Hey- me again. Sorry this has taken so long! I really wanted to post
sooner, but didn't think that you would enjoy a three paragraph long
chapter. Here I go, but before I really do, I would LOVE to thank Princess
Hemione- here is another chapter, Luthe- there were reasons she was
beheaded and the triplets did nothing, but those wont emerge till a little
bit later. Thanks for the encouragement! Panda Bear- I will see you in
school tomorrow so I can really thank you there, but its nice to know that
total strangers and my friends both enjoy what I write. Thanx you guys....
Thanx!
And away we go!
Chapter Three:
Not that Bad
Duke Baird handled Eleni's ankle with a gentle touch.
"A sprain, right?" the old woman asked.
"No it's broken. They really got you, those owls, didn't they?" the healer- Duke corrected. He padded her calf. "But you're a tough old bird."
She chuckled. "I'll pass. You can fix it, can't you?" He replied with a soft smile.
"In no time." He placed his hands over her left foot (the injured one- duh!) and his magic flowed into the wound to fix the bone. "Now, isn't that better?" She nodded, far more relaxed. "You should be fine so long as you don't try to do cartwheels and back flips. Oh and you'll be a bit sensitive to extreme heat or cold on that foot, so be careful. It also may be a bit tender to the touch, or to walk on, at first." He went on, and on, and on....
"Your Grace, you've just ruined my weekend."
"How so?"
"Well, I was planning on walking across burning hot cols all the way to the Roof of the World, and then joining a band of traveling acrobats." She sighed. "I'll have to spend the time with my husband now."
They both laughed.
"How is Sir Myles fairing, by the way?"
She paused to think about it. "The same as always. He's been working on his paper about the Ruins of the Old Ones at Olau a bit much. I believe he's almost done. Of course, he's been almost done with it for about fifteen years." "Well, that's good. Nealan says that he's been missing his knight mistress since he's been out on his own. And with Kel gone, he thinks he's unloved with no one to make him heal an entire villages epidemic, or yell at him to eat his vegetables first, cake second, or just to drag him out of his room to go to the practice courts."
"Well Alanna misses having him to order around. She's been sulking about the Swoop as of late."
"Where did time go? I remember Alanna running in and out of here as Page Alan, always fighting about something. And Neal, in diapers, crawling about Queenscove with my Lady. Now he's a growl healer and Knight, with Yukimi."
"At least you're not a grandmother. I don't know how Thom became a Page so fast. The twins are starting to ride horses now, all grown up, and off ponies." She sighed. "Goddess, we're old aren't we?"
Duke Baird helped her to stand. "I just prefer to be called youth impaired." They walked into the waiting room laughing.
Six pairs of eager eyes impatiently greeted them. Numair's were worried and thoughtful, as were Daine's.
The three violet pairs were unreadable, as if just lavender glass.
"Are you ok? Daine inquired. Eleni nodded. "Of course, why did I even ask?" She grinned at the Duke. "Your Grace, you are a miracle worker."
"I know." He didn't even attempt modesty, but playfully rubbed his fingernails against coat. Wind and Willow snickered at the jest.
"Well, who are these young mischief makers?" Wind beamed. He was a prank- puller if there ever was one.
"Duke Baird, this is Willow," She bowed slightly. "River," He smiled and bowed as well. "And Wind."
Now, with no regard to manners, Wind just grabbed the dukes' hand and shook vigorously.
Willow and River put their faces in their hands and shook their heads. They were embarrassed for him. "Well hello Wind!" the Duke smiled. He liked a person who wasn't intimidated by his rank and who wasn't afraid to be friendly, yet assertive. "River is it?" the smaller brother nodded. " Are you enjoying yourself in Corus?"
"Yes, Your Grace, very much, thank you." was the polite reply.
"Well Miss Willow, how do you feel about living in our fair city? Where are you and your brothers from?" "Well, we- wait a sec. How do you know were related and how did you know that we weren't from Corus?" she demanded.
The duke gave a sly smile. "When you get to be old, you become more perceptive. You carry well-traveled luggage, little miss, and not many friends walk about that look as similar as you three do. Why, the same eyes, hair, bone shape.. For all that your different in gender and size, you could be identical!"
Willow blushed. That was the second time that day that they had been lectured on silliness. Of course they all look alike! And many people notice luggage. She must wake up, smell the manure, and stop being so damn daft! "Carthak, Your Grace. We hail from Carthak."
"Lovely place. Beautiful scenery, exotic animals, regal history- well, so they say."
"You've never been?" River inquired, perplexed.
"I'm afraid my duties and obligations never permitted me to go. I would like to visit, though, and send greetings to Kaddar." The triplets nodded, deep in thought. "Did you know about the new law he issued?" They smiled uneasily.
"Yes, Your Grace." River hesitantly answered. He shot a look at Numair, trying to tell him that he was desperate.
