Spinning Fate's Threads

Tazzy: The party is just getting started. ~evil smirk~

Metranome: The other characters are from Weiss or Weib Kreuz or are OCs. Every time I try to fix the page breaks they go back to being all weird. I think I have it right this time though. Hope so anyway.

DarkCrusnikMagician: Fear not, Abel's therapy bills will soon ratchet up into the . . . oops. Sorry, probably NOT what you wanted to know.

To everyone still reading, I hope you enjoy.



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“Well, let’s get this party started,” Morrigan said, leading the way toward the gangplank. Everyone fell in step behind her almost naturally.



Abel was still being half supported by Gun and wondering about what had been said concerning him. He knew he was broken; there had never been any doubt about that. It was quite another thing to be informed of the fact there might not be a chance of being completely fixed. He was distracted from his thoughts when they approached the first lines of people dressed in black and silver. It was obvious now that these were military squads but where most were usually comprised of men these had an even number of men and women.



“At least they’re dressed today,” Gun said, smiling wryly.



“Huh?”



“Usually they’re presented a bit more like Morrigan is.”



“Oh,” Abel said, watching in fascination as one of the women broke away from the group and approached them.



She stopped in front of Morrigan and bowed deeply to the war goddess then turned and did the same to Blaze and Jeirn. “Field Marshal Edana, if we may.”



Blaze smiled a little. This she could deal with far better than the annoying aspects of court. “Proceed.”



The woman bowed to her again then directed her attention to Jeirn. “Commander.”



Jeirn nodded once and the woman stepped back to take her place in line. He took a deep breath and shouted, “First Company, present arms.”



An answering “Aye, Commander!” was heard from the first lines of people and a dozen swords were drawn then held crossed overhead to form an archway.



“They’re perfect,” Abel said in awe. Not one muscle twitched from any of the squad, the swords had been unsheathed and crossed in unison with barely a whisper of sound.



“They should be,” Jeirn said over his shoulder. “I trained them.”



Abel relaxed a little. This was something he could understand, something he was comfortable with. Military rhythms really didn’t change all that much from country to country, people to people. It was something he was far more at ease with than anything else.



The swords had barely lowered behind them when there was a stir further up the walkway. Coming toward them at a high rate of speed was a woman who could have been a female version of Abel. Her silver white hair fanned out behind her as she all but sprinted toward the party. She was closely followed by two men, who were laughing and shaking their heads at her.



“So much for protocol,” Takara said and stepped out to meet the other woman, who skidded to a halt then instantly grabbed her and hugged her.



“Gods I missed you all,” the woman said, making her way through the party, hugging and kissing everyone in turn. She hugged Gun and Hunt last before stopping in front of Abel. “You must be Abel.”



Abel nodded and was mildly surprised to find himself grabbed and hugged then kissed on both cheeks. “It’s so good to finally meet you. Welcome home.”



Gun laughed at Abel’s expression. “In case you were wondering, this is Rhiannon, also known as Ghost. Blaze, Tante Star, Sunny and Mom raised her from the time she was five,” he explained.



“I hadn’t realized how big Blaze’s family actually was,” Abel said, wondering how many more people he would have to keep track of in his head.



“Wait until you meet her father’s side. As for Rhiannon, she isn’t crazy as a general rule but there are times . . .” the man with shoulder length blond hair said.



“And she usually has better manners. Really, love, what’s he going to think of us,” the other man said. “Come on, you all look tired. There’s food at the great hall. I’m afraid you’ll have to endure quite a few more stares, Abel. I’m Nagi, by the way. This is my husband Omi,” he said, indicating the blond next to him. “The crazy woman is our wife.”









Tres knocked on the door to Catherina’s makeshift office not long after sunrise. She had summoned him there not long before saying she wanted to discuss a few things with him.



“Come in,” was heard on the other side of the door.



Tres stepped in and closed the door behind him then approached Catherina, who was seated at Blaze’s desk. “You wished to see me, my Lady.”



She smiled a little. “This isn’t formal, Tres. Though I’m sure it will play into the AX at some point in time. I had a few questions to ask you, if you don’t mind,” she said.



“It is your right to ask anything of me, my Lady,” Tres said, falling back on protocol as he still wasn’t completely comfortable with the more human interactions he’d so recently found himself part of.



“Not exactly. Not anymore,” she said, coming around the desk to stand in front of him. “You’ve been part of my life for quite some time now, Tres. You know more of my ideas and secrets than even Abel does and I’ve become very accustomed to you being here. I guess I simply want to know what your future intentions are.”



“I fail to understand the question, my Lady,” Tres said, looking confused, though he thought he might have some inkling as to what she was asking.



“Do you intend to stay with AX or leave to stay with Takara?”



“I think,” Tres said slowly, “That Takara will understand my wish to remain with AX at least until your death, my Lady. Even though we haven’t discussed it, she comprehends duty and honor better than most.”



“Good. I’m glad of that, even if it does sound selfish,” she said, walking away from him to peer out the windows that overlooked the training grounds. She smiled a bit sadly while watching Alessandro spar with Seth of all people. “He’s getting much better. I see improvement every day in him. Soon any guard will be a backup and formality since he’ll be able to take care of himself. He’s grown so fast the last few months, become more and more of a man than a boy. In a little while he won’t need me to look after him anymore.”



“I don’t believe that’s true, my Lady. He has always come to you for advice and support. That will not change even though he is better suited to make his own decisions now.”



“Perhaps,” she said, looking back to her brother. “I think it was genius for Blaze and Takara to teach him to use a staff more than a sword since he’ll have his staff of office with him more often than not.”



Tres nodded. “Properly used, a staff can counteract a sword easily. There really isn’t much one can do to avoid guns, however. But I believe his training is appropriate considering the circumstances.”



“Yes. I believe it is. Did you know that they found Francesco’s body? Or rather what was left of it.”



“No, my Lady. I had not been informed.”



“They found his head,” she said, putting one shaking hand over her eyes, trying to keep the tears from leaking through to little avail. “Part of his torso and one arm. The rest is just . . . gone. There were days when I hated him, Tres. So many times that I truly wanted him dead.”



“My Lady, whatever you may think, this was not your fault. It was Cain’s doing and the guilt should rest on no one’s shoulders save his.”