Harry sat behind Keren as they ambled down the road towards Haven, the capital of Valdemar. The companion was acting as a translator for them as they talked. It became so normal for them to talk like that, that they didn't even notice his voice in the back of their minds anymore. As they neared the city, Harry grew quieter. He missed Hedwig and her constant companionship. The snow owl was his best friend, having been the only one that didn't judge him, well, if you didn't count the headmaster's Phoenix, Fawkes.
Sighing, he looked around and noticed that they were in the bustling city and making their way through the crowds. Nobody paid them any mind, though and for that he was grateful. He hated attention. They made good time, even though it was noon and the streets were filled with people. Maybe it was because Keren was a Herald and they were on a companion. What ever it was, they were at the palace gates in less than an hour.
They both dismounted and Kerens companion went in a separate direction than them. "Come on, lets get you settled in."
Harry nodded, and followed her. It then occurred to him that he understood her. Maybe when Dantris had translated for them he infused the knowledge of their language in his mind. He grinned at the thought. They made their way over to a large barn area where a group of people were huddled together, chatting about something or other. Two of them had shockingly white hair, one male, the other female. On the males shoulder was a Forestgyre, a rather large one at that. They both had feathers in their hair.
Next to the man was a woman with a long braid of blonde hair. She looked to be in perfect physical condition. Next to her was another woman with curly brown hair. Finally, there was a man with a heavily scared face, though not as bad as Moodys, and a scowl on his face. Keren went right over to them, "Well, what's going on here?"
They looked up, startled, though the scarred man and the woman with the braided hair didn't show it. "Welcome back, Keren. How'd it go?"
"Good. Not to much to handle, though I did find somebody out cold in the middle of the forest."
She motioned for Harry to come over and he did, cautiously. The scarred man scowled deeply at him and Harry just stared back blankly, thinking, Does he honestly think that is going to scare me? I endured worse with Snape and Mood. "Hello," he said slowly, testing the language he had just recently acquired.
Keren looked surprised at that, "I thought you couldn't speak Valdemarian."
Harry nodded, "I couldn't, but Dantris must have helped me when we were on our way here."
Keren nodded and said, "Well, let me introduce everybody. This," she said as she pointed to the white haired woman, "is Herald-Mage Elspeth and next to her is her lifemate, Mage Adept Darkwind K'Sheyna. Next to him is Kerowyn, the Arms Master. Then there's Talia, who is the Queens Own Herald and finally there's Alberich, the other Arms Master, though he's suppose to be retired."
Most everybody in the circle snickered at that, though Alberich frowned and shook his head. "Ane what's your name, young man?" Talia asked.
"Harry, ma'am. Harry Potter."
"And how old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Where are your parents? Surely they'll be looking for you."
"They're dead. Killed when I was one by a megalomaniac."
Silence encompassed them until they heard a rather loud screech come from up above. A snowy owl dived down, straight towards them. Six of them were ready for an attack while one of them beamed. The gyre launched itself into the air, going to see what the new arrival was about when the owl turned and head for Harry. He stuck out his arm and allowed the beautiful owl to land. "Hedwig. Where've you been? I've been worried sick," he had slipped into his own tongue when she landed.
She hooted dolefully and he just contented himself to petting her. The others stared at him and he looked at them, "What? This is my owl, Hedwig."
Darkwind looked confused, "She seems kind of small to be a bondbird."
Harry blinked, "A what? Hedwig? No, she's a regular owl, though a bit more intelligent than most. She'd have to be after being exposed to magic most her life."
They blinked at him, "You know magic? You're a mage?" Elspeth asked.
Harry shook his head and leaned against the fence near him, "No, a wizard."
That just got him blank stares. Sighing, he shook his head. "I would explain it, but right now, I am rather tired and would like to rest. That is, if the rest of you don't mind."
They shook their heads and Talia volunteered to take him to his temporary room. As they walked, Talia told him about the life of a Herald, things Keren didn't tell him and what is was like to the Queen's Own. In turn, he told her a little about himself. She nodded, feeling a deeper pain than anything she ever felt. They stopped in front of one of the many guest rooms in the palace. "I'm sure nobody would mind you staying here while we figure something out. Have a good rest."
She left him in front of the room. Sighing, he opened the doors and shut them behind him when he went in. They were rather large, though not overly so. It was decorated in soothing blues and creams. The bed was large, enough to fit four adults. Hedwig flew over to the dresser and settled down, preening her feathers. Harry laughed and pulled out what looked to be a deck of cards from his pocket. He set it down and with a wave of his wand, it was enlarged to show a trunk. It was made of an odd mixture of woods that could only be made by a master carpenter. With eight different woods, it made an odd coloration, but seemed to shimmer with an other worldly power. All of them were from trees of protection; Elder, Holly, Oak, Ash, Aspen, Birch, Elm and Rowan. Engraved into two corners, diagonal from each other were a Raven and a Wren. In the other two corners were the symbols of two planets, Saturn and Jupiter. In the center of the highly unusual trunk was a unicorn . Behind it was the symbol for the Earth. Surrounding the Unicorn were four runes; Thurisaz, Nied, Eihwaz, and Ehwaz.
Harry reached for one of the nine locks and pressed his finger to it. It read his fingerprint and magical signature and popped open for him, soundlessly. He pull out something to sleep in and changed. Sighing, he climbed into the feather bed and drifted into an uneasy sleep, unable to get used to his surroundings. Nothing seemed normal anymore. But then again, when was he ever normal?
