Angee and her two friends returned to their rooms, Angee knew she was right and as she sat on her bed she knew no one was going to take her sword away from her or those from her friends.
The Mother Abbess looked troubled, "Emili, can you tell us more about these swords?” Emili looked at the Abbess and the other sisters in the room. "Heart swords are weapons which are linked to their owners, the stone in the crosspiece pulses with the beat of the heart of the owner,” the Abbess nodded, "but why did Angee's sword attack you?”
Emili sighed, "Angee is a White Bard and the sword is linked directly to her and her powers, she has powers we can scarcely comprehend, but it was the High Magic the sword used to repel me."
The Abbess walked over to Emili, "I want you to do more research on these swords, I think until we know as much as we can about them it would be wrong to make a hasty decision." Emily was in hurry to check something and hurriedly left the office. The Mother Abbess walked over to her chair and sat down, "Sera could you fetch Angee for me?”
Angee was sat on her bed when there was a knock on the door, "come in,” Sera entered, "The Mother Abbess wants to see you.”
Angee stood up and followed Sera out of the door, she increased her pace slightly to walk at the side of Sera, Sera grinned at her, "don't worry, we're all sisters here.”
That one remark puzzled Angee; did Sera think she didn't know that? strange.
Once inside the Mother Abbess's office Angee saw that everyone who was there before was still there.
"Sit down Angee, after considering the current situation I've asked the Arms mistress to do some more research about those swords as I do not feel it would be right or fair to you to make a hasty decision." Angee sighed mentally, but wasn't sure whether to feel good or bad about it.
The Mother Abbess continued, "now as to the other reason I wanted to see you, you'll remember I told you some Bards were on their way here and we'd want to talk to you more about your transformation, I know what you said to me before, but I just wanted our most Senior Healers and the Senior Sister of the Grey's who wasn't here to be able to hear from your own mouth what you told me, I expect they'll have a few questions for you as well" a gentle smile on her face.
Angee repeated what she'd told the Mother Abbess and then sat waiting; it didn't take long for the questions to start. Riela cleared her throat and asked; "tell me, how do you feel, now you've been a woman for twenty four hours."
Angee thought about it for a moment, "I feel like my life has now begun, Ang wasn't me, he didn't fit in anywhere and wasn't like other boys, in fact on reflection now, I'd say in a way I'm only one day old, I've been reborn. I would also add, I haven't been a woman for just twenty four hours, I've always been one."
Jazera leaned forward intently "can you give us some examples of how you didn't fit in?”
Angee was finding all this a bit wearing, she was an adult after all, some of her peers had already been married for two years, but they were treating her like a child, this was the first time since arriving at the Temple that she'd felt the stirring's of anger, she clamped down on it and tried to think of some examples, how do you find examples when your whole life was an example?
"Well, my male peers were always into rough housing, I tended to get picked on. I could identify more with a girl who grew up with me than anyone else, at one time we were really close but we drifted apart over the last few years, I could only think at the time "how do I explain what I am feeling to her?”
The Mother Abbess looked at Angee, "and what exactly are you?" it was asked in a curious tone more than anything else, Angee looked her straight in the eyes, "I realise now after all these years of confusion and pain I have always been a woman. When I was male, I was still a woman, but trapped in a body that wasn't mine, even though it was, if you see what I mean.
All my life I've been in pain, a pain of the soul, a wound there was no medicine for and no help, but the Goddess healed me, and I owe her a debt I cannot repay, she not only saved my life she gave me my life!”
Angee hadn't realised she'd spoken with such vehemence, the Bards gave her a look of respect, but the Mother Abbess's eyes had filled with tears, "oh my child" and she walked over and hugged Angee, which caused Angee to burst into tears also.
The next thing Angee knew Sera was hugging her too and saying words of comfort, to Angee it felt like she finally knew what a family was supposed to feel like.
