Wynne was sitting in the middle of the field with a book on her lap trying to read. It was much easier out here when compared to the classrooms. Especially since she had wax plugs in her ears.

Teren had arranged a study list for her and every two weeks he would test her. Since Julian had taken over many of his duties and was quickly learning the remaining ones he had the time to focus on Wynne. In the three months since she returned she had focused completely on getting her Whites in two years or two and a half.

A pair of boots stopped in front of her.

Looking up she saw her uncle staring down at her, he had arrived only the day before. She picked the wax out of her ears. "Hello uncle, how are you settling in?"

He sat on the ground next to her. "How do you take it?"

"Patience, scented oils, and wax ear plugs." Wynne answered. "It is just a matter of adapting. Don't worry, you will adapt."

Brennan scowled at the palace. "I am looking forward to meeting the children."

"Just a warning, the city smells worse, especially in summer. I have some cedar scented oil in my rooms, just dab some under your nose and it will be much more bearable."

"Thank you."

Wynne closed her book. "The Companions don't mind if you go for a run here so long as you ask first."

"They are just horses." Brennan gestured to the gathered Companions.

"Actually they are as intelligent as us." Wynne looked around until she saw Daire grazing off to the side. :Could you speak to him?:

:No.:

"How can you tell?"

"They can mindspeak with their Heralds. It is like an echoing voice inside my head, and no, I am not insane." Wynne scratched the ear of a foal that had ambled over hoping for some attention. "This is Reka. She is a Companion foal, that mare over there is her mother. Reka and I play a game of chase at night before she goes to bed."

"How do I ask them if I may use their field?"

Wynne smiled. "Just ask."

Brennan sighed. "May I use your field?"

The nearest Companion mare nodded carefully.

:Remind him not to use his claws.: Daire relayed.

"They just want to remind you not to use your claws if you play a game of predator and prey or chase." Wynne said out loud. "Would you like to go meet the children this afternoon? They should be getting out of class now."

"That would be good."

"Dancingleaf will be there. She always eats lunch with Ana."

"Ana?"

"My niece. She is showing some talent for Healing. Dancingleaf has asked to be allowed to take her as an apprentice next fall."

"And the boys?"

"Kane and Dain are determined to become fighters. Elwin is going to become a scholar. He considers Julian the greatest source of knowledge. Be careful, don't bad mouth humans."

"What will happen if I do?"

"They are half human." Wynne reminded him. She stood and brushed off the grass. "I'll get the scented oil and make certain Julian remembers to eat. He has been swamped with his new duties and loving every second of it."

Brennan started to say something but stopped.

Wynne cocked an eyebrow at him. "You may as well say it."

"You two should be focusing on raising your family."

Wynne laughed. "We are Heralds that comes first. Don't worry, we both want children."

"You are putting being a Herald before your kin?"

"No, I am putting being a Herald before personal desires. I will finish my training first." Wynne said then turned away and started towards the palace. "I will meet you in a candlemark."

She found Julian buried in his books in his new office. "Ashke, have you forgotten to eat again?"

"Tandee was just in here." Julian answered.

"She hasn't been here since breakfast." Wynne laughed. "You have some dust on the end of your nose."

Julian wiped the smudge off. "I have been busy."

Wynne laughed and rounded his desk. "You have a choice, either come with me or I send Tandee in again."

Julian pulled away from his desk and stood. "You have convinced me but it has to be quick."

"I was looking in the history books; you are the youngest Dean in history." Wynne looped her arm around his waist.

"Really?"

Wynne nodded. "You should be proud."

"I am, when I am not exhausted. Thank you for your help."

"It is my pleasure." Wynne stopped him. "If a candlemark with you is bought with two candlemarks of work I consider it a bargain."

Julian pulled her close and kissed her warmly. "I don't know what I would be doing with out you."

"Staying up later and waking up earlier." Wynne guessed. "Come on. I have plans for this afternoon that don't include dragging you away from your duties."

Julian laughed and let her lead him to the common room. She watched him like a hawk to make certain he ate enough.

"What are you're plans for the afternoon?"

"Introducing my thick headed uncle to the kittens."

"How are they? I haven't seen them in a few weeks."

"The twins have started to build forts, Ana has bandages on everything that moves, and Elwin is becoming more and more like you." Wynne listed off. "Brennan is eager to meet them."

"Are they eager to meet him though?"

"Yes. They may spend the summer with him and grandmother."

"Have they decided on a name yet?"

"Not really. They have managed to get 'fool's folly' off the table but 'kitten's crossing' is still there. They have enough ekeles for the families now and a school. They still want Dancingleaf as their healer."

"What does she think of that?"

"She is thinking about it. I think she wants to. She does want to train Ana as a trondi'irn with a specialty in Shifters."

"The Shifters will probably like that."

"One Healer for over four hundred fifty people? I think that is why Dancingleaf is hesitating. One Healer and an Apprentice would be better, one Healer and two Apprentices even better but apparently full Shifters don't have Healing."

"You do heal very quickly on your own. I saw Ana heal a deep slash on her hand in just a matter of hours. What caused that trance anyway?"

"Catmint tea." Wynne admitted. "It is a drug for them."

"Does it do the same to you?"

"No. I would rather not discus what happens to me."

"Is it that bad?"

"Yes. I better get going."

"I'll see you tonight." Julian promised.

Wynne quickly gathered her plates. "Of course you will."

Wynne deposited her plates in the little lift that raised the food from the kitchen and hurried from the room. She made a quick stop in her room to fetch the tiny vial of cedar scented oil. Her uncle was pacing in the courtyard when she appeared.