They agreed that the slave thing, and that their moms identity, would stay between them.
Numair understood the silent plea and changed the subject.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is getting late, I still need to talk to Raoul about our 'Underground Owls', and we have a full day tomorrow." He turned to Eleni. "Can you get to your rooms alone, or do you require assistance?"
"I can make it, thank you. I can tell Myles about this as well"
"Good. The Spymaster must know, thank you." Daine said, appreciative. "I think we'll tell Raoul and, hopefully, get a bit of sleep."
"Good luck." Duke Baird commented.
"Yea, Raoul will want to hear EVERYTHING seven or eight times, then we'll have to tell Sir Gary, then the king. By then we'll only have a couple hours to rest."
"Daine, you only have a couple hours as it is."
She shook her head in frustration. "Damn it! I should have known. Well, good night Your Grace, and Eleni. I do hope you will join us next week at the Rider's Ball." "Are you joking? Myles has talked of little else. I must say I have been anticipating it myself."
"Spectacular!" Daine exclaimed.
Since this all seemed to be of noble Business, and little else, the triplets went off into their own little worlds.
They were, however, called back into the real one when Daine asked them a question.
"Guys? Hello?" she persisted, waving her ands in front of their entranced faces.
"Huh?" they responded articulately, as one.
"Don't you want to go to a room for the night? Or would you prefer to sleep on the waiting room floor?" Numair teased. "The choice is entirely yours of course."
"A room would be lovely." River sighed, astoundingly relieved.
Daine heard the gratitude in his voice and smiled. "Lets find you one then."
Daine and Numair led them down a long corridor, made several turns, went up a flight of stairs (Willow noted the portraits of the royal families of the past and present.), down another corridor, two or three more turns, and finally, at long last, down three flights of stairs. Willow wasn't the only one who wasn't completely lost, although she was a bit confused. Poor River and Wind were beyond hope. It was rather sad.....
"Stay here ok?" Numair told them, then walked off with Daine down another hall.
"Do either of you know where we are?" Wind asked, nervously glancing from door to door, as if expecting a spidren to jump out and eat him.
"We're in the floor below ground.... I think. Why- oh, is little Wind scared?" River opened up around his siblings, and mocked Wind.
"NO. I am NOT. I just prefer to know where I am, that's all."
"No you don't. You don't give a rats behind about where you are. You are scared. Just admit it already you big baby." Willow said.
"No- and stop calling me that!"
"Baby, oh little baby Wind. He's SOOOOOOO scared.... hey- what ARE you afraid of, in all seriousness, now." River taunted, then asked, wholeheartedly wanting to know. "I am not scared, all right!" An extremely loud crash and them growling, barking and hissing erupted from down a hallway, then a dog chasing a cat flew down the hall in their direction before turning into yet another breezeway. You could hear their racket slowly disappearing in the distance. Willow and River looked around for their brother, and then saw him, half hidden behind a door. Willow laughed. "Hey guys, uh, are they gone yet? Damn..... (Inaudible words)
"What was that?" River asked, broad smile across his face. "Did I hear you say 'OWLS'?"
"Oh Mithros- those murderers really scared you, didn't they?" Willow exclaimed, exasperated. "You've seen people killed before- remember."
"Yea- a public, planned execution. A killer getting his Just Desserts. Not some vicious, random, senseless beheading of an innocent waitress!" he passionately hissed.
River and willow paused to mull that over for, oh, about half a millisecond.
"Good point, Good point. But you, Mister 'I don't need to touch my bow to shoot. I use my MIND.', don't need to worry about thugs like that." River did an imitation of Wind saying something a long time ago, when they first discovered their powers. "And I can always tell if you're in trouble, no matter where you are, by the LOUD screaming in your head. Willow is always keeping an eye out for you also, even from behind brick walls."
"Yea, yea, I know. But I am still a bit jumpy ok? And I DON"T sound like that Ri- ver." Wind replied, stressing the syllables in his brother's name.
"Well, if you guys are done being STU-PID, Daine and Numair are coming back, with someone else." Willow informed them.
"And how would you know that, shrub?" Wind asked using the nickname he gave her long ago, in his momentary stupidity. (The momentary part is optional)
"Think about that Wind. And be careful. We don't want you to strain anything." Willow retorted. Just then Daine and Numair turned the corner with another man, probably in his late twenties, well, more like thirties, and found a grouchy looking Willow, a River, dead on his feet, and (sigh) Wind, thickheaded as always, scratching his head.
"I've only known you for a few hours but I know enough not to ask." Numair commented, after observing the state they were in.
Daine, smile plastered on, said, " Guys, this is Timon the, well, I guess you'd call him the Head Steward."
"Good day to you sir." Willow and River chorused, Wind oblivious to it all.
"None of tha' sir business, now. Save it for 'is Majesty an' the like. No, I'm plain Timon. And ye are-?" He looked at Willow and grinned.
"Willow. These are my-" she sighed deeply and rolled her eyes. "-brothers."
Wind playfully cuffed her shoulder.
"Forgive me. Wind and River." She corrected.
"Gla' to meet ye. Now we 'ave one room available, in this wing, but 'tis far from prettious."
"That's fine. We don't need any frippery. As long as there is a bed, fireplace, and bathtub, we'll be happy as larks." Wind said sensibly, finally giving up on figuring out the obvious.
"Well then, yer gonna get on wiv any of th' castle staff fine!" Timon praised the tired triplets. "Now, if ye gather yer bags, I'll show you the way 'round."
"Very good. Now, I'm afraid Daine and I must leave you with Timon. We still have to get some of the Own out on patrols and Raoul....and Gary....and My Lord Provost will pitch a fit that they didn't hear sooner." Numair let out a deep breath. "Court politics... I should have stuck to juggling.... Why I wish that everything would stay.." He trailed off and Daine rolled her eyes.
"See you tomorrow- if you can get any sleep as it is. The sun is gonna rise in about 2 and ½ hours anyway." She tiredly smiled and gave each a small clap on the shoulder as she drug a grumbling Numair away into the virtual labyrinth of corridors. "We'll come get you an hour after sunrise ok?" she called over her shoulder.
"Mmmkay." The triplets said in unison, all about to fall asleep right there, standing on their aching feet.
Timon quietly chuckled and grabbed their little trunk, all three of their bags, and both quivers. The only reason he didn't grab the bow, too, is that Wind and Willow still held them. But besides those bows, he held everything- not that it was a lot, or heavy- but you know, it's the fact of the matter.
River and willow mutually wanted to protest (wind was happy to have a break) but were too tired to argue.
Timon expertly guided them through the hallways, pointing out various spots of interest. They didn't really listen or try to remember, but tried to look attentive, because, lets face it; he WAS carrying all their stuff and giving them a room at such a late hour!
"This walkway leads to the servants passage to the Rider Barracks, and this set of stairs goes to the Lesser Library." He mentioned these things as they passed them. "'Ere, up this way, will lead to a tower tha' once belonged to a king, but now it's mainly used fer storage.... And 'ere," hey unlocked the door with an impressive set of keys on a ring. ('There must be enough to open every door in the palace!' Willow thought. 'Twice!') and then he pushed the door open. ", are yer rooms. Sorry 'bout the dust an' all, but most of th' staff 'as left for th' night, or is asleep. I'll 'ave Emaline come draw ye a bath. She should be up now anyway."
"Oh, uh, thank you Timon. Very much so. These look lovely." He nodded, put the things on the bed, walked over to the fireplace and in no time at all had a roaring blaze. He left with a cheery expression glued on his face.
With a heavy sigh, River walked over to the bed and grabbed his saddlebag. Then he walked over and sat it on a table.
He started to remove his knives from their various hiding places on his wrist, ankles, waist and such. Once all nine were removed, he got out his cleaning kit Mother gave him and set to work. They rarely needed attention, but he felt a good polish couldn't hurt, plus it was just busy work.
Willow began to put their extra clothes and other belongings in the overly large wardrobe they were given.
Wind put himself to use by finding candlesticks and setting them in strategic positions around the bed- and bathrooms. Then, he mentally grabbed a bit of the blue fame from the fire that was ferociously guzzling up wood in the fireplace. That bit of sapphire heat fled the pit and zoomed to the candlestick he held in his hand. The wick lit and gave birth to a bright orange blaze.
He continued to light all the other candles, manually, not magically, from that lit one.
The room gradually brightened up considerably.
"Ah, better. Much better."
Willow, who didn't need any light, shrugged. But since putting away their meager belongings took all of two seconds, she got out her and Winds bow maintenance kit. She found he bow where she dropped it and set to work. Wind joined her. They polished the wood, cleaning away all the dust from the roads, and took off the strings to oil them. They also attended their quivers, rubbing the leather with a cleaner, then a polish. They were both experienced fletchers and they repaired their broken arrows as well.
River sat, getting his daggers mirror bright, and polishing the leather sheaths as well. Each dagger hilt had a small, black stone that, to River, looked like it held fire. Anyway, he got those to gleam.
They were all nearly done when a knock at the door demanded their attention. The door opened up to admit a young girl, wearing a simple gray skirt and whit blouse, carrying an armful of sheets.
"Hello. You must be Emaline. I'm Willow and that is River and Wind." Wind didn't look up, but mumbled a quick greeting and River was busy polishing one of his fire-stones, which apparently required all of his attention. Willow scowled at their behavior. "Brothers." She said exasperated, while shaking her head.
