A Change For the Light

by Heather Maginnis

  Suse looked away. "I will tell you where to start when you have had some training from me, now lets eat."

  * * *

  Sera walked back to the Temple a very puzzled Bard, first there was Angee and all her friends and now Mol, what did it all mean?. She was so deep in thought she didn't see the figure watching from the trees.

  Twelve

  Angee and her friends were really sore, they had been riding virtually non stop for a day and a half, only stopping to use the jacks or rest the mounts, they ate and dozed in the saddle. Angee realised they were only a few leagues from the Temple. "Lets stop a moment and rest, I don't want to fall out of the saddle when we get there."

  All three of them dismounted and Allia got some food ready while Bria and Allia used the jacks, walking back to the horses she stopped and placed a hand on the bundle laid over the fourth mount, nearly home my sister she thought and turned when Allia asked what she wanted to eat.

  Angee felt like she was coming home, she hadn't been at the Temple of Light long but there was something about the place, as it came into view she heard Allia say "home", a warm feeling suffused her being, "you too?".

  Allia knew what she meant, "it does feel like home doesn't it?".

  Bria nodded, Angee had noticed Bria never said anything unless she felt it important, it tended to mean a lot of conversations with Allia and nods from Bria, but they were her closest friends, closer than blood sisters she mused.

  Riding up to the Temple, someone must have spotted them for the Mother Abbess,Sera and Riese were waiting for them, Angee dismounted and looked at the Mother Abbess, "we brought her home" was all she said unhitching the fourth horse. Sera walked up and lifted the Cape. "Xeexa" Riese looked close to tears and the Mother Abbess looked drawn, "freshen yourselves up, then come to my office" and with a word in Riese's ear walked back into the Temple.

  Angee and her friends went to their rooms and had a wash and put fresh uniforms on, Angee was ready first and waited for Bria and Allia to finish, she didn't have to wait long.

  Allia knocked on the door to the Abbess's office and entered on her command, "come in and sit down, I have some tea and sandwiches for you."

  They sat and ate in silence, the Mother Abbess seemed busy writing something, when they had finished she stopped and looked at them.

  "What happened?".

  Angee who by now answered for them spoke up.

  "We were riding towards Bria's home when we saw a Bards mount on the road, it seemed to want us to go into the trees which we did and found the body". The Abbess though a moment, "why were you going to Bria's home?". Angee looked at Bria and Allia.

  "We all felt danger associated with our families, did my message reach you as to what occurred at my home?". the Abbess held up her message, "we were going to check the other two families when we found Xeexa, we thought it best to bring her home first."

  "First?", the Mother Abbess said, "you plan to go out again?". Angee nodded an affirmative, "we must take care of this so we can concentrate on what's ahead."

  The Mother Abbess looked troubled, "I must ask you to remain for the moment."

  Allia looked as if she were about to say something, but didn't, the Mother Abbess seemed distracted. "Get some rest and resume your lessons, we will talk in a few days."

  Angee was not happy about the situation and it took her a long time to get to sleep, when she did she had dreams of unimaginable terrors killing people and the three of them arriving too late to do anything, the dawn brought small relief as she laid there drenched in her own sweat.

  Once dressed, she met the others for breakfast, all three of them were quiet and spent the morning working on Swordplay with Sera and Emili, although their hearts were not in it.

  The rest of the day passed in a similar mood and just before they retired for the night, Angee who'd had enough of it said "come in my room will you?" to Allia and Bria.

  Sitting on the bed Angie looked at her friends, "I'm not happy about this, we should be many leagues down the road checking on your families."

  At two looks of agreement she continued, "I think we should talk to Suse in the morning."

  Allia and Bria seemed to brighten at this and smiled, "good idea" Bria said, "now lets see if we can get some sleep" and at that got up and left the room, Allia was right behind her.

  Angee puzzled over the cryptic remark and wondered if they'd had dreams too.

  In the Morning they were up before dawn and headed out to see Suse, they arrived at the glade to see Suse fighting with someone, Mol! she realised.

  Suse must have sensed them for she held up a hand and Mol stopped, she raised a hand and Mol looked in their direction. "Angee!" she shouted and before Angee knew it she was being hugged fiercely by Mol.

  After disengaging Mol's arms from her neck she looked at Suse, "why are teaching Mol fighting?", at a looked question from Mol and a nod from Suse Mol turned to Angee and undid her simple grey tunic, all three of them saw the bronze star it revealed, Angee was lost for words.

  It had really rocked Angee, her friend Mol was a Bard too, and a Bard type she didn't recognise, a bronze one. Angee shook herself.

  "Alright Suse, do you want to explain all this?" she asked in exasperation. Suse did not reply straight away, instead she sat down on the grass.

  Suse looked as if she were talking to someone, finally she looked at Angee and her friends, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you all the details, just know that Mol is vital to your success."

  Angee was a little annoyed at that answer but knew it was not her place to raise an argument.

  Suse looked at Angee, "now, I can tell you have something troubling you or all three of you would not be here." Angee didn't like coming to Suse like this and it must have shown on her face.

  "We returned the body of a sister we found on the road to Bria's family and intended to set out again, but the Mother Abbess has told us to stay."

