CHAPTER 34
:Sherri, if you aren't busy…:
:I am.:
Damn! Quin wished the floor wasn't so solid. If it would collapse right now he would consider it a godsend.
"You sound a great deal like my old friend."
Quin tried to look innocent.
:I believe you have wedged your hoof in your mouth quite firmly.: Dirk's Companion, Ahrodie, commented.
:I know. What I wouldn't give to be able to lie right now.:
Dirk had his arms crossed over his chest and was obviously deep in thought.
:I can't claim it is a coincidence, it isn't. I can't say I am not Kris, because I am. I can't even say he is hearing things because he isn't!:
Ahrodie sent him a wave of laughter. :And you don't want to pull the memory trick, do you.:
:I have never had to. Sherri would just remember the next time she touched me.:
:True.:
The crease between Dirk's brows warned him that Dirk was likely to play with this bit of information until he came up with the truth.
"Ahrodie is flat out refusing to answer my questions. I don't suppose it is a coincidence."
:He is your Chosen!:
:This is too amusing.: Ahrodie countered. :And here you can't escape.:
:What about keeping the all important secrets?:
Ahrodie didn't answer.
He was a Companion and even he was sick of the plotting they indulged in and it was obvious they were taking advantage of the situation for something. Elspeth's being the first mage was actually been plotted over fifty years ago. He knew something of Elspeth's monumental stubborn streak from Talia's internship and when she had started rebelling, and the reports back had become vaguer and vaguer he had been amused.
"I will come back later. The plumb line blues are working on a way to get you out." Dirk said finally.
Quin sighed. If he could just keep his big mouth shut.
~ * ~
Sherri nodded off twice before Icestone finally dismissed them.
"Can you make it up the stairs?"
Sherri nodded. "But not past the bed."
"Me neither." Kevyn yawned.
Both had been put through their paces for the majority of the day and both had almost nothing left. Icestone had been sickeningly refreshed when they were done, but she wasn't the one who was using magic for several candlemarks with out a break.
They found Quin standing in the corner looking worried.
"What's wrong?" Sherri asked around a yawn.
Quin flipped his ears back. :The floor is groaning.:
"Oh." Sherri stripped off her clothing and tossed in on a chair to be dealt with later. Kevyn followed suit and within minutes both were asleep.
Quin sighed. He really needed to get out of here. He made his way to the other side of the room, keeping as close to the wall as he could, and stared out the window at the field.
Sherri and Kevyn looked so innocent curled in bed like that. Of course, it was the last thing a father wanted to see.
Even he had to admit that Sherri didn't feel like a daughter to him. He hadn't met her till she was an adult, even though he had made several trips north to watch her. The first when he was just under two years old. His mother had dragged him home by the ear. He tried to analyze his feelings for her. She had been right that he would have over reacted if he had known where she was when she had been kidnapped. Any other Companion would have followed at a discreet distance then run in to rescue her when she was ready. He would have charged in immediately.
Was he over reacting because of guilt? Most likely.
The floor groaned as he shifted his weight. He hoped the Artificers had been right about the strength of the floor.
Next time, he vowed, he would come back as a much smaller creature.
:Stuck up there with the love birds?: Nick asked.
:Yes. Do you know if Ahrodie 'nudged' Dirk into forgetting?:
:No such luck. You got yourself into it, you get yourself out.:
:I was afraid of that.:
:I do have some good news though. Sherri's idea is feasible and the Mages are ready to float you out this evening.:
:Wonderful! Ground that does not groan!:
:Of course I have to convince my little angels that Uncle Quin doesn't need company until then. Heria is convinced she should join you.:
Quin chuckled. Nick's youngest daughter was a handful and an incurable dreamer. :She could probably handle the stairs no problem. I did when I was younger than her.:
:I am not going to tell her that.: Nick chuckled. :Today she said she was going to choose an artificer who could design her wings and a seamstress who could make her a blanket to match the gown Sherri wore to the ball.:
:I wish I had seen those years with Sherri.:
:Stop moping. You are bound to sire a little bundle eventually and you'll experience it then.:
Quin's eyes glinted in amusement. :Sherri will have a little brother or sister who is a Companion. Talk about confusion at the supper table.:
A soft knock interrupted the conversation. Neither Sherri nor Kevyn stirred. Quin carefully made his way across the floor and leaned his full weight against the door. The pair needed their sleep. Sherri had been sleeping only a couple of hours every night and Kevyn was also feeling the effects of the stress the past few weeks had brought to bear on both of them.
:That's Dirk.: Nick warned.
:Drat.: Quin grumbled, he decided to face the problem head on. :They are sleeping.:
His sensitive hearing alerted him to Dirk's soft curse.
:Is something wrong?: Dirk asked.
:No. They are exhausted from their bout with that new mage, Icestone.:
:Actually, it is you I wanted to talk to.:
:I was afraid of that.: Quin sighed and stepped away from the door. :I'll come out, we can talk out there. I just hope the floor doesn't groan out there too.:
:Your moving around has probably weakened the floor.:
When the door opened he stepped gingerly out. It was too narrow for him to turn around at all and Dirk was in front of him.
"There is an empty room at the other end of the hall." Dirk offered.
:That would be wonderful.: Quin followed Dirk to the empty room. There wasn't even a bed. His hooves echoed in the bare room as he stepped over to the window.
"I am surprised you haven't just decided to be quiet." Dirk commented.
:Sherri would probably answer your questions so you may as well hear it from the horse's mouth.: Quin said with absolutely no humor. :What did you want to know?:
"Were you once a Herald?"
Quin hesitated, he wanted desperately to tell Dirk everything. He was about to answer when a wave of guilt stopped him. :Sorry.:
Dirk shook his head and appeared confused. "I…what was I saying?"
Quin just eyed him silently.
"Right, I hope you'll be more comfortable in here. The mages say they will have you out by nightfall." Dirk said as he headed to the door.
:I hope he didn't write anything down.: Quin commented to Ahrodie.
:He didn't. I am surprised you did that.:
:As much as I would like to return to how it was before, it's impossible.: Quin said mournfully. :I have lived a whole other life since we last spoke. Besides, they have enough to deal with without adding a suddenly resurrected friend.:
Soft foot steps interrupted him. "I wondered where you were. I assume you spoke to Dirk."
:Yes. I didn't know you knew.:
"Of course I knew." Sherri rubbed his velvety nose. "I am sorry you had to do it."
:I am actually glad I had a choice. You should get some sleep. You can barely stand.:
"I will later. I forgot to tell you earlier, we have everything ready to get you out today. We are going to using the weightless spell and you will be going down the stairs instead of out the wall."
:Wonderful! When?:
Sherri chuckled tiredly. "After dinner. Kevyn thinks we should find a room near the north stair case for next time."
:Near the library stairs? In case I visit again?:
"So you can if you want. I like my room however. They have also suggested I move down to the ekele until I am trained."
:That isn't a bad idea.:
"I know." She rested her forehead against his neck. "I just feel like I would be admitting defeat."
:You wouldn't be. You already know I taught Talia when her Gift went rogue at full strength.:
Sherri nodded.
:If we hadn't been in the middle of no where when it happened we would have had to find some remote place until she was trained. It has nothing to do with you admitting defeat and everything to do with the safety of others.:
"Very well." Sherri sighed. "I will tell them later. First let's get you back on the ground."
:Good enough. How was your magic lessons today?:
"Long. We experimented with different types of shields, none helped. Icestone already thinks we will have to shut it down. Oh, we did find out that there seems to be two parts to True sight. Like mindspeech is found in both projective and receptive forms. There is a part that shows me the history of an object, we think that is the same gift she has, only hers is much weaker. That one is still growing stronger. Then there is the part that makes me sensitive to spirits. That has been growing at a different rate so it is still "
:It sounds like you have made some progress.:
"Why don't you tag along? I mean inside my mind. Then I won't have to explain it later."
:You mean eavesdrop? I didn't want to intrude.:
"You wouldn't." Sherri assured him as she yawned again.
:Go back to bed.: Quin urged.
"Are you going to stay in here?" She asked as she started for the door.
:No, I will come back with you. I never got to watch you sleep as a baby, I won't pass up the chance now.: