A Change For the Light

by Heather Maginnis

  Stephanie was confused, "I'm sorry,what do you mean?".

  From the look on Allia and Bria's faces something important had happened, but Stephanie did not know what.

  Angee was shaking, not through rage, but in shock.

  She looked at Stephanie with a mixture of shock and questioning.

  "For a Bard to touch a white Bard heart sword they would get a shock, apart from Allia and Bria who are linked to me, for a non Bard to touch it would mean death, as has already happened once. You should be dead, yet you live, I...".

  She sat down with an audible plop, lost for words.

  The door to the refectory opened and the Mother Abbess walked in, she took the situation in at a glance, "OK, what's happened now?", her tone indicated nothing was a surprise to her any more.

  She looked expectantly at the three bards, Allia and Bria in turn looked at Angee who looked back at them with a 'why me?' expression.

  It didn't take long to recount what had been happening over the past few days, "and the reason you felt you didn't have to tell me this when it happened is?".

  Angee flushed with embarrassment, " I'm sorry I suppose we should have."

  The Mother Abbess smiled, "OK, just remember that, now, since you're accompanying Stephanie, have you any other details?, where are you going to go?". Angee shrugged, "I don't know, we'll follow where Stephanie goes."

  Stephanie felt all eyes turn to her, it made her feel uncomfortable and defensive, "I don't know, I suppose we'll just see where my feelings take us."

  Stephanie couldn't interpret what the Mother Abbess was feeling and the Mother Abbess merely nodded and left.

  Back in her office, she sat studying what had just happened, it troubled her deeply, something was out of kilter and she had no remedy for it, all she could do was pray to the Goddess to keep them safe on their journey.

  Stephanie had just closed and fastened the last saddlebag when there was a knock at the door, opening the three young

  Bards were stood there looking very sober "Shall we go?".

  Stephanie slung her saddlebag over her shoulder and followed them.

  Thirty

  Angeless was breathing hard, out of breath, the men chasing her weren't going to catch her, but they hadn't given up yet either, something had gone terribly wrong.

  She knew going back to her rooms was a mistake so she kept running.

  Jaynne was just finishing her devotions in front of the altar when the door banged open and the person who had just run in slammed it shut.

  Walking quickly to the entrance to the temple, she saw a young woman that looked like the person Mol had described. Jaynne had been expecting to see her sooner, but instead there had only been these messages left for Mol, "Are you Mol's friend?". The person nodded, still too winded to speak.

  The sound of running feet made Angeless jump up, and back away from the door quickly. Four men burst in, swords drawn. Jaynne was outraged, "what is the meaning of this!, bared blades in the temple of the Goddess?".

  One man didn't quite sneer as he answered, "It's nothing to do with you, we want her, she tried to rob Lord Werket's house". Now it was Jaynne's turn to sneer. "A young girl like this?, have you any proof?". The man took a step forward his sword pointed at Jaynne. "We don't need to show you any proof it's none of your business, hand her over!".

  Jaynne wished she had her sword "Is there a problem?", a voice from behind her made her almost sag with relief, without taking her eyes off the man she answered. "Yes sister, it appears these men don't respect the sanctity of the temple and in fact are threatening to take this girl by force."

  A sword slipped into her hand as the man who'd demanded Angeless be turned over to them spoke.

  "It is not a demand it is the law, she is a criminal and must be punished."

  "I see.." Jaynne put as much sarcasm into her voice as she could, "and you are the City Guard?, or from the palace?".

  "We Are Lord Werket's", as if that explained everything,

  "now, hand her over!".

  Jaynne took a step forward, "I think not."

  The men charged, Jaynne had put herself in front of Angeless to protect her, Hersha engaged the two men to Jaynne's left. They weren't unskilled these men, and soon Jaynne and Hersha were sweating, although, they had no wounds, and one of Jaynne's opponent's laid bleeding on the floor from a gut thrust.

  Hersha put another one down and her other opponent bolted,

  realising that he was alone, the man facing Jaynne, tried a desperate tactic and Jaynne's shoulder exploded with fire as his sword went through, her sword was more accurate though,

  he slumped against her and slid off her sword.

  "Damn, I must have got his heart, now we cannot question him."

  Her shoulder was really beginning to hurt now, and while Hersha checked the man she put down earlier Angeless helped her to a room where she could get treatment.

  Jaynne noticed Angeless seemed quite skilled and gentle as she helped Jaynne take her bloody tunic off.

  Angeless had all the bandage's laid out and was busy cleaning the wound with a wet cloth. Jaynne gritted her teeth and focused on the window to stop from passing out with the pain being so intense.

  Hersha came in and grunted in approval. "That other man died as I asked him the first question."

  Jaynne didn't answer, she didn't trust herself to do anything more than concentrate on the window.

  "Sorry if this hurts", Angeless muttered, "but we have to get this wound cleaned."

  Finishing wiping Jaynne's shoulder Angeless carefully took a clean bandage and started wrapping it around Jaynne's shoulder.

  "Be very careful with this if you wanted to heal proper."

  Now that the intense pain had stopped Jaynne looked at Angeless, she was barely more than a child.

  "Where did you learn such healing skills?".

  Angeless looked uncomfortable.

  "My ma was a healer, she showed me many things that I still remember, she died when I was eight."

  "Have you thought of taking healing up as a profession?".

  "No way!, there's no money in that."

  "That's a very mercenary attitude", Jaynne noted.

  Now Angeless looked angry.

  "Oh yes?, and how am I supposed to survive?. If I got proper training from a healer I'd need a second or third means of income just to live while doing so."

  Very Street wise Jaynne realised "Okay, now suppose you tell me why those men chasing you?".

  "I don't know, I had someone watching Lord Werket for me, or rather for Mol. She could have betrayed me or been caught, I'll have to find out."

  Jaynne tried to stand up and the pain in her shoulder made her almost blackout.

  "No, it isn't safe for you out there. If more of Lord Werket's henchmen should catch you I dread to think what could happen. You had best stay here while send a message to Mol."

  Angeless looked rebellious but said nothing.

  "Hersha would you see Mol's friend get settled and send a message to the palace telling Mol she's here."

  Mol received the message supposedly sent to Illia, but the star after Illia's name meaning it was for her. As she opened it and read the contents her eyes widened in alarm, something had gone wrong, and badly from the sound of it.

  Donning a nondescript cloak she quickly and quietly left the palace, she was in a hurry but still took the time to weave through the city and double back on herself on the odd chance she was being followed.

  When she was nearly at the temple she looked around again but still nothing, or she getting paranoid?, she chided herself, it was necessary, better to be safe than sorry.

  Mol slipped in a side entrance, and made her away to the main rooms where she knew the Bard's and Angeless would be.

  She walked in to find Jaynne and Hersha in argument, they paused as they looked up.

  "You're too late, your friend has left."

  Mol cursed silently.

  The party of four arri
ved at the stables to find their mounts waiting for them. Mounting silently they rode off down the lane pausing only at the end of the lane when Angee asked Stephanie "which way now?".

  Stephanie wasn't sure but felt a need to good towards the city. That way, I think we should start from the other side of the city. The streets were fairly quiet, and no one paid attention to them, or at least that is what they thought.

  As they neared the far side of the city and approached the city gate someone was watching them from a second storey window.

  Watching until they were out of view he smiled to himself.

  "Go to your doom, death awaits you."

  Turning back to the table, he double checked that everything was ready. Raising his hands over a cast iron bowl he began to chant, and his hands glowed a sullen red, something in the bowl began to pulsate with a life of its own.

  A week later, the Mother Abbess reflected it was a good job that Angee and the other bards had gone a quest with Stephanie.

  It had started innocuously enough, a bard who lived in the city and treated the sick had come down ill tending a suspected victim of plague, but this was like a plague like nothing that had been seen before, it started with the cold like symptoms and then a red rash, bleeding and vomiting.

  What wasn't normal was in the end stages the victim that the bard was attempting to treat became enveloped with a green mist like cloud, and when it disappeared the victim was dead, looking as if something had eviscerated them.

  The Bard had taken ill the same day, and her healing powers had disappeared, from there it had spread to a third of the Bards, and half the town.

  Angee and her friends were very lucky. A few days more and they may very well have spread the plague throughout the countryside.

  Without their powers too things could have gone hard for them if they met any resistance. The Mother Abbess entered the chapel to pray they would be kept safe and for deliverance from this affliction.

  Angee and her companions were oblivious of course to what they'd left behind, they'd stopped for the midday meal and to check the map they had, none of them knew the area and they were getting out into the wilds.

  "There are only a few scattered towns and villages before we hit the mountains" Angee announced,not looking up from her map.

  When she did look up it was to talk to Stephanie.

  "You still feel this is the right way?". Stephanie nodded.

  "Yep, there is something in this direction I feel it."

  The resolution in her voice reassured the others, they were taking a lot on trust and obviously didn't have the same relationship with her they did with each other, probably something to do with what they shared Stephanie mused.

  They hadn't been riding hard in spite of the urgency Stephanie felt, facing the unknown it would be plain silly to tire their mounts then find they couldn't escape if they were outnumbered.

  Towards dusk they heard a horse coming up fast behind them,

  they pulled slightly to one side, although none of them felt any danger, they had to be prepared for any eventuality.

  The rider didn't see them and his horse shied as it was startled by his sudden movement as he saw them. He obviously wasn't a skilled horseman and went flying off the road to land in a heap as he lost his seat.

  Angee and the other Bards dismounted and started to walk towards him, the man had landed fairly well and panicked as they approached.

  "Stop, don't come any closer!" he gasped.

  They Stopped about ten feet from him.

  "Is there something wrong with Bards coming to your aid?" Angee asked.

  He nodded vehemently. "Have you just come from the temple?". They looked at each other puzzled.

  "We've come from the temple, yes." He scrambled backwards away from them, "Then you could have it!".

  "Have it?, have what?."

