Trip to a Fae Realm: A collaborative Fairy Tale (by invitation only please)

From this vantage point atop a small rise, one barely took note of the surrounding village.

The castle itself, gleaming with a white polished limestone facade, fully dwarfed the surrounding buildings.

While quite massive, it was also somehow airy and had a somehow cheerful appearance. In most dimensions that had them, castles of this size seemed to loom over the landscape surrounding them, but here this was not the case.

The many towers and balconies were connected by buttresses and bridges that would have been untenable to designers and builders with lesser imagination and skill, and obviously would have been nearly impossible to construct in any other setting.

Krystal sighed softly as she gazed at the visage below. This was still her favorite view of the place she had come to call home.

Futurina sighed wistfully behind her, and Chaz looked almost awestruck.

"Come, my friends...", she said, "We need to get Paladin to the castle."

*A few minutes earlier...

As Collette and Alexis sped up through the Fae Realm to King Oberon's castle, Collette breathed a sigh of pure relief. "Returning here after so many decades away makes me feel much younger. Thankfully around you and KrystalLynn, I can have my normal non Earth appearance. I was afraid to reveal this back there to the others who have no ties to Fae history because I am tired like Futurina of being someone I am not." As she said this, her appearance changed as her hair turned a half white half brown color and her skin turned a very light shade of purple.




"Lady Collette you should not feel ashamed to hide your true beauty among us Fae," Alexis said sympathetically to her. "We judge appearances much differently then on the version of Earth so many now inhabit which so few realize is a 'reflection' of sorts of the pre EA Wave Earth. But using magic as a glamour to distract non fae from seeing you as you truly are to avoid racist remarks about your past is something that certain elves might think of as wrong."

"True but still so long as our enemies (?) still exist out there somewhere, shame for me and my siblings still exists for the actions taken so long ago only those here and at the Academy know the real truth." Collette turned suddenly and then unconsciously her skin stopped being light purple again but with a brief momentarily look of confusion in her eyes. "I trust you and the princess and her family to keep my secret safe until I receive word through a dream it can be revealed. The others will be here soon."*


Appearance: Along with greatly enhanced magical healing and regeneration, one of her magical abilities enhanced by Morrphon particles is the ability to transform into others physically, but not only does this drain her magical energy but it is also considered a huge invasion of privacy. This abiility is entirely different from the genetic Morphon enhanced magical Bloodcurse ability her magical students Jenna Firemage, Chad Rockwell (The Inkling) and Chad Hansen--Ricks live with.

   As they arrived Futurina smiled and a single tear rolled down her cheek.  "I never thought I'd see this place again.  Thank you, Krystal," she said appreciatively.  Ernie came over to her as she looked down feeling unworthy to enter.

    "It has been a long time since you were here," he gently lifted her head to look in her eyes.  "You have done so much, it is time the elves of Alfheim knew how much you sacrificed."

    "I'm still 'The Freak'.  I've lived in exile most of my life.  I have only visited Alfheim.  It was never my home as far as I am concerned, but it is glorious.  I wonder if my siblings will be here?" She wondered aloud.

    "Do you know how many siblings, nieces and nephews you have?" Gerri asked.

    "No, I have never met them," Futurina stated.  "My parents mentioned them in letters after abandoning me on Earth centuries ago.  I've never even seen them."

    "That is terrible," Krystal said.

    "It is why I never mention my surname," Futurina remembered, "I don't want them to feel shame for being born of the same blood as 'The Freak'."

The castle dominated the landscape with a majestic design that appeared simple, but couldn't have been accomplished without great skill. Chaz marveled at it, finding it anachronistic in several ways to the modern world he was accustomed to. Aesthetic overwhelmed function and location. How it looked in concert to the village and the land around it was as important as the protection and community it provided with its walls.

"It takes my breath away, Krystal. Thank you for sharing this," he said absently, his eyes tracing the nooks and crannies of the building.

