Free The Silence Within (The Young Ancients: Tiera) by P.S. Power

urge to take more. It looked good, but Tim hadn't had any yet and Gerent needed it at least as much as she did, she was willing to bet. He didn't get anything else either, and the others waited too, so she was happy enough about her decision.
    When they got to Warden, they actually landed right in front of the palace there, the lawn lush and green looking, with delicate seeming trees all around that had a different configuration than the pine and fir she was used to. It was very early still, so they caught one of the first deliveries of the day being made, a woman that, for the life of her, looked very familiar. Only slightly bigger.
    "Is Terlee here?" She pointed at the woman who was wearing a nice gown, but also carrying a tray of something. She had long black hair and was pretty. Not as good looking as her sister, maybe, but close.
    Timon grunted gently.
    "Nope. That's Debbie Smalls. She runs a bakery here, along with a magic shop. One of the good things that Tor managed to do." He spun in the pilot's seat, the whole thing pivoting to allow it. For some reason he turned to look at them, but his eyes, Tiera noticed, focused on Carol Coltress alone.
    She sneered, as if the baker walking toward them was the King or something.
    Then she stood stiffly, and walked to the door of the craft, looking less than perfectly pleased about it all. Once out in the lawn, she faced the woman and for a moment, seemed ready to start screaming at her.
    Right until she sank to her knees and bowed her head. Tiera had to walk closer to hear her then, but at least the words sounded correct, even if they might not be perfectly well meant.
    "I wronged you, demanding that you kill your brother. I won't forgive his crimes or actions, but that doesn't make my own right. I apologize and mean it. I can't bring myself to love you, though you are, no doubt, worthy of such. That is my failing. I'm so sorry that I put you through all of that." She went on, getting a bit repetitious, but no one called her on it. Then she stood and closed her eyes, only to shake for a bit and look at Tiera.
    "I stand ready." She sound scared about it, which was good. No one should willingly rush into pain after all. It meant her mind was normal, at least in that fashion.
    Tiera didn't hesitate, or wait to see if it was what this other woman wanted. When it was time to fight you simply did it. Baroness Coltress didn't try to fight back, just going down under a hail of blows, struggling to get her hands up to protect her head. It didn't really work, as Tiera sat on her chest, pummeling her into unconsciousness, but it was better than the day before, where she hadn't really even tried to do anything at all. It meant she was learning.
    She paused and looked over at the very shocked seeming baker, who was shaking more than a little as evidenced by the rocking motion of the food carry tray.
    "Do you find yourself satisfied with that, or would you like to take a turn yourself?" It seemed reasonable to offer, but she just went pale and shook her head.
    "I... no. That's fine." It was weak sounding, but Timon moved to take the tray for her, so she wouldn't drop it.
    "Good. Well, that's one down. Now for the rest? We might want to revive her for that part."
    Not that Carol was going to love it, but they did manage to get her on both feet, in clean clothing and wiped down so she wasn't covered with blood when they went in. The man at the door was a guard, not a butler, but was nicer by far to them than the one of those that she'd met, in County Morris.
    This one simply smiled and asked for them to wait, taking the tray of baked goods from Timon. A few minutes later a real servant came, and greeted them as if they were some kind of strange combination of long lost friends and high dignitaries.
    "Welcome! Please come in, you're all expected. Baronetta Coltress, how lovely to see you again. You look in fine health. And Countier Baker and Lady Baker! Marvelous." The man wasn't old, perhaps in