  "There is plague in the city, most say it's come from the Bards as so many of them have it, your Goddess has cursed you!" a wild look in his eyes making Stephanie doubt his sanity.

  The man seemed terrified, and bolted in to the trees.

  Allia was going to chase after him but Angee put a restraining arm on her to stop her. "It would not do any good I think, he told us what we need to know, the thing is do we believe him, and if we do, what do we do about it?".

  Bria was already walking back to her horse.

  "Whatever, we have to get back, we may be able to help."

  "Don't be in such a hurry, we should discuss this first Bria" Angee seemed in no hurry to go, "this doesn't feel right to me, there is something out of kilter."

  Allia broke out some rations and they sat at the side of the road, Stephanie didn't want to turn around now, but she could understand Bria's point of view.

  "Bria, why do you want to go back?" she enquired in a gentle tone. "Bria looked at her, fire blazing in her eyes.

  "Because I am a healer!, I cannot just do nothing!".

  Stephanie sighed, the impatience of youth, she thought.

  "Think for a moment, there are many experienced healers there, I'm not sure one more would do any good, besides, we could catch it, if we haven't got it already."

  Bria looked stubborn. "That may be true, but I feel alright."

  Stephanie gave herself a mental shake and sighed, "on my world there are disease's that show no symptoms till the final stages, until then the person who has it can pass it to others without realising it."

  Bria totally exploded at that, "you!, it was you wasn't it?". Stephanie was confused. "What do you mean?".

  Bria stalked over to her threateningly. "You brought this illness with you!, you infected everyone with your otherworldly disease!".

  Stephanie sat there in total shock at the accusation, she couldn't could she?, but no, all major plague's had been dealt with on her world, people weren't carriers as the major plagues of the middle ages had been wiped out.

  "No, it wasn't me, we don't have plagues on our world like that anymore, we wiped them out."

  Bria had backed off slightly and Stephanie stood up, "I still have to continue my search, but it may be wise to backtrack a bit, to find out more information about this disease. We don't have to go back all the way, just till we find someone with better knowledge than that man had."

  Angee, who had remained silent during the exchange between Stephanie and Bria spoke up. "I think that is a wise course of action, but we will be careful, just in case we have got it."

  Riding south they soon notice the change, farms were blocked off at the roads leading to them, with dire warnings of what would happen if they approached.

  The concern on all their faces was evident, this plague whatever it was had scared the whole countryside, and no one was taking any chances.

  As they approached towns, they saw they were blocked too and had to make detours around them costing yet more time.

  Two days later they were eating breakfast before setting off,

  Angee was studying her map again.

  "We're getting close to some big towns now, I don't know we want to go much farther south or else we run the risk of getting too close to where the plague may have spread. We'll go to this town here", pointing to a town indicated on her map.

  "They usually have a bard stationed there I think, and see if we can get any information from her."

  It took them a couple of hours to cover the distance,and when the town had come into sight they backed off a bit while the three bards put their uniforms on.

  This town as well was barricaded, and manned by men with a variety of farm implements and weapons which looked of a poor quality.

  They stopped a bit from the barricade "Wait here I'll go and talk to them."

  As she urged her horse forward Angee could sense the concern behind her.

  "Stop, this town is closed to all, especially Bards!".

  Angee reined her horse just within normal speaking distance.

  "Why is it closed to Bards?, our protection lies upon all the land."


  A crowd of people most of them armed had begun to gather behind the man who spoke. "Your curse you mean!.

  People are sick here with your Goddess cursed plague!.

  Once we've despatched the Bard here she may take the plague with her, and any who interfere will share her fate!".

  Angee withdrew, she knew there was no reasoning with them, they were all too scared, but she had no intention of leaving a sister in trouble.

  "Stephanie, I think you should wait further up the road, we have to rescue our sister it seems. This mob seem intent on her destruction."

  A grim look crossed Stephanie's face. "I don't think so, I have certain powers which I can use if necessary You agreed to accompany me and I'm not about to leave you when you are so out numbered."

  A smile broke out on all three Bards faces. "Oh no, we don't mean to kill if we can avoid it, but this lot", Allia gestured over her shoulder, "don't provide threats greater than we have faced before."

  The three Bards and Stephanie dismounted and tied their mounts to a tree limb

  Turning they walked to the barricade, Angee giving last minute instructions to Stephanie, "If we get in combat, we may link, you will see a shield around the three of us, don't touch it or try to enter it, but stay behind us as it will be the safest place."

  Approaching the barrier with swords drawn, there was some fearful mutterings behind the man, Angee smiled, but there was no humour behind it.

  "We demand entrance in the name of the Goddess!".

  The same man who'd spoken before shouted back a terse reply. "No, try to get in and you're dead!".

  The barricade wouldn't prove a problem Stephanie thought and stepped to Angee's side, "allow me."

  Lifting a hand she pointed at the barricade and let a large fireball fly, it hit the various wagons and carts the barricade consisted of and it detonated with a deafening roar, when the smoke cleared only a few sticks remained, and half of the people manning it had been blown over by the blast.