Book 13 Chapters 1-3 "Kitchen Duty"

[Argent]

Chapter One


“So why do I have to do this?” I complained as I looked at my 'sisters'. “I mean this is your story, at least up until this point. I'm not even in the picture yet.”

It was early evening in Darokin City, what had once been called Elcadan before the Civil War. My sisters and I were relaxing in the home we all shared, nibbling on snacks and drinking wine as we talked in the sitting room after eating a fine meal. It wasn't all that often that we would gather together to just talk among ourselves anymore. We shared the latest happenings with each other since our lives had gone in vastly different directions.

The house itself was called Streelcove by the original owner, Pander, who was High Priest of Mammon, and it was very impressive. There was nothing like it anywhere else in Darokin City. The outside of the three-story house was constructed of polished stone that reflected the light. The inside was trimmed with elegant and highly polished woods. The furnishings were just as grand. The whole spoke of wealth and power, which reflected the tastes of the original owner. However, Pander was bleeding Elcadan dry. No one was sorry to see him go, but no one wanted to buy the home of someone who consorted with devils. Therefore, we got it much cheaper than you would have expected.

After the Cynalonian Civil War, my sisters and I pooled our accumulated wealth and bought Streelcove and much of the property that Pander once owned. The life of a merchant was always an appealing one to us and this was a great opportunity to expand the family business. It was the beginning of our merchandising empire and provided us with a source of regular income. None of us lived here full-time, but I suppose I was here the most, overseeing our business dealings on this side of the kingdom. For us, it was simply a place to stay while in Darokin City. We each had our own rooms, so walking in on one another was never an issue. The Master Suite was reserved for our parents when they were in town. They had worked hard all their lives, so it only felt natural to give them something nice in their retirement.

At one time, I did go by the name of Argent and I had lived the same life as my sisters did up until the accident with the Pillar Artifact. After that monumental life-altering event, we went in very different directions. Those individual experiences further shaped our lives and made us less and less like copies of each other. Since there were now so many of us, we each tried to make ourselves unique from the others. This helped to make identification easier for our friends and family and even among ourselves. I was now answering to the name of Maggie, a shortened version of our birth name Magdalena.

I had the same figure and features as my sisters did. But in addition to the name change, I also wore my hair shorter than the others. I had clipped it in frustration in the past and then later found out that a shorter cut appealed to me. I wasn't constantly having to move it out of my face

“Because up until this point our tale was told from our individual points of view,” one of my sisters explained. This Argent gestured to herself and then to the other one seated close by, “This is where we start to spend more time together and learned how to coexist with each other. Our first thought was to just alternate chapters with each of us telling their own side of the story.”

This Argent had been elevated to noble status by the King and always referred to herself as 'the Lady Argent'. She had also changed the least among us. Her hair was still long and a naturally curly brown. Her eyes were the same color and were large and doe-like in appearance. She was, like all of us, very beautiful. Her dress was on the plain side this evening. This would have been unusual for her some time ago. None of us were really trying to impress, as this was just a private gathering.

“But we would probably just keep covering the same ground, only from different points of view,” the last member of this gathering interjected. “That seemed inefficient for a project like this. It made more sense to combine our individual points of view into one narrative. Since you're the next one to enter the story, we decided that if we told our story to you then it would solve this problem. You would serve as narrator and could answer questions that the reader might have.”

This third Argent still went by the name of Argent, but she had made some changes in her appearance. On the earlier adventure to the ruins of Demara's Castle, she had acquired several leather magic items that set her apart. Other than her fancy black boots emerging from beneath her dress, she was not wearing any of her other adventuring gear tonight. The most dramatic change was that she had changed her hair color to black and was now wearing it straight with bangs in the front.

“Besides,” Lady Argent noted as she sipped her wine, “we've done all the heavy lifting until this point. Time for you to pitch in. You'll need the practice for when it’s your turn to shine.”

I sighed and partook a long sip of my own wine. “Aren't I the lucky one?” I grumbled as I opened a fresh book and applied ink to the pen. I wasn't sure I even wanted to write about what happened to me after the accident with the Pillar Artifacts. But that was a concern for another time. This was their story after all.

“So, Book 12 ended with you two being at our old room in the Sallavarian Estate at the same time,” I summarized. “How did you come to be there, Lady Argent?”

