Tristan couldn’t believe it. He didn’t think Belladonna would go as far as suggest that he - a Knight of Camelot - would be whip for not bringing an individual with knowledge of these Youkai back to Camelot. His heart thundered in his chest. He had looked at Tina before he had left with the guards.

  She was pale in the mid-afternoon sunlight, streaming in through the large windows of the Seasonal Throne Room, peering around one of her male cousins. Her green eyes glinted, hinting at thoughts and a look he was familiar with - strategy. It didn’t take a genius to realized she was plotting something.

  The Master Strategy of Camelot often had the same look in his eyes when it came to the various battle plans he had discussed with the King and whenever someone was bold enough to challenge him in a game of chess. He hoped she wouldn’t bring attention to herself.

  However, if she was anything like the other members of the White Hall House and their Vassals Houses, she would draw all kinds of attention. He let out a breath of amusement and worry. He really hoped she will make the decision to stay at Camelot. It would be a lot more amusing if she did.

  Tristan glanced upward, sending up a pray. He hoped he would survive this punishment. He had seen what had happened to others. There had been a handful who died at the whipping posts. It was rare when they did die, but it does happen.

  At the training field, Genesis growled softly under his breath as he stood, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes darted over the training yard, spotting the whipping posts. It was a sickening familiar sight. This would not be the first time he was whipped by a member of the Ruling Family.

  However, it would be the first time in recent history that a Knight of the Round Table was. He wondered what kind of repressions it would send over the kingdom, once word was spread. He spotted several dozen servants peering into the training yard from the castle, using windows, balconies, and other ways to peer into the training grounds. He knew they would spread what happen here so would the gossips of the Court.

  It would be one thing when the Lords who attend Court to witness such acts from the Royal Ruling Family, but it was another when the servants became witnesses of the acts. He knew the news of happened would reach far and wide

  The Lords of the Court gathered at one end of the training grounds as the Ruling Family stood in a line in front of the Court. Genesis tried to keep himself busy as he ran his eyes over the Family. Princess Isabella was missing from the line up. He wondered why she would risk Belladonna’s wrath.

  Belladonna strolled across the training yard. In one hand, she held the whip. Lucky, it had one head instead of several heads to it like the dreaded cat tailed whips. She snapped in the air. A loud crack echoed on the grounds.

  Genesis cursed softly under his breath. Of course she had to the one delivering the lashes. He knew this would not be a cake walk for any of them. Belladonna had been known to heavy handed.

  “Whose first,” Belladonna purred. Her eyes landed on Genesis before they darted over to Tristan then Honor, and Bartholomew. She waited.

  “I will,” Honor stepped forward. Genesis didn’t give any words of encouragement as Honor was escorted over to the whipping posts. The guards knew what to do as they took Honor’s arms and tied his wrists to the posts. Genesis watched as Honor grabbed the ropes, tightly. One of the guards took a knife from his waist band and took it down the back of Honor’s shirt before he stepped aside, exposing Honor’s bare back to the Warrior Queen.

  Genesis watched the Warrior Queen lifted her arm above her head, drawing the whip up before she brought her arm down in a flash of movement. There was a loud crack of the whip. Honor’s body jerked as the whip made connect. A line of blood appeared. Honor kept quiet.

  “1,” The Warrior Queen stated. She repeated the motion again, “2.” Honor didn’t made a sound.

  Remus darted around Tina once they were outside, in the brilliant sunlight that was slowly dimming. Tina glanced up to see the sky was darkening with storm clouds on the horizon, but they were moving fast. She frowned as she entered the courtyard, eying them before she had to turn her attention back to the path ahead.

  The Courtyard was filled with the Ladies of the various houses belong to the Court, standing around in small groups. Remus didn’t let that stop him. He hurried between the groups and went toward a part of the castle grounds Tina had not a chance to explore, yet.

  She heard the crack of the whip. Her breath caught her throat. Her eyes widened. Her heart jumped into her throat. Her chest tightened. She bit her lower lip. She stopped in her tracks. She let out a breath. She knew it was anxiety. Her body thought it was about to be whipped again.

  ‘Focus on what is around you,’ Tina told herself, ‘what do you hear.’

  “I can’t believe Belladonna would issue that kind of order,” one of the ladies commented.

  “I know,” another said, “I know Genesis has been whipped before, but Tristan? I don’t think any of the Knights of the Round Table have been whipped before.”

  “Not as a Knight of the Round Table,” the first lady said.

  “I feel sorry for them,” a third lady voiced, “Belladonna, I have heard, is heavy handed.”

  Silence fell up on the court yard as another crack echoed. Tina forced herself to breath.

  “I hope she doesn’t kill them,” a fourth said, “Bartholomew’s family would be in great trouble if she managed to do that.”

  “Oh, yes, General Bartholomew’s family lives in the lower town,” the third lady said in a remembrance tone, “They are commoners.”

  “Yes, they are. They are only doing well off thanks to Bartholomew’s status as a General of the Camelot Military.”

  A third crack sounded. Tina’s heart jumped. She had to remain calm. She had to help Genesis and Tristan out.

  “I fear if General Genesis doesn’t come out of this alive,” a fifth woman spoke up, “The Ancient and Noble House of White Hall would leave the Kingdom of Camelot for good.”

  “Why do you think that?” a sixth asked.

  “Do you think it is strange that Lord Bardock’s wife has been missing for several years then returned without their eldest daughter? Not to mention, Lady Annja’s own mother vanished into thin air. Those two women were the most powerful women in the Kingdom besides the Queens. Rumor has it, Ladies Sakura, Nami, and Annja died a few years ago while they were searching for Little Valentina, all by the Death Mage Rowena’s hand.”

