"All right, I accept." Julian nodded toward the racks set around the edge of the pit, where many different weapons and their wooden practice counterparts were kept. His cerulean gaze flicked down toward Lorcain's weapons-belt. "I'm certain we can find a set close enough to what you use."

"Who said annathin" 'bout playin?"" Julian ducked back, barely avoiding the vicious slash aimed at his jugular as Lorcain exploded into movement. Lorcain's follow-up attack with his second dagger sent wood chips flying as Julian blocked with one of his practice blades, the sheer ferocity forcing him back another step. The matched daggers sliced in again in a bi-level strike intended to disembowel Julian, but this time the blades met resistance with jarring force as they impacted two ebon spheres that had formed around Julian's hands. Julian took another step backward, the shadows lengthening in his grasp to form two ghostly approximations of the dueling blades he normally favored as he dropped into a ready stance.

Lorcain pressed his attack, each cut and slash was met in silence by a shadow blade. Julian slowly brought his momentum to a halt, forcing Lorcain into a circling prowl around the edge of the pit. After a moment of the exchange Lorcain paused, rubbing his bottom lip with a knuckle as he studied Julian again. "Yer one o' Da's fancy new knights, aincha'?" Julian, his weapons remaining at the ready, nodded fractionally.

"The correct name is shadow-legionnaire, but yes, that's right." Lorcain was quiet for a second, and then just grunted as he darted back in, the deadly dance resuming. For his part Daniel watched the two in fascination. It was a study of contrasts, Julian's controlled parries and strikes meeting Lorcain's rage-filled attacks. Both were sporting several cuts, crimson stains growing on the right side of Julian's shirt while Lorcain's forearm bore a long gash. When Lorcain tried a sweep that, had it hit, would have severed Julian's hamstring and had barely ducked away from the impaling thrust he stepped forward to insinuate himself between the two.

"OK, this is getting too?" The rest of his sentence was lost in a yelp of surprise as Lorcain spun around with a snarl, the dagger snapping out almost too fast for Daniel to avoid. Julian also reacted to the change of flow in the duel by sweeping one of the shadow-sabers toward Daniel's leg, forcing him to kick his leg upward to avoid the cut. The dodge turned into a backwards cartwheel, though the attempt to put distance between himself and the other two did little good as they followed, not slacking their own duel in the slightest. Daniel sent his practice blades flying to either side as he sent out a mental shout, his call being answered by a solid "thud" of a hilt slapping into his right hand. Torth hissed in glee as the circling dance enveloped Daniel again, the inky shield that swirled around his left forearm turning away another of Lorcain's blows.

There was no sense of time for the three as they fought, each centering on the moment and movement of his opponents. There was no ganging up to knock out another either as each of the three gave and received in turn, forced to defend from both sides before returning to the offensive. It was a ballet of aggression and skill, one in which it seemed the three were evenly matched though Daniel found it difficult to keep up with his uncle and Julian.

The first hint any of them had that the dynamic had changed was a dark blur that suddenly appeared in the center of the three. Daniel felt the kick almost before he had realized that he had seen anything, the blow to his stomach sending him stumbling backward. Julian's knee was buckled by the impact of a booted foot, a leather clad leg slamming into his torso and sending him to his back with enough force to send the air racing from his lungs. Lorcain received the worst, for he was just beginning to bring his blades down to deal with this new threat when a hard boot hammered into his stomach once, again, then came up to deliver a blow to his chin hard enough to flip him backwards to land in a heap on his stomach. Blinking rapidly he looked upward as the figure straightened, the long black braid whipping around her torso as she stopped. Emerald eyes flared with icy regard as she gazed at each in turn and though her voice was soft there was no mistaking the anger lurking in her tone. "Would any of ye care to explain exactly what ye be doing?"

"Ach, nae anna need tae be gettin" yer panties inna wad, sethar." Lorcain slowly moved to his feet, rubbing his chin with a slight wince as he worked his jaw from side to side. "Th' boy ain' hurt none, an' Danny be fine 'swell."

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Daniel and I took it easy on Lorcain, given his advanced"experience." The glare that Julian and Lorcain exchanged was nothing compared to the look Fiona shot at both of them from where she stood examining a cut on Daniel's cheek.

"Daniel, ye fathair be waiting on ye in Cisroe. I've told Jasmine and Anya to lay out an outfit for ye." Leather-clad fingertips brushed her son's cheek gently, a thread of energy exchanged in that soft caress to accelerate Daniel's regenerative powers. "And it would be best not to keep him waiting."

"Yes, mathair." Daniel leaned close to press a kiss to his mother's cheek before retreating toward the staircase leading out of the arena. Fiona moved to stand between the two men still below and her voice echoed upward as Daniel passed through the door heading toward the stairs leading to the second level of the subterranean complex.

"Now, the three of us need to have a little talk?"

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life." ~Richard Bach

"Not long at all." The voice brought the attention of the siblings around toward the corner and the warrior that had just arrived. Both smiled at seeing the man who had come to command their father's mercenary forces during his war with Urevan. Commander Johann Farris bowed his head in greeting to the two, the pomp of court replaced by a familiarity forged on the battlefield. "Your father sends his apologies for making you wait, and he hopes you will forgive the delay. They are, however, now ready to receive you. If you will come with me?" Turning, Farriss started back down the hall away from the main audience chamber. Cieara and Daniel hurried to follow, cutting a puzzled glance toward each other.

