Delilah wrinkled her nose, reaching up with her free hand to tug the scarf covering the lower half of her face tighter. Even so, down here between the seats of Revue Palace’s main theater, it was hard to escape the smell.
“Tell me again why we have to clean it all by hand?” asked Alice from a row higher. “I mean, can’t you just magic it all clean?”
“Such a lazy solution, love,” came the voice of Revue from center stage far below. “Look at all the progress you’ve made! All this proper cleaning builds character, and character is an absolute necessity for the stage!”
“Why does she keep calling me ‘love’?” Alice muttered.
“I call everyone the name that suits them, love,” Revue said. “You and Delilah, yes, you’re the ones who saved me and my Palace, who made such a beautiful promise. So you’re the ones I love, you see?”
Delilah smiled. Despite the reek of mold and the soreness of her fingers from scrubbing so much, she had to say…
The company was quite good.
“What about me?” Isabelle asked. She was one aisle over, humming a bouncy tune while she scrubbed the floors.
“Oh, you’re ‘sweetie’,” Revue said. “Because you’re the sweetest little thing that’s ever stepped into this Palace, sweetie.”
“Ooh, I like that,” Isabelle said, giggling.
Delilah couldn’t constantly be smiling, though. While the conversation and company here was good, there were hushed voices higher up the theater steps, from a trio who stood in view of everyone else but spoke very quietly — though not quietly enough, for sometimes Delilah could make out what they said.
Their voices were very serious.
Lady Kodoka, Maribelle, and Marcus had been talking quietly and seriously ever since the group returned from the Storm. With Lady Kodoka free, the power she’d been binding there had been loosed. The Storm no longer had its wild barriers of darkness. It no longer had any darkness at all — it was just a barren wasteland, and Lady Kodoka said even that would soon cease to exist after they left.
The older trio talked about Sal — Alexander Salazar Greyson, a man who had gained immense power over the darkness. There were rumors, speculation about who he could possibly be, how powerful he could possibly be… but it was all insane, wasn’t it? There was no way he could be…
Well. There was plenty more to discuss. Such as what to do about him. Now that he’d become so powerful that Kodoka could no longer bind all of his strength in the Storm, it meant they needed a new strategy. They were going to have to take the fight to him, somehow, someway, someday.
The trio also frequently spoke about Delilah and Alice. Delilah heard their names come up many times, had been hearing them again and again for the last several days that they’d been back in the Palace. But she never quite made out what the older trio said about the two girls.
What are we going to do? We’ve been cleaning and restoring Revue Palace, because that’s what we promised to do. And there’s plenty more to do on that front, even though Revue’s not being entirely honest with us.
She looked back at the path she’d crawled along scrubbing and smiled.
She’s been using magic subtly here and there, making it much easier for us. There’s no way we would have made this much progress in this amount of time by hand, just the three of us. Marcus and Maribelle have helped out a little, but even so.
Well, it hasn’t been just us kids…
She smiled as she saw Felix up ahead, polishing the seat placards on the armrests, giving them a resplendent shine. And past him was Nekoma, carrying away filthy rags and buckets of mucky water to be replaced. A glance towards the high ceiling revealed the faint green glow of Redmond, working on the lighting and overhead set mechanisms. Reginald walked here and there, doing finishing touches on everyone else’s work, double-and-triple-checking everything, dusting and sweeping and making it all more beautiful, more clean, more welcoming than anyone else could.
Down on the stage and through the backstage areas, Rabanastre and Teddy were helping out with the heavy lifting, clearing out shattered and rotted set pieces, reorganizing the clutter and mess, and clearing out some shockingly huge spiders in the bundles of cobwebs found in the deeper reaches backstage.
Delilah was especially glad for them on that last part. She’d take scrubbing mold over battling spiders any day.
All this cleaning and chatting had another welcome effect — it let Delilah’s mind wander.
Alexander Salazar Greyson. A Halfchant, once part of Blaise’s team, but then he left to seek vengeance against the Radiance.
And then… he vanished. For hundreds of years he just disappeared off the face of the universe. And when he resurfaced, he was a changed man.
A man with command of the Darkness unlike anything seen before or since.
Lady Kodoka is the Prime Paladin, the strongest and wisest of them all. And even her greatest gambit, her own self-sacrifice to an eternal prison, knowing she’d never see her daughters again, wasn’t enough to hold back his power.
And he’s…
…a Greyson…
It’s so strange to think about. And… it can’t be a coincidence. Grandpa knows about the Enchanted Dominion, he’s been here before with Grandma, but Mom and Dad… they never knew.
It’s only now. Now that five Greysons are all traveling through the Dominion, battling against the Darkness, that Sal starts making his biggest moves.
