate the Alecrian royal family. She also remembered something as my words mirrored what was once said years ago, for she wanted to thank Dad in person at the time.
"Any man who would do their damnedest to harm or malign a woman isn't qualified to be a real man at all. Any man who displays toxic or narcissistic behavior isn't fit to be made to be a real man."
Lyra was happy to do her part as she wanted to tell me about what truly happened to her. Still, she didn't want to pressure me further as I also had to recover from what nearly killed me, for I had a long way to go after this…
"How could you do this, Shigeru?!"
Chitorin was standing in the main hall of the castle as she was still reeling from her previous blunder earlier. Even though she failed to take me on the field half-cocked resulted from her first strike as a judge, she had to be cautious as she never forgot about how she saw what happened at the Mitani Clan's homestead. The homes and businesses that were in it became husks of the tantrum that Iago caused as there was hardly anything left from the chaos that ensued. When she returned to her room, she was checking up on her sons as they were sleeping in their beds in which she was starting to feel the pinch of tragedy all over her, for she couldn't bear losing anyone else at the hands of the Four Stewards in this mess.
"It's not fair," she said as she had tears in her eyes. "We don't have enough manpower and Sam's the last option on the table…"
"Is something wrong, Mommy?" asked Paolo as he woke up.
"I wanted justice for what happened at my home, but your Uncle Shigeru doesn't want your other uncle to join the fight."
"He's not feeling well," said the other boy as he woke up.
"I know, Lorenzo, but we don't know when or where House Arkhelios may strike next…"
It wasn't long until Chitorin saw the door open as she noticed a Half-Elven woman and her Rendilian daughters enter into the room. All of them were concerned about what was going on as they were there to comfort Chitorin in this darkest hour of need in which time was slowly running out for the rest of Alecrast. With only twenty-nine days left until the Stewards' lives are up, there was the continuing onset of winter slowly gaining traction as the time to restore the Alecrian Emperor to the throne would be difficult, for the time to step up ended up hitting a snag for now.
"You seem like you got your undies in a bunch," she said as her daughters sat down in the chairs.
"It's not fair, Mel," said Chitorin. "It sucks that I can't force Sam to go out on the battlefield while Shigeru's calling the shots on the sidelines."
"You shouldn't be rash. That's what my parents would say to me. As for me coming out to them, everyone accepted my choices in which I also chose to be artificially inseminated just to own the rest of my family who wanted me to shack up to someone that I didn't like. They always tell me. 'Melody Anne Spaulding, you should be taking time and settling down with a wealthy man and not bathe in sin."
"The only true sin we have to deal with is not helping those who need it the most. Damn it, Shigeru's gonna get his ass kicked if he's not careful."
"Not true… We may have problems, but we can't let them define us. You lost your lover when she was taken away to have her soul harvested, only to have her suffering ended. You were also captured, violated, and impregnated by Cesare Zampano in which you bear his sons, but you keep them despite the fact that those around you could never accept products of rape."
"I tolerate Cesare's half-brothers in which they first moved to Baratheon and later settled on Minas Tirith when their mom got a promotion in the Intergalactic Space Police. She doesn't mind Paolo or Lorenzo, but they're not like their father in which they know more empathy than entitlement."
"We're entitled to have us read stories," said Paolo. "We're also entitled how Uncle Sam came and saved you from our evil father at the Sprawl on Lannister."
"Okay, mister; it's past your bedtime. As for tomorrow, I've got work to do, so I suggest you be on your best behavior with Mel and her kids."
Chitorin tucked in her sons as they yawned the moment they went back to sleep. When she followed Melody and her daughters out into another room, she saw them go in as it was also their bedtime as well. With only her and the Half-Elf going into the lounge room, they sat down on the sofa as they turned on the television in which they were expecting more doom and gloom, for they were aware of what was going on without a moment's hesitation.
