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Dream Keeper: We do not own the Valdemar series. *sniffs* We wish we did, but we don't. The wonderful characters belong solely to Mercedes Lackey. We are only borrowing them for this twisted fic, and we promise to return them, only slightly worse for the wear, when we're through.

Christa: We do, however, own the characters we made up! Ha! They're ours! We don't care if you use them, just please ask us first.

Dream Keeper: Okay, this is our first try at writing anything from a book so please be patient with us. There's only so much an inexperienced book fan can do. And please tell us if we mess something up. I haven't exactly gotten all the way through the Mage Storms trilogy yet. Please forgive! *sweatdrop*

Christa: With that in mind, lets get on with the fic! Oh, btw, are what someone is signing, and ::'s are mind speaking.

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Firesong k'Treva sat starting out the window, he book he'd been trying to read lay forgotten on his lap. He'd been growing restless over the past few months. The magic he'd once been able to do was a thing of the past because of the mage storms, and the smaller magic's now offered him no entertainment. Darian had completed his training, gaining the status of adept over a year ago. There weren't any other mage gifted in the vale that weren't already taught, had teachers, or were to young to teach yet.

"Still sulking are we?" Silverfox k'Leysha chided as he entered the main room of the ekele they shared. "I'd have thought you'd have found something useful to do with yourself by now."

"I know what I sensed, Silverfox, and what I sensed was bloodmagic and nothing anyone says or does is going to change my mind about it," Firesong snapped as he rose from his chair and stalked over to the window to gain a better view of the Vale.

Silverfox merely sighed and walked over to his lover, wrapping his arms around him from behind. "Ashke, there's nothing anyone can do about it now. It's been over a week and you haven't noticed the Bloodpath mage casting any other spells have you?" Firesong shook his head and Silverfox continued, "I now you're convinced of what you Felt, but no one else did and until they have some solid evidence they're not going to mount an all out search for the mage. In the meantime you need something to do."

"As much as I want to go out after that mage myself I know you're right," Firesong said softly. He'd had a grudge against Bloodpath mages ever since he'd met the changechild called Falconsbane.

When Firesong shuddered involuntarily Silverfox tightened his embrace for a moment before he let go and stepped back. Firesong turned from the window slowly and faced him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you Ashke."

"I know. You've been too uptight for a while now. Everyone's like that now and again, you're no exception. Now, what are we going to do with you?" Silverfox stood there looking at Firesong and thinking for a moment before he said, "Why don't we go into the village? We can go there with Steelmind. I'm pretty sure he's selling more of his plants there today."

Firesong graced him with one of his dazzling smiles and Silverfox felt his knees get a little weak, but the smile was fleeting and was quickly replaced by a look of, what? Pain? Anger? Sorrow? "I guess I should figure out what kind of mask I'm going to be wearing today, no?" he said as he sidestepped around Silverfox.

Wonderful, Silverfox through crossly as he watched Firesong retreat into their room. I thought he put all that behind him. Well, I guess the people of Errold's Grove would make anyone unhappy with their very open stares and even ruder comments. Why did I even suggest going into the village? Because you need something to distract him from that thrice damned mage, his logical side whispered to him.

"Firesong, are you ready?" Silverfox called a little tentatively. Firesong stepped out of his bedroom and nodded. A few minutes later they'd collected Steelmind and were on their way to the out of the way village on the edge of the Pelagiris

~*~

"Now I remember why I vowed not to go back to Errold's grove." Firesong grumbled as he and Silverfox rode their dyheli companions back towards k'Valdemar Vale.

"I'm sorry, Firesong. If I'd known they were going to be that rude I would never have suggested going at all." Silverfox apologized for the hundredth time.

"You know I'm not blaming you," he replied forcefully. Silverfox knew that he should let the subject drop and did so, though not without a final pitying glance at him.

I should never have suggested it, he berated himself mentally. I know he doesn't like going to the village anymore. Not after what happened with that drunken merchant. He's never been quite the same.

Silverfox remembered it only too well. He and Firesong had finally been persuaded to come to the inn with Darian, not to drink, but to talk to some of the town elders. A merchant from Rethwalen had been looking for something to amuse him and had picked Firesong as his target, thinking the exotic Hawkbrother would be easily cowed.

He'd intended to bully him into fighting but he'd been sorely disappointed. Firesong had signaled Darian to let the merchant alone and had stood to face him. The merchant had thought he'd finally gotten his fight but Firesong merely smiled politely and asked him kindly to leave. The merchant, for lack of being able to think of anything else, had reached up and torn the mask off that hid how badly Firesong's face had been burned.

Both men were startled out of their thoughts when a great power fluctuation ripped through the very air. The dyheli snorted and pawed the earth uneasily.

:What was _that_ Firesong?!: Dysha, the doe Firesong was riding, asked in their minds.

:I've no idea, but we're going to find out.: To Silverfox he said aloud, "That couldn't have been too far off from here. Do you want to accompany me or do you wish go back to the Vale?"

"I'm here and I'm not about to let you go alone. You may be an adept but your power is severely limited."

"Thank you so much for reminding me." He said, rolling his eyes. He sent his firebird Aya into the air to fly ahead of them. :Are you willing to carry us?:

:Yes: both dyheli answered as one.

:Good. Then let us go.: Firesong put his hand on one side of Dysha's neck to direct her to where she needed to go. Both dyheli walked swiftly and silently through the forest. It was enough to make Firesong marvel at them. Not even the Hawkbrother scouts were able to match the stealth the dyheli.

:This is certainly a part of the forest I've never been in.: Tarken remarked as he eyed the forest with interest. :And I've been around the Vale for leagues.:

:Then we'll have to be doubly careful. We don't know what caused that mage disturbance and we don't want to be taken by surprise.:

:Just because I'm sight seeing doesn't mean I'm not alert.: Tarken snorted and stopped abruptly and Dysha did so only a split second after.

:By the gods!: Dysha exclaimed. :That stench is horrible! I'm sorry Firesong but I can't go a step further.:

Firesong couldn't smell anything, but he knew their query had to be nearby. :We'll be fine. We'll call to you if theirs trouble.: Quickly he dismounted and Silverfox followed his example.

"What is it ashke?"

"The dyheli can't go any further. It might send them into a panic." Silverfox nodded and both of them moved forward as silently as they could. No normal person would have heard them, but every rustle of a leaf and snap of a twig made them wince, for every noise seemed ten times louder than it should have been.

"By the Stareyed, what in the nine hells happened here?!" Silverfox exclaimed as they entered a clearing in which a bloody corpse lay.

"I know little about the kinds of creatures that run through this part of the Pelagiris but from the looks of it, I'd say a pack of wyrsa got him."

"But that shouldn't be possible. We've banished all the dangerous creatures around here." Silverfox looked at the shredded remains of the body and turned away, fighting down the urge to purge his stomach of its contents.

"We need to get back to the Vale and report this _now_." Firesong fairly barked as he started to leave the clearing but Silverfox put a steadying hand on his arm.

"How will the scouts be able to properly examine the body if the scavengers get to it before they do?" Firesong immediately turned and cast a protective barrier over the corpse. "Was.. was that the mage you sensed Firesong?"

Firesong turned and looked at his lover. Silverfox met his gaze as he looked at him. Though he was as pale as ice and he shook from the sight of the body, his gaze was steady. "Yes ashke, it was the Bloodpath mage."

Once they were again mounted on the dyheli they set off through the forest, not bothering to hide their trail. Both of them had to cling to the thick main of fur to keep from falling off their mounts for, as they quickly learned, when dyheli really run that's all you can do.

