I suppose there's no time like the present. Early the next morning, just after breakfast, Savil headed down the hallway, and up several staircases. Cheron mentioned to her that he situated the new Trainee in the tower, with a few stories between he and the rest of the inhabitants than the Collegium. At least that way, if he did start projecting, the number of people within his immediate circle of influence would be somewhat reduced. The strategy was sound, although Savil questioned the wisdom of isolating the boy. Despite her regular conditioning at the salle, by the time she reached the top of the stairs, her breath rasped in her throat, and she paused before tapping lightly at the door. Blast, what did Cheron say his name was? She cleared her throat, trying to wait patiently for the boy to open the door.

When he did, Savil had a brief moment where it seemed the room was empty until she realized the lad was hiding behind the heavy oak door. She Reached forward tentatively with her thoughts, touching his mind with a quiet thought. He was heavily shielded, by Ilia, and Aravel as well if her guess was correct. :Can you hear me lad?: She stepped into the room, waiting for him to come out from behind the door. He stooped forward, making it hard to get a reading on his height, but he was easily a handspan taller than she was. His head was covered in a dark hooded cloak, obscuring his features, preventing her from getting a good look at him. He nodded once he was settled in, and Savil had the curious sensation that he was Watching her, Reading what she felt, even with the Companions heavy shielding keeping him from projecting. It was a strange sensation, one of the first things a Herald learned was to shield, both to keep the self in- and others out. :Do you mind, if I talk with you here, lad? If you direct your thoughts at me, I should be able to Hear you-:

:I do not mind. I have known others before to Speak this way.: His words, even in his head were carefully guarded, and under the shadow of his cloak his face couldn't be seen clearly enough to give anything away. Inwardly, Savil breathed a silent sigh of relief. At least he wasn't averse to Mindspeech, and had a little more than a passing familiarity with the concept.

Thank the gods for small favors. :My name is Herald-Mage Savil Ashkevron.: She forced a slight smile, hoping to put him at ease. The gods only knew that her people skills weren't the most polished in the Collegium, her talents ran more toward magics and teaching than reading people. She sighed a little in frustration at herself.

:Raveyne Feoras. People call me Rae.: He directed at her, and again she had the sensation of being Watched. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

:Good, Rae it is then.: The Herald nodded, watching the dark shape where his eyes were, :Ilia then, has explained some, about the Heralds of Valdemar, and what it means to be here?:

:Yes, some. She said that she Chose me, that she Wants me to be here with her, to learn.:

Savil nodded, and hoped that Ilia had been a bit more explicit than that. If the boy was going to be a Herald, it might serve him well to know what exactly that meant. :Cheron, who traveled back with you- he- blast. I'm no good at all this pussyfooting around and manners. Cheron said that you're- not human lad. Perhaps we'd better start there, with you telling me a little about yourself. And- with you coming out of hiding, for starters.: She gestured to the hood covering his face.

The boy nodded, and slowly lifted his hands to remove his cloak, revealing pale green eyes, watching her intently. His features were human, except for the long points of his ears, poking out from under his dark hair. Except for the slight crooked lines in his jaw and nose, his face was fairly average looking. Handsome, though not quite with the finely drawn features of her nephew, the peacock, nor the good natured homeliness of her previous apprentice Gadred. It was his eyes that kept her captive, under dark brows and lashes, they seemed to change colors rapidly, from blue to green and back again. The older woman shook off his intent gaze, looking back at him. :There, see? That's not so bad. Now, about yourself-:

:I'm- my people are Arcanic. They- feel things very loudly. Elves, not so loudly. Humans, maybe are numb from the neck up.: Savil coughed laughter, startling the boy and he pulled back into the chair, tucking his knees protectively against his chest. The sensation of being Read intensified, and Savil realized he was checking to see if he should fight, or flee. Even through the shields, Savil could Sense his alarm, and see it plastered across his face. :It's all right, I apologize, I didn't mean to startle you, lad.:

She sat back in the chair, giving him a moment to uncurl from the safety of the chair, although he still eyed her warily. She did her best to remain calm and nonthreatening inside and out, lest he recoil again. Savil noted that it was going to take someone with a light touch to work with the boy, he was remarkably touchy, and probably feeling incredibly out of place. Poor lad. Even the most backwoods bumpkin who lands in Haven can at least speak the language.

:I am all right.: There was a moment of uncomfortable silence, physical and mental in which the two simply watched each other. Savil watched to make certain he wasn't going to vanish on her, Rae watching to make certain she was finished with her outbursts.

