Ramblings in a Poitainian Spring

I like Tinabula. Power there, and strength behind the smile and occasional giggliness. Perceptive also.
Why pray here rather than the Temple at Fort Conviction?
I looked about the Chapel in Caenna, its old familiarity, the scent of incense still flavoured with Baione flowers as it was when my mother prepared it, for I follow the same recipe.... Safety here, calmness. A place that has always been. For much as I strive to build Invicta's new home strong, there is a nagging fear that perhaps it will go the way of Fort Invicta

I saw how Aureleus winced last week as he looked northwest to the ruins of the old fort, while welcoming Luscilla to our new home. I will build him a Fort that is so strong that no Zingarans can sweep over the border and lay waste even if we do happen to be all away at once like last time. He says he is glad I was away too, that I suffered no harm ... but perhaps if I had been there I could have rallied our guards.
*sighs quietly*

From those depths though, that day I returned and sat weeping in the ruins, Invicta has once again shown we are just that. Invicta! Unconquered.
It was not yet spring, though the first stirrings were showing. I had not the heart to gather the crocus stamens, just sitting dully in my trampled garden in the spot where I had planted asphodel last year. When the warrior maid thundered past, I had not even hidden.
So bright she was, so strong and full of life as she smiled down on me ... like one of the old warrior saints sent to comfort. For comfort she did that day, stopping to listen to my tale of woe. Not only did her words inspire me but she pointed out a new site, that Releus much approved, and over the weeks sent many gifts from herself and friends to help us rebuild. I am priviledged to know Asphodel and the mighty Amazons she rides with, neighbours here in Poitain where they dwell till they return to their homeland.

Always there is work, so much to do to care for my beloved and our people. But since then I make sure now to set aside time to practise with arms. Invicta's War College with Commandant Kaper, brief training sessions with Talib, whom some know as Fenixx. And I have equipped myself with a mighty staff rather than relying on just the holy words of Mitra from a book... smiting enemies, for not always will I have my kin about me to protect me. I learn to fight now, as well as heal.


What do you pray for?
Another good question. I pray for my husband, for all those of our house, for our good King of course. More than that... I pray for the strength to be able to serve them all, provide food, comfort and shelter for all who bear our emblem. For the bravery to bear this curse I seem to labour under, the insight perhaps one day to break it... and in the meantime not to embarrass dear Releus by accidentally harming others or falling into one of my prolonged stupors nor forgetting whom I have met and greeted before.

I must send to the Lady Prophetess and ask after her man that I so grievously injured when the lights struck me at Tesso. Oh, and to check that Rindal will not be viewed with enmity for seeking to join us.
Her vision last month disturbs me. Words of powerful mages who seek harm to Aureleus and myself and perhaps to our as yet unborn children. Or even to Invicta as a whole. Releus and Hroth of course dismiss her words... for they are not clear... and as warriors they deal in the practicalities of the enemies here in the present, not premonitions of what may come.

Except dear Releus now has to deal with greater enemies, even those who should not be such... For there is still much opposition at court I hear to the ennoblement of a simple mercenary captain, no matter that he and his shed blood for months last summer and autumn for the King, no matter that there was a long time ago a claim to the Barony of Baione in his family. I am sure those same nobles expostulated when they heard that the Kings Guard was now to fall under Aureleus' overall command, though with Commander Thorious as the day to day leader of his people still. After Lady Challa passed command to a Cimmerian whose wife later murdered soldiers of the King... well, this is as good an outcome as can be. The King is most cunning, keeping the Kings Guard active and out of the control of some noble who would perhaps use them for his own ends.

And Thorious seems happy again... with Rashiar. And Kaper with Arionna, Tholden with Allomi. Many spring weddings.
Oh darnit! That monkey got into the pot of nuts I keep for strewing on the couple for luck after they are wed. Still there are some left.

Tinabula asked almost wistfully if there were men in Invicta who may settle down. I could not answer fully as we gain so many new kin daily. So many to come to know; so many to provide for. Soon we shall have that next storey for the Alchemy tower! This week perhaps. I must write the calculations again and check if it is feasible. Oh, and a missive to Thayman, thanking him for the aid rendered.

That is a strange business...After the overtures from the Brotherhood of the Serpents last spring that proved to be the prelude to their orchestrating a war against the King's interests....well, this Hand of Set seem of a similar ilk. So I am wary, though of course polite and provided refreshments for them as Lady of Invicta when they called to Fort Conviction.
But then just yesterday, the Paragon of Diplomacy took the detour off the Road of Kings that leads to Baione... and found me chopping trees near the village. He saw how flustered I was... the first time I have ever been in the presence of a priest of Set while alone. He was certainly very polite as he delivered his message asking for a further meeting with our Ambassador Tereska... and he spoke openly of how he also works hard for his people.
But is this just trying to find out more about those who guard the southernmost point of Poitain? As Satet-ka's words proved false, will these peoples' words and gifts prove false also? Perhaps this is why the King has reinforced Invicta's strength with that of the King's Guard.

Our Stygians are mostly those who have fled Stygia for one reason or another... some who merely seek adventure, many who seek the freedom of religion that we enjoy now in Aquilonia under King Conan. Only Sarus that I know of still follows wholly the ways of Set... and he is careful to follow Aureleus' strictures against proselytising over the emblem... and has proven ever-loyal, unlike Isabela. I should check with Thorious, but I cannot imagine that there are any of those just joining us who will prove false to their oath of loyalty to King and now Invicta also...So perhaps my fears about the Hand of Set are groundless. We proved last year when we defeated the southerners that Aquilonia is strong, even winning the Order of the Blade away from the lying words of Satet-ka once we proved our worth on the battlefield.


The past... the present .. the future.
News came this morning with a tinker from over the border: Funcomo Minora, the petty nobleman who destroyed Fort Invicta, has died in another bout of Zingara's endless internal warring.

No letters from Mama for a long while now. I must talk with her friend Talib ...perhaps even go to visit her if Invicta can spare me a while.

Still Caradoc is missing. But Mokii has our protection now... though she has been gone again a few weeks looking for him. She does not know of Maebel's coming, brought by Luscilla, but that should bring her some joy and comfort once she does know. I fret sometimes, for on occasion I see fear in Mokii's eyes when she watches me... Did I do harm to her one time while sleep-walking? *sigh*

Importance said someone asked him to look over me, to see what is wrong with me.... But he didn't... The only good thing he has ever done is ridding the world of that necromancer, Cyril.
And why, oh why, did the lights come on me last eve?... Tinabula was trying to aid there in the Chapel. She knows deeper rituals than I...Almost I felt there was an insight coming... the true revelatory Light of our Lord Mitra. Then ... she was on the floor... I hurt her somehow as I did to Xanadu's man. Yet I cannot remember how, why... moments lost in my memory.

I saw the demons in the rocks again this morning as I went by... and that monkey! Shoo! Shoo! Get away from those biscuits!