~*~

They reached the Vale at sundown and dismounted as quickly as they could. "Find the elders and tell them I've called an immediate council meeting and get someone to see to Dysha and Tarken." Firesong fairly snapped at the first hertasi that came into view. It hissed and glared at him.

:I was sent to tell you that the council is already gathered. They are waiting for _you_. As for the dyheli, they will be seen to.:

:Thank you.: To Silverfox he said, "Are you coming or going back to the ekele?"

"I will join you, though I doubt I will be at all useful."

:Follow.: The hertasi led them to the clearing the council was meeting in. As soon as they entered and sat down Starfall began to speak.

"Now we all know that Firesong was right, there was a Bloodpath mage hiding very near our Vale. How he got past our scouts and into that part of the Palargiris I've no idea, but the fact of the matter is that he must be caught and dealt with." A chorus of shouts followed his brief speech with angered enthusiasm.

"The mage is already dead." Firesong said, standing up and pitching his voice to carry as much authority as he possessed. "Silverfox and myself found him in a clearing a league or so outside our patrolled area."

"Who was it? Was it someone from around here?" an unknown voice asked.

"There's no way to be certain of anything. The mage is so mutilated I'm not sure that anyone will even be able to tell if it was a male or female."

"At least the mage is gone." Snowfire said and Firesong nodded stiffly.

"I think I speak for us all when I say I'm terribly sorry I didn't believe you when you said you sensed the mage. It was a terrible mistake on our part and it could have cost many people their lives." Starfall could hardly bring himself to look his son in the eyes.

"At least you know now what was attracting all of the change beasts to the area father," he replied, pretending he didn't notice his fathers uneasiness.

"How did the mage die?" Snowfire asked.

"To the extent of my limited knowledge, it looks like a pack of wyrsa killed him, or something worse than a wyrsa." Silverfox answered before Firesong could say anything.

"The dead mage can wait," someone snapped as he finally got tired of waiting on the edges of the council meeting.

"And what exactly is more important than finding out what happened to him? We could be dealing with a new kind of change beast entirely Steelmind! Need I remind you what exactly happened the last time no one knew what a change beast was capable of?"

"No, you needn't remind me Winterhawk, but I'm sure you'll agree that this child is more important right this minute," he replied calmly. All eyes in the council riveted on the small child standing next to him.

Her appearance was far less than flattering. Her dress, if you could call it that, was in tatters and looked like she could have used it for a tent. She was covered from head to toe in dirt and other things that didn't bear mentioning, and leaves and twigs stuck out of her hair and clothes. Her hair was matted with knots and by the way she scratched, was infested with fleas and lice. It was so grimy you couldn't even be sure of the color but, even though she was something out of a noble's worst nightmare, her vivid silver colored eyes shown with a fire that would have rivaled the stars.

"What has she to do with anything?" Jade, the visiting noble from Kelmskeep, snapped as she took in the sight of the child and wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"I'm sure if you follow the path she made through the forest, it will lead you right back to the clearing the mage now lies in. I presume you did remember to preserve it Firesong?" Firesong nodded and Steelmind continued, "If I'm not mistaken, that will not only mean that she was with him, but that she knows what happened to him."

"Has she got a name?"

"She won't speak. I'm sure its because she's too traumatized by what happened to her. Furthermore, another concern of ours should be to find out what kind of relation he was to her. Did he steal her from some village and plan to use her for a blood ritual or did he plan something less sinister and more revolting for her? Or was she related to him in some way and if so, what?" No one noticed as the small girl started edging away from Steelmind. A heavy silence descended over the council as they all took a moment to reflect upon what had been said.

"What will we do with her in the meantime?" Snowfire asked, breaking the stifling silence. He looked towards the girl, only to find that she wasn't there. "Where'd she go?" A squawk of surprise made him glance over at Firesong and it was all he could do to keep himself from falling over in a fit of laughter.

The girl had somehow made her way behind them and had gotten to the opposite side of the clearing without being seen or heard. Not only that, but she'd climbed up on the bench with Firesong and lay down with her head on his lap.

"Well, isn't this an interesting?" Starfall said, the amusement clear in his voice.

The council meeting continued for another hour before they reached a consensus about anything. It was finally decided that they'd wait to look at the mage before making any hasty decisions and the girl would stay with the healers until they could find her kin, and if they didn't. no one wanted to plan past the immediate future.

"Wake up little one." Firesong coaxed gently as he shook the sleeping child awake. She sat up obediently and rubbed her tired eyes, looking at him quizzically. "Its time for you to go see the healers." She stared at him uncomprehending until he motioned for her to stand.

The girl nodded and got down off the bench as Firesong stood. Snowfire, who'd been watching her for the duration of the council, smiled reassuringly as he reached for her hand, but much to his surprise her eyes grew big and she clutched at Firesong's sleeve.

"What in the world?" Firesong muttered, as he looked at the little girl, clearly baffled at her actions. Snowfire hid grin and stepped away from the two of them. In his place Starfall and many others tried to get her to detach herself from her chosen nursemaid but, as he'd expected, all were unsuccessful.

"Well," he said at last as the last of the people wandered away shaking their heads, "It looks as if you've found yourself between a rock and a hard place Firesong. She seems to have taken a very strong liking to you."

"Why me?"

"How should I know? I'd suggest asking her yourself. She understands us very well, don't you?" She turned her silver eyes on him in surprise, them blushed, knowing she'd been caught.

"Why did you hide this from us?" Firesong demanded gently but sternly. Her eyes widened in fright for a moment before she lowered her gaze and shrugged her shoulders. "Are you going to tell us?"

She looked up at him and mimed, Talk, no. Cannot.

Darian and Keisha came up to them at that moment and looked the little girl up and down. "We'll, she's a right mess but she doesn't Look to be sick. In fact, except for the lice, she's in wonderful condition, considering the way she was mistreated and malnourished," Keisha concluded happily.

"Malnourished? She doesn't look it."

"She doesn't, does she. Well, she is Silverfox but that can be remedied easily."

"There's absolutely nothing wrong with her?"

"No."

"Then why wouldn't she be able to talk?" Firesong pondered aloud.

"She should be able to. Maybe she just doesn't understand the language?"

"She understands it." Snowfire said, just as perplexed as the rest of them.

"Maybe there are still some lingering compulsions." Darian said as he reached toward her. She gasped and cowered back against Firesong's side, clearly terrified, as she threw her arms up in a feeble attempt to ward him off.

Firesong put his arm protectly around the terrified child and gently grabbed Darian's wrist. "Don't touch her."

"I'm just checking for compulsions. What's the harm in that?"

Silverfox rested a hand on the lad's shoulder and said soothingly, "Darian, she's very obviously scared of any use of magic on her, most likely around her. If you must look at her, use Mage Sight, not magic." Darian nodded and looked at the girl.

An enraged screech sounded from a tree above them and a yellowish-white streak shot out of one of the trees. Just as it was about to smash into Darian's head, it turned its plummet into a shallow dive and hit him instead with balled up talons. Darian cried out and stumbled sideways a few paces into Snowfire.

"What was that?!" He demanded as he regained his balance with a thankful look to his older brother. Kuari, who was just as surprised as Darian, let out an angry screech and landed on his outstretched arm.

A loud hissing noise from the ground before them all made him look down to see a fledgling firebird standing there in a defensive position. It rocked from side to side some with its wings spread a bit to try to make it look very threatening.

"What in the world?"

:No magic. Windsong no like magic. You go now. You bad mage. Bondmate no like magic. You no use magic on Windsong.: the bird said in plain open mindspeech. That in itself was amazing, but it was the fact that he'd called the girl his bondmate was what made everyone's jaw drop.