  Suse had genuine sympathy on her face. "I can understand how it must seem to you, having only recently become Bards you are thrust into confrontation with the head of the order.

  I can only say that you and your friends are Bards now, your training is pretty much complete, mostly what you need is experience to complete the process" she sighed.

  "The Abbess for all she's trying to understand this is still thinking in conventional Bard terms, which you are not, I know you are all not yet twenty, but you are all adult Bards, not some child playing at being one.

  The next thing you have to learn is sometimes need overrides all protocol and set precedence, do you understand ?".

  Angee could only give an affirmative shake of her head, "now one final thing" Suse continued , "you must tell no one of Mol , her job will be a secret one, that I can tell you, tell NO ONE !" and with that she stood up and walked over to where Allia and Bria were talking to Mol.

  Angee stood up and walked over to the small group chatting and after Suse had made a point about the technique they were using when the three of them arrived Angee gave a quick jerk of her head towards the temple, "Allia,Bria, we have to go," her two friends looked pleased, as they had gleaned when she said go, she meant, go.

  Mol looked slightly sad and Angee gave her a hug, "I cannot think of anyone who'd I rather see a sister, take care Mol", and with a final squeeze her and her two comrades walked back the way they came.

  Mol looked at Suse, "They never seem to stay anywhere long." Suse looked slightly worried, "in some ways their path is lonelier than yours", and that cryptic remark was all she made .

  As Angee walked back with Allia and Bria , she could see they were eager to be off, after all it was their families they were worried about.

  Nearing the temple she could see only the guard on the door, most must still be at breakfast or in the chapel, "pack quickly and the first one ready see to our mounts, make sure you've enough for a long journey , I'll write a note to the Abbess explaining our stealing away the way we are."

  Bria was first packed
was down at the stables, the stablemaster however would not let her saddle the mounts, "I've had orders" he stubbornly, "you are not to leave."

  Bria looked ready to explode.

  "Not to leave !, I think it is better we do, look there is cut on my mount's leg, you don't take proper care of them!".

  The stablemaster looked apoplectic, "where!, let me see!, I take good care I do!", and bending down to examine the offending leg Bria hit him on the neck in a place she knew would render him unconscious for a while.

  Leading her mount out she made the stablemaster was comfortable and whispered "I'm sorry" to him, although she knew he couldn't here her she felt it was the right thing to do.

  Angee walked out of her room after finishing writing the note, she'd left it on her table knowing it would be found, she bumped into Emili almost at once.

  Emili took one look at the saddle bags and said "where do you think you are going?".

  Angee's heart was in her throat, she was amazed at how calm her voice sounded ,"just off for a field exercise overnight , best to be prepared."

  Emili seemed to approve, "have fun then", and walked off down the corridor.

  Once outside Angee headed for the stable where Allia and Bria were waiting , Allia was laughing, "and you actually hit him?". Bria looked uncomfortable, "it was the only quick solution I could think of", Allia laughed even more and told Angee as best she could what Bria had done . Angee smiled, feeling a bit more kindly to Bria than Allia had.

  "Well, lets make tracks eh?, won't be long before they discover my note."

  So as the sun finally cleared the tops of the trees they rode off down the lane.

  Thirteen

  Mol was growing stronger, the past few days Suse had worked her hard teaching her swordplay and something Suse said might be more valuable, knife fighting. "It's a down and dirty way to fight, but sometimes swords aren't practical , now, I'll explain a bit more about what you'll have to do.

  As a bronze Bard you get all the dirty jobs, you'll be a spy, assassin, or in fact anything that's needed . You'll have to fool a few people, get used to telling lies so well it's second nature." Mol looked troubled, "but isn't lying a sin?".

  Suse shook her head. "We're not talking about doing evil here, we're talking about you doing something that may save someone's life, Angee, for instance."

  Suse could tell that had hit a chord. "Mol, can I ask you a delicate question?", Mol sat down, "OK." Suse sighed "Angee, just what is she to you?".

  Mol's face reddened for a moment.

  "Angee was the only friend I had growing up, at one time I thought we would marry when we grew up, but we got distant for a few years, I think I must have scared him-her off, I know now why, but I do love her and always will."

  Suse seemed to approve, "just so you understand what's in your own mind, you need to be totally focussed with no distractions."

  A few days later Suse called a halt to the sparring they'd been doing.

  "Good!, very good! , you learn quickly . Now, I think we'll set an exercise for you. I want you to go back to the Temple and see Sera, still Mol, Angee's friend, think of some excuse why you were with me, and ask,beg whatever it takes for a job.

  Once in the job I want you to track the Mother Abbess's movement's and formulate what the best way to assassinate her is, then come back here and detail how you'd do it."

  Mol had an eager glint in her eye, but Suse looked angry.

  "This isn't a game young woman or should I say child!" her words stung Mol and she wondered why Suse was acting like this, Suse seemed to understand the train of thought.

  "If you are caught you will be punished, this may be an exercise to us,but only you and I know and it must remain that way for your security," Mol sobered at the thought .

  Mol walked back to the Temple, she approached the guard on the door.