It had been previously decided to start with a recap of Lady Argent's version of events as they, while important, were not as dramatic as Argent's were.


“I had been at Jallarzi's Estate for several days by that point,” Lady Argent explained. “I was a member of the Guardians of Light and we had been escorting the new rulers of Elcadan, the Duke and Duchess Vanarkus, on their journey from Pyris. We had just learned of Duke Kelvin's plans to overthrow the King and that the kingdom was in a state of Civil War. Sir Acerion had learned that the leaders of the Order of the Golden Griffon had been imprisoned in their own order hall by the treacherous Duke Kelvin who now anointed himself King.”

“Using the Blackhawk, a flying ship captained by Sherra, we intended to rescue them, adding strength to the side of the rightful king. We succeeded in our efforts and I teleported everyone back to Elcadan while they were inside the Stone House. It was late, and I was tired by the time we got back. I wanted to change out of my adventuring clothes and get cleaned up. Chareos and I planned on spending some quiet time together before turning in for the night. I opened the door to my room and there she was. Things deteriorated after that.”


The 'she', in this case being the raven-haired Argent with the leather boots. Lady Argent did seem somewhat ashamed about what was going to happen. I could tell that Argent regretted it as well.


“I had been away from the Sallavarian Estate for over a month by that time,” Argent said as she picked up the narration. “When we first became aware of each other, it was decided to go our separate ways. She,” indicating the Lady Argent, “was supposed to stay at Karn's Keep while I went to Elcadan. That way we wouldn't cross paths.”


“The situation changed,” Lady Argent interrupted. “Such is life. I do not regret making that choice. It made me into who I am today.”


“I joined a band of adventurers led by Sorvani Caladon while in town. Our original mission was to explore Demara's Castle and that was a grand success. It's where I acquired my leather magic items. It's also where I met Thorvid and we quickly became lovers. He was a hulking muscle-bound barbarian and our love-making was amazing! But he was dumb as a box of rocks, and it was never going to last. However, he had his own plans with me being his wife and bearer of many children! I was beginning to wonder what I had got myself into.”

“It was during this time that Sorvani approached Thorvid and myself about another mission to a place called Baltron's Beacon. I eagerly accepted to get us out of town and give Thorvid something else to think about besides being a father. We met up with the rest of the adventurers Sorvani had recruited and among them was Burant! I couldn't say the things I wanted to say to Burant with Thorvid lurking around, but it was clear he was still attracted to me.”


“You're just lucky you found him first!” I noted in annoyance as I continued to write. “We are all attracted to him!”

“He is a lovely kisser,” Lady Argent agreed wistfully. “But, alas, it was not meant to be.”

“Jealousy is such an ugly thing, girls,” Argent teased with a laugh.

“But something like what happened with Thorvid was always a danger given how we approached life in our early days,” the Lady Argent stated. “We're beautiful, but were magically and physically weak in the beginning and so sought powerful men for our protection. We never really considered what we were doing to them, leading them on like that. Once we started to become powerful in our own right and no longer needed protection, we changed tactics and sought out mates who could fulfill our intellectual needs as well.”


Turning more serious, Argent continued her tale. “The mission to Baltron's Beacon turned out to be brutal. Thorvid was killed along with several others. I wanted to be free of Thorvid, so I could be with Burant, but not like that. Sorvani was so distraught we withdrew and made our way back to Elcadan. I had been staying at inns while back in Elcadan between missions as I didn't want Jallarzi to meet Thorvid. I don't think she would have approved of him as a mate for me.”


“Probably not,” I quietly added.


“But Burant was going to be a different story. Jallarzi already knew who he was, since he had been Lord Sharadin's apprentice. I had no hesitation in bringing him to the Sallavarian Estate. It was late in the evening when we first arrived. We were tired, so we made to my room without seeing anyone, with the intent of talking for a bit before turning in. I changed out of my adventuring gear and into my sleeping clothes. I was surprised that they had been left out as I didn't recall doing that when I left the estate a month earlier. Just as we were settling down to relax, she walked in,” Argent icily said, gesturing towards Lady Argent.


“If I had known you were there and whom you were with, I never would have opened that door!” Lady Argent spoke up. “We all know our policy when it comes to the boyfriends of others. Hands off and no flirting. If that applies to our friends, it certainly applies to us.”

