Zalanna had to narrow her eyes against the glare from seeing all of those white clad bodies in front of her. It took her a moment before she realized that only some were human the rest were horses. Companions, Zala reminded herself. Apparently, every Herald currently in Haven had arrived to greet them; the sight was quite impressive to the young gryphon. Eventually she was able to see a small group of people detach themselves form the sea of white, mainly because this group was flanked by the unmistakable figures of two gryphons, and they could only be the Great Ones.

Zala tried not to let her nerves get the better of her and she was quite certain that she was doing a stellar job of that until she realized who exactly the people in that group were. There were only two Heralds and both had a certain regal bearing to them, therefore they could only be Queen Selenay and her Consort Herald Daren. Zala began to shake a little but a claming hand on her flank from Silverhawk was enough to sooth her. Not for the first time she took comfort in the fact that Silverhawk was her partner and her friend.


"Welcome to Haven," Selenay greeted the new Kaled'a'in delegation warmly. Treyvan had organized this particular delegation and Selenay was amused to see that the gryphon made sure to include more of his own kind. Since the mage storms and the development of a Mage Colligium there have been plenty of Kaled'a'in and gryphons in Haven, but apparently that was not enough for Treyvan.

Selenay had it from Elspeth that Treyvan was doing his best to create a gryphon wing in Haven. An idea that did not bother Selenay in the slightest, and so when Treyvan had requested a land grant from her earlier in the week she readily granted it provided that the land he decided to settle his gryphon colony on was considered undesirable for farming and was unclaimed. Both Treyvan and her consort Daren had been spending at least half of their days finding a suitable place. With his Gift of Earth Sense, Daren could tell what was suitable for farming or not, as well as what was suitable for a gryphon's unique needs. Moreover, since a gryphon could make long distance flights with little to no effort and a Companion could cover quite a bit of ground the spot they had finally settled on was only a half day's ride from Haven on Companion back, but at least a two days ride on any normal horse. Selenay had insisted that they be in at least a Companion ride away from Haven, she wanted to be able to keep in contact with this gryphon wing at all times.

All of this ran through her mind as the delegation bowed in reply to her greeting. Her lips twitched at the formality and she did her best to suppress a smile. Out of all of Valdemar's allies she had made during her tenure as Queen, Selenay enjoyed the Kaled'a'in and their cousins the Shin'a'in and Tayledras the most. They were so formal on the surface but once you got to know them they were a fountain of warmth and the greatest allies anyone could ask for.

"If you do not mind, we have some hertasi who will take care of your gear." Daren told them, "That way we may be able to show you to your rooms."

"That would be wonderful," one of the men replied in flawless Valdemarian. Selenay smiled at that, clearly they had a dyheli insert the language into their minds for them. She wondered if it was Skif who volunteered to give the two Valdemarian. Did he do it out of friendship or a sense of duty as the Heraldic representative in k'Leshya vale? She hoped it was out of friendship. "First let us remove the harness from the gryphons."

"But of course," Selenay agreed. This would give her time to observe the new delegates. The man who had spoken, he of the sharp almost hawk-like features, turned towards the smaller of the two gryphons. As the man began to remove the harness Selenay noticed that she – she did not know what made her think of the gryphon as female other than there was a distinct aura of femininity coming from her – had a lighter build than most gryphons Selenay was used to. In fact not only did the female have a lighter build, but a deeper keelbone, narrower chest, and no neck ruff to speak of, unlike any other gryphon Selenay had met so far. Perhaps what was the oddest thing about the female gryphon was the humanlike hands she had for foreclaws, Selenay noticed them as the gryphon sat back on her haunches somewhat and held the bit of harness the man had given her.

The other gryphon looked like he had been cut from the same cloth as Treyvan the only difference was coloring. Selenay grunted in surprise.

"SShe is of the grryfalcon brreed." Treyvan said in response to Selenay's grunt. Selenay turned to get a better look at the male gryphon before raising a questioning eyebrow.

"I ssshall explain laterrr." For now, Selenay would have to content herself with that.


Nightsblade and Silverhawk worked fast at getting the two gryphons out of the rigging. Once freed from the restrictive harness Zalanna fought the urge to shake and ruffle her feathers. She knew that it would not leave the Queen with a good impression of her and she knew that Savian would look down on her for that. She was supposed to be acting like a diplomat, not a fledgling.

They followed the Queen and her consort into the massive building behind them and Zala wondered at the time and effort that must have gone into creating such a place. She was also painfully reminded of White Gryphon. In the k'Leshya vale, there were no stone buildings of such stature; in fact, the vale was the farthest one could get from a city surrounded by the Pelgairs forest as it was. However, here was a city moreover, this building was the heart of that city, and Zala was reminded that her heart still longed for the majestic lines of White Gryphon. As much as she wanted adventure, she had not realized how much it would cost her.

It was lucky; Zala thought, that Nightsblade had insisted on putting on the wood and leather sheaths over Savian's formidable talons that morning. Even sheathed she could hear them as they clanked against the palaces stone floors. At least they protected the floors as much as possible. Zala had no need for such sheaths her talons were stubby enough that they would do no damaged as she traveled through the palace. She only wore such devices for combat and then instead of sheathing her talons they extended them making them just as wicked and curved as any other gryphons.

"This here," the Queen said drawing Zala's attention away from her musings. "Is the diplomat's wing of the palace complex, you will find your rooms are the third door down on the left. They have a very nice view of Companion's field from them. Now if you would excuse me, there are many other matters that acquire my attention."

