It were short recovery in terms of the wounds and near death expreince. Not much could be done with punishment to someone higher the ranking then myself. There was a sort of ignorance of what really happened and what was said to happen. That I was injured due to walking without aid of a god and divine punishment was imposed over me. I taken blame for things that to them went wrong during our excursions. I were not to play any fuss to any word against me, a reputation to being a servant of the inner upper Palace is to be upheld.
I was forced to getting back to the swing of jobs that has to be carried as a member of the servants. That of constant keeping of clothing, bed sheets and curtains. The many rooms needing stocking or organizing. Rooms changing purpose constantly in the lower public areas and attending to the constant clean hygiene practice. Always on the move and no taking breaks often.
I often specialised in looking after the supernatural and mythical residents of the Palace. I took care of the fey village in the courtyard. The many rooms of hidden passages to other worlds. Spirt visitors were dealt with my supervisor - demons, clothus, damned and anything else deeming not human.
Before long it been holidays that pass by a blink. Children members going up to become speakers of the public debate downstairs. Faces of old servants disappear with passing retirement plans and training new servants in the basics.
The only constant of faces among servant types is the personal hand duties to a master. Like the head of bulter and stewards is the kings personal hand. Like the queens hand maid whom teaches the ladys of the court or the maids. I have been a regular for such time... but always were I only directed to anyone if they had enquiries of the spirits of the house or the location of other world gates within the hidden upstairs rooms.
Things were stable as it could have been. Mark playing schemes, ink watching from the shadows in wait for something to fix and the good health of royal monarchy as always. More children between the king and queen... no heir to the throne has lived past the age of official adult. It were a covered up problem that I haven't paid much attention to, why would I when I knew the causes. I were down graded so much that no one would ask me anyways. Assumed as a low ranking. I have been shown and taught the skill of looking after someone as a personal servant, just never hired as one.
"James." I finished tucking in the bed sheets of a private guest room, I stood straight with bowing centred on the listen to the sudden voice. I straighten up with noticing the gesture of a hand... It were Sean, "I trust you to deliver a message to the mask freak... I do not want to interact with Mark. But it is important and it has to do with the soul tome." I bow a nod in understanding. He asks for my hand. I gave it trusting the blade. I knew without doubt this is Sean. The one whom belongs to this cloth I coexist to, "You need to give this mark to him." Slaps it on with no problem. It was on eatheral paper, mocking skin and tattoo. He left without goodbye. I guess most grim reaper are like that.
I leave the guest bedroom, the basket of bed sheets balance on hip with hold by one hand. My other closing the door. I take pause of waiting to walk away, taking notice of things and people. I drop off the laundry to the area and took a stairs up level.
I knew where exactly to find Mark, doing another organ experiment on a convicted criminal, testing magic and science methods together. I easily from there knew that Ink hung on the wall in sleep mode, a little jumpy in my placing of the mark Sean told me to give. The goo mass reforming to inspect this eatheral paper tattoo mark. The long while of staring blankly and processing. I bow at leave and be caught by Mark into some sort of opinion of something.
"Does the left eye of this guy look infected?" Dragged me at the callor right over the subject. I don't have any moment to say anything with how forced ink was with stealing Mark's body.
Putting me down from the callor and lowering with having a better look into me. I were really unsure what got into him, but that sheening murky vaper that hung. Ink looks like Mark was drapped in veil material. It how I know whom is speaking if it were title or host.
"Never mind answering that previous question. I wish to know more about you." I frown lightly in almost finding it hurtful the title forgotten me, "When you were murdered with the slayer dagger."
I knew now... I had still suffering from the posion. My own body confused and changing in areas, my skin had dulled. Anyone whom only met me once would be considered for any sort of cancer cause to my appearance. Sunken flesh area, and nearly just rotting in some stomach areas. I endured because I can, silent.
"Fragement like you is so small... so hard to be heard." The tut of Mark not happy about caring for me underneath inks concern.