Emaline gave a soft smile. "Well, if you don't mind, I will change the sheets, then draw you a good bath, well- three. I guess. I can also do a bit of dusting for you." When she spoke, River looked up, all work forgotten.
He was taken aback. Her voice sounded of sweet honey and her eyes were that same color. Her hair, long, straight, and reaching lengths past her waist, was like golden silk. Her small, round face presented rosy cheeks and skin like peaches and cream, which in the candlelight, glowed. When she smiled at him, his breath caught in his throat. He scanned her petite figure, taking in all of whatever it is guys take in.
Willow snickered when she noticed her brother's reaction to the pretty Emaline. She walked to him and slapped him on the spine, really hard, to, you know, start up that mindless yet vital pattern of inhaling and exhaling.
He choked and Wind snickered too. He was the one that normally fell head over heals at the drop of a hat, but this was River's first reaction like this in, well.....a while anyway.
Emaline commenced stripping the bed of the old sheets and replacing them with the fresh ones.
Wind kept out of her way and made a few more arrows, or tried to. He was tired so they were a bit shoddy. River sat in a corner and gaped at Emaline, while working hard at not letting her catch him staring. Willow was helping her (being useful) but then decided to let her finish dressing the large bad and begun dusting with a rag that was ever so damp.
"You know, I do have a feather duster, if you prefer." Emaline offered Willow, though she declined.
"Thanks, but this wipes dust away AND keeps it out of my face. I'm allergic, you see." Emaline nodded. It seemed sensible enough. She even thought that she might try it herself. Dust often got in her eyes and turned them red and itchy.
"Clever Miss Willow. Clever."
"Thank you Emaline."
"Oh- do call me Ema. Only Timon and my father call me Emaline." She crossed the room and went to start filling up the bathtub.
Willow gathered her nightdress, which basically was a large shirt, and a fresh loincloth and breast band and told her siblings, "I am gonna bathe first, then you two can fight over who gets to go next. Sleep all you can while I'm in the bath, ok? River?"
"Uh-huh."
Wind, Wind...WIND!?"
He WAS doing exactly what she said. He was dead asleep, sitting in a chair with a half- finished arrow lying on his lap.
"Oh I give up on that brother. River, you are my new favorite sibling."
"As if I wasn't already."
They both chuckled. All three of them played those games that siblings do. You know- who was mom's favorite, who each one loved the most, who was the best at running, or climbing trees, or.....who's power was strongest... Well their contests weren't always normal, but every family is odd in it's own way. Right?
ANYWAY, Ema then spoke and they were startled back to reality.
"Bath's ready Willow." When they jumped, she inwardly smiled. "Do you need anything else?"
"Yes- uh, since I won't get any sleep with wind here sounding like a waterfall of swords on to rocks," she motioned to her snoring brother. "Could you bring us some tea? Some STRONG tea, please?"
"Of course, Milady."
"Oh- Ema! I'm no lady! Willow, plain and simple." Ema smiled and nodded in recognition.
"I'll be back quickly then, Willow, with some STRONG keep-awake tea." She walked to the door and was gone.
"You can stop drooling now. She's not a piece of venison you know." Willow tartly pointed out.
River gave his sister a sour look. "I wasn't drooling. She didn't even catch my attention, not with her beautiful eyes, or long flowy hair,....or her remarkable smile..." He found that he was drooling. "Shut- up! Besides, you're doing that thing again."
She leaned her head around the corner of the bathroom door. "What thing?"
"Being RIGHT." He muttered, even more sour than before.
She smugly smiled, content as could be, and returned to the bathroom sink. "When are you two gonna lean that that is my greatest attribute? My uncanny habit of being correct- ALL THE TIME."
She stripped down to her loincloth and breast band and played with her hair in front of the mirror- like any normal 15- year- old girl.
'I wish River would say something to Ema. Just any conversation would do. But he is just so Gods- cursed shy. If he would open up Ema would like him back.' Willow thought to herself, and then sighed. 'Well, I was thinking of taking up a hobby- this can be it. Oh- a chance to meddle in River's love life!' she stepped behind the dressing screen, smiling, and excitedly thinking of ways to draw River out of his non-social shell.
Soon after Willow got in the bath and was soaking, enjoying the heat and wondrous smells, Ema returned with her tea. "Willow got in the bath, I take it?" She asked River, who by the way, refused to look her in the eye.
"Yes." He mumbled.
Ema happily thought to herself, 'Good- a challenge. He is very cute, I give him that. Maybe if I can just coax out the River inside..... well. Challenge ACCEPTED!' She grinned and set down her tea tray, looking for any good material or topic to "bring up."
"Would you like a cup?" She asked him.
"Uh- sure, thanks" he downright refused to look her in the face!
She poured him a cup and carefully, without spilling a drop, gave him the steaming tea. "Careful there- it's hot."
