I had no idea Aurie could do this until a few days ago. The “how” took another day until I recalled just how very different her mother, Henge, is. So there you are.

Looks as if Part Three shall end on entry #25. That will come out right before I’m off to LibertyCon. I hope to be much older there. I’ll take Rory, my laptop, just in case I suddenly need to tap something out while at the con.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

A legionary, centurion, she saw from his badge, stepped out of the dark and scooped the lieutenant up like a princess, easing her head to his chest.  Colour stood and the three, with two more behind them, made for the guest quarters, not that far from the admin offices.

With the NCO supporting her, Colour took Eloise’s jacket and shoes off before easing her down into the small bed.  She thanked the legionary who turned on a desk lamp as he left.

“You are right, in a way, Miss Patel,” she said softly, putting a light blanket over her.  “They do take getting used to.  I…”

She paused.

“I hope you get the chance to.” Colour moved a chair next to the bed, in case her charge got sick, and closed her eyes.  Only when she heard something like chanting did she open them again.

Aurelia knelt at the head of Eloise’s bed, her hands on each side of her guest’s face.  A face illuminated gold by the regent’s eyes.  Some of the words sounded English, but some did not.  After a moment, she was surprised to see the young woman’s face take on the same kind of glow her mother always had.

Aurelia dropped her hands and arched her back, stretching while taking a deep breath.

“Should I ask?” Colour said.

“There is not a demi in the world who can do what I’m doing.  Aunt Fussy can recode her lines just as we all can but only me, my mother’s daughter, can rewrite human minds.”

“Why is that?  And, isn’t that a little unethical?”

“My mama is like nothing else on earth,” Aurelia tilted her head a little to her friend, now with her eyelids down.  “You’ve seen that and acted all giddy when you did!”

“You, and, yes, I admit I did, you said she was made very differently.” Colour held her own hands up before her face.  “And affects those around her.  Why I now look and feel ten years younger than my fifty-two years?”

“Precisely.  Ever read that Brit author’s book about Rings?” A nod.  “Elves only gave up their lives when they wanted.  I think Mama will bear the same curse.  Roland and I to a lesser degree.”

Another stretch.

“But to answer the rest of your question, I can do what the Machines can:  change memories, change minds.  That happened to Ryland’s husband when he encountered Reina.  For reasons, she made him a warship designer.”

Confused, Colour returned to the person before them.

“And what are you doing to Miss Patel, here?”

“Three things and I just finished the first.  I am reducing her susceptibility to torture, both physical and psychological…”

“They really are going to do that?” Colour gasped.

“Of course they are,” Aurelia replied, knitting her brows together at her friend’s denseness, “what are secret police for?  Didn’t you read up about my great-grandpa?”

Too upset to speak, the older woman gave a single nod.

“The second and third, which I shall do now, at the same time, will be much more subtle.  Faith.”

“But she said she doesn’t believe – ”

“In your time with me, do you still disbelieve the transcendent?” the Regent demanded.

“N… no.”

“But you are old and wise and have seen much.  This child,” she indicated the passed out drunk before her, “has no time and I must catch her up now.  She will come to in the morning, have Mass with me, and begin to think things she never has before.”

“Just seems pushy…”

“Would you rather have her killed alone or with Christ?”

“The third part?” Colour whispered, blinking at tears.

“Also faith.  In family.  Hers.  Mine.” Aurelia moved her hands back up to Eloise’s head.  “Quiet now.  And watch a miracle.  Well, after Kalí, another one.”

More gold, more strange words.  Colour was out of her chair the instant her friend’s body fell over to her left.  Strong enough to pick the little girl up, she carried her out, calming the legionaries who wanted to take her to the infirmary, telling them, no, their Regent just needs rest.  The same centurion who carried Eloise took her.

“This is so outside my wheelhouse.  Faith, Aurie?  Really?”

Back inside, Colour moved another chair to put up her feet and was asleep moments later.