  The sixth lady gasped then asked, “Why would you say that when Lady Armstrong has arrived to represent Lady Nami?”

  “Because I have it on strong authority that Lady Armstrong isn’t who she says she is.”

  Tina paused and started to turn to the speaker, opening her eyes. How would this lady of the court know that? However, Rose’s voice rang out before Tina could confront the unknown lady.

  “Tina,” Rose ran up, breathing hard. “The Head Healer is sending up four healers, one for each of them.” Tina nodded, focusing on the mission at hand.

  “Go back to the Suit and wait for the Generals and Tristan to show up,” Tina ordered, “Help the Healers as they need it.” Rose nodded before she spun on her heel and quickly vanished out of sight.

  Tina spotted Remus standing near an archway, waiting. She reached down to her long skirt and picked it up, revealing her legs. She heard several women gasped nearly. She rolled her eyes and spirited over to her cousin. She didn’t know how the women in the middle ages ran anywhere with long skirts and tight tops. He waited long enough for her catch up then he went through the archway and she followed him.

  Remus led Tina down a darken hallway and she heard the cracks of the whip grow louder. Her eyes spotted the light at the far end of the dark hallway. Remus slowed to a stop at the end of the hallway, panting. Tina slowed to a stop, cursing the tightness of the dress. She panted through an open mouth. She reached out for her spirit energy and urged it to spread through her system, increasing the function of her organs. She glanced up at Remus then over her shoulder to see if the Paladins were behind her before she stepped out of the hallway.

  Men stood in a half circle with their backs to her, Remus, and the Paladins. They watched as one of the General slump in his restraints. Belladonna’s voice rang out, “15.” There was a pause before she went on, “Get him out of there.” Tina saw a couple of the guards move forward and freed the General from the whipping posts. They helped the General over to a bench where the General sat down. “Next.”

  Tina’s eyes darted over to see who was going to be next. The tallest general walked over to the whipping post, escorted by a pair of guards and restrained to the whipping post. Tina saw an slim arm reached up, a fist curled around the hilt of a whip before it flew down. The thunder like clap of the whip cut through Tina. She jerked in response. She took a shaky breath and steeled herself as she fought against the flashback of the Fawn Village.

  “1,” Belladonna announced then she repeated the motion. “2.”

  Tina sucked in a deep breath through her nose and focused on her personal mission. She hurried over to the general. She studied him as she approached.

  The General named Honor had black hair, hanging over his shoulders. He sat hunched over, staring at the training field. His face was smooth, but hard. His muscles were tensed as he watched the other General receive his punishment.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed another black haired man peeled from the group of men and tried to cut her off from approached the injured general. She opened her mouth to addressed the black haired man when he spoke first, “I know why you are here, Lady Armstrong. Lord Jacob already informed me.” She turned her head, giving him her full attention. “As General Honor’s Second, I think it would be best that we wait until the others are done as well. If I know anything about Honor, he is correctly named by his parents.” Tina raised an eyebrow at the second, silently asking a question. “He will want to wait until the others are done with the lashes before he will leave.”

  Tina blinked, her eyes sliding over to the General. He stared at the punishment unfolding in front of him with a pair of emotional eyes. His expression was set in a grim determination. She nodded as she took a step back. Her gaze settled back on to General Honor’s second, if she assumed correctly, and stated, “You have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but I don’t know who you are.”

  The Second sent her a grim smile, saying, “My deepest apologizes, my lady, I am Zack of House Longdale.”

  “I wish I could say it is good to meet you,” Tina glanced over Zack’s shoulder as the taller General jerked against his restraints, “But I do wish we had meet under different circumstances.”

  “I happen to agree with you,” Zack winced as another crack rang through the air. He spun on his heel when the General let out a cry of pain. Movement caught Tina’s attention. A man in military armor stepped forward, strolling by Zack. She watched Zack grabbed the man’s arm in a tight grip. “Auron, don’t. We will take care of them after the punishment.” Zack’s voice was loud enough to Tina to hear. Auron gave Zack a pained look and they had a silent conversation before he nodded. He walked over to General Honor and stood behind his right shoulder.

  “Let me guess, that is the Second of the Generals currently being punished,” Tina stated and Zack nodded. Tina let out an aggravated sigh. She cracked her neck and felt the motion pull at her back. She closed her eyes and focused on her back, sending her spirit energy there.

  Her back warmed and the wounds were still in the process of healing. She knew it would take a few more days before her back would be healed enough where she could head home without worry. Her spirit energy had been able to heal the deepest wounds to the point, they no longer pose the threat of revealing her spine and rib cage to the world, but it did allow them to fester. She needed to see an actual healer soon. She eyed Honor and shrugged. When the Generals and Tristan made it up to the White Hall family Suit, she would ask the healers to look at her back once they were done with the men.

  “Next!” Queen Belladonna snapped. Tina’s eyes snapped open as the two guards released the second General from his restraints and he stood tall, walking over to Honor and his second. He turned to the whipping post. Tina’s gaze went over to the next man to be whipped. It was either Genesis or Tristan.

  Genesis walked over to the whipping post like he was taking a simple walk across the training grounds. Tina didn’t know what to cause her to move forward, walking toward the red head general. Zack tried to stop her, but she slipped out of his reach.

  She felt the eyes of the Court Lords on her as she paused, close to her older brother and she opened her mouth, commenting, “Do you want me to take your..” Her eyes roamed over the duster Genesis wore, “petticoat?” An amused smirk pulled at her lips as she stared innocently at Genesis. A loud snort echoed through the training yard.

