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Chapter 1: The Proposal

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“Explain to me again why you’re marrying him?” I said. “He’s a total creep and raging misogynist to boot.”  I stared at Lynn with set shoulders as I waited for her response. Lynn glared at me over the laptop. I met her gaze and refused to blink. Lynn was my best friend. We had known each other since kindergarten. We shared nearly everything in common, except our taste in boys. Rain pounded on the windows of the girl’s academic dormitory, and I could actually feel the wind shifting the building. Outside, lightning spiderwebbed across the sky, and then the thunder rattled the windows. I hadn’t had time to draw a breath between lightning and thunder.  Lynn shook her head. “I’m marrying him because that’s how it is. That’s who I marry. Period. No way around it.” I picked up my wine glass and paused. Was it my wine glass? It couldn’t be Lynn’s. She was holding hers. But we were the last two girls standing tonight. Lindsay was asleep on the couch. We had held Sophie’s hair out of the way, wh
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Chapter 35: A Garden in Bloom

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The next day, Amy and I took a carriage to Myrddhin House. Fiona and Vincent met us at the door. I wondered if the two of them were still intimate, then I discounted the idea. Fiona would be upfront if that were the case. I also reminded myself that I shouldn’t mind if that were the case. I couldn’t provide what Vincent could provide her after all. But I was confident that if this interested Fiona, she would bring it up with me first. And then it struck me that I hadn’t done the same about Amy. Of course, I had already been with Amy. Fiona hadn’t seemed upset when she discovered it. But I felt as though I had failed her.  “Yesterday was enlightening,” Vincent said, once we exchanged pleasantries.  “Enlightening,” Fiona said, “But unhelpful. We could not save the seer. We found nothing we could use as evidence.”  “And we still don’t know where Wulfric is staying,” I said. “Does that matter?” Fiona asked. “It does if my plan is going to work. Lynn doesn’t want to marry Wulfric, but she f
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Chapter 34: Human Trafficking

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“Is that my father’s voice?” I whispered from our hiding place, “Can you see anything?” Amy giggled, “I can see your bust. I’m nose deep in it. Sorry to disappoint.” I giggled as well, “I’m only disappointed that we can’t enjoy it.” “That is definitely your father’s voice,” Fiona whispered, “And it is getting closer.” “This is taking too long,” My father said. “Every day the men and weapons are in our catacombs, we are in danger.” “We knew that when we agreed to this.” A second voice said. “Is that the Baron?” Fiona asked. “It can’t be.” Amy whispered. The second man said, “The risk is why we are being rewarded as we are. They wouldn’t share the blood of the royal family for a simple task with no risk, would they?” “No Giles, they wouldn’t.” “It is,” I answered, “They’re both in on it. And what the hell is the blood of the royal family.” “How would I know?” Amy asked. “Just checking.” I answered. “I’ve never heard of it either.” Vincent whispered The baron continued. “They wouldn’t giv
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Chapter 33: Promises

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The next morning, Fiona and Vincent arrived bright and early. Amy woke me up before seven in the morning. “Lady Ren, did you want a coffee once you’re dressed?” Amy asked as she helped me into a black pleated maxi dress.  “I’d like three coffees, with cream and as much sugar as the liquid will take.” I said as Amy buttoned me into my dress at the back.  “You want to vibrate through the rocks to the bottom of the catacombs?” She asked. “I want a chance of staying awake until the point where things fall apart.” We added a rich green shirt with full length of mutton style sleeves and the same canary yellow sash I had worn before. I picked a plain gold clasp to hold the sash in place. I wouldn’t be taking anything that I would miss if it broke.  We met Fiona and Vincent on the front steps. Fiona wore a pair of black breeches, black Hessian boots, a deep red high neck collar dress shirt. Over that she wore some sort of padded armor. And then over all that she wore a black greatcoat.  Vincen
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Chapter 32: The Fog of War

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  Amy paced my room as she spoke, “And this seer is where?” As she moved, Quincy trailed in her shadow, tail wagging. Quincy made it clear from his posture that he thought this was the best game ever.  I pointed a finger downward, “The Hyperboreans have her in the lowest level of the catacombs. She’s a seer with a precognitive gift- like me. But somehow, she can send messages to other people with the precognitive gift. She asked me to save her.” “How are you going to do that?” Amy asked, “You had a vision, from her. That leaves you weak as water. She has to know that as a seer herself.” “I suspect she doesn’t have any other options. But this is a huge opportunity. I’ve written a letter for Fiona; can you have it sent over to Myrddhin House? With luck we will have her and Vincent over tomorrow to attempt this rescue operation. That’s assuming you want to come with us. You’re my personal maid, so I can take you with me whenever I want. But I don’t want you on this unless you’re comfortab
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Chapter 31: Cutscene

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We continued walking. We had reached my room when the world started to spin. My nausea returned, and I clamped both hands over my mouth. I closed my eyes to try and stop the room spinning.  “Ren! Is this from the kidnapping?” “I’m pretty sure it’s another vision. I’m getting used-”  And then darkness. “I see you. Do you see me? You must, yes?” An image came into focus of a pale middle-aged woman with her brown hair tied back in a french braid.  “Yes, I see you,” I answered. She was standing in a cavern, lit by torches and candlelight. Further up behind her, I saw worked stone blocks. She was in the deepest part of the Octavian Catacombs.  “And so here we are, two seers on opposite sides of a conflict. But only one of us is willingly on their side.”  “You aren’t doing this by choice?” “My name is Brianna MacMurchadha. I’m from the Island of Tech-Duinn. I am a war slave. The precognitive gift is rare in Hyperborea. Object read and sixth sense are far more common. And so Hyperboreans scou
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Chapter 30: Indecision

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The party was winding down. I was quite drunk at this point, and was wandering the halls of Myrddhin House. I was looking for a bathroom. I found what looked like the door to a restroom. I checked the handle. It wasn’t locked, so I opened the door.  “Not again,” I muttered.  Leon stood in front of me, pulling up his trousers. Lynn was putting her bra back on. Lynn looked up, “Not again.” I looked away, “At least I didn’t interrupt you this time.” “Yeah, we’re done,” Leon said. “Ren, get in here and close the door.” I did as she asked and faced away as they dressed. “So, now you know what a harlot I am.” She whispered. “Harlot,” I said, “Good word. Applies to me though. Not you.” “But I’m marrying Prince Wulfric. And I… with Leon.” “Are you engaged yet?” “No. “Are you doing the deed with anyone else right now?” “No.” “Then you aren’t a harlot. And, I want to be clear, you wouldn’t be worth less in my eyes if you were promiscuous. There is nothing wrong with that. You know both our fathe
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Chapter 29: In the Bag

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  We continued chatting after Baroness Wander left. We were mid conversation when a guard approached Fiona.  “Your Excellency, we’ve found something odd.  Two pairs of Hessian boots in the garden, next to the wall.” So, they do call them Hessian boots. I tapped Fiona’s shoulder, “Why are they called Hessian boots?” Fiona shook her head, “I do not know that. There is a Hessekassel region in Agartha. I believe it relates to that. But I cannot confirm that. Now, a moment please, beloved.” Fiona turned back to the guard. “If you have found clothing, then I see two possibilities. It may be that people are undressing in twos. In which case leave them be so long as they are not doing so somewhere disruptive. Allow people their privacy and their pleasure. It could also be that somebody has slipped into our party and changed their clothing. In which case, hunt them down and restrain them. Then inform me so that I may question them. If they resist, remember that your safety takes precedence over
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