Almost a week later Wynne pulled the white, wooden box out from under the
bed and set it on the bed. She had yet to decide what to do with the gift.
She lifted the lid and removed the first object, it was the one that had cause her to close it so quickly. It was a silver figure of two people twined together in an obviously passionate embrace. The detail was incredible. This she set to the side. The next gift was made of fabric and obscured the rest of the contents. As she shook it out a letter fluttered to the ground.
Wynne marvelled at the exquisite workmanship of the dress she unfurled. It was made of a beautiful white silk with embroidery on the bodice. The sleeves were fastened at the wrist with three pearls per sleeve. From the wrist to the shoulder it was open. Small pearls line the wide collar that looked like it would hang off her shoulder. She placed that on the bed and picked up the letter.
Dear Liawynne,
I was shocked to hear Adawynne had given birth to a daughter and even more shocked to hear you had chosen your mate. I am hope he is worthy of you. I was very sorry to hear you had lost your parents and brothers. You must be stronger than your mother to have survived alone in a strange land.
You are probably a little confused over who I am. I am your grandmother, Fialawynne. I was delighted to discover I had a granddaughter, a great- granddaughter, and three great-grandsons when I had given up my daughter for dead.
I don't know what my daughter has told you about us but I have sent you a chest of what is traditionally given to a daughter when she chooses a mate. Normally they are in a rainbow of colours but since you are a Herald and I understand they wear white exclusively so I have had it all made in white.
I will warn you the collection of idiots we have here has discovered your existence and very few have the sense to accept your choice. The same politics that drove your parents to move away are still active and I am afraid you are now going to find yourself at the centre of those politics.
You must understand we have always tracked our lineage through the female line. Our leadership has also descended through the female line. Your mother was too weak to become a leader and resented being forced into the position. That was the reason she and you father left.
I am sorry to place this burden upon you but you are my heir and my health is not good. I am not going to demand you give up your life there and return to us. I don't even need to ask you to, the decision has already been made. We are a nomadic people and move from country to country creating small towns to serve as our homes. By the time you read this there will probably be a new town being built on the border of Valdemar.
I look forward to meeting you and my great-grandchildren. Once again, I am sorry for springing this on you.
Your loving grandmother,
Fialawynne
This was not what Wynne expected to read. Now what was she going to do?
She shoved the dress and figurine into the box and ran off in search of Teren. She followed his scent to the main part of the palace. He was in a room with about a dozen other people.
"Damn." She muttered to herself and started off down the hall away from the Collegium.
:What's wrong?: Daire interrupted her thoughts.
:That box was from my grandmother, she gave me a few greetings and such then told me I am her heir and the next leader of the Shifters!:
:Oh boy.: Daire sighed.
:Exactly. Apparently they are already settling a small town, somewhere on the border.:
:What?:
:They move around a lot. Build a town, live there for a few years, move one before people get suspicious.:
:And I thought you were bad for secrecy.: Daire sighed. :What are you going to do?:
:Not a clue. Maybe An'desha will have a suggestion.: Wynne altered her course to take her outside.
She ran across the field to the ekele and paused when she saw several shadows moving within.
:Am I interrupting?: She asked.
:No, please come in.: An'desha invited. :I have a guest, be warned.:
Wynne opened the outer door and knocked on the inner door before she opened it. "An'desha?"
"Over here." He called from near the hot pool.
Wynne found him sitting next to a man wearing a very strange mask and very flamboyant clothing. There was a large white firebird splashing and preening in a bird bath close to them.
"Firesong, this is Liawynne. Wynne, this is Firesong k'Treva." An'desha introduced.
Wynne sat on one of the sculpted stones after shaking his hand. "I am pleased to meet you. You live in the vale in the north, correct? Have there been any new towns suddenly springing up?"
"How did you know?"
An'desha waited silently for Wynne to explain.
"My relatives."
"You know them? We have tried and failed to scry and they chase all strangers off." Firesong leaned forward.
Wynne handed the letter to An'desha. "They aren't a threat."
"They are Shifters." An'desha said as he read. "Wynne here is the granddaughter of their leader."
Firesong studied her intently. "You look human."
"I get that a lot." Wynne sighed and looked back to An'desha. "Who was Wynne? Was she the first one?"
