Wynne found Julian locked in his office. "Ashke, should I ask?"
"Just a minute." The door unlocked and Julian opened it. "You're Uncle was just here."
"That explains it." Wynne slipped in a locked the door behind her. "He is proving to be a pain. If An'desha were still here I would ask him to teach me a few curses."
"I had no idea he could be such a prude." Julian confessed.
"I think he is just trying to cope and I just didn't do as he expected." Wynne manoeuvred him into a chair. "I am not an Empath, thankfully, so I can't tell you what he is feeling. What was he pestering you about?"
"Apparently I have been remiss in not asking you to marry me."
Wynne shook her head and stood behind the chair. She started rubbing his shoulders through his tunic. "Ignore him. He just has a stick shoved up a very uncomfortable place."
Julian chuckled and let his eyes drift closed.
"I thought I was the only one who could purr." Wynne teased.
"Just don't stop." Julian smiled. "How did you know I need this?"
"I heard about Jennis' stunt. He has apologized for nailing Kedry's chair and desk to the ceiling."
"I should have known an artificer would have stunts we had never seen before."
Wynne smiled as she remembered the prank. "Be glad the walls were stone otherwise you would have found every stick of furniture on the walls."
Julian reluctantly laughed. "He never mentioned that."
"He asked me to relay that little bit of news." Wynne admitted. "He won't try that trick again but watch for his next one."
"Suddenly I am filled with dread."
"He is a brilliant boy. Give him a new project, like making a new obstacle course."
"Good idea. I think I will talk to him in the morning. I am very glad he isn't a Shifter and only need a candlemark of sleep, I can't imagine what he's do if he had that much time on his hands."
"Just be glad you aren't in charge of the Mage Collegium. Sea and the others will be arriving in a week."
"All five of them?" Julian asked with a bit of dread in his voice.
"Yes. The many of Shifters have master or adept potential and all have some measure of mage gift, a side effect of being a construct. The Gifts of the older generations have atrophied so they aren't even bothering with being taught but the majority of younger ones will be taught."
"Is that why An'desha made for the plains so quickly?"
"Yes. Grandmother tried to convince him to stay and teach and he went as white as his hair and babbled something about one student at a time. Elspeth is trying to find some teachers they will trust to send up north."
"Not easy. I am surprised they have agreed to be taught."
Wynne stopped massaging his shoulders and stepped around the chair and tooka seat in the other chair. "Magic made us so they are hoping magic will fix us. Did I tell you about grandmother's latest letter?"
"No. What did she have to say this week?"
"She is very impressed with the ekeles and the pools. The families are settling in quite well. They are still working on what they will use to trade other than Change Creature hides. One family is making clothing from hides in styles they have seen on there travels. More families plan to make tapestries, apparently that was another portable craft they have become adept at. They just have to trade from dies and thread before they can start."
"I imagine they are miserable farmers."
"They have never even bothered trying. It takes too long and they don't like grubbing in the dirt."
"What other crafts do they have?"
"They can make looms, clothing, carvings, and fabric. They made the fabric for the pillows grandmother used."
The fabric had been incredibly sturdy but as smooth as silk in the most vibrant colours.
"That fabric would be in demand." Julian commented.
A soft knock was all the warning either of them had before Tandee unlocked the door and stepped in. "Hiding from your uncle?"
"How did you guess?" Wynne asked. She was slowly getting used to Tandee's silent movements.
"Simple, he has been looking for you." Tandee explained and started to tidy Julian's desk.
He bolted out of his chair to stop her. "I thought we had an agreement. You would leave the office alone."
Tandee hissed her disapproval of the disaster of papers. "How can you get anything done?"
Wynne smiled fondly. "He knows where everything is. If you tidy it he spends forever trying to find it again."
"It is easy to keep track of everything that is kept tidily in its place." Tandee countered but put down the papers. "Isn't your research better now that it is organized?"
"It has taken three months for me to get used to it." Julian pointed out and replaced the papers where they had been.
"Your mate is very disorganized." Tandee sighed to Wynne.
"I noticed, but he does seem to find everything when he needs it."
"I should hope so." Tandee hissed.
"Did my uncle mention why he was looking for me?"
"No. You will have to ask him."
Wynne grimaced. "He is probably still a little sore from earlier. He was about to give me a lecture on proprieties when Dancingleaf kicked him. Ana and I couldn't help ourselves; we barely made it out the door."
"Dancingleaf kicked him?" Julian asked with a grin.
"Then called him an idiot." Wynne nodded.
"He probably deserved it." Tandee hissed.
"He did." Wynne confirmed. "I'll go talk to him."