“So, what happened next?” I asked of my sisters.

“A different kind of Civil War erupted,” Lady Argent stated sadly.

“I saw her,” Argent continued, “and I lost it. I was already tired, angry over what happened at Baltron's Beacon and Thorvid's death. I let all that anguish out and unfairly dumped it on her.”

“What did you say?” Maggie grinned, more than a bit curious.

“I really don't remember much about what was actually said,” Argent sadly noted. “I was operating on raw emotion, not intellect. Besides, I don't think either one of us want to use that kind of language in the books covering our life stories.”

“I responded in kind,” Lady Argent added. “After all, she was in my room and now yelling at me. I wasn't going to let anyone treat me like that. None of us would. At this point, we both thought the other was just a copy, a trick of some kind. Not a real person.”

On that point I could only agree. I had similar emotions when I first met these two. That this was some sort of deception. Some monster had taken your form and was bent on taking your life. We had to stand up for ourselves.

“At that moment of rage, I had no idea what was really going on around me,” Argent declared. “The trouble I was causing. I had been out of touch with what was really going on. Neither of our boyfriends knew what to think, and they just kept quiet.”

“As you know,” Lady Argent said to Maggie, “our room was across the hall from Kharyna's. The suite at the end of the hall was empty when we were apprentices. Those were the private chambers of Jallarzi's parents. She had sealed them off after their deaths. But now the new Duke and Duchess of Elcadan are using them. Duchess Lysandra was Jallarzi's aunt, and she was on hand to watch our quarrel.”

“People started to show up from the nearby rooms and she,” Argent gestured to Lady Argent, “started to become quiet. She pleaded for me to settle down, but I was too far gone in my rage to listen. Then Jallarzi made me listen.”

“Chareos was just trying to break up our fighting when Jallarzi showed up. She yelled at us once again and everything went quiet,” Lady Argent continued. “Mother never yelled at us like Jallarzi did. It was terrifying.”

“Given the choice, I would rather face a dragon than an angry Jallarzi,” Argent added.

“I hope I never find out,” Maggie gulped.

Sure, our mother had yelled at us when we were children. She's a lovely woman with a horrible naming sense, but unlike Jallarzi, she's not an archmage. Jallarzi could have turned them into frogs had she wished it. Our mother would have just made us feel sad for a while. There was no comparison.

“Kitchen! Now!” Jallarzi yelled at us and we stopped verbally fighting. We both hung our heads and mustered what dignity we could as we made the familiar walk to the kitchen. Presumably, Jallarzi stayed behind to smooth things over from the mess we made.

“It seemed that our long day was turning into a very long night,” Lady Argent observed.

“Tell me about it,” Argent muttered.

[Argent]

Chapter Two

“Then what happened?” Maggie inquired.

“We silently walked through the Sallavarian Estate and then outside into the cold dark night to the building that housed the estate kitchen,” Argent narrated. “We spent many hours here as apprentices. The kitchen was deserted at this late hour, but soon the staff would be in, preparing the morning meals. Not surprisingly, there was a mound of potatoes just waiting to be peeled in the morning.”


“This is all your fault,” the Lady Argent said as she approached the potatoes. She had already deduced just what penance Jallarzi would have in mind for her apprentices. A cantrip was cast upon her hands as she crossed the room. It was a cantrip that we had devised to make the task of peeling potatoes much easier. Back in our apprentice days, using a knife to peel potatoes ended up with us having numerous cuts on our hands. We had done kitchen work before, but nothing on this scale. The cantrip eliminated the knife and the cuts. We just peeled the skin off by rubbing the potato in our hands.

“My fault?” Argent countered incredulously. “If you had stayed on your side of the kingdom, none of this would have happened! Why are you peeling potatoes?”

“What do you think?”

“Oh,” Argent said after a moment’s thought. “I thought I was done doing stuff like that.”

“When it comes to Jallarzi, we're going to be apprentices for a very long time.”

“I wish I could argue with that,” Argent cast her own cantrip with a sigh and joined in.

We worked in silence as neither one of us wanted to say any more and make things worse. After a time, the moment we were dreading happened. Jallarzi entered the kitchen and stalked towards us.

“What in the names of the gods did you think you two were doing?!” Jallarzi yelled as she approached. Clearly, her anger had yet to subside. “And right outside the chambers of my aunt and uncle!”

