Swept

"It seems I have been a fool."

Shain's words lingered in the air like ominous harbingers of a devastating omen.

No one said a word they merely watched the purple, black, and grey swirling cloud slowly expand above them.

Rachel sighed. She resisted her impulse to rub her tired eyes or throbbing temples.

"We shall follow the directives of the realm for the time being. It's ideas were lucid and not tainted by the chaos. Thinking of this I do not know how long it will hold on."

"Agreed. But I am not sure if we can trust our elder brother at this point." Cer pinched the bridge of his nose before he spoke again. "I am not denying we all need to work together, but he was subdued by the chaos."

Bre swallowed a mouth full of deep purple liquid before he spoke. "That is only because he did not listen to our warnings and he did not guard himself well enough from the chaos."

"But isn't that the point?" Mis looked upon Shain with undisguised contempt. "How can we trust anything with someone who is so stubborn and possibly easily swayed by our enemies?!?"

Rachel slowly sipped her drink and allowed the conversation to flow. They might as well get all of it out now.

More of the purple liquid filled his glass as Bre spoke. "Calm yourself brother. This is a discussion and he is our brother."

"Our brother who almost killed one of our sisters, tried to depose the other, and almost destroyed our realm." Cer agreed with Mis this time. It was not his nature to back down when he felt he was right.

"This is not going to get us anywhere" Anis sipped her sweet scented amber drink and looked to Rachel. "Let's just begin sister."

The purple cloud above them had completely formed into a fate map of the realm. Rachel sat quietly memorizing it. After realizing this both Althius and Sublyme did the same.

The Azmin guard commanders were also the navigators and strategists for the main family.

Rachel slowly looked to her sister with a smile. "I am just waiting for the other commanders to arrive." She looked toward Althius and Sublyme in turn. "I already commanded them to remain calm and focused."

As she spoke four people materialized behind the seats of Cer and Bre.

Behind Bre stood two women. One had brilliant yellow hair with deep red steaks that fell in faint waves to her waist. She had a full round face with deep amber almond shaped eyes and full lips. Her skin was pale and unblemished. She was tall with ample curves and muscular legs. Her name is Allania.

The second woman was a bit shorter with dark brown hair streaked purple and pink. Her eyes were a dark pink color and her face was heart shaped and soft. Her curves were more ample than Allania's and she had a soft smile on her face. Her name is Tillynia.

Behind Cer stood a man and a woman. The former's name being Zolon and the latter's Yanira. Zolon was of medium height and broadly built. He had blue-black shoulder length hair that was pulled up into a high bun. His face was chiseled and he had a perpetually stern look on his face.

Yanira was the leader of the commanders and stood very tall. Her dark blond hair flowed in layered curls down her back and beyond her waist. She had eyes of deep gold with flakes of red and brown. Her face was not too thin and not too round and she had high cheek bones. Her breast were larger and she restrained them in a tightly tied yellow and red soft fabric that seemed to be woven of silk and metallic threads.

All four looked to Rachel and bowed then took their seats.

Yanira sat forward, her elbows and forearms on the table. She looked at Althius then Sublyme but said nothing.

Cer spoke first. "Commanders learn the fate map and understand the exact locations of the chaos points also take note of the fate connections that are most eroding. The initial plan is to train for three days and then we will act but, if more or less training is needed we will act accordingly."

"We all need to do this. This time we must all be capable of navigation. Looking at the extent of the chaos we need to send the guard out on at least two of them on their own.." Rachel paused in thought, gazing up at the map. "… Maybe three. As for our training we will all train in our unique ways to ensure that we are properly prepared."

She looked to Yanira whose eyes were now on her.

Yanira's eyes rose and moved over the map. "We can handle up to five points my Milana." She then looked to Cer and Bre. "We can use the guard tower to train. We have already called the guard there as General Cer directed."

Cer's eyes widened. "Five?"

"Yes general. We can not allow Althius and Sublyme to operate alone and there are four chaoa knots that have not caused significant erosion. I am not yet aware of our time-line but if we are in four groups Zoron and I can handle two assignments in consideration of my previous observation."

Cer looked to Rachel. He could see that she was in thought so he did not say anything and looked to Bre who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"Emil, Mis, and Anis will go to the great central library. We need to understand the anatomy of the situation and if there are any past occurrences that are similar." She looked to Anis "We also need to enter the fate room there and get a clear read on that central knot and all of you can train as you need. We all need to understand our abilities in relation to how our realm currently interacts with us."