He looked up at the cup and carefully took it from her dainty hand. "Thanks."
'This is going nowhere!' she thought.
For a few minutes, while she collected her thoughts, neither spoke. River toyed with his daggers and Ema tidied the little room, struggling when she tried to clean the shelf above Wind; he tossed and turned in his chair, flailing his arms without regard to those nearby.
Ema noticed the weapons River handled and was surprised. She didn't know many commoners who owned, let alone knew how to use properly, such daggers, or ones so well made.
They displayed a black opal in the hilt and were made from the finest metals, with black leather sheaths and grips. He must have inherited them, because the quality of everything else they had was, well, bad working class, and they sure didn't pack like nobles. Only nobles, though, RICH nobles, could afford that many knives from the Raven Armory.
"Did you inherit those from a rich uncle or something?" Ema broke the silence with her question about his daggers' origin.
He was puzzled. What would make her ask THAT? "No, my mother bought them off a peddler when I was 5."
She balked. You don't buy Raven Armory weapons from a peddler! Then the thought occurred to her that he might not know the value of his possessions. He might not know of the small fortune he had in daggers.
"Are you sure?" She asked, crossing to his chair and tentatively picked up one. "Do you see this mark here?" she pointed the armory's trademark.
"The trademark. So what?" River didn't see what she was getting at. So he didn't have the greatest stuff? So he got used bags and amateur made weapons? Did she have to rub in?
"I don't believe you understand. These marks signify that you can't gat better made weapons. Well- unless made by the GODS, you can't get better made weapons." She let this sink in for a moment. His thoughtful purple eyes glancing from her serious face, to his almost priceless daggers, and back again.
"This is well worked, young cow hide, and this stone- wait." She had a thought, "What do you know about this stone?" She wanted to know what he knew about his possessions.
"I always considered them....no, you'll just laugh."
She gave him a wholehearted stare. "Try me."
He sighed deeply, hesitated but then gave in to her exquisite eyes and their mile- long lashes. "I always thought they were a black stone, or crystal maybe, that..that held, uh, FIRE." He blushed. His infantile way of explaining things made him feel very small and embarrassed sometimes.
"That's..um," Ema searched for the right words.
"Juvenile, stupid, idiotic?" River offered, overwhelming with self- loathing.
"Sweet." She gave him one of her kindest smiles.
Only when Willow dropped something in the bathroom and let out an impressive string of curses that would make even the toughest sea dogs blush, did they break away from each other's eyes.
"Anyway, these stones are power-holding stones- Black Opals. Very rare. No these daggers right here are worth, well more than you or me."
"How much? Well, how much do you price them at?" River asked, an odd mix of disbelief and awe filling his voice.
"Oh- 40 gold nobles, probably"
Now THAT was impressive enough.
"Each."
No way in hell.
But then again,.... Their mother WAS supposedly one of the greatest warriors of all time. Surely a great warrior like her could afford such fine instruments of destruction. (A/N: I have always wanted to use that phrase- instruments of destruction... hee hee hee! Well on with the show!)
"Not to mention your maintenance packs and, or quivers, or bows."
He was still concentrating on HIS weapons. Who cares about Wind's or Willow's?
"Huh?"
"The bows and such. Not many know this, but the Armory also fashions a few bows. Finest made in the Realm, they say. Willow and Wind have two of their longbows. Also their quivers. And their maintenance kits. These are all very pricey too." She handled on of the kits' well made metal box with care. "If I were you, I wouldn't let these pretties out of my sight." She put it down and examined the damaged leather chest. Willow never out it away. "You know, by the quality of your baggage, you'd think you were penniless drifters. But then you see you weapons and...." She didn't finish but had the most perplexed look on her face.
"What?"
"And it's almost like you're Royalty. I mean, the most I've ever seen one person own of the Raven Armory is, what?, three pieces? Even those she didn't buy, but were gifts from the most powerful sorcerer knight in the REALM!" she said this, then looked a bit relieved to get the weight off her shoulders, but still, she felt an annoying itch in the back of her mind, one that refused to go away, like a horsefly bite that was just out of her reach.
"Well, perchance she DID inherit them. But they were so new when I got them! Plus, mother did say she bought them from a peddler. She even told us a funny story about her haggling with him. BUT there were a LOT of things she lied about. A LOT of things she neglected to mention." By the bitterness in his voice, Ema concluded that this was a raw subject, one that was best left alone for the time being.
"Well- whatever. I was just curious." She surprised him how she just dropped the conversation like that, then jumped up on the desk and swung her legs back and forth, digesting it.
Willow felt clean and refreshed, even if she did drop a bottle of lotion on her foot. She walked into the room, noticing the tea more then anything else. Its aroma was rather enticing and she hoped it still hot.
It was.
