#2033  [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Jasmine considered that possibility.  “You’re probably right,” she conceded. “He’s the Lord Marshall here and he would have to take Lord Duncan’s orders.” Jasmine dropped into the nearest chair to sulk. “I don’t have to like it though! He should have come to see me first!”
     “He was likely intending to be discreet.  You and Sir Michael are the talk of the Castle and Kodiak is the Lord Marshall. ”
     “I guess you are right.” Jasmine sat brooding while Miranda fetched them both glasses of brandy. “I’m going to need a dress. A dress so spectacular that no one will look at Penthesilea when I walk in wearing it!”
     Miranda smiled. “I think that between us, we can come up with something that will top her, no matter what she chooses. Your sense of style is much better than hers.” That was a bare faced lie but Jasmine bought it. Jasmine smiled and with their brandies in hand, they set about designing the dress.

#2035   Penthesilea
     
The Keyholder's Bedroom

     The day dawns cold and wet. The Keyholder looks out her window and sighs.  “I suppose the good weather was too good to last. Winter's coming.”  There is a knock at the door and at the Keyholder's word, her youngest daughter, SpiritFire, enters. “Since when do you knock?”

SpiritFire: Since Grai came back. (grins) I didn't want to interrupt anything.

The Keyholder: (groans) Not you too! Your grandfather is giving me a hard enough time!

SpiritFire: You've been entirely too serious lately, Mother. Since Bladeraven had to leave, you don't laugh as much.

The Keyholder: I know...and I miss her and Grasshopper but the Castle was just too dangerous for someone as young as Grasshopper. And that was before all nondenominational hell broke loose. These days (shakes head).... As much as I miss her, she and Grasshopper are better off in that nice safe reality she found.

SpiritFire: I'm sure she'll be back to visit once in a while.

The Keyholder: Me too. (gets back to the matter at hand) You didn't come down here to tease me about my nonexistent love life. What's up?

SpiritFire: I've finished my examination of the vampire that attacked you. The corpse was very fresh. He was a new vampire, probably turned just before he came after you.

The Keyholder: I was his first? I'm not flattered. Is there more?

SpiritFire: Yes. *She holds out a small metal tray containing something that looks like a cross between a computer chip and and amulet.* I dug this out of his brain. (pause) You know what this is, don't you, Mother?

The Keyholder: (the Keyholder suppresses an involuntary shudder of pure terror) I do. Has MoonCat seen this?

SpiritFire: Unfortunately. She was there when I dug it out and she recognized it immediately. She thinks it may be one that she helped to make.

The Keyholder: How is she?

SpiritFire: Better than I would have expected. She's getting better slowly. I don't know what will happen if she ever sees Him again.

The Keyholder: That will never happen if I can prevent it. (pause) Find a private moment to speak with your grandfather. Don't tell anyone else. Not yet, anyway. I don't want panic.

SpiritFire: He could have sold this to someone else.

The Keyholder: You know as well as I how unlikely that is. (pause) Have you had breakfast? (Spirit shakes her head.) Then, put that thing somewhere very safe, collect your sister and meet me in the Dining Hall. We'll eat and then face what the rest of the day brings. *Spirit leaves and the Keyholder turns her face to the window* Hurry back, Lord Marshall. What we've faced before is a summer shower compared to what I fear is coming.....

#2037  [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Penthesilea finds Miranda hard at work in the sewing room. She has just put the finishing touches on a formal dress for MoonCat. Penth smiles to herself. Moonie isn’t a big one for formal dresses but the royal blue gown with its delicate gold trim will suit her wonderfully.
     Miranda sees Penthesilea enter and comes to greet her.  “Good morning, my Lady. What can I do for you this morning?”

#2039   [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Miranda considers for a moment. “The black may have some residual energy attached to it. It should be magickally cleaned and that will likely take more time than we have. I can make you a completely new dress in considerably less time.” At Penthesilea’s nod, Miranda continues. “What color would you like? A deep green would go well with your hair and eyes or we could be daring and go for something in scarlet.”

#2041  [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Miranda pulls out several sketches and the next hour is spent settling on the details of the new gown. Miranda tries to draw Penthesilea out but she refuses to be led. She likes the seamstress well enough but she also knows of her fondness for gossip and the matter that is bothering the Keyholder is not something she wants bandied about!
     Once the consultation is over, Penthesilea dresses for the weather and heads out on horseback. The little temple is still being restored and Shankarika hasn’t been at the Castle much being as busy as a High Priestess as Penth is at being Keyholder. But now she needs to talk to her friend and she knows that if anyone can keep her secret it is Shankarika.
     Several sisters have come to join Shankarika in restoring the temple and one of them takes Penthesilea’s horse to the stables while another shows her to her friend’s office. Shankarika looks up from the letter in her hands, takes one look at her friend’s face and sends for their favorite libations and a light meal of sandwiches and hearty soup since they both have managed to miss lunch. They make small talk over their lunch but when they are finished and the plates have been taken away. Shankarika sips at her drink and gets to the point.
     “I can see that something is bothering you, Penth. What is it?”

#2043  [rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Shankarika puts down her her drink and takes Penthesilea’s suddenly cold hands in hers. “Go on.”

#2045  [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Shankarika nodded and listened intently even as she was considering their resources and making contingency plans for protecting Penthesilea and her girls.

#2047     [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Shankarika leaves her seat and sits beside Penthesilea and hugs her. Penthesilea accepts the comfort. The Priestess reminds her of the Amazon Queen who fostered her after her mother fell in battle. She can trust Shan and she knows it.
     “You must remember, hon, that you are much stronger too. Spirit is a powerful sorceress as well and I don’t believe that she and her sister would sit passively while you were taken!” In spite of herself, Penthesilea smiled, recalling the last sorry specimen that had raised the ire of her offspring. Seeing the smile, Shan smiled as well. “See? And you have your brother here now. Do you think that he can be so easily disregarded by someone wishing you harm?” Shan paused for effect. “And what about your father?”
     “Point taken.”
     “And you know that I will help you. You have only to ask.”
     “I know.”
     “What I am most concerned about at the moment is Lord Stephan. Raising that spirit army  was no minor magick!  I also got a good look at the spirits he raised.  Those were not noble spirits and I do not believe that they were willing either.  Whatever he is, he is not what he seems to be.”

#2050  [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     Shankarika nodded. “He is likely jealous of the favor that the Lord Marshall enjoys!  You are a beautiful woman, Penth, and your fondness for Kodiak’s company is no secret. If your curse were not more or less common knowledge it would be assumed that the two of you were lovers.” Shan grew thoughtful. “But the possibility that he is working for someone else has to be considered.  I have heard that he intends to take the title of ‘Lord Marshall’ of Paradise Valley and raise a force for ‘defense of the Valley’.  Supposedly, evil cannot enter the Valley so it makes you wonder, doesn’t it? I think that we should let him run a bit and see what he does. He’s powerful but he isn’t as powerful as you are and with me, Spirit and your father backing you up, he wouldn’t stand a chance, no matter what tricks he has in reserve.”

#2052   [Rewritten by Penthesilea]

     “Silly twit!” Shan gave the Keyholder an affectionate swat. “You have used the Litany for far too long! You are beginning to believe it!  Look in the mirror and see what others see. Personally, I’m surprised that the ‘she’s unattractive’ part of the Litany worked at all, let alone as long as it has!  You are a beautiful woman, Penth, and it is time you realized it!”

#2054     [Rewritten by Penthesilea]
     
     “Which gave you time to hone your magickal skills,” Shan replied.  “Come. Let me show you what we’ve done with the temple while you are here.  I need someone new to bore with all my expansion plans!” Penthesilea laughed and yielded to her friend’s plan to distract her from her worries. She didn’t know how long the effects of the distraction would last but she would take whatever respite she could get.

#2057     Penthesilea
     
The Keyholder's Tower - The Roof

     Unable to rest, the Keyholder has wrapped herself in a long cloak against the wet wind and walks the top of the tower, looking out over her lands toward the desolation where armies clash....

#2059  Penthesilea
     
     The Keyholder is in a foul mood. Snapping at the staff, losing her temper and storming through the Castle. The staff finally appeals to Lord Duncan, who intercepts his daughter as she tears through the Great Hall.

Lord Duncan: PENTHESILEA!

     If anyone notices the windows rattling they don't mention it.....

The Keyholder: (still snappish) What!

Lord Duncan: You're not too big to spank.
     Lord Duncan is trying to look intimidating and does a very good job!

The Keyholder: Is that a challenge, my Lord?

Lord Duncan: It is. Change and meet me in the Training Hall.

#2060     Penthesilea
     
The Training Hall

     The Keyholder storms into the Training Hall where Lord Duncan is waiting for her, a six foot long stave in each hand. He's wearing tight leather pants and boots. His daughter is wearing a short, tight, sleeveless leather bodice fastened with laces and very short, hip hugging leather pants and boots. Her long hair is pulled up in a tail high on the back of her head and braided. Neither of them is wearing protective gear and the Keyholder looks like she's out for blood....

Lord Duncan: Ready?

     He tosses her a staff, sees the look in her eyes and realizes that she is incapable of answering him, her fury has grown so uncontrollable. The second that her fingers close around the staff -- Lord Duncan attacks! Penthesilea blocks the blow and returns one of her own! A crowd gathers as word spreads of the battle in the Training Hall because it is a battle between father and daughter. No quarter asked nor given. There is no sound except the sharp crack of wood hitting wood and the occasional softer sound of wood striking flesh when one or the other of them manages to land a blow. Lord Duncan drops and sweeps his staff toward the Keyholder's legs, knocking her to the floor. She recovers and is on her feet as quickly as he is. Finally, mere wood can take no more. The Keyholder's staff shatters on Lord Duncan's. He swings the end of his staff around and connects solidly with the side of her head. She drops to her knees, stunned.

Lord Duncan: Yield?

Penthesilea: (snarling) Never!

     She grabs Lord Duncan's boot and yanks his feet out from under him. She somersaults backward and leaps to her feet. “HELLION!” she screams.
      Her sword, the indestructible Hellion, appears in her hand and she dives for her father!

Lord Duncan: Oh Hades!

He rolls aside just as Hellion slams into the floor where his head had been.  “SWORD!”

      Lord Duncan's sword, which had been resting in its scabbard, flies to his hand as, dodging another blow from his enraged offspring, he rolls to his feet in time to block another killing blow. The crowd begins to murmur as they realize that the Keyholder is honestly trying to kill her father! Fortunately, Lord Duncan is no easy meat and it quickly becomes apparent that they are equals with the sword. Each draws blood but none of the cuts are serious enough to end the conflict. Finally, a mighty two handed blow from Lord Duncan knocks the sword from his daughter's hand. Dropping his own weapon, Lord Duncan swings his closed fist at the Keyholder's chin. She blocks and the fights goes hand to hand. Blows that would be lethal if they landed are traded at a speed that the onlookers can barely follow. Finally, Lord Duncan's superior strength and experience prevail. The Keyholder misses a block and finds her father's muscular arm around her throat while his other arm pins both of hers to her sides.

Lord Duncan: (In her ear) You are defeated. Yield!

     Penthesilea continues to struggle. “I'm sorry, darling,” he says and tightens his grip around her throat, cutting off her air. She passes out and goes limp in his arms. He immediately lowers her to the floor and watches as she begins to breath again. She opens her eyes and he is relieved to see sanity in her eyes again. “I've defeated you in fair battle, Penthesilea.”

The Keyholder: (smiling weakly) Just my damn lousy luck that the only man who can is my own father!

Lord Duncan: That was Her intent, darling. How do you feel?

The Keyholder: Sane. And like I've gone 20 rounds with you. (winces) Know where I can get an aspirin or three?

Lord Duncan gathers his beloved daughter into his arms and rises.

Lord Duncan: They probably have some in the Infirmary. (chuckles) Then, I suggest a hot bath. And then, we will talk. I know you're frightened, darling. I won't leave your side until I know you are safe.” 

The Keyholder says nothing as they pass out of the Training Hall.

(Wardrobe note: Penthesilea is wearing a crop top and "Daisy Dukes" which were called "hot pants" back when I wore them! )