"You're welcome. You all are, in fact," she said. Her lips formed a melancholy smile. "I always know I miss it here but it isn't until I can stand here and see it from this vantage point that I realize how long it has been. Far too long."

"Let's not wait, then," Chaz said. "People to see, things to do. Where will Silver Paladin be taken?"

"I can't say with certainty. There are several who will meet us to help decide where is best to care for him. If it is magical in nature as I expect, he will go to a warded sanctuary to recover.  If it is more of a physical health concern, he could be taken the infirmary. Leo will determine the best course."

"And who is this Leo guy exactly?" Chaz asked. "And don't tell me he is your version of Merlin, OK."

"Leo?" She chuckled. "Leo is what you would call a true Renaissance man, in every sense of meaning."

Futurina grinned with amusement, bemused to see how the encounter would play out, but still cautious. "Should I hold back until his care has been seen to? I don't wish for my presence to pull focus from Silver Paladin's need."

“Come, my friends, we should hurry,” urged Krystal as she started down the rise into the village. Allyson looked around her, bemused. Everywhere she looked she saw people, fairies, elves, brownies, and other fantastical beings.  She passed a thatched-roof cottage that seemed to represent the perfect cottage one could ever see.  There were gardens and glades strewn throughout the village. There, by a majestic oak, a dryad sat and read a book to naiad in a nearby stream.

And everywhere they went, everyone they met or who passed by them, greeted Krystal with a small bow or curtsey, a smile, and true joy at seeing their princess come home.  Krystal took it all in with grace and, Allyson could tell, true joy in seeing those she had been long parted from.  There was a slight blush on her cheeks, as if she was slightly embarrassed by the attention, but it could be from her rush to get to the castle.

Allyson noticed that they took a circuitous route to the castle; there were no straight lanes or roads leading to that gleaming edifice. She couldn’t even predict which way they would turn at each crossroads.  At times they seemed to be heading away from the castle and not towards it. Normally very proud of her kinesthetic sense, she was completely turned around after only a few twists and turns.

Ernie noticed Allyson looking around in confusion and moved closer to her and said, “It’s perfectly normal to be confused at this point.  The rout we are taking is the most direct route, but it was designed to slow any intruders in their march towards the castle.”

“But wouldn’t that put the villagers in danger?” asked Allyson.

“You would think so,” agreed Ernie, “except for two things: 1. If they didn’t want to be found, no one would be able to find a single villager here, except another villager, and 2. Every single villager her is part of the defense of the castle itself.  They are trained warriors, spellcasters, healers, etc.  Our King and Queen are far from undefended.”

At the next turn, the path they were following ran alongside a wall.  The wall was inscribed with geometric designs, swirls, and patterns. Allyson found the designs to be beautiful and entrancing..  She could almost understand the meaning behind designs. It was just at the edge of her mind and it urged her to stop and contemplate the wall a little bit longer. She was broken out of her reverie by Krystal’s voice.

“Try not to look at the wall, my friends,“ Krystal said loudly, breaking Allyson’s concentration. “Its patterns are designed to enchant, confuse, and befuddle the unwary.  And that is just in its normal state. If one of our defenders put a little of their magic into the patterns, it could conceivably stop an army by putting them all into a mental maze.”

Continuing on, they eventually reached a sally gate in the wall, wide enough to allow horses five abreast to pass through.  Suddenly, there in front of them, was the entrance to the Castle of Dreams. Across a field of lush green grass and rolling hills wound a path layered in crushed white stone.  The path lead to a gate with a portcullis set in that gleaming castle wall.  

Inside that gate awaited wonders that Allyson had dreamt about when she was a little girl. All the fairy tales and legends she had heard or read about swirled in her head and she was almost giddy in anticipation.  Trying not to let her dreams and expectations color the reality, Allyson took a deep breath and entered the Castle of Dreams.

    Gerri was taken aback by the utter elegance of the castle.  "The art doesn't do the castle justice," she commented to Krystal.  Her eyes were wide trying to take in as much as she could.