"He was going to see if you were visiting with Caedy." Tandee said with a slight smile. No matter how belligerent he may be with everyone else, he never argued with a gryphon.
"Thank you." Wynne stood and stretched. "I'll beard the lynx in the gryphon's den."
Tandee chortled.
"Thank you for the shoulder rub." Julian leaned over his desk to give her an almost chaste kiss.
"You are very welcome." Wynne assured him.
"I'll return the favour tonight." He promised.
"I'll see you both later." Tandee hissed as she headed out the door.
Wynne winked at him and hurried out the door. Tandee had refused to even consider serving anyone else since they returned. Wynne had insisted she stay out of her room, which she rarely used for more than storage, and to not even consider doing the chores assigned to Wynne. Wynne had to give up having normal uniforms since they were inevitably embroidered. Tandee was determined to improve their uniforms, whether they liked it or not, she couldn't understand why they wanted to wear such unornamented clothing.
Wynne found her uncle just leaving the large room that belonged to Caedy and two other gryphons.
"Liawynne, I was trying to find you." Brennan said.
"Tandee mentioned that." Wynne stopped. "You spoke to Julian? Don't even bother answering, I know you did. Please keep your nose out of my business."
"He should have more respect for you."
Wynne counted to ten. "I appreciate you are concerned for me but, quite frankly, it isn't any of your business."
"You are my niece."
"I noticed." Wynne growled. "Listen. Julian and I don't want to formalize our relationship until I finish my training. That is another two years. Until then don't even mention it."
"But-" Brennan started.
Wynne glanced at the curious gryphons watching them from the doorway. :Uncle, I was not raised as a Shifter. I was raised as a Valdemaran. If you can't accept that go back to whatever they decide to call it. You think of yourself as a Shifter first. I think of myself as a Valdemaran Herald. Please keep that in mind and let me do as I see fit with out interference.:
"How did you do that?"
:Mindspeech. Will you agree not to press either of us about this?:
Brennan nodded, obviously stunned.
"Thank you." Wynne said. "Now on to a more pertinent subject. What did you think of the boys?"
"How do you keep up with them? Don't get me wrong, they are obviously intelligent but I have never been faced with so many questions."
"They sleep eight hours a night. Trust me, that helps."
"Ana didn't seem to want to meet me."
"She didn't." Wynne didn't mince words. "She is afraid you will take her away."
"Is there anything I can do to win her over?"
Wynne clasped her hands behind her back. "Make it clear you don't expect anything from her. Express an interest in her interests. Be her victim. Take her shopping, she loves to shop. Don't be an idiot and keep in mind, she was born and raised here and doesn't know anything about you and your family. Give them two weeks then offer all of them, and Dancingleaf, a chance to visit the new town for a few weeks."
"Thank you, Liawynne."
"And for the Lady's sake, think before you open your mouth and stick your foot in."
"I deserve that."
"Yes, you do." Wynne turned and walked away.
~*~
Wynne used her tiny paw and pushed the strand of hair out of her beloved's face.
"Hmmm, are you still awake?" Julian stirred.
:I am just watching you.: She answered.
Julian raised his head to look at her. "Is something bothering you?"
:No. Did you realise that a year ago tonight I met you?:
"I remember. I never did find that bell."
:Sorry.: Wynne purred and rubbed her head against his chin. :An entire year has passed. It seems hard to believe.:
Julian swung his legs over the edge of the bed and carried her over to the chair next to the window. Wynne shifted once he was sitting and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I am sorry if I woke you."
"Don't worry about it." Julian stroked her hair. "I tried to stay awake but I think Tandee put something in my tea."
Wynne chuckled. "I wouldn't put it past her. She's worried you are going to work yourself too hard."
"Too hard? A Herald doesn't even understand that concept." Julian joked.
Wynne laughed. "Oh, I know. You haven't been happier since you started taking over from Teren."
"It's very rewarding. I enjoy working with the trainees."
"And they adore you." Wynne smiled distractedly.
"You're brooding again." Julian commented.
"I was just wondering what the next few years will bring."
"With you around, probably a great deal of change."
"I hope that is a compliment."
"It is. You are the first nonhuman Herald and in just six months you have helped create a new curriculum, been instrumental in founding a completely nonhuman town, and managed to fill the Mage's Collegium with your relatives. You are creating change simply by being you. When you are done I think you will cause as much change as Kerowyn."
"A Herald of great change." Wynne chuckled. "I keep wondering if someone cursed me to live in interesting times."
"If they did I wish they had warned us."
Wynne mock punched his arm. "Watch it."
Julian laughed. "Not even the Foreseers could foretell all the chaos you have created."
Wynne grinned. "And I have only gotten started."
"Just a minute." The door unlocked and Julian opened it. "You're Uncle was just here."
"That explains it." Wynne slipped in a locked the door behind her. "He is proving to be a pain. If An'desha were still here I would ask him to teach me a few curses."
"I had no idea he could be such a prude." Julian confessed.
"I think he is just trying to cope and I just didn't do as he expected." Wynne manoeuvred him into a chair. "I am not an Empath, thankfully, so I can't tell you what he is feeling. What was he pestering you about?"
"Apparently I have been remiss in not asking you to marry me."
Wynne shook her head and stood behind the chair. She started rubbing his shoulders through his tunic. "Ignore him. He just has a stick shoved up a very uncomfortable place."
Julian chuckled and let his eyes drift closed.
"I thought I was the only one who could purr." Wynne teased.
"Just don't stop." Julian smiled. "How did you know I need this?"
"I heard about Jennis' stunt. He has apologized for nailing Kedry's chair and desk to the ceiling."
"I should have known an artificer would have stunts we had never seen before."
Wynne smiled as she remembered the prank. "Be glad the walls were stone otherwise you would have found every stick of furniture on the walls."
Julian reluctantly laughed. "He never mentioned that."
"He asked me to relay that little bit of news." Wynne admitted. "He won't try that trick again but watch for his next one."
"Suddenly I am filled with dread."
"He is a brilliant boy. Give him a new project, like making a new obstacle course."
"Good idea. I think I will talk to him in the morning. I am very glad he isn't a Shifter and only need a candlemark of sleep, I can't imagine what he's do if he had that much time on his hands."
"Just be glad you aren't in charge of the Mage Collegium. Sea and the others will be arriving in a week."
"All five of them?" Julian asked with a bit of dread in his voice.
"Yes. The many of Shifters have master or adept potential and all have some measure of mage gift, a side effect of being a construct. The Gifts of the older generations have atrophied so they aren't even bothering with being taught but the majority of younger ones will be taught."
"Is that why An'desha made for the plains so quickly?"
"Yes. Grandmother tried to convince him to stay and teach and he went as white as his hair and babbled something about one student at a time. Elspeth is trying to find some teachers they will trust to send up north."
"Not easy. I am surprised they have agreed to be taught."
Wynne stopped massaging his shoulders and stepped around the chair and tooka seat in the other chair. "Magic made us so they are hoping magic will fix us. Did I tell you about grandmother's latest letter?"
"No. What did she have to say this week?"
"She is very impressed with the ekeles and the pools. The families are settling in quite well. They are still working on what they will use to trade other than Change Creature hides. One family is making clothing from hides in styles they have seen on there travels. More families plan to make tapestries, apparently that was another portable craft they have become adept at. They just have to trade from dies and thread before they can start."
"I imagine they are miserable farmers."
"They have never even bothered trying. It takes too long and they don't like grubbing in the dirt."
"What other crafts do they have?"
"They can make looms, clothing, carvings, and fabric. They made the fabric for the pillows grandmother used."
The fabric had been incredibly sturdy but as smooth as silk in the most vibrant colours.
"That fabric would be in demand." Julian commented.
A soft knock was all the warning either of them had before Tandee unlocked the door and stepped in. "Hiding from your uncle?"
"How did you guess?" Wynne asked. She was slowly getting used to Tandee's silent movements.
"Simple, he has been looking for you." Tandee explained and started to tidy Julian's desk.
He bolted out of his chair to stop her. "I thought we had an agreement. You would leave the office alone."
Tandee hissed her disapproval of the disaster of papers. "How can you get anything done?"
Wynne smiled fondly. "He knows where everything is. If you tidy it he spends forever trying to find it again."
"It is easy to keep track of everything that is kept tidily in its place." Tandee countered but put down the papers. "Isn't your research better now that it is organized?"
"It has taken three months for me to get used to it." Julian pointed out and replaced the papers where they had been.
"Your mate is very disorganized." Tandee sighed to Wynne.
"I noticed, but he does seem to find everything when he needs it."
"I should hope so." Tandee hissed.
"Did my uncle mention why he was looking for me?"
"No. You will have to ask him."
Wynne grimaced. "He is probably still a little sore from earlier. He was about to give me a lecture on proprieties when Dancingleaf kicked him. Ana and I couldn't help ourselves; we barely made it out the door."
"Dancingleaf kicked him?" Julian asked with a grin.
"Then called him an idiot." Wynne nodded.
"He probably deserved it." Tandee hissed.
"He did." Wynne confirmed. "I'll go talk to him."
"He was going to see if you were visiting with Caedy." Tandee said with a slight smile. No matter how belligerent he may be with everyone else, he never argued with a gryphon.
"Thank you." Wynne stood and stretched. "I'll beard the lynx in the gryphon's den."
Tandee chortled.
"Thank you for the shoulder rub." Julian leaned over his desk to give her an almost chaste kiss.
"You are very welcome." Wynne assured him.
"I'll return the favour tonight." He promised.
"I'll see you both later." Tandee hissed as she headed out the door.
Wynne winked at him and hurried out the door. Tandee had refused to even consider serving anyone else since they returned. Wynne had insisted she stay out of her room, which she rarely used for more than storage, and to not even consider doing the chores assigned to Wynne. Wynne had to give up having normal uniforms since they were inevitably embroidered. Tandee was determined to improve their uniforms, whether they liked it or not, she couldn't understand why they wanted to wear such unornamented clothing.
Wynne found her uncle just leaving the large room that belonged to Caedy and two other gryphons.
"Liawynne, I was trying to find you." Brennan said.
"Tandee mentioned that." Wynne stopped. "You spoke to Julian? Don't even bother answering, I know you did. Please keep your nose out of my business."
"He should have more respect for you."
Wynne counted to ten. "I appreciate you are concerned for me but, quite frankly, it isn't any of your business."
"You are my niece."
"I noticed." Wynne growled. "Listen. Julian and I don't want to formalize our relationship until I finish my training. That is another two years. Until then don't even mention it."
"But-" Brennan started.
Wynne glanced at the curious gryphons watching them from the doorway. :Uncle, I was not raised as a Shifter. I was raised as a Valdemaran. If you can't accept that go back to whatever they decide to call it. You think of yourself as a Shifter first. I think of myself as a Valdemaran Herald. Please keep that in mind and let me do as I see fit with out interference.:
"How did you do that?"
:Mindspeech. Will you agree not to press either of us about this?:
Brennan nodded, obviously stunned.
"Thank you." Wynne said. "Now on to a more pertinent subject. What did you think of the boys?"
"How do you keep up with them? Don't get me wrong, they are obviously intelligent but I have never been faced with so many questions."
"They sleep eight hours a night. Trust me, that helps."
"Ana didn't seem to want to meet me."
"She didn't." Wynne didn't mince words. "She is afraid you will take her away."
"Is there anything I can do to win her over?"
Wynne clasped her hands behind her back. "Make it clear you don't expect anything from her. Express an interest in her interests. Be her victim. Take her shopping, she loves to shop. Don't be an idiot and keep in mind, she was born and raised here and doesn't know anything about you and your family. Give them two weeks then offer all of them, and Dancingleaf, a chance to visit the new town for a few weeks."
"Thank you, Liawynne."
"And for the Lady's sake, think before you open your mouth and stick your foot in."
"I deserve that."
"Yes, you do." Wynne turned and walked away.
~*~
Wynne used her tiny paw and pushed the strand of hair out of her beloved's face.
"Hmmm, are you still awake?" Julian stirred.
:I am just watching you.: She answered.
Julian raised his head to look at her. "Is something bothering you?"
:No. Did you realise that a year ago tonight I met you?:
"I remember. I never did find that bell."
:Sorry.: Wynne purred and rubbed her head against his chin. :An entire year has passed. It seems hard to believe.:
Julian swung his legs over the edge of the bed and carried her over to the chair next to the window. Wynne shifted once he was sitting and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I am sorry if I woke you."
"Don't worry about it." Julian stroked her hair. "I tried to stay awake but I think Tandee put something in my tea."
Wynne chuckled. "I wouldn't put it past her. She's worried you are going to work yourself too hard."
"Too hard? A Herald doesn't even understand that concept." Julian joked.
Wynne laughed. "Oh, I know. You haven't been happier since you started taking over from Teren."
"It's very rewarding. I enjoy working with the trainees."
"And they adore you." Wynne smiled distractedly.
"You're brooding again." Julian commented.
"I was just wondering what the next few years will bring."
"With you around, probably a great deal of change."
"I hope that is a compliment."
"It is. You are the first nonhuman Herald and in just six months you have helped create a new curriculum, been instrumental in founding a completely nonhuman town, and managed to fill the Mage's Collegium with your relatives. You are creating change simply by being you. When you are done I think you will cause as much change as Kerowyn."
"A Herald of great change." Wynne chuckled. "I keep wondering if someone cursed me to live in interesting times."
"If they did I wish they had warned us."
Wynne mock punched his arm. "Watch it."
Julian laughed. "Not even the Foreseers could foretell all the chaos you have created."
Wynne grinned. "And I have only gotten started."