~Chapter 5~

Daire could sense his Chosen close by and hurried to locate her.  By the time he reached the courtyard she was already outside the gate and lost in the crowd.

:Did she get away again?:  Shara nuzzled his neck.

:Yes.:  Daire sighed.  :After seventeen years I finally get the Call and she's a cat.  This has got to be a cosmic joke.:

:Maybe its just a mistake.:  Shara suggested.

:Maybe.  I can only sense her when she close by otherwise I would follow her.:

:You should talk to one of the mages.  I know its against the Rules but…:

:But I don't know what else to do.:

~*~

Julian thought the picture of the cat on the sign looked like Berry.  Inside it was obviously packed, and from the delicious smell there was a good reason for it to be packed.

Geeva seemed to be in her element directing the serving girls and making certain no one was missed and that meals got to the right people.  She wore a dress of black, as was suitable for a widow, which was expertly patched.  A massive fellow beside the door had a patch scars that warned all who entered there would be no bad behaviour. 

"Herald Julian!"  Wynne greeted him.  "I was hoping you would come."

"I wouldn't miss it."

"There is a spot over here."  Wynne gestured for him to follow.  She sat him at the end of the table near a few other Heralds who had come to investigate the Purple Cat.  "Would you like stew, chicken, ham, steak, soup, meat pie—"

"Meat pie sounds wonderful."

"We have cold juice, cold cider, cold beer, wine, and sweet water."

"Try the cider."  One of the other Heralds suggested.

"Cider then."

Wynne moved away to give the order to a serving girl.

"You didn't mention you knew the owner."  Herald Sandi commented. 

"I met her earlier today."  Julian explained.  "She invited me to come by."

"She can barely keep her eyes off you."  Sandi warned.

Julian turned and saw she was indeed staring at him.  "I must remind her of someone."

Sandi glared at him.  "I doubt that is what she is thinking."

Julian was far from handsome and was used to getting the 'brotherly' speech.  "I think you're wrong."

Sandi shook her head in disbelief.  "Sometimes you are thick."

A serving girl set a plate in front of him and a fair sized mug.  "Here you are Herald, trust me its good."

"Thank you." 

"Hey, if you were the opposite gender I would drag you off into the bushes."  Sandi assured him.

"That's reassuring."  Julian took his first bite of the pie.  "This is delicious."

"Try the bread.  It is even better than Mero's."

"I think she is going to become one of the more popular taverns."

A small, dark girl appeared at his elbow.  "Herald?"

"Yes?"

"Is this yours?"  She held up a white pouch.

"Yes.  Where did you get it?"

The girl placed the pouch next to his plate and nodded to the massive bouncer.  He hefted a young man by the arm and hauled him out the door.  A pained scream echoed in and the entire room fell silent.

"I told you thieves wouldn't be a problem."  Wynne was heard commenting to a serving girl.

Only a handful of people looked unsettled.  The rest returned to their meals with grins.

The unsettled ones quickly ate, paid, and left.

"I'll definitely be returning."  Sandi grinned.  "Did you hear she has a policy of for a candlemark of good playing a bard or minstrel gets a plate of stew?  They were playing earlier.  It helped draw in about half these people."

"I am sorry I missed it."

"She's staring at you again."  Sandi teased.  "I envy you."

"Maybe she is staring at you."

"She didn't even glance over here until you showed up."  Sandi assured him.  "Well, I am done.  See you later."

Wynne watched Julian out of the corner of her eye.  He seemed to enjoy his food, which pleased her, and enjoy the company of the other Herald., which didn't please her quite so much.

Sometimes she just wished she was human.  They didn't have to battle with primitive instincts that screamed at her to drag a man to bed simply because he smelled good.  They didn't get restless when confined by walls and frantic when there were no windows.  They could rule their instincts were as she was ruled by hers.

Thankfully the children wouldn't have these instincts as strong as she did, they maybe uncomfortable where they could smell Death and would be drawn to certain people more than others but they would be able to resist them when they were older.

"Aunt Wynne?"  Ana appeared next to her.  "Are you alright?"

"Just restless."  Wynne assured her.

Ana glanced over at Julian.  "Papa told me once that we would know our mates when we met them."

Wynne glanced around to make certain no one was listening.  "Something like that.  Some people will draw us like moths to a flame."

"And he is drawing you?"

