All eyes still open turned toward Ceres as she reentered the clinic. Muffled sounds of pain and fear rose in the tense silence. Trembling, she pulled closer to her father and dipped her gaze. Waithe knew she would take the blame on herself for the carnage, reasoning that her actions and presence caused it to occur.

He whispered to her. "Do not for a second believe this be your fault, Ceres."

She nodded, but from her downcast eyes, he was not sure she fully believed him.

Ceres wiped the tears from her cheek and sat down next to the same old man she had cured earlier. In the wrong place at the wrong time, he suffered a knife wound to the chest.

She lifted her arms and whispered, "Phy, Anu, Myr, Dal, Life Spirits all. Please come to me. We have work to do." Four lights appeared above her. She addressed the green one. "Phy, you were right. Please forgive me, my dear friend."

The Magic did its work on the old man, restoring him once again. She put a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry, sir. They were after me."

He brushed aside her apology with a grin and a motion of his hand. "Nah. You showed 'em good."

One by one, Ceres applied the magical healing while the Life Spirits hovered overhead, spilling out the shimmering magic by her direction. Waithe assisted with clearing debris and moving the injured to more comfortable locations but stayed close to Ceres. White sheets covering the dead littered the floor. The abundance of these tore at his gut.

Waithe and Ceres came to the doctor's office to find another white sheet on the floor. She pulled it back to reveal Galen's ashen face, his eyes open and blank. With two fingers she closed his eyes then kissed him gently on the forehead. A tear fell from her cheek to his. She whispered, "I beg your forgiveness, doctor. Be at peace now."

A desperate shout came from the front reception area. "Clavis! Where be you?"

Ceres and Waithe dashed to the front to see Alina lifting the white sheets, one by one, her face clenched in desperate hope. At the next, she collapsed to her knees with her hands over her face. "No, no..." Deep sobs took away any further words. She lifted her brother's lifeless torso to her lap, rocking back and forth as she wailed.

Ceres stood stone-faced, holding on to her father's arm. Alina's and Ceres' eyes met. Alina's wet face swirled with strong emotion: anguish, anger, and despair all at once. Ceres' knees gave way as tears gushed from her eyes. Waithe caught her in his arms.

He said, "There be no more we can do here. Let us leave before more soldiers arrive."

They walked in silence back to the cottage. As they entered, Waithe said, "Pack your things, we can no longer stay here."

Ceres sat down on a bed, her head turned down in her hands. "I lectured Graham about war and then I waged it myself. A hypocrite am I."

He sat down next to her. "You defended those in the clinic and yourself. No one would fault you for that."

"But the rage... The Darkness nearly took me."

"Yet in the most trying circumstance, it did not. You still have a great advantage, the love in your heart."

She shook her head. "Will it be enough? I must end this, but I do not know if I am strong enough."

Ceres lifted her head as a gently shining green light appeared before her. "Phy?"

She gazed at the Spirit. The edges of her mouth slowly turned up and a tear traced her cheek, one of joy rather than despair.

Wiping the tear away, she turned to Waithe. "Father, it is Eira! She sends me a vision. In her thoughts she speaks to me..." Ceres gasped.  "She said she loves me. And Alden be with her!"

Waithe put his arm around her. "What else did you see?"

"Lord Gerald and Lady Jenn were there, too. Still in the desert."

"Hmm, they must be near the border to the Lake Lands. And no doubt their army accompanies them. They prepare for war."

Ceres smiled as she looked up at Phy's green light. "Thank you again, my friend. You knew just what I needed. Tell Eira... Tell her I love her and that I love them all. And tell her this shall end soon."

As Phy disappeared, she turned to her father. "I think it be time we formally meet Lord Scias."

*****

Sprawling across a flat-top hill above the city smog and overlooking the sea, Lord Scias' estate was truly impressive. No doubt, Waithe thought, designed to impress subjects and visitors alike. A tall red granite block mansion dominated the site. The stone, not indigenous to this area, must have cost a fortune to bring in. Elaborate stone carvings lined the building, above and below an elevated walkway. From here the Lord may gaze upon his subjects in the capital city or across the sea. A heroically posed statue of the Lord stood atop a tall column as a testament to his greatness.

A number of additional buildings flanked the mansion, but these not nearly as impressive. The largest of these appeared to be barracks for his guard. A stacked rock wall with a walkway on top surrounded the estate. Guards stood watch above the metal gates, no doubt constructed of refined Kust iron. Additional army barracks were located outside the wall to the north.

With the early morning sun at their backs, Waithe and Ceres walked up a weathered wooden door beside one of the iron gates. Ceres wore the hood of her cloak over her head. They had left their horses at nearby stables. Several silver coins ensured the animals would be well-tended for an extended period.

Waithe felt a nervous tingling in his gut and he was sure Ceres did as well. He grasped her hand. "Ready, Daughter?"

She nodded. "Aye, Father."

Waithe rapped the heavy iron knocker on the door and stepped back. After a few moments, he stepped up and rapped again. Still no response.

He shrugged. "Anticlimactic this be."

Waithe pounded harder and longer on the door.

A small hinged panel in the door flung open and a guard peered out with red eyes and dark greasy unkempt hair. He spat the words, "Go away!" Then he slammed the panel shut.

Waithe rolled his eyes and pounded on the door again.

The panel flew open again. The guard sneered. "What do you want?"

"We be here to see Lord Scias."

"He be not available." The panel slammed shut.

Waithe flung his arms up and turned to Ceres. "They tried so hard to capture you, but now refuse you? Pull back your hood and call a Spirit."

Phy appeared next to her, her green light flashing.

With a sigh, he pounded on the door yet again.

The guard flung open the door, gritting his teeth. He yelled, "I told you old man--" His eyes suddenly widened as he noticed the Spirit floating above Ceres and the mark of Medice on her neck.

Waithe said in an even tone, "Lady Ceres of the Order of Medice and Waithe Rand to see Lord Scias. I believe your lord be anxious to meet her."

The guard's face paled. He stammered, "Umm... Wait here." Then he ducked back inside, leaving the door cracked open.

Hushed murmurs and excited whispers came to their ears. The guards obviously did not know what to do in this situation. Another example of decision paralysis in an overly authoritative command, Waithe thought to himself.

Waithe grinned as he yelled through the open doorway. "If this be too much of an inconvenience, we could take our leave."

The guard dashed back to the door, his hands up before him. "Oh, no, no. No trouble at all, sir. Please come in."

The guard joined another and led them through a dark passageway within the wall and out to a courtyard. With a glance from Ceres, Phy disappeared.

The guards shrugged at each other. One said, "To the vestibule?" The second replied, "Aye, I shall take them. You go wake the Captain."

The first guard gulped. Waithe suppressed a grin. Apparently, the Captain does not take kindly to be woken early.

Ornately trimmed shrubbery, interspaced with artistic sculptures, lined the broad stone pathway to the mansion. The guard, this one a tall lanky man with short brown hair, escorted them. He wore a black uniform with a single red diagonal sash across his chest, likely signifying him as a palace guard. He carried a pike as long as he was tall and a long-knife at his waist. The guard pushed open the massive ornately carved wooden doors of the mansion, motioning Waithe and Ceres inside.

Large stained glass windows let in colored light to the vestibule hall just inside the door. It featured a polished marble floor and various paintings along the wall, many of them depicting Lord Scias in heroic poses. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls as the guard led them to a cluster of upholstered chairs at the back of the hall. As Waithe and Ceres sat down, the guard took a position standing stiffly near the front door.

Ceres whispered to Waithe. "Such opulence, all the while his people suffer in poverty."

A young woman with long black hair, dark skin, wearing a long black dress and apron, bowed before them. "My Lady and Sir, may I get you something while you wait?"

Waithe looked up at her, but she would not make eye contact. "Be it too early for an ale?"

"Nay, sir. It be available. And for you, my Lady?"

"Tea would be nice, thank you."

After a short time, she returned with a pint mug and a steaming cup on a tray, along with a small selection of breads. The young woman limped noticeably. She grimaced and nearly upended the tray as her left leg buckled.

Ceres helped her set down the tray on a small table. "Thank you. What be your name?"

The young woman kept her eyes down. "Kori, my Lady"

"Your leg, Kori, is it injured?"

"Aye, my Lady."

Ceres caught Waithe's eye. He nodded to her. "Kori, I be of the Order of Medice. May I try to heal it for you?"

Kori shot her eyes up and dropped her jaw. "My Lady? But I be only a servant."

"I would heal you regardless, my dear Kori. May I see your leg?"

Kori nodded and lifted her dress hem to reveal a festering gash on her calf. Angry red streaks ran up her swollen leg.

Ceres sat down on the floor cross-legged at Kori's feet. Kori widened her eyes in shock and glanced about the room, obviously uncomfortable with this breach of social status.

Ceres closed her eyes. "I will call the Life Spirit Myr. Do not be alarmed."

Nonetheless, Kori jerked as the Spirit's umber light appeared above her and slowly circled around. Kori stiffened as the shimmering white Magic appeared above, but then her expression turned to open-mouthed wonder as the sparkling lights swirled around her legs. Ceres lifted her eyebrows as the Magic did its work. After a few moments, the shimmering Magic and the Spirit disappeared.

Ceres stood up. "There, that should be better. Your leg will still be weak, but in a few days the strength shall return."

Tears began to form in Kori's eyes as she flexed her renewed leg. "My Lady... thank you, but why? I be only a lowly servant."

"Kori, you be not at all lowly. My honor was it to bring healing to you." Ceres paused. "There were other injuries I healed in you. Do you know of what I speak?"

Kori dipped her head and nodded. Her tears turned to those of sorrow.

Ceres put a hand on the servant woman's shoulder. "Kori, who did that to you?"

Kori pleaded as her tears fell. "Please, my Lady, do not make me say. I would be punished."

Ceres nodded. "I shall not compel you to do anything, my dear Kori. Go in peace."

Kori bowed. "Thank you, my Lady." She walked off wiping her eyes, this time without a limp.

Waithe put down his mug and spoke softly. "She was abused?"

Ceres tipped her head down. "Aye."