Red strings fly and fall,

twist and tangle,

wrench and mangle,

tighten and strangle,

To us each one and all.

-Prophecy of the Duskbringer

After a period of poking and prodding the egg with no reply from Batty, Guppy closed her eyes and felt at their bond. It was much the same as before, except where it was starkly different. It still connected them, but it stretched outside of her instead of within. Reaching out with her soul, Guppy could feel Batty's sleepy mind on the other end, the bond sending her feelings she interpreted as being snuggled up in bed with lots of fuzzy blankets.

The bond also felt lighter, freed from a weight Guppy had not realised it was under. In fact, as she drank some water from her bedside pitcher and her headache receded, she felt better than ever. It felt like she could breathe freely.

She did a few quick flips and jumps, her speed and reflexes reminiscent of her first couple days after the accident. The initial flood of energy faded after a few minutes, but instead of disappearing completely, instead it seemed to flow and start pooling within her, slowly bringing a sense of wellness, a warm glow that permeated from her core to the tips of fingers and toes.

She enthusiastically performed one particularly ambitious maneuver and promptly ripped some stitches in her jacket. Muttering curses to herself, Guppy reached for her sewing kit and got to work fixing the consequences of her hubris.

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At the same time Guppy was threading her needle, Jacques and Hadoom strolled into the Academy’s Library, and ignoring the occasional glance their way, headed to a certain librarian’s office.

After pressing an alert button to notify the occupant of their arrival, they entered the luxurious study and closed the soundproof door.

Hadoom immediately plastered a wide grin on his face, stuck his fingers in his waistband and belted out a greeting to the beautiful bespectacled elf who sat behind the desk, watching them expectantly.

“Ello ‘oney I’m ‘ome, did ye miss me much like?”

He caught the first pencil that threatened to skewer his eye, deflected the second with his leather bracer, but then dropped to the ground to avoid the following six that flew at him in tandem.

Jacques ignored his spreadeagled companion and instead proceeded to report to Emily.

“We’ve scouted the grounds and the gates, contacted our protective target miss Cooper and delivered the orc named Jade to the indentured servant's quarters with instructions to the head housekeeper to allow him free rein to serve as a bodyguard for miss Cooper at events.”

He paused, and his hesitation caused Emily to focus fully on him.

“What is it?” she asked

“Something chased miss Cooper through the orchard,” Jacques spoke worriedly, “she didn’t get a good look at it, but the tracks it left suggest some kind of large beast, far larger than a suk, but the claws were aligned in a reptilian manner rather than canine. Neither Hadoom nor I have ever seen anything this size before. Even more worrying, after a few dozen paces its tracks disappeared as if they were never there.”

Emily contemplated Jacques' words as Hadoom rose to his feet and nonchalantly acted as if he hadn’t just been forced to grovel by a pencil.

After a few moments she theorized aloud, “It doesn’t match anything I can think of, perhaps it’s an escaped magical experiment? Or a summoned familiar? I shall have to speak with the principal about it during our next meeting, for now keep your eyes and ears open, while our primary mission is to keep Miss Cooper safe we still have our secondary objectives I had to agree too to land this assignment for us. Was there anything else?”

“One more thing,” said Hadoom as he cautiously lifted himself back to his feet, “The orchard ground was carpeted with freshly fallen leaves, real heavy layer too, ‘cept for where the beastie’s footprints lay. There they were rotting something fierce like.”

Emily’s left eye twitched, hard enough that she instinctively raised a slender hand to cover it. A brief static filled her ears, and just as quickly disappeared, accompanied by a fleeting sound of rushing water. She took a steadying breath and waved her hand dismissively at her subordinates, who were looking at her while quite failing to hide their curiosity.

“I’m fine, head off to your normal duties, I’ll send a message if I need to contact you, let me know if you find any more info on this creature. Try to keep out of sight and mind of our charge, she’s to focus on her studies Jacques.

“Mam!” Jacques said as he saluted and turned to leave.

Hadoom gave her a wink, and a blown kiss before he too turned to leave, the dwarf skipping the first step as an intentionally whistling pencil flew past his ear and buried itself into the soft cork soundproofing of the wall.

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4993 A.D. Fifth day of the seventh week of Autumn. Royal Academy Dorms Seventh bell of the evening

Duncan sat on his bed and began removing his soft leather shoes, neatly placing them to one side as he went to work on his tie and jacket.

His clothes almost fit him, they were just a half size too small, it might have been that he was bulking up recently, but considering his tailors Duncan doubted it. Far more likely it was a petty maneuver from one of his mother's rivals.

He refused to get them re-tailored though, giving in to their ploy and complaining about his uniform would only give them the satisfaction they sought, and no doubt seeded twisted rumours would soon circulate in courtly gossiping to weaken his political position further.

So instead he bore the petty discomfort and sought solitude and a certain level of undress in his rooms whenever he could afford to.

His uniform hung, and enrobed in more comfortable cloth, Duncan allowed himself the luxury of relaxing, at least partially, as he dissected the day’s events in his mind.

The girl he met today, Henrietta Cooper, would make a promising ally. She came from a rural noble house, and as far as rumors and a few enquiries had informed him, she was unconnected to any courtly faction. It would be good to add her to his if possible. He needed any support he could get, and the girl had shown significant power with her magics, if a little untrained. But that would fix itself during her academy tuition…

'She's also gorgeous', whispered a traitorous thought, 'easily the most beautiful girl I've ever seen'

Duncan realised his heart rate was far too elevated for his comfort, and in his efforts to calm himself it took him a few seconds to recognize a knocking at his door.

After double checking that he was decent and had a hidden blade and shield charm on his person, he walked over and checked the peephole, then unlocked his door and swung it open.. He took the letter handed to him by his bodyguards and confirmed they had already tested it for poison and curses. Thanking them, he retired to his solitude once more.

A quick swipe with his dagger parted the thick paper, and the prince found himself examining an invitation from Euphemia his classmate to an afternoon tea on their next freeday.

Duncan let out a lengthy sigh as his shoulders drooped. He recognized the political expediency that necessitated his attendance. The Ironhold family would be a good backer, an excellent one in fact, considering how unfruitful his last few weeks of recruiting had been. There was just one glaring problem, he despised Euphemia. A sentiment he knew she did not share.

OK, maybe he was being just a little dramatic, but he had grown up around her, and both knew and was repelled by the spite and cruelty she hid from others.

Duncan still occasionally had nightmares about walking in on her dissecting a baby suk, while it was still alive.The girl had quickly learned to hide her darker side and had formed the image of beauty and excellence that was known by the public. But he still caught glimpses of it over the years, a hollowness in her eyes when her mask slipped a fraction, like it had this morning when Henrietta had upstaged her and made him grin.

Enough of that. Too many dark thoughts plagued his mind recently. It wasn’t as if he had to marry her, just attend her tea party, make nice, and have her do what she did best, pull some strings.

Duncan straightened his shoulders and decided a good workout session was in order to clear his mind. He retrieved his sword from the wall and slid into familiar forms, pushing himself to complete them with speed, power and exactness.

He succeeded in clearing his headspace of negative thoughts, but the charming smile of a silver haired girl refused to leave as he spun and warmed his supple muscles.

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4993 A.D. Fifth day of the seventh week of Autumn. Eighth bell of the night.

A beautiful lady rode in a gently rocking carriage as it made its way through the noble sector of Nolusburg. Her skin was pale, and she wore black instead of red, her golden locks denounced their usual red.

She stared sightlessly out the small window as the carriage trundled through a gate and slowed in front of an old but large mansion.

Braexia snapped out of her thoughts after her vehicle came to a stop and stepped from the luxurious coach to walk leisurely towards her hubby’s mansion.

Her task this evening had been a success, and a small enchanted flask was now concealed in her bosom. It had cost dearly, but spending others money was fun in and of itself. She smiled to herself, the different parts of her plan were coming together nicely, and no matter who that girl the royals had executed was, the blood link she had little Guppy remained active so her backup plan remained in play.

“Welcome back, Milady Bronzino,” A maid greeted her as she entered the welcoming hall, “Shall I draw up the bath for you?”

“No, I am fatigued from my shopping,” replied Braexia, “I shall retire to my room at once.”

She ignored the bowing maid and sauntered up the staircase to the main bedroom where she shut the doors behind her, then sprawled out on the massive four-poster bed.

A tendril of worry from Simon made itself known, Braexia sighed and removed the magitech choker she wore, dropping the illusion and revealing her red hair once more.

“Shush now, I know you don’t want to leave me alone, even for a second, but putting you in the flask for a few minutes is the only way we’re getting past the royal guards.”

Braexia stroked her hair, soothing her agitated brother until he calmed once more. She didn’t like it either, but it was the best chance they had. She turned and looked into the dresser’s mirror. A strange face looked back. Another precaution taken, slight adjustments to the shape of her face left it rounder and less likely to be recognised by any who did not know her well. She doubted anyone would have recognised her, but being extra cautious wouldn’t hurt, especially when she was so very, very close.

Well, six months close anyway, but she had other amusements to keep her distracted in the meantime. Speaking of which, she heard her eager husband fumbling at the door, back no doubt from a drinking session with his noble friends. She snapped her choker back on to resume the illusion and welcomed her lusty husband home with a smile and a flick of her hand.

It was all too easy to reverse a small flow of blood and knock him out as he groped her. He wouldn’t remember anything in the morning, he never did.

She tucked him in bed and after a bit more planning went to sleep herself.