Ayren screamed and dove through the sky, diving for an unseen morsel. His bonded, Shadowflame, didn't look up from the book she was reading in a small corner of Companion's Field. Nearby several foals played under their mothers' watchful eyes. Rolan stood watching between them and the palace.
Shadowflame kept her head over her book though her lips were twitching as she fought a smile. Ayren came into the tree above her with barely rustled wings. Finally the clopping of hooves on the soft grass brought her head up. :Time is it?: She mind-sent to the black stallion coming towards her. He snorted and bobbed his head. With a gusty sigh she closed her book and stood, stretching muscles that rippled into place.
:By the Star-eyed I'm tired!: She thought to herself. Rolan looked out of the corner of his eye at her and snorted in obvious amusement. She glanced over at him, wondering what was so amusing.
:If you didn't spend so much time lazing about you'd feel better.: There was an obvious tone of amusement and goading behind the thought.
'Flame just ignored him. She and Darkfire had given him and Talia a run for it this morning over the advanced course. And that was after she'd spent two hours under the tender mercies of Alberich, the weaponsmaster. Rolan was trying to evoke a response from her and she knew it. So did he.
From the Palace came several people both men and women most dressed in Herald's Whites. 'Flame left the Field through a gate and joined the group. Ayren had just finished whatever he'd caught and took to wing again, flying high overhead and out over the city of Haven. She surrendered her senses to him for a moment leaning against the fence.
Through his eyes, she saw the Tayledran party approaching the Palace grounds. Even had she not known what to look for she would have known who they were. Riding dyheli, they stood out upon the streets of Haven. Their deer-like mounts, bearing several men, a woman and hertasi caused many in the streets to stop and stare at them. With most of their bond birds winging overhead yet close them, they made a rare spectacle. Ayren winged a little closer, so as to give her a clear view of who they were. 'Flame didn't see anyone she recognized until he came to the front of the group where two men rode side by side.
Seeing them from the back she didn't immediately recognize them but when Ayren banked, giving her a look at their faces, she pulled back to herself with a gasp.
It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Asking Ayren to give her one more look at them she once again looked through her bond bird's eyes. It was. There was no mistaking the flamboyant clothes or the richly detailed and equally flamboyant mask that one of the men wore. There was also no mistaking the man who rode at his side, his knee-length white hair with its dark stripe, braided and pulled over his shoulder.
'Flame came back to herself with a shudder. It was them. After not seeing them for almost ten years they were here. A soft velvet nose on her arm, offered comfort. :What is it 'Flame?: Darkfire asked, concerned for her.
She leaned against him for a moment before answering, trying to smooth her ruffled nerves and calm her rapid heart. :My brother is part of the party that comes.: She finally replied, her heart slowing to normal. :I haven't seen him since well before we went through our change. Now I must face him. And his mate. I love both men dearly but fear what they will think of me.:
Darkfire nuzzled her red hair, conveying comfort to her as he could. :I think they will think you a very strong woman, who has faced much in her short life. Do not worry over what others may do, sweet. You will win them over if need be. I have faith in you.: 'Flame smiled and scratched his one ear, in exactly the right spot, silently thanking him for his confidence.
By now she had been joined by the Royal party, which included Queen Selenay of Valdemar, her husband Prince Daren, the Queen's Own Herald Talia. The seneschal and his Herald were there as well. Weaponsmaster Alberich soon joined them, looking odd in his Whites, for he never wore them, except when he was being "official". And if meeting an envoy from the Hawkbrothers wasn't official enough for Whites then she didn't know what was.
Arrayed behind her at the fence, stood all of the Heralds' Companions. Ayren settled himself into a tree not too far off, staying out of sight, as he always did when they met new people.
Shadowflame shook her hair back from her face, quickly finger combing it, so that it lay a bit more neatly down her back.
She walked over quietly to stand just behind the Queen. Selenay turned to her and smiled. "Nervous?" she asked, easily picking up Shadowflame's mood.
'Flame nodded. "A bit. I really haven't spent much time with other Tayledrans in years." Now she smiled ruefully playing with her hair a bit. "And you have to admit I hardly look Tayledran any more."
