The Senate Complete

By Aidan Stone

"On this day: I, Wesley, King of all Aelfyce and Guardian of The People do surrender my authority in its entirety to The People..." With his authority now in the hands of the new Senate, Wess is free to live his life as he sees fit. Is he? The people still need his powers. An assassin from the distant past stalks him. He must do something that could destroy everything he and the others worked so hard to accomplish. Of course, Reah Leah and Red have some amorous intentions as to how Wess will spend his time!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aidan Stone
• Release date: Apr 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310639678

Aidan Stone

Aidan took his first job at the age of eleven, shining shoes in the local barbershop. Some of the stories he heard there would make fine books. He broke his back at meaningless tasks until 1992. Aidan found art in 1992, several media of art. As one of the lucky few who managed to make a living as an artist, Aidan enjoyed himself until 2009. That's when Aidan threw a hissy fit! He swore never to work in those media again. After the boredom of retirement set in, someone he trusted suggested he try his hand at writing. Aidan began to write Reah Leah the White-From Cat to Queen, which quickly became a trilogy because of his propensity for long-winded stories. A teller of tall tales, Aidan imagines himself surrounded by friends telling bawdy tales of the past.

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The Senate Complete

By Aidan Stone

Book Three

The Sisters of Reah Leah Trilogy

The Senate Complete

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 By Aidan Stone

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction; all characters and events portrayed in this book are products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any format, electronic or text, without the written consent of the author, except for short passages used by a reviewer during a review of the book.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to readers who have managed to slog their way through the first two books of my debut effort. Thanks!

Table of contents

Introduction

Some Very Important Information

Chapter 1

Another Assassin to Deal With

Chapter2

The Bond Moves?

Chapter 3

Empowering Allies

Chapter 4

A Severed Arm

Chapter 5

Mary and—William?

Chapter 6

Back To Northport

Chapter 7

Far Port

Chapter 8

I Would Not Let Him Die

Chapter 9

Mary, Mary's Thoughts, And A wonderful Evening

Chapter10

I Wasn't Going To Those Trials Alone, but The Party Was Nice

Chapter11

A Memorial, a Senator, a Connivance, and Susan—Again!

Chapter 12

Talking Too Much and Flying Too High

Chapter 13

Men Think with Their Dicks

Chapter 14

The Budding Senate

Chapter 15

The Lake Of Shit, the Luca, the Kiss, and Deep Shame

Chapter 16

Ibex Was Stronger Than Me

Chapter 17

Warm Wet Kisses, Sealed In the Bond

Chapter18

Wesley's Birthing Day Party

Chapter 19

The Rights and Assurances of The People

Chapter 20

Quiet, Obedient, And Respectful

Chapter 21

The Sisters of Reah Leah

Chapter 22

A Clear Picture Begins To Form

Chapter 23

I Swear, I Knew Nothing About It

Chapter 24

Drop the Power, All of You

Chapter 25

Into The Collective

Chapter 26

Only I Can Tell You This

Chapter 27

So Many Things Ran Through My Mind

Chapter 28

Westy's Exit

Chapter 29

Family

Chapter 30

Rage, Luck, Trencha, and Coffee

Chapter 31

The Strangest Part of the Story

Chapter 32

Be Easy Wess

Bryn Leah's Epilogue

Estelle's Epilogue

Red's Epilogue

Wess's Epilogue

Reah Leah's Epilogue

Pronunciations

Glossary

Other books by Aidan Stone

Contact Aidan Stone

Introduction

By The Last Year of the Lords, Aelfyce has been through many changes. Several different factions have brought them. The Cipartie fostered and nurtured it, humans invaded it, the Brissack dominated it, and Wess freed it from the Brissack because of his love for Reah Leah and his empathy for the common people. Now, all he and Reah Leah have to do is fight a war to give those people their freedom.

Book 1 introduced several characters and established a basic time line that spans thousands of years. Some of the characters are well developed; others remained less so until books two and three. I did that on purpose, hopefully, to embed some mystery into my story.

In book 2, you met many new characters, all of whom had their part of the story to tell. You will find inconsistencies that I put there on purpose, along with clues for you to theorize why they exist. The reason for their existence becomes evident in book 3.

None of the sexual content in any of the three books was, written for a specific gender or partner gender preference. Sexual adventures of many types appear throughout the trilogy; however, books 1 and 2 were just the beginning. Do not make the mistake of thinking that any of the characters in books 1 and 2 have fully explored their sexual limits. Some characters' sexual preferences change because of events that occur in book 2 and book 3.

Many critics disagree about the way parts of the human anatomy should be referred to during sexual encounters, as they often disagree about a multitude of other things. In the year 2013, on the planet Earth, I personally do not know anyone who prefers to speak to his or her lover with such esoteric terms as glistening mound, snowcapped peaks, or fervent manhood. I shall not do so—not by a long shot!

Some Very Important Information

Reah Leah's story begins at a large gathering of people who recall the events of The Last Year of the Lords to two unidentified individuals. Everyone gathered is extremely angry with those two individuals for reasons undisclosed. Those gathered have—also for a reason yet to be disclosed—intimate knowledge of each other's thoughts, actions, and feelings in the past.

Individuals speak in the first person about events of the past. Each has his or her favorite part of the story to tell, or is asked by the previous individual to continue the tale. They all recount the story using three forms of communication: the spoken word and two forms of telepathy.

When a speaker refers to the comments made in the past by another individual using the spoken word, those comments appear in plain type surrounded by quotation marks.