  “It’s called a Duster, Brat,” Genesis corrected her, narrowly his eyes. He pulled off the red duster. “Not a Petticoat.”

  “Same thing, old timer,” She waved her hand through the air while she took his coat, “Do you want me to take your shirt, too?”

  “Be careful, little cousin, someone might get the wrong idea.” He smirked at her narrowed eyed expression, “You might as well take the shirt,” Genesis stated, “I don’t have many shirts that I wear for work and I rather like this one.” He pulled it over his head and tossed it over Tina’s head.

  Tina snuffed at the shirt before she cried, “When the hell was this last wash?!” She pulled it off her head and settled a glare on Genesis. “It smells horrible!” she held it out to the side. She glanced up at Genesis and said, “Instead of calling you the Explosive General, they should be calling you the Smelly General!” That sent rounds of chuckles through the training yards. Genesis glared at her and she blinked, innocently at him.

  “Get out of here, you silly girl,” he stated, “This way I can get my punishment out of the way.”

  “Alright, alright,” Tina tossed Genesis’ shirt and duster over her right shoulder, trying to ignore of old BO. “I will leave you alone.” She started to turn away and spotted the Warrior Queen with a puzzled, furious expression. “This way you can take your punishment like a man.” She walked back toward Zack, the injured Generals, and Auron as she threw over her shoulder, pausing as Genesis was tied to the whipping post. “I know I took mine like one.”

  Eyes widening with comprehension, Genesis gasped then a growl told Tina that he knew what she had meant and the red head woman moved back to her group before Belladonna cut in, “About time you stop chatting like annoying love birds.” Then there was a crack, the sound of slapping flesh, and Belladonna drawled out, “1.”

  Anxiety danced in her midsection, Tina schooled her expression into a neutral one and she joined Zack and the other men. Reno, she noticed, joined them and whispered to her, “So, why did you do that?”

  “Motivation,” Tina stated, “I have found, personally, in the past, my anger can be turn to be a driving force when things got to difficult for me or helped push me forward.” She moved Genesis’ shirt and duster onto her arm before she crossed them over her chest, trying to ignore the crack of the whip. She heard a rumble of thunder. She tilted her head back, blinking as she took in the darkening gray sky.

  “He still doesn’t know,” Reno’s voice played along the side of her neck as he moved behind her.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Tina replied. She turned her head and glared at Reno, “I would prefer to keep that way for right now.”

  “He will find out, sweetheart,” He said, “He did earn his position for a reason.”

  “I figured,” she stated. She watched silently as the whip fell onto Genesis’ bare back the sentenced 15, tearing it to shreds. She started to move toward the whipping post when the whip fell again as Belladonna called out, “16.”

  Lightening darted across the sky as horror filled eyes settled onto the Warrior Queen, Tina saw the older woman sent her a smirk as the whip cracked the 17th lash. The red head woman uncrossed her arms, allowing Genesis’ shirt and duster fall to the dirt, as she stepped forward. Immediately, hands settled on her upper arms. She tried to jerk her arms out of their gasp.

  Eyes flashing with anger, she bared her teeth at the Warrior Queen as the 18th lash rang out. Tina rested her sight on the ones who were managing to hold her back. It was Zack and Reno. Surprise flashed through her. She didn’t think there would be anyone, in this kingdom, strong enough to hold her back from her acting. She mentally scolded herself. She had grown weak during the past 6 to 7 years. Never again, she swore to herself, never she would allow herself to become weak; never again. The 19th lash sounded and the skies let loose a down pour. It didn’t take long for clothes to become soak.

  Reno jerked on her right arm hard enough to Tina was forced to rebalanced herself, her back against his chest. She silently curse the heavy dress as the rain soak it. His arms caged her to him. His voice sounded inches away from her right ear, “Calm yourself, Valentina. Your brother will be alright.” She let out a low growl. Her eyes focused on the Warrior Queen. She felt the other presence within the Warrior Queen. It was trying to stay hidden. “Valentina. You hear me?”

  “Oh, I hear you just fine,” Tina’s voice held a growl as she spoke, “It’s the listening part I am having trouble with.” She expanded her spiritual powers and probed the other presence within Belladonna. It was a low level demon, apart of the precession class. It will be a simple thing to destroy that low level demon. The 20th lash echoed through the training yard. Thunder boomed loudly directly above the training yard. Tina felt the ground shook with the force of the sonic boom.

  “Then you might want to start listening, Valentina,” Reno growled, “If you continued to challenge Belladonna, right now, she is going to take it out on Genesis.” He panted. “He has been whipped before. He knows how to handle this.” Tina jerked at that. The urge to do something grew stronger. “Right now, you need to be calm.” Reno breathed against her neck, “You White Halls are a pain in the ass, you know, and I rather not have to face your father and tell him that both you and Genesis was bull headed enough to stand up against the Warrior Queen and get killed over it.”

  Tina blinked. Her father was still alive? She pulled back her awareness. She counted the next lash, silently, lightening danced along the black clouds. “Take a deep breath, Tina.” She did what she was told to do. “That’s good. Let it out, slowly.” Reno walked her though the process of controlling her anger. She turned her gaze to her brother, watching.

  The 22nd lash landed. Genesis threw his head back and a scream erupted from him. Tina sucked in a deep breath. Her hands flew down to her skirt, fingers becoming claws. Reno sucked in a pained breath, tightening his hold on her. Zack stepped into her sight. She blinked, seeing the dark material. She lend her forehead against his back.