  "Can I have a word with Sera please?". Mol was amazed how calm she felt considering what she was doing, a few minutes later the guard reappeared with Sera right behind him.

  "Mol!, what are you doing here?".

  A quick glance at the guard and Sera ushered Mol through the door. "Come we'll have a drink while we talk."

  Sera took Mol to the refectory which was deserted and made them some tea, sitting down at a table with Mol she continued, "now, what can I do for you, I thought you'd gone home by now."

  Mol quaked in genuine terror at the thought. "No, I don't want to go home, I was wondering if there were any jobs here?", Sera pondered what she'd said for a moment.

  "What have you been doing these past days?", Mol looked around, "Suse wanted to know about the world in general, we've just been talking about a lot of things."

  Sera gave Mol a keen look, "you've left some things unsaid , but you're a friend of Angee's so I'll arrange for you to work in the Kitchen, if that's alright with you?". Mol was pleased and the look on her face must of shown it for Sera stood up, "right, I'll just have a word with the kitchen matron, there won't be any problem."

  Mol fell into the work easily, preparing vegetables, cooking dishes and washing up was nothing she had not done most of her life. It was one part of the work that gave her a chance to explore the Temple, taking food to various Bards who'd requested it, and more importantly to the Mother Abbess.

  * * *

  They covered league's swiftly and it only took two days of such hard riding to reach Bria's home, the town of Direm was still shrouded in the early morning mist and Angee was surprised to see a wall around the town, it gave it a very fortified look and on getting closer she could see it was old, the stones showed where rain had worn away the edges.

  There was a guard post on the gate, questioning travellers who entered, but he waved the three Bards through with a cheery grin.

  Bria looked surprised,"must be who we are."

  Allia looked at Bria, "where do we go now?", Bria nudged her mount.

  "This way, we used to live over our shop which was in this quarter of the city, but mum had to let it go when father died, we have to go right through to other side of town."

  Angee had never been in a town before and for all she had the impression it was a small town it seemed awfully big to her.

  They rode through streets lined with shops selling all manner of goods, the smells from the food shops were most enticing. They all noticed the looks they got as they continued on their way mostly awe and curiosity, but there were a few looks which were openly hostile which had Angee ready to reach for her sword at a moments notice.

  Once through the small central market she noticed the buildings seemed shabbier, this must be the poorer quarter she thought.

  Bria was actually getting a few nods from people now, and the whole demeanour of the people in general seemed friendlier. Bria pulled her mount up at a small apothecary's, "my mother lives above this shop, she helps mix the remedies, she was always very good at that."

  All three of them dismounted and Bria fair flew into the shop, before Angee and Allia could enter they heard a shriek and crying, both were smiling as they entered the shop.

  The first thing Angee saw when she entered was a woman with greying hair hugging Bria, both were crying, an old man stood nearby with a large grin on his face, the owner she thought.

  It must have been hard for Bria and her mum to be parted with no other family and this reunion touched both Angee's and Allia greatly.

  Bria let go of her mum when she realised her friends were there, "mum, these are my two closest friends, Angee and Allia."

  Bria's mum looked at the two young Bards, "I'm pleased to meet any friend of Bria's, welcome."

  Angee and Allia both smiled, "were pleased to meet you too" Angie said.

  Bria's mum put an arm around her daughter, "let's go upstairs for some tea."

  All three of them followed her up the stairs and were soon seated in a small cosy room while she made the tea, after a few minutes she brought the tea in on a tray and told them to help themselves.

  Once seated sh
e looked at there daughter and friends sat together, "now, tell me what brings you here , there must be something, I did not expect to see you for quite a while yet, much less two friends."

  Angee knew she had misread Bria's mother, she hadn't realised she was so sharp on picking up things, Bria looked at Angee for permission and Angee thought ' yes ' to her, that caught Bria by surprise as verbal communication by thought was still something they hadn't really gotten the hang of.

  "Well mum, we're more than friends we work as a unit, we felt something wrong over our families and had to deal with a problem in Angee's village, we're just visiting all the families now to be sure you're alright."

  Bria's mum looked at Bria and Angee, "you're the leader of the group, right?" Angee smiled and sat back in her chair, "not much gets past you, yes I am. We'll be here a few days while we check out the town then we'll go to Allia's home."

  Bria's mum sat forward to emphasise her concern "Do you expect to find anything," Angee shrugged, "I don't know, you have a temple to the Goddess here?".

  Bria's mum pointed at the window, "it's down the street a ways." Angee flexed her fingers "well, that will be a good place to start, now, Bria, is there an Inn nearby ?", Bria stood up.

  "OK,I'll show you, there's one two streets over". Angee and Allia followed Bria to a small Inn called 'The Green Bard', "appropriate" Allia murmured.

  Once inside Angee walked over to a man stood behind the bar, "we'd like three rooms", the man seemed pleased, "yes, of course please come this way, I'm Rolf the Innkeeper, it's an honour to have you stay here."

  The rooms were adequate, barely, Angee thought her father would have a fit if he saw the rooms.

  Rolf handed them their keys and went downstairs, "Bria, you go be with your mum, Allia and I will go to the Temple and check in with the priestess and the Bard there."