"I as well," said Adelida. "It was a disgraceful thing, to threaten an innocent woman like that out of blind superstition." She sighed. "All that we can do now is mend the wrong done, and do our utmost to put an end to such evil."

"When can we expect to see her back, father? We must prepare the palace at once and plan a great fete in her honour!" Briana's excitement was both obvious and contagious.

In reply to Princess Briana (msg # 30):

Their father replied, "We will be expecting her on the twelfth of next month. Yes, Briana, a fete is an excellent idea. When we get back to the palace, I shall begin making plans."

"I will escort her back myself, if you like."

In reply to Sister Adelida (msg # 32):

"Yes, abbess, that's a wonderful idea." the king replied.

This message was deleted by the player at 23:39, Sun 10 Feb 2019.

Garin was mounted on an assuming grey rouncy which matched his own grey hooded cloak. He guided his mount with a steady hand, despite his anxiety. The counsel of the castle chaplains wouldn't suffice today and he hadn't the patience to consult the holy texts with the respect they deserved. As he approached the abbey's gates he lowered his hood so the gatekeeper could recognize him.

"The gates are open," he stated in a loud voice without much of an inquisitive tone. He didn't bother with the formality of announcing himself, trusting his voice would be enough to identify him.

"The king and the royal family had just arrived, Lord Garin," called the gatekeeper. "You may enter the abbey. The abbess will be informed of your arrival."

Garin nodded in acknowledgment and rode through the gates into the courtyard and swiftly dismounted his horse. He stayed at its side as he awaited his family's departure. Already, his anxiety was lessening at the thought that they were nearby.

When the visit was done, Athelisa and her family left the abbey, where the abbess bade them goodbye, and Athelisa caught sight of one of her uncles.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:58, Sat 23 Feb 2019.

Garin gave a bow to Christolfe when the king and his followers entered the courtyard. He was eased to see Sirs Bran and Gareth with them. Together, he reckoned, the two could hold off an army with the help of the abbey's defenses. He acknowledged the pair with a nod before turning back to the king.

"Your Majesty, I hope you'll excuse my lack of courtliness today," he said in a somewhat casual tone. "I hadn't expected to find yourself and the rest of the royal family here. I only came for a quick word with the Reverend Mother."

A small smile crossed Garin's face at the sight of his nephew and nieces. Robin might have been mighty enough to be a fine king, but Garin didn't think he would ever be satisfied that his heart would be hard enough for the task. He was more concerned about about the boy's encouragement of Briana's past-times, though. In particular, he was afraid she saw them as more than past-times. It was her destiny to create a strong alliance for Uthea, not put her life in peril on some battlefield. He heard she was quite a quick study, though. He tried to hide his pride as he eyed her. She could have been me, in another life, he thought to himself. Though she brought him the most irritation, he knew it was only because she was closest to his own heart. Which was not to say Athelisa was nothing to him. His spring rose brought the most delight to him and to all.

Garin addressed them all curtly.

"Good to see all of you here, and not even on a holy day, besides. Is this to be a new routine for you kids or was there some new announcement for the Reverend Mother? A betrothal, perhaps?"

Saying this he raised an eyebrow at Briana.

Briana's eyes widened at her favourite uncle's words. "Umm...nothing like that, uncle. Something even more wonderful. Mother is coming home!" She said in obvious delight.

Garin's smile was strained and a nervous laugh escaped him.

"Is that right, dear?" he said quietly, with some uncharacteristic affection. "I had no idea."

He eyed Christolfe only briefly before looking around himself to see if anyone else had heard what Briana said.

"Ah, you kids must be so happy to be seeing her again after so much time," he continued after restoring his composure. "She'll be happy to be back as well, for certain. But do try to keep your future in mind, Briana. There would actually be nothing more wonderful for you or to your mother than a good match."

Garin's gaze was unconsciously drawn to the abbey's main structure. He pondered that perhaps providence had guided him here after all. He caught himself and looked back to the family.

"I'll not hold you all any longer. Have a safe journey."

He seemed to have a sad smile as he gave them a quick wave.

There'll be more dirty work ahead... I know it.