Selenay took in the young woman's crystal blue eyes and deep red hair and sighed. What she said was true. Most Hawkbrothers had stark white hair and clear blue eyes from living so closely with their heartstones and utilizing node magic. Shadowflame, on the other hand, had the blue eyes but had rich deep red hair, that marked her as different.
Selenay sighed, knowing she could do nothing for her. "You will be just fine, Shadowflame. Just be yourself. You've won the entire palace and most of the Collegium to you. You're a good diplomat and more importantly a gentle person. I've known several Hawkbrothers in my time and know that they will like you just as we do."
'Flame smiled at the Queen. "You will swell my head with all your praises, Your Majesty. Between defeating Alberich and Talia this morning, I may not fit into the Palace should it swell anymore!"
Selenay and everyone around them laughed. 'Flame was probably the more modest than most. She didn't boast, allowing her actions to speak for themselves.
Before anyone could retort, however, the group they were all waiting for rode through the gates. Most of the people gathered waiting to receive them had had some experience with the Hawkbrothers and were not disturbed by the sight of the dyheli or of the hertasi. The guard however had not and some were trying not to be obvious about their stares.
The group rode quite close to the awaiting reception and then dismounted. First to Selenay were both Firesong and Silverfox, both having met her several years before. They quickly embraced her together before the others had approached.
Shadowflame took the time of their distraction to study the rest of the group. There were only the three men , two of which she knew, a woman in Healer green and six hertasi. She knew that one of the hertasi was their own representative as well as one of the dyheli. She assumed that Firesong was the Hawkbrother delegate and that would make the other young man the representative of the other groups.
She noticed that the young man's hair was turning the white of a Hawkbrother and he had an eagle-owl, perched on the saddle of his dyheli. Yet he bore no other features that marked him as Tayledran. He must be the one that she had heard about from Selenay, Darian. 'Flame had been told that he had been adopted into the Hawkbrothers several years before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Everything here except Shadowflame, Darkfire and Ayren belong to Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar books. I have tried to remain true to her ideas. Any and all mistakes are mine and I apologize for them.
Please point out LARGE mistakes (don't be petty). I will gladly listen to any and all reviews (But be kind if ya can! LOL) Please review and let me know what ya think!
Shadowflame kept her head over her book though her lips were twitching as she fought a smile. Ayren came into the tree above her with barely rustled wings. Finally the clopping of hooves on the soft grass brought her head up. :Time is it?: She mind-sent to the black stallion coming towards her. He snorted and bobbed his head. With a gusty sigh she closed her book and stood, stretching muscles that rippled into place.
:By the Star-eyed I'm tired!: She thought to herself. Rolan looked out of the corner of his eye at her and snorted in obvious amusement. She glanced over at him, wondering what was so amusing.
:If you didn't spend so much time lazing about you'd feel better.: There was an obvious tone of amusement and goading behind the thought.
'Flame just ignored him. She and Darkfire had given him and Talia a run for it this morning over the advanced course. And that was after she'd spent two hours under the tender mercies of Alberich, the weaponsmaster. Rolan was trying to evoke a response from her and she knew it. So did he.
From the Palace came several people both men and women most dressed in Herald's Whites. 'Flame left the Field through a gate and joined the group. Ayren had just finished whatever he'd caught and took to wing again, flying high overhead and out over the city of Haven. She surrendered her senses to him for a moment leaning against the fence.
Through his eyes, she saw the Tayledran party approaching the Palace grounds. Even had she not known what to look for she would have known who they were. Riding dyheli, they stood out upon the streets of Haven. Their deer-like mounts, bearing several men, a woman and hertasi caused many in the streets to stop and stare at them. With most of their bond birds winging overhead yet close them, they made a rare spectacle. Ayren winged a little closer, so as to give her a clear view of who they were. 'Flame didn't see anyone she recognized until he came to the front of the group where two men rode side by side.
Seeing them from the back she didn't immediately recognize them but when Ayren banked, giving her a look at their faces, she pulled back to herself with a gasp.
It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Asking Ayren to give her one more look at them she once again looked through her bond bird's eyes. It was. There was no mistaking the flamboyant clothes or the richly detailed and equally flamboyant mask that one of the men wore. There was also no mistaking the man who rode at his side, his knee-length white hair with its dark stripe, braided and pulled over his shoulder.