"You are going to create a trench." Wynne warned and offered him the vial. "put some under your nose."

Brennan obeyed. "How far is it to walk?"

"Not far." Wynne assured him and started towards the palace gates. "I hope you are ready."

Brennan didn't answer.

Wynne led him on the shortest route to the tavern. A block away they could hear music being played expertly and smell the divine food the cook had prepared.

"They live in a pub?"

"They own the Purple Cat." Wynne corrected.

Brennan looked up at the sign and the knowing purple cat. "A little obvious, isn't it?"

"Hardly, it is a catchy name which is important for drawing attention. There are no other taverns with a similar name or sign so there is no confusion. The twins painted that sign."

"It is well done."

Wynne paused and admired the workmanship. "It is supposed to be me."

The children boiled out the door when they heard her voice.

"Aunt Wynne!" Ana was the first to reach her. "We didn't expect you."

The slightly more reserved Elwin just hugged her. The twins each had crude wooden swords and round shields strapped to their arms. They gave her a little salute.

"My uncle arrived." Wynne returned Elwin's hug.

"Yeah, he smells funny." Ana said as she stared up at Brennan.

Wynne suppressed a laugh and looked over at her uncle. "Allow me to introduce Ana, Elwin, Kane, and Dain. This is my uncle, your great uncle, Brennan."

"Did you know our fathers?" Kane and Dain asked in unison.

"Yes, they were more like brothers to me. You're grandmother was much older than me."

The four children exchanged glances.

"Come on in." Kane invited and led him inside.

Wynne held back not wanting to interrupt. Ana stood beside her watching her cousins.

"I don't want to go back with him." Ana said quietly.

"It is all up to you kitten." Wynne assured her. "How is your healing lessons coming along?"

"Dancingleaf has taught me how to fix burns. Kane burned his arm on the oven today. She is still here."

Wynne grinned. "This ought to be interesting."

"Why?"

"Brennan and Dancingleaf butt horns a lot." Wynne explained.

Ana smirked. "Then this will be interesting."

"Shall we go in?"

Ana led the way inside. Geeva smiled a greeting, her son, Arin, was sitting at a small table reserved for the children and was working on what appeared to be his figures. The boys had Brennan pinned in a corner and were firing off a thousand questions a minute.

He was obviously having trouble focusing on their questions and the numerous conversations going on around him. Wynne and Ana sat with Dancingleaf at the opposite end of the table.

"I see your uncle arrived." Dancingleaf commented.

"Yes. He is not settling in very well."

"Give him time. Aren't you going to join him, Ana?"

"No." Ana shook her head.

"How are your classes?"

"All right I guess." Ana shrugged. "Wynne, is it alright if I become a healer?"

"Of course it is. Why?"

"I don't just want to be a trondi'irn. I want to be a full healer, humans and everything."

Dancingleaf was obviously shocked at this request.

"Kitten, their maybe a problem with that. Healers can't read us unless we let them. Unless you tell all the Healers teaching you and all your fellow trainees you will run into a lot of problems." Wynne warned. "I knew the Heralds would keep my secret but I don't know about the Healers. They may hold it against you."

"Ana, it's not that the Healers can't be trusted but they would react one of two ways, try and fix you like they are trying to fix the Change children, or study you. Unlike the Heralds, the Valdemaran Healers are having problems with accepting the intelligence of nonhumans." Dancingleaf confirmed. "When you are older you could go to one of the Vales and continue your training."

"How much older?"

"Fourteen or fifteen." Wynne answered. "That would make you an adult by their standards."

"So long?"

"I can teach you until then." Dancingleaf assured her.

"But what if he wants me to go back with him." Ana pointed at Brennan.

"As Dancingleaf's Apprentice you would stay with her." Wynne explained. "Give him a chance though."

"He may be a little rough around the edges but he is a good man." Dancingleaf soothed.

Brennan turned to look at them and stared at Dancingleaf.

Wynne winked at Ana who also caught the look. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

Ana nodded and grinned.

Another little fact Wynne had discovered while visiting her people, they were all incurable romantics and matchmakers, not just her.

"What?" Dancingleaf asked.

"He heard you." Wynne grinned.

"I am never going to get used to you lot." Dancingleaf sighed.

"She had a conversation with Keane across the room."

"Who is Keane?"

"That red head who stopped the argument with Brennan."

"Ah, yes, the one who called you fierce." Dancingleaf nodded.

"He also brought that box with the funny statue. He gave me a bit of sugar candy." Ana added.

"You knew about the statue." Wynne turned on Ana who contrived to look innocent.

"Should I ask?"

"A fertility statue." Wynne said without looking away from Ana. "It even makes Julian blush. I had totally forgotten about that box."

Brennan joined them at their end of the table leaving the boys to argue over something. "It is meant as an engagement gift."

"But Wynne and Julian aren't engaged, Heralds almost never marry."

Wynne rubbed her forehead and glowered at Ana.

Dancingleaf hid a smile behind a mug of chilled cider.

"Not engaged?" Brennan said loud enough for the entire tavern to hear.

"Is that a problem?" Wynne asked sweetly.

"Say no or you are going to regret it." Dancingleaf said in a mock whisper. This brought a scattering of laughter from the crowd. Even the Bard stopped playing.

Brennan started to say something and suddenly jerked and turned on Dancingleaf. "Did you just kick me?"

Wynne bit her lip to keep from laughing.

Dancingleaf fixed him with a glare. "You are an idiot, aren't you? Pity we can't heal that."

"I have to get going. I have to meet Kerowyn." Wynne stood.

"I am coming with you." Ana choked out.

They were clearly heard laughing.