A minute later, Sister Adelida came out of the abbey's main building toward the front. Busy, busy, always more to arrange and less time to be casting spells. The magical life she had been promised!

"Your Majesty and Your Highnesses, it was good to see you again. Do have a safe trip now," she said kindly. She then turned to Lord Garin. "Ah, Marshall Garin!" she said, though the two had not spoken often. "Welcome to Byren Abbey. We are honored to have so many distinguished guests today."

In reply to Sister Adelida (msg # 40):

 "You are welcome, Abbess." The king replied before he got into the carriage.

Briana dipped into a shallow curtsy. "Good day, Abbess. Thank you for all you have done and will do for our family." She stepped into the carriage after her father.

"I still despise these things," she said in a low voice once she was settled.

Content that his family was in good hands, Garin kept his attention focused on Adelida as the carriage left the abbey. From his own observations, although there was certainly a boldness about her and she did not always seem to be in keeping with the spirit of Christolfe's rule, the abbess's wisdom had always seemed second nature for her. He hoped she could help him today.

"Yourself and the abbey are a great honor to the kingdom, Reverend Mother. I've come for your blessing if you would give it. And perhaps a quick consultation about something in private."

Adelida nodded, not missing the subtext. "Of course, Your Highness," she said sweetly. She smiled. "Come, your brother's chair in the sitting room should still be warm," she said just a little jokingly as she escorted the King's brother back inside the building.

Once alone in the sitting room together, Sister Adelida gave a little smile. "In most nunneries, to be unchaperoned like this would be a scandal. Fortunately, we never paid much attention to such things. How may I advise you?"

After following Adelida into the room, Garin sat down slowly into the available seat. He almost seemed to not notice Adelida's quip. To Garin, the beauty she possessed was only a testament to her talent, to have risen to her position so young. It was these inner qualities that he valued. As he spoke, he gazed at a piece of furniture or an implement in the room about as often as he looked at her.

"Thank you for meeting with me. It wasn't my hope that my family would be of much trouble to you today. And, from what I heard in the courtyard, I fear another of our number may be about soon. Not 'fear', I mean..." he finished quickly in a low voice.

He cleared his throat to fill the space in the air before continuing.

"My question today was regarding some unusual dreams. Vivid ones, though unclear, if that makes much sense. There doesn't seem to be any religious consensus on what role dreams ought to have in our lives. Divine guidance, infernal guile, or just delirious mutterings of an exhausted mind. But even so, some dreams are clearly different from others. What are your thoughts on the matter, Reverend Mother?"

"You need not fear your sister-in-law, and I am sure you will not have to fear for her," replied Adelida. "The people call my magic holy, and while it's a false distinction to divide between us, I'll use it if I must to protect her."

Adelida paused at the question. "Dreams are usually not omens," she said. "Usually, they are from the mind alone, and are a natural function of the human psyche. But God and the Adversary have been known to send messages through them. The difference is hard to tell for an untrained mind, but I would advise that if you had a vision as clear as reality, that remained so in your mind after you awoke, that you should speak to the clergy for guidance." She smiled just a bit. "As for which side is sending the visions, that's easier to tell. If the vision will lead you into sin, then it does not come from God."

"Have you had a particular dream you wish to share with me?"

Garin observed Adelida with care. He had never witnessed her use the offensive magics she spoke of but there was no good doubting a mage's power, before or after the fact.

"I will pray that you are correct about Her Majesty. I appreciate your willingness to help with your powers, but if something ill were to occur, being Marshall, I would be the one with the responsibility."

Garin then turned his attention to the room's shadows as he worked his memory.

"As for the dreams, they recur from time to time. I'm in darkness but surrounded by a field of white. A wasteland, I think. Snow? Ash? I never think to check... I'm focused on a smouldering flame before me instead. It fills me with..."

Garin's eyes darted back to Adelida, momentarily filled with a new hardness.

"Anxiety," he made himself say, before returning his gaze to the shadows. "I didn't know what worried me more. That the flame would die out or that it would... burst all about me. I don't remember feeling either hot or cold, or anything else. But I hear a loud hissing from the flame and that's when I awake."