'Flame came back to herself with a shudder. It was them. After not seeing them for almost ten years they were here. A soft velvet nose on her arm, offered comfort. :What is it 'Flame?: Darkfire asked, concerned for her.
She leaned against him for a moment before answering, trying to smooth her ruffled nerves and calm her rapid heart. :My brother is part of the party that comes.: She finally replied, her heart slowing to normal. :I haven't seen him since well before we went through our change. Now I must face him. And his mate. I love both men dearly but fear what they will think of me.:
Darkfire nuzzled her red hair, conveying comfort to her as he could. :I think they will think you a very strong woman, who has faced much in her short life. Do not worry over what others may do, sweet. You will win them over if need be. I have faith in you.: 'Flame smiled and scratched his one ear, in exactly the right spot, silently thanking him for his confidence.
By now she had been joined by the Royal party, which included Queen Selenay of Valdemar, her husband Prince Daren, the Queen's Own Herald Talia. The seneschal and his Herald were there as well. Weaponsmaster Alberich soon joined them, looking odd in his Whites, for he never wore them, except when he was being "official". And if meeting an envoy from the Hawkbrothers wasn't official enough for Whites then she didn't know what was.
Arrayed behind her at the fence, stood all of the Heralds' Companions. Ayren settled himself into a tree not too far off, staying out of sight, as he always did when they met new people.
Shadowflame shook her hair back from her face, quickly finger combing it, so that it lay a bit more neatly down her back.
She walked over quietly to stand just behind the Queen. Selenay turned to her and smiled. "Nervous?" she asked, easily picking up Shadowflame's mood.
'Flame nodded. "A bit. I really haven't spent much time with other Tayledrans in years." Now she smiled ruefully playing with her hair a bit. "And you have to admit I hardly look Tayledran any more."
Selenay took in the young woman's crystal blue eyes and deep red hair and sighed. What she said was true. Most Hawkbrothers had stark white hair and clear blue eyes from living so closely with their heartstones and utilizing node magic. Shadowflame, on the other hand, had the blue eyes but had rich deep red hair, that marked her as different.
Selenay sighed, knowing she could do nothing for her. "You will be just fine, Shadowflame. Just be yourself. You've won the entire palace and most of the Collegium to you. You're a good diplomat and more importantly a gentle person. I've known several Hawkbrothers in my time and know that they will like you just as we do."
'Flame smiled at the Queen. "You will swell my head with all your praises, Your Majesty. Between defeating Alberich and Talia this morning, I may not fit into the Palace should it swell anymore!"
Selenay and everyone around them laughed. 'Flame was probably the more modest than most. She didn't boast, allowing her actions to speak for themselves.
Before anyone could retort, however, the group they were all waiting for rode through the gates. Most of the people gathered waiting to receive them had had some experience with the Hawkbrothers and were not disturbed by the sight of the dyheli or of the hertasi. The guard however had not and some were trying not to be obvious about their stares.
The group rode quite close to the awaiting reception and then dismounted. First to Selenay were both Firesong and Silverfox, both having met her several years before. They quickly embraced her together before the others had approached.
Shadowflame took the time of their distraction to study the rest of the group. There were only the three men , two of which she knew, a woman in Healer green and six hertasi. She knew that one of the hertasi was their own representative as well as one of the dyheli. She assumed that Firesong was the Hawkbrother delegate and that would make the other young man the representative of the other groups.
She noticed that the young man's hair was turning the white of a Hawkbrother and he had an eagle-owl, perched on the saddle of his dyheli. Yet he bore no other features that marked him as Tayledran. He must be the one that she had heard about from Selenay, Darian. 'Flame had been told that he had been adopted into the Hawkbrothers several years before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Everything here except Shadowflame, Darkfire and Ayren belong to Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar books. I have tried to remain true to her ideas. Any and all mistakes are mine and I apologize for them.
Please point out LARGE mistakes (don't be petty). I will gladly listen to any and all reviews (But be kind if ya can! LOL) Please review and let me know what ya think!