(Scribe Tale) Duty and Desires - Part 1/4
I sighed with faint unease as I stepped back into the harem compound . . .
I hadn't been able to spend much time in the compound, between my new
responsiblities and caring for the rest of the castle staff . . .

^You'll do fine^

The words made me jump . . . I was still not used to having someone speak
in my mind. The gem-eyes in the sword that hung at my waist twinkled in
amusement.

^You've adapted to having me as a gaurdian, you should do fine now, taking
up your old tasks^

^Having you speak directly in my mind is /damn/ unnerving, Marken^

A mental impression a shrug.

^No other way to talk, so all you'll have to do is get used to it. I'd
rather /not/ use my battle-screams to communicate^

^I'd rather you didn't use those to communicate either! Gah . . /creepy/
sounds . . . ^

^S'pposed to be^

With an amused chuckle floating through my head, I headed for the medic
section of the compound, intent on finding my triplets and Cossack . . .
according to the last news from Jubrin, Coss had taken to sleeping in my
rooms when I was gone, rather than in the barracks with his troops, which
had been what he had done before.

"MAMA!!"

I was promptly swarmed by my crawling/toddling/flying offspring as soon as
I stepped into the medic area. After snagging Cossar out of the air to
give him a hug, I sat down on the floor and cuddled my girls into my lap.
Oh, how I had missed them . . .

#####

Later on, my only warning was a nip on the back of the neck before Coss
plastered himself up against my back, laying an arm around my stomach. I
just turned over, careful not to disturb the babies, who were fast asleep
next to me.

"I've miss-mmph! . . . mmmmmm . . . "

I couldn't help it, I started purrring . . . oh how I'd missed this man! He
desisted after a short while, unfortunately, not wanting to risk harming
the kids by accident.

"Missed you too, hon."

"Smug man."

"Every right to be."

"True."

^Now, are you going to introduce me, or shall I simply be rude and
introduce myself, Sarah-chan?^

"WHAT THE %$%^?!"

^Hmph. No need to swear around the children^

Sigh . . . oh well, I would have had to introduce him sooner or later. I
gestured towards the sword that now hung on the wall, silvery blue gem-eyes
watching with a gling of mischief.

"Cossack, meet Markenhelm, also known as Marken, or Mar, who now has
gaurdianship of me, and I the duty of caring for him. Markie, this is
Cossack, my husband and the father of my triplets, Prince Lotor's second in
command and in charge of castle and harem security. More harem security
than castle, to be honest."

^Greetings to you, Cossack^

On Coss's end of things, he just /stared/ at the sword, several thoughts
clicking in his head. Of course, I could still read him like a book and
had a good idea where his mind was headed. One distraction was in order.
So I gave him a wedgie.

"Gah!"

"First and foremost, Coss, is that is /not/ Draconus, nor is Markie's case
/anything like that of Draconus's."

^I should think not! I am /not/ a criminal, and never have been!^

"So why is he a sword then?"

^A mercy^

"What . . ?"

"Umm . . . it's a /very/ long story."

"What is? By the way, welcome back, Sarah."
Oh no . . . what had been a simple task of explaining things to Cossack (I
said it was /simple/ not easy) had been compounded by the appearance of
most of the Scribes, as /well/ as the entirity of my staff, in the door to
my rooms. Moonie and Tamy were staring in absolute shock at the bone-sword
that hung on the wall. The sword, on his part, gave them a flirtatious
wink, his silver-blue gem-eyes twinkling with delight at the uproar his
presence was causing. Lotor was scowling at the sword from his spot at the
back of the mob in the doorway.

On a private sending to just me, Markie chuckled and sent a mental grin.
^It'll be interesting to see what they think of the armor^

Subj: (Scribe Tale) Duty and Desires - Part 2/4
Everyone was either in or nearby the sofa pit in the main room, with
Marken holding the most visible spot of all. On top of the TV, of course.
I could hear his equivilent to whistling, a thin, droning sound, just on
the edge of hearing. Always sounded like a set of demented bagpipes to me
when he does that . . .