This is what you will see, when speakers refer to a spoken-word statement made by another individual or themselves.

There are two types of telepathy. The first is referred to as mind talk and the second as the bond. Both types of telepathy appear surrounded by quotation marks in italics.

This is what you will see when they refer to a statement by another individual or themselves, using either form of telepathy.

The bond, and mind talk may be identified before they occur, so that you will know the difference. If you pay close attention, you may note the bonds true origin and have a clue about how it becomes so prevalent by The Year of the People 36.

Many people speak, and the change of speakers at times is rapid; therefore, I have included the use of the * symbol to acknowledge those changes.

* The symbol will appear at the top of the paragraph, on the left-hand side of the page, just as it does in this line of text. When the speakers change, it will occur again.

* Every time you see a paragraph began like this, the speaker has changed.

Reah Leah, for the most part, leads the exchange of speakers. However, we cannot expect her to be in complete control of everyone at the gathering. Others interject comments about what is presently being said, or offer their opinions about something someone else recalled. Usually, that will happen in a separate line beginning with the *. Sometimes, the statements made by characters are short enough to be, pushed together. This is what that looks like.

*This author must be out of his mind! * I think he is nuts! *It might work!

The longer statements appear with each having its own line space.

*It is either going to work very well, or be a complete disaster!

*Hopefully, it will impart the feeling of a story being told in a gathering, or this guy is nuts to try it.

I hope that I am not nuts, you will be able to follow what is happening, and feel as though you are there at the gathering. Think of sitting on an extremely large covered patio, sipping on some very fine wine, listening to the story unfold.

If you have not read Important Information, please do so now.

Chapter 1

Another Assassin to Deal With

Afternoon, March-12-Year of The People: 36

Milos was flying directly at me, when I snatched up the rifle and listened to the impotent click of the pin falling forward on an empty chamber. I let my rifle fall to the table and brought Rick's rifle into my hands. It was semiautomatic and three rounds struck Milos before I felt what I thought was his talon, in my right shoulder. I was smashed against the wall with tremendous force!

It's surprising how much you can think about in so little time, if, you think you're about to die. Reah Leah and Red would be safe, in the company of the most powerful wielders on Aelfyce. Albert would continue to form the government after my death. William would construct everything I had outlined. Barrett would do everything he could to make sure my children were safe. Thora and Marilyn were already advocates for women. The Red Guard, the Silver Guard, and the Rangers would follow orders without question. Jonas and Stephen began their lives as common men with no social status and I trusted that their orders would be sound.

I saw a Red and Reah Leah's faces among multiple points of swirling, colored lights, before unconsciousness, my friend, and constant companion from the moment I had arrived on Aelfyce, claimed me once more.

Of course, I was extraordinarily lucky! Telling a lourack woman stay here was no more effective than telling a human woman the same thing!

* What happened next, was beyond luck, you dolt! Brendon, please continue the story while Wesley tries to remove his foot from his mouth.

* Well, this prick, every fiber of my being wanted to kill him. He was thinking, How lucky can the bastard possibly be? How did he manage to sense Clods intention and stop him before he could strike? At least, the idiot dragon is already on wing, moving directly at them all! The lucky bastard actually managed to draw the dragon's attention away from the street! Clod has to die! The idiot boy knows too much about me and the damn red cat shredded Shades mind to rape his memories. The boy simply has to die!

* I was with Otis and we transferred the boy's body to one of the small barracks where we laid him on a bed. My back was to the door, when Otis screamed at me. Jonas, get down! I fell to the ground just in time to feel the power of fire brush against my shields from behind me, and watched as Otis barely kept it from striking the boy's body. Otis had claimed kinship to the boy and his face was a mask of anger that only love could cause! I felt the power of earth building inside Otis, to such an extent it frightened me, and then the huge transfer as Otis released it. Small stones were bouncing off the floors and walls everywhere inside the room. I wisely remained lying on the floor until they had stopped! After the stones stopped flying around, I transferred the boy, Otis, and the cot, into the small spaces between the foundations of the palace. I thought that if the assassin returned, perhaps he would be unable to find us there.

* Same prick! There is a hole all the way through my arm, I need to bandage it quickly and lay down to recover my strength. The boy is dead and the dragon will hound the Guardian mercilessly. No matter how powerful the bastard is, the energy of stones is ineffective on dragons. At last, I have succeeded!

* Stay here? Stay there, while Wesley fought with the Draca, not a chance! Together, Red and I followed Wesley's energy westward until we finally felt it at the house. We found him lying on the patio covered with rocks with the rifle deeply embedded in his shoulder. The purple Draca was lying on the stones below dead, where Wesley had managed to end the battle between them. Wesley was still alive; his chest was rising and falling, but his right shoulder bent at an odd angle and I was afraid to remove the rifle. Then, Red hissed at me and pushed me backward through the shattered door onto the landing. My loving sister was using the power of transfer to remove the large rocks that lay on top of him, as I stood frozen in place, horrified.

* Reah Leah was useless, so I screamed through the bond, as I had never done! All of you, every one of you who can hear through the bond come to our house immediately! Someone bring a barber! Luckily, Barrett brought Albion.

* I had no idea why Barrett grabbed Laura Lie and me so roughly or why he transferred us with such urgency. We arrived on the landing near the shattered door and Wesley was a bloody mess outside it. There was an odd piece of metal sticking from his shoulder and I searched the inside of the home quickly for a place to work on him. Once I located the bed, I transferred Wesley there and brought my tools and ointments from home. People were beginning to arrive in such great numbers that Laura Lie literally pushed them backward to give me room to work on Wesley. The odd piece of metal connected to some type of material I had never seen. Someone transferred away the metal and most of the strange material, and then slowly, I began to remove the rest of it from Wesley. Every time I removed a piece, I had to sew together blood vessels, before I could remove the next one. When I finally had the last of the strange material out of Wesley shoulder, I noticed the broken collarbone. It's one of the hardest bones in the entire body to set straight and to do it I would need the help of several strong men.

Albert and Barrett were on the left side of Wesley pulling fiercely. Simon and Stephen were pulling on his right arm as I fumbled repeatedly trying to get the two slanted ends to hold one against the other. Then, I saw a Reah Leah appear on her knees beside Wesley's body and watched as she put her hand into the bloody wound. As I tried once more to find a position in which the two pieces would stick to one another, she pinched them together forcing them into place. I felt a large transfer of some unusual power. Red caught Reah Leah at the last moment and pulled her backward as she fell into unconsciousness. The healing Reah Leah did, left the two pieces of bone where they needed to be. I continued to sew blood vessels and stitch together the muscles in Wesley shoulder until miraculously he began to rouse. I poked deeply at Wesley's flesh using Parsa needles, while I hurriedly sewed the skin together. I finished just before Wesley woke.

* Hmmm, I'm glad I don't actually remember most of that! I came to and saw Albion packing the tools of his trade. Reah Leah was unconscious on the bed next to me and Albert and Barrett were restraining Red. There were at least two dozen people lining the walls. People were trying to prop pillows under me, there was blood on the bed and a dressing on my shoulder. The more they tried to make me comfortable, the more pain I felt. That's when I pushed all the healing stones energy and all the power from the transport stone into both sides of my chest. The result was intoxicating! It was unimaginable! Healing power was flowing everywhere across my skin with such strength that it became visible and it seemingly pushed my body away from the bed.

* Joyce was clinging so tightly to my chest I could barely breathe and there were others just as frightened as she was. Most of them had seen Wesley step through time, even if it had been only a split second of it. Now, there was this unimaginable display of healing power. Wesley's body rose higher and higher off the bed, before he shifted into a sitting position and opened his eyes. Then, he floated forward and extended his legs down, as he slowly moved toward the floor. Once he came to stand on the floor, he began to brush the blue lights from his body as though they were an annoyance.

* It was weird; they were clinging to me and I felt a need to brush them away. All I needed to do was, remove the bandage, find a new shirt, and of course, ask all of them why I was still alive! Red began screaming at me immediately, but the answers had to wait! Say something to everyone Wesley, so this beast of a man will let me go! Say something to me; say something to Jonas, just say something to anyone, Wesley! I felt like being a smartass, when I answered her. Yes, yes, yes I'm alive and I feel wonderful! Why are you all looking at me as though you have seen a ghost? Then, all the questions and statements began!

They were coming at me so fast; I'm still not certain who said what. You moved through time! You floated on light! You managed to kill a Draca! Reah Leah is still alive! How? Why didn't the other Draca help you? It's more than a myth! Ad Nauseam! I finally had enough of it and closed my mind completely, so nothing would get in and nothing would come out. I needed to listen to only one person at a time and spoke to Jonas in my most commanding voice. General, I require you to report on the condition of the prisoner. I require a report of any incidents at the Festival that might lead to the capture of the assassin. General, I'll also require that you inform everyone present that you are the sole person who will speak! Jonas quelled the curiosity of the others assembled with a simple look of command and began his report. Guardian, the prisoner is safe; Otis keeps him hidden, should the assassin return to make a second strike. A search of the streets and rooftops hasn't turned up anything yet, but there was blood on the wall of the barracks after Otis attacked him. Although many people saw you wielding fire against the Draca, none seemed to have seen you move through time, except those assembled. Guardian, given the unique events that have occurred this evening, I request you to give all of us a report of your own!

Given the nature of Jonas's personality, I knew the word request was a mere formality and answered their questions. Indeed, everyone here deserves all the explanations I can give them, but I'm afraid this isn't something I fully understand myself. Several of you are already aware that I once moved something through time and that it nearly killed me. I felt no ill effects after what happened at the Festival. There seems to be some difference between moving myself and moving something. The fight with the Draca was obvious for anyone to see! The power of my stones never failed. It was the Draca's talon piercing my shoulder that left me unconscious. As for the huge amount of healing I just summoned; I'm simply very tired of pain! Jonas's promptly informed me about the rifle and their questions lasted well into the night. In the end, they were all questioning me about the same thing.

I don't think anyone really understands what happens when you move through time. If anybody claims to know, I think they, might be a total idiot! This is what I told them. No, everyone stop; even if I could learn to step back to the moment this planet was born, there are so many things I couldn't do. Albert, if I stepped back in time to keep Nicholas from causing his death; would he have been a part of someone else's? Perhaps he would have killed me; perhaps he would've killed you, Albert! Thora, if I went back, would you have been there to save the lives of everyone near the podium in the courtyard. Red, if I went back and took you away from the moment Malcolm burned you, would we even know each other? A few heartbeats, a few moments, perhaps they wouldn't have such a lasting effect, but wouldn't everything we have all worked for be nonexistent, if I saved Reah Leah from Malcolm's brutality? My bones would lay just below us if she hadn't been here to nurse me back to health. The Brissack wouldn't be dead and nothing we have built would exist. Now that I'm aware of this ability, I can move a few heartbeats into the past and stop certain things from happening. However, to move farther than that, could affect everything from that moment on! There would be a thousand more questions over the next few weeks and only three answers!

As the others were leaving, I motioned for Jonas to stay. Jonas, I'll speak to the boy when I'm able to in the morning. I'll call you through the bond and have you bring him here and I'll touch his thoughts and memories without harming him. It was a cowardly and despicable thing for the assassin to use the boy and the Draca! Otis said the boy was somewhat witless and the Draca Milos was mentally impaired without a doubt. I'll see this assassin's ability to destroy the lives of others ended! If he will surrender, he may spend the rest of his life in prison, if he won't surrender—well; you know exactly what will happen! There was a grin on his face, when he said it. Then, may I have the pleasure of doing it myself, Wesley?

* Wesley was on the front side of Reah Leah and I was cuddling her from the rear when she began to stir. Reah Leah looked so exhausted and confirmed it when she brought food into her hands without leaving the bed. Wesley, on the other hand, looked fresh and ready for the day when he awoke. He was concerned only with bathing before he would start his day. He had barely returned from the baths, when Hahtlie's voice came into all three of our minds. Wesley, your powers of healing have become so strong the Draca would dare to ask another service of you. Wesley, one among us has carried a piece of the Brissack's metal in his leg since we first went to lair, it festers, and he is unable to feed himself. We would ask that you heal him!

* Is she kidding me? That's what I thought at that moment! Less than twelve hours before that I had killed a Draca and for all I knew it was her offspring. She spoke on though! "Wesley, stop thinking of it that way; Milos could not manage to be part of the collective mind. I should have killed him at birth; however, I made a promise for the good of the Draca that I would not. You have gained something from being so close to a Draca when it died. You now hold the magic of the Draca, Wesley! You have carried the power to move things without transferring them for some time; however, you have chosen not to use it! Test that ability and I believe you will find there are many things you are now capable of doing that you could not before. Once again I ask of you, will you agree to heal Cardich?" The Draca had long since called me friend, how could I refuse? I'll heal any Draca who have wounds they can't heal themselves. Give me three days— That's as far as I got. Yes, yes, Wesley; we will come when you are truly ready and we will remove the body of Milos from your home before the sun sets! It made me sick to think I had killed one of the Draca and Hahtlie's indifference to the matter made me curious. I also thought about the other promise she had made and to whom, or what she made it!

Reah Leah and Red were dressed in uniforms before I could dress myself and they were in full mother hen mode, even though I felt fine. Otis accompanied Jonas with the boy, who was terrified until I touched his mind to calm him. Layer by thin layer I touched deeper and deeper into the boy's mind. I went back several months, until I found what I wanted. Now I had a face to put to the assassin and a location he used before. While I still had a grip on the young man's mind, I used it to speak with him. "What is your name young man?

* Claude, but everyone calls me Clod because I'm clumsy and stupid.

* "I have no wish to make fun of you young man, I will call you Claude. The man Fade told you I'm a bad man and my women wished to harm you and your friend Milos. That is untrue Claude; he wanted to use your love for Milos and your clumsiness as a weapon to destroy my Venggah and me." The next question broke my heart and the answer was even rougher to swallow.

Where is Milos?

* Fade convinced Milos he had to kill me, Claude, and I had to fight for my life! The answer sent Claude into tears, and then into a rage. At that point, it was necessary to push him into a deep sleep for his own good. Otis was in tears, when I asked to take the young man's memories back to the point he first met Milos. It was a matter of less than six months, but it still took some time to take the young man's memory of Milos and leave the rest of his mind intact. I had never seen anyone on Aelfyce before who was mentally handicapped and needed to question Otis about it. How long did the boy have the healing stone in his chest? His answer was as repulsive as the treatment of children of mixed species. Guardian, Claude has always been hidden for fear he would be culled. The healing stone you removed wasn't in his chest when I saw him last. Children of slow wit have always received the same treatment as children of mixed birth. Claude was hidden for his own good.

The real question in my mind was, whether or not a healing stone could have any effect on the young man's learning ability. The stones that had been in Claude's chest were terribly mismatched. The healing stone was the weakest of them and the power stone was the strongest. Fade obviously meant for Claude to be a single use weapon and nothing more. It took only a moment to persuade Otis to let me put a much larger healing stone inside Claude. When I had finished, I felt it was well past time to kill Fade! Jonas's eyes went blank for a moment, the room filled with my friends, all of whom were obviously intent on attending me. My friends I don't think we need so many— I never had the chance to finish the statement. Stephen spoke over the top of me. That's not going to happen, Wesley! Jonas already took the image of the man's camp from your mind while you were busy and you aren't going there by yourself! None of us intend to walk away from this! I spoke to Reah Leah hoping to persuade her to stay home to recover her strength. Reah Leah, you were unconscious less than a few hours ago, you should stay— Her head lowered, her eyebrows raised, her arms crossed in front of her chest, and then her toe began to slowly tap on the floor. It was of no use to argue with any of them!

The camp was somewhere southwest of the ruins of Horace's Castle and the moment we arrived, I heard the familiar twang of a crossbow string. That time I didn't merely move through time, I froze it! It only took a few seconds to find the bolt suspended in air and transfer it away. When I released my grip on time, Jonas and Stephen charged to the spot, it came from. After a failed attempt to use power, Fade stepped forward from the bushes to meet his fate with steel in his hand. A very foolish move, I assure you! Jonas and Stephen were moving together, as though they were performing some kind of erotic dance. I had wanted to question the man, but that would be impossible, unless, I learned to resurrect people who lay in pieces!