That can’t be a coincidence. But why? Why does he care about us?
Finishing her aisle and moving up to the next, Delilah could hear some of the older trio’s conversation better.
“Mother,” Maribelle said softly, “can’t we discuss this back home? Annabelle and Sarabelle are back, they’ll want to see you more than anything.”
“Not until we decide what to do,” Kodoka said. “Since Marcus thinks he knows best, apparently.”
“The girls are ready,” Marcus said. “They’ve shown incredible promise and potential. They’ve done things no other Paladin has been able to do, and they’ve stood up to greater threats than anyone other than you and myself, and perhaps one other Paladin. They may be children —”
“Human children,” Kodoka added.
“Their Humanity isn’t an issue,” Marcus said. “Humans, Enchanted, in the end we’re all mortals sharing the same universe, fighting against the same Darkness. Just because there haven’t been Human Paladins before doesn’t mean there can’t be.”
Never been Human Paladins…?
But isn’t Marcus…?
He’s from Earth. He’s said so before.
But no. He’s lived so long…
Is he Enchanted? A Halfchant?
“You allowed me to be a Paladin, after all,” Marcus said, and Delilah could hear in his voice the trademark twinkle in his eyes. “And that was quite unprecedented at the time.”
“It still is,” Kodoka said.
Okay, so… what is Marcus? Not Human, but not Enchanted, either, and it’s unlikely he’s a Halfchant. The eyes are the giveaway, right? But his eyes are so… normal. I mean, there are subtle things, but nothing like what would give away the others.
Marcus… you keep so many secrets. Always playing it off mischievously, but is it really that simple?
“We cannot move forward until we can decide on the nature of those girls,” Kodoka continued. “And… I don’t like the look of that Alice girl. From what you’ve said, there’s something very dark about her. Darkness cannot fester in the hearts of Paladins. Not after what happened to the Fallen —”
“You know, really, I’m quite hurt,” Revue said, loud enough — as she always did — for all to hear. “Lady Kodoka, honestly, leaving me out of the conversation? Out of the debate? When the two girls you’re fighting over are the ones who saved me. Something, I should note, you failed to do — or even attempt. And they made a promise, a promise I will hold them to, and that promise requires certain status. You can’t deny them as Paladins. I simply won’t allow it.”
“Well, now that the cat’s out of the bag,” Alice said, hopping up to sit on the back of one of the seats, “you know we’ve all been able to hear everything you three have been saying for the past three days, right?”
Well I haven’t been able to hear “all” of it.
“It’s rude to talk about people behind their backs, you know?” Alice added.
“Mommy, what’s wrong with them begin Paladins?” Isabelle asked. “They saved you! Isn’t that the biggest, most amazing, most good thing in the entire universe?”
“We may have been there with them,” Maribelle said, quickly cutting off her mother’s reply, “but it was Delilah and Alice who defeated Jormungand. It was their promise — and making good on the first part of their promise — that allowed Revue to revive and cast out the Darkness. It was their fire that saw us to victory. It was their fire that gave us even the slightest chance to reach you.”
“They’ve already had some training,” Marcus said. “And not only did I give them the bracelets, but they’ve reacted to them in the most positive way possible. That fire is something we haven’t seen for centuries. And forget the training — before I even took them under my wing, they saved Solla and Lunos all by themselves, they defeated a shade of Sen, they learned how to use Relays all on their own and extinguished the dark, festering pit in the heart of Grimoire. They’ve accomplished more than many Paladins, and they did so without a Paladin’s power or status.” He looked at Delilah and Alice, beaming with pride. “Those girls are the very best of us. You cannot deny them what they’ve rightfully earned, selflessly and without any thought for reward or prize.”
“Their lives are too short for such a high calling,” Kodoka said.
“We’ve done a great deal in a very short amount of time,” Delilah said, standing tall. “And the danger is fairly imminent with Sal, right? Which means a long life wouldn’t help us right now, anyway.”
Marcus chuckled, and even Maribelle cracked a smile. “She’s got you there, Mother,” Maribelle said.
“Lady Kodoka,” Revue said, her masked face cocking to the side, her strange eyes staring intently at the Prime Paladin. “If you dare deny these girls what they’ve rightfully earned, you can consider the Revue Palace barred to you, and my power withdrawn from your battle against the Darkness.”
Lady Kodoka raised an eyebrow. Maribelle looked stunned.
“If you deny these girls status as Paladins,” Marcus said, “I’ll teach them everything anyway. I’ve already been training and guiding them, and will continue to do so. It is the privilege of the experienced to pass on that experience and knowledge.”
No one spoke for a long, long time.
“Marcus,” Lady Kodoka said. “Maribelle. Isabelle. Revue. Do all four of you vouch for Delilah and Alice? Do you swear with deepest conviction that they are worthy of being Paladins, and can be trusted with this responsibility?”