Kuari fluttered to the ground in front of the firebird while they were all recovering and cocked his head to the side. After a moment he was satisfied and flew back up to Darian's shoulder.

:No magic.: he confirmed to Darian. :Reiko doesn't want you using magic on Windsong. We go hunt now?:

"Getting a bondbird at that young of an age?" Snowfire gaped, "That's unheard of, isn't it?"

"I must agree with you. A bird bonding with one so young, it is undeard of," Firesong managed to say.

"Then how?"

"Is it really relevant gentlemen? She needs to be fed, bathed, and put to bed as soon as possible!" Keisha scolded. She pulled a bottle of herbal oil from a pocket in the front of her dress and handed it to Silverfox. "This should take care of the lice," she said to both of them.

"What are you telling us for?" Firesong demanded.

Keisha just rolled her eyes and braced her hands on her hips, "Even an idiot could see that the girl has taken a liking to you. We can't get her to come with us and we're not about to drag her off to the healers' tent so you got elected. Good luck!" With that she turned on her heel and strode off.

"By the Gods!" Darian exclaimed as he took an involuntary step backward. Kuari screeched and nipped him warningly and the firebird tried to bit his foot through the boots he was wearing. "I've never Seen anything like that!" His voice bordered on the verge of history.

"What are you babbling about?" Firesong asked quickly, seeing Darian staring at Windsong as though she'd grown a second head.

"Sh-she's so tainted with bloodmagic that it would take a miracle just to see if there are any there are any compulsions, that doesn't even take into consideration any Gifts she may have! I'm sorry Firesong, but I've had enough of Bloodpath mages." He turned and hurried after Keisha hastily.

"I think you'd better take the child and go home, Firesong, Silverfox." Snowfire said after a moment of heavy silence. "I'll go talk to Darian, but. I don't know. I must get back to Nightwind. Wind to thy wings."

"Wind to thy wings," they chorused as they watched his receding back.

"I think we'd better take his advice." Silverfox prompted.

Must help, Windsong signed.

"What?" both men asked at the same time.

Must help me. Must be rid of bloodmagic.

"In time Windsong. Now we need to get you cleaned up and put to bed." Firesong promised. Windsong violently shook her head and pulled away from them.

Must be rid of it. Was the mage's vessel. Give bad magic back to the land. Please. Help me.

:What do you think Ashke? Should I take care of it now, or wait?:

:She seems very insistent. I think you'd better do it now.:

"This means I'll have to use magic on you," Firesong cautioned. Windsong nodded and put on a brave face, though her eyes betrayed her unease. It only took a minute for Firesong to lightly trance and begin draining her of the tainted magic. He was amazed to find that she was holding so much but he'd seen mages before that had held many times more. Only a matter of minutes later he opened his eyes and smiled at the girl.

"You were very brave," he praised her.

Thank you! Windsong flung herself at him and embraced him warmly. Thank you.

"Home, both of you!" Silverfox commanded firmly, though he could not keep the warmth out of his voice. He smiled broadly when Firesong took the child's hand in his and led her towards their ekele, the small firebird waddling along behind her screeching until she bent down and picked it up.

~*~

Silverfox finished washing the dirt off the girl's small body and smiled. "At least now we can tell what color you are. I was beginning to wonder if there was even a real girl under all that mud!" He exclaimed in mock exasperation. She smiled and nodded. When Silverfox frowned she gave him a quizzical look. "Windsong," he said softly, "I'm afraid your hair is much too long. We have to cut it or we'll never be able to get rid of all the lice and tangles." Windsong considered a moment before she took her hair waist length in her hands, twisted it, and held it out to him.

:She will let you cut it.: Reiko mindspoke to him. Silverfox reached out and offered to scratch the bird's head. Reiko leaned into the caress momentarily before gently nibbling his fingers and backing away.

"Well, you certainly have a friendly bird," he told Windsong. "It took me weeks to get Aya where she would even perch on my shoulder. She's almost as vain as Firesong is." He laughed at himself as he picked up the pair of scissors he'd brought with them. "How long do you want it? Be reasonable."

Windsong tilted her head to the side and looked at him for a moment before she motioned to her back.

"Your back. All right, where on your back? Your waist, your shoulders?" Again she motioned to her back. "You want it in between?" Windsong nodded and Silverfox took her hair from her. Holding it behind her as straight as he could, he cut it. Setting the severed portion of her hair aside he took up a brush and started carefully working through it. Every once in a while she would gasp when he caught a particularly nasty knot, but she stayed primarily quiet.

"Now, I'm going to wash your hair and then I'm going to cut it again so that it's even, then wash it again, okay?" Windsong nodded and he proceeded to do just that. When he finally had her hair cut evenly he reached for the bottle of herbal oil Keisha had given him. Windsong took it from him and looked questioningly at him. "I don't know what kind of oil it is but it will get rid of the lice." He reassured her.

~*~

Firesong sat patiently reading as he waited for Silverfox to get done with the girl, Windsong, he reminded himself. "I wonder how she came to have a Tayledras name anyway." he mused aloud. The sound of footsteps on the stairs brought his wandering thoughts back to the present and when he felt a tug on his sleeve he looked away from his book and into a pair of big silver eyes. He couldn't help but smile.

"Hello, Windsong. Did you have a nice bath?"

Smiling broadly she nodded and signed, Very nice. Then she held a brush up to him and looked at him expectantly.

"What? Me?" Firesong questioned, surprised at the girl's boldness.

"Don't tell me you think I'm going to do all the work, Firesong!" Silverfox exclaimed good-naturedly.

"I-uh, well. I'm not very good at this sort of thing, Silverfox." He confessed after a moment. Windsong looked a bit disappointed but she went and sat on a chair and started brushing out her long hair, though without much success. After a moment of watching her struggle Firesong said, "Come here. Let me try."

Windsong beamed as she walked over to him and sat down on a footstool. Firesong took up the brush and started patiently brushing from the bottom of her hair. Moments later he was done.

Windsong stood up and surveyed herself in floor-length mirror. Her long, wet hair fell to the middle of her back and she wore a child's version of the Tayledres recreational robes. As she turned from the mirror she smiled again and signed, Thank you, Fire-sing

"Firesing?" Silverfox questioned, trying to keep himself from laughing at the girl's interpretation of his lover's name.

"How did you get that, little one?" Firesong asked.

Windsong thought hard for a moment before signing, No word for, she opened her mouth and mimicked what a singer would do, though without sound. Do not know.

"Well then, we'll have to find to find out for you won't we? Why don't we go get some food into you before we put you to bed?"

Yes She thought a moment again before adding Star-Fox

"Starfox?" This time he did laugh. When Windsong frowned and looked down he stopped and knelt before her, lifting her chin with his hand. Tears streamed down her face but she was quick to wipe them away roughly. Reiko screeched reproachfully at them. Silverfox's face softened and he said, "I wasn't laughing at you, Windsong. I was laughing at how you interpreted my name. Do you not know the sign for silver?"

Windsong shook her head and Silverfox nodded. "We'll have to find that out for you also. Shall we go?" She nodded before she bent down and picked up Reiko.

"Can she not fly?" Firesong asked as he got up. Windsong shook her head. "That's very odd." Firesong muttered to himself but he smiled at them and let them proceed him to the kitchen.

When they arrived Ayshen was waiting for them, evidently informed by Keisha that they would be along about then. Firesong noticed that Windsong stopped walking when she caught sight of the small hertasi. Bending down beside her he said, "You've no reason to fear him."

In reply she signed I do not fear, I do not know what it is. You would not let it here if it was evil Firesong marveled a moment at her trust before he stood and called, "Good evening, Ayshen. How goes your day?"