* It wasn't very sincere, but Stephen and I did it anyway. Jonas said, You know Stephen we really should've asked Wesley before we did that. The man might have had information we could use! I replied, True enough Jonas, I think we should apologize! He knew it wasn't very sincere. Wesley, we apologize, but you did say we knew what you meant and he obviously had no intention of surrendering himself! You should go home and rest my friend, before the women take you there themselves!

* Jonas was still ever the smartass, but a look over my shoulder at Reah Leah and Red told me he was probably right. They didn't take me home, they took me to the bed at the palace, and Reah Leah held out a cup. I was going to argue with her until I saw the look on both of their faces. I asked how long the tincture would last and received their reply. Until midafternoon, Otis should be gone with Claude by then and we will return to our home for some privacy!

Chapter 2

The Bond Moves?

* All of it was very unnerving at that point and the two of us discussed it. Reah Leah, even Wesley has no idea what he is capable of anymore, stepping through time, making time stand still while he moves through it, healing himself in a manner such as last evening, and the cryptic message from Hahtlie. There is no way to tell how much energy he has bled from his stones. In addition, Kila Minh said he has agreed to implant forty Timpani with power stones in the morning. Considering the state of mind he has been in lately, I think he may try to do it. Reah Leah was as worried as I was.

* I was. Red, Wesley may well freeze us in time, to keep his word to the Gertine! Join with me and we will gauge the strength of his stones. I bonded with her and together we thoroughly studied Wesley's strength. His energy seemed unaffected by the events of that evening. I told Red, The tincture was unnecessary; Wesley's health is curiously strong. It's time for us to speak with him, concerning all the unusual observations we have made. We must be serious with him, no teasing, no flirting, and straightforward questions. I hope that we will get some straightforward answers! Perhaps he isn't aware of all the changes he is causing?

* I woke at home and the girls were waiting patiently at the table. They were much too serious for my empty belly, so I asked Reah Leah to bring food. Then, Reah Leah began a very serious conversation that left me with too many questions. Wesley, please no jesting and no sidestepping. Give us the best answers you can to the questions we have. Wesley, do you realize the bond is moving beyond any of our control? Every time you speak with someone's mind, you increase their ability to use it. I took some time to think about it before I answered. I don't think it's just me, Reah Leah! Marilyn undoubtedly got the seed of her ability from Thora, and Thora got the ability from you and Red. Jonas and the others don't seem to be passing the bond along. I do understand the bond is growing, but I think it's being expanded by several minds not just mine. I thought it was a very good answer, until Red looked at me.

* I told him exactly what I thought. Reah Leah is right Wesley, be serious! You have been using the bond to speak with people, even though you didn't realize it. Not only does the bond slip from your mind into other's minds; it's your desires, Wesley. Not only do your sexual thoughts move, it's all of your desires! Jonas, the staff at the Palace, the wielders, they all anticipate what you will want. You ask for something and Jonas has already done it. You wanted the roads and the canals built, and those who worked on them in your presence, strive to finish them. The women Wesley, how is it that you always manage to get exactly what you want from them? They follow your every desire and eventually grant you things they would never have given other men!

* They had been observing things around them I had failed to notice. I finally had to admit it to myself. Yes, I see your point Red, but what can I possibly do about it, I can't simply stop thinking? My desire to help the people started in the bond with Reah Leah. Those desires are mine now because so many needed them to be, and I won't put them aside. If I can accomplish an end to tyranny, by simply thinking it will end, I'll continue to imagine everyone as equals. Reah Leah was just taking in things as I spoke, however Red was still asking questions. It's not just your desires that have grown Wesley; you implant as many as seven stones in people at a time, with no ill effects! In the past, wielders would receive their stones one at a time. When you implant them there is no imbalance, people awake ready to learn their use!

That was a simple question to answer, but I could see where it was heading. The answer is very simple. No one else has ever had a transport stone to aid them. Then, Reah Leah began to question me about it. "Wesley, we have watched you stand in two places at once. When you moved through time, your body stayed in one place, even as it traveled to the other, and then, it snapped back to the place you wanted it to be. I'm afraid that if you stretch yourself too far, you will cease to exist, either here or there! The cryptic message from Hathlie leaves me with no comfort. You now hold the magic of a Draca, along with the most powerful stones in the entire land. How will you learn to control those powers?

* That was enough; the quiet man spoke! "All three of you listen carefully to what I'm going to say! Reah Leah, Ruby, you only saw his body snap to where he walked in time, because he didn't go far enough. Wesley, you shouldn't attempt to walk less than one hour backward and don't walk to a place you were present when you do. Keep as far away from your former self as you possibly can. If both of your bodies bonded at a point in the past, nothing you have done since then will exist. Holding time still as you did earlier could have a devastating effect. While you're moving about, you are creating time that doesn't exist. If those around you are, caught in time that doesn't exist for too long, they might cease to exist. Walking into the future will have little effect on what happens to you or others, unless you do something there that changes what will happen from that point on. The true magic of the Draca will find you in its own time; don't rush to acquire it before you understand it fully. As for pushing or holding things, I think you should start with small things!"

* As always, he left without time for questions! I felt the girls reaching out, trying to ask questions of a mind that was already gone. Reah Leah was still deep in her own thoughts and moved to the loveseat in front of the hearth, where she sat staring into the fire. Red was pacing the floor with her fists clenched, so I left them there while I went to bathe.