I finished the last of my ham, cheddar, mustard, onion, and garlic butter
sandwich on wheat sourdough bread before speaking. Which seemed to be
driving the rest of the Scribes (and Lotor and Coss) absolutely nuts.

"Explain yourself woman!"
Lotor declared, scowling at me, giving Markie an uneasy look.
"And what in the world is it doing?!"

^I am not an 'it', and I am whistling^

Lotor just stared at Markie in shock . . . in fact, everyone but Cossack,
who'd already heard Markie, was staring in shock at the sword.

"Everybody, meet Markenhelm . . . well, Marken, at least. Markie, this is
Prince Lotor and his harem."

^Pleased ta meetcha^

Then we had to wait . . oh, four minutes or so for some coherent response
from anyone. Which was in Coba walking into the room, hopping on top of
the tv to sniff Markie . . . and finally just curling up on the sword to go
to sleep. Everyone, cat included, turned to stare at me . . . well,
everyone except Markie, who was making digusted noises aimed at Coba.

"It's a long story . . "

"Well, you've got the time to tell it now."
Tamy said, glowering at me. I held up my hands in an 'I surrender'
gesture.

"Okay, okay, I'll start. Keep in mind this happened a /long/ time ago.
Back before the human branch of my family merged with the dragon on
Earth."

I raised my hand, and with Markie's mental guidance, slowly wove an
illusion of mist from the hot tub room nearby and faint colored light.
First and foremost, I showed the image of one of the ancient dragons,
fierce of form, elegantly designed for their harsh enviroment in the tundra
. . . and to be honest, visually on the ugly side.

"This . . . Is Lord Auros of Techonnen, first and oldest of theTechonnen
line."

A smaller, obviously younger dragon of near-identical color and build to
Lord Auros steps into the image to take a spot next to the elder.

"This . . is his grandson, Nera-Lord Michealesikinto . . who for now I
will call Mich for ease of tongue and throat and rememberance. Mich was
young, Mich was inexperienced . . . Mich knew these things and tried to
learn, even if he was too stubborn about it at times. But there were clans
that warred with the Techonnen, clans that would see the young heir dead .
. . and nearly did, at times, for it takes a long time for a dragon to
mature, and many of these clans were of folk with much shorter lives, and
thus a different perspective on what was truely foolhardy. It was one of
these attacks that took Lord Auros's life."

The older of the two dragons faded from the picture, to be replaced with
one of similiar build, not quite as old, but much older than young Mich.

"Regent Mikaelos, son of Lord Auros, took up the duty of ruling the clan,
maintaing the day-to-day business until Mich came of age. In due time,
Mich /would/ have taken up the duties and responsiblities of leading the
clan. But . . . it was not to be."

A loud clanging came from the main doors of the harem. A new and unknown
voice called out, "DELIVERY FOR A DOCTOR SARAH!"

My spell shattered by the noise, I sighed and hauled my bulk out off of the
couch.
"That's the rest of the surprise . . . C'mon Markie."
I snagged the sword from under Coba, to Markie's relief, and Coba's
annoyance. With the flock of Scribes, gaurds, and medic staff trailing
behind me (and complaining about how I cut off the story), I approached the
main harem doors . . . where a /very/ large box awaited me. After signing
the deliver guy's slip of paper and sending him off (he didn't get far,
just to beside the main harem doors, where the girls there promptly snagged
him, as he was rather cute . . . just not cute enough to become a Scribe
man-slave).

I took a deep breath, drew Markie from his sheath, and held the sword so
that he could clearly see the box.
"Okay Markie, the floor's yours."

I think I can honestly say everyone jumped when the thunking noises started
coming from that large box. I /know/ someone gasped behind me when a fist
burst through the front of the box, and began ripping the box open.
However, I didn't dare turn away until the link was re-established, no
matter how much I wanted to.