"Perfectly fine, Firesong. Keisha told me that you would be along with a shadow about this time," he said good naturedly, confirming his suspicions.

"Then you have food for us. Please feed us starving souls before we dry up and blow away with the next wind!"

Ayshen snorted and turned to the girl. "So you're the shadow. What is your name little one, and from whence do you come to us?

Wind-sing, from the grove where the mage lies dead she answered promptly, silently.

"What?" the hertasi questioned. "Does she not speak our language?"

"She speaks without words. It looks like you will have to brush up on your hand language, Ayshen and she understands our language very well," Silverfox chided gently. "She said her name is Windsong."

"And the bird?" he asked as they sat down on a few of the many unoccupied cushions in the building. He brought food for them as they settled themselves.

:Reiko: she said and laughed in his mind as his jaw dropped open in surprise.

Silverfox and Firesong fell upon their food with gratitude but Windsong only picked at her meal, which consisted of venison sandwiched between two slices of bread, and water.

"Is there something wrong with your meal child?" Ayshen asked after a few minutes of watching her pick at the bread. She looked up in surprise and blushed, shaking her head vigorously. She picked it up, bit into it and chewed, but when she tried to swallow it she started retching and only kept it down by force of will. All three of the adults look at her with concern as she started shaking and paled a bit in her effort to keep from loosing the little food she'd eaten.

Reiko huddled against her side, chirping in concern and anger both. When she turned blushed they could all tell that she was getting an "earful" from her new bondbird.

"Are you alright child?" Drusi, Ayshen's mate asked as she came up behind them.

Yes. I'm sorry It was evident that Drusi didn't understand and she turned to look at Silverfox to help.

"You've got nothing to apologize about, Windsong. If you can't eat anything yet after what happened today it's fine."

No. I cannot eat meat. I she hesitated a moment before she continued signing I saw too much of what the mage did

"That you should have told us, but it is fine. We're not barbarians who force you to eat things you feel you can't. Drusi, do you suppose you could get her some fruit and fresh bread?"

"Certainly Silverfox."

Thank you star-fox. Thank you do-see and I-shin

"Windsong thanks you both," Firesong translated for them. When Drusi returned with fruit and bread, Windsong tore into it with as much enthusiasm as Firesong and Silverfox did theirs. When finally they were all sustained they went back to the ekele after saying goodbye to their hertasi friends.

"Bed with you little one," Silverfox commanded when they reached their ekele. Windsong started to lie down on the floor but Firesong stopped her.

"We're not going to make you sleep on the floor! There's a nice bed through that door that you can sleep in tonight." Windsong, being too tired to care where she slept, nodded sleepily and walked into the room they'd indicated.

Firesong watched her for a moment before he disappeared into his bedroom for a moment. Silverfox went to the lower level of their dwelling place and when he returned he was carrying a small stuffed hertasi doll. Firesong reappeared from their room at the same time and was carrying a child-sized blanket. Both smiled at each other and laughed quietly. "I guess it's about time these childhood treasures went to some good."

"I agree," Silverfox whispered as he entered behind his love. He took the blanket from Firesong and laid it over the already sleeping child. The doll he put next to her, not wanting to awaken her. As quietly as they came, both men slipped out of the room and closed the door behind them.

"Well, what do you think?" Firesong asked as soon as they were back in the main room. He picked up one of the cups of chava a kind hertasi had left for them.

"Of what? The girl or the mage?" Silverfox asked as he tried not to go into the dazed state chava always put him in.

"The girl, Windsong."

"She's very peculiar. She seems to hate magic, yet she let you drain the blood magic out of her. She seems to know our language but she pretended not to know it, yet she can't speak. She's just one big contradiction."

"I'd noticed that to. I was thinking-," he paused when he heard a little squawk near his foot. "Reiko, what are you doing in here? Didn't she take you with her?"

:Windsong doesn't know how to take care of bondbird. Need help with.: the firebird said to him. :Go to Windsong now?: She cocked her head to one side and looked at him expectantly.

Firesong laughed and picked the bird up. "You silly creature. You should have gone with her in the first place. I promise I'll help her train you." He paused a moment to open the door to her room slightly before sliding into the room as silently as a wraith to place the bird on its perch. Evidently Reiko had other ideas because the moment he set her down, she jumped from the perch, flared her wings a bit, and landed ungracefully on the bed next to Windsong.

Windsong sat up immediately, eyes probing the darkness until she saw Firesong. She relaxed marginally and lay back down, Reiko cuddling close to her. "Goodnight," Firesong whispered as he closed the door again behind him.

"Ashke?" Firesong called into the darkness he met outside Windsong's room. Only a single magelight glowed to illuminate a path for him to walk. It took Firesong only a moment to understand what Silverfox was trying to tell him. He entered his bedroom extinguished the magelight without a second thought.

~*~

Hours later sleep still hadn't found Firesong, who was lying wit his arms wrapped lovingly around his lover. Knowing that it was futile to try to sleep he got up carefully, making sure not to wake his partner, put on a lounging robe, and went into the main room of the ekele. He conjured a single dim magelight and sat down with a book in his hands, intent upon reading until his mind was soothed from the day's previous events.

Firesong looked up an hour or two later when he heard the unmistakable sound of talons upon the floor. Knowing Aya hated walking around in the dark, it could only be one other bird, as Silverfox had none. "Windsong, what are you doing up?" he asked as calmly as he could, painfully aware that his face was bare and the light fell upon it, illuminating it for her to see.

I could not sleep. I got thirsty. I had she faltered a moment before signing, I had a nightmare.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of. I even have them sometimes. As for thirsty, here." Firesong poured water into a glass that he had been going to drink but had never gotten around to it. Windsong inclined her head in silent thanks as she took the cup from him. After she had satisfied her thirst she put the glass down on the table next to his chair.

You are not going to beat me for acting like a baby?

"Why would I beat you? It's normal for people to have nightmares. I told you that I have them from time to time."

I am sorry. The mage did that to me when I woke him up. He said nightmares were only for babies and if I did not learn to act my age he'd kill me.

"I would _never_ do anything like that to hurt you. Only cruel, sick people do that." Firesong was horrified to know what the mage had threatened to do to her. "You're safe now. The mage can't touch you every again. Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"

There was lots of screaming and red. So much red. I did not know what to do so I ran. I ran as far as fast as I could. There was a monster chasing me. Evil, black, cruel. I couldn't get away from it and it started to eat me.

"You didn't even whimper. I would have woken you up if I'd known you were in pain."

No. No pain. I was me, but I was not myself any more.

Firesong, having noticed the glances she'd stolen at his face, stood and turned his back to her while he reached for a mask hung on the wall behind him as he said, "It was only a nightmare. You're safe now. Whatever killed the mage is gone, or if it's not, we'll take care of it as we see fit." He turned back around and saw her eyes had grown to the size of saucers and Reiko was huddling close to her. As he sat back down he asked bitterly, "Do I really revolt you so much?"

Windsong shook her head violently and signed, I do not like killing. I am afraid of it. She rose from her seat and, before he could protest, climbed into Firesong's lap. Carefully she undid the ribbon that held his mask in place and started to draw it away from his face. Firesong's hands grabbed hers gently but firmly and he shook his head. "You'll be afraid. My face has given screaming nightmares to many of the children in the village near here."

Windsong shook his hands off and when he thought she was going to climb off his lap, she reached up and took the mask from his face, putting it down on the table next to the glass. Firesong froze as she looked intently at his face. Slowly, very slowly, her hands moved up to touch his scars. Finally, after what seemed an eternity to him, her hands dropped and she started to sob.