* I wasn't that confused, I was trying to absorb it all, and I wanted to speak with Red alone. Red, please come and sit next to me. Wesley will listen to what the quiet man said, and Wesley was correct about a number of things. All of this time, I have told myself it was Wesley's hatred of the Brissack that made him decide to fulfill the prophecies of Horace. It may have been my own desire that originally made him move to the course he now travels. The bond started between Wesley and me and we have all three given the ability to others. We have also pushed minds ourselves; think of all the times we have done it. So many times, we have pushed Wesley to get what we wanted from him, or to protect him from his exuberance. Only a few days ago I pushed Susan's mind and you saw how far that went.

* There was no way I could let that lie! Ah Hah, you finally admit it Reah Leah, the two of you wanted a chance to snuggle those knockers of hers as bad as I did! I felt it when you pushed her. It was just a gentle shove, but the result was, you both got what you wanted. Why don't you both push the other's minds toward some serious cock sucking and join me in the bath? They finally had their humor back and the time I spent on the end of the fucking table was wonderful.

Chapter 3

Empowering Allies

* They were awake long before me and they wore looks of determination that said they would be watching everything I did. From home, we traveled to the house of the whites, and from there, everyone moved to the villages. There were blankets laid out on the ground everywhere and the Timpani stood before me without their armor on. Back then, a Timpani's armor was the only thing she wore! The Gertine said nothing to me before she wove her hand toward the blankets. I found it most curious that each of Timpani already held in their hands, healing, power, transfer, and earth stones. Had the Gertine guessed I would give them the power of earth, or had she simply decided it was, the power the Timpani would receive. It was something I didn't care to think about, so I began the implantations.

* Wesley would've continued the implantations without pausing, but we stopped him and asked that he eat. He was contently eating, while we tried to assess his strength. I think he is fine Red; he seems to have some new reserve of strength. I'm not sure whether that is a good thing or bad thing. Wesley will have more energy for his daily routines, but if he depletes that much energy what will happen to him then? Will it be even harder for him to heal? Red was more concerned than I was. Reah Leah, I can't answer that question any better than you can! We will watch the way we always have, if he ends up with a sore butt it will be his problem!

* Reah Leah and I watched Wesley as he continued the implantations. We also watched as the Gertine spoke privately with every one of the whites who accompanied us. Kila Minh made some kind of agreement with the Gertine, but they left the two of us out of their conversation. An attempt to peek at the Gertine's mind resulted with only a sly smile from her. When Wesley was finally done, he went to speak with the Gertine. The Timpani brought him a chair of his own and placed it next to hers to honor him. The Gertine made a motion of dismissal with her hand and Wesley seconded it. However, we moved close enough to overhear them.

* Yes, his curious Venggah were worried about Wesley's strength, but his strength wasn't in question. He had already done so much. He had killed so many times and he had negotiated so many improvements. Yet, there was still so much more for him to do. Wesley's strength wasn't the problem; it was his mind. He needed to be convinced he wasn't alone in the freeing of Aelfyce. I was always very good at convincing others to do what I wanted them to and Wesley would be no different. Reah Leah and Red weren't nearly as sly as they thought!

* Was? Half the time, I'm doing something and I don't even know whether it is my own idea.

* That's okay my dear, as long as you get those things done!

Anyway, this is how the conversation went, even if it was a little one-sided. Wesley, I'm an old woman and I have seen many things in my time, please listen to what I have to say. Whether you choose to admit it or not, you feel as though the entire responsibility of fulfilling Horace's prophecies lies on you. You have rushed to the center of every situation that required the use of wielding, Wesley; and performed the wielding yourself, to prevent the death of others. Wesley, you have ignored the fact that you have several people you can trust. They should be included in the making of everyday decisions. Even today, it's your intention to stay here and begin the training of the Timpani in the use of the stones. That is foolish, Wesley! The daughters of the Valley and your Venggah can do without your help. Until now, you haven't met the people of Aelfyce who live in the west. You must walk among them unseen and unheard, before you will truly understand their hardships and their dreams. Gather your friends. Assign each of them a duty that will be theirs to perform from this day on. Relieve yourself of those duties and do the things I tell you to do. Clothe yourself as a simple man, use the power of the orange jewels, and walk among them. What you referred to as, the seventh and eighth districts need your attention the most. There are more thieves in Port Gwendolyn and Far Port than there have ever been, because those with the power of wielding have fled them. Just as removing, the Luca from the forest would leave the growth of the stag unchecked; so has the death of the wielders left the thieves and pirates to do as they please. Walk among the people there, study the worth of the land, eat what they eat, and drink with them in their taverns. Now I'll ask for a promise and hope you keep it. Wesley, will you promise to spend the evening in Port Gwendolyn and another at Far Port?

* After Wesley promised the Gertine he would, he informed us he would be about his own business for three days. The Gertine motioned us to her, and extracted from us, a promise that we wouldn't call on him no matter what the situation was until his return. However, we did have the pleasure of teasing him about what his business would be for the next three days, and we laughed ourselves silly when we told him how he should go about it!

* The dais was gone; in its place were three large tables with plain but comfortable chairs. I sat at the end of one of the tables before I called them all. Even though I was aware the Gertine had manipulated me, her advice was sound. The freedom the girls had given me would be an excellent chance to test their theory about my desires and the bond.