“I do!” Isabelle said swiftly, raising her hand.
“You know that I do,” Revue said seriously.
“Absolutely, Mother,” Maribelle said.
Marcus looked back at Delilah and Alice, smiling. “I’d trust them with my life,” he said.
Slowly, Lady Kodoka sighed, then turned away. “Very well. Meanwhile, I will put out the call for all other Paladins. We need everyone together to deal with the problem of Sal. We’ll convene a Daybreak Council in the Library of Solitude in one cycle’s time.” She strode from the theater and out the high doors.
“One cycle?” Alice asked.
“Universal time,” Marcus said. “The equivalent of, oh, about three days on Earth.”
“So still more waiting,” Alice said with a sigh.
“Not waiting, love!” Revue called, laughing. “There’s so much more work to be done!”
“Ah,” Alice said with a chuckle. “Right. That.” She looked at Delilah, and the two shared a smile, before returning to their cleaning.
No fanfare or anything, but…
Does this mean we’re really Paladins?
Delilah couldn’t be fully excited, not yet. Not until she knew for sure.
But for some reason, she couldn’t stop smiling.
——
Addie leapt in surprise at the sudden face that appeared floating in the air in front of Mister Midnight.
“Relax, kid,” Midnight said, patting the girl’s head. “It’s just a recording.” He eyed it thoughtfully. “A message from Lady Kodoka herself. So she’s returned.”
“This is a message for all Paladins,” said the woman’s face. She had a rather serene voice, and Addie quite enjoyed the sound of it. And yet… she seemed like a very sad woman. “Darkness is rising. The Endless Night is coming. Thus, I am enacting the Daybreak Protocol. A Council will be held in one cycle’s time at the Library of Solitude. All Paladins are expected to attend, no matter what your other duties. A portal will be formed after this message is completed. You will know what to do, but know you cannot long delay. And you must not allow your companions to hesitate if you are not alone. The portal will only allow one trip through. Once it closes, it will not open again. Bear that in mind and make the proper adjustments if you are unable to leave before the portal expires. The roads to the Library are open once more. These portals are a convenience for those who recognize the urgency of this summons and wish to get a head-start.”
“A Daybreak Council, huh?” Midnight asked with a weary sigh. “Suppose it’s the only proper time for it, though.”
“May the Light be with us all,” the woman concluded. “I will see you all soon.”
Her face vanished, and in the space it had occupied, a shining white portal ripped the fabric of reality apart to provide passage to a shimmering land beyond.
No one moved.
“Lancelot, aren’t you going?” Princess Garnet asked, rising to her feet. “Surely, as a Paladin, this is your highest duty —”
“I’m not,” Midnight said, his gaze serious and fixed on the spot where Caleb and Chelsea had disappeared into darkness.
“But you are —” Garnet started.
“Right where I need to be,” Midnight finished. “There are things I need to work out. Thoughts I need to think through. I can’t do that surrounded by debating Paladins. So no, I’m not going. The best place for me to be right now, for everyone’s sakes, is right here.”
Garnet stared at him with shock, but then sighed. She started towards the portal. “I may not be a Paladin, but I have the same responsibilities,” she said. “The same duty against the Darkness, and against this monstrous Greyson.”
“Don’t call him by that name,” Midnight said. “Don’t you dare lump him in with the other Greysons.”
Garnet paused, then nodded. “Yes, of course. I apologize.” She sighed, then looked back at Mineria. “You won’t… come with me, will you?”
“I’m sorry, dear Garnet,” Mineria said, shaking her head. “My place is with Lancelot, now.”
The princess nodded. “I will… miss you, Mineria.”
“And I you,” Mineria said with a smile.
Princess Garnet strode through the portal and vanished. After a moment, it flickered, rippled, and then the portal itself closed up.
“You’re sure about this, Lance?” Mineria asked.
“Of course,” Midnight said, still staring straight ahead. “I’m his teacher. And I have a lot to teach him when he gets back.”
Addie, Midnight, Ingrid, and Mineria sat alone in the Seat of the Seven.
Waiting for Caleb and Chelsea.
——
“Tock, is it?” Maxwell asked, watching nervously as Tock bustled around his secret study’s secret room as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
“That’s right!” Tock said, checking the pair of watches on her wrist, then flipping another switch on the secret room’s control console. “We’ve been through introductions three times already though, haven’t we?”
“Yes, well,” Maxwell said, struggling to make his way to his next thought, “I just… how did you get here? Who sent you? I understand our mission now, I think, but how can you be here? Who charged us with this mission? Why me? Why do you know so much about this place?”