"I told you," he began, more sharply than he'd intended as he reached again for his mask. When he tried to put it on she swatted his hands away and signed, I wish I could have stopped the pain. before flinging her arms around his neck.

Before Silverfox, he'd never met anyone who cared less about themselves than other people. No one but his closest friends had had anything but pity for him. It had been so long since anyone had cared what he'd been through, truly cared. Feeling a fierce protectiveness for the child he rubbed her back and made soothing noises until at last she slept. Smiling down at her, Firesong knew that somehow she had wriggled her way inside his life, and inside his heart forever.

~*~

When the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window Silverfox stretched and turned over to see if Firesong was awake, but was startled to find him gone and his place cold.

There had better be a good reason for him to be up this early, Silverfox thought as he reached out and caught the energylink labeled Firesong and sent a small trendil of mindspeech to him. :Firesong?:

:?:

:Where are you?:

There was a feeling of silent laughter. :Asleep in a chair right outside your door. Had you bothered to Look before you asked.:

:I'm sorry. I didn't think. I assumed you were somewhere else. I woke up and the bed was cold.:

Another feeling of laughter. :No, I couldn't sleep last night so I came out here. Come look and you'll see why I didn't leave.:

:?: But Firesong refused to answer. Sighing, Silverfox threw off the blankets and shivered as his bare feet touched the cold wooden floor of the ekele. He took enough time to get dressed for the day before he opened the door to see what Firesong was so smug about. He was prepared for a number of scenarios, but he hadn't imagined what he saw.

For all purposes Firesong looked like he really was still asleep, his head leaning back against the chair, hair in disarray. Reiko was perched next to his head, puffed up and asleep. What really surprised him was seeing the body of a small child sleeping in his lap with her head tucked under his chin and her arms wrapped around his neck.

:!:

:Surprised?: Firesong asked, opening his eyes to look at Silverfox's face. He smiled and Silverfox noted that it was the first carefree smile he'd seen on his face in weeks. :Besides her being a total contradiction, how do you feel about her?:

:NO.:

Firesong's face changed from a look of happiness to hurt confusion. :Do you really dislike her that much?:

:It's not that Firesong. She's a person, not a pet. You can't just decide to keep her and when you get tired of her, get rid of her.:

Firesong looked angry and his arms tightened slightly around the sleeping child. :I would _NEVER_ do anything like that. You know me better than that, Silverfox.:

Knowing he'd hurt him badly, Silverfox sent a feeling of remorse to him. :I know you wouldn't, but you've never taken interest in any child before. I don't want you to go rushing into things. Besides, she may have family. If you do adopt her and then a relative shows up to claim her, what will happen then?:

:We'll look first. But don't tell me you haven't wanted a child. I've seen you look at the families in Errold's Grove. Don't bother to deny it either.:

:I won't, but we know nothing of the girl.:

:I know, but somehow I feel as if.: Firesong paused to glance down at the girl. :As if she needs me.:

:Does. Needs protection, needs love. Needs both parents. Needs both of you.: A third mindvoice said to them. Both their heads turned quickly to look at Reiko. The bird looked from one of them to the other, evidently expecting an answer.

Silverfox switched his mindspeech to private mode and said, :I didn't think birds could eavesdrop.:

:They're not suppose to be able to, but evidently there is more to this bird than we know. Will you at least get to know her?:

:Must you really ask?: Silverfox Felt Firesong smile. :Now what are we going to do with her today?: Both were surprised when Windsong raised her head to look at them as if she knew she was being disused.

"How long have you been awake?" Silverfox asked her.

A little while. Were you talking?

"How would you know that?"

"Windsong," Firesong interrupted, "I'm going to do something with magic now. All I'm going to do is look at you, but I'm going to look inside you, all right? It might make you feel funny, but it won't hurt."

I trust you. Firesong placed his hand on her head and focused out and down. When he opened his eyes he blinked in confusion. It took him a moment to recover from the disorientation that small exercise had given him.

"Are you okay?" Silverfox asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, I just wasn't expecting to see what I did. How old are you Windsong?" She cocked her head to one side, considering the question before holding up seven fingers. "Seven? That's awful young for that," he muttered to himself as he continued to look at her. Finally the frown that had creased his brow disappeared and he turned to Silverfox. "Lets see if we can find Tietn and have him find you some clothes."

Where did mine go?

"Yours are gone. They were so tattered that there was no way they could have been mended, so we're going to get you new ones."

I can not pay for them.

"That's okay," Silverfox assured her. "You're our guest. We're going to take care of it for you." He looked pointedly at Firesong and said, "After you get out of those clothes. You don't want to look like you slept in them do you?"

Firesong lifted the girl off his lap and placed her on her feet, saying in mock indignation, "How dare you think anything like that! I can't ruin my image!" before walking into his bedroom to change his clothes. As they waited, Silverfox brushed Windsong's hair for her.

"What do you think of Firesong?" he asked finally.

He seems like a dream but he is human. She signed after a moments thought.

"Do you want your hair braided?" she nodded and he continued, "Yes, he most certainly is human. Many people forget that fact in light of what he did during the mage storms. Do you know what he did? He a few other mages took all of the excess energy the mage storms were creating and helped Karl to put it in a little box that channeled it to the Other plane."

Other plane? Channeled?

"I'm no more sure than you are about things having to do with magic. I'm only a simple kestra'chern."

What?

"A kestra'chern? Hmm. It's a person who comforts people. They do other things like give massages, but primarily they comfort. The best of us are healers of the mind and soul, but occasionally we are asked to help the healers if they are short handed. There, all finished."

Windsong surveyed herself in the mirror and picked up her short braid in one hand then dropped it again. Teach me?

"Not now. Later tonight, if you are still staying here I will," Silverfox replied as Firesong reappeared. "Now we must get you something to wear."

~*~

A short time later Firesong, Silverfox, and Windsong were just entering the ekele when Starfall intercepted them.

"Wind to thy wings, Father."

"Wind to thy wings."

"To what do we owe this honor?" Silverfox asked curiously.

"I'm sorry to say that I didn't come here on a pleasantry call. Firesong, you're needed in the grove. There is a very delicate spell that needs casting and none are comfortable enough or familiar enough to cast it."

Firesong sighed and looked apologetically at the others. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

"The girl--,"

"Windsong," he corrected.

"Windsong. You need to bring her also. She may have information for us. We didn't want to upset her so soon, but we need to know anything she can tell us."

"Absolutely not!" Silverfox snapped, becoming a kestra'chern. "You have no idea how this could damage her. We don't know how she will react to something like this. At her age it could very well cripple her spiritually or even mentally."

Starfall sigh shook his head. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't ask it of you if it wasn't absolutely necessary but we have no other choice. We don't have power enough to See into the immediate past anymore, so she is our only choice. We know she came from that grove. There were no other bodies so it might be someone else murdered the mage, but somehow I doubt it. Bloodpath mages travel alone if they can help it and they never share power if they can help it."

Silverfox looked down when he felt a tug on his sleeve. I will go with him. Windsong signed, looking very unhappy. I know I will not be much help, but I will go.

"What did she say?"

"She said she'll go with you," Silverfox replied flatly. "I'd go too, but I have a client scheduled for this afternoon. I'll be waiting for you when you get back." He nodded curtly to Starfall before stalking into the ekele. All of them watched him leave.

"I do believe that is the first time I have seen that man even mildly angry," Starfall gaped.

"It does happen from time to time. Especially when the health of a child is involved. Adults can say no, but children have no choice," Firesong told him. "I'm not any happier about it than he is. We can question her here just as well as there."

"No. She may have forgotten something important."

Can we please do this?

