The Carlson Chronicle Chapter 1
Chapter 5

Primus glowered at Cygna, as she knelt at Ashia’s old place on the Elder Council.

“So Primus, what do we do now?” Bael asked, looking sadly at Cygna as she seemed to fidget uneasily. She was in awe to be here, but inwardly it was only because Ashia couldn’t be.

“Well, since we have no way of contacting Barnard or his son, all we can do is wait. Wait and hope that he replaces his way here some other way. In the meantime, Loci, you have my blessing. You may use our mentalists to the best of your abilities and theirs.”

Loci smiled, turning to Cygna.

“Cygna?”

“Yes Mistress?”

“As an Elder, my word is above all, including the Emperor. You understand this correct?” Cygna nodded. With that, a Marrokian Battle Cat nosed his way through one of the great doors, his entrance causing all in the room to turn his way. The light in the room seemed to reflect off of the sheen of his fur, a deep reddish brown, as he plodded over to Cygna, kneeling before her. She was speechless, to say the least. He spoke to all.

<Cygna? Cygna the Slayer? I am known as Furball, and I have come for you. Your victories in battle against the Garshans are the stuff of legends, and I choose you to stand and fight by my side, and hope that you allow me the honor of carrying you into battle. By order of the Elder Council, the Cat Council and Primus the First, I hereby release you from the constraints of the Slave Caste. Rise Warrior! You are slave no longer!> He finished, as the steel collar that adorned her neck for nearly 2 millennia came unlocked, and fell onto the Council table. Tears flowed almost immediately down her cheeks as she rose, moved to kneel before him, and hugged him tightly about the neck.

“I, Cygna, shall stand by your side until I can no longer. Together we will fight, side by side, against all who dare harm us, our charges and all of Marrok. This I swear.” She promised to him, as a mighty cheer went up among all in the council chambers... Out on her island sanctuary, watching all through her viewing orb, a silent tear rolled down the cheek of Ashia’s encased body...