River seemed a bit more relaxed and alert too. Perhaps he and Ema found a good topic to discuss. She had heard mumbled voice before, but Wind also talks in his sleep on occasion.
"Hey sis?" River asked.
"Yeah?" she sipped the ginger flavored tea.
"Do you remember the story mother used to tell us about the way she bargained with the peddler for my daggers?"
"Yea. So?" What WAS he getting at?
"Not true." She nearly choked on the tea.
"Come again?" Why would mother lie about something like that? Of course she lied a bunch, so it seems.
"Apparently mother had a few other secrets. All of our weapons are from the Raven Armory, and our managing kits, so we have been carrying more money than Lady Sheera on our backs!"
He wasn't joking.
'This isn't possible!' Willow thought to herself then managed to blurt out "How much is it all worth?"
Ema answered this. "I'd say- rough estimate mind- about 500 gold nobles." (With a straight face too!)
Willow fainted and Wind woke up, both near-impossible tasks to manage.
A cold compress lie on her forehead.
Someone had her left hand clenched in theirs.
Soft murmurs sounded in her ears.
She opened her eyes and her field of vision was filled with River.
"Good." He sighed.
"What happened?" Wind asked, voice sounding out from the bathroom.
"She's awake." Ema and wind stuck their head around the corner to see for themselves. When the truth was confirmed- she WAS awake- they bounded out of the bathroom.
Ema got her another cup of tea that, miraculously, was STILL hot and helped her to sit up so she could drink it. That's also when willow realized that she had been moved to the bed.
She looked out the window to see false dawn. The sun would be up in about ¾ of an hour and River and Wind still need to bathe.
"Thanks, but I just felt a bit lightheaded. I believe we can finish the previous discussion later?" She pleaded with River with her eyes, and her thoughts.
He nodded.
"Good. Now River and Wind have yet to bathe, so I suggest that they do so promptly." She gave them one of her "looks" that every woman inherits from their mother. Wind pretty much soared into the bathroom, just to escape it. Ema followed, smiling to herself.
'I could get on with these three divinely. I'll tell uncle Timon that I will take the job.' She thought, and then started drawing a bath for Wind, thanking the Gods that she got there before he stripped.
The night proceeded as thus: After River bathed, Ema brought some breakfast down, which all four enjoyed. Then there was a knock on the door, and even though weak and weary, they were going to begin their new lives after a day that, all in all, wasn't half bad.
So~ whadda think? This took me FOREVER to type, and then my computer froze, and I thought I would lose everything (I didn't save yet- grins sheepishly) but I only had to retype a little. God bless the back up recovery- whew! Anyway- please REVIEW or I will be force to hunt you down and demand that you give your opinion, even if it's not that great.......thanx!
And away we go!
Chapter Three:
Not that Bad
Duke Baird handled Eleni's ankle with a gentle touch.
"A sprain, right?" the old woman asked.
"No it's broken. They really got you, those owls, didn't they?" the healer- Duke corrected. He padded her calf. "But you're a tough old bird."
She chuckled. "I'll pass. You can fix it, can't you?" He replied with a soft smile.
"In no time." He placed his hands over her left foot (the injured one- duh!) and his magic flowed into the wound to fix the bone. "Now, isn't that better?" She nodded, far more relaxed. "You should be fine so long as you don't try to do cartwheels and back flips. Oh and you'll be a bit sensitive to extreme heat or cold on that foot, so be careful. It also may be a bit tender to the touch, or to walk on, at first." He went on, and on, and on....
"Your Grace, you've just ruined my weekend."
"How so?"
"Well, I was planning on walking across burning hot cols all the way to the Roof of the World, and then joining a band of traveling acrobats." She sighed. "I'll have to spend the time with my husband now."
They both laughed.
"How is Sir Myles fairing, by the way?"
She paused to think about it. "The same as always. He's been working on his paper about the Ruins of the Old Ones at Olau a bit much. I believe he's almost done. Of course, he's been almost done with it for about fifteen years." "Well, that's good. Nealan says that he's been missing his knight mistress since he's been out on his own. And with Kel gone, he thinks he's unloved with no one to make him heal an entire villages epidemic, or yell at him to eat his vegetables first, cake second, or just to drag him out of his room to go to the practice courts."
"Well Alanna misses having him to order around. She's been sulking about the Swoop as of late."
"Where did time go? I remember Alanna running in and out of here as Page Alan, always fighting about something. And Neal, in diapers, crawling about Queenscove with my Lady. Now he's a growl healer and Knight, with Yukimi."
"At least you're not a grandmother. I don't know how Thom became a Page so fast. The twins are starting to ride horses now, all grown up, and off ponies." She sighed. "Goddess, we're old aren't we?"
Duke Baird helped her to stand. "I just prefer to be called youth impaired." They walked into the waiting room laughing.
