Written by Ben Groenen (Raushan)

Oh joy! Oh joy! We’ve just been paid a visit by some very surly thugs. Although I couldn’t help snickering at them when they kept throwing threatening glances around them when they were within the castle. But they were a godsend as they have brought a Chest of BOOKS!!!! There are books on mathematics, astrolabes, abacus, medicine, and geometry…. And a book on pharmacology by the 1st Century Greek Dios Caridis. I was most eager to read this one, but Lucio grabbed it almost as soon as the chest was opened.

Later during the night, as dawn was beginning to approach, Lucio instructed us to gather as many herbs as possible… but most especially, he wanted one in particular. Describing it to Monaco, we were to look for this particular one which only flowered at night … at least, the following night.

During the day, Monaco went to the forest to begin the herb-hunt. But as he was traversing the woods, he came across some Christian travellers from the troubled southern lands. They introduce themselves as Father Roderick (a Dominican) and a boy named Kendrick. They are on commission for the Archbishop Rodrigo Jimenez de Rada of Toledo, a commission that they are not at liberty to say.

Monaco cordially guides them to the mighty fortress of Sadaba, which impresses them, no end (the castle, not Monaco path finding). Soon after sighting the castle, they come across the Celtic pair of Gwyn and Owain but they agree to continue on their ways. Once they reach the castle, Lord Tomas invites the “godly” duo to accept the hospitality of the castle.

Awakening at dusk, we gather for our nightly feast … well, at least our clan’s gathering. As we can always tell, Lillane is awake, but she hasn’t appeared yet in the hall. We have company, and so it is time to mingle and to dine on fine company … I meant converse with diverse visitors. Oddly enough, everyone is interested in our new guests. In the fine conversations that follow, we learn that our guests are emissaries from Toledo, who are here to “forge an alliance” for trade, mutual protection and for assistance in rebuilding the ruined, but newly Christian, city of Toledo. They seek artisans, architects, merchants and engineers.

Still Lillane and Lucio have not made an their usual appearance. Well, we are not our mentor’s sire. … Monaco and I decide to continue with the task Lucio has assigned us, and Rafi decides to accompany us “for protection”, but I think he just wants to get away from the castle for a while.

Monaco advises I assume my falcon-form to make the search quicker. After having recently spent some time studying to master my self-control in that form recently, I concur. Shortly, at the bottom of a gorge, I actually spot the specific herb bush that Lucio required. Returning back to my companions, we retrace the way back to the gorge. With efforts that remind me of the days when I was mortal, we dig up the plant and carry it back to Sadaba in a clay pot.

(A very comfortable and clean) Wolfstead is in Lucio’s laboratory when we enter. The swine even laughs as our dirty, irked party manhandles the pot to Lucio. But whatever they had been discussing was not enough to keep Lucio from becoming totally focused on the herb. He quickly has stripped the plant we have just brought here whole (?!), and is then busy for a while mixing with other materials, finally resulting in a potion. Saying that the potion is enough for four, he says he wants to try it.

Monaco and I try to find out from him what it is supposed to do and he says it can give us almost whatever we want. With a little feeling of trepidation but with a much greater feeling of curiosity and general trust in Lucio, we drink some of the potion.

After have our sips, Monaco and I look at each other, then at Lucio, then at … there is no one else here! Lucio says they left while we were in a daze, otherwise there seems to have been no other effect. Monaco decides to go out to the library, but on the way he sees no one … in the entire castle! Meanwhile I look out the window, but don’t notice anything… but when I walk away Lucio calls me back to the window. When I get there, we watch the dawn break … the DAWN!!! I’m … dreaming! But this is something I haven’t done for over 400 years … not since I was a mortal. Here, we can do whatever we can think to do. Monaco is in the library, a library which stretches beyond what the eyes can see – well beyond the walls of the castle, when I enter to grab a few books and the best food and wine, and go outside to repose in the sun.

Half the day has gone by in forms of pleasures, which I had long missed. When the temperature drops suddenly, and the claps of thunder arise all around me. A gigantic stroke of lightning strikes the ground nearby from the gathering clouds above that are forming faster than the sea tide comes in. My first thoughts are to reach Lucio’s side, as soon as I can.

When I arrive, I find Lucio has assumed his demonic form, and Monaco has already had the same idea as I. But then we wait to see what else will happen. While we are waiting, I think of how everything, but what has happened recently, has been whatever we wanted and decide to try and test this theory. I think of wearing armour and then I am, then I think of not wearing armour and that too happens. Then I think of what would be able to help us in this strange situation … I think of Lillane being there.

And something that looks like Lillane, but is definitely not her, appears. Great power is radiating from her, but she is thankfully looking at us with a friendly, if annoyed expression. She says that family shouldn’t be put into danger here. I am confused as to who she is, but that she is a relation is very obvious. I ask her what that cloud thing is and she says its family (huh?). Then she turns to Lucio and says just like your father.

This family member who looks like Lillane creates a door and tells us to go now. With such a display of ability, and the impending doom that is still approaching being the incentive, all three of us troop through the opening. And the next thing I know is when I awaken in bed at the beginning of the next night.

It appears that Monaco had awoken straight away from when we returned. I found out afterwards that Monaco and myself had collapsed when we had the elixir, but that Lucio had crossed his arms and stood motionless and didn’t react to anything for a while. It had been about a ½-hour to dawn when we had the elixir, but after 10 minutes had gone by, it began to get really cold and thunder sounded from nowhere. Lillane had then come in search of the Family to find out if we were all safe. Lucio had had me taken to my bed, while he was trying to awaken Monaco. I had appeared in my day state (dead) and Monaco had looked like he was just asleep.

It was already day when Monaco returned, so he could get some answers straightaway. When I awaken, I only check to see I’m still wearing the same clothes as before, and I race (using celerity) to look for Lucio. Since I can’t find Lucio, it’s only until I find Monaco that I stop. I ask what that thing was and he tells me that was Lilith, the All-Mother. A little confusion reigns, as he thinks I was asking about the one who looked like Lillane when I was asking about the cloud-shaped Malevolence, but he never does give me answer to what I wanted to know … I’ll have to ask Lucio later.

But back to the normal world again, Monaco had passed onto Lucio the request for the use of his architect abilities to create a cathedral for Toledo, and Lucio had responded positively as he had been interested in a particular esoteric tome Toledo used to have, back before its recent sacking a couple of years ago. So, Monaco had gone back to the Dominicans and told them that Lord Lucio would be forwarding a letter about the matter shortly.

A clan meeting is called shortly, thankfully after I have freshened up. Wolfstead (whose motivations are totally personal power and mercantile orientation) has already spoken to Lillane. Lillane is firstly focused on what has just happened. After I have explained what happened, she warns us not to be overconfident and throw ourselves into danger. Having settled this to her satisfaction for now, she instructs us that she wants us to support the Christian hold on Toledo. But when pushed (by myself, I admit in a vestige of my old life) as to why she wants us to do it, she will only say that we can grab some extended power and that the stability would be good for the land … she appears to be doing it as a whim, but I can’t argue with her last reason.

Later in the library, Monaco and I are going though the books we received recently. Lucio comes up and asks us about Lillane, and about what I thought of the “gift.” I told him I was very grateful to experience the dawn. Lucio wanted the last of the elixir as a gift for Lillane. She hasn’t dreamt for 5,500 years! He wanted to bring her a dawn and dreams. This would be grand gift, but I advised he should not give it to her straightaway … that he should wait awhile. He starts talking days and I suggest centuries. Now looking quite crestfallen, he says he’ll have to get another gift and heads off to his lab. Why do I feel like I am the father and he is the child?

This energizes Monaco to go to Tomas to advise him to eventually tell Lillane that Lucio made the elixir as a gift for Lillane. However, Tomas is not motivated for this as he has been caught between brother and sister tête-à-têtes before. After a few prompts from Monaco, Tomas finally realizes that Lucio is in the labs working on another gift and he races off to speak to Lucio.