Tock leaned back against the console, a thoughtful look in her glowing blue eyes. “You ask a lot of the same questions I often have,” she said. “Let’s see… in order: I was sent straight here — just followed my instructions. I was sent by the Lady.”
“The Lady?” Maxwell asked.
“Yes, the Lady beyond the Time Wilds, in the Place With No Name,” Tock said.
“But does she have a name?”
“Her name belongs to Time, like the rest of us. And while I picked up a new name, like the rest, she never did. She’s just ‘The Lady’. Now, next question… how can I be here is the same as how I did get here, pretty much, so we can skip that… the Lady is the one who charged us with this mission… ah!” She looked at Maxwell brightly. “Why you, indeed? Maxwell, the boy — now a man — with only one name, the man who chose to be Master of the Basin, who chose this life of solitude and isolation, the man who thinks so little of himself and yet has done so much and is so important.” She placed her hands on her hips, smiling proudly. “I could ask the same question of myself, only I haven’t done nearly as much as you. In short, we need your mind, your cleverness, your ingenuity, your vast stores of knowledge. Don’t think I’m just here for your… did you call it a ‘study’?”
“Yes, it’s my study,” Maxwell said.
“Hmm,” Tock murmured, looking around. “Well, anyway, no, I’m not just here for your fantastic study. It’ll get us where we need to go. But you need to be there. You and me, Maxwell. We’re the chosen ones!”
“But why?” Maxwell asked.
“Why’s anyone ever chosen?” Tock asked, turning a dial on the console without looking at it. “It’s like the Old Man always says…” She then altered her voice and hunched over a bit, imitating the speech and mannerisms of an old man as best she could. “ ‘If you’re asking why you were chosen, child, you’re asking the wrong question entirely. You’ve been chosen. It’s already happened. The question is, what will you do about it?’ ” Tock returned to her normal demeanor, smiling. “So there it is. I don’t know why. No one told me why. But the why — even though the why is so very often the most important thing in the whole universe — isn’t important at all. Not in this case. Or rather, it will reveal itself on its own. Probably.” She nodded once, firmly, as if that settled it. “Now, what are we going to do with this mission, hmm, Maxwell? I think we both know the answer to that.” She beamed at him, and Maxwell couldn’t help but be overtaken by the girl’s infectious joy. “We’re going to accomplish our mission with flying colors. And, in the process, save all life in the entire universe.”
“So then —” Maxwell started, but Tock suddenly raised a finger.
“You had one more question!” she said suddenly. “Sorry, I just remembered. It’s distracting chatting with you. Fun, though, so don’t worry about that. You wanted to know why I know all about this place.” She turned to stare at the control console, flicking two switches up and one down, so that a series of green lights lit up. And then she shrugged. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t. I was given directions to get here from where I was dropped off, but I wasn’t given any instructions about this. I just…” she pulled a lever, causing a hiss of steam to emit from a crooked pipe to the right, “know.” She paused a moment, leaning on the console, staring at it with a deep, thoughtful gaze. “You asked where we’re going first?”
“Yes,” Maxwell said. He didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask any more questions, not yet.
“We’re going to the most baffling, most amazing place in the entire universe,” Tock said, her bright, cheerful demeanor returning as she threw a huge switch, and a rumbling started beneath their feet. She turned to Maxwell, grinning as she gestured at a wheel much like that found on the large sailing ships once used by pirates and privateers on Earth. “Take the helm, Maxwell. It’s your ‘study’, after all.”
Maxwell stared at the wheel, his heart racing. He knew about the study’s functions, but…
He’d never used them.
Why hadn’t he used them? For some reason, he didn’t know the answer. But now he knew.
The time had come.
He stepped forward and gripped the wooden wheel, feeling as if it was the most natural thing in the universe. Eyeing the screen atop the console, and the gauges to the left, he rotated it slightly left, then slightly right. Then, a grin spreading across his face, he suddenly flung the wheel in a great, sweeping turn to the left, his heart singing at the clicking, rickety sound the wheel made. The study shuddered, the rumbling intensified, and then, as the wheel click-click-clicked its way to a stop…
The study went still.
Tock stared at Maxwell with bright eyes and an expectant smile. After a moment, she started towards the study’s doors, and Maxwell followed after her.
“Beyond these doors…” Tock said, placing her hand on the doorknob, “lies somewhere you’ve never been before. Are you ready?”
Maxwell steadied himself. How long had it been since he’d exited the study?
Not since the day I entered it. Not since I became the Basin’s Master.
But now…
I really can.
Out there lies not just the wider universe, but a place within it I’ve never been before.
He smiled despite all his nerves, and nodded. “I’m ready.”
Tock grinned and flung the door wide open. Light poured in, warm and golden.
Light that heralded the start of a grand adventure.