Farriss paused beside one of the heavy oak doors and held it open for Cieara, who smiled in thanks before stepping through. Daniel and Farriss followed her into what the siblings recognized as the smaller audience chamber usually reserved for council meetings. The table that normally sat in the center of the room had been moved to the wall leaving an unobstructed path along the red carpeting to the small throne across from the door, where Lucius sat in repose. Fiona stood beside him with a hand resting on his shoulder, having changed into an emerald ensemble before returning from Gharnholme. A quick glance found Myrialla and Kaelyn standing to one side alongside Duke Jonathan Harte and the recently appointed chamberlain Valcriss DelCroiss. A shorter woman, her hair swept up in an elaborate coif, stood next to Harte. Others stood behind the quintet but most were unknown to either Cieara or Daniel.

The three crossed over to where Lucius and Fiona waited, a soft touch to their shoulders urging them into a bow and courtesy respectively while Farriss knelt behind them. Cieara glanced upward toward her parents and her earlier annoyance faded at seeing the smile each held. Lucius looked over to DelCroiss and the chamberlain stepped forward, a parchment held up before him which, after clearing his throat, he began to read.

"Let it be known that, on this sixteenth day of Halmarch, that we the royal court of Mercyvia do acknowledge the following..." DelCroiss paused for effect, looking at the two standing before the throne as he continued. "...His Royal Highness Daniel Rhystil, as befitting his status and in reward for duty served, shall be hereby gifted the manor of Rosecliff and all attendant lands, located within the Duchy of Blackcrest." Daniel's eyes widened at the announcement and shot looks between his parents and sister beside him. "Puissant with this he shall also henceforth hold title as Earl of Rosecliff, to be given honors and hold the responsibilities that said title and lands entail." Daniel was in shock as Kaelyn stepped forward to stand behind him, setting a robe of rich burgundy that he had missed seeing in entry across his shoulders and giving them a soft squeeze of support and encouragement. Cieara watched and listened in bewilderment, though she was not to be left wanting for long with the chamberlain's next words.

"Furthermore, Her Royal Highness Cieara Jade, as befitting her status and in reward for duty served, shall be gifted the manor house of Alcrain and attached land, located within the barony of Valdell. Puissant with this she shall also henceforth hold title as Countess DeAuster, to be given honors and hold the responsibilities that said title entails." Myrialla set a heavy cloak across Cieara's shoulders as Lucius came smoothly to his feet.

"Daniel. Cieara, the two of you have done everything your mother and I have asked of you and so much more. You have made us all proud, and this is a reward you both have justly earned." His gaze shifted from his daughter to his son and back. "And we know you will continue to do so. Now, rise, Earl of Rosecliff. Rise, Countess DeAuster?

Cieara and Daniel straightened, and Cieara found herself swept into a hug by her father. He released her after a few seconds to clasp hands with his son as Fiona gave her daughter a second hug. Valcriss was motioned back with a nod of Lucius's head, and his two children were led to the side to stand with the others, leaving Lucius alone with the still-kneeling Farriss.

Sorcha laid the last of the folded linens into the travel chest sitting at the foot of her bed and, after stretching, let her gaze be drawn to the balcony and the view beyond. The sun was starting to peek over the horizon, coloring the few clouds in vibrant hues of reds and violets. "Red in the morning, take heed of the warning." She hoped the old saying would not become an omen for the trip.

Fiona had taken her aside the day before near the end of the reception honoring Daniel and Cieara's investment so they could speak in relative privacy. "Auric has vouched for the safety of those attending his son's celebration." Her hushed tone conveyed Fiona's thoughts on such a promise, and Sorcha had easily guessed what was coming next. "And since there has been a request not to send a retinue Lucius and I would like for you to attend as a representative of Zymier."

"Of course." Sorcha had nodded, already considering the details of such a trip. "I presume Queen Bronwyn has agreed?"

"Aye, and the papers ye shall need will be here by the end of the week." Fiona had glanced over to where Cieara stood talking to Duke Blackcrest and Lady Tarsos, one of the lesser nobles of the court. "I nae think any would risk alienating Malirid by attempting anything, but recent events have proven anything is possible." The cool emerald gaze had returned to Sorcha before Fiona spoke again. "Also, I trust ye to keep Cieara centered." Sorcha's lips had flattened slightly but she merely nodded in agreement.

A knock on the door shook Sorcha from her reverie and she glided over and opened to the lean form of Julian, a steaming mug in one hand and a thin leather case in the other. "Good morning." The shadowknight held out the mug and Sorcha's nose twitched as she caught the aroma of the rich coffee favored in her homeland, a faint smile crossing her features at the scent and on seeing him. "I thought you might want something to help wake up."

"Thank you, Julian." Taking the mug and the case she turned back to the room and moved over to the small desk. Julian stepped across the threshold and watched as she set the mug down and pulled out one of the parchments in the case to skim the contents, nodding to herself as she reached the end of the page.

"I take it everything is in order?" Julian took a lean against one of the plush easy chairs, and Sorcha turned back toward him as she tucked the parchment back into the case.

"Aye." Tossing the case onto the pile of clothes in the travel chest she took a long sip of coffee before continuing. "Travel papers and letters of introduction from Bronwyn and my father." Setting the mug down she moved toward the bed to pick up a folded pile of clothing. "At least it will be easier to keep an eye on Cieara than if I was masquerading as a handmaiden." Julian's brow arched slightly at that though he wisely kept any thoughts to himself.