Swept

A translucent amber door opened in the abyss. Rachel, Rebecca, and Struns stepped through it and into the abyss.

'Holy…." Rebecca's eyes went wide upon seeing the frozen thrall at a loss. Her mind going blank for a second. "The two of you defeated this thing."

She spoke with awe and wonder in her voice. She looked between the two of them in with a stunned expressionon her face.

Rachel softly chuckled. "Struns performed sorcery evolution to do it." She shook her head and pursed her lips. She looked him directly in his eyes."You do that again and you will no longer be the Struns we know. I wonder how much Anis would like being married to a silver moon wolf."

Struns swallowed hard and shook his head. "You're right. But I know exactly how she would feel if you died and I was the one protecting you."

Rachel nodded knowingly. She looked up at the towering thrall. As she did she began to levitate up towards it. She examined it as she did. She looked through the thick ice to make sure it would be of use.

She stopped when she was level with its eyes, the ice melting from its head almost instantly.

She took a deep breath and exhaled just as dramatically.

"Let's talk Smral. I have an offer for you. I will admit that it will be more to my favor but it should be much better than death. Be my Antrunie and I will allow you to live." She shrugged. "I will keep this crystal core for now so your will actually belongs to me. If this arrangement does not satisfy you I am sure that my friend Rebecca would love a new spirit being."

There was silence and both Rebecca and Struns had deep frowns on their faces.

A deep voice rumbled in mirth through the abyss. "My dear Milana, having you as a friend is very intriguing to me. I would love to be your Antrunie." The thrall paused briefly.

"Could we negotiate on how long you keep that crystal?"

Rachel smiled. "Of course not. This is mine. I have already decided to cut it and make it into an interesting piece of jewelry. But I am not unreasonable."

She paused, and squeezed her chin in thought. "How about I give you a portion now. I can tell the crystal does not contain your complete will and you retain more than enough to maintain your individuality."

The thrall smiled broadly. Its fangs dripping viscous venom. Rachel watched curiously as the venom pooled below her.

"I suppose if I behaved a bit more robotic or devoid of mentality you would not have noticed." It's smile faded and it withdrew it fangs from view.

Rachel laughed raucously. "Convert to a more human form… or a form less mountainous." She shrugged. "Whichever one you prefer."

"Will you still give me a portion of my will?"

Rachel leaned her head to the side. "Of course. We need to build a bit of trust between us and I do not want a mindless beast."

The Smral looked at her for a long moment. Rachel smiled and the rest of its body began to melt. As it melted its body began to rapidly shrink.

Rachel lowered to the ground. Rebecca and Struns stood behind her and a form appeared before them.

It stood eight feet tall, had the head of a serpent, broad muscular shoulders and arms, ample breasts, the lower half was of a snake that ended in a spiked tail that curved up motionless. Two feet from that tail two legs grew down from the snake like portion.

Rebecca frowned looking up at Smral.

"Before you ask. This is Smral, my new Antrunie. The three of you need to get along." She emphasized "get along". "And Rebecca Smral's gender is not important."

Smral smiled at Rebecca while looking at her body appraisingly. "I am of a race of hermaphrodites, much loke yourself." He paused in thought. "Demon thralls are hermaphrodites." Smral leaned its head and seductively smiled at Rebecca. "I look forward to getting to know you all better."

Rachel chuckled, cast spell runes, and spoke obscure words of power. Smral was covered in green smoke for five seconds. When it reappeared its eyes twinkled sinisterly.

Smral took one knee before Rachel. "Thank you. I realize now that with you I can reach heights that I never dreamed of." The new Antrunie looked up. "I knew I needed the Milana but I did not understand in what capacity, or what the nature of our relationship would be."

Rachel's eyes narrowed. She rotated her shoulders and neck. "We have a dinner to attend."

"Yes and I can not wait for the other Azalstin to meet Smral."

Smral smiled at Rebecca in excitement. "You mean I get to meet the Milana's family!"

"Calm down sister-brother. Rachel did you give will or overzealousness in that spell?"

