"That went well." Wynne commented to Teren as they left the Council room.
"Of course, they are still trying to figure out what you are."
"That was the plan. Go in, stun them, tell them, leave them." Wynne grinned. "Do you mind if I steal your replacement for a few weeks?"
"No, I know he would jump at a chance like this to see a nonhuman culture first hand."
"Liawynne, may I speak to you?" Herald Kerowyn strode up to them.
Wynne waited patiently for her to catch up. "Of course."
Teren made a strategic retreat.
"Have you chosen who will be coming with us?"
"Well, I think the dyheli will come with the Vale ambassador. I was going to speak to the gryphons and hertasi here to see if there were any volunteers. I heard there is a kyree neuter here that is enamoured of history. I was going to track him down and ask if he wanted to come along. Then there is you, Julian, An'desha, and myself. Do you think you will require an armed force?"
"I would like one but the terrain is against us there."
Wynne nodded. "You don't make friends at the point of the sword. The Vale is near enough they can fly to our rescue if we need it."
"That was what I was thinking." Kerowyn nodded. "How will you transport everyone up there from here?"
"Well, Julian and you have your Companions, the kyree can ride pillion as can the healer, Daire has agreed to carry An'desha, and the hertasi can be carried in a gryphon basket."
"And yourself?"
Wynne grinned. "I will ride with Julian. By bringing a basket we don't have to worry about pack animals."
"You had this all planned." Kerowyn accused. "I thought you had lost your wits shifting like that."
"Firesong recommended doing something outrageous to put them off balance. A big cat dressed in a skirt and blouse will put any one off balance." Wynne pointed out. "Actually the reason I thought you would like to come along is a chance to recruit some of the unpaired males."
"That is one of the reasons I am looking forward to this trip." Kerowyn admitted.
"I am going to go looking for the gryphons and hertasi."
"How do you propose to track down a hertasi? They are even more reclusive than your kind."
Wynne smiled slightly. "Just be ready to go, I will take care of the rest."
~*~
The massive door stood ajar when Wynne approached. She could hear the bellows like breathing of six gryphons, she loved the scent of them, spicy and musky. There was a cat-wolf type smell that she was fairly certain belonged to a kyree. She knocked politely and waited to be invited in. She learned young to be polite to something big enough to eat you.
A memory of herself trying to soothe a massive dog sprang to her mind.
"Come in." A deep voice called.
Wynne opened the door. "I am sorry for disturbing you."
The kyree was the only one who seemed to sense anything was different about her. He watched her intently as she stopped a few steps into the room.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, we are making a trip up north to speak with some nonhuman settlers. We are trying to make a team mostly comprised of nonhumans to put them at ease.
:I will go.: The kyree volunteered immediately.
"I was hoping you would." Wynne smiled.
The gryphons had a conference in whirs and clicks.
Wynne's gaze settled on a grey female who was not included in the conversation. Wynne could tell she wanted to volunteer, but something, probably lack of experience, stopped her.
:Do you wish to come?: Wynne asked so only she could hear.
The gryphon's eyes widened. :I have no partner and no experience.:
"It would be a good mission for experience and we are only hoping for one gryphon." Wynne said out loud.
The kyree winked at her.
"Caedalema would be a wissse choice then." A golden male turned to the grey female.
Her nairs flushed in pleasure. "It would be an honour." She said in carefully pronounced Valdemaran.
"I think you should speak to a trondi'irn before you go then." A large female suggested.
"We can now if you wish, I can tell you more about what is happening and you can decide if you want to or not." Wynne suggested.
The kyree and the gryphon followed her out into the hall.
"I need to find a hertasi who is willing to go on an adventure too." She commented.
:I know of one. She has been feeling rather restless for a while now. I am Rris, Can you tell me all of what you are? Your history, you legends?:
"I am a Shifter." Wynne answered. "Some of my kind is building a town on the border. I am certain my grandmother will have plenty of stories for us both."
"What is a Shifter?" Caedalema asked.
"I will show you later. Do you think your trondi'irn will be willing to accompany us?"