"Yes."
"Ah." Wynne stood and started to pace.
"Does she normally give such wonderfully informative answers?" Firesong asked exasperatedly.
"It's her nature. Since she is upset she is worse than normal." An'desha handed back the letter.
Wynne took the hint and sat down. "I don't know much, but I just read a letter from my grandmother that says basically that since I won't go to them, they are coming to me. Did An'desha tell you anything about me?"
"No."
"Do you know anything about Shifters?"
"Only that they were created during the mage wars by Ma'ar. Not much survived beyond the term Shifters." Firesong admitted.
Wynne quickly removed her clothes and shifted into a jaguar. :That is what a Shifter is. You know this gets easier every time I tell it.:
Firesong looked stunned. His firebird reacted to the appearance of a massive cat by nearly lighting the ekele on fire.
:Enough. You are not prey.: Wynne turned her golden gaze on the bird and it settled down.
"I am impressed." Firesong said in honest astonishment as Aya hopped to a perch close to her and appraised her.
:Not a dumb bird, if you have big cat as friend, big cat can eat stupid raptor.: Wynne laughed. :He is trying to convince me to eat another bondbird.:
Firesong started to laugh. "Vree tried to steal his tail feathers when we arrived."
:Sorry, I will not eat Vree, not even for you. I haven't even met the bird yet.: Wynne shifted to human and sat cross legged on the ground. "So there is a new town being built in the north?"
"Yes, we have tried to talk to them but they are reclusive."
"That is probably what the council is chattering about." Wynne offered a bit of fruit to the wet firebird. "I should tell them."
"At least tell them before you ride out the gates." An'desha said lightly. "Teren calls her a part time cat because she is, and also because she has a total disrespect for authority."
"I don't disrespect authority; I just am more prone do doing my own thing."
"Is there any coincidence that she can become a cat?"
"Shifters were one of Ma'ar's greatest accomplishments, even according to him. However they were too independent. Couple that with an immunity to magic and being mages themselves they were too hard to control. He did try to recreate them but in more manageable form in Nyara."
"That didn't work to well, Nyara rebelled too." Firesong pointed out.
"So she did."
"Nyara?"
"Cat-woman."
Wynne nodded. "When I first met An'desha I called him cat-man because that is what he smells like to me. No offence was intended."
"So what are you going to do?" An'desha asked, changing the subject.
"I think I will take a little trip north." Wynne said thoughtfully. "I know very little about them. Would you care to come along An'desha? Julian is busy with learning everything he needs to know about being the Dean or I'd ask him along as well. There should be at least one other Herald, I'll let the Circle choose who."
"Julian is the local expert on ancient species, perhaps he should go. I should be getting back to the plains. Elspeth or Darkwind can take over your training."
Wynne cocked her head to the side. "Are you needed back there immediately?"
"No, why?"
"Then why not come along. Julian has no mage gift, I have very little training, if you were along you could see if they have the same potential as me."
"Is it likely they would?" Firesong asked.
"The originals were all the babies with adept potential he could find. If they have had very little new blood added they would probably have high numbers of adepts. Possibly untrained. Wynne has natural shields that prevent those outside what she sees as her clan from using magic to read her but she is going to be your equal when she is finished."
Firesong looked thoughtful. "How do they prevent inbreeding if there is such a small group?"
"Scent." Wynne answered succinctly. "I wondered about that as well, then I remembered the closer you are related the more you smell alike. For example, Ana, my niece, will never be attracted to her cousins. And with a large male population base the females could choose the men most likely to produce healthy, viable offspring. That brings up something else I wanted to ask. Can you teach me how to change them so that the birthrates are more even?"
An'desha had been toying with the idea of teaching her to become a sorcerer- adept like himself. However, he did want to get back to the plains.
"After you finish your mage training here I will. It may be many generations before it could be used."
Wynne nodded in understanding. "I can be patient. Knowledge is all I ask for."
~*~
The room fell silent when Wynne pushed open the door and padded barefoot into the room. One Councillor stood and was about to demand the meaning of the interruption when she glared at him. She was too impatient to put up with stupid protests.
"Is this meeting about the strange town Adept Firesong mentioned?"
"Yes, how did you know?" The regal woman with greying blonde hair bound by a red gold coronet asked her.
"Simple, they are my kin." Wynne stopped by the end of the large horseshoe shaped table.
"By kin do you mean they are a bunch of paranoid cats?" Teren asked.
"Yes."
"Cats?" A Councillor asked in disbelief.
Wynne winked at Teren and shifted to jaguar, her most impressive form. The Councillors all froze.
"You must be Trainee Liawynne." The smaller woman sitting next to the queen said calmly.
Wynne's jaguar shape was much larger than the average jaguar, unlike her snow leopard form which was average, and she looked like she could eat all of the councillors and still be hungry. She would actually be ferocious looking if she wasn't still wearing her skirt and blouse.
Wynne shifted back and straightened her clothing.
Captain Kerowyn looked torn between being pleased and annoyed. "Why did they move here?"
"Me. I am my grandmother's heir and as such I am the next leader of them. I just found out today." Wynne grimaced. "The last time when one tried to force me to leave with him I scarred him for life. Now, since they don't think they can get me out of Valdemar they have come to Valdemar. Just think of the advantages of having Shifters like myself in the service of the Crown, we are immune to magic, not even the mage storms bothered them, we can go where no human can to perform rescues, we can track Change- Beasts, and we are mages. I can even out run my Companion for two candlemarks!"
"How can we trust you?"
"How can you trust the rest of the populace?" Wynne countered.
"I propose we send Liawynne and a collection of ambassadors to them." Selenay stood and addressed the council.
"Who will we send?" Herald Griffon asked.
Wynne answered, "An'desha has already agreed to go, Herald Julian, a Healer, a gryphon, a dyheli, a kyree, a hertasi, and someone from the northern Vale."
The Councillors stared at her again.
:You would think they had never seen a talking cat.: Wynne commented dryly to Daire.
:Maybe you ripped you blouse when you shifted.: Daire suggested helpfully.
"We are a very reclusive and shy people. By sending several nonhumans you are showing you welcome nonhumans within your borders. Perhaps Herald Kerowyn would like to accompany us, then she could appraise the threat." Wynne sat on the edge of the table. "We will leave two days from now."
Teren hid a smile behind his hand.
She lifted the lid and removed the first object, it was the one that had cause her to close it so quickly. It was a silver figure of two people twined together in an obviously passionate embrace. The detail was incredible. This she set to the side. The next gift was made of fabric and obscured the rest of the contents. As she shook it out a letter fluttered to the ground.
Wynne marvelled at the exquisite workmanship of the dress she unfurled. It was made of a beautiful white silk with embroidery on the bodice. The sleeves were fastened at the wrist with three pearls per sleeve. From the wrist to the shoulder it was open. Small pearls line the wide collar that looked like it would hang off her shoulder. She placed that on the bed and picked up the letter.
Dear Liawynne,
I was shocked to hear Adawynne had given birth to a daughter and even more shocked to hear you had chosen your mate. I am hope he is worthy of you. I was very sorry to hear you had lost your parents and brothers. You must be stronger than your mother to have survived alone in a strange land.
You are probably a little confused over who I am. I am your grandmother, Fialawynne. I was delighted to discover I had a granddaughter, a great- granddaughter, and three great-grandsons when I had given up my daughter for dead.
I don't know what my daughter has told you about us but I have sent you a chest of what is traditionally given to a daughter when she chooses a mate. Normally they are in a rainbow of colours but since you are a Herald and I understand they wear white exclusively so I have had it all made in white.
I will warn you the collection of idiots we have here has discovered your existence and very few have the sense to accept your choice. The same politics that drove your parents to move away are still active and I am afraid you are now going to find yourself at the centre of those politics.
You must understand we have always tracked our lineage through the female line. Our leadership has also descended through the female line. Your mother was too weak to become a leader and resented being forced into the position. That was the reason she and you father left.
I am sorry to place this burden upon you but you are my heir and my health is not good. I am not going to demand you give up your life there and return to us. I don't even need to ask you to, the decision has already been made. We are a nomadic people and move from country to country creating small towns to serve as our homes. By the time you read this there will probably be a new town being built on the border of Valdemar.
I look forward to meeting you and my great-grandchildren. Once again, I am sorry for springing this on you.
Your loving grandmother,
Fialawynne
This was not what Wynne expected to read. Now what was she going to do?
She shoved the dress and figurine into the box and ran off in search of Teren. She followed his scent to the main part of the palace. He was in a room with about a dozen other people.
"Damn." She muttered to herself and started off down the hall away from the Collegium.
:What's wrong?: Daire interrupted her thoughts.
:That box was from my grandmother, she gave me a few greetings and such then told me I am her heir and the next leader of the Shifters!:
:Oh boy.: Daire sighed.
:Exactly. Apparently they are already settling a small town, somewhere on the border.:
:What?:
:They move around a lot. Build a town, live there for a few years, move one before people get suspicious.:
:And I thought you were bad for secrecy.: Daire sighed. :What are you going to do?:
:Not a clue. Maybe An'desha will have a suggestion.: Wynne altered her course to take her outside.
She ran across the field to the ekele and paused when she saw several shadows moving within.
:Am I interrupting?: She asked.
:No, please come in.: An'desha invited. :I have a guest, be warned.:
Wynne opened the outer door and knocked on the inner door before she opened it. "An'desha?"
"Over here." He called from near the hot pool.
Wynne found him sitting next to a man wearing a very strange mask and very flamboyant clothing. There was a large white firebird splashing and preening in a bird bath close to them.
"Firesong, this is Liawynne. Wynne, this is Firesong k'Treva." An'desha introduced.
Wynne sat on one of the sculpted stones after shaking his hand. "I am pleased to meet you. You live in the vale in the north, correct? Have there been any new towns suddenly springing up?"
"How did you know?"
An'desha waited silently for Wynne to explain.
"My relatives."
"You know them? We have tried and failed to scry and they chase all strangers off." Firesong leaned forward.
Wynne handed the letter to An'desha. "They aren't a threat."
"They are Shifters." An'desha said as he read. "Wynne here is the granddaughter of their leader."
Firesong studied her intently. "You look human."
"I get that a lot." Wynne sighed and looked back to An'desha. "Who was Wynne? Was she the first one?"
"Yes."
"Ah." Wynne stood and started to pace.
"Does she normally give such wonderfully informative answers?" Firesong asked exasperatedly.
"It's her nature. Since she is upset she is worse than normal." An'desha handed back the letter.
Wynne took the hint and sat down. "I don't know much, but I just read a letter from my grandmother that says basically that since I won't go to them, they are coming to me. Did An'desha tell you anything about me?"
"No."
"Do you know anything about Shifters?"
"Only that they were created during the mage wars by Ma'ar. Not much survived beyond the term Shifters." Firesong admitted.
Wynne quickly removed her clothes and shifted into a jaguar. :That is what a Shifter is. You know this gets easier every time I tell it.:
Firesong looked stunned. His firebird reacted to the appearance of a massive cat by nearly lighting the ekele on fire.
:Enough. You are not prey.: Wynne turned her golden gaze on the bird and it settled down.
"I am impressed." Firesong said in honest astonishment as Aya hopped to a perch close to her and appraised her.
:Not a dumb bird, if you have big cat as friend, big cat can eat stupid raptor.: Wynne laughed. :He is trying to convince me to eat another bondbird.:
Firesong started to laugh. "Vree tried to steal his tail feathers when we arrived."
:Sorry, I will not eat Vree, not even for you. I haven't even met the bird yet.: Wynne shifted to human and sat cross legged on the ground. "So there is a new town being built in the north?"
"Yes, we have tried to talk to them but they are reclusive."
"That is probably what the council is chattering about." Wynne offered a bit of fruit to the wet firebird. "I should tell them."
"At least tell them before you ride out the gates." An'desha said lightly. "Teren calls her a part time cat because she is, and also because she has a total disrespect for authority."
"I don't disrespect authority; I just am more prone do doing my own thing."
"Is there any coincidence that she can become a cat?"
"Shifters were one of Ma'ar's greatest accomplishments, even according to him. However they were too independent. Couple that with an immunity to magic and being mages themselves they were too hard to control. He did try to recreate them but in more manageable form in Nyara."
"That didn't work to well, Nyara rebelled too." Firesong pointed out.
"So she did."
"Nyara?"
"Cat-woman."
Wynne nodded. "When I first met An'desha I called him cat-man because that is what he smells like to me. No offence was intended."
"So what are you going to do?" An'desha asked, changing the subject.
"I think I will take a little trip north." Wynne said thoughtfully. "I know very little about them. Would you care to come along An'desha? Julian is busy with learning everything he needs to know about being the Dean or I'd ask him along as well. There should be at least one other Herald, I'll let the Circle choose who."
"Julian is the local expert on ancient species, perhaps he should go. I should be getting back to the plains. Elspeth or Darkwind can take over your training."
Wynne cocked her head to the side. "Are you needed back there immediately?"
"No, why?"
"Then why not come along. Julian has no mage gift, I have very little training, if you were along you could see if they have the same potential as me."
"Is it likely they would?" Firesong asked.
"The originals were all the babies with adept potential he could find. If they have had very little new blood added they would probably have high numbers of adepts. Possibly untrained. Wynne has natural shields that prevent those outside what she sees as her clan from using magic to read her but she is going to be your equal when she is finished."
Firesong looked thoughtful. "How do they prevent inbreeding if there is such a small group?"
"Scent." Wynne answered succinctly. "I wondered about that as well, then I remembered the closer you are related the more you smell alike. For example, Ana, my niece, will never be attracted to her cousins. And with a large male population base the females could choose the men most likely to produce healthy, viable offspring. That brings up something else I wanted to ask. Can you teach me how to change them so that the birthrates are more even?"
An'desha had been toying with the idea of teaching her to become a sorcerer- adept like himself. However, he did want to get back to the plains.
"After you finish your mage training here I will. It may be many generations before it could be used."
Wynne nodded in understanding. "I can be patient. Knowledge is all I ask for."
~*~
The room fell silent when Wynne pushed open the door and padded barefoot into the room. One Councillor stood and was about to demand the meaning of the interruption when she glared at him. She was too impatient to put up with stupid protests.
"Is this meeting about the strange town Adept Firesong mentioned?"
"Yes, how did you know?" The regal woman with greying blonde hair bound by a red gold coronet asked her.
"Simple, they are my kin." Wynne stopped by the end of the large horseshoe shaped table.
"By kin do you mean they are a bunch of paranoid cats?" Teren asked.
"Yes."
"Cats?" A Councillor asked in disbelief.
Wynne winked at Teren and shifted to jaguar, her most impressive form. The Councillors all froze.
"You must be Trainee Liawynne." The smaller woman sitting next to the queen said calmly.
Wynne's jaguar shape was much larger than the average jaguar, unlike her snow leopard form which was average, and she looked like she could eat all of the councillors and still be hungry. She would actually be ferocious looking if she wasn't still wearing her skirt and blouse.
Wynne shifted back and straightened her clothing.
Captain Kerowyn looked torn between being pleased and annoyed. "Why did they move here?"
"Me. I am my grandmother's heir and as such I am the next leader of them. I just found out today." Wynne grimaced. "The last time when one tried to force me to leave with him I scarred him for life. Now, since they don't think they can get me out of Valdemar they have come to Valdemar. Just think of the advantages of having Shifters like myself in the service of the Crown, we are immune to magic, not even the mage storms bothered them, we can go where no human can to perform rescues, we can track Change- Beasts, and we are mages. I can even out run my Companion for two candlemarks!"
"How can we trust you?"
"How can you trust the rest of the populace?" Wynne countered.
"I propose we send Liawynne and a collection of ambassadors to them." Selenay stood and addressed the council.
"Who will we send?" Herald Griffon asked.
Wynne answered, "An'desha has already agreed to go, Herald Julian, a Healer, a gryphon, a dyheli, a kyree, a hertasi, and someone from the northern Vale."
The Councillors stared at her again.
:You would think they had never seen a talking cat.: Wynne commented dryly to Daire.
:Maybe you ripped you blouse when you shifted.: Daire suggested helpfully.
"We are a very reclusive and shy people. By sending several nonhumans you are showing you welcome nonhumans within your borders. Perhaps Herald Kerowyn would like to accompany us, then she could appraise the threat." Wynne sat on the edge of the table. "We will leave two days from now."
Teren hid a smile behind his hand.