“Jallarzi, I--,” Lady Argent started to say, but was interrupted by her twin.

“I take full responsibility for what occurred,” Argent said, much to the surprise of both Jallarzi and Lady Argent. “But you need to understand my side of the story before you pass judgment.”

“Go on,” Jallarzi said, after a thoughtful pause.

From there, Argent told her tale of what had transpired since she went out for an adventure after returning to Elcadan. She summarized the mission to Baltron's Beacon and the terror they found there. That there were several deaths in the group, including Thorvid. So Argent was tired, angry, mourning and hurt when Lady Argent opened the door to her room. Those feelings just freely came forth unbridled.

“I'm so sorry for your loss,” Lady Argent said in sympathy, touching the arm of her counterpart. “I had no idea what you had gone through.”

“That is tragic,” Jallarzi finally said. “But that does not forgive what you both did.”

“No, it does not,” Argent flatly agreed. “If I had known what was going on, I would have acted differently. But what’s done is done.”

“That it is,” Jallarzi stated. “Finish your work here, and then you can turn in for the night.”

“Where are we to sleep?” Lady Argent inquired. “I mean, I doubt we really want to share our old room.”

“It wouldn't be my first choice either,” Argent said in agreement.

“Tonight you are going to have to,” Jallarzi answered tartly. “The estate is full of guests and all the rooms are taken. So, either share your room or kill each other. I'm not sure if I really care what you two do at the moment. Regardless of the outcome, your personal bickering under my roof is over. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma'am,” we both said at the same time and turned back to work. Another voice made us look back.

“You shouldn't say such things you don't mean in anger, Jallarzi,” the voice of an older woman chastised. “It can lead to a lot of regret.”

“Aunt Lysandra?” Jallarzi said in surprise as she turned towards the kitchen door and faced her aunt. Standing further behind the Duchess of Streel was Sir Belfor, the Pyrisian Knight, pledged to safely guard Lysandra during this crisis. He was still dressed in his plate armor and holding his weapons. “What are you doing here? I can deal with this situation. There is no need to concern yourself.”

Before the Duchess of the Streel could answer, Lady Argent bent down on one knee and looked down. “Please accept my sincerest apology, Your Grace. We behaved poorly in your presence and will accept any punishment you deem fit.”

After a beat, Argent joined Lady Argent on one knee. Clearly, she was not as accustomed to what to do in the presence of nobles as her counterpart was. “What she said. Your Grace.”

“I was concerned about your apprentices,” Duchess Lysandra stated. “I know how fond you are of them. Seeing two of them in the same place was most unexpected.”

“It was a surprise to me as well,” Jallarzi agreed in exasperation. “We've had to separate them before.”

“You may rise, ladies,” the Duchess commanded, and both Argents immediately complied. “Raw emotions can lead to many unpleasant things. I know this from personal experience. Since the kingdom is in a state of emergency and the fact that your skills will be needed in the days and weeks to come, I will forgive your transgression this time. However, as the Lady of the Estate, my niece may do with you as she sees fit.”

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Lady Argent responded with a bow. “You are kind, but just.”

A second later, Argent bowed as well. “Yes, thank you, Your Grace.”

Jallarzi simply nodded to her aunt. “Finish the job you started, and then you may sleep.” Turning back to Duchess Lysandra, she added, “May I escort you back to your suite?”

“In a moment,” Duchess Lysandra stated as she moved closer to the two Argents. “I have one more thing to say. Which of you is Lady Argent?”

“I am, Your Grace, the one with the tiara,” Lady Argent answered, while Argent flashed a look of surprise and confusion as she silently mouthed 'Lady Argent?'.

“It's amazing,” Duchess Lysandra remarked. “I cannot tell you apart. I only understand some of what happened to you both. But I think that you are approaching this wondrous event from the wrong point of view.”

“How so, Your Grace?” Lady Argent asked for the pair. What did she mean by 'wondrous'?

“There are two of you now,” Duchess Lysandra simply answered. “Think of how much good you can do not only for yourselves, but for your family and the kingdom as a whole. Pooling your considerable talents and resources can only be a boon to all. It saddens me to see you wasting this opportunity on such petty bickering.” The Duchess paused for a moment to let the thought sink in. “I will leave you ladies to your work. Good evening.”

“Pleasant evening, Your Grace,” Lady Argent spoke.