Six
Xeexa was a Blue Bard; she was probably the Bard who was most in the public eye because she was Special Advisor to King Barne, who had ruled the Kingdom of Abadoom for forty years although Xeexa had only been his advisor for ten. With one last look in the mirror to check her uniform and long brown hair was in order Xeexa headed for the door. It was almost one o'clock and King Barne held his court from one until six every other day.
Walking down the corridor at a brisk pace Xeexa was an imposing figure, she was over six feet tall and many years in the field had given her a muscular build, she saw servants who were walking towards her change direction and get out of the way, it made Xeexa wince inside, she knew the Bards had a fearsome reputation, one which they wanted to keep, but most of these people had seen her at court for years, and knew what type of person she was, or at least she thought they did. As she headed for the King's private chambers she met Lord Werket coming out of the door, "Ah, Bard Xeexa, I have just been advising the King on some matters of state."
Xeexa privately detested this oily little man, but he was a powerful man in the Kingdom, Xeexa smiled, "of course my lord", and without a further word walked past him, nodded to the sentry at the door and entered.
King Barne was sat at his desk, a large ornate desk with gold leaf worked into the top in an ornate scrolled design, he looked up and smiled at Xeexa's entrance, over the last few years the two of them had become friends, as close as you could call it to friends anyway, any ruler did just that rule, and could not in that situation have friends who were also subjects, which was a grey area for Xeexa as Bards owed allegiance only to their Goddess and no other, it didn't stop many from thinking they were loyal to the crown which although the King knew wasn't the case had proved useful in times gone by, a lot seemed either not to know or forget that Bards were exempt from the laws of the land, although they could be tried at the temple before a secular court.
"It seems there is something unusual happening in the south,” the king said looking through a sheaf of papers.
Xeexa looked thoughtful, "would you mind if I had a look at your reports majesty?”
The king handed her four sheets of paper, they all listed incidents of unrest and talked of a prophet who would supposedly come and rescue the people from the tyrannical rule of the king and his Bards.
Xeexa handed them back to the king.
"If I may your majesty I'd like to return to the temple for a few days to discuss these matters with the Mother Abbess."
The King nodded and with a bow, Xeexa left through the door to make some arrangements for the trip.
Seven
Angee took a deep breath of fresh air in the early morning sunshine, it seemed like forever since she'd had some time outside the temple on her own and she had sneaked out this morning for a short walk at dawn.
The mist was hanging at the far edge of some trees and she felt incredibly peaceful.
She hadn't wanted to draw attention to herself so she was dressed in the clothes she'd worn when she arrived which were very nondescript and asexual, the only thing that stood out was the sword on her back which she had on a harness which she could reach over her left shoulder.
Angee lost track of time wandering through the trees and realised she should be getting back to the temple when she reached a glade with a single stone in the middle, she felt a compulsion to walk towards the stone and was suddenly frightened.
Stopping ten paces from the stone she saw it begin to pulse white and gold when suddenly a figure step out of it, the figure was dressed in a Bar
ds uniform, a tall woman with copper coloured hair which seemed to be on fire from the rays of the sun.
Looking closer Angee noticed the Bards uniform was different from those the others wore and it puzzled her, she was no longer frightened but who was this Bard?
The Bard walked towards her and stopped three paces from her, her piercing blue eyes caught Angee's and Angee followed her eyes as she looked down and undid her tunic exposing her breasts, in between them was a white star identical to Angee's, she must have looked dumbstruck as the Bard laughed and fastened her tunic, Angee composed herself. "Er, I thought I was the only white Bard?"
The woman Smiled a gentle smile and spoke,
"Come and sit here." Angee saw there was a log on the floor now where she hadn't seen one moments before, the Bard sat down and patted the log,"sit."
Angee didn't know why but she trusted this woman so she sat down. "In a sense you are right, but also not right," Angee felt very confused, "what do you mean?". The woman looked her directly in the eye. "You are the only current white Bard."
Angee jumped up as if she'd sat on a fire, the Bard smiled again.