  Thunder crashed. White lightening brightened the training yard. She bit her lower lip as her imagination saw the 23rd lash illuminated by the lightening flying through the air, striking Genesis’ back. Genesis’ cry of pain was drowned out by the crack of thunder. Her fingers started to claw at her skirt. There was 24th crack and a scream then 25th followed by a pained scream. Tina, mentally, stood a step back and watched with a detached, dull eyed expression, and tried to formulate a game plan. The storm raged above.

  “Last one,” Belladonna’s smug voice sounded, despite the sound of rain.

  Reno slowly let Tina go. She didn’t move. She just stood there with her forehead against Zack’s back. He glanced toward Zack who half turned and wrapped an arm around the woman, making sure she didn’t fall to the ground. He hurried across the muddy training field. He didn’t even need to glance over to see who was following him as footsteps hurried behind him. He knew it was Remus, one of Genesis’ cousins.

  By the time the two men reached the whipping post, the two guards already undid Genesis’ restraints. Genesis slumped down to his knees. His knees caused the mud to splash. His head bent forward with his chin resting on his chest.

  Reno knelt down one side while Remus did the same on the other. Reno picked up Genesis’ arm and ducked under it, placing his arm on Reno’s shoulders. Reno reached down and grabbed Genesis’ waistband. He glanced toward Tina. She had moved from Zack’s side and stood behind the bench, silently ordering Reno and Remus to make Genesis sit in front of her.

  “Ready, Reno?” Remus asked, “I think Tina is going to administer first aid when we get over there.”

  “Yeah,” Reno replied and they stood up, causing the red head general to do the same. They stumbled over to where Tina stood. Reno silently cursed as he tried to keep his footing, reaching the secret sister. “I think it’s best if we lay him down. He’s out.”

  “Shit,” Remus breathed.

  Reno and Remus turned Genesis around and made him lay down, his back facing upward. Rain pounded against his back, causing the blood streaming from the wounds to trail down his sides and onto the muddy ground. Tina muttered a curse as she crunched down to see how deep the lashes went.

  Reno watched as Tina’s eyes flashed brighten as lightened darted through the darken sky. Something akin to awe and horror settled in Reno’s stomach as he saw Tina’s expression hardened into fury. He felt the air sizzle and smelt the scent of ozone spread through the air.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Lightening was about to strike something. He heard the wind pick up. He glanced skyward to see the darken sky swirl in the distance. Lightening shot through the air, above the castle, revealing the swirling clouds reaching down to the ground. He muttered a curse. That was something they didn’t need. Granted it was the season for twisters, but it was something they really didn’t need to deal with at the moment.

  A sudden thought hit to Reno and he turned his attention to Tina as she glanced toward the whipping post where Tristan was tied up. His back was bare to the world and wet with rain. She flinched when the first lash cracked the air before the thunder boomed.

  Lending against the stone wall of hallway with an opening leading to the courtyard, Salazar frowned at the dark sky as the Court ladies hurried through the sudden downpour, complaining that they would have to change or else they would catch a cold. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew he was the only Lord that didn’t go to the Training Yard. He didn’t dare.

  He had to drag Princess Isabella with him. He had a hand curled around her wrist as she stood next to him. He didn’t trust her control over her blood lust during the punishment. He sensed the Battle Mage approaching. He ignored the other magical being as he studied the raging storm.

  It screamed pain, uncontrolled fury, and a desire to do something. He cursed under his breath. There was an untrained storm mage nearby and whatever they were experiencing, their emotions was fueling the storm, making it more powerful then a normal spring storm. This was not going to be good for this Kingdom.

  “Lord Salazar,” Merlin barked, his aura flaring brightly. He marched toward Salazar, crossing the distance within seconds. He opened his mouth to say something to him when the Vampire Lord turned and simply stated, “There is an untrained storm mage in the Castle.”

  Merlin stopped in mid stride. His blue eyes meet the Crimson orbs in a steady gaze before Merlin cursed softly under his breath.

  “Princess!” a guard cried out as he rounded a corner and came to a sliding stop a few feet in front of the trio, “We got a cyclone forming over the Sea and ones forming in the Southern, Eastern, and Northern fields.”

  Salazar’s eyebrows shot up. He silently appraised the untrained storm mage while at the same time, he cursed them. He, personally, was able to summon that many as well as create a magical hurricane. He did that once and he swear not to lose himself that emotional outburst again.

  He had almost destroyed couple Kingdoms, craving a path from shoreline to shoreline. He shook his head, refocusing on the task at hand. Whoever this storm mage was, they were powerful. The nearby widows shook from the sonic boom of the next thunder crack. Salazar winced as his earing faded to nothing.

  “What are your orders, Princess,” the guard asked, trying to hid the flinch he made, glancing toward the weather outside as Salazar read his lips.

  Isabella glanced at Salazar for a short heartbeat before she started issuing orders, “Get everyone to safety. Open up the Castle if it becomes necessary. I will handle any repercussions from the Queens, personally.”

  The guard nodded as relief flashed through his expression before he schooled it into a different expression. The guard turned and vanished, yelling about getting everyone down to the catacombs.

  “I will go to the Great Hall and start helping, getting everyone to the catacombs,” Isabella stated, “You two go find this storm mage before Camelot experiences more destruction.”

  “Here I thought I was the Master,” Salazar tried to joke as his hearing returned.

  “This is my territory, Lord Salazar,” Isabella gave him a level stare, “The Crescent Island is yours.” She winked at him before she vanished after the guard.

  Salazar turned to Merlin and explained, “The storm mage is experiencing something bad. Whoever it is, the storm is showing their pain, fury, and the need to do something.” The Battle Mage nodded in understanding as lightening flashed causing Salazar’s world to whitened before it faded back to normal. “And they are within the Castle boundaries, if the cyclones are anything to go by.” The Battle Mage raised his eyebrow. “The twisters are forming in the cardinal directions, meaning the storm mage is in the middle of them. We don’t have much time before they started to move toward each other and merge into a giant twister.”