“And thank you for your insight as well, Your Grace,” Argent added, exchanging a glance with her sister. “You've given me-- us a lot to think about.”

With that, Duchess Lysandra turned and made her way out of the kitchen, led by her bodyguard, Sir Belfor. Jallarzi followed behind them, leaving the Argents alone in the kitchen once more with the task of peeling potatoes.

“She is good,” Argent noted in reference to Lady Lysandra.

“I know, right?” Lady Argent quickly agreed and went back to peeling potatoes. “She is an expert when it comes to dealing with people. I attended a meeting held by Duchess Lysandra this afternoon, and it was most illuminating. It also filled in some things I didn't know about Jallarzi.”

“Like what?” Argent returned to peeling potatoes as well.

“The tragic tale of the wedding day of Jallarzi's parents,” Lady Argent explained. “It took place at the Golovkin Estate in Tenobar. The orc horde targeted their estate and attacked it with catapults. Jallarzi's parents escaped the onslaught, as did a teenage Lysandra, but they lost the rest of their family. Lysandra lived here in the estate for a time and was around when Jallarzi was born and when Sherwood lived there. Her future husband, Baron Relon, was the one who helped Lysandra escape Tenobar.”

“I had no idea,” Argent sadly noted. “Jallarzi never did talk much about her past or what happened to her family. Seems that there was a good reason for that.”

“Yeah, it's so tragic, so senseless,” Lady Argent agreed. “To lose everything on what should have been the happiest day of their lives.”

“So, what's the deal with the tiara?” Argent wondered. “It's a bit ostentatious, dear. Don't even get me started on the green fuzzy boots.”

“It's a powerful magic item,” Lady Argent corrected. “If you had one, you'd be wearing it too.”

“That depends,” Argent countered. “What does it do?”

“It absorbs the energy of spells cast directly at me, such as someone sending Magic Missiles my way,” Lady Argent explained. “I can then use that energy to cast spells that I have in memory without forgetting them.”

“Okay, in that case, I would wear it all the time too. I actually have something that does a similar effect, just not as powerful as your tiara. And the fuzzy boots?”

“They keep me warm,” Lady Argent explained. “Magically warm enough that I don't need to wear a coat.”

“Useful, but not fashionable. Let’s get this over with,” Argent said referring to the pile of potatoes. “I'd like to be in bed before dawn.”


We quietly worked for a time and finally the mound of potatoes was starting to go down. An end to this horrible task was finally in sight.

“The Duchess isn't wrong,” Lady Argent suddenly noted. “Do you realize the things that we could accomplish if we put our minds to it?”

“It's crossed my mind,” Argent admitted. “Elspeth's divinations did confirm that we are both the original Argent. Even our gear, clothes and jewelry were duplicated. The Elders were clearly more powerful than we ever imagined. But...”

“But there is something off when we look at each other,” Lady Argent picked up the hanging thought. “I think I know what that is.”

“Oh?”

“Allow me to demonstrate,” Lady Argent gestured to a nearby mirror hanging over the wash basin. As the pair grew closer, their images appeared in the mirror. “We know what we look like, because we've seen our reflections all our lives. But when we look at each other, there is something off. We're used to seeing the reflection, not another one of us. Therefore, the face is not the same as it's not being reversed by a mirror.”

“That is an interesting theory,” Argent said. “There might be something to that. When I see our reflections, we both look normal. But when we look at each other directly it’s slightly off-putting.”

“It looks wrong to us,” Lady Argent stated. “That plus thinking that the other is a doppelganger or some other kind of monster has led to these horrible squabbles between us. Look, we've talked to ourselves all the time. Now we can get independent answers back. We can now talk to each other about things that interest us. Magical theory, boyfriends and what not. I have no desire to kill you.”

“Well, that's a relief,” Argent noted. “Plus, it would be horrible trying to explain what happened not only to Jallarzi, but our parents as well.”

“I'd rather face a dragon,” Lady Argent laughed in agreement as she held out her hand to Argent. “We may not be friends just yet, but let’s not be enemies.”

“I can agree with that,” Argent said as she shook the hand of her double. “Let's get these potatoes done.”

And that's when our fighting ended. It would take some time to cut back on the squabbling, but eventually we started to figure out how to exist with each other.


“I've noticed something,” Maggie interrupted. “Is it my imagination or did Lady Argent figure things out first?”

“It's really annoying,” Argent added.

“You can thank Mystra for that,” Lady Argent answered. “My boon for what we did in the Beleme Swamp was to have my intelligence increased.”

“Like I said, it annoys me,” Argent repeated.

“Ladies, jealousy is an ugly thing,” Lady Argent said, throwing Argent's earlier words back at her. “Make no mistake, we are all absolutely brilliant here. I'm just a little bit smarter than either of you, so I figure things out just a little bit quicker. Call it my curse.”

Maggie and Argent both sighed and rolled their eyes. It was one of the things Lady Argent loved to lord over her sisters. Each of us had a claim to fame that we held over the others and this was hers. Kylie called our behavior 'trying to out clever the other' and she was right. It was a character flaw we all had.

[Argent]

Chapter Three

“So, you finally buried the hatchet and decided not to be enemies anymore,” Maggie summarized. “Then what happened?”

“This was something new for both of us and was going to take a lot of time and patience to make it work,” Lady Argent explained. “I mean we're used to having a sister, but Madge is much younger and the conversations we had with her would be very different given our age difference.”

“It was more like suddenly becoming twins,” Argent added. “There are things we would talk about with each other that would never come up with Madge.”

“Precisely,” Lady Argent agreed.


“Why are you here anyway?” Argent asked after a time. The pile of potatoes continued to go down, but it was not fast enough. Perhaps talking some more would make the time pass faster.

“There wasn't really much to do at Karn's Keep,” Lady Argent explained as she worked. “After what happened to us, Lord Sharadin discontinued use of the Pillar Artifacts. My research could only go so far. Then Sherwood, Jallarzi and Elspeth came to Karn's Keep to do some research. Elspeth had one of her visions, and it showed something important. They were going to catch up with the Guardians of Light and help them on a mission. Both Kharyna and Kylie were there as well. I jumped at the chance to go with them.”

“Really?” Argent said in surprise. “I haven't seen either of them since leaving for Lord Sharadin's mission. I would have done the same thing in your shoes. How are they doing?”

“Kharyna's great, of course,” Lady Argent explained. “She's very experienced as an adventurer at this point and had magic items and jewelry that I was envious of. We also swapped spells.”

“I'll have to check out your spellbook at some point,” Argent noted. “I imagine that we both have added many new spells to our books.”

“Oh, you have no idea the spells that I've acquired,” Lady Argent answered excitedly. “You'll be really pleased with them.”

“I look forward to it,” Argent agreed. “So, you got to meet Kharyna's associates then?”

“Yes,” Lady Argent noted. “They are very much as Kharyna described them. Swanny is awesome and a lot of fun to be around. Lara is a bit more reserved, but not by much. She's even shorter than you imagined!”

“I figured that Kharyna was just exaggerating how short Lara was.”

“Lara is also good to be around,” Lady Argent continued. “She's into magic and lore, but not obsessed with it. Lastly, there is Talia. Admittedly, I don't think we talked much beyond basic introductions. She seemed very shy and quiet, but she seems to be the opposite of Lara.”

“It sounds like adventuring with Kharyna's group would be an interesting experience,” Argent noted. “I'm not sure if I would like an all-girl group or not.”

“Yeah, that could be a drawback,” Lady Argent agreed. “Still, it would be an interesting experience.”

“That it would,“ Argent nodded. “How is Kylie doing?”

“Unsure of herself at first, but she is coming along,” Lady Argent reported. “She had a bit of heartbreak, but I think she's recovering from it.”

“What happened?” Argent asked with concern in her voice. “Did you set this creep who hurt her straight?”

“Believe me I had every intention of giving him a piece of my mind, but it turns out it really wasn't like that. The 'creep', as you put it was a nobleman who was courteous to all ladies. Kylie misread his intentions and that led to heartbreak. It was more of a misunderstanding than anything else.”

“Still, the poor girl,” Argent agreed.

“Yeah, I did what I could to help her get over that.”


“At least it all worked out in the end,” Maggie noted. “If Kylie had stayed with this nobleman I might never have been rescued! But that's getting ahead of ourselves.”

Argent agreed. “Without Kylie, there still might only be the two of us, and we would have been completely unaware that there were more.”

“Quite so,” Lady Argent acknowledged. “So now we know who to blame!”


“So where are Kharyna and Kylie now?” Argent wondered.

“Kharyna and her companions left after the incident in the Beleme Swamp,” Lady Argent explained. “Sherwood teleported them back to the Sallavarian Estate. Presumably, they continued their adventures at Gaz's Towers. Kylie also left at that time to go on a different mission with Sherwood. I did see her a week later after Corunglain was under Cynalonian control once more. Just for an evening, as she was leaving once again with Sherwood and going on a different mission. Something for the elves.”


“I know what that leads to,” Maggie happily interrupted. “That's where I come in.”

“Spoilers, dear,” Lady Argent countered. “You're getting ahead of yourself.”

“As you said earlier,” Argent indicated Maggie, “this is our story. Your time will come.”


“One thing led to another, and we rode to Corunglain and found it under siege by orcs and other evil critters,” Lady Argent continued. “The Guardians helped liberate the city and afterward we got to meet the King himself.”

“So that's how you became Lady Argent?” Argent deduced.

“Yes, I was, as were all the non-noble Guardians of Light, granted the title of Court Lady by the King for our actions during the siege of Corunglain,” Lady Argent explained. “My proper title is the Lady Argent, but it is not transferable nor do I rule any lands. It was a great honor, however.”

“So, meeting the King...” Argent wondered. “Is he handsome?”

“Very,” Lady Argent agreed enthusiastically. “But he has a consort. She's not only a Knight of the Realm, but a Paladin of Heironeous as well.”

“Wow, hard to compete against that.”

“Yeah, I didn't even try to gain his favor,” Lady Argent said wistfully. “Truth be told, I had found someone myself.”

“Really,” Argent said in an intrigued voice. “Who is that?”

“I see you caught up with Burant, but do you remember the name of Lord Sharadin's other apprentice?”

“Chareos, wasn't it?” Argent said after thinking for a moment. “I've never met him.”

“I have and so have you,” Lady Argent explained with a knowing smile. “He's the one who tried to separate us outside our room. Chareos was also a member of the Guardians of Light. Over time, we became a couple. But I have one question about Burant.”

“What's that?” Argent cast her double a suspicious glance.

“Is he still a great kisser?”

“You'll never know,” Argent said with a laugh.

Lady Argent went to grab the next potato, but there was no more. “Looks like we're finally done here,” She stated. “Let’s try and figure out the sleeping arrangements on the way back to our room. I really need to get some sleep.”

“Yeah, me too,” Argent agreed with a yawn. “I am so tired. Besides, what’s there to figure out? We've slept with others before and the bed is big enough for two.”

“Sure, we've slept with men before, but not other women. That's my point.”

“Just with Madge when we were children,” Argent observed. “It's not the same thing.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, if you’re worried about me trying to make out with you, forget it. I'm too tired for romance.”

“I am admittedly curious just how good of a kisser I am,” Lady Argent related, “but this is hardly the time or the place for that.”

“I'm not going to dignify that with an answer,” Argent said as she led the way out of the kitchen and back to the main house.


“So, did you?” Maggie wondered aloud. “I mean the thought crossed my mind, so I am sure it crossed yours as well.”

“Sorry, dear,” Lady Argent answered with a grin. “I don't kiss and tell.”

“All she does is kiss and tell,” Argent countered. “To anyone who will listen.”

“Let's just leave that as a mystery for the readers to decide,” Lady Argent stated.


We quietly retraced our steps back to our room here at the Sallavarian Estate. Other than guards on patrol, it was all quiet. We reached our room and went inside. The room was empty.

“I need to change and wash up,” Lady Argent announced as she moved behind the privacy screen on the north side of the room.

“I'll get the lights on the south side of the room and close the curtains,” Argent said. She was already dressed for bed and now she just wanted sleep. What dirt she had acquired from peeling all those potatoes had been removed with a cleaning cantrip on the walk back.

Lady Argent was still dressed in her adventuring clothes from last night’s activities. She quickly undressed, washed, and put on her sleeping attire. Of course, Argent had taken what she had laid out earlier this morning, so Lady Argent had to rummage for another set. By the time she reached the bed, Argent was already fast asleep.

“Of course she took the side that I wanted,” Lady Argent lamented. With a sigh, she got under the blankets on the other side of the bed and was quickly asleep.