    Futurina seemed to keep her head down.  Gerri wondered if this was from bad memories.  She didn't like to reveal much about her past.  This concerned Gerri, as even her old friend Ernie had not told her about Futurina.

    There was more to this than anyone had let on.  She would try to read Futurina's mind, but magic doesn't affect her and she shields herself quite well.  Gerri didn't blame her.  After finding out she had to now call Futurina "The Freak."

   

The group stood before the ornate doorway allowing entrance to the Castle.

There were armored beings thirteen abreast on each side of the entrance, the closest were 3 Chiton-armored fairys, followed by 4 Red Cap pikemen, 4 Elvish Archers, and finally  2 Fae Spell-sword Battlemages. Each nodded sternly in Krystal's direction as she passed, then returned to their watchful stance.

Once the group passed into the entrance hall, Gerri gasped quietly, then muttered how the art, amazing though it was, still didn't do the Castle justice.

Krystal grinned for a moment, and muttered in reply, "... this is the entryway, not the throne-room... or the gallery...".

Standing near the far doorway were Alexis, Collete, and another man, who though unknown to any of the others, save Futurina, seemed somehow familiar as if each had seen him somewhere before.

Alexis confirmed that Collete had been cleared to use her abilities, so Krystal was now free to deal with other matters.

She stepped over and had a murmured conversation with the man, then turned to the group and said, "This, my friends, is Leo...".

"Hello Leo," Chaz said while offering his hand to the somehow familiar man. "I'm Chaz Hamilton. Have you ever been to New Amsterdam? You look very familiar to me. Were you at the Citizen of the Year ceremony last year?"

"No," Leo said while chuckling. He stroked his curly beard thoughtfully. His voice bore a heavy accent, very similar to Romana Delvalutra's Italian one. He nodded politely to Chaz, but didn't take his offered hand. "It has been quite some time since I've visited any of the cities in the new world, as it has been called. I am pleased to make your acquaintances."

"Hmmm..." Chaz contemplated his response. Perhaps shaking hands wasn't a custom in the Fae realm. He dismissed the affront to his standard gesture of greeting, relying on the older man's warmth of personality and charm over his following of social convention. "Krystal has spoken highly of you. She seems to think you can help figure out what's happening to our friend. He collapsed shortly after we came through the portal  to this place."

    Futurina smiled over at Leo, then quickly lowered her head.  It was important to help Silver Paladin and she did not want to take attention from that.  Leo did notice her, though.

    "Perhaps, after we assist these gentlemen, we can do something about that circlet and shackles," Leo commented as he looked at Futurina.  He took her hands and looked into her eyes.  She looked away in shame.

    "Please, help them," Futurina stated.  "They need your help more than I do.  My problems are due to proclamations made centuries ago.  I must follow the laws."  This shocked Krystal, as Futurina's reputation was that of a bold, confident and powerful elf woman.  This was a very different side to her.

    "That's different," Krystal commented to Gerri who was just as bewildered.  "Do you think she has respect for those who have made her miserable?"

    "I think she respects those in power whether she agrees with them or not," Gerri stated.  Futurina calmly walked over to the two of them.  
   
    "It is quite simple really," she began.  "I simply recognize a greater need than my own.  Let them be helped first."

Krystal exchanged glances with Leo, who nodded.

"Actually, Theressolae, I think we need to attend to this first... I have a plan. Wait here with the others for a moment, while I speak to Oberon."

Futurina was slightly shocked that Krystal would flout Fae tradition like that, by using her given name, but quietly answered "Okay...", with her eyes glistening.

*After observing the exchange between Leo and Futurina, Collette walked over to him.

"It has been a long time Leo," Collette said to him respectfully. "Unless I am mistaken I last saw you when we came here to observe the princess's fight of honor against Morgana to determine whether she would serve the Dark Court of the Fae for a year or not decades ago."

