CHAPTER 37

Sherri stretched slowly and opened her eyes.  Kevyn was just coming out of his trance as well.  White strands decorated his hair and his eyes were lighter than when they had first met.  Five years had passed since she was Chosen.  Now she and Kevyn acting as beloved aunt and uncle to Hana and Nerita, Myra's twin girls, while she was out on Circuit.  They were also assigned to Haven because of Sherri's incredible reach, she could reach the Shin'a'in's plains with out aid, and their lifebond, which allowed them to feed each as they worked.  They were the only lifebonded pair of adept mages in Valdemar.  Together they helped lay the paths smaller leylines would follow and guided energy into the channels. 

This was part of the reason that magic was returning to normal quicker than expected.  Areas, like the Healers and the stockyards, put of a great deal of energy.  Much of it came from death but together they fed it into the larger channels that fed the heart-stones that dotted the alliance. 

Soon they would even be able to restore the palace shields.

"Is something wrong?"  Kevyn asked.

"No, I am just admiring the view."  She grinned.  "We should go check on the girls."

"Your uncle is probably ready to toss them out the window."

Sherri stood and opened the door to the Heart-stone room and stepped out into the hall.  The peace of the room left her as did the subtle warmth.  "I think is about dinner time."

"Aunt Sherri!"  Two little voices called as two tiny redheads burst around the corner followed by a massive blonde giant. 

As the twins took shelter behind her she crossed her arms.  "What did they do?"

"They were decorating."  Avren grumbled, no bitterness in his voice.  "I have inky hand prints all over my rooms."

Sherri looked down to see the black hand prints on her white uniform.  "What have I told you about playing with ink?"

"Not to do it."  Neri volunteered.  "But uncle Avry said we could draw."

Sherri glanced at her uncle and noticed the dozens of hand prints decorating his formal tunic.  "I doubt he will do that again."

Avren glanced down at his tunic.  "I definitely won't do that again."

Kevyn scooped up a ink stained girl and held her away from his uniform.  "Are you going to clean it up?"

Neri, the twin in his arms looked mutinous.  "But it's a big mess.  We are not big enough to clean it."

Avren scooped up Hana and tucked her under one arm then took Neri and tucked her under the other.  "Well, I am big enough, but you are going to help."

Sherri laughed at the trio as they walked away.  "Myra is going to love hearing about this."

Kevyn glanced at the hand prints on her pants.  "Especially the part where the always immaculate Sherri gets her pants decorated."

Sherri laughed and kissed him quickly.  :Take a look at your sleeves.:

Sure enough, he had inky smudges where Neri had put her hands.  "Gaytha is going to want explanations."

"Hana and Neri are explanation enough."  Sherri trailed slowly after Avren and the girls.  "I was wondering what they would do next.  Don't tell the girls, but I am looking forward to Myra getting back next month."

"Peace, quiet, and a chance to wake up with just you and me in the bed?  I don't blame you."

It was a candlemark later when a still ink-stained Avren dumped a pair of damp, twins wrapped in fluffy towels on to the couch.  "Here you go.  The imps are all yours."

Sherri grabbed the girls before they could scamper off, without the towels.  "Thanks for watching them."

"I enjoyed it."  Avren assured her.  "I better get going; I have to change before dinner with the court."

"See you tomorrow."  Sherri guided the giggling girls into their room with Kevyn's help. 

"Can we sleep with you?"  Neri asked.

"Just for tonight?"  Hana added.

:Just like every night?:  Kevyn sent. 

:I know.:  Sherri helped the girls into their nightgowns, one pink, one yellow.  "How about you two share Neri's bed tonight?  Then you won't be sleeping alone."

The girls only looked at each other before nodding in unison and scrabbling into the bed. 

"Who gets to tell a story tonight?"  Kevyn asked as he picked up the towels.

The girls whispered for a few second before exclaiming in unison, "Uncle Kevyn!"

Sherri left Kevyn with the girls and the book and settled on the couch in the sitting room.

:You accomplished a great deal today.:  Quin said suddenly.  :I imagine your northern friends appreciate the power you have sent them.:

:I wish I could visit them.:  Sherri admitted.  :I miss them.:

:I know.:  Quin sighed.

Sherri rubbed her forehead, trying to banish the dull ache that had taken up residence there for the past few days. 

:Why don't you go to bed?  Kevyn can settle the girls.:

:This may be the first time in nearly a month that we can have a few minutes to ourselves.  The girls are just so rambunctious.  And after a day of playing with magic…:

:And now you have that headache.  You should go see the healers.:

:It's just a headache.:

:And it hasn't gone away after a week.:  Quin persisted.

Sherri sighed and drummed her fingers on the back of the comfortable and durable chair.  :I never really wanted to be a parent.  It's not that I don't adore the girls, but I just don't know if I am up to taking them again when Myra goes back out.:

:Ask her to find someone else to care for the girls.:

:Could you ask her with out feeling like a monster?:

:No.:  Quin admitted.  :I do agree that you are both working yourselves to the bone.  I heard Myra and Abeni may be assigned to messenger duty.  Cadin and Gerit are being posted to a southern healing temple to replace Jura.:

Sherri hoped it was true and felt a stab of shame.  :Tell Kevyn that I am going back to the Heart-stone.  I am going to see if I can reach Myra.  She will want to hear what her darlings did today.:

:You can do that in your room.:  Quin pointed out with concern.

:I know.:  Sherri stood and returned to the small room in the bowels of the palace.  As the peace enveloped her, she released a sigh of contentment.  She was the only one who was actually comfortable in the room.  Others often described it as creepy.

The globe of flawless quartz was in the centre of the stone table and cast a soft, white glow.  She sat on the padded stone bench and once again wondered how often Vanyel had sat in this very room as a Web Guardian. 

With a smile she took a small wisp of power and used it to boost her mindspeech range to Lake Evendim, where Myra was on circuit.

:Myra?:

:Sherri?  I wasn't expecting you to reach me tonight.:

:I had time.  Kevyn is reading to your girls.:

:Are they behaving?:

Sherri related the story of the ink splotches and Avren's day of babysitting.

:Blessings!  I wish I had been there.  You have no idea how badly I needed to here something funny.  These fishermen are so thick.  Would you believe I had to settle a dispute over who owned a letter of a deceased woman?  They were hoping it would reveal who fathered the child she died giving birth to.  I ruled that it belonged to the child.  The three men in question all refuse to claim the child as their own so none of them could read it.:

:So what happened to the child?:

:His aunt has custody of him.  She is barren so she is ecstatic over having a babe of her own.  Since she is the guardian, she read the letter.  It was only a recipe!  And they tied up my entire day with it!:

:A recipe?:  Sherri chuckled.  :I am sorry, but can you imagine your brothers fighting over a recipe?:

:Gods, no!:  Myra finally saw the humor in the situation.

They traded news for a few minutes more before breaking contact.  Sherri started to stand when a sharp stab of pain between her eyes sent her staggering.  Groping wildly, she grabbed onto the heart-stone.

An image of five people sitting in the small room sprang into her mind.  She recognized two of them.  One was Vanyel, the other was Kerowyn's Companion as a human.

She jerked her hand away and leaned against the wall, her chest heaving.

:What's wrong?:  Quin demanded.

:It's back!  My Gift, it's working again.:  Sherri said in panic.

:Calm down.  Maybe it was just a fluke.:  Quin urged.  :Try touching the door and see if you pick up anything.:

Sherri obeyed and heaved a sigh of relief when all she felt was the age worn wood.  "I hope it was just my imagination."

~ * ~

Kevyn found a still worried Sherri sitting on the bed.  Her hands clasped on her lap and as pale as a Companion.  "What's wrong?  Are you sick?"

Sherri jumped.  "Sorry, I was just thinking.  How long do you think it will be before the girls join us?"

"Maybe a candlemark or two.  Why?"

Sherri wound her arms around his neck, grateful when no stray image popped into her mind.  "It has been a month since we have had a moment to ourselves."

"Aunty Sherri?"  Two voices called in unison.

Sherri moaned and buried her face in his shirt.  "I should have known it would be too good to be true."

The girls were still tucked in Neri's bed with identical expressions of innocence.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"  Sherri asked as she opened the door.

"Can you sing for us?"  Hana pleaded.

"We can't sleep."  Neri added.

"You haven't tried."  Sherri pointed out.  "I tell you what.  I will sing you one song and if you stay in your bed all night, I will take you for a ride on Quin tomorrow."

The girls had a whispered conference then nodded.  "Can you sing Milady's Eyes?"

Sherri was less than fond of that song, but she wanted an evening with Kevyn so she didn't try to dissuade them.  She fetched her harp from the sitting room and settled on the chair stationed at the foot of Neri's bed.  She sensed Kevyn at the door as she started to sing. 

When it finished the girls begged for more but Sherri refused.

"I will see you two in the morning."  Sherri said as she closed the door.

Kevyn scooped her off her feet and carried her to their room.  "What did you promise?"

"A ride on Quin."  Sherri answered as she kissed his neck and nipped at his ear.  "That should keep them in bed for the night."