:Where- do your people live, lad? I admit, up here the rumors about your country tend more toward- monsters and barbarians, than prospective Heralds: It was better for him to get an idea of what he'd be in for in his classes straight away. With any luck, not too many of the trainees would have heard about him, and where he was from, before he started classes. He couldn't hide his ears forever, but the sooner he could learn the language- the easier it would be for him to fit in.

:Indoors, mostly.: Savil was rewarded with a slight smirk and a faintly arched eyebrow, which she happily returned, breathing a sigh of relief to see a little humor coming out in the boy. Perhaps this wasn't going to be an unmitigated disaster after all. :Houses, manors if they are wealthy. Not so different to this I think. This is much nicer than what my family afforded.:

Truly, the room at the top of the tower was rather comfortable. Beastly hot in the summertime if the windows were closed, but warmed by a hearth, with a separate sitting room, and a spacious bedroom. Once he was equipped with study materials and his own gear for training in the salle, it would fill up quickly, but right now there was ample room to spread out. The two rooms combined were nearly the size of Raveyne's family's home. To him, the room at the top of the tower was palatial.

:I suppose- our kind are insular. Most don't venture outside the kingdom. There is no reason to.:

:Are you familiar with the Hawkbrothers? The people of the Pelagirs?: Most Heralds had scarcely heard of the secretive guardians of the Pelagirs, much less met with them. Savil's relationship with them was truly a rare one. But they may know of- his kind.

The boy shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck, scanning the room. :We do not call it such, but yes. At least, I am familiar now- with the land between your country and mine. Hawkbrothers, I do not know. We did not meet anyone on our journey back.: He worried the tip of his thumb between his teeth, studying her features. :These- Gifts- Cheron said I have- are they common, for humans to have?:

Savil shook her head, tucking a stray lock back into her neat bun. :No, most of those that do have them end up here. And as you can see, we're hardly full to capacity. Half the time we rattle around like beans in the bottom of a tin. Are your people commonly- gifted?:

Rae answered with a shrug, slowly relaxing his guard a little, though he still eyed the woman cautiously. :It's not so unusual. To speak like this, a handful can. Farther south, where the weather is always like summer, there are people who all communicate this way. They are not Arcanic, but something else. Like us, but unlike us. Smaller. Older. Just- like humans are smaller. Some can generate fire, or manipulate the earth, or water. But- I have never known anyone else- who could Feel what others do, the way I do.:

:Another people? You're hardly a giant yourself, you know.: She smiled gently, her mental tone lightening a little.

:I'm short. For- my people. Most men are- a palm's length taller. At least. Though, for a human, I'm very tall. Yes. Very far to the south, the farthest I've been. They live very close to the land. Very- gently.:

They do sound like Hawkbrothers, although he seems to think they're not human. Nor- Arcanic, or whatever his people call themselves. :Do you read, write?:

He nodded, then sighed, melting into the cushioned chair. His fingers scraped at an imaginary speck on the plush material. :Not that it does much good. Reading another- language, another set of letters. I can read Draconian, and Arcanic.:

Savil exhaled a sigh of relief, sinking back into the chair. It was more than she'd hoped for, by the Gods, it was more than some of the Border holding farmhands had. If he could read, he could write, and that would make it that much easier to learn a new language. He'd just have to get used to speaking it. :Good! Good, I'm so glad. Half the new Trainees we get in have the literary sense of a dirt clod. We'll get you acquainted with the library so that you can get some books with simple vocabulary to start studying as soon as possible. Ilia, I'm sure, will help where she can. And once we get you settled with a mentor, you can practice with them, and we'll get you placed in classes, in history, deportment, and- training for your Gift. Do you- have any experience with combat, or weaponry? We could start you with that right away.:

That's something that should be nearly universal.

:Yes. With bow, and arrow. I can use a sword, and daggers as well. Those I can do. I know how to fight. It's something- common to my people.:

Savil let herself relax a little, formulating a plan. First she would place the boy in some basic arms training. The physical nature of the work might also let him interact with some other Trainees, without having to speak much. Second, a mentor familiar with empathy, maybe Betula, or Lancir, to help him get a handle on his Gift, and work with him on language. She could sense for herself, the strength of his Gift, even through Ilia's shields, it took her strengthening her own shields not to end up a bundle of nerves herself. Third, enrolling in courses to get him caught up to the rest of the Trainees as soon as possible. If he was able to endear himself to a few of the other students in weapon work, the more charitable heraldic trainees might also help with the language barrier.

I think this will be acceptable. At the very least, Ilia's keeping a handle on things. It's just as well they had a long ride back, their bond must be strong for her to be able to keep a shield on him.