(Scribe Tale) Duty and Desires - Part 3/4
It was rather nerve-wracking to wait while the crate was torn apart . . . .
flesh-bone armor is /not/ a pleasant sight to greet you, even when you know
why it's there. Of course, having to wait while the remains of the crate
were fastidiously unwound from around it and tossed to one side /did/ help
alleviate my nerves. The helm turned to watch me as I approached,
yellow-grey gem-eyes glittering in the skull that made up the top and visor
of the helm.

*Ye had best be havin' an explanatiaen faer this indignity*

^It was the best, and most inconspicuous way of transporting you here^

The armor waved a fist menacingly at the sword, irritation nearly visible
in the air around it.

*It alsae be bein' the maest bloody uncaemfaertable tae be gaein' aboot
it!*

^What did you expect me to do? Have you shipped first class in a decadent
cruiser?! You /know/ neither of us have the funds for that!^

I heard a variety of rather interesting sounds as the Scribes, gaurds,
medic crew, and Prince Lotor were treated to the rare experience of an
argument that was heard only in their minds.

"Umm . . . Markie, Aus, can we save this for later? I was in the middle of
giving everyone the backhistory on you two."

The armor folded it's arms, giving what could only be caled a 'prim sniff'
. . . a truely odd sensation, considering that it was mental and not
audible. It spoke as we all started heading back to the couch pit.

*I /dae/ be haepin' ye've been telling it /praeperly/?*

"Yes, and- LOTOR!! Put away the sword! Neither Markenhelm or Ausinita are
threats to anyone here!"

I folded my arms and glowered at Prince Lotor, who stood, as said, with
sword in hand in a defensive posture between me and the other Scribes. Of
course, in that Markie and Aus behind me, the threating posture may have
been intended for them.

*What a /laevely/ way tae be bein' greeted after ye be caemin' tae be
helpin praetect . . . . Markenhelm, let's be leavin' this tae them?*
Aus's tone was decidedly sour, and from the sounds behind me, she had
either folded her arms or turned around to leave . . . most likely both.
Lotor was watching them as if watching a snake that might bite. Wonderful.
That was /it/. I let my temper shift and shove me out of my birth form
into the one available to all of my family line.

I blinked a few times, letting my senses adjust to the difference in
height, and the larger range of vision. The actual adjustment took about .
. . three seconds. With an annoyed rumble, I snapped at the sword, neatly
catching it and spitting it out to one side. Then, lowering my head to
stare Lotor in the eyes, I rumbled, "Now, are you going to /listen/, or
shall I stalk off and leave you without someone to lead the medical staff,
hmmmm?"

Lotor just stared at me.

*I dae be thinkin' ye be makin' ye paeint, dearie . . . ye can staep
graewlin' naew, Sarah-lass*

Oops.

(Scribe Tale) Duty and Desire - Part 4/4


"Now, are you /finally/ ready to listen? . . . . good. I'd like to get
this story finished before it's time for the triplet's feeding. As I was
saying, Mich was to take up the role of leading the Techonnen clan upon his
coming of age. However, his father, while a honest, good sort, did not
have the slightest comprehension of military tactics, and the clan's
enemies took advantage of that. In the end, it was all Mich could do to
escape with some of the clan's younglings, and take refuge within the
territory of one of the clan's strongest allies. Due to treaties laid
between their race and his, all they could do was shelter the refugees, as
they had not be asked to intervene in the military problems by the Regent,
who was the current highest ranking person in the clan."

I sighed and began giving Coba a good scratch behind the ears, as the
feline had climbed into my lap the instant I had shifted back to human
(mostly) form. He caught my hand between his forepaws and began chewing
gently on my knuckles. Playing.

"Clan Techonnen was declared a 'dead' clan, due to that the only survivng
members were children, and unable to take up the duties necessary in order
to start a new clan or run the economic side of the clan business. And
thus, Clan Techonnen was scribed into the annals of the clan histories, and
forgotten, it's lands and businesses divided among the other clans. Mich
and the other children were raised by Clan Zelonone, and gradually came to
accepted into the clan completely. But nothing marked their acceptance of
their situation more than when they changed their names to reflect the
style of their adopted clan."

