16 Quartus, 1669
We are finally leaving Vodacci. However much has happened while we've been here and I have been much too busy to write. The festival of spiders was quite an experience. The first night, the party was interrupted by Prince Calligari placing some sort of apparatus designed to explode. (This was also the same party where we met Prince Villanova. I have no idea what Bleys said to him but the fake crystal is still in our possession.) We managed to prevent the device from going off and our host, Prince Vestini, was most grateful. His security leaves much to be desired. The one man we caught in connection with the device escaped the same night. I know why now, but I get a head of myself. There was also an attack on Prince Vestini at the parade the following day. Again his security was useless and his guests had to come to his rescue. If I had known then what I know now, I would not have helped him in any way.
It was later at yet another party that we had a second encounter with Prince Villanova. This ended up in Rachel (who is Angelique, Villanova's daughter) being kidnapped by her father. She was rescued of course. I am beginning to find certain advantages in my Avalonian heritage. Apparently one of the side effects of being half marrow is that I can turn into a seal in salt water. I haven't tried in fresh. I am almost afraid at what would happen if I did. But being seal is what saved Rachel when she jumped overboard in the middle of the ocean to escape Villanova.
After this harrowing adventure we were not allowed to simply go home and rest. We came upon a sea battle involving the Montaigne flag ship and a couple of Vodacci ships with a Castillian ship. We were going to skirt around the battle, since the merchant vessel we were one was unarmed, but the Admiral was on board, and I could not allow him to escape me once again. Between Luc's fast talking (he claimed to be a member of Montaigne's secrete police, I'm not sure if he's lying) and sheer physical violence on the part of Bleys and myself. We managed to subdue the creature. I am afraid that I have disappointed my companions, however. I know that when we first met I was the most innocent and naïve of us all, and that is no longer the case. Rachel seemed most upset by my desire to cause the man who killed my mother in cold blood an immeasurable amount of pain and harm. According to her, having one's mother killed is a common occurrence in Vodacci. Just another problem I see with that country. However any guilt I might have ever felt at wanting to kill that thing was completely irradiated Luc discovered that he was a 300 hundred year old assassin. Luc found two lists. One with the names of victims he had killed. My mother was on that list. The second was a list of names of those who, we assume, were his employers. There are 13 names on that list. We've discovered that these are 13 demon lords from legion.
The name that concerns me the most is that of Cardinal Estaban Verdago. Having a demon lord that close to, not only my king, but my family is terrifying. I have only the vaguest idea as to why the Cardinal would send this assassin after my mother and me. Perhaps our deaths were to be punishment for my father. I do not know. But I have spoken with Celeste and we are going to do our best to make sure that this information reaches my father. He may need to act on it before we can get to Castillo and confront the Cardinal.
I have also expressed my concerns that we may somehow endanger my father without knowing it. Only Celeste and I know who he is and I have no idea how these events will play out. I sense that we are all going to have to think fast and move even faster when the time comes.
I look back on some the previous events that we have gone through and I think I begin to understand. I have not been forsaken by Theus but chosen. In my veins flows the blood of royalty from two different worlds. This is not a privilege but a responsibility. My companions and I have been brought together for, nothing short of, saving the world. I do not know the motivations of the others but I know for it has gone beyond mere vengeance. This is my duty. If we do not stop these demon lords, then both worlds that I am apart of (whether I like or not) will be destroyed. The fey like to think that they do not need the human world but Bryn Bressial will fall if Theus falls.
Forgive me father for I have sinned…and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it. Considering the situation, some little things are going to have to be forgiven. This time it is my affair with Bleys that people have to just live with. I can say that I will not die having my only experience with a man being rape from a fey creature. I know that Bleys is not going to love or marry me. But I don't know if I will live long enough to settle down and raise my children. I must not forget why we fight to save this world. Bleys does remind even in the darkest times, some pleasure and joy can be found. I am grateful for that. Everyone will just have to deal with it. I am tired of being the innocent that no one bothers to protect.
Our most immediate concern, at the moment, is warmth. Rachel annoyed Queen Mab. (Most times I regret have her in my lineage). Queen Mab, unceremoniously, planted us off the cost of Ussura. It is cold here and I don't like being cold. The land does have a harsh beauty to it though. It's as if this entire land was once a beautiful ice sculpture that has melted just enough to for things to grow. I do know that this is a land you have to respect or it will kill you. You can not just go wondering out in the wilderness the way you can in Castillo. If you are not prepared you die. I just hope Theus is watching out for us and will guide us.