* The smart-ass look on his face told me, Wesley was about to dump another pile of shit in my lap! Wesley's clothing changed from the simple officers' uniform he had been wearing for some time, into the clothing of a common man, and I could already smell that pile of shit. Barrett and William were enjoying my discomfort, until Wesley began to speak. Welcome one and all, Counselors to the Guardian! Yesss, Counselors to the Guardian! It has come to my attention; I'm incapable of completing all the tasks necessary to see the government installed in a timely fashion. Unless some of you choose to run and hide, you have all just been nominated and confirmed as the men and women who will help me accomplish that!

Nobody left, but I could see the look on their faces. They knew exactly what was coming and Wesley ticked them off one at a time. Albert, it would seem you need a break from politics. As my counselor, I would like you to oversee the problem of the ceraht and establish a new port where the canal from Grove Lake empties into the sea. Please include sewage pipes, dry wells, and a source of freshwater that comes from uphill. It should be sufficient for a town twice the size you originally design. William, because you seem to enjoy the construction so much, I place the completion of the roads and canals in your capable hands. I would also like you to ensure there are sewage lines and dry wells from Sandy Creek, south, to the edge of district two. Barrett, from you I would like a report suggesting improvements for the land of district eight, so more livestock can be raised there. As with the others, I also want you to manage the sewage in your district. Simon, build a new sawmill on the Eiger River. In addition, once again, I would like sewage and dry wells throughout district. Jonas, there are sewers and dry wells to be built from here to Heath. The Red Guard should be smiling at Simon and his men when they meet, so they could drink together at the tavern there. Marilyn, I would like you to cross into district three and supply fresh water from Sandy Creek to the inhabitants of the farmland north of your borders. Of course, again, build sewers and dry wells for them all. Sarah, please ask for help from the Daughters of the Valley at The Fortress to monitor the long bay from the Temple into the western sea. Yet again, one more time, build sewers! The coin to purchase, water pumps, toilets, and what other fixtures you need the treasury will provide. I don't expect all of these things to happen overnight; however, I do expect to have them happen without my assistance. Now, I'll answer any questions you have.

After that oration, no one asked a single question; they began to leave one at a time. Sarah was grinning as she left and I could already envision the sewers and dry wells no doubt finished before Wesley spoke. Marilyn winked at him before she left and everyone still at the table saw it. William left with what could be, described as, the joy of a child with a new toy. Jonas was laughing while he shook his head and walked from the room. Barrett and I remained.

* There seemed to be some serious point of contention between them! When Barrett informed me of his choice for a Senator, I understood why. Wesley I think I have found the right person to be the new Senator for district eight Albert slammed his hand on the table, and then shook his finger at Barrett until the inevitability of it sunk into his mind. Barrett, I swear, if even one of them is hurt, I'll wear your dried ball sack as a pendant!

* I knew how long that secret had been, hidden; Albert had even managed to keep Wesley from seeing it in his mind. However, I wasn't above teasing the man. A pendant? The sheer weight of it would bend your back, until you look like a scrivener! Wesley demanded to hear the rest of it. Gentleman, there is obviously more than one thing here I need to be informed about! Barrett, who is it that have you chosen for Senator in district eight? When he answered, I understood. Wesley, there is a woman who lives on the northern outskirts of Port Gwendolyn, she is respected by all who know her, and they look to her for guidance. She knows the needs of the common people and she is painfully aware of the treatment of children born of mixed parentage. She has no stone in her chest because she is of mixed parentage and a man of wealth has hidden her since her birth. Her name is Bay Sahd, and she is the granddaughter of that frustrated man in the chair across the table from you!

* That was only one side of the story and I wanted to hear the other. Albert, two questions; one, do you think Bay Sahd would make a good Senator? Two, how did you manage to hide her existence from me for so long, and why would you bother too? Albert spoke honestly, as I knew he would. Wesley, Bay Sahd is excellent at everything she attempts; she would make a good Senator and the presence of a child of mixed race in the government would give others hope. I have never lied to you; I only said they would be happy on my estates and the small home where they live is one of my estates. The reason I kept them hidden is simple, I love them, and I won't see them harmed. I no longer fear a wielder, because of their parentage, will kill them, but the prejudice of others will take much longer to be quelled. To the question of how I managed it, whenever you came close enough to my thoughts of Amy and Joan, I simply wrapped my shield around them!

They had used the same trick I did and it brought me to laugh out loud at them. Whatever dark secrets the two of you hold, I advise you to hold them well when you are near Red! I have used the same method to keep her from my thoughts many times and often my efforts were in vain! The three of us laughed at the idea of that, until Albert looked at me in all earnest and asked. While the rest of us are seeing to all these things you've outlined, what will you be doing oh grandiose Guardian? I formulated my escape before I answered Albert, by touching the edge of my hand to Barrett's elbow. Well Albert, I was advised to walk among the common people of Port Gwendolyn and Far Port for the next three days. My loving Venggah also advised me, that the women in taverns know the juiciest bits of gossip and they speak freely, when they are lying next to a man having been freshly fucked!

* Wesley transferred me away from Albert, before I had a chance to laugh at the look on his face. From Liam's Junction, he asked me to take him to Amy and Joan. Wesley still had no idea what he was going to find there. That estate was where some of the children he had spoken of were hidden for so long. Amy's Venggah, Nerh Sahd, was the first one through the door and he looked none too happy at Wesley's presence. I made the introductions. Nerh Sahd, Amy, I introduce, Wesley, the Guardian of the People!

