~Chapter 13~

Wynne watched her lover sleep, fascinated by each breath.  He was beautiful, no matter what the blind human females thought.  She found herself purring again.

His eyes opened at the sudden vibrations.  "Awake already?"

"I haven't slept yet."  She admitted. 

He stroked her ebony hair which resulted in her half closing her eyes in pleasure.  "Your niece and nephews are half human, aren't they?"

Wynne pulled her mind from the gentle stroking and opened her eyes completely.  "Don't worry, I won't get pregnant.  It is actually under my control."

"It is?"

"One of the changes my ancestors wrought."  Wynne explained.  "They did many things to adapt themselves in those first years."

"Why did they adapt themselves?"

"Because we looked like cats crossed with humans.  They decided it would be best if we looked human, that was the first change.  Then when a few of the women got pregnant and they had no place to raise the children so they changed themselves so we were able to choose if we would be fertile."

"Incredible."

"I should go.  You need to sleep and I won't until just before dawn."  Wynne stood.  "I also have studying to finish."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Wynne kissed him passionately and returned to her room.  She was a little restless so she shifted and slipped out the window.  This form was much more sensitive to cold so as soon as she reached the ground she shifted to snow leopard.  She meandered through the gardens making her way to the ekele where An'desha was staying.  Through the window she could see he was up and tending some of the plants in the garden. 

He looked like he was deep in thought.  She debated whether she should interrupt him when he saw her through the window.

:Is that you Wynne?:

:Yes.  I am sorry if I disturbed you.:

:You didn't.  Would you like to come in?:

:If you would care for company.:  Wynne padded to the door and waited for him to open it.

"Can you become any cat?"

:No.  I have three forms, this one is best for winter.:  Wynne said.  :I didn't know you were a gardener.:

"I find it relaxing."  An'desha returned to the patch of dirt he had been working.  "What brings you out on a cold night like this?"

:I'm not tired.  I usually study during the night.  Poor Dirk has given up on teaching me anything in class.  Is it always so hot in here?:

"You are wearing a thick fur coat."  An'desha pointed out.

Wynne shifted to human and stretched.  "How do you know what plants to pull up and what plants to leave?"

"I study horticulture.  My people don't grow crops or the like so I am a bit of a maverick that way."

"If you enjoy it there is no reason you shouldn't."

"So speaks a cat."  An'desha teased.

"Daire teases me about that."  Wynne knelt next to him and used her fingers to loosen the dirt like he was doing.  "Half the time he forgets I am not human."

An'desha noticed the barrier that he had been unable to penetrate before was gone.  "Did you drop you shields?"

"Shields?"  Wynne's obvious confusion was obvious.

An'desha nearly choked.  What he couldn't see before was the adept potential of her ancestors had bred true.  "Have you had any training?"

"For what?"

An'desha cursed.  "Is that shield under your own control?"

"The wall?  No.  Daire couldn't get past it at first, now he says it lets him through."

"You're a mage."

"I beg you pardon?"

"You have the potential to become an adept as strong as Firesong."

"Who?"

An'desha rubbed his temples.  Just what he needed, an untrained mage no one else could see.  Obviously their magical protections didn't extend to those she consider safe and one of her own.  That explained how they could change themselves to look more human.  "You'll have to go to one of the mage teachers."

"No."  Wynne said and turned back to loosening the soil.  "This is relaxing.  I had wondered what madness had bit the humans to make gardens and plough fields."

"You need training."

Wynne sat back on her heels.  "And tell some stranger I know nothing about that I am what they were threatened with when they misbehaved as children."

"You don't know how they'll react."  An'desha tried to soothe her.  "You told me."

"I did because you obviously knew of us and weren't afraid, the fact you are cat like helped.  I also wanted to know what you knew about my kind."  Wynne said.  "I managed to force myself to tell Julian and he is my mate."

"How did he take it?"

"Like a scholar.  He had dozens of questions to ask after that."

"The other Heralds will react the same way."

Wynne looked doubtful and returned to the subject of mage training.  "I have not needed training before now."

"You have the power to level a forest, you need training."  An'desha knew that until she trusted a mage enough to accept them as part of her clan she would not tell them.  "I suppose I have just found myself an apprentice."

"You don't have to."

"Yes, I do."  An'desha ran a hand through his hair. 

Wynne was still confused.  "What is the big deal if I am a mage?"

An'desha realised she had the same blind spot as most Valdemarans.  "A mage made Shifters, now imagine someone who has no training with that kind of ability."

Images of warped and twisted forms filled her mind.  "I could do something like that?  Cause that much damage?"

"Without training, yes."

"When do we start then?"  Wynne capitulated.

~*~

Wynne had a stack of books in her arms when the page found her.

"There is a man at the gate asking for you."  He said.

"Damn."  She growled.  "I'll be there in a minute."  She returned to her room and left the stack of books on the desk. 

As she suspected it was Keane who was waiting for her.  By human standards he was handsome.  He had dark red hair, brown eyes, nearly six feet tall and slender.  She wasn't certain what his other form might be but it was probably not small.

"Can I help you?"  She asked conversationally.

"If you have the time."

"I have a few minutes."  Wynne nodded to the guard and he was allowed in. 

"Is there anyplace we could talk?"

"The gardens."  She led him to a grotto garden and sat on a bench.  "Do you need some help?"

"No, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come back with me."

"No."  Wynne said with out hesitation.

"You can't mean to stay among these humans?  They are so…human."  Keane gestured to the stone walls surrounding the garden.

"Your point?"  Wynne asked patiently. 

"Do they even know what you are?"

"Some do.  I like it here."  Wynne stood.  "If that is all…"

"Come with me, you'll see how much better it is to live among your own kind."  Keane urged.

Wynne's eyes narrowed, he obviously wasn't going to give up.  She wondered how far he would go to get her to go back to him.

"I am staying here.  In the future I may go looking for others but for now I remain here."  Wynne stood and turned to leave when he grabbed her.

He obviously wasn't expecting her to fight back.  She twisted agilely and clawed four deep gashes in his cheek.

"I am not going with you."  She said calmly.

"You don't understand…"

"I understand you were going to force me to go with you.  I don't know why you did it and I don't particularly care."  She growled.

"We can't afford to lose a single female.  There are too few."

"Guess what.  I am not interested.  I have chosen my mate."

Keane's pain filled eyes showed shock.  "You chose a human?"

"Yes."  Wynne could hear hoof beats approaching the garden gate.  Daire appeared in the narrow gate and took in the scene.

:I see you handled it yourself.:  Daire observed.

"There you are Daire."  She stroked his neck.

"Females are too valued, if you don't come with me others will come."  Keane tried to explain.  "You could even bring your niece."

"Not interested.  And remember what I said about going near those children, I wasn't joking."

:Should I kick him?  He would deserve it.:

"I am not interested in being part of your little breeding program."  Wynne swung on to Daire's back.  "I'll show you the way out."

Keane reluctantly followed her, hiding his injury from prying eyes.

Once he was out the gate Wynne turned Daire back to the field.  "There will be others."

:Think of the competition for the hands of women if there is six men for every female.  Now most have probably already chosen a mate which means that you are probably the only hope for full blooded children those men have.:

"Well, damn."  Wynne cursed.  The peal of a bell interrupted them.  "I promised to meet Julian for lunch."

:I'll drop you at the door.:

"Thanks.  He better not even consider touching Ana.  I will fulfill my promise if he does."

:I know you will, and I would help.  Did you notice he said nothing of the boys?:

"Yes.  They are only interested in females."  Wynne dismounted.

:They don't stand a chance of getting you little cat.:

"I know that, you know that, they don't know that."  Wynne called over her shoulder and ran inside.

Julian was buried in thought when she sat across from him. 

"How were classes this morning?"  He asked absently.

"Weapons class was fun.  Teren has dismissed me from the classes that I was having difficulty with the provision that I study and keep up on my own.  Have you accepted the post of Dean yet?"

"I haven't spoken to him yet." 

"I just had a run in with that man from the tavern."

"What did he have to say?"

"He wanted me to go back with him."

"Will you?  You would be among your own people."  Julian tried to ask neutrally.

"No.  He actually tried to force me."

Julian looked ready to break something.  "What did you do?"

"I scratched him.  He'll be fine in a few days."  Wynne assured him.  "Thank you."

"For what?"

"It has been years since someone wanted to protect me."  Wynne traced a finger along the back of his large hand.  "I appreciate it."

"If the others knew of this you would be hard put to stop them from running him out of Valdemar."  Julian tried to down play it.

Wynne leaned forward until her face was inches from his.  "I am still grateful."  She purred.

"Hey Wynne, Julian."  Yoli slid into the seat next to her. 

Wynne sat back.  She could hear Julian's heart speed up.  The first thing she noticed about Yoli was the lingering scent of Garun.  "Way to go."

Yoli blushed a brilliant crimson.  "I am not even going to ask how you know."

"How was your law class?"

"Not as bad as I thought."  Yoli admitted.  "Julian, do you know of any good books on early law?"

"There is a copy of 'By the Law' in the library.  I would recommend it."

Yoli thanked him.  "Out of curiosity, are you two lovers?"

Wynne raised an eyebrow and glanced at Julian.

"I mean, you never sleep in your bed and the general consensus is you have been spending the night with a lover."  Yoli explained hurriedly.

"We are."  Julian answered.

Yoli grinned widely and changed the subject.  "Wynne, I hear you have been beating Garun on a regular basis during weapons class."

"He goes easy on me."  Wynne shrugged.  "I think he has a problem with hitting someone smaller than he is."

"Which is half the Collegium."  Julian commented.  "I am sure Kero will break him of that soon."

"Better than me, if one end wasn't sharp I would never remember where I am supposed to hold it."  Yoli grimaced.

"Don't let her fool you; she is brilliant with a bow and arrow."  Wynne said in a mock whisper.

Wynne was surprised at the feeling of kinship with Yoli and Julian.  For that matter, the kinship extended to many of the Heralds she had met.  For someone who was accustomed to being alone it was a strange sensation.