"It means little for now. I wish not to disturb anything." I dismiss the conversation, "Some fragements handle the poisoning well and others have had to come together in larger clumps."
The split understanding from mask to host was interesting. Given how Mark frowns and the mask peers about every inch of my reactions. I do often feel exhausted and that I took precautions of Oath hunter remedies. I spend a lot of time gathering energy near other world gates. I am aware of how poisoning it was to over do it with such magic practice, hoping it helps counter the poisoning from the dagger.
"You are a good soul, patient one." He scruffs my head and stands in stuck pose a long time. Clearly something that Mark didn't know was being flexed about between them. That set of changing reactions, concluding in him looking in eye level with me. I pout with not really sure why he does this.
"Why have I totally ignored that you look like him?" I tilt more confused, "Your a near spitting image of my brother."
"Ah... its not wildly known even among the palace staff. I am not the Queens son." There is long stare about that from him, "I wasn't even the eldest son of your brother... Yet... I guess I make the oldest living. Just barely." I freak a little in being hugged. I pat gently at the return, "I have known since I came here. I would believe that father knows but forgets. The queen knows but she accepts I have been of use then to be sent away. I have letters from what happened to my eldest brother. My eldest sister was married and her husband sits in the voters lounge. They aren't able to conceive... its a complicated from a accident that happened to her." I hold my own wounds, "I know I can't. I remember the first time I have been wounded like this before."
"No... thats not what I had meant at all in asking. Yet its interesting to learn about." He posed my head to the side and then the other, "What exactly happened to your mother?" I got him off me with that sort of question. I study the expression with that I sigh in a gentle nod. Taking her ashes from storage, holder her close. I sense a distaste of some over whisper of myself having broken something without meaning to. The long pause of them sorting it out and a sooth of putting her away again.
"I am sorry."
"Is there anything else?" The prolong stare of listening into me, it could be a little unnerving. I know full well that he has the ability to listen into soul desires. Even a soul at size of dust could be detectable by someone like Ink. Its a wonder of what Mark detects of me too.
"You're a good kid. You never have let the world change that. I am thankful of your trust in us." Scruffing my hair, "I would only do something that drastic if it were necessary." He took off a necklace and removes a charm from the thread. A little flick of magic and a new necklace is added around me, "Proof that your trust isn't meaningless." He let's me see it better, "Do not loss this... I know you will one day and it will not be your fault. But keep it close to you." A strange flake of stone or scale of a creature. It isn't twilight's for sure. I tuck the stone away, "Now... I going to be expecting some dreamers soon... you know how to deal with them."
"yes sir." I go to bow and he makes me not. Just that I could go. I look to the convict at the strapped chair, seeing the fella was already dead and in taking note of things. I leave for sure in not saying a word that the corpse was still... active. A visitor whom stolen the corpse for something.
I layer a scarf of my own damned powers around my neck, letting my formation of my mask set at the side of my head. I knew that the darkness that I carry at my back was heavy and a burden of sorrows. There was many clumps of spirit connected to me, all that felt the illness and weakening of poison. Even the fear whisper was clung around my shadow, giving me extra limb reach for shelving I wouldn't be able to access yet.
I had mostly struggled with reorganization of the private royal library collection. Big books that the king or queen sends down with magic and leaves down when they were finished. A lot of trusted servants are not allow to read the titles of most books, let alone the royal blood required to enter past the golem guards.
Presently I ease in getting back to chores with the finish off laundry and at task of my eyes open for the dream walkers Mark and Ink were on about.
"Servant Crafter!" I hung the last sheet of cloth in cringing to the announcer of the house shouting.
A artifact of magic that sends messages to whomever in the building its located in. It even in this location includes the cathedral grounds and graveyard. Most whom are new to the object, shout through it like it were a megaphone. It more like a ear piece or a phone in term of delivery of hearing the call out. The rule is with such use would meant you find them at the down stairs waiting room. I cast magic in repair of my own clothing and hair style. Shadow slide from one shadowed area to the other side of the building. Quick to enter and pose. My automated tone of greeting and host skill.