"I have been sent by the Goddess to help you prepare for your quest and teach you how to wield the high battle magics." Angee nodded and took a breath,"so you are a ghost?".
At that the Bard stood up and took a deep cleansing breath and spread her hands wide."Do I look like a ghost?, some pale shade you can see through?". Angee shook her head. "No I am alive while you need me, sent by the Goddess to be your teacher, guide and if you will, friend."
The Bard looked thoughtful for a moment as if she could hear something Angee could not, "I have to go now, I want you to return tomorrow with your two friends.
Tell them only you have a new teacher for them and go to the Abbess and say you need tomorrow morning and certain mornings thereafter to work alone, do not tell her about me" she said with just a hint of warning in her voice and with that walked behind the stone.
Angee looked after her but she was alone again, she shook herself and headed back towards the temple.
Angee was almost at the temple when she saw Sera standing outside looking at her, she schooled herself to remain calm, Sera looked angry,
"where have you been?, when we found your room empty when you missed breakfast we turned the temple upside down looking for you."
Angee managed to look embarrassed "I went for a walk, I was feeling trapped and unhappy". Sera didn't look mollified, "next time please let someone know when you leave temple grounds, now, the Mother Abbess wants to see you", and with that she turned and walked back to the temple. Angee steeled herself and followed her.
After changing into her uniform she walked to the Office of the Mother Abbess and knocked on the door, she heard a voice say "enter" and she walked in, the Mother Abbess was frowning, "this is no way to behave wandering off, we wondered what had happened to you."
Angee mumbled an apology and the Mother Abbess continued, "yes, well next time tell someone where you're going."
Angee nodded and said, "I will need to go out tomorrow with Allia and Bria and certain mornings thereafter."
The Mother Abbess looked at her keenly, "why?, did something happen this morning?". Angee felt uncomfortable, "I cannot say Mother, only that we need to work alone." The Mother Abbess looked at her for quite a while before speaking, "very well, I will not force you to say what you cannot, you may go as needed, but tell one of the sisters you are going first."
Angee was only too pleased to agree and left to go back to her room, on the way she ran into Allia and Bria, "Where have you been?, everyone has been going spare searching for you!". Angee sighed, "not you too!, come with me to my room we need to talk", and with that she headed to her room with both of them in tow.
Seated on her bed with Allia and Bria either side of her she realised her friends were waiting for her to speak, she wasn't sure how they'd react and looked at the floor, "it's nothing serious, our timetable has changed a bit that's all." Looking up she caught their puzzled expressions, "tomorrow at dawn you'll come with me for some extra lessons."
Allia was first to speak, "lessons?, with who?", Angee looked at her, "I'm not permitted to say, only that we have a new teacher, that too is only to be known by us, I could only tell the Abbess we needed time alone." Bria gasped, "but why?", Angee shrugged, "I don't know, maybe we'll find out tomorrow."
All three young Bards had restless nights, wondering what would happen in the morning, they eventually fell asleep but were wide awake at false dawn and once dressed off looking for some breakfast.
They met Sera who was in the refectory with porridge for them, "I've done you some breakfast", she pointed at a satchel "and I've packed some food as the Mother Abbess said you might be out for quite a while", Angee looked at the other two and said nothing.
After eating they all stood up and noticed Sera had left, they picked the satchel with the food up and left the temple.
Angee noticed it was just as sunny this morning as yesterday, they hadn't said much while they were walking and Angee could almost feel their nervousness, she cleared her throat as they approached the glade.
"Don't worry, it will be alright, we're nearly there."
Entering the glade Angee took them to where she had stood yesterday and stopped, she was about to speak and they both looked at her when she noticed the stone start to pulse white again, raising one hand she pointed, "look."
The Bard stepped out of the stone like before and she heard gasps from her friends, she smiled, the Bard walked over to them, "good, you're here. Angee didn't tell you about me, but I will explain all now. My name is Suse, I am a white Bard from times gone by, I am not a ghost I was brought here by the Goddess to help you", as she told them this she exposed her star for them to see.