"Breaking news," said a newscaster on screen. "There has been some recent cold spots located on Westeros in which the Dowager Empress Ithilia has issued a state of emergency over there. Therefore, on Alecrast, the influx of cold spots hasn't gone away since the Red Plague from the Elder Days in which the Four Stewards were hoping that it would 'magically go away,' but to no avail. For now, we should prepare for the worst in this dark moment."
Chitorin saw the screen cut to a commercial as she was fearing the worst. Even Melody was concerned about what was happening on Westeros as she had family members who lived there and the cold spots weren't stopping anytime soon. There wasn't much time as the Four Stewards were living on borrowed time right now, for this was the worst time to see what was going on…
The next morning, I was up and alert as I was busy helping out with the childcare while I was also taking care of the younger children. With Reiko helping me while I allowed Shizuko and Sylphina to nurse, we were caring for the little ones as we finished up, along with the diaper changes and upcoming naps. By the time that the quadruplets were in their bassinets along with Pippa and Raizo in their playpen, we left the nursery as we entered into the sitting room to take a break, for we had to be on a schedule when it came to the childcare here. To my surprise, I saw a letter on the table that was addressed to me as I found it to be from Chitorin, for she was concerned about what was going on in this turn of events.
"There's been a shake-up," I said.
"Is something wrong?" asked Reiko.
"The cold spots have reached Westeros in which everyone is on edge."
"I hope to the gods that the Empress and her family are safe…"
"The threat of eternal has spread, but we can't just sit there while the galaxy freezes. As for the Stewards, they're on borrowed time in which they have only twenty-eight days to concede or eternal winter freezes us, including this planet."
"Sammy…, I know that you've been roped to help, but—"
"Sammy's not going anywhere, Sis," said Shigeru as he appeared out of nowhere. "Besides, it's best to lay low or else Iago will take him out."
I saw Shigeru fish out a wanted poster as it had his picture plastered all over it. I looked at it carefully as I also noticed that there wasn't any black spots on it due to it denoting a death warrant. When I took it out of Shigeru's hands, I saw it carefully as it didn't have the approval of the other Stewards in which Iago's signature was signed onto it. What I also noticed that there was no reward despite the fact that Shigeru was wanted for sabotage, for he was the one who spearheaded what he started earlier.
"This isn't my best picture, but it looks like I've stepped into high school," he said. "It's crappy, but the past self of a certain Alecrian Emperor had a better mugshot than what got copied and pasted just to stop the presses."
"At least you're laying low," I said.
"I'm laying low, but I had to tell Chitorin off about bringing you out in the open, which is both risky and dangerous."
"What about Ellen and the others?" asked Reiko as she was concerned about their safety. "Are they alright? I need to know if they're safe."
"Ellen and the others are safe. As for King Karen in his palace, he's treading on eggshells in which he's also living on—"
"—Borrowed time?" I said. "Iago and those within the Stewards have twenty-eight days left and not ready to concede. As for what comes next, we should be careful."
"By the way, Sammy, the cold spots have become a nuisance, but the only way forward is to deliver Dean to the capital so he can turn those asshats into pincushions. They already ravaged our home and the Kingdom by the River, but that doesn't mean that we're out for the count yet." Shigeru fishes out a talisman as he gives it to me. "This came from the Stewards' private collection in which it's been made from amber and Devil's Shoestring. If we're treading to the capital, we better be on our guard 'cause there's a load of hellhounds roaming around the palace. You better show this to Dean once he shows up here, you got that?"
I see Shigeru disappear without a trace as I was looking at the talisman that was crafted from amber and Devil's Shoestring. Even Reiko noticed it as she was fearing for the worst, for she felt worried about what was going on. Still, we had to keep going as the time to overthrow the Four Stewards would soon be on a head, for time was slowly running out for their lives due to what Tybalt Arkhelios did many years ago with a demon deal. It would only be a matter of time before their lives ended as the time to restore the Alecrian royal family to the throne was in full swing, for we were living on a short time before the threat of eternal winter came to pass...
To be continued...