"You will have to ask her."
"I suppose we should make introductions. I am Liawynne, you have already said you are Rris, and I heard them call you Caedalema."
"I prefer Caedy." She corrected.
"And I prefer Wynne."
:And I am stuck with Rris, it is hard to shorten it further.: Rris commented lightly.
~*~
Wynne slid her arms around Julian's neck. He was reading a massive archaic tome written in a language she didn't understand. "Did you here the news yet?"
"Hmm?" He looked over his shoulder at her.
"Shifters are settling on the northern border." She said. "The council has agreed to send a welcoming party. Several nonhumans, Kerowyn, a Healer, An'desha, and myself. We would appreciate it if you would join us."
"How do you know they are Shifters?"
"Remember that box I mentioned with the strange figurine?"
Julian nodded.
"It was from my grandmother. She sent me a letter." She offered it to him. "I am looking forward to meeting her."
"So you are their princess, or something along those lines."
Wynne rubbed her cheek against his hair. "I haven't looked through everything yet but there was a beautiful silk dress."
"I would like to see it."
"Later." She promised. "Will you come with us?"
"Of course. I assume you have already told them I would go."
"An'desha thought it best if you went since you are our expert on nonhumans. The council agreed. We leave in two days."
"Impatient?" He closed his book.
Wynne chuckled. "A little. I want to meet other Shifters."
"What people have you chosen?"
"Caedy the gryphon, Rris the kyree, Tandee the hertasi, Dancingleaf the trondi'irn as the healer, Kerowyn, An'desha, a dyheli, and an ambassador from k'Valdemar because they are closest." Wynne sat on the couch and curled her legs under her. "I shifted in front of the Council."
"You did? That doesn't sound like you."
"My heart pounded the entire time but it was easier than telling you. Then again, if they had a fit it wouldn't matter." Wynne admitted. "You are worried about something."
"Not particularly."
"Liar." She accused softly. "You are very concerned about something. You have been worried about it for a while but now its worse."
"Don't worry about it." Julian said and sat next to her.
"I have something I want to show you." She curled against his side. "I asked An'desha how to show you what I feel when I run."
"You don't need to…"
"I want to show you." Wynne corrected. "Now if you go into a trance like you do to use your Farsight I'll show you."
Julian obliged her. When he was in a deep trance Wynne dropped into a similar trance and created a link between them. When she opened her eyes she could feel him looking through her eyes.
:Incredible. If I didn't know better I would say it was day.: Julian marvelled at the clarity of her sight even in the gloom of night.
:You haven't seen anything yet.: Wynne smiled and shifted to jaguar.
The feeling of power and freedom was heady, especially since she was sharing it. She easily leaped out the window and landed on the ground two stories below as easily as if she had jumped off a bed. The smell of the growing grass, budding trees, flowing river, freshly turned soil, and Companions teased her finely honed senses.
:Is this what it is normally like?:
:Yes.: She ran to the river and easily jumped across the width. When she landed several of the juvenile Companions she played with pranced over. She played Predator and Prey with them, they honed their agility and instincts and she eased the restlessness brought on by city life. :Are you ready lover?:
:I have no clue.: He admitted.
Wynne started to chase the largest of the Companions. Julian's amazement radiated through her and she ducked and swerved then finally leap onto the Companions back. She felt the thrill of the kill with out drawing any blood or even causing a bruise.
The game persisted for half a candlemark before she called an end to it.
:That is the freest I have ever felt. Like I was the wind.: Julian tried to explain what he experienced.
Wynne padded onto the bridge that crossed the river and paused at the height of the arch. :Care to swim? The water is barely above freezing.:
:No, thank you.:
Wynne laughed mentally. :Very well.:
She shifted to housecat and continued on to the gardens and then to his room. She returned to human and sat next to him. It took him several minutes to open his eyes.
"That was the most…" Julian trailed off.
"I know." Wynne purred and caressed his chest. "I know you wondered what I saw and sensed."
"Now I know. I am almost jealous."
"Don't be. There are down sides to everything, for every good a bad." Wynne warned.