"Yes, lets get this over with," Firesong agreed.

~*~

"Windsong, when we get into the grove, it isn't going to look pretty. It's most likely going to give you screaming nightmares."

"Don't tell her that Firesong. You'll scare her more than she already is. Children's imaginations are very active."

"I'm not going to lie to her. It made me sick father," Firesong snapped irritably, then winced as he heard himself. "I'm sorry. I just want to get this over with."

"I don't want to be here any more than you do."

Instead of answering, he dismounted and then helped his charge to dismount. "Are you going to be all right?" he asked when he saw how pale she was. She only nodded and held out her hand for his. He took it and led her into the clearing. It was just as much a mess as the day before, only now the body had bloated some in the sun and the stench was starting to become nauseating.

Wintersky, a scout, and friend of Darian's, hailed him. "This is worse than I imagined last night," he said. "I've never seen anything more gruesome."

"Just tell me where I'm needed."

"Over there. I guess they're trying to work some kind of detection spell, something to tell if it was a mage or construct that killed him."

"You're sure it was male?"

"Sunleaf went through the packs. The only garments were unmistakably male." Firesong nodded and as Wintersky moved off he started to follow, but a deathgrip on his hand stopped him.

"I need to go with Wintersky," he said as he looked down at his charge, but she didn't hear him. "Windsong?" He let down his shields a bit and immediately slammed them back up. The feelings of hatred, sorrow, pain, and fear all radiated off of her in waves of chaos. "Father!" he called as calmly as he could. Starfall looked up from where he was examining something and saw what was wrong.

When Starfall left what he was doing to examine her magically she didn't flinch. She was as pale as a companion, but quivering like a tree in a storm. "She's pulled away inside some corner of her mind. I can't get any sense into her," he said sadly to his son, cursing silently inside. "Cast the spell and then take her back to the vale."

Firesong nodded and started to remover her hand from his. He was glad his father was there because the minute her hand left his, she crumpled, unconscious, in Starfall's arms. Father looked at son, mage looked at mage, and an unspoken message passed between them. Firesong completed his duties as quickly as possible before gathering up the unconscious child and heading back to the vale.

~*~

The moment he set foot in the vale Firesong was swarmed by hertasi. Quickly the unburdened the dyheli of his tack and helped him with his limp burden. Much to his surprise, instead of heading for Keisha's home, they proceeded to his ekele. Silverfox was just seeing of his patient when they appeared.

Silverfox took one look at them and started cursing in every language that Firesong knew and then some. He'd never known that Silverfox had any knowledge of the colorful vocabulary he was using at all. In fact, he'd hardly known him to get angry enough to raise his voice before, but the Silverfox that stood before him was all kestra'chern and livid with rage.

Keisha came rushing up at that moment, preceded by Tietn. They didn't say a word to each other, only brought her inside one of the kestra'chern's receiving rooms and laid her down on a couch.

"Havens! What's happened to her Firesong?! She's completely in shock!" Keisha exclaimed as she placed her hands on the girls' temples.

"My father thought it would be best if she came to the grove with us. The Seeing spell that let us see into the immediate past has been lost to us because of the mage storms so we needed her. We thought she could handle it but, gods, she-well look at her!"

"There isn't a thing I can do for her. I'm not a mind healer, and neither is Silverfox," she said sadly after a moment. "And you heal the land, not people."

"A healing adept does more than heal the land," he said as he sat down on pile of cushions.

***

It was dark, so dark. It was like some demon had come along and swallowed up the sun. Sounds echoed on and on, forever in the dark place. Only a single light dared to chase away the blackness and the cold. Gods it was cold. Ice crunched under his feet as he walked. He didn't dare conger a mage light lest whatever lurked in the darkness would attack him, and destroy him.

"Windsong?" he called into the darkness. His voice sounded much too loud. The light he walked towards wavered as if confused before starting to grow fainter.

"Windsong, you have nothing to fear from me. I'm a friend." The light halted again, brightening and dimming, like the wing beats of a firebird, growing brighter and dimmer. The light became larger the longer he walked in the barren wasteland.

"Windsong, you have nothing to fear from me," he called again into the darkness. "Why do you hide in such a dark and lonely place when you could be warm and happy with people who care about you?"

A tiny sob met his answer. Grief washed over him. Grief, and disbelief.

"Don't you want to see Reiko again?"

Another sob, but the light brightened by a tiny measure. He continued forward, knowing that he must reach the child before she drew away forever.

"Silverfox is worried about you, Windsong. Don't you remember? He promised to teach you to braid someone's hair. He was looking forward to it." The light dimmed again, sharply this time, growing so faint it was only a lighter shade of black.

"Why do you hide here? Why do you run from warmth? Who has hurt you so badly you turn away from the smallest kindness?" Another sob, grief so thick it choked him, finding its way into his heart and taking rout there.

Why do I want to leave, he thought. If I go back, there is only pain and suffering. So much pain. Hasn't there been enough pain? I could just stay here forever. I don't have to feel anything here. I don't have to care. I can just be. No one wants anything from me here. I don't have to give anything. If I leave, I go back to people who all want something from me. They only want what I can give them. They only care for me because I can give them something. They.care-"NO!"

"People do care for you! People do love you, just because they do! Think about Silverfox! He didn't want anything from you! He didn't ask for anything! He wanted to protect you! To care for you! Think about Steelmind! He wouldn't let you be ignored at the council meeting! He helped you to come to the Vale! He cared about you for no reason! Think about me! You're the brightest child I have met! All I want to do is protect you from the thing that is haunting you! I _want_to_protect_you_!" He cried into the darkness, breaking its hold on him and knowing it would never find its way into his heart so deeply again. Knowing it was his last chance, he put as much feeling behind his words as he could-

The light he was walking towards flared brighter and stayed there, like a beacon calling for him. Though fatigued and cold beyond reason, he aloud himself the smallest of smiles. At last she wasn't pulling away, but she wasn't coming to him either.

He kept trudging through the darkness, moving always towards the light that beckoned him. The ice, which had become sharper as he got closer, finally cut through the soft boots he was wearing. He cried out and went down onto his hands and knees, only to have the ice bite into the exposed flesh of his hands, cut through his breeches to taste more blood. He watched it flow onto the ice in the little light there was. So much color on such a blank surface.

So cold, do I really want to go on? He pushed the thought aside ruthlessly and painfully dragged himself to his feet. After a time he shook so much from the cold that he could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Time, he thought ironically. There is no time here. It's at a total standstill. I wonder how far? But as he looked around he realized the light that had been guiding him had been extinguished.

"Windsong!" Light flared up unexpectedly all around him, momentarily blinding him and for the briefest of times he feared an attack, but soon his vision cleared and he was able to see where he was. The first thing he noticed was he was in a kind of cave covered with pictures a child had drawn, but all of cruelty and hatred. The second was a child curled up in a cage on the floor. She rolled over and turned her tear-streaked face toward him, with the saddest eyes he had ever seen. They seemed to carry the grief of the world and all he wanted to do at that moment was to bring even a spark of happiness into the silvery orbs. He started to move towards her but she stopped him with a shake of her head.

"There is nothing out there for me. You should not have wasted your time on me. You have only managed to hurt yourself," he heard her say, though her lips did not move.

"There are many things out there for you. You can have laughter, and friends, you have Reiko, and you could have the love of a family."

"You heard! How?"

"The voice of the mind cannot be silenced."

She pondered what he said a moment. "Still, you offer only empty promises. Could you give them to me, Firesong? Could you truthfully promise me these things?"

"I can promise you only one, but only if you can answer some questions for me."

"Everyone wants something. Nothing comes without a price, yet people always expect to get something for nothing."

