fandomania | The Adventure continues...

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Aunt Trysta spent the rest of the day with us and with the children. I was anxious to see their reactions to her. To me, that was more important then any reports from strangers. My children took to her very well. Even shy Eryssa liked her.

In less than the thirty-six hours that Orlando predicted, he received back reports from his friends in Užjūris concerning Aunt Trysta. Not only did his friends check with the people on her list, but they also talked with the magical community there about her reputation. All the reports came back very positively. They even managed to talk to some of her former students and she received glowing recommendations from them as well. I had heard enough and was ready to hire her. Even Tru was convinced that she was appropriate.

Then came the question of where was she to stay. Aunt Trysta wanted quick and easy access to her pupils. The best room for her was my bedroom suite, because it had the best access to the nursery and the children. But the thought of separating myself from my children, even though I still would be in the same house, threw me for a loop. I dreaded the thought of being even a few feet farther away. I knew that that was illogical, but that was how I felt. Tru, on the other hand, didn't want to move into my suite. He liked having more privacy with me, away from the children. He pointed out that we would have plenty of time for them while we were all awake. During the night, the children would have many guardians to protect them; to whit, Aunt Trysta, Izshaq, and the nursery maids. I would only be slightly farther away. In the end, I allowed myself to be persuaded.

Servants quickly packed and removed my clothes and things from the suite. Donal's clothes got packed away into storage, with the exception of one set of clothes which I could not be parted from. They were a reminder of him and our brief time together. They would always remain in my closet for sentimental reasons and to give me some comfort.

Other furniture was obtained for the bedroom, for Aunt Trysta. The sitting room was transformed into a classroom/workroom for her to use.

However, Tru surprised me when it came to which suite we were going to use. I thought I was moving into his suite. Instead, we both moved into one of the guest suites, temporarily. Within days, after Aunt Trysta arrived, the builders started tearing out walls and making drastic changes to his suite. Tru gave carte blanche to his builders, so that everything would be done soonest.

Down came the joint walls between his and Rosa's old suite. The two suites became one much larger suite for us. Tru's old sitting room became his new private office. Part of Rosa's old bedroom was added to our new bedroom. Another part was sectioned off into a huge closet for me, with its own valuables safe. The last section was added to the sitting room, to give us more room for that. The windows were replaced so that larger and more secure windows could be added. These windows brought in more light and a wonderful view of the gardens and even the lake off in the distance.

While all of this was being done, another nightingale floor was added to this wing of the mansion. Soon after all this was finished, Tru had the builders turn one of the unused houses into a clinic for Fiorenzia and Suthi to use.

Tru, Ancil and I went through the items in the storage shed that had been in Donal's old studio. The finished statuary we found were distributed around the compound so that his art and his talent would be constantly appreciated. The studio was then turned into an art class room for Ancil to use to teach art, not only for my children, but also give classes to anyone in the compound who was interested. Ancil proved and excellent teacher for all sorts of art forms, not just sculpting.

Aunt Trysta moved into the compound several days after all of the confirming reports had been received. She made the transition very easy because she was an easy person to get along with. She made very few demands. She always made it a point to explain all of her needs when she did ask for something, which made fulfilling her requests simple to do.

A few days after she arrived, Tru gave her a huge introductory party, in the typical conDylar fashion, which meant it was loud, boisterous, and full of good food, good fun, dancing and music. This party I made sure that all of the family was invited to, so the children would not feel left out. I think that this surprised Aunt Trysta to receive the welcome that she got. But once she got over that, she started to party with the best of the family.

It was at this party that I made the realization that the people that I had been thinking of as my uncles and aunts throughout the years I had lived with them were now my step-children, and their children, my step-grandchildren. Most of whom were years older than I was.

It was also during this party that it became clear that while the majority of Tru's family accepted me as his wife, whatever respect I had earned previously as Donal's wife had been lost. It wasn't that I was still being scorned or looked down upon, the group attitude had shifted to indifference. I was ignored, over-looked and sometimes treated as if I didn't exist. Tru noticed this almost immediately. He did what he could to change his family's opinion. Tru went out of his way to show public affection for me, almost to embarrassing levels. I was sure that our constant love making was noted and snickered over. But despite this, nothing Tru said or I did changed their minds about me. I suppose that the suddenness of our marriage, which defied the convention of a proper mourning period, was a large part of the small-mindedness of my detractors. I was no longer the long-suffering widow of a beloved relative. I became an immoral opportunist who took advantage of their respected, but aged, patriarch. My only hope to change their minds was for them to see my continued devotion and love for Tru.

Tru's status did not change. He was still given the respect and love that he had earned from them as the patriarch of the family. The only stalwart supporter that I had in the family, other than Tru, was Haral. He went out of his way to recognize me. He loudly proclaimed that he was pleased that I was no longer his niece, but now his much loved sister-in-law.

After that party, unless I knew that Haral was going to be there or that Tru wanted me specifically to be there, I started to avoid parties altogether. How could I celebrate with people who thought so little of me? When I had to be there, I then let Tru take the spotlight alone, while I stayed in the background, observing but not taking any leadership roles. And so my world shrank to encompass my husband, my children, a few relatives, my friends and the servants, who always treated me well.

Once the building projects were completed, things quieted down in the compound. The Winter weather became inclement as Spring started to approach. Because of the rain and because I was entering the third trimester of my pregnancy, Orlando shifted our magic studies to the house, rather than at his living quarters.

This turned out to be a very beneficial thing, as Aunt Trysta, several times, gave Orlando ideas as to how to help bring forward my well hidden, recalcitrant powers. Our studies were progressing better than they had been before. With both of them carefully watching me, neither would allow me to try anything but small efforts, for fear that I might overtax myself or do something that might send me into labor prematurely.

And so the days passed and soon, with the coming of Spring, the festival of Pavasaris approached. With the city still under martial law and Count Torfen continued eluding capture, the festival was still being planned, although the security for it was going to be very tight and the usual all night partying was going to be curtailed by early evening. More patrols of the streets started, to protect the citizens and to prevent any outbreaks of violence.

Since the new Royal Palace was still being built and its completion dates were not close, the official public events were being confined to the large public square in front of the city hall. No banquet was being planned this year. But stages were being erected for musicians to play, for mummers to put on silly, slightly bawdy plays, and for entertainers, like jugglers, mimes, and acrobats of all sorts. There were also going to be food vendors there selling candy, sausages, meat pasties, beverages and other delights. The children were all agog to go. They begged and begged to go even for a little while. I kept telling them 'no' because I was so anxious about exposing them to loud, boisterous crowds. Even with the tightened security, I was not sure that it was safe for them. But when they appealed to Tru, he said 'yes'.

“Tru. I have already told the children 'no'. Why are you countermanding me?”

“Because the children have been good and because they have been cooped up inside the compound for weeks. I think that they need to have some fun.”

“But there are going to be huge crowds. It it going to be difficult to keep track of the children. They could easily get lost. With that monster still on the loose, I don't want anything to happen to them. A moment of fun could become a lifetime of terror for them. Do you want to chance their lives for a moment of fun?”

“No. Give me some time and I will find a good solution for this.”

Tru left the nursery. An hour later, he returned. “Would you be happy if the children were accompanied to the festivities with adults? I have asked Haral, Orlando, Fiorenzia, Trysta, and Izshaq to accompany us. They have all agreed. If you watch Celianne and Eryssa, I will watch the twin girls. Haral will watch Reuel and Jayzon. Orlando and Fiorenzia together will watch Loysa, Maxel and Sammy. Trysta will watch the twin boys. And Izshaq will watch Yusaf. This way, all the children will have a specific guardian. We will have to sit the children down and impress on them the importance of not wandering off. I think that this will work. Don't you agree?”

I gave in to Tru and his plan. We sat down the children and had a long talk about the importance of staying together for this event. I told them about who they were going to be assigned in case they needed to relieve themselves or wanted to go look at some entertainment that the rest were not watching. I kept emphasizing the importance of not wandering off. The children seemed to understand.

The next few days, the children remained happy and looking forward to their treat. Ellyn and Mahli got into the spirit of things and made everyone special multicolored outfits, with masks and ribbons and such. They also decided to join us, which relieved me a lot because they could be alternates to watching the children.

The day dawned with beautiful weather for the Pavasaris Festival. Our family left the compound at noon and joined the already partying crowds. There were so many activities and delights for the senses it was hard to choose what to do first. For the most part, the children stayed with me, watching what I watched and following my lead. True to their instructions, as the day progressed, the children asked their guardians to take them to different things, but each child stayed with their adult. For the most part, I stayed in one place, sitting and watching whatever entertainments the stage in front of me offered. Eryssa was fairly overwhelmed by all the people, so she stuck with me like glue. Celianne wanted to wander around, so she, Mahli and Ellyn went off for a while. Tru, Izshaq and their charges would venture out and return, bringing back treats for Eryssa and me to eat.

Even being so sedentary, after four hours I was exhausted. Tru must have noticed, because he and Izshaq started rounding up the others. When we were finally all together, Tru brought around the carriage and we returned home. I expected that the children to protest leaving so early, but surprisingly they didn't. We returned back to the compound, with the children happily telling me all about the wonderful things they saw and tasted.

Once we had returned to the compound, I was able to relax. I had not realized how tense I had been. Most of the children and I took an afternoon nap, while Celianne and the twins went to the stables to care for their ponies. Haral returned to the Temple, while Aunt Trysta, Izshaq, and my maids returned to the celebration once the children were safely home, so they could attend some of the more adult activities Pavasaris offered.

That evening, before going to bed, I went to check in on the children. As I was doing so, I heard voices coming from Aunt Trysta's bedroom. When I went inside the room outside her bedroom, I realized that I was hearing the sounds of love making. “Good for her,” I thought. Just as I started to leave, I recognized the voice of her companion. It was Izshaq. “Good for them,” I thought. Although the thought of such a tiny woman with such a giant of a man made me giggle. When I returned to my bedroom, Tru and I held our own private celebration for the coming of Spring.

It was sometime after midnight when Tru and I awoke to the sounds of knocking on our bedroom door.

“Sir? Madam? Please wake up?” Orson called through the door.

Tru got up, threw a dressing gown over his naked body and answered the door.

“Sir, would you mind waking up Madam? Captain Quinton says that there is a delegation of city officials at the gate, wanting to see Lady Patra. They seem to think it is an emergency. What should I tell the Captain?” asked Orson.

“Tell him to escort the delegation to one of the sitting rooms. We will be down shortly.” replied Tru.

“Very good, sir.” Orson said and then left.

I got up and we both got quickly dressed. I ran a comb through my hair just before we went to the sitting room.

When we entered the sitting room, we found the mayor, several councilmen and the head of the constabulary waiting for us. They looked as we did, like we had thrown on clothes in haste.

The mayor spoke first. “We are very sorry to intrude on your rest, Lady Patra. But there have been four reports of missing girls within the past hour or so. It is imperative to find these girls right away, so that no harm can befall them and we do not have any more riots. Since you were so helpful last time, we are begging you to help us again. For the sake of these girls, please help us?”

The chief constable then handed me a list of names. “Here are the girls who are missing. We have gotten as much information on them as we could. Can you help us find them?”

Given the seriousness of their mission, I said, “Of course, I will do all that I can.”

I found a comfortable chair and called my crown to me. I put it on immediately and asked, “Please help me find where Lydia conRavo is?”

***Acceptance***

I saw a ten year old child with long, curly black hair and wearing party clothes. She was wandering down a street, crying and looking lost.

I repeated this too the men and mentioned some of the buildings and businesses that I saw her walking by. One of the council men recognized the street and went out to send some constables to retrieve her.

I looked at the second name on the list. I asked my crown, “Please help me find where Ossa finAptos is?”

***Acceptance***

I saw a pretty, young blonde girl of about sixteen years old. She was smiling, naked and in the throes of love making with an equally naked young man. The sex appeared to me to be consensual. I described their surroundings which appeared to be a small stoa with a statue of a naked ghoddess inside the shrine.

This time, the mayor seemed to recognize the place and the young man she was with. “I will send someone to the parents to inform them where she is. The shrine is in a corner of the family's estate. At least, she is safe, although I think that her family will be very upset with her.” He went off to send a constable to that family.

When both men had returned. I continued on to the third name. “Please help me find where Sasha Coho is?”

***Acceptance***

I saw a fourteen year old brunette girl. She was naked, screaming and crying. There were many men and a few women standing around her watching as Count Torfen raped her. Her surroundings were a bush covered river bank. It looked like the river Upê, not far from where it met the harbor in Garmay.

When I told them this, the head of the constabulary jumped up immediately and ran outside, calling for his horse and the rest of his constables to mount up and ride for Garmay.

“And the last girl?” asked the mayor, anxiously,

“Please help me find where Albra Wolte is?”

***Acceptance***

I saw a fifteen year old blonde girl. She too was naked and in the same location. She was being held by several women, while they watched Sasha being raped. I recognized one of the women. The thought of what she was involved in sickened me. I told the men what I saw but nothing about who I recognized.

The mayor and the councilmen got up and thanked me for my help.

“I hope that you catch the monster this time. I hope that this will put an end to his evil.”

“So do we all, Lady Patra, so do we all.”

The men took their leave and called for their horses. They too rode off towards Garmay.

I sent my crown back to its spot in my safe. I then put my head in my hands and began to sob.

“Oh, my dearest, don't cry. The girls will be rescued! You have done a wonderful thing for them. I can only imagine on how hard that must have been for you to do.”
Nestled in the comfort of Tru's strong arms, I regained my composure.

“There was something that I didn't tell them. In my last vision, I recognized someone who was holding the last girl.”

“Oh? Why didn't you say something?” asked Tru.

“Because it is someone we know.”

Oh, ghods! Who?” Tru inquired.

“Su Wei.”