Chapter two

Taia woke to bright sunlight streaming in through the windows – wait, windows? Shin'a'in tents don't have windows, they have smokeholes – of this….. tree….house…where was she? Oh yes, the ekele. She was with the Tale'edras. They were somehow keeping themselves out of her head, which is why she had the energy to wonder where she was in the first place. She was...staying with this Whitestar person. Girl. Why did this mere girl live alone? Why had that not occurred to her yet? She opened her eyes. Whitestar was standing over by the window, the light making her hair glow as if it were on fire. There was a large bird on a stand in front of her, and they appeared to be….talking? How was that possible? Whitestar could talk to birds? What strange world was this?

"Good morning," Whitestar said, smiling. Taia felt something constrict in her stomach, decided she was hungry. Yes, hungry. "You've been asleep for two days, although I can't say that I'm surprised. It has to have been exhausting to have all of those Gifts running haywire for a whole year, I can't imagine."

"But….I thought you had a lot of Gifts. Why are mine the only ones that went… haywire? Is there something wrong with me?"

"Goddess, no! No, you just had the problem of having them come to manifest in a community where no one could help you. Here, there are Mages everywhere you turn around. By the time a child is showing signs of a Gift manifesting, the Mages have them in training within the candlemark, it seems! But you, you were living with the Shin'a'in – no Mages, only the shaman – and I hear from your sister, had it been…another Clan, you may yet have had a better time of it. At least you may have found your way here sooner – or more likely, ended up at k'Sheyna. They were actually closer to you, you took a rather circuitous route! But in any case, you're here now, and I am sure you have questions. And you're likely hungry. Let me show you where the food is."

Whitestar led Taia to another section of the tree ho…..ekele, where there was an ample supply of bread, cheese, some fruit and kava. Taia tried not to stuff herself too quickly – she didn't want to be rude – but she really was hungry, and didn't realize just how hungry until that first bite of buttered bread hit her lips. She hardly tasted anything at all. Eventually, though, her appetite diminished and she started to notice – this was really good kava. The fruit was at a particularly perfect state of ripeness, as well – wait, these were strawberries! It wasn't strawberry season!

"How do you have strawberries at this time of year? Are they magic strawberries?"

Whitestar laughed. "Of a sort, I suppose. I'm sure you've noticed that the Vale is neither hot nor cold, humid nor dry? One of the things that the mages here do is regulate the weather inside the Vale. You passed through the shield when you got here, do you remember?"

"Not really," Taia said.

"I guess you wouldn't, you had a lot going on. It's rather like the shield that is keeping your mind safe from the onslaught of our emotions, only bigger and stronger. It keeps anyone walking past out – they can't see that there's anything there, and it has a sort of property that encourages them to walk away – and only those it recognizes, or those the mages allow, are able to enter. It keeps us safe from the wild creatures of the Pelagiris, as well as any army that thinks it's going to invade. One of the side advantages is it also allows us to control the weather inside the Vale; it could be pouring down rain outside, or even snowing, and inside the shield it will be a nice balmy temperature with the sun shining. It rains here, but only at night when the mages allow it. This means also that we can grow whatever we want – whenever we want. Nice perks for our hard work cleaning up the Pelagiris!"

The quest of the Shin'a'in was to guard the Dhorisha Plains – which contained the magical weapons Urtho had deemed too dangerous to use back in the days of the Mage Wars. This was the reason they trained as warriors from the day they could walk. The quest of the Tale'edras, the cousins of the Shin'a'in, was to cleanse the lands of the effects of the Mage Wars. Before the Wars, they were one people, the Kaled'a'in; but the disastrous effects of magic caused the leaders to disagree on whether magic should even still be used, and so they split amicably into two peoples: the Shin'a'in, who guarded the Plains but did not use magic, and the Tale'edras, who cleansed the lands with magic. Equally important jobs; the lands could not be cleansed without the use of magic, and the weapons at the center of the Plains were best guarded without it. Both these quests were sworn to their shared Goddess, the Star-Eyed, and they took them very seriously.