* I still remember the look on Nerh Sahd's face while I spoke. Nerh Sahd, Amy, I have been counseled that your daughter Bay Sahd would make an excellent choice for a Senator in the government. Some children of mixed race have already appeared in public, and there have been no attempts on their lives that, I know of. One young man, I have already given the power to wield is of mixed race. He is a member of the Silver Guard and respected by all those he has worked with during the construction of the roads and canals. He has fought by my side and proved himself a worthy ally. I would fight to the death to protect him and I'll offer you the same assurance concerning Bay Sahd. Looks of hope and fright passed over the faces of Nerh Sahd and Amy. Then, they seemed to reach the conclusion that I meant no harm. After I entered their home, I understood their fear!

The place was a haven for the children. There were at least seven present in the room, each of them looking at me with great uncertainty until I took a knee and spoke to them. My name is Wesley, I'm the Guardian of the People, it's my duty to guard all the people. There was still a great deal of uncertainty, until a bright faced young girl approached me. She said. Those navos are for a lourack's Venggah! You will look silly if you wear those into town. You don't have a Venggah, do you? She was so cute. Yes sweetheart, I have two Venggah! I love them very much and when the moons align in the spring I'll have children who will look like you! She was still inquisitive. You must be very rich to have two Venggah, are you a wielder? My daddy says I'm not supposed to talk to wielders, but Nerh Sahd brought you into our house. Are you the good wielder who killed the man who hurt Auntie Joan? I had no idea who hurt Auntie Joan. I would like to think I'm the good wielder you speak of, but there are so many of us now.

The young girl gave me a formal curtsy and ran outside, where there was the sound of many happy children at play. As I stood at the door watching them, I was glad to see, they were all so happy and content. A woman I assumed to be Bay Sahd led us into a dining room and there was a woman at the table who had to be Joan. The side of Joan's face had been, seared by the power of fire, leaving her disfigured, but she smiled warmly at me as we took our seats at the table.

* I remember that vividly! I might have seemed calm on the outside, but inside my mind, I thought I might soil myself. I'm Bay Sahd, Guardian; did I hear you correctly when you spoke with Barrett? Do you actually offer me a seat in the new government you have promised the people? If I take this position, what will it gain me other than coin? There are fourteen children here, who have always feared for their lives. None of them had even played in the sun, until we heard your decrees had become law. Will you offer them all protection, and if so, how?

* Bay Sahd came straight to the point. It was obvious; she was concerned about more than herself. Everything about her demeanor said Barrett had made a wise choice, so I attempted to answer all her concerns. Bay Sahd, please call me, Wesley! I do offer you the seat of Senator and you will receive these things if you accept it. I'll implant your father, and anyone else here who will accept them, with the power of earth and fire so they may protect all of you. I'll implant all the children of mixed race with healing stones when they are of age to receive them. What you will gain other than coin will be both, the duty and privilege, of creating laws that aren't the dictate of a single man. I won't promise that you won't occasionally receive some scathing looks from people when you walk the streets of New Kent. I receive them myself. That is all I can promise you Bay Sahd, will you accept the position?

* I could tell by the look in his eyes that he knew I had already decided to accept, but I wanted him to understand a few things first. Wesley, I'll expect you to respond yourself, and defend us if you are called! I would appreciate it if you began to call us Lourmen; that is the name we have chosen for ourselves. Wesley, I'll accept the position as Senator, but not until the good people of Port Gwendolyn may go about their lives without the fear. Are you still eager for me to take the position?

* I was eager, and I now knew she had grit. I am, Bay Sahd. This evening I will spend among the people of Port Gwendolyn and see the truth with my own eyes. I'll respond to the call of help from any Lourmen, not only those who live here. Over lunch, Bay Sahd agreed to be the Senator and I was ready to leave when Barrett spoke to me. Wesley, Joan's face is the work of Nicholas; she was burned as she transferred Nerh Sahd and Amy to safety. If you have the strength, would you please return her to the beautiful child I once bounced on my knee? I had been unaware that Joan could transfer and Barrett had purposefully spoken with mind talk so she could hear him. With her head bowed, I could still see teardrops falling from her cheeks. How could I walk away from that? Joan, please follow me to the small couch in the outer room. I will put you to sleep, you won't feel the healing, but your face will be as it once was when you wake! Joan said only one thing before I began. Wesley, if you truly intend to go to Port Gwendolyn, you really can't wear those pants! Barrett was in tears as he transferred us to the outskirts of Port Gwendolyn.

Chapter 4

A Severed Arm

* My love, I know this happened at the same moment. The Timpani hadn't finished eating yet, when we heard the call from Stephen. I'm alone in a place Wesley bid me to be. I'm hidden, but I need other wielders to help me stop something that is about to happen. Can you come to me here and help me stop this? Stephen followed his question with an image of a large ship many men were trying to board, while a crowd of people tried to stop them. In the image, some of the men were using the same swords Wesley had transferred off the church Knights.

After all of these years, I just realized it was you, Belle! You were the one who kept us from speaking with anyone else! Stephen, tell them how it started.

* There were too many and they had already boarded many of the goods and coin from the townspeople. Wesley didn't answer me and Simon's answer was flippant. He told me to call on Reah Leah and Red. It didn't seem right to involve Red and Reah Leah, but there was no time and I was relieved when they responded. From inside the small warehouse I had used as a vantage, I explained the situation to them. "The ship is filled with stolen goods, the people have been robbed of their coin and the Brotherhood are about to take sail. All of this has happened