"Of course, they are still trying to figure out what you are."
"That was the plan. Go in, stun them, tell them, leave them." Wynne grinned. "Do you mind if I steal your replacement for a few weeks?"
"No, I know he would jump at a chance like this to see a nonhuman culture first hand."
"Liawynne, may I speak to you?" Herald Kerowyn strode up to them.
Wynne waited patiently for her to catch up. "Of course."
Teren made a strategic retreat.
"Have you chosen who will be coming with us?"
"Well, I think the dyheli will come with the Vale ambassador. I was going to speak to the gryphons and hertasi here to see if there were any volunteers. I heard there is a kyree neuter here that is enamoured of history. I was going to track him down and ask if he wanted to come along. Then there is you, Julian, An'desha, and myself. Do you think you will require an armed force?"
"I would like one but the terrain is against us there."
Wynne nodded. "You don't make friends at the point of the sword. The Vale is near enough they can fly to our rescue if we need it."
"That was what I was thinking." Kerowyn nodded. "How will you transport everyone up there from here?"
"Well, Julian and you have your Companions, the kyree can ride pillion as can the healer, Daire has agreed to carry An'desha, and the hertasi can be carried in a gryphon basket."
"And yourself?"
Wynne grinned. "I will ride with Julian. By bringing a basket we don't have to worry about pack animals."
"You had this all planned." Kerowyn accused. "I thought you had lost your wits shifting like that."
"Firesong recommended doing something outrageous to put them off balance. A big cat dressed in a skirt and blouse will put any one off balance." Wynne pointed out. "Actually the reason I thought you would like to come along is a chance to recruit some of the unpaired males."
"That is one of the reasons I am looking forward to this trip." Kerowyn admitted.
"I am going to go looking for the gryphons and hertasi."
"How do you propose to track down a hertasi? They are even more reclusive than your kind."
Wynne smiled slightly. "Just be ready to go, I will take care of the rest."
~*~
The massive door stood ajar when Wynne approached. She could hear the bellows like breathing of six gryphons, she loved the scent of them, spicy and musky. There was a cat-wolf type smell that she was fairly certain belonged to a kyree. She knocked politely and waited to be invited in. She learned young to be polite to something big enough to eat you.
A memory of herself trying to soothe a massive dog sprang to her mind.
"Come in." A deep voice called.
Wynne opened the door. "I am sorry for disturbing you."
The kyree was the only one who seemed to sense anything was different about her. He watched her intently as she stopped a few steps into the room.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, we are making a trip up north to speak with some nonhuman settlers. We are trying to make a team mostly comprised of nonhumans to put them at ease.
:I will go.: The kyree volunteered immediately.
"I was hoping you would." Wynne smiled.
The gryphons had a conference in whirs and clicks.
Wynne's gaze settled on a grey female who was not included in the conversation. Wynne could tell she wanted to volunteer, but something, probably lack of experience, stopped her.
:Do you wish to come?: Wynne asked so only she could hear.
The gryphon's eyes widened. :I have no partner and no experience.:
"It would be a good mission for experience and we are only hoping for one gryphon." Wynne said out loud.
The kyree winked at her.
"Caedalema would be a wissse choice then." A golden male turned to the grey female.
Her nairs flushed in pleasure. "It would be an honour." She said in carefully pronounced Valdemaran.
"I think you should speak to a trondi'irn before you go then." A large female suggested.
"We can now if you wish, I can tell you more about what is happening and you can decide if you want to or not." Wynne suggested.
The kyree and the gryphon followed her out into the hall.
"I need to find a hertasi who is willing to go on an adventure too." She commented.
:I know of one. She has been feeling rather restless for a while now. I am Rris, Can you tell me all of what you are? Your history, you legends?:
"I am a Shifter." Wynne answered. "Some of my kind is building a town on the border. I am certain my grandmother will have plenty of stories for us both."
"What is a Shifter?" Caedalema asked.
"I will show you later. Do you think your trondi'irn will be willing to accompany us?"
"You will have to ask her."
"I suppose we should make introductions. I am Liawynne, you have already said you are Rris, and I heard them call you Caedalema."
"I prefer Caedy." She corrected.
"And I prefer Wynne."
:And I am stuck with Rris, it is hard to shorten it further.: Rris commented lightly.
~*~
Wynne slid her arms around Julian's neck. He was reading a massive archaic tome written in a language she didn't understand. "Did you here the news yet?"
"Hmm?" He looked over his shoulder at her.
"Shifters are settling on the northern border." She said. "The council has agreed to send a welcoming party. Several nonhumans, Kerowyn, a Healer, An'desha, and myself. We would appreciate it if you would join us."
"How do you know they are Shifters?"
"Remember that box I mentioned with the strange figurine?"
Julian nodded.
"It was from my grandmother. She sent me a letter." She offered it to him. "I am looking forward to meeting her."
"So you are their princess, or something along those lines."
Wynne rubbed her cheek against his hair. "I haven't looked through everything yet but there was a beautiful silk dress."
"I would like to see it."
"Later." She promised. "Will you come with us?"
"Of course. I assume you have already told them I would go."
"An'desha thought it best if you went since you are our expert on nonhumans. The council agreed. We leave in two days."
"Impatient?" He closed his book.
Wynne chuckled. "A little. I want to meet other Shifters."
"What people have you chosen?"
"Caedy the gryphon, Rris the kyree, Tandee the hertasi, Dancingleaf the trondi'irn as the healer, Kerowyn, An'desha, a dyheli, and an ambassador from k'Valdemar because they are closest." Wynne sat on the couch and curled her legs under her. "I shifted in front of the Council."
"You did? That doesn't sound like you."
"My heart pounded the entire time but it was easier than telling you. Then again, if they had a fit it wouldn't matter." Wynne admitted. "You are worried about something."
"Not particularly."
"Liar." She accused softly. "You are very concerned about something. You have been worried about it for a while but now its worse."
"Don't worry about it." Julian said and sat next to her.
"I have something I want to show you." She curled against his side. "I asked An'desha how to show you what I feel when I run."
"You don't need to…"
"I want to show you." Wynne corrected. "Now if you go into a trance like you do to use your Farsight I'll show you."
Julian obliged her. When he was in a deep trance Wynne dropped into a similar trance and created a link between them. When she opened her eyes she could feel him looking through her eyes.
:Incredible. If I didn't know better I would say it was day.: Julian marvelled at the clarity of her sight even in the gloom of night.
:You haven't seen anything yet.: Wynne smiled and shifted to jaguar.
The feeling of power and freedom was heady, especially since she was sharing it. She easily leaped out the window and landed on the ground two stories below as easily as if she had jumped off a bed. The smell of the growing grass, budding trees, flowing river, freshly turned soil, and Companions teased her finely honed senses.
:Is this what it is normally like?:
:Yes.: She ran to the river and easily jumped across the width. When she landed several of the juvenile Companions she played with pranced over. She played Predator and Prey with them, they honed their agility and instincts and she eased the restlessness brought on by city life. :Are you ready lover?:
:I have no clue.: He admitted.
Wynne started to chase the largest of the Companions. Julian's amazement radiated through her and she ducked and swerved then finally leap onto the Companions back. She felt the thrill of the kill with out drawing any blood or even causing a bruise.
The game persisted for half a candlemark before she called an end to it.
:That is the freest I have ever felt. Like I was the wind.: Julian tried to explain what he experienced.
Wynne padded onto the bridge that crossed the river and paused at the height of the arch. :Care to swim? The water is barely above freezing.:
:No, thank you.:
Wynne laughed mentally. :Very well.:
She shifted to housecat and continued on to the gardens and then to his room. She returned to human and sat next to him. It took him several minutes to open his eyes.
"That was the most…" Julian trailed off.
"I know." Wynne purred and caressed his chest. "I know you wondered what I saw and sensed."
"Now I know. I am almost jealous."
"Don't be. There are down sides to everything, for every good a bad." Wynne warned.