Taia finished chewing her bread thoughtfully and took a drink of that wonderful kava. She remembered her next question.

"Were you talking to a bird?" she said. Still eloquent as always.

"Yes, actually. That is my bondbird, Tyke – he's a forestgyre. All the Tale'edras have one bondbird, a few have two; one woman has an entire flock of sunbirds. I just have Tyke. He is intelligent enough that we can mindspeak each other; he helps me scout, he hunts for me when I need him to, he provides me with companionship, and in the event that I am attacked he will assist in my defense."

"Hmph," said Taia around a bite of cheese. "I sometimes wish I could mindspeak my horse, but most of the time I'm glad he doesn't know what I'm thinking."

Whitestar laughed. "Tyke can't read my thoughts all the time. And I can block him out. But yes, I can see where it would be difficult to have someone reading your thoughts all the time!"

"I wouldn't know about having other people read my thoughts, but I can tell you that having other people's thoughts in my head all the time is no fun," said Taia. "I thought I was going insane. It was hard to tell who was me and who wasn't – and they were all so afraid of me. It was horrible."

"It sounds like it. But you're here now, and we will keep these shields on your mind until you learn to do it for yourself. It shouldn't take long."

"I think I'm going to devote myself to learning to make the biggest, strongest shields in history," said Taia. "Why do you live here by yourself?"

"I don't, actually," said Whitestar. "It looks like I do, because I have my own quarters, but my parents live in the ekele just above me. Since, as a particularly powerful Healing Adept, my training was going to be more intensive than most – it didn't seem reasonable for me to take up the training rooms all by myself indefinitely, when they would serve more of a purpose being used for the regular classes. My lessons often take place here, since I have them at all hours and so many of them! I'm usually exhausted afterwards, so now I don't have to traipse across the Vale to collapse – I just tip over."

Taia laughed a little – she could certainly see the reasoning behind that. She'd had more than one weapons-training class that left her barely able to crawl back to her tent. Which led her to her other problem – catching up on weapons-training.

"Is my sister still here?" she asked Whitestar.

"Of course. She's in the guest quarters, I'll take you there."

They cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast together, then Whitestar demonstrated the rope ladder to and from the platform of the ekele that had given Taia so much trouble on the way up. It was much easier going down, and also while awake. They walked down the path, which was of neatly paved stone and gently curving so that nothing was a straight line, but seemed as if they were walking down a trail through the woods. Taia wasn't sure she'd remember her way back, but it certainly was beautiful with trees all around. Not just any trees, huge trees, with trunks so big her horse could hide behind one, with ekeles discreetly tucked into their branches. There were bushes and flowers lining the path on each side with strange lights lighting the way. They passed a mass of rock, with waterfalls cascading from one pool to the next, steaming hot on the bottom and progressively less warm towards the top; that was interesting.

"What is that?" Taia asked.

"Those," Whitestar answered, "are the baths. The pride and joy of all Vales. You start at the top and get clean, then rinse the soap off in the middle. Then you sit and relax in the hot spring at the bottom and just luxuriate in it until all your aches are gone."

"Wow. That sounds wonderful, particularly after a long day of weapons classes."

"Well, you won't have to worry about those anymore anyway – with your Mage power, you won't ever need to lift a sword again!"

Taia stopped short. She loved her weapons classes, she didn't want to stop training as a warrior just because she was going to be a mage. Whitestar looked at her, confused.

"Well, don't you want to be a mage?"

"I don't know," said Taia. "I never thought about it. I'm Shin'a'in, we don't have mages. I like weapons training, I don't know that I want to give it up. It's kind of….who I am."

"I hadn't thought about that. I guess everyone here grows up around so much magic, that it's more unusual NOT to have any Gifts. Weapons training is something only scouts need, and the unGifted. I suppose, though, there's no real reason you can't continue, if we can find you a teacher and you have the time," said Whitestar.