Angee surmised this was a foolproof way for them to identify themselves, she also noticed on a second look that Suse's star glittered, something hers did not do, she wondered why?.
Suse seemed to pick up her train of thought and looked down,"you see the difference, yes?", Angee could only nod amazed she knew what she was thinking, Suse smiled, "no, I'm not reading your mind as such,but it is possible to read people and feel their emotions as I just did with you."
Suse continued, "the star is different as it signifies I am part of a battle triad, I am linked to a grey and a blue Bard. That is something we must do with you first, you are to be a battle triad and I will lead you through what you must do to forge the link."
The young Bards must have looked apprehensive for Suse offered some reassurance.
"Don't worry, once you're linked you'll be pleased at the difference. Now,linking is not know of now, the reason is it takes a white Bard to be part of the battle triad and a second white Bard to help forge the link, in this case me", she said with an impish smile and small curtsy.
Angee noticed that the features of Suse's face retained a hint of youth, she knew Bards aged slower than normal but thought Suse could be no more than a couple of decades older than them.
Suse started speaking again, "linking needs two white Bards as there is a need for two white Heart swords", and saying that she drew the sword on her back, it was identical to Angee's. Suse looked at Angee, "draw your sword", Angee slid her hand over her shoulder and grasped the hilt,the steely sound of it leaving it's scabbard was the only noise in the glade, "right", Suse continued , "I will now invoke a spell allowing you to touch my sword", Angee looked nervous but nodded, "before we start the rite please undo your tunics exposing your breasts", they all did as asked and Suse continued, "OK, now, Allia, Bria, stand facing Angee please. Angee, take my sword with your own and place both Pommels on your star."
Angee did as Suse bade her, "now Angee, touch both points to Allia and Bria's stars and hold them there." Angee lifted the swords so they were just touching her two friends, Suse then held her hand over both stones in both swords and her hands began to glow, suddenly a white radiance pulse up the swords to touch Allia a
nd Bria's stars, and they both went glassy eyed.
Suse removed her hands but the pulse continued, she spoke to Angee, "they're in a trance while the transfer takes place, only a white Bard can remain conscious and not suffer harm, this is for their protection."
Angee noticed the white pulse had stopped and her two friends stars start to pulse, a blue and green pulse started up the swords towards Angee, and she gasped as the pulse reached her, it felt like she was in the path of a gale, thought and images were bombarding her, and knowledge too, she could actually feel her friends presence, the pulsing stopped and Angee on some unknown instinct lowered the swords, she handed Suse her sword back and looked down at her star, it glittered with white,green and blue sparkles, she noticed Allia's and Bria's stars glittering in the same way too, but also pulsing, changing colour to white, with faster frequency, then with one finally right pulse, they settled to the simple sparkles that her own displayed, but she noticed the was a white edge completely around their stars now that matched the colour of her own.
She sat down suddenly and Suse gave her a flask to drink from, the liquid burned her throat and made her cough but she felt more alert after it, "a drink my village brewed", Suse said, "it isn't made any more, but it reawakens the senses, especially after what you just went through, Allia and Bria will wake in a moment, I will explain more then".
Her two friends suddenly focussed and sat down as abruptly as she had, Suse offered them the same flask and in moments they were more themselves.
"Now, you three should be able to feel each other's presence", now they were no longer in a trance Angee could feel her friends near her, and tell their emotions, slightly apprehensive, but excited as well.
Allia and Bria were looking at their stars, "what's happened to my star?", Bria asked in alarm, Suse grinned, "that is a visible sign of the link, the sparkles indicate what type of Bards you're linked to, and the white rim on Allia's and Bria's give them some protection through Angee against high magic. It also means you can touch each others swords, and in Allia and Bria's case would get extra protection if for some reason the white sword was in their hands."
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