"Very talented." A stopwatch was stopped, "What was your last task?" They are reviewing my abilities as a servant.
"19 from the schedule was complete at sun rise. I dealt with the back log of chores that new staff were slow in while advising them in a easier and faster process. I finished a request for both Her Majesty Queen and lord Mark." I take a moment in with standing exact as I should, my eyes not needing to wonder around with inspecting the room. I let my own shadow do the most noticeable things that bothers me about the room and the more hidden things even the experts forget or struggle, "I can't not clarify what my last task was. I must respect the royals wishes of their home." A ink pot was nearly dropped and I kneel I catching it. I stand with it placed back and stood still with waiting for further questions.
"James Crafter... I am looking for something that went missing." I see a noble turns from the window, it is my sister's husband.
"Yes, I heard about it. I have heard how upset things have been for such a item to be lost." He narrows in anger, "You are after all my sisters husband. She was quite right about your wise chooses of the court. I say, I am grateful that you took her hand... and I am sorry. She has informed... I would rather both be in happiness." That temper is replaced with confusion, "My full name was never written. I choose it so." I waved a pen to ink itself and write it out... that he held the paper with stare. The second he looks away, the paper it turned to ashes, "I am the youngest of the false lines and the one whom is cursed most with my name sharing with the others of my blood." The notes written by the other strangers of the room, "MAC agents, don't use my words seriously. I don't seek any fame or political stands. I play no coins or bets whom takes over the top seat. I am not whom it will be." The foreign clothing they wear unbelted and with the removal of a gun or tazer.
"Mail." I am offered by a imp whom scared them.
"This isn't a contract. Simply payment of mail delivery." I flick a hell coin and took my mail. It dives with catching. It sent home by shadow. I peer about the fancy seal and tuck it away. The gun put away, "Where were we?" I take pause and look to the one assessing me, "You spelt this word wrong." I point it out to them and soft with instruction of how correctly to spell, "It were a weak imp, not any sort of named demon in disguise. If it were named, I would have done so much more to them." She makes that correction, "My age... is 14." My last pose in correction, "I expect a clean copy for the king and queen. I will do all the spell checks for you but they need to be neater to read."
"What is you grade level?" The agent asks.
"Certificate of Teaching grades 11 through 1. Its the lowest qualification. If you wish to know subjects, I struggle with history... any history. I can give detail but never organise the events in order correctly." I lean in helping that be written. The assessor thankful but annoyed a younger servant is better at the job of filling forms out.
"Back to the main topic I came here for. You know what I am looking for and it would mean a lot to find it." I nod gently with standing straight again.
"I have several ideas of where it may have gone... so please give me a moment." I hover a hand to the wall behind me and focus with what my shadow can reach to find. A shorter scare later and I felt the soft cloth to hand. I brought it out... inspecting it. I cast magic in mending it and cleaning it. With it being brand new looking. I folded with care and pass it to him. He sigh in relief of it returned.
"Thank you." He doesn't question the methods as it were a magic casting. The cost of spell casting being visible to my face. My effort not wasted. He isn't at all mad at all with me, knowing this was some form of way taken from the bullies that fail to hurt his wife.
"Do not blame yourself for what happened to her. She is happier at your side then you would ever realize. Without you she would still be a nun, friendless and alone. Still making prayers to gods whom will not hear her pleads." He blinks at me, "Yet she ever so faithful to her life with you and her faith of trust in the gods. Your doing the right thing." He seemed hit hard in his gut, "If it means you bring a child home to make her smile... she not going to be mad. A little angry for not telling her." He is pale.
"James, your..." I am aware of the blood in my mouth. Still I pat him and step around to minor things. Things I wished stored before I leave. I collected some filthy and broken things... a tray from storage to balance it all. I mop up some mess and take bow to leave. I stop with putting the tray to storage and opening the door for someone on the other side. I bow as everyone else stood in bow of the queen. She is quick with having them stand. She sits and then everyone else does.
"James, allow the other three in." I nod with stepping out. I pose at letting them know. These ladies quick to whispering excuses at me. I don't even let them try, stood any direction of leave by shadow clones. They funnel in, bow at the queen and then the gasp of the noble husband. They nattered in saying something of a guess about it all in ignoring the scarf. They didn't even recognize it with how clean it is. They were babbling a long while of other nonsense. The queen silenced them.
"My wife can't bare children. Its not even her fault." He speaks angery but not all out.
"I watched you take it from her, I had even said something to you about doing such a deed in the eyes of gods." The queen continues, "You assumed me for some other nun... forgetful that nobility or royalty has no treatment as unfairly or grantedly as the common." She gestures and I act to it, a glass drink of holy water. Pure and crystal perfect, "hover you right hand over this glass... and tell me that I am right."
The most silent and nerves goes first. It does not change the purity of the water.
"Why did you do it?"
"I said that it was only to be a small prank. Not to take it to far and with a item that could be replacable. I were envious of why a common woman had a hand with a noble man. I, myself, Laughed at it... thinking little of how serious it turned to be."
"Are you satisfied with the outcome?" I asked with breaking the integration.
"No... I wish it were worse." She didn't lie.
"Angery that someone lower took away a potential climb of the social ladder. You kept things harmless?"
"No. I ordered some little rats to bother her." It were a lie.
"No you had not." I make up a new glasss for the next lady to use, "What was their name?" this lass narrows at me... her hand enough had altered the colour. She moves away at shock of it. She refuses to speak.
"She ran away so it would..." I poured the last of the flask over the last, to reveal what I actually see.
"You like very lovely in pink lace. It matches the colour of you blood when I..." I stop there and move back. I sense another self helping my sister back together... giving her faith again. I removed a feather from my pocket... tucking it to the scarf he was holding. Not many could tell I did that... holy feathers are hard to see or touch.
"Which gods sent you, hidden solider?" The cover blown of the summoned demon. I looked to how my brother in law could see the feather I placed. I give a smile... for it only covered with a mask.
"I sentence the both of you to community servicing within the nunnery for 2 weeks. Stripped of all values during the time. You will be joining myself and others in the time." They look to the last one... that I did something to. That she was laid to a different seat and looked after. I do a glass test to be sure that the human is innocent and it be the demon sent away.
"Send these two home with word about my order." I bow and have it sorted right away. I don't need to leave the room. The more suited to the job of getting these ladies home with written documents of the queens order. Heard bickering to each other on leaving just far enough away from the queens hearing. They sneer at my sister being guided to the room. She enters in bow with the queen and in almost tears to her husband. Hugging him. He gives her the scarf and holds her closer. The queen sighs in relief of things being sorted out, I stand in pain... knowing I am ignored as no one. Pain of the infection of wounds over me.
"James, you should be needed by husband." I bow in how the queen leaves and my follower with her, "She has been to much."
"I know, my lady." I open doors for her and work shadows to clean her path. She steps to the private fey gardens. The king and Mark already seated in chatter. They stood greeting the queen and back down. I take step to sort something with the fey. Fetched refreshments. I had even stood away to carve a charm of something that was another commission piece. A ordered to be made item for some clothus interest. A shadow side of me guided the other side visitors to the garden. Few of them Enders of nearly completed timeline restoration works. I would gather the topic were release from this time zone.
"Time to gather together soon." The torn void of a claw gave opening to let me hear this section of myself from the void space between existence and time place. I throw a whole ton of rubbish out... storage pocket clean out. I kept a handful of important and all the trade worth that is hard to find.
"James..." So stepped from a door of deaths abilities were Sean, "What is the matter?"