Taia bit her lip. She would have to think about this mage thing. Maybe it wasn't too late to have the Gifts blocked and just return to the Plains, back to being an ordinary Shin'a'in who was prodigiously good with a sword…..maybe Wolf Clan would take her in, as they'd taken Brandi…..

They took the last turn and ended up at the guest quarters. Brandi was sitting outside weaving, another of the Shin'a'in traditions, one that Brandi was particularly good at – but she jumped up immediately when she saw Taia come. Taia ran to her, not realizing until that moment how good it was to see a familiar face in such unfamiliar surroundings.

"Hey, sis! How are you feeling?" Brandi said. "Are you settling in?"

"I suppose. It's all very strange, I'm not really sure how I feel about it. I…..guess I'll never just be a regular Shin'a'in again, will I? Never ride the Plains, never see my friends…." Taia started to cry.

"Hey, what are you talking about? Of course you're still Shin'a'in. That's the blood, little sister, it's not about where you live or what you can do. But you're right….your life is about to change a whole lot, and there's not a lot that can be done about it. Just take what the Star-Eyed saw fit to give you and do the best you can with it."

"How will I get my weapons training? Whitestar says I won't need it anymore, since I'll be able to – I don't know, zap lighting out of my fingernails – but I don't want to give it up," cried Taia. "I don't know how to find a trainer, certainly not here, what am I going to do?"

Brandi gave her sister a squeeze. "Well…..that's something I can help with. I've sent a messenger to Jacqui; I'm going to stay on here for a while, make sure you get yourself settled and taken care of. I will continue to train you – you're already almost better than I am, but I can still teach you technique – and if Jacqui agrees, I will stay for a year or two, and when I leave I will make sure you have either a new teacher or a solid routine to teach yourself. It won't be the same, but it isn't any less than you would have gotten on the Plains, just perhaps with fewer sparring partners. Ok?"

Taia felt better knowing she would be able to continue her training. But she still wasn't sure she wanted to continue with this mage training business. Magecraft might be common enough in the Vale, but it was unheard of in the Clans. She had no idea what it meant to be a mage, what these other Gifts that Whitestar said she had were really about. Did she want them? What good could they possibly bring, when all they'd brought her so far was rejection by her mother and twin, demonization by her clan, and banishment – ok, so her Clan hadn't actually stated she was banished, but if she returned with active Gifts they sure wouldn't hesitate – from the only home she'd ever known? Where would she ride her horse? There were too many trees here for a gallop, even if the distance were enough to justify getting on one in the first place. She might be ethnically still Shin'a'in…but there would be precious little left of her heritage to prove it.

"What about my horse? Can I keep him? And the pack horse, can I keep her, too?"

"I wasn't planning on taking them back with me. I'll tell you what. If the Tale'edras agree, I will even leave my pack mare with you. Maybe at some point while I'm here, I can see about getting you a couple more. You can start your own breeding program and your own little herd – Goddess knows you're entitled to a few horses of your own. No reason you can't be Shin'a'in wherever you go!" said Brandi.

Taia smiled at that; it was beginning to seem as if she were about to found her own tiny Clan. A Clan of one, perhaps, but a Clan nonetheless.

"Now. You go on with Whitestar and find that mage teacher, get started learning what you need to know. Faster you get trained, faster you can be saving the world with all that magic you got in you! Goddess knows, she didn't give you all those Gifts so you could waste them feeling sorry for what you don't have. You've got them so you can help people. So go learn how to do it."

Taia nodded. She went back to the path where Whitestar was waiting to take her to see the mage instructor. She still wasn't sure what to think about this mage business, but at least she'd have her sister here for awhile and wouldn't lose everything that made her – her.

Snowowl was waiting for the two girls in the training room. Taia was nervous, but she dared not show it – a Shin'a'in does not show weakness. It invited defeat; half of a victory in battle was in the intimidation of the other side, and that would not happen if one showed fear. This was not precisely a battle, but Taia preferred to maintain her air of confidence nonetheless; may as well build the habit of confidence she had begun to develop with her weapons training. It would likely be useful in magic working, as well.

Snowowl was dressed in a silvery-white robe, with his long white hair pulled behind his head and out of his face. His face was ageless – wrinkled enough to show he was a mature adult, but he could have been anywhere between forty and eighty for all Taia could tell beyond that. He sat calmly, expressionless, in the center of a large circular room with marble walls and floor. There were no torches, only a few thick glass windows near the top of the dome. The torches were on the outside of that glass. Taia wondered at the strange design, but didn't say anything. The Tale'edras were a strange people, for all that they were cousins of a sort.

"Welcome, young Shin'a'in. I am Snowowl, and I will be your first instructor in the use of your gifts. To start, let me ask you your wishes. Do you wish to be trained as a shaman to your people?"

Taia thought about that. She didn't have a particularly good experience with the shaman of her own Clan, to say the least. She supposed that perhaps she could do a better job than he – but then, she would have to train under someone. She didn't want to train in another Clan; she wasn't even sure if she would be allowed. She certainly couldn't train under the grass-cat shaman. Besides, she didn't have a particular interest in being a shaman – they didn't fight, they didn't hunt – they didn't even ride, unless they were moving camp. Everything she loved about being Shin'a'in would be right there in front of her, but she wouldn't be able to do any of it.

"No….not particularly….." she said.

"Very well. Do you wish to have your Gifts blocked? I should warn you, they are strong enough that I am not entirely sure we could even do so, and to try and fail could be dangerous. But if it is what you truly wish, we will try. If we did succeed, it would be permanent and irreversible, so please consider this carefully," Snowowl said.

Taia thought about this. She never wanted to be a mage, and certainly not a powerful one. All she ever wanted was to ride the Plains on her horse, feel the wind in her face and the sun on her back. She wanted to go hunting with her friends and train in her swordwork, the bow, and even the knives and shortswords that did not come so easily to her. If they blocked her Gifts – and it worked – she could do all that. It was certainly tempting. But again – she didn't think they'd take her back in her own Clan, Gift-blocked or no. And if she went to another Clan, if there were even one that would take her, she would have to make all new friends, start training under another weaponsmaster, and who knew how her past might affect her acceptance there? Still, it might be worth it…

But then she remembered her conversation with her sister. Brandi, who had endured the renewed rejection by her mother and the possibility of execution by grass-cat Clan for returning despite banishment, the separation from her wife and the arduous and dangerous journey to bring her here. Brandi, who continued to be separated from her wife and her Clan just to make sure that Taia got settled and had access to continued weapons training; and Brandi, who had told her that she needed to use what the Star-Eyed had given her for whatever purpose she could find to better the world. She wanted nothing more than to return to the Clans an ordinary Shin'a'in – but she wasn't an ordinary Shin'a'in. She was a prodigiously talented swordsperson, similarly gifted with a bow, and above average with other weaponry. She was also mage Gifted, among other Gifts she didn't yet want to acknowledge. She couldn't turn her back on what the Goddess had seen fit to give her. If she did, she would be letting herself down, the Goddess down – and more importantly, she would be letting Brandi down. Her older sister, who had quite possibly saved her life, and was the only one of her family who was neither afraid of her nor unwilling to care for and love her. Taia would rather die.

"No," she said, with some trepidation. "I will be trained."

Whitestar grinned. Taia wasn't really sure why it was so important to her, but she was glad that her new friend was pleased.

"Finally, I have someone to train with and practice with," said Whitestar. "It gets really lonely having to train all alone because no one else can train at my level; finally, I'll have someone to work with."

Taia could certainly understand that. She had started sword training with adults and sometimes even the Swordsworn; her agemates were nowhere near her level.

"So. First we will learn the basics of shielding. We want you to be able to shield yourself as quickly as possible. While we certainly don't mind, the energy we devote to shielding you needs to be redirected towards the Pelagiris, which is where it belongs. Now, I imagine that the Shin'a'in have some sort of routine warm-up for their sword training, yes? And you have been taught this?" asked Snowowl.

"Um….yes, I perform a series of sword dances in order to loosen my muscles and prepare my mind to focus on the lesson," said Taia, not really sure how her swordwork was relevant to her mage training.

"Excellent. I believe that state of mind you enter during that dance is the state we call 'ground and center', which is the state you need to be able to find like a reflex. That is the basis on which your shields will be anchored. Close your eyes, and visualize the sword dances step by step. If it helps to get up and move through them, please do so," said Snowowl.

Taia did just that. She wanted to get it right the first time, so she stood up and began to move through her sword dance routines. Whitestar and Snowowl watched and were amazed by the grace of her movements, but didn't say a word. Taia sensed someone watching her, not with eyes but watching her mind – but she ignored it, focused on her sword dance. She lost her awareness of everything around her and knew nothing other than the next movement, the next step.

:That's it: she heard in her head. She almost jumped out of her skin – but managed to continue her movement. :That is grounded and centered. A very solid job of it, in fact. Do not be disturbed by my voice in your head; this is Mindspeech. Now open your eyes.:

Taia did as she was told, but continued the dance. She noticed that she stayed solid in the mindset that Snowowl was referring to as grounded and centered.

:Now I want you to try and maintain this state, but end the dance and return to a sitting position.:

Taia completed the routine and sat down. She found it somewhat more difficult to maintain her focus, but managed to do so.

:Do you feel the energy around you? Can you see it?:

Taia thought she could, and nodded her head slightly.

:That is the shield surrounding you. Close your eyes again, and look at it with your mind. It sounds silly, yes, but just try it.:

Snowowl was right, it did sound silly; but she did as she was told. Snowowl was a bit surprised that she didn't argue or ask questions regarding what he asked her to do, despite the fact that it would seem very strange to someone not used to magic; but then, Taia had been used to following the direction of instructors. Arguing with a weapons training instructor was dangerous. She could see something surrounding her, a faint – but solid – translucent white sheet. She reached out her hand to touch it, but of course it wasn't a physical shield. She kept studying it, examining every inch. She wanted to learn to recreate this at least as quickly as Snowowl wanted her to.

"Good," said Snowowl aloud. "That is excellent work. Now. I want you to drop the focus. Then try to recreate it, this time without the sword dance. Now that you know what your goal is, it should be progressively easier to attain."

Taia did as she was told. It took her a few tries to successfully get grounded and centered without the sword dance routine, but when she finally got it, it was easier and easier to re-establish each time. She was anxious to start learning to build those shield-things – but Snowowl had other ideas.

"That is enough for today," he said. "I know you feel like you are ready for more, but you have exercised 'muscles' in your mind that have never been worked before, and you have given them a greater workout than you realize. Drink some willowbark tea – you will have a headache later, if you do not – and go eat some lunch. Spend the rest of the day with your sister, acclimating yourself. We will work again tomorrow."

Taia nodded, a little disappointed. She really wanted to learn how to build these shields. She did not like being dependent on the Vale for the protection of her own mind, and she also did not like not being in control of her own self-defense. She did as she was told, however, and got up. She looked at Whitestar, expecting her to follow.

"It is time for my lesson," Whitestar said. "I will see you in the kitchens for dinner. If you get lost, just ask anyone you see; they will help you find your way."

Whitestar smiled encouragingly. Taia smiled back, but secretly she was a bit disappointed; she was hoping not to be separated, and she was hoping to make more progress on learning shields. She was impatient; she wanted to learn everything, now. But she knew that a lifetime of experience cannot be taught in one day, no matter how badly she wanted it. She left the training room to find a cup of willowbark tea sitting on a small table, which she drank obediently. She headed off towards the guest houses to find Brandi – she didn't really know how she was supposed to find food, but hoped Brandi would have some idea – and maybe she could work on her swordwork after lunch. The sun was shining – of course it was, in the weather-controlled Vale – and things were looking up again, finally.