  Merlin’s eyes widened with horror, and he simply said, “I will go find Morgana. I think this may take the three of us to overpower this storm mage before they accidentally destroy Camelot.”

  Salazar nodded, “I will start to track the mage down and see what I can do until you two can join me.” He didn’t say another word as he spun on his heel and darted through the castle hallways, heading to the main courtyard. He cursed silently under his breath as he tried not to harm the screaming citizens trying to reach the catacombs.

  When his patience finally snapped, he jumped. He reached up and grabbed the side of a stone wall before he started climbing upward. He would have a better vantage point if he got high enough to location the untrained storm mage. Mentally, going through the recent events, he figured whoever was controlling the storm had to be in the Training Field.

  Of course, he was assumed it was a Lord of high standing. He didn’t spot any of the Court Ladies rushing to join their male counterparts on the field to watch the punishment being handed out. Once he got high enough, he peered at the training field. Sir Tristan was tied up at the whipping post. The Generals were off to one side. The mysterious Lady Armstrong knelt beside General Genesis who lay face down on a wooden bench, her attention darted between the unconscious general and the Knight tied up at the whipping posts.

  The sky lit up as lightening darted through the sky. Salazar frowned as he sensed the magic within the storm. It was different from a typical magical flow from the user to a storm. The magic was familiar to his own storm-bringer powers. His eyes widened. He cursed.

  There wasn’t an untrained storm mage…there was an untrained storm-bringer somewhere on the training field. That knowledge made the situation ten times worst. He sensed it and ducked down, against the rooftop of the castle before the lightening hurled across the sky.

  Back on the training field, Tina knew the lashes went deep, but once Genesis sat in front of her, she had spotted the white flash of bone. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, as fury she never experience rose to the surface.

  Thunder cracked harshly above that she felt it, deep in her chest, vibrating her bones. Lightening caused the world to brightened to white then faded away. Rain trailed down her face, dripping off her chin and onto Genesis’ wounded back. She hoped the rain would help clean the wounds.

  She barely heard the crack of the whip over the rumbling thunder and she glanced toward the whipping post, peering through the harsh downpour to see Tristan standing between the posts, arms stretched out, tied to the posts. His shirt was gone, revealing a bare back with one line of blood.

  Her mind traveled back to the Seasonal Throne Room, hearing the faint voices commenting on Tristan being whipped as well. This was the first time a Knight of the Round Table was put in this position. She took a shaky breath and summoned her spiritual powers, trying to remember what her aunt taught her about healing wounds with her spiritual power.

  She knew it could be done, but since she hadn’t used her powers in several years, she didn’t know if she could do it. She spotted the flash of white bone when Genesis moved slightly and she saw a red haze at the edges of her vision. Her right hand felt warm, glowing a soft green instead of the usual blue of her spiritual energy or the bright pink of her purifying powers. She moved her hand close to the deepest lash where Genesis’ spine played pee-a-boo with her vision.

  She ignored how the rain felt borderline needles, hitting her expose skin, pounding down upon the training grounds. She knew she didn’t need to heal the deepest wound all the way, just enough where his spine would be protected. Her other hand cupped Genesis’ left shoulder, holding him up.

  Tina felt a hand land on her shoulder. She turned her head, indicating she was listening, but she kept her gaze upon Genesis’ back. The rain washed away the blood, allowing Tina to see the extensive damage. She growled. Her throat vibrated with the noise. Her eyes darted up to the Warrior Queen.

  Thunder rumbled as if calling out a warning. The Warrior Queen brought up her arm up, swung the whip through the air then a flash of lightening darted down. The lightening bolt connected with the whip. Sparks danced along the whip, heading down to the Queen who didn’t notice it. The sparks exploded as another bolt of lightening connected with the whip again.

  This time, the whip didn’t spark. It exploded as the Warrior Queen was thrown backwards into the crowd of Lords and the rest of the Ruling Family. Tina’s eyes widened in surprise as the crowd cried out in shock. The rain slowed to a sprinkle as some of the Lords, on the edges of the crowd rushed around helping the Queens to their feet and making sure they were alright.

  The High Queen stepped forward and called out, “This punishment is over and I will consider it to be fulfilled.”

  Reno’s voice rang in her right ear, “It’s over.”

  She frowned and looked up at the whipping post. The guards were in the process of untying Tristan from the whipping posts. Between the movements, Tina was able to count 5 lines of blood. She shot Reno a questioning look.

  “Small miracles,” she muttered back before she tilted her head back, looking up at the blackish green clouds, hearing the howling wind, feeling the thunder in her bones, and losing her vision with the blinding lightening.

  Standing in the mother nature’s fury did nothing for her own fury. She took a shaky breath as the rain started to its fury. She turned to Reno, “Let’s get the men up to the White Hall Wing and get them dried off.” He nodded. Tina waited until Reno and Remus was ready to help Genesis to the family wing before she let his shoulder go.

  Inside the castle, Tina hurried through the hallways, making sure the doors open and stayed that way until the group past through them. The Tallest General lend against Auron and one of the Paladins. Honor managed to walk on his own, but Zack and another paladin hover nearby. Tristan followed them, walking between Jacob and another Paladin.

  She glanced at Genesis. He didn’t look well. He didn’t have color in his face and his eyes were unfocused on the carpet. Reno and Remus held him up. A sharp guilt rushed through her as she reflected back to what happened. She felt her spiritual powers rose and danced through her veins.