"My questions are ligament. I cannot promise you a family if you already have one."

He heard the sound of laughter, filled to the brim with irony. "The only family I had lies dead within the grove-." He saw, rather than felt the memories of the days previous events coming back to her. The ride to the grove, him warning her of what she'd see, her not heeding, her thinking she could take it, seeing the body, then blessed unknowing. Again she wept, this time not for herself, but for the mage.

"Why do you weep for a monster?"

"A monster he may be now, but my father he was, or as much a father as he could ever have been to me." In his mind he saw the image of a serrated knife and was appalled.

"It takes more than a moments pleasure to make a man a father," he spat.

"As I said, as much a father as he could be. How can you know you will never be the same?"

"I could never! I am a healing adept! I heal the land, I don't scar it with the blood of innocents!"

"Can you be sure?"

"If I ever started to become like that monster I would kill myself without a second thought. I would never allow another Falconsbane to arise to continue to kill the lands and their people."

"The fact that you would consider such thing shows you never would. Mages like him never stop to think about others."

"Windsong, I need to know what killed the mage. Its important. If it was another mage we need to know so we can stop them."

The little girl looked at him for the longest time before her expression became unreadable. After a time she started biting her lip so hard it bled and more tears rolled down her face. "I know it wasn't another mage but- I don't remember. I don't remember! I don't remember!" She pounded her fists against the bars of her iron cage, all the time screaming, "I don't remember!" until she had cried so many tears she was dry. Then she sat shivering, not hearing anything Firesong tried to say to her.

"Firesong, it's so cold. It's so cold here. I don't think I'll ever be warm. I want to be warm Firesong. Help me, please! Help me! I'm so cold. So cold."

"I can't unlock your cage for you. You have to do it yourself."

"I can't reach the key. I'm so cold. I can't reach it. It's too far."

"You can do it if you truly want to leave this prison."

Again she looked at him, but this time he saw wisdom there that unnerved him. "I trust you. You don't look like him." He got a mental picture of a black wyrsa with blood red eyes, but also a picture of him, looking like one of the avatars. He wasn't so splendid. His wings had been broken in more than one place, and he looked haggard, but not evil.

"Is this how you see me?"

"Yes, please give me the key."

"I can't give you the key. You have to get it yourself. Only you can free yourself." He watched her strain to reach the key that was on the nail in the cave wall. She reached but her hand was still short by a foot. Then the key floated off the nail and into her grasp. She smiled joyfully, put the key in the lock, and turned.

***

"Firesong!" He felt someone shaking him. Slowly he opened his eyes in the bright light of the ekele. Only then did he realize how cold he was, and how much in pain. His body ached from his head to his toes and a chill ran so deep in him that he was sure it had settled into his very bones.

As he was still trying to make out what he was seeing he saw Silverfox and Keisha jostled to the side as a small girl ran forward and flung herself at him. He caught her just in time to stop her from hitting the floor and was amazed at the child's trust in him.

"What happened?!" Keisha demanded as she bent down and started healing the numerous bloody cuts that graced his body, even under clothing unscathed.

"I met the defenses she had put in place around her mind."

"Defenses? You mean she has mind magic?" Silverfox asked calmly now, though his voice was edged sharply with worry.

"No, ashke. It doesn't take anything but will to set up the defenses she has. Anyone who has seen much pain could erect them, though few would want to. I have a feeling this isn't the first time she has done this, but it is the first she has come back of her own wanting, isn't it?" He asked, reaching out to tilt her chin so he could see her face. Hesitantly she met his eyes and nodded once.

Evil has always brought me back.

"What did she say?" Keisha demanded.

"She said evil has always brought her back."

"Where did you two learn to read that anyway?" Despite the graveness of the situation, a choked laugh clawed its way painfully out of Firesong's throat.

"It was my own misfortune to have fallen ill when our Vale healer was out taking his spiritual rest. I recovered swiftly, thanks to Silverfox, but my voice was non existent. Our healer wasn't due back for another week, and it wasn't an emergency, so I had to learn another means of communication. Silverfox already knew it from his kestra'chern training so he taught it to me." He shivered and became aware of the ice that was clinging to his hair and lightly frosted over his clothes. "Pardon me for being rude, but give me a blanket before I catch my death. I doubt our healer would be happy about that after the attention she's giving me."

Swiftly Silverfox fetched a blanket for him and laid it over both of them. "Windsong, are you all right now?"

Yes. I'm sorry. Firesong said you were worried. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just so-lost.

"Well, I guess it's time I left. Maybe when I get a spare moment you'll be kind enough to teach me?"

"Certainly," Silverfox replied absently. Keisha took her leave and left, only to be replaced by Starfall. The second he walked in the door Silverfox lost all of his hard won calm. "How _DARE_ you do something that stupid! You almost killed her! I have always admired you, not only as my elder, but as a brilliant man, but this has gone far past anything I thought you would do! Get out! Get OUT! Get out before I do something I will regret!" He yelled at him, a dangerous light coming to his eyes. He took a menacing step forward but Firesong go up and put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

"If he'd known it would cause so much trouble he never would have done it. You know that Silverfox. I know that as a kestra'chern you have to look after everyone in the Vale, but don't blame my father. He was doing what he thought was right."

"Silverfox, I never meant to hurt her. Is she all right?" His voice was full of worry and his eyes were brimming with sorrow. Some of the kestra'chern's rage melted, but no where near all.

Windsong stepped from behind the two adults and Starfall bent down to her level to apologize. Instead of letting him she put a finger on his lips and shook her head. I am fine, Starfall. I am not hurt. Firesong brought me back. I was only lost for a little while. Do not blame your self. she signed before she embraced him.

"What?" Firesong repeated what she had signed. "You have the rare gift of forgiveness and honesty. Don't loose it," he said to her. "What happened to you Firesong? I saw you only two hours ago and you didn't look nearly as disheveled."

"Two hours?!" He looked to Silverfox, who nodded confirmation.

"We tried to wake you but we couldn't. We were afraid we'd lost you too, for a time."

"What?" Starfall was obviously very confused.

"Father, come into the ekele and we will explain."

~*~

Over an hour later Starfall sat back in his chair to digest all that they had told him, including what Windsong had revealed about her father. She herself sat on the floor playing with her small firebird. For the longest time Starfall seemed to look at her, though his eyes betrayed the fact that his mind was elsewhere.

"So she doesn't know what killed him."

"No. She would have told me if she did. She wasn't acting, father. She really doesn't know."

"I wouldn't accuse her of lying. Somehow it doesn't strike me as if she can."

"I get the same feeling. I don't know why."

:What are we going to do with her now?: Silverfox asked. :We know she has no family, but the fact that she is-was related to that mage could create problems for her later on in life, if not sooner.:

:Yes, even though the bloodmagic is gone, for some reason she is still tainted with it, albeit its hardly noticeable, but what will happen if she leaves the vale when she's older and another mage sees her? They might jump to conclusions and not stop to think before they do anything rash.:

:She won't leave the vale for a long time, Firesong: Starfall corrected his son. :She has bonded with that firebird. She is very much as Tayledres as Darian is now. My only concern is what to do with her _here_:

:I would like to talk to both of you about that. Windsong is--: he stopped when she looked up at him from where she was on the floor.

What?

"You could hear me?"

I have always heard something, a buzzing in the back of my head like a bee. It never goes away. The mage did something funny and I heard things. He would tell me things some times.

:Can you hear me?: Firesong Sent. Windsong nodded and he said, :Can you do this?: She shook her head.

"So she can hear and not send? That's possible?" Silverfox asked, curious to know how she did it.