They bowed their thanks to the Queen as she and her routine left them. Nightsblade took the lead in finding their rooms and when they did, Zala was pleasantly surprised. The main room was a perfect blanace between the needs and comfort for human and gryphons alike. In the farthest back corners of the room, there were what looked to be two mountains of pillows and cushions, perfect for lounging on or making a nest out of. In between those mounds of pillows, there was a set of windows. Indeed, as the Queen suggested, there was a lovely view of a rolling green field dotted here and there by white figures Zala could only assume were Companions.

The rest of the room was covered in furniture fit for the two humans as well as more cushions for the gryphons to lounge upon. Zala noticed that there were two doors leading off the main room. One she assumed would lead to a bedroom for Nightsblade and Silverhawk, the other might be to a private bathing chamber. She was certain that the back wall was meant to serve as hers and Savian's bedroom.

All and all the generosity and the understanding the furnishing represented overcame her. Moreover, it was clear to her that the men in her group felt the same way. It was Silverhawk who finally voiced what they all were feeling.

"These rooms are lovely."

"Thank you," a musical and feminine voiced replied. "We learned from Treyvan and Hydona what was most comfortable for you; in fact they oversaw the furnishing of these rooms personally."

Zalanna whipped around to see who had sunk up on them, a task made simple by the fact that the four of them had left the great door wide open as they admired their rooms. Looking for all the world as some lost country bumpkins. Hump, this is not the first palace we have ever seen, nor the most elaborate, Zala thought to herself thinking of the time she had spent as a gryphon-guard for the Haighlei Emperor.

She found herself face to beak with a woman of middling age – certainly younger than the Queen had been - with coppery curls that were showing a few streaks of silver-gray. The woman's eyes were a warm and welcoming brown and her heart shaped face showed no signs of guile. There was a deep calmness about her that Zala immediately sensed, in fact, she was reminded of the sheltering comfort of her mother's wing. The fact that the woman was wearing Heraldic whites was not lost on the gryfalcon either.

The woman seemed to be waiting for a reply from one of them, and since the men appeared too surprised and tongue tide to say anything Zalanna spoke up.

"These roomsss are just marvelous," she said trying her best to control her speech. It was difficult for her to shape her beak around the strange Valdemarian language. But she had spent time with Silverhawk practicing and was pleased to note that she did not sound entirely like a foreigner. A slight accent could not be helped, "A farrr better fair than sleeping in a crowded tent with a thunderrr storm each night. I am surrre they do not mean to snorrre so loudly." She finished.

The lady laughed at Zala's sally and it cheered the young gryfalcon to hear it.

"That I can understand completely," she told Zalanna after getting control of her laughter. She even threw in a conspiratorial wink.

"You must ssshare close quarters with thrrree males as well?" Zala asked her ear tuffs twitching with her curiosity.

"Ah, no. My husband can make that much noise all on his own."

"Oh?" The woman chuckled to see the gryfalcon's curiosity.

"Yes, a good friend of mine often refers to him as a 'mountain man'." Zala chuckled at the face the woman pulled when mentioning her friend's nickname for her husband.

"Well," Savian interjected not to be outdone, "You whissstle in yourrr sleep."

"Ssso do you, tunelessly I might add." The Herald smiled while Savian bristled before stalking off towards one of the pile of cushions on the opposite wall. Zala chuckled at the gryphon's antics. Who is the fledgling I wonder, she thought to herself with some amusement.

"May I asssk what your name isss?" Zala asked the Herald.

"You may, if I may know yours."

"I am Zalanna."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Zalanna, I am"—

Precisely at that moment a loud, mournful sounding bell rang out, drowning what the woman was about to say. She paused with her mouth wide open and whipped her head around to stare off into the distance.

"Oh no," she said barely above a whisper and with such feeling in the words. "If you will please excuse me something has come up." That was all the explanation the woman gave them before bolting from the room.

Zala turned her head to stare back at her fellow k'Leshya.

"What was that about?" Silverhawk asked in Kaled'a'in.

"That was the Death Bell," someone else answered in Kaled'a'in and once again, the four found themselves surprised by a palace resident. This time they looked to find a man who was clearly Tayledras standing in the still opened doorway. We really should remember to close that door, Zalanna thought wirily to herself.

"It sounds whenever a Herald dies and the Heralds know who it is and how that person died the instant the Bell tolls," the man continued to explain upon seeing their blank expressions. "That's why Talia left so suddenly the Queen will need her."

"I take it you know who died," Nightsbalde said.

"No I do not know," he answered a little evasively.

"Doesss the Bell ring frequently?" Savian asked.

"Often enough, being a Herald is a dangerous life." The Hawkbrother answered. Savian clucked his beak at the man's statement; it was obvious to Zala that Sav did not entirely believe the man. The way the Hawkbrother looked at Sav then, Zala could tell that he was aware of the male gryphon's disbelief.

"I am Darkwind," the Hawkbrother introduced himself; "Elspeth sent me to make sure everything was to your liking."

"Darkwind, truly?" Nightsblade asked sounding like a hero-worshipping youngling. "It is an honor to meet you and the rooms could not be more perfect."

"I am glad to hear that," Darkwind answered with a chuckle.

They past the rest of the afternoon with Darkwind and it wasn't until when Darkwind excused himself to prepare for the upcoming banquet that Zala realized he had kept even the gryphon's curiosity at bay.