"Yes indeed Lady Collette," Leo said back to her respectfully. "Much has changed around the Nexus of Parallel Dimensional Multi Universes HR has become since then while life here changes slowly. But aside from the issue with your acquaintances Chaz Hamilton and Silver Paladin, I sense uncertainties from you. Are you here on Academy business or from Aphrael too?"

Collette chuckled softly.  "I never did learn to hide my thoughts from strong fae telepaths... but then again, I have empathic abilities of my own... Yes, Aphrael asked me to garner information regarding certain visions that neither she nor Selanine have been able to decipher.  The Mythics have withdrawn from HR and are no longer available for consultation."*

A few moments passed, then Alexis tilted his head slightly, obviously receiving a telepathic message.

He gestured to Futurina to follow him, after directing a subordinate to show the others to quarters where they could wait.

He escorted her into the Throne-room/High Court of the Fae Realm and led her before the twin thrones, where Oberon was currently seated.

Krystal, with a most serious expression, stood to Oberon's right.

Alexis spoke, "Theressolae Jhandrolaeji of the Elvenkind, Oberon, High King of the Fae Realm, will hear and render Judgement... K'rystallyn'ne has asked to act as your advocate... will you abide by these terms."

Futurina bowed her head in compliance and then, looking Alexis square in the eyes, said, "I hereby agree to be bound by these terms... I so swear."

Krystal moved to Theressolae's side and stated, "My liege, I have seen the history in this one's mind, and I must protest the great injustice that was forced upon her.

Oberon sighed, then stated, "The Elves rule the Elves unless it affects the entire fae realm... what would you have me do? I have already, and often, advocated revocation of her sentence, and they have been most adamant."

"Then, I propose we remove the obstacle thusly... If Theressolae were to take service to one of the royal line of the Fae, she would no longer fall under the rule of the Elves.  I would like to offer her the position of my personal advisor and envoy.  She would act in my stead and protect my interests when I am absent and she is here."

Oberon inclined his head in thought.  He nodded, and his expression lightened considerably.

"If she will swear the oath, this will be done... Theressolae Jhandrolaeji, is this acceptable to you?", he said.

"It is... and happily.", she declared.

"Then, by my decree, once you swear the oath of fealty to K'rystallyn'ne of the Fae, you are hereby removed from the laws governing the Elves... you will be under governance by the laws of the Fae."

Krystal spoke directly to Theressolae, "Do you swear, Theressolae Jhandrolaeji, by all you hold holy and all you hold dear, to act in my interest and in that of the Fae throne... and do you take this oath freely and without mental reservation or coercion by any party?"

"I do... I so swear.", said Theressolae.

Chaz knew that it was most likely in his best interest to simply follow instructions and follow with the others to quarters to wait for Futurina and Krystal to join back up with them.

Where was to fun in that? No reporter ever broke a story by simply waiting for it to show up at the doorstep.

He feigned compliance just long enough to get the rest of his group moving. He knelt down to tie his shoe, allowing them to move past him as Crossroads and Gerri conversed with their guide about the castle. He stood and quietly back-stepped into the corridor Alexis lead Futurina down. Keeping close to the walls, he took cover in alcoves and behind curtains.

He watched as they headed to a room of significance. Large wooden doors towered at its entrance. Two guards in ornate armor with equally elegant blades stood outside the room as Alexis and Futurina moved through the opening.

Chaz's nose itched as he felt the emerging story ahead of him. He picked up his pace and moved to enter the room. His hands tightened on his best hope to follow after them. There were always obstructions to a reporter's efforts to reach the truth, so he always came prepared to meet a challenge wherever he went.

The guards tensed as he approached, their hands tightening on the hilts of their swords.

"Hey," Chaz waved, feigning a calmness he didn't feel. He held up his press pass, photo facing forward and marched up as if he owned the world. "Chaz Hamilton. I'm here with Krystal Fae. Don't mind me."

Two shiny long blades crossed before him, blocking his entrance into the chamber beyond. "You shall not pass."

"Yeah, yeah," Chaz stopped and crossed his arms, looking over the obstacle to see what he could of the throne room. "I've heard that one before." He started to turn and head back, but snapped his head to stare into a corner of the hallway. His arm came up as he pointed at a shadowed area behind a statue. "What's that?"

A slide of metal behind him let him know they too focused in the direction of his warning. He dropped to ground and tumbled through the area they had blocked and through the doorway into the throne room, diving behind the nearest bit of cover.

Krystal and several others stood before a seated man at the far end of the room. They seemed deep in conversation. Chaz wanted to move in closer, but suddenly found that he couldn't move a muscle in his body.

One of the sentries came to his side and placed a hand on Chaz's shoulder. "Mortal. You will come with me now."

Chaz felt his body lift into the air as he was maneuvered out of the room and down a different, darker corridor.

    Gerri was completely enamored by the castle.  She had noticed Chaz stopping to tie his shoe.  Leo was quite the guide.  Something felt off to her though.  "Where's Chaz?" She asked.

    "Knowing him," Ally started, "He probably tried to get a scoop with King Oberon."

    "That wouldn't be wise without going through proper channels," Ernie admitted.  "I am concerned more about my old companion," he lowered his head and muttered, "The Freak."

    "You really hate calling her that, don't you," Gerri stated.  Ernie nodded in agreement.  Krystal and Futurina calmly walked back to the others.  Ernie was solemn as he saw she was still shackled and wearing the circlet.

    "Why the long face, Ernie?" Krystal asked.

    "It appears that you were unsuccessful," he sighed.

    "On the contrary," Krystal calmly stated.  "Allow me to introduce my newest advisor and envoy, Theressoelae Jhandrolaeji.  Most of you know her better as Futurina."  She removed the circlet and unlocked the shackles.  She handed them to Ernie who was now smiling.  "Return these to the elf queen as Theressoelae is now under the laws of the Fae and not her laws."

    "Oh," Futurina interjected, "those shackles actually belong to me.  Just the circlet belongs to the elf royal family."  This caused a quizzical look then understanding to pass between them.

    Ernie gave a genuine smile and hugged his old companion.  "Congratulations, Theressoelae," He said as a tear rolled down his cheek.  A tear of joy.  "I'll have to take my leave and report this the her highness.  By your leave, your grace."  He bowed before Krystal.  She dismissed him.
   

By way of dismissing Ernie, Krystal said, "Please inform her Highness to expect a Royal visit at my first convenience, to introduce my new advisor and envoy."

Ernie grinned. "I'm sure she will be absolutely thrilled... as to her Counselors...", Ernie's grin turned a bit wicked.

Krystal looked around the group at this point.

"Where's Chaz?"

Allyson spoke, "He stopped en route to tie his shoe... and did not catch up to us."

Krystal facepalmed over her eyes, shook her head, and then did something none of her companions expected.  She chuckled softly. "That boy is absolutely infuriating at times, but one must admire his tenacity."

She turned to Alexis, who nodded, and said, "He will be brought here... after a ten-minute internment in our finest cell."

"Please, make it so, Alexis."

She turned to discuss her next plan with Theressoelae.

While immobilized, Chaz found himself carried down a spiraling set of stairs into a lower level of the castle. The stonework was as immaculate here as it was in any other part of the structure he observed in the archaic building but less ornate in the wall hangings and overall decor. If he were being taken to a dungeon, at least it would be cleaner than he deserved. He'd been taken into custody by several police stations around the world over his years reporting, and if that were the case here, he would count himself fortunate as the typical smell of despair and urine didn't fill the air.

Even if he didn't discover what exactly was happening between Krystal, Futurina, and King Oberon, he did manage to learn about how they treated those who violated some basic rules of the kingdom. With people's infatuation with true crime stories and cop dramas held true to form, he would have a some experience worthy of an article or two. After all, it is easy to imagine all the niceties to a foreign culture but knowledge about how rulebreakers and the downtrodden were treated revealed a great deal as well.