"It happens only once in a great while, and always with very special people," Starfall answered. "Windsong, can you send pictures to people sometimes?" She cocked her head to one side. Starfall fumbled a moment before he "found" her and sent her a picture of her playing with Reiko. She seemed to think for a moment before both Firesong and Starfall got a _very_ hazy picture of them from her perspective.

Good?

"Very. How long have you been able to do this?"

I didn't know I could send pictures. It hurts my head.

"She Sent you a mind image?" Silverfox frowned. "Every person I've met that has just been learning to control their mindgift has Sent to everyone in the room.

"She probably has to have had some sort of intimate mental contact with you. I'm sure the picture she Sent me was much clearer than my fathers?" Starfall nodded. "I'll teach you how to keep those voices out of your head tomorrow, all right?" he said to her. She nodded in response and went back to Reiko.

:Bondmate happy, but scared. You no teach bad stuff?: a suspicious voice half accused them. Aya scolded the small firebird, whose crest rose in indignation. :She is hurt enough.: Firesong hid a smile and pledged to the bird that he would teach her nothing that wasn't for her benefit.

"I will leave you for now. I suppose we'll have to continue this conversation later," Starfall said before he embraced his son, apologized again to both Silverfox and Windsong, and left. Shortly after, Tietn came bearing food for them. He stayed trading pleasantries for a few minutes before disappearing to his duties again.

After they had eaten Firesong was summoned to another council meeting so Silverfox showed his charge around the vale. He couldn't help but feel lighthearted around her. She was eager to take in everything she could. She was constantly asking questions about the hertasi and the plants that they grew in the vale. He was amazed at how mature she was for her age. When she heard an unfamiliar word she would listen for a few minutes to see if it was common usage, and if she couldn't figure out what it meant she would ask.

When finally the sun began to sink below the horizon, his charge finally began to tire and they walked back to the ekele. Once there, Silverfox folded himself down onto a couch and Windsong occupied a cushion. Cold drinks appeared for them and they sat in comfortable silence.

Will you teach me now? she asked him, indicating her braid, which had become half undone in her adventure around the vale.

Silverfox smiled and said, "I promised didn't I?" He carefully unbraided and brushed her hair. "Now, separate it into three parts like this," he showed her using the small portion of white hair next to his temple. "Now fold one piece over the middle, now the other outside piece over the first, yes, now keep going," he coached. She ended up loosing her pattern many times and had to start over. Finally she finished and looked up at him proudly.

"Very good."

Thank you. You are kind. I like you very much. her eyes unfocused as if she was remembering something.

:What is it?: Silverfox sent, as he had been doing on and off during that day, knowing that sometimes she would need to use her small mind ability to ask a question.

You make me think of my mother. He got a particularly clear image of a beautiful woman with blond hair, deep green eyes, and a beautiful smile. She was slim, but muscular, and had a gentle air about her. She was nice to me before she died. I think I was three.

"She looks beautiful. I'm sure she was very kind." Firesong walked into the ekele then, slamming the door shut behind him.

"I swear, we've been over that grove ten times from top to bottom and can't find anything! Not to mention that we've gone over all that we have gathered enough times that I think everyone could recite the facts in their sleep! God of my fathers! I don't think there has been this much ruckus around here since we arrived! On top of that, I've got half the council demanding to interrogate Windsong again, even though my father and I have assured them she can't help them!"

I can not tell anything else. she signed. Please, never speak of the mage again. He is dead. I do not wan to remember him. Reiko says the little girl he raised is dead too. She should be forgotten too. Please promise to never speak of them again!

Firesong looked at her, surprised, for the longest time before he bent down to her level. "I cannot promise never to speak of them again, but I will not speak of them around you. If anyone else tries to enter that conversation, I will ask them to wait until you are not around. Will that be sufficient?"

It will have to be. then her face brightened and she held up the lock of her hair she had messily braided. Look what I did! Silverfox was sharply reminded that in spite of her maturity she was still a seven year old child at heart.

"That looks wonderful," Firesong praised her. "Would you like to try mine?" Windsong nodded eagerly and he sat down on a cushion where she could reach his main of hair, careful to move it out of the way so he wouldn't sit on it.

After a few minutes of trying to braid his hair she stopped and looked towards Silverfox. As if he felt her eyes on him he looked up and met her gaze. What is a say a sure in?

"A what?" it took him a moment to put together what she was trying to ask. "Shay'a'cern?" he asked and exchanged a look with Firesong. In private mindspeech he asked, :Should we tell her?:

:She's going to learn it sooner or later living here in the vale.: he replied evenly.

Silverfox took a breath and tried to think of a way to explain it to her where she would understand. "You know how when people get older they pair off?"

She frowned. Like mothers and fathers?

"Exactly. Sometimes two people, whether they are a girl or boy it doesn't matter, sometimes they will pair off with another one of their own gender; A boy with a boy and a girl with a girl. Do you understand?"

Yes. The thought a moment. You and Fire-sing are that?

"Yes."

All right. she signed before she went back to braiding Firesong's hair, leaving Silverfox completely miffed that she had accepted it like it was something she had lived with since she was borne.

~*~

A week later the council meetings were all but finished and the mages were wrapping things up in the grove. Firesong supervised Windsong as she helped Reiko to exercise her wings as Silverfox leaned against a doorframe of their ekele, having just come up from seeing a client. He smiled as Firesong lifted Aya on his arm and brought it down to make it where the firebird had to flap to keep his balance. He vaguely recognized it as an exercise to strengthen a birds wings so that it would be able to fly.

:Do you think she's ready?: he asked Firesong in private mindspeech.

:I think it's time.: he replied happily.

"Windsong," Silverfox said to her as he moved into the room to take a seat on a cushion. "Firesong and I have a very serious question to ask you." She immediately stopped what she was doing and started scratching Reiko's crest. The way she stood betrayed her unease, but she peered at him intently.

Firesong took a steadying breath before asking as calmly as he could, "Windsong, what would you say if we asked you if we could adopt you?"

Be my fathers? she signed, letting Reiko jump to her shoulder.

"Yes, we'd be your fathers; your family."

I would not have to go away? Never?

"Never," the kestra'chern assured her. Her face grew serious and she pondered their question for a long moment. So long that a frown creased her brow.

I could never say yes(

"Why?!" The question was torn from Firesong's throat before he could stop it. What she had said had hurt him deeply.

I was not finished. she scolded. I could never say yes unless I knew that you wanted to do this. I do not want to be somewhere where people do not love me anymore.

"Not love you? How could we not?!" Silverfox laughed. Relief poured through him and he could see Firesong visibly relax. "I don't think there is any way we couldn't!"

"You've become too much a part of our lives in such a short time. Even Tietn has taken a liking to you." The young hertasi, who had never been interested in a human before had all but adopted her himself.

So it is you who wants to adopt me, not someone else who wants you to?

"Yes you silly girl! I would not be asking if I, we, didn't want to! We both love you," Firesong declared. Silverfox smiled in agreement.

Still looking very grave she half bowed and signed, Than I accept your offer fire-fathers. She straightened and could no longer keep a straight face. She ended up flinging herself at them as an ear to ear smile broke out over her features. It was then that any of Silverfox's last doubts melted away that she would be able to fit in with them.

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Dream Keeper: hope you liked it! Don't worry! There's more to come! Sorry it's so sappy. I'm a little rusty.

Christa: You're tellin' me? Anywho, we gotta post this and get in bed. No telling when the next chapter will be up so check back periodically.

Dream Keeper: Don't forget to check out my other fics. Oh, this one will pick up a bit more in the next chapter.

Christa: Don't forget to R&R which means read AND REVIEW!!!!!!

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