^And Nera-Lord Michealesikinto became Ur-Lord Markenhelm, betrothed of
Neri-Lady Ausinita^

*That ye did, that ye did*

"Hush, please, you two. But the clan that had taken out the Techonnen had
simply been biding their time this long while, and upon the night the two
were to be wed, they attacked."

^And we were sent into hiding yet again^

"Yes . . . . the attacking clan had grown in power over time, and quickly
had conquered the planet entirely. It was only through a set of old spells
that they were able to escape. Escape, as it was, was to Earth, still in
the earliest ages of it's development."

*We be bein' landin' in a haenkin' big mess o' dinaesaurs, tae be bein'
blunt.*

"That's another story, hush. A side effect from the transportation sealed
them away from consciousness, and deep within the earth itself in crystals,
years after they had landed. The spells binding them there did not break
for some time . . ."

*And when we finally be awakenin', we be findin' aeurselves in the midst o'
anaether war*

^The war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the Sidhe, in the early
stages of it. Joining in was the only way to survive^

"And it is from the Unseelie court that the spell of the Sword of Flesh
comes from. Due to court intrigue, deception, and many other things, the
spell was cast upon Markenhelm. But due to the deities that it calls up,
and that it is meant as a /punishment/, the casters themselves were bound
into weapons for misusing the spell. But due to the sheer /bulk/ of a
dragon, Markenhelm become more than just a sword, but a set of matching
armor. Ausinita made another choice, upon finding out her husband was now
a weapon and armor. Once the duty of raising her son was completed, she
underwent a rite binding her soul, mind, and body into the form of . . . .
what's the translation . . . . "

As I stumbled over what word was the correct translation, the armor beside
me began to unfold, revealing the humanoid body within. Ausinita stepped
free, flipping what passed for hair for her back over her shoulders. Her
body, one she had held for centuries, had been crafted for her from many
precious materials, and carefully styled after the elven form she had taken
while fighting for the Seelie and to pass through their social functions.
Of course, there was no way the other scribes could know that without her
telling them.

I gave up on finding a accurate translation, as the true thing was standing
in front of them.
"Ausinita became a . . . Well, to put it in the terms of that anime I
watch, Slayers, Ausinita became a Chimera of sorts, binding herself into
the form of stones and metals. The form you see now was created from a
wide variety of precious materials, all constructed in exact duplicate of
an elf's organic systems. All in order to stay with her husband throughout
the centuries that would pass. You see, Markie's--"

*As me Markenhelm's curse be unfulfillable, as it be bein' set tae
saemthin' cruel by the aenes castin' the spell*

Ausinita smiled at the audience we had, and bowed gracefully, a glint of
amusment showing in clearly in the emeralds that had been fashioned into
her eyes. Behind her, I could see the armor had snagged the sword and
placed it into empty cavity of the armor, and neatly closed up again. Now
that sword and armor were once again 'one mind', so to speak, the armor's
appearance shifted a little, becoming a big more organic, the helm fleshing
up and forming a true face. With an impish look, Markenhelm promptly
snagged his wife around the waist and dragged her back into his arms. It
was an odd, but decidedly romantic sight . . . an elf-maid once dragon, now
formed of rare stones and metals, with silver threads for hair and emeralds
for eyes, cuddled up to the armor that was the living flesh of her husband.

I grinned, and turned around to look at the other scribes.
"Anyways . . . They've been gaurding their descendents for all this time,
and now that I've had kids, they've come to gaurd and get to know their
newest family members better."

^We don't need sleep, so we'll also be gaurding you, if you don't mind the
extra help^

There was a large collective of silence around us.

. . . . . . No reply.

. . . .


. . . . .


Coba meowed at me, and begin play-fighting with my arm.

. . . .


I scooped up Coba in my arms, tickled his stomach, and walked over to wave
a hand in front of Lotor's face, as he was sitting there just staring at
Mark and Aus. No response. Same thing for the other scribes.

"I think we've stunned them all."

Ooops . . .