"Yes.  Now enough of that.  Are you tired?"

"No.  You just looked strange."

"I'm fine kitten.  Back to work."

"Would it help if you went out?"

"No.  Off you get."  Wynne shooed her off.  Ana was too sharp for her own good.

"It looks like you are a success."  Geeva approached her.

"I am very glad I hired you," Wynne admitted, "I wouldn't be able to coordinate the girls so well."

Geeva blushed.  "I am sorry for doubting you."

"I would have doubted too."  Wynne assured her.

"Wrong way!"  Geeva strode over to one of the serving girls.

Wynne greeted the next new customer and examined his chit.  When she double checked it against the number list she saw it didn't match.  "Sorry, this is a fake.  Liam?"

The mercenary grabbed the offending young man and dragged him outside.

"Thank you Liam."  Wynne grinned at the silent man.

He just nodded at her.

It was late when she started herding people out the door.  Julian was still at the table talking with two other Heralds and where the last ones left.  She had already sent everyone else off to bed.  They all stood when she approached.

"Sorry, we lost track of time.  You have a wonderful place here."  One of the Heralds assured her.

"Thank you."  Wynne walked them to the door.

"You have to watch your cook or someone will steal her."  Julian warned.

"They won't have a chance."  Wynne assured him.

Wynne hesitated as they left.  "Please come again."

Once alone she took a deep breath and locked the door and headed up the stairs.  In her room she opened the window and shifted. 

~*~

Daire had explored most of Haven and all he ever sensed was her presence near by but she vanished soon after.  He didn't even know what she was yet.

Rolan was waiting for him when he returned.  :Any luck?:

:None.  It is almost like she is a ghost.:

:Don't give up.:  Rolan encouraged him.  :Maybe she will visit Julian in the Stables again.:

:What are we going to do with a cat?  She can't wear uniforms, she can't speak, she can't ride circuit.:

:Just remember, we don't make mistakes.:

Daire gave him an annoyed look.  :I am going to go outside Haven and see if it is just misfiring.:

:Good luck, Daire.:

~*~

After four months the Purple Cat was still prospering.  Wynne was finding herself more and more superfluous to the running of the tavern.  She couldn't tally numbers, she couldn't cook, she could serve the tables but there was no point, and Geeva ran the tavern like a general with an army.  Even the children went to Geeva more than to her now.  Now she knew they had felt somewhat responsible for her.

For the past month she hadn't even bothered going down to the tavern.

Finally she decided on her course of action and went in search of Geeva.

"Hey Wynne, I am just counting last night's take."  Geeva greeted her.

"I have come to ask you a strange question.  I am useless here."

Geeva looked up startled.  "What do you mean?"

"I am of now use here.  When was the last time I was needed for anything in the tavern?"

Geeva couldn't answer.

"If I left for a while, would you be willing to stay and run it and care for the children?"

"Where are you going to go?"

"I don't know."

"Why though?"

"I am restless.  Actually it is more than that.  I don't like feeling useless."  Wynne admitted.

"But you aren't useless."  Geeva protested.

"I am.  I have been only an aunt to the children, you have become their mother and we both know it.  They come to you when they need advice or when they are upset.  They treat me like my brothers did, like someone they have to protect."

"What happened to their parents?"

"My brothers were hung as thieves, Ana's mother died giving birth to her little sister, and the boys' mother was hit by a carriage as she fled from the Watch."

"And they were left to you?"

"Yes.  Will you?"

Geeva hesitated.  "Yes, I would be honoured."

Wynne sighed in relief.  "Thank you."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow.  I will come back.  I just need to escape walls for a while."  Wynne assured her.

"I hope the children will understand."

~*~

The children each gave her a hug as they stood in the street.  Wynne had a bag on her back and wore a pair of well patched breeches, a warm cloak, and mittens.

"I am surprised you didn't take off earlier," Ana admitted.

"Have fun out there."  Kane smiled.

"Make sure you have lots of stories for us when you come back."  Elwin admonished.

"Be careful of bandits."  Dain warned.

"Thanks, be good."  Wynne ruffled their hair and kissed their cheeks.

"I am surprised that are taking this so well."  Geeva admitted.

"When she was younger she used to vanish for a few months," Ana shrugged, "So did our fathers."

Wynne finally had the road beneath her feet and more importantly, no walls around her.