Six pairs of eager eyes impatiently greeted them. Numair's were worried and thoughtful, as were Daine's.
The three violet pairs were unreadable, as if just lavender glass.
"Are you ok? Daine inquired. Eleni nodded. "Of course, why did I even ask?" She grinned at the Duke. "Your Grace, you are a miracle worker."
"I know." He didn't even attempt modesty, but playfully rubbed his fingernails against coat. Wind and Willow snickered at the jest.
"Well, who are these young mischief makers?" Wind beamed. He was a prank- puller if there ever was one.
"Duke Baird, this is Willow," She bowed slightly. "River," He smiled and bowed as well. "And Wind."
Now, with no regard to manners, Wind just grabbed the dukes' hand and shook vigorously.
Willow and River put their faces in their hands and shook their heads. They were embarrassed for him. "Well hello Wind!" the Duke smiled. He liked a person who wasn't intimidated by his rank and who wasn't afraid to be friendly, yet assertive. "River is it?" the smaller brother nodded. " Are you enjoying yourself in Corus?"
"Yes, Your Grace, very much, thank you." was the polite reply.
"Well Miss Willow, how do you feel about living in our fair city? Where are you and your brothers from?" "Well, we- wait a sec. How do you know were related and how did you know that we weren't from Corus?" she demanded.
The duke gave a sly smile. "When you get to be old, you become more perceptive. You carry well-traveled luggage, little miss, and not many friends walk about that look as similar as you three do. Why, the same eyes, hair, bone shape.. For all that your different in gender and size, you could be identical!"
Willow blushed. That was the second time that day that they had been lectured on silliness. Of course they all look alike! And many people notice luggage. She must wake up, smell the manure, and stop being so damn daft! "Carthak, Your Grace. We hail from Carthak."
"Lovely place. Beautiful scenery, exotic animals, regal history- well, so they say."
"You've never been?" River inquired, perplexed.
"I'm afraid my duties and obligations never permitted me to go. I would like to visit, though, and send greetings to Kaddar." The triplets nodded, deep in thought. "Did you know about the new law he issued?" They smiled uneasily.
"Yes, Your Grace." River hesitantly answered. He shot a look at Numair, trying to tell him that he was desperate.
They agreed that the slave thing, and that their moms identity, would stay between them.
Numair understood the silent plea and changed the subject.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is getting late, I still need to talk to Raoul about our 'Underground Owls', and we have a full day tomorrow." He turned to Eleni. "Can you get to your rooms alone, or do you require assistance?"
"I can make it, thank you. I can tell Myles about this as well"
"Good. The Spymaster must know, thank you." Daine said, appreciative. "I think we'll tell Raoul and, hopefully, get a bit of sleep."
"Good luck." Duke Baird commented.
"Yea, Raoul will want to hear EVERYTHING seven or eight times, then we'll have to tell Sir Gary, then the king. By then we'll only have a couple hours to rest."
"Daine, you only have a couple hours as it is."
She shook her head in frustration. "Damn it! I should have known. Well, good night Your Grace, and Eleni. I do hope you will join us next week at the Rider's Ball." "Are you joking? Myles has talked of little else. I must say I have been anticipating it myself."
"Spectacular!" Daine exclaimed.
Since this all seemed to be of noble Business, and little else, the triplets went off into their own little worlds.
They were, however, called back into the real one when Daine asked them a question.
"Guys? Hello?" she persisted, waving her ands in front of their entranced faces.
"Huh?" they responded articulately, as one.
"Don't you want to go to a room for the night? Or would you prefer to sleep on the waiting room floor?" Numair teased. "The choice is entirely yours of course."
"A room would be lovely." River sighed, astoundingly relieved.
Daine heard the gratitude in his voice and smiled. "Lets find you one then."
Daine and Numair led them down a long corridor, made several turns, went up a flight of stairs (Willow noted the portraits of the royal families of the past and present.), down another corridor, two or three more turns, and finally, at long last, down three flights of stairs. Willow wasn't the only one who wasn't completely lost, although she was a bit confused. Poor River and Wind were beyond hope. It was rather sad.....
"Stay here ok?" Numair told them, then walked off with Daine down another hall.
"Do either of you know where we are?" Wind asked, nervously glancing from door to door, as if expecting a spidren to jump out and eat him.
"We're in the floor below ground.... I think. Why- oh, is little Wind scared?" River opened up around his siblings, and mocked Wind.
"NO. I am NOT. I just prefer to know where I am, that's all."
"No you don't. You don't give a rats behind about where you are. You are scared. Just admit it already you big baby." Willow said.
"No- and stop calling me that!"