He was finally taken to a small cell with a sturdy wooden door, a wooden bench, and a blanket. Nobody else occupied the room, but as he was carried in, he could hear the sounds of people from behind other closed doors.

Once he had been placed within the room and the door closed, he found himself free to move once more. He rushed to the small barred window in the door. "I don't suppose I get a phone call, do I?"

The noise behind the other doors diminished.

"Hey. I'm Chaz Hamilton. I don't suppose any of you all read the Sentinel here, do you?"

A few growls issued from the other cells told Chaz that the answer was most likely a no.

"What are you all in for?"

"Why are you talking so much, meat?" A raspy voice came from behind one of the closer doors. Chaz swung his head about trying to see the speaker, but could only make out a red cloth hat dancing behind the bars of the other door. "If I could eat your tongue, I bet you wouldn't make as much noise."

Chaz stepped back from his door. "Sorry. Just trying to get to know my fellow cellmates."

A shiny metal helm stepped before the portal to Chaz's cell. "Please, don't rouse the miscreants."

Looking closer, Chaz found himself staring into a pair of lovely ice blue eyes behind the faceplate. They contained a beauty he instantly found himself attracted to. "Hi. I'm Chaz."

"Caerwyn Aethelreda," she replied with a smile. "You are the first human to interned here for some time. Do you not have rules in your land or did your elders not teach you to refrain from entering guarded rooms without permission?"

"I'm not a fan of meetings where people's fates are decided in private. It is a reporters duty to make sure truth sees the light of day for everyone, not just a select few."

"So what you did, you did out of a desire to serve. Interesting." Caerwyn said. "That isn't typical of what I've heard of people from your world."

"Maybe when I get out of here, we can compare notes and correct each other's faulty assumptions?" Chaz said hopefully.

"Perhaps, if you get out of here. Being a long lived species, our sentences tend to reflect that. Will you be as curious in twenty or thirty of your people's years?"

"You've got to be kidding," Chaz said with surprise and a touch of fear in his voice. "I figured it would only be an overnight thing at most. Years?!"

She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. "Maybe less a report on good behavior to King Oberon. Will you be quiet now?"

Chaz couldn't help but smile, entranced by her playful nature. He mimed a key being placed to his lips, turning it, and then throwing it away.

    Someone stirred in the cell next to Chaz.  "Hey, human," the raspy male elf voice started.

    "Who are you?" Chaz asked.  He started to record.

    "I'm Kosuth, but my friends call me Pyro," Kosuth stated.  "Do you know an elf woman with a penchant for blue leather and always wears a silvery sash?"

    "Um, yes? why?" Chaz was puzzled.

    "Well, at her trial I was coerced to say something negative about her that framed her as a murderer," Kosuth explained.  "Could you tell her I'm sorry.  It may be too late and she'll never forgive me, but I really don't like what they did to her."

    "What are you in for?" Chaz asked.

    "Oh, I tried to burn down the Soul Trees," Kosuth said in a nonchalant way.

    "Is that bad?" Chaz questioned.  He had an idea it was.

   "For a Wood Elf?  Yeah, but the flames would be so pretty," Kosuth delighted.  "It would kill off all the Wood Elves including myself."

    "Then, why would you do that?" Chaz pressed.

    "I already told you.  To see the pretty flames," Kosuth restated.

    "But you'd die," Chaz reiterated.

    "What's your point?" Kosuth was confused.  To him the price was worth the cost.  Chaz realized why he was called Pyro.

    "So other than interment, what did they do to you?" Chaz was curious.

    "They took away my spells," Kosuth stated.  "I can't cast my fire spells.  What good is a fire mage who can't cast fire spells?"

    "So, Theressoelae, what do you see as our next action?" Krystal asked.  Futurina's eyes flashed with silver blue psionic energy.  She looked into the future and saw Silver Paladin and Chaz being helped, Crossroads and Gerri exploring, and Collette watching with a medical concern.

    "I believe Silver Paladin and Chaz are the next to be helped," Futurina stated.  "This is the most important issue at the moment."

    "Crossroads and Gerri want to explore.  Their curiosity will keep them occupied until we can assist them," Futurina continued.

    "Collette is most concerned about you and the child you carry, I expect nothing less from a healer," She concluded.

    "Very well," Krystal stated.  "Anything else you would like to add?"

    "Just a question," Futurina said.  "Why was the nice man who visited me in the dungeon King Oberon?"

    "You mean from the centuries ago when you were on trial?" Krystal clarified.  "My guess is he knew what the elves had planned was wrong, and that you did not know who he was since you were raised on Earth.  He wanted to gage for himself your character."

    "Interesting," Futurina pondered the information.

    "How will my child turn out?" Krystal asked.  "What is her destiny?"

    "It has been my experience, the further you look into the future that the more it changes," Futurina stated.  "Your child will be beautiful, but there is a darkness in her future that will determine their destiny."

After some time, Chaz was escorted to the room where Silver Paladin was being observed. "Hey. Have you figured out what's wrong with him yet?"

"Not yet," Futurina said. "We've been a bit delayed due to someone being locked up and unavailable to participate."

Chaz looked stunned. "Who?" He looked around the room at the disapproving faces staring back at him. "What? I can't do anything for him. About all I'm good for is writing his obituary if he dies, which I guess wouldn't be very good since I'd probably die too."

"We're not planning on either of you dying," Krystal said. "We need to figure out the source, the trigger, that created Silver Paladin from you. What sparked him into life."

"OK," Chaz said while stepping over to Silver Paladin's side. "Then do that then."

"It will involve some invasive probing--" Futurina began.

"No. No-no-no. Absolutely no probing allowed," Chaz backed up against the wall. "I've survived enough time in jail and experimental girlfriends for that not to happen, it certainly isn't going to happen here."

"Probing your memories, Chaz," Krystal said. "Futurina, or as she is now to be addressed in this realm, Theressoelae, is going to link with you and examine the instant Silver Paladin was created."

"You got your name back," Chaz said while sighing his relief. "That's great news. I was afraid they were going to give you the run around like they do back in the courts at home."

    "Please relax, Chaz," Futurina said, "I will be gentle.  This is just to find information.  This is to be able to help both you and Silver Paladin."  She tried to reassure him.

    "I've read up on you," Chaz cautioned, "You weren't known to be gentle on criminals."

    "Those were criminals, not companions," Futurina refuted.  "Also, being gentle isn't as much fun, but requires more skill."  She removed the silvery, silky sash she had tied around her waist.  She folded it neatly.  "Here, for you to rest your head on."  She handed him the cloth which was incredibly soft.

    "Why would I need to rest my head?" Chaz asked.  Then he noticed a small bed behind him.

    "It helps you relax if you lay down as if for a nap," Futurina replied.  "I'll even tell you where I go to buy my black cherry wine after this."  Chaz perked up at that.

    "Okay," Chaz agreed as he lay down on the bed.  He was surprised at how comfortable it was.  He placed the cloth she handed him behind his head and it was like heaven.  "Just don't do anything weird."

    "I've been weird my whole life," Futurina commented as her eyes began to glow.  "How do I not be weird?"  She smiled playfully as she entered his mind.  She saw images of recent events.  This was nothing new to her as she was mapping his mind with her ESP.  Telepathy alone couldn't do that.  Most people did not understand that.  She knew where he kept his darkest secrets, but not what they were.  She had no reason to look.

    She saw him in conversation with Catalyst at the Royal Arms Museum.  He was daydreaming of Knights, clearly romanticized versions seen in films and books, when he looked in a mirror.  Not any mirror, but an allegedly enchanted one.  They were attacked by the villainous Dr. Morphons.  Something strange happened at that time.  Silver Paladin emerged.

    Someone new entered the room.