  Lightening flashed through the window as the thunder boomed. She picked up her pace, lengthen her stride as she spotted the familiar halls of the White Hall Wing. She hoisted her long, wet, skirt over her knees and broke out into a run. She burst through the House door and stared at the empty room.

  She growled. She thought the healers would be here, waiting with Rosemary. Apparently, something had happened. She took a deep breath as she tried to control her fury. She stepped aside, allowing the men to enter. She would just roll with the punches.

  Tristan followed by his paladin escorts paused by her, just inside the door way. He looked at her. She blinked at him. He reached to a sheath along his waistline and pulled a knife out. He raised a hand. Keeping his fingers curled, he used his index finger in a circle motion.

  She turned around and immediately felt the torso of the dress loosen. She shot him a smirk over her shoulder as she reached up to the collar. With both hands, she tore the dress away from her upper torso and pushed it down her body. The dress, once past her hips, fell to the floor with a wet thump. She stepped out of it, wearing a thin slip that suck to her form.

  Smirking in amusement at the shocked faces of the men, she hurried to Genesis’ room. Reno let out a low whistle as she brushed past him. Remus just stopped in her path, gapping at her. She glared at him and asked, “Are you going to stand there like an idiot or are you going the hell out of my way?”

  Remus didn’t reply, but he did step out of her way. She ignored him as she approached the nightstand. The stand had a bowl of steaming water with several vials of various liquids and a jar of something moving. She dismissed the jaw, immediately.

  She had hoped the healers would be better in the medical field then using whatever was in that jar. Apparently not. She took a deep breath and grabbed a nearby dry washcloth and dipped in it into the water. She ringed it out and put a knee on the bed, next to Genesis.

  She bent over him and started to clean his back better. She tried to be gentle as she could, but she knew there was a possibility that she couldn’t be while she tendered to his back. She glanced toward the open doorway to see that the paladins were tendering to the two generals and Tristan.

  Genesis let out a pained moan after several minutes. She waited to see if that was unconscious reaction to what she was doing or not. Genesis turned his head, facing her. She started to speak in a low voice, “Hey, there, -” the word brother wanted to slip out, but she forced herself to say the term she had been using, “Cousin.” She saw he opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off, “Save your strength for later.” She turned away and rinsed out the washcloth, before she continued cleaning his back, “We are in the Family Suit. You are in your room while your buddies are in the common area with Reno and Remus and some help I managed to get from the Lord Paladin. He was gracious enough to allow me to barrow four of his paladins.”

  A knock on the open door. Tina looked up to see Tristan standing in the doorway. He held up an outfit she knew she had pack in her travel bag. She allowed a grateful smile to cross her face. “So, you went snooping through my room, Sir Tristan?”

  “And here I thought you were appreciate dry clothes, Lady Tina. If you want to continue to appear so poorly dress, I’m sure the other won’t mind, but your cousins will prefer you to be properly dressed,” Tristan commented. His voice didn’t hold any notion of teasing, but his expression did.

  “Now, now, Tristan,” Tina scolded, lightly, “You act like you haven’t seen me in less.” She winked at him. Remus could be heard choking on something in the other room. Genesis stiffened under Tina’s touch. “When Tristan and I ran into each other, I covered head to toe with mud, Genesis,” she explained, “He took me to a nearby lake where I took a bath while he watched for danger. Oh, I am wearing a slip.”

  Tristan snorted, but he didn’t say anything to correct her, simply saying, “That is one way to put it.”

  “You can put those clothes on that chair,” Tina pointed at the chair sitting behind a desk close to the door, “I will put those on when I’m done here.” He moved toward the desk. “So, what does these vials contain?”

  “You can’t read?” Tristan asked, in surprise.

  “I can read just fine,” Tina snapped back with a glare, “Whatever these letters are, I can’t read them to understand what they do.”

  Tristan walked over to the nightstand and picked up the jar of moving things, “Leeches.”

  Tina scoffed, “You can get rid of those. I refuse to put those things anyone under my care.” She glanced to the open door, and raised her voice, “If I find any leeches on the Generals, somebody will be in trouble. Leeches won’t help them. In fact, they will actually put their lives in danger. You listening to me?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the men sitting in the common area sounded. Tina raised an eyebrow. She probably should walk out there and see for herself if one of them had leeches on the Generals. She let out a breath. Tristan chuckled.

  “This vial?” She redirected Tristan to the topic at hand.

  “This vial,” Tristan picked one up and held it out, “is…”

  “Lady Morgana!” Jacob’s voice rang out. Surprise laced his voice.

  “Where is General Genesis?” a soft feminine voice sounded. Tina glanced toward Tristan. He looked shock. He blinked. “Alright.” The voice sounded and Tina turned to view the doorway. A woman moved into the doorway.

  Tina recognized her from the Seasonal Throne Room. She had been sitting on the far left side of the room, between the Lord Paladin and that powerful presence. Tina immediately sensed how powerful this woman was. She had overlook the woman in the Seasonal Throne Room due to the more powerful presence, but, now, Tina was glad she was able to sense her.

  The other woman was like a snake hiding in the grass, waiting for the opportunity to strike - powerful, but hiding it. Tina mused, silently, the other woman had to be close to upper A class to low S class. She was out of Tina’s ability to fight without the option of dying.

  “Sir Tristan,” the woman greeted the Knight before she turned her attention to Tina, “And you are Lady Armstrong, correct?”

  Tina moved from Genesis’ side, reaching over to the blood stained water and rinsed out the washcloth again before she turned to the woman. She answered, “Yes, I am.” She glanced at the other woman, wondering why she was here, “You are who, again?”