Rachel shrugged as she called forth the amber door. "Maybe for Smral they are the same thing."

There was so much food that everyone was a bit overwhelmed. Rachel suggested that some of it should be given to the needy on Sibba.

"I want to know what will be done with me." Shain's voice lacked any emotion. Rachel turned to him, sipped her drink, and said nothing. "I have a right to know."

"You do, but not here. Rest assured no decision will be made without your knowledge."

"Mis is right. We need to finish cleansing the realm and then we will decide what we need to do." Anis looked at her brother sternly as Cer spoke ro him.

"You just want to use me and then throw me away! Do you think I do not understand what you all are doing?!?"

As soon as Shain began screaming all went quiet. No one ate and no one spoke.

Rachel looked out from her table towards the vibrant blue sky, "Mis, Cer stop trying to pacify him. He will just cause more harm."

She looked out at the diners and rose to make a toast. "We have much to do and it can not be done without all of you. You are the strength and the power of Trannisa. Through all of you our realm thrives and sustains its much needed balance. I, as both the Mlana and as a Azalstin, want to thank you for all that you have done, do, and will do."

She raised her glass high in salute. "Here is to the people of Trannisa!" She took a sip and everyone else followed. She raised her glass again. "And here's to the Azmin"

A roar went up as everyone went to drink their libations, after many glasses broke and a roar went up again.

Rachel sat down and looked at Shain. "Please understand my dearest brother. You are still free because this is what the realm wants. Before we started this the realm said that we would need to work together. It said all of my siblings. Other than that I would have already turned you over to the Azmin tribunal." Rachel's voice rumbled through the table as her eyes lit with rainbow flames.

Rebecca, Struns, and Smral all tensed reflexively. As if ready to protect her against attack.

'Smral acted without hesitation. Should we have the ceremony today?'

'Of course not Rebecca! Have you lost the fraction of mind you have left!?'

'Calm down Struns. I just feel it is a good indication of Smral's intentions that there was no hesitation.'

Both Rachel and Rebecca felt Struns eye roll. 'He's right Rebecca it is too soon. And Struns, if you are to work effectively with Smral you need to cut the animosity at least by half. After this is done I am taking all three of you to the realm of Ambruce. I need to finish what I began there, but I will need your help to keep me focused.'

The enthusiasm died down and there was only regular dining murmurings.

Anis squeezed Struns' hand. He looked to her and she smiled. He looked at her quizzically for the briefest of moments and then mouthed "now?". Anis nodded.

Struns smiled and stood with his glass in hand. Again things quieted. He glanced nervously at Rachel, she smiled then raised her glass to him and nodded to indicate he should speak. He returned the smile and faced the other Antrunie.

"I have an announcement to make."

Rebecca smiled. 'it's about time'

"I have loved this beautiful Azalstin for most of my life. The first time I saw her I knew that I wanted to spend my life with her and that I selfishly wanted her to be mine."

He looked at Anis. Green streams of light flowed forth forming knotted patterns that then formed an intricate ring. The ring solidified into a translucent purple stone band. The runic patterns in varying shades of purple glowed for a moment and then sunk into the band.

He took a knee and looked into Anis's eyes, the purple band in his hand. He took her hand in his and presented the ring to her. "Azalstin Anis, Lady of fate, will you please join with me and allow me to promise myself to you for all of eternity?"

Anis took the ring and placed it on the index finger of her casting hand. She was right handed and thus cast with her left hand. She stood, they embraced and pressed their foreheads together.

Once again a roar went up. Mis stood with his glass and gave way too many toasts, so many in fact that Anis had to gently sit him down.

The food, drink, and merriment, extended way into the night.

Rachel rose and silence once again fell over the square. She looked to Anis in apology. "Congratulations beloved sister. I know you will have much happiness. I am sorry, but I need to get some sleep."

"Thank you Rachel and no need to apologize. We should all get some rest. We all have a lot to do."

The sisters hugged and the end of the dinner celebration was marked.