Anis nodded "I can not discern if the black mass is causing all the knots or if it has formed due to the others. I will need a more precise view of it. From here my view is blocked somehow."

Rachel nodded. "Struns you are with them. Protect my siblings."

Struns gave her a firm nod.

"Bre, Cer?" Rachel looked to her brothers with a smile as she raised her glass for another sip of her drink.

There was silence at the table for a while.

"And what of me?" Shain looked to Rachel,

"You will be with Cramnal, Rebecca, and me of course." Rachel shrugged.

"Is that wise sister?" Anger and concern tinged Cer's voice.

Rachel sighed. "He is too much of a distraction for you and Bre. I almost want to bring Althius and Sublyme with me as well, but I will trust Yanira with them for now."

Yanira nodded towards her. "If I sense anything amiss Milana I will contact you immediately. "

Rachel nodded her ascent and looked to Cer once again. He stood and bowed to his sister with a slight smile on his lips. "Bre and I will lead the guard as always."

Bre stood before Cer finished. "We need to strategize and train brother. Come commanders… all commanders." Bre looked poignantly at Althius and Sublyme.

All the commanders of the guard stood as one and bowed to Rachel and Anis.

Because Anis was the current Mistress of Fate her standing was second only to Rachel.

They all left from the room, entered the hall, and vanished.

"Sister we will leave for the library now." Anis looked to Emil then Mis. "We will research what we can and meet you at the location of the black mass.." She paused for a moment. "But I think we need more than 3 days." Both Emil and Mis nodded.

Rachel thought for a moment then she stood and extended her hand toward the purple fate map. A rainbow tinged map overlaid the map. It was very similar only differing with the addition of the abyss below. Anis' eyes widened.

The rainbow map wasn't more detailed but it showed the depth of the corruption. Some areas were very dark and the chaos had no depth and other areas that seemed tranquil and of light the chaos pierced deeply into the fabric of the realm.

"The realm bestowed this knowledge upon me when I separated your soul wells. I think you, Mis, and Struns should go here first, when you are ready." She pointed to an area deeply scared by chaos, a short distance from the black mass.

She looked to Struns "If you need help tell me and I will send some." She then looked to Emil in thought. "I think it would be better if you joined us after your research. The way you manipulate color to heal will help us in the darkest areas."

Emil looked to the map above him. His eyes turned a smoky orange and saw what his sister meant immediately. He could actually see soul tares spanning across the black mass on the map. He berated himself for not looking at the area with his enhanced perception.

"I see what you mean sister. This information will help me to focus my research and training. I will tell Cramnal when I am ready to move to you."

Emil looked toward his siblings and Struns. They all nodded. Rachel stood and opened a rainbow corridor. A tall man with tightly curled blood red hair stepped forth and bowed to Rachel.

"Milana."

"Breccor, I apologize for the disturbance. We need access to the Great Library."

He followed Rachel's line of sight and acknowledged Anis, Mis, Emil, and Struns.

"Of course Milana. The fatetress and the great doctor are always welcomed." He nodded to Mis in reverence. "The Alvian already has fill access to all libraries and I am ready to finally be able serve him fully."

The four stood, nodded to Rachel, and followed Breccor through the rainbow corridor.

Once the corridor closed Rachel looked to Shain with a smile.

"Come brother. Let us see if we can resolve this issue and alleviate your concerns."

Shain stood and exhaled deeply. "I have no choice now sister. My trust is with you."

"As it always should have been."

Both Cramnal and Rebecca spoke as one.

Rachel rubbed her forehead. All the nodding, bowing, and Milana this and Milana that was giving her a distinct headache.

"Shain how often do you train these days? "

Shain looked from the face of each person before him. He felt judgment and disdain in those eyes. All eyes except Rachel's. Her eyes were blank, devoid of any discernable emotion.

"I do not use the Azmin ways anymore." He had tried not to have his disgust show but it was beyond his control."

Cramnal's eyes narrowed. "You used to be the greatest sky writer ever known and now you speak of our people as if we were vermin or something detestable. "

There was silence for a long moment.

Rachel raised one eyebrow and stood languidly.

"That means we will go to the spark falls on the Azzit continent." She looked to Rebecca. "There is a place you can use to get use to your new companions"

Rachel put her hand onto Rebecca's shoulder and looked at her brothers. "Cramnal we may need to re-awaken our brother's instincts."