"Baby, oh little baby Wind. He's SOOOOOOO scared.... hey- what ARE you afraid of, in all seriousness, now." River taunted, then asked, wholeheartedly wanting to know. "I am not scared, all right!" An extremely loud crash and them growling, barking and hissing erupted from down a hallway, then a dog chasing a cat flew down the hall in their direction before turning into yet another breezeway. You could hear their racket slowly disappearing in the distance. Willow and River looked around for their brother, and then saw him, half hidden behind a door. Willow laughed. "Hey guys, uh, are they gone yet? Damn..... (Inaudible words)
"What was that?" River asked, broad smile across his face. "Did I hear you say 'OWLS'?"
"Oh Mithros- those murderers really scared you, didn't they?" Willow exclaimed, exasperated. "You've seen people killed before- remember."
"Yea- a public, planned execution. A killer getting his Just Desserts. Not some vicious, random, senseless beheading of an innocent waitress!" he passionately hissed.
River and willow paused to mull that over for, oh, about half a millisecond.
"Good point, Good point. But you, Mister 'I don't need to touch my bow to shoot. I use my MIND.', don't need to worry about thugs like that." River did an imitation of Wind saying something a long time ago, when they first discovered their powers. "And I can always tell if you're in trouble, no matter where you are, by the LOUD screaming in your head. Willow is always keeping an eye out for you also, even from behind brick walls."
"Yea, yea, I know. But I am still a bit jumpy ok? And I DON"T sound like that Ri- ver." Wind replied, stressing the syllables in his brother's name.
"Well, if you guys are done being STU-PID, Daine and Numair are coming back, with someone else." Willow informed them.
"And how would you know that, shrub?" Wind asked using the nickname he gave her long ago, in his momentary stupidity. (The momentary part is optional)
"Think about that Wind. And be careful. We don't want you to strain anything." Willow retorted. Just then Daine and Numair turned the corner with another man, probably in his late twenties, well, more like thirties, and found a grouchy looking Willow, a River, dead on his feet, and (sigh) Wind, thickheaded as always, scratching his head.
"I've only known you for a few hours but I know enough not to ask." Numair commented, after observing the state they were in.
Daine, smile plastered on, said, " Guys, this is Timon the, well, I guess you'd call him the Head Steward."
"Good day to you sir." Willow and River chorused, Wind oblivious to it all.
"None of tha' sir business, now. Save it for 'is Majesty an' the like. No, I'm plain Timon. And ye are-?" He looked at Willow and grinned.
"Willow. These are my-" she sighed deeply and rolled her eyes. "-brothers."
Wind playfully cuffed her shoulder.
"Forgive me. Wind and River." She corrected.
"Gla' to meet ye. Now we 'ave one room available, in this wing, but 'tis far from prettious."
"That's fine. We don't need any frippery. As long as there is a bed, fireplace, and bathtub, we'll be happy as larks." Wind said sensibly, finally giving up on figuring out the obvious.
"Well then, yer gonna get on wiv any of th' castle staff fine!" Timon praised the tired triplets. "Now, if ye gather yer bags, I'll show you the way 'round."
"Very good. Now, I'm afraid Daine and I must leave you with Timon. We still have to get some of the Own out on patrols and Raoul....and Gary....and My Lord Provost will pitch a fit that they didn't hear sooner." Numair let out a deep breath. "Court politics... I should have stuck to juggling.... Why I wish that everything would stay.." He trailed off and Daine rolled her eyes.
"See you tomorrow- if you can get any sleep as it is. The sun is gonna rise in about 2 and ½ hours anyway." She tiredly smiled and gave each a small clap on the shoulder as she drug a grumbling Numair away into the virtual labyrinth of corridors. "We'll come get you an hour after sunrise ok?" she called over her shoulder.
"Mmmkay." The triplets said in unison, all about to fall asleep right there, standing on their aching feet.
Timon quietly chuckled and grabbed their little trunk, all three of their bags, and both quivers. The only reason he didn't grab the bow, too, is that Wind and Willow still held them. But besides those bows, he held everything- not that it was a lot, or heavy- but you know, it's the fact of the matter.
River and willow mutually wanted to protest (wind was happy to have a break) but were too tired to argue.
Timon expertly guided them through the hallways, pointing out various spots of interest. They didn't really listen or try to remember, but tried to look attentive, because, lets face it; he WAS carrying all their stuff and giving them a room at such a late hour!
"This walkway leads to the servants passage to the Rider Barracks, and this set of stairs goes to the Lesser Library." He mentioned these things as they passed them. "'Ere, up this way, will lead to a tower tha' once belonged to a king, but now it's mainly used fer storage.... And 'ere," hey unlocked the door with an impressive set of keys on a ring. ('There must be enough to open every door in the palace!' Willow thought. 'Twice!') and then he pushed the door open. ", are yer rooms. Sorry 'bout the dust an' all, but most of th' staff 'as left for th' night, or is asleep. I'll 'