#4258 

[Text to be added. Re-write in progress.]

#4260  Penthesilea
     
The Temple of the Western Sea

Quote:
Originally Posted by Penthesilea
*After wishing his Lady a "good night" and suppressing the sincere desire to be beside her, Kodiak went on to the next stage of testing. Basically, he was required to make someone do something that they did not wish to. The test subjects ran the gamut - those who knew they were involved in a test and those who did not. The strong willed and those whose wills were not as strong. Those into whose eyes he could look and those whose eyes he couldn't see. Once the Masters were satisfied, Kodiak became the test subject as various people with gifts similar to his worked to influence him. He frequently found himself singing silly songs, skipping across the room and doing other harmless but embarrassing things that proved to him that his mind was not his own. When he considered the ease with which his mind had been influenced, he grew cold. He thought of his peacefully sleeping Lady, who trusted him absolutely, and what damage he could do to her under another's orders. He understood that no matter how much he loved her, he could be made to betray her, even kill her, by someone with a strong enough mind. His resolve hardened...
Those testing him felt it when he realized the danger he posed to his Lady and were pleased.*

*Once they knew the limits of Kodiak's new powers, the two teachers that his Master had thought could teach him consulted together and then called in the third on the Master's list. It would take all three of them to train him. He was already more powerful than any student that they had ever taught and his powers could be expected to expand for some time, He was, after all, a newborn demigod. He also needed physical and spiritual training. So, while Kodiak finally sought his bed the elders of the Temple worked late into the night designing the training that he would need..... *

#4262  Penthesilea

     *Once Penthesilea got out of the gremlin caves, she went to change clothes. There were one last round of funerals to attend this afternoon and then, she could return to her tower for the rest of the day. No one would think it odd that the Lady would retire early after such a trying day.
Once her official duties were done, Penthesilea went to MoonCat's lab. The sooner the mobile units could be ready, the better!*

#4264  Penthesilea
     
The Temple of the Western Sea

     *Kodiak had spent the day in his new training regimen. He had voluntarily removed his ring and placed it in a small box in his room. He missed Penthesilea and he did not want to find himself suddenly teleported to her side, waking or sleeping, until it was safe for him to be with her. As much as he missed the bedgames -- and he did miss those -- he missed her more: her laughter, her eyes, her voice, her sharp tongue, the look on her face when one of the cats climbed into her lap to be cuddled, her companionship, her mischief. He would do whatever he had to to keep her safe, even from himself.
As the sun began to sink toward the sea, he sat in meditation, waiting for his warrior ancestors. They came to him and began to speak...*

Later, when Kodiak arose from his meditation it was with renewed resolve that he went to the next lesson.

#4266  Penthesilea
     
The Keyholder's Magickal Workroom

     *Penthesilea stood before her full length scrying mirror. She was dressed in worn brown Amazon leathers with Hellion at her side. The distinctive sword would not be a disadvantage. Hellion was famous from a battle a century ago and sword makers had been making fortunes ever since selling knockoffs. It had always been assumed that Zenobia Nightshade had purchased a particularly good knockoff. She also carried knives and some throwing stars, plus a backpack, bedroll and a beltpurse.
     In order to play the part of Zenobia, Penthesilea had applied a rinse that changed her normal shade of red hair to something with more brown in it. A simple spell made her eyes blue. And a session in an auto-makeup applicator had given her a fancy, filigree face mask tattoo of indigo blue. The tattoo would remain in place until washed off with a special cleanser. Someone would have to know her very well indeed to recognize the Keyholder Penthesilea! She had studied the gem market and knew what she could expect to get for the lot of gems that she carried from both the legal and the black market. The black market was paying the most for uncut gems at the moment, so it was to Blackharbor that she would go, the farthest south of the Coast Cities and the home of the late, unlamented Lord Leverance.
She located a hidden spot outside the city and locked in on it.

Heart's Blood! Life's Fire!
Of the Journey, never tire!
Shining surface carry me,
To the place I now see!

The mirror changed and Penthesilea stepped through.....

#4268 Penthesilea
     
The Castle Guard Commander's Home

     *Commander Mercatante was not a happy man. The Gods had made promises and they were not delivering! Aphrodite Herself had promised Penthesilea to him. Ares had promised him glory in battle. Zeus had promised him kingship of the world. AND NONE OF IT WAS HAPPENING! His Guardsmen had embarrassed him when the Castle had been invaded. Now, by the Keyholder's order, the halls were being patrolled by smelly, filthy, untrustworthy gremlins! They were even serving as her personal guard! He was no closer to ruling the Castle, never mind ruling the world. And Penthesilea! The foolish, misguided child had pledged herself to the Darklord! Mercatante ground his teeth in frustration. Darklord Kodiak had a considerable reputation among the ladies of the Castle. Before settling on the “gypsy” girl, he had been a much sought after lover and had never disappointed. A hundred hearts had been broken the night that he had proposed to Jasmine. The news that he had returned and declared his love for Penthesilea had spread through the Castle like wildfire. Many women had hoped to snare him. Many still did, despite Penthesilea's announcement. Mercatante tried to avoid thinking about Penthesilea in the Darklord's arms. It was impossible. Visions came to him unbidden and he saw them together. He saw the Darklord violate his angel of light with his darkness! He saw him drink her blood and give her his own! He groaned in spite of himself. Penthesilea was his, body and soul! He had been promised! The Darklord would have to die. It was the only way to free the innocent Penthesilea from his evil influence. Once she was free she would obey the will of the Gods and give herself to him. And, of course, after a suitable period of penance as atonement for being a weak willed woman, he would forgive her. He smiled, thinking of the penance he would exact from Penthesilea....
     In the meantime, his red haired slave mistress would serve in her place. She looked enough like the Keyholder to satisfy his needs for the moment. Once Penthesilea was his, he would kill the slave that dozed beside him in the bed. He reached for her...
And Athanasia turned to face him.

#4270 

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#4275

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#4277  [Rewrite by Penthesilea.]

A messenger finds her in the Courtyard and delivers a message from the Keyholder. The Lady wants to talk about a dress. Miranda smiles. She imagines that she does!

#4279  [Rewrite by Penthesilea]

Miranda arrives in the Keyholder’s sitting room and finds no one there.
“That’s odd,” she thinks to herself.

#4281  [Rewrite by Penthesilea]

Yes. I received a message that she wished to see me.

#4283  [Rewrite by Penthesilea]
     
Thank you, my Lady. You are due congratulations as well.  *She smiles slyly and speaks with great seriousness.* I suspect that it was a most difficult decision for you to make -- given the quality of the other suitors for your hand!

#4285  [Rewrite by Penthesilea]
     
It was, my Lady, to anyone who knew you well. Now, what does your handfasting gown look like?