Free of the hold of his memories, Garin leaned back in his chair and exhaled.

"That's it. No angelic voices calling to me. No mocking demons. No ledgers or coins dancing around my head. You say if the dreams lead me to sin, they're from our Enemy. But where are they leading, then? What are they warning?"

Garin sighed again at the thought that he was only spreading his troubles. He was supposed to be his brother's shield and a little dreamed smoke was overcoming him.

"You misunderstand. I mean to use the false distinction between 'holy magic' and 'witchcraft' to protect her. If the people accept that the Queen's power is sanctioned by the heavens, because I said it and my magic is trusted, that should solve the question right there." Adelida smiled.

Adelida considered the dream. "Well, it seems to have the marks of a vision, including the allegory," said Adelida. "I would say that the core of the message is not necessarily the flame, but the anxiety. You will be faced with a choice in a crisis, and there will be no perfect answer. Inaction will lead to ruin, but action will also be destructive and quite likely self-destructive. Now, a hissing sound? That's a new one and I can't tell you any meaning for that."

She paused. "The best piece of advice I can give you is this. When you face a crisis in your capacity as Marshall, be decisive. Obviously, don't be stupid, rash or hasty, but it's better to err on the side of action than vacillation."

"Well, that doesn't sound sinister at all to me," Garin mused after hearing Adelida's opinion on his dream. "I did my utmost to not dwell on the dreams but they kept coming to
me. Perhaps, I handled that poorly. I've not been one to believe in a situation without a perfect answer so I bear my battle scars, for instance, as reminders of my past errors. But perhaps, there was never any better way. I'll be mindful of my choices all the same."

Garin straightened up in his chair and looked back at Adelida.

"I'm quite convinced I'm not possessed by some fiend now," he said without a smile, perhaps making it difficult to tell if he was joking. "All the same, an invocation may please the Lord enough to let me sleep better. What do you suggest?"

"Well, there are many methods, Your Highness. What you can do is pray every night before bed," responded Adelida, "and I can give you a prayer book with marked passages for better communion with God. For the nights where you cannot sleep for the dreams, any herbalist should have poppy milk, but mind her instructions and do not take it every night." She paused. "If you have tried those methods already, I can send a healing sister back to the palace with you, but her fee will not be cheap. There are never enough women with the gift and the calling to be healers, and fewer yet with the delicacy to heal the mind as well as the body."

"Ah, that reminds me," Garin began suddenly. He diverted his attention to a pouch on his belt and produced a few gold coins which he placed on the desk before him."Just a personal contribution of mine to the Abbey. Don't be mistaken. I am still in your debt for today," he said as he stood up from the chair.

He paced slowly towards the exit as he continued.

"I don't believe there's any need to bother any of the sisters. The less who know about this matter, the better. Besides, my body and mind are not yet lacking to be of service to the crown. I'll be happy to see what passages you'd recommend when next we meet. Thank you again for your counsel."

When he reached the door he paused and looked over at Adelida.

"I wish you success in your task for the Queen's sake. The common folk do greatly value your opinion, however tread carefully with the nobles and clergy. They may not trust everything you tell them based solely on who is telling them."

Adelida nodded. "Thank you for your gift, Your Highness. Safe travels back to the castle, and I will see you again soon." She calmly slipped the coins into the desk.

Garin left the Abbey astride his horse with hardly a word directed to anyone else, still lost in his now less troubled thoughts. The Abbess had warned him of a potentially fatal danger to himself; "self-destructive", she had said. But he was not one to fear for his own life, not when so much more rested on his shoulders. He had braved dangers to maintain order before and would do so again if he had to.

Adelida had seemed somewhat guarded to him during the meeting, and Garin wondered if she had thought he was something different than what he was, like so many others. Thoughts of Queen Auisia came to his mind then, as well. There was much suspicion surrounding her, but nothing proven. She had a good enough reason to see Uthea rot for what happened during that war, but there was no reason to judge her like this too quick. After all, wasn't her own son the heir?

As the town came into view, Garin picked up his mount's pace. The rest of his day's tasks had been delegated, so he found he still had some time to spend before the new day. Connecting with the townfolk was something that was long overdue.