"Its would be a big deal if I didn't know what it were like before. Forgive my flickering between minor tomes... many fragements of my mostly shattered dust of a soul are clamping together. On the unease of dying a early grave due to gut torn with a slayer tooth dagger." Sean is instantly grapples all over me with worrying, "please stop." He let's go, "Thank you. He did that too." I sigh in leaning back at the wall and craving something else, "I will be fine when the poison seeps to where it belongs." I sigh, "Short human life... I can't complain. it had been worse before and the side affect of being a past host. I know things." I pout with a finished carving and stand with checking them across the way. No need of me interfering. A new item out, inspected and soon carving too.
"Dont you have a lot to do before you die?" Sean asked.
"I can be in 53 places at once. I just making the most of it." I lightly tut, "I don't really want to die here. You find me where my mother was. The house this life was raise in before coming to the palace." Sean has a long constant gaze over me. I continued to be carving in silence, I made a charm for him... he frowns oddly to the gift. I stare to the garden party, my sight fuzzing.
I held my stomach back in to where is belongs, limping my way shadow leaping to where I said. Comfortable on laying down on the ally street I knew, on the spot she left me. It weren't so bad and not at all alone. Hung of my other crosses of other worlds. I am not going to be left alone so easily.
"What are you being stubborn for?" Held in a forced assumed shape, "Let me have..." the quiver of fear and at the most gentle of care. Put into some sort of book or box, "Put of all the things you would cling to becoming or hold on." The hold up to light and then pouting, "What the heck is up with you soul? Why does you soul have so many creaks?" the long list of names and guesses. This thief stops talking at me and holds me up to someone in complete bowing.
"A name that is no where in the tomes I access." Cold but inviting... a long time friend to be sheltered from the heat of life, "Silver Judge shall know of where this one goes." Passing useless ink from the tome into a bird form that flew away. Shorter is Sean presences nearby... looking around the area. The many corpses and forms that I were, laying around or hung up on any ways able. The slow stop not just to the old title, there is also stop to my one living shell... laying covered in cloth, holding a bottle of ashes. Lowering with closer inspection of the damage... still slightly warm.
"Grow up here... Not even the worse." He recalls my no complains comment. Back up with taking out something and taking hand of my core, "The loudest soul." He allows me to break down into the fine poured with no spill or left behind a trace. Death cold gaze backs off, "Just how many more ways will you continue never giving up?" There a sense of stinging. I glitter inside this jar.
"Are you sleeping?" Sean is sad, I sense his hurt of pity. I mull over my answer with some long ponder of what my words sound. I couldn't give any sort of want to answer anyone. I can not use any senses I would have lost as a human or a anything.
Being just a soul, I could flex aura to be detected as if I were speaking or not. Flex emotions that I felt had to be strongest. I just no convinced otherwise to both answering them. The only thing I have intent of is not becoming but holding the necklace I was trusted to keep. Such item shadow snatched off the hands of whomever first picked my core up.
"Its not whole... his not completely together." Inks with slinking a grab around. A sense of overloading burden and dying hope... cold even for this state, "The voice of this soul is in the fragement whom don't exist among humans. It is simply a collective of dead living and living like status realms." I convey my tiredness... aside were all of me, "Do you need to rest away?" I tinted myself duller, lack of energy." He is highly sensitive to notice off things.
I dazed in whatever conversations around me happened. A annoyed sense from ink a few moments throughout his talks with Grim reaper and the hurt he held in being with Mark. Sean walking around with my empty shell. Moved away was what gave change to mood, relief but still sorrow. Even Sean didn't care about Mark around for the while I was dealt with. Coffin and away so I may be persevered for the future. Well... not in the normal modern or mage standard. I were not taken to the city of dead either. Mark and Ink have plans.
"You are not going anywhere out of my sight." A sort of jitter tone and madness unladen beneath. I can not really guess what they are up to.