  “Lady Morgana,” the woman introduced herself, “The Black Mage of Camelot.”

  “A pleasure, I’m sure,” Tina said, coolly. “May I ask why you are here, Lady Mage?”

  “To help, Lady Armstrong,” Morgana answered. She reached into a pouch at her waist and pulled out a vial of clear liquid. She held it up, walking toward the bed.

  Tina raised an eyebrow, silently asking the question of what the hell is that. Morgana smiled at her, stating, “This is Phoenix Tears.” Tina’s jaw dropped as her eyes widened. She knew what the mythical proprieties of phoenix tears. Phoenix Tears was rumored to have the strongest healing proprieties, according to the legend, able to heal a simple wound to combat the strongest poison in the world, but Phoenix Tears couldn’t be artificially produced.

  “How did you come by these tears,” Tina questioned as she held out a hand for the vial.

  Morgana placed in her hand, explaining, “Merlin has kept a phoenix as a familiar for the last couple hundred years. Right now, Artie is flying around the world.” Tina’s eyes darted over to Morgana, amusement dancing in her expression as she heard the name Artie. She held it up to eye level. Her eyes watched the vial as the liquid moved in the closed vial, revealing an eyedropper. The top of the vial felt rubbery like the eye droppers back home. She put some pressure on the rubbery part of top and watched as the liquid moved down slightly.

  “Is it safe to assume I am allow to use this?” Tina waved the vial of phoenix tears in the air between Morgana and herself.

  Morgana smiled at her, “One drop in each wound will allow it heal enough for these gentlemen to perform their duty tomorrow, but it won’t give Belladonna any suspicion to a miraculous healing through the Magical Healing Arts.” Tina nodded in understanding and she undid the cap and pulled out a eyedropper from with in the vial.

  The red head woman squeezed the topper, allowing the excess air to escape before she placed the tip of the dropper in the liquid, sucking up the tears. She tapped the dropper against the lip of the vial. She didn’t want to waste any of the precious liquid. She bend over Genesis and brought the dropper close to the deepest of Genesis’ wounds before she squeezed the dropper top and allowed a drop to fall into the wound.

  Genesis tensed up, taking a hissing breath. Tina drew back sharply. Steam rose from the deepest wound on Genesis’ back. Tina watched with wonder as the muscle pulled itself together, melting back into one piece. However, Tina noticed the muscle didn’t knit itself back together all the way. She glanced up, asking, “How are you feeling, Genesis?”

  “Better,” his voice was guttural and strained. Tina frowned, thinking about his screaming. No doubt that cause some straining on his vocal cords. She placed a drop of Phoenix Tears in each of his wounds, watching as they healed up enough where it won’t cause him short term problems.

  He will have to heal the rest the slow, natural way. She moved away from him, closing the vial and setting it on the nightstand. She spotted the roll of lien and grabbed it. He struggled to sit up. He tossed his legs over the side of the bed. He glanced at her before he asked, “Are you going to wrap the wounds?”

  “Yeah,” Tina started to unroll the lien and wait until Genesis got comfortable before she lend into him and wrapped the lien around his lower abdomen, tying a small knot where the end of the lien to the strip before she started to wrapped it around his torso, slowly moving up.

  When she ran out of the lien, Tristan handed her the next roll. She tied the two ends together before she continued. She glanced up to see Morgana was gone and her voice could be heard drifting from the common room, talking in soft tones that Tina couldn’t make out.

  “You have done this before,” Genesis noted.

  “Had to,” Tina stated, “I was a apart of a tournament team that didn’t have a traditional healer so I had to learn on the fly with the help of another teammate. He had his arms broken in a fight and I was the only one who had a delicate hand.” She smirked slightly. “The rest of the team didn’t have delicate touch so they immediately voted me to do the job.” She remembered that conversation with flicker of amusement.

  “You miss them,” the general said, “What happened?”

  “I allowed my…” Tina paused, searching for the correct word. She knew there was a chance he or Tristan didn’t understand the term ‘boyfriend’. She settled on what she hoped to be an universal term, “Lover to pull me away from them. I know they would have argued if they didn’t live in a different kingdom,” Country was the proper term for where they lived at, she mused, “and didn’t know what was going on until it was too late…when I stopped talking to them, entirely.” She paused, thinking of a way to explain it, “My lover didn’t like the fact I was a part of the fighting portion of the team and I didn’t want him to worry about my safety so I eventually stopped fighting, even though I was a skilled long range fighter.”

  “That’s why you carry a bow,” Tristan mused, “Why did you have a rapier?”

  Tina blinked, feeling a rush of surprise. So, this weird version of Camelot had the knowledge of a rapier? She briefly wondered what other differences she could discover before she left the Kingdom. She pushed those thoughts aside and commented, “One of my escorts claimed that it will prove who I am, saying it was a heirloom of some kind.”

  “Escort?” Genesis questioned.

  “Well, more like my kidnappers,” She shrugged, “What happened is in the past and I hope I never have to come across them again.” She tied the end of the lien strip to a strip that wrapped around Genesis’ chest. She took a step back and looked at her work. It was not the best, but it would have to do. “Stand up, please.” Genesis did. “Turn around.” When Genesis turned his back to her, she was relieved to see the bandages did cover the highest lash marks. “Alright. You are taken care of.” Tina glanced toward the night stand and saw the vial of Phoenix Tears wasn’t there anymore. She frowned.

  “Lady Morgana took the vial,” Tristan commented. Tina nodded.

  Tristan stepped out of the room, leaving Tina talking with her brother and approached Lady Morgana. He stopped in front of her and asked, “May I barrow some of the Phoenix tears for Lady Armstrong?” The she-mage blinked in surprise. The knight explained, “She was the woman who I had talked about in Court today. She was in the Fawn Village with me and was lashed for not being aware of a major geographic meaning for the Fawn Village.”

  “Oh my,” Morgana breathed. Her eyes widened. “Why didn’t you inform Belladonna of her presence in Camelot already? You could have avoid that punishment.”

  “I know I could have,” Tristan admitted, “But…Tina has been through enough already.” Morgana raised her eyebrow. He felt like he had to go on, like Morgana was his mother demanding an explanation for something he did wrong. “She was kidnapped from her home on someone’s orders and wants to get back home to her mother’s family.”

  She hummed. A glint in her eyes made Tristan that she knew he didn’t tell her the entire story that he knew, “I will personally tend to her.” The woman brushed by Tristan and vanished into Genesis’ room.

  Tristan glanced toward the nearby window and frowned. The storm hadn’t let up, though the fury seemed to run its course. The wind had stopped its howling and there was no worry of large balls of ice balls hitting him while he walked in the open. He left the White Hall Wing, heading to his quarters in the Knights’ Tower. He wanted to get out his wet clothes as much as the next person did. He also needed to see the Knights’ healer for his own back. He knew he was lucky that he didn’t receive more lashes before that lightening strike hit Belladonna.

  Signing, Tina followed Morgana into the Armstrong Suit after the mage had explained what she wanted to do and how she came across the information. The red head wanted to struggle Tristan. She carried her wet dress in one hand and held her dry clothes in the other.

  She entered her bedroom and tossed her wet dress aside. She walked toward the closet and disappeared inside to change. She couldn’t believe how the day turned out - attending Court for the first time with royalty, witnessed the cruel punishment for not obeying chain of command or bringing back a person with important information - and there was still supper then the evening mass. She sighed.

  She quickly changed out of the wet slip and slipped on her dry clothes for her lower half. She held the shirt Tristan managed to grab from her bag. Apparently, the laundry people in Camelot were fast when it came to doing laundry. She stepped out of the closet and blinked in surprise, hearing Rosemary’s voice.

  “I can’t believe there is a Storm Mage in Camelot,” she was saying, “An untrained one at that.”

  Tina frowned. Storm Mage?

  “No, not a storm mage,” Morgana said, “A Stormbringer.”

  “What’s the difference between a storm mage and a stormbringer?” Tina asked as she walked across the room, heading to the bed.

  “Tina!” Rosemary twisted to face her, causing her long skirts to flare out. “I am so sorry, cousin. The healers and I were waiting in the Main Family Suit when we heard the alarm for us to get to the catacombs.”

  “Why did you have to go to the catacombs,” Tina questioned as she reached the bed.

  “That storm spawned four twisters,” Rosemary explained, “Princess Isabella wanted us to take precautions and get to the catacombs in case the worst should happen.”

  Tina snorted in amusement, “And they left us out in the weather. They didn’t end the punishment until a lightening bolt streak Belladonna.” She reached the bed and jumped before she belly flopped onto the bed. She winced as she hit the bed.

  The middle age version of the beds weren’t the softest. It felt like the bed was made of hay. Maybe it was made from feathers. She didn’t know which, but it was nothing like her bed at back home. Rosemary gasped. “Yes, I was lashed. No, I don’t what to talk about it.” Tina stated, “Anyway, getting back to the topic of difference between a storm mage and a stormbringer.”

  Tina sensed Morgana moved toward her and settled down on the bed, next to the red head and explained, “A storm mage is a mage that has learn the basic elements of a storm - water and air - through study. A stormbringer is a mage who has the natural ability to summon storms by simply using their emotions. Lord Salazar of the Crescent Island is a Stormbringer.” There was a pause and Morgana addressed Tine directly, “When was the last time you were able to wash these wounds?”

  “A couple days ago,” Tina answered, honestly, “A friend was able to help me out, cleaning them. I haven’t had the chance to get the lashes attend to, again, yet.”

  “One of the wounds has become inflamed,” Morgana said, “I’m going to have to pull off the scab before I placed the Phoenix tears into the wounds.”

  “Okay,” Tina said. Her fingers flexed into the blanket and prepared for the pain. “Are there different types of magi?”

  “Yes,” Morgana started, but a knock rang out. Tina saw Rosemary move across the room and disappeared into the main Armstrong common room. Her voice drifted through the open door, but Tina couldn’t make out what was being said. It didn’t long for Rosemary to return with a surprise look on her face.

  “Lady Morgana,” Tina’s cousin spoke formally, “Your presence is requested in Queen Belladonna’s chambers.”

  Tina felt the bed jerk as Morgana straightened before she said, “Oh?” there was a pause then she addressed Tina, “This is going to hurt, sweetheart.” Morgana waved her hand over Tina’s back.

  Tina’s mouth opened as a sharp scream echoed in the bedchamber followed by, “Son of a fucking, whoring bitch!”

  Rosemary let out a gasp as her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. Morgana snorted in amusement then she commented, “You are going to be a delight to have at court, Lady Armstrong,” as she put a two drops of Phoenix Tears in Tina’s wounds.

  Tina heard a hissing sound from her back as she let out a whistle, reflexing her back. The Phoenix Tears didn’t hurt, but it was uncomfortable to feel the muscle meld themselves back together followed by an itching sensation. She tempted to jump from the bed and put her back against a corner and rubbed it until the itching was gone. Thankfully, it didn’t last long and Morgana announced cheerily, “There you go. I’m all done here.” Morgana moved from the bed.

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