CHAPTER 44

Myra leaned against the door jam and watched the sleeping girls.  If it hadn't been for Sherri telling her almost every night what havoc her little darlings had created she would have gone insane with missing them.  Finally they were calling her 'mama' and she wasn't going to be taken from them anytime soon, she was now assigned as a teacher at the Collegium.

Despite the intervening weeks the girls still asked for Aunt Sherri and Uncle Kevyn and were obviously waiting for them to return.  Treasures from Sherri and Kevyn adorned the room.  Dolls, tops, carved horses, and books littered the floor and shelf.

Further reminders her friends wouldn't be returning. 

:Why don't you write them a letter?  They would appreciate hearing how the girls are behaving.:  Abeni, her Companion, suggested.

:Wouldn't it just make them feel guilty?:

:It would make them feel less alone.:  Abeni pointed out.  :Besides, you should tell them about some of the darlings antics.  They would like that.:

Myra grinned.  :Poor Dirk never knew what hit him.:

The girls had, once again, made a mess, this time with paints Myra had thought they would use on the paper.  She had stripped them down and was preparing to bathe them when they made a mad break out the door, naked as they day they were born, straight into Herald Dirk who had instinctively scooped them both up.  Paint swirls had covered the front of his tunic but the worst was the paint they got into his hair by some method only a four year old would know.  He had changed but had neglected to wash out the paint immediately so he still had a splotch of red and another of blue where it had dyed his hair.

:Poor Dirk.:  Abeni chuckled.  :Now, enough moping and go write them.  I want to hear how Nick and Quin are taking enforced celibacy.:

Myra returned to her room and quickly located the necessary materials. 

Sherri and Kev,

I am sure this finds you in the best of health taking advantage of the privacy and silence you have lacked since you took on the girls.  I know you are worried about the darlings and I can assure you that while they miss their beloved Aunt and Uncle they have not slowed down any…

~ * ~

"Hello?"  The familiar voice echoed through the small cottage.

"Uncle Favram."  Sherri grumbled as she snuggled further under the covers.  "Do you think he will go away?"

Kevyn glanced toward the small window that showed only the barest sign of dawn.  "Your uncle's insane."

They could hear the door open and his nearly silent footsteps.  "Still abed?"

"Yes."  Sherri called down.  "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, yet, but the day has barely started."  Favram took a seat at their small table.  "I brought food and some letters.  Cook has decided you need to be fattened up and sent enough of her pies to feed the Imperial Army."

"Letters?"  Sherri asked drowsily.  "Who wrote us?"

"Well, one is from Herald Myra, another from Queen Selenay.  One is written in some tongue I don't understand and was delivered by some mysterious means to the doorstep.  There is also one from someone at the keep."

Sherri slipped from the bed and donned a wrapper before descending the ladder.  "I wonder what Myra had to say."

Favram left the stack of letters on the desk and stood to give his niece a tight hug, nearly leaving her breathless.  "You are looking good.  Now about your gentleman…"

"He isn't dressed for company."  She kissed his cheek and settled at the table while her uncle headed outside to bring in the next few days food.  Her Gift was active enough now that she could sense who the letters were from as she touched them.

A fact she was going to keep to herself.

The letter that was obviously from someone in the keep intrigued her the most.  She could literally sense nothing about it.

"Are you getting up?"  She called as she conjured a magelight to read the letters.

"No.  I am waiting until you come to your senses and come back to bed."  Kevyn grumbled.

"You never were a morning person."  She commented and unfolded the letter.

She nearly dropped it.

My dear daughter,

I am truly sorry for everything I have done and I love you beyond what words can express.  I cannot explain why I killed myself, I don't fully understand myself.  I was young, I had a baby, six brothers, and an estate.  I was never strong like you.  Because of me you and my brothers have suffered.

I know this all comes too late but I wanted it said.  You and your uncles were the most precious things in my life and I let you all down, there is nothing I could do to change that.  Please find it in your heart to forgive me someday.

Your loving mother,

Amelie

"Oh gods."  Sherri covered her mouth and reread the letter.

"What?"  Kevyn sat up and peered down at her.  "Who's it from?  Myra?"

"My mother."

"What?"  Kevyn wondered if his hearing was betraying him.  "What does she have to say?"

Sherri ignored the anger in his voice and read the letter out loud.  "I think she's moved on."

"Why do you say that?"

:She finally found the words to say farewell with.:  Quin explained.  :I can't say I am going to miss her.:

Sherri refolded the letter and buried her face in her hands. 

"Sherri, love?"  Kevyn was out of bed in a heart beat and at her side.

"Sorry."  Sherri sobbed.  "I just…I don't know."

Kevyn stood there helplessly staring at the letter.  "Why couldn't she have just left, no letter?"

"No."  Sherri sat up and wiped her eyes.  "She says she loved me."

:Don't tell me you thought it was your fault she was stupid enough to kill herself.:  Nick said in disbelief.

:Of course she did, what other conclusion would a child come to?:  Stef asked.

"So you aren't upset?"  Kevyn asked in obvious confusion.

:It is an emotional release.:  Fandes's explained in exasperation.  :It's a woman thing.:

Sherri laughed at the sense of relief she could feel from the males present. 

"Now what's wrong?"  Favram asked as he set the picnic basket on the table.

Sherri handed him the note.

"By all the gods!  When did she write this?"  He exclaimed as he finished the letter.

"Yesterday I think.  Apparently she finally left yesterday but wrote that letter first."  Kevyn said so Sherri could take a few minutes to compose herself.

"I wondered what she was trying to write in there.  She was trying to apologize?"

Sherri wiped her eyes and favoured them with a bright smile.  "I am going to go get dressed.  Care to join us for some breakfast?"

Favram glanced at Kevyn and back at Sherri.  "Actually, I have to get back.  The others will be arriving in the next week."

"The uncles?"  Kevyn clarified.

"Of course.  Avren and Buren left the day after you did and dispatched messages to all the others."  Favram stood and gave his niece a warm hug.  "Take care.  I know you aren't here for a vacation, a Herald doesn't know the meaning of the word.  And Kevyn, if anything happens to her I will personally toss you off the highest tower in the keep."

"Uncle!"  Sherri glared up at him.  "If you even consider it…"

"I know, you'll knock me up the side of the head with a sword."  He kissed her cheek and strode out the door.

"He never changes, only his threats do."  Kevyn observed.

Sherri returned to her letters and removed Myra's letter.  Two sheets, liberally covered in vaguely human and horse-like blobs of green, blue, red, and yellow fell to the table.

Kevyn picked up one with 'Neri' written on it and smiled broadly.  "It must have taken her hours to clean up the mess."

Sherri laughed as she read the letter.  "Apparently she had them bundled up in towels, preparing for a bath to clean up from the pictures when they decided to make a run for it."

"Wet children are the slipperiest things known to man."

"That's not all."  Sherri giggled and related the rest of the incident.

"Poor Dirk!  Nothing gets that paint out.  Didn't you warn her about paints and inks?"

"I told her about the many disasters they have made, yes.  She must have thought I was exaggerating."  She folded the letter and picked up Hana's picture.  "Quin, I think you are red."

Quin used her eyes to examine the picture.  :No, I am definitely that green thing.:

"I think that is Kevyn."

:How can you tell?:  Nick asked.

"I can sense it."  She admitted.  "They missed us dreadfully and have been acting up for Myra."

"Are you going to tell Myra that?"

"No.  She would just feel worse about not being there."  Sherri set the picture on the mantle of the fireplace, held up by a pair of mugs.  "The perfect touch."

"What about the other two letters?"

"Icestone and Selenay?"  She picked up the remaining two letters.  "Why don't you read them, they are addressed to both of us.  I am going to get dressed.  Should we have a picnic today?  Just us two?"

"Sounds like fun."  He kissed her as she passed him.  "Selenay is still worried about us but sends her regards and asks that we write to her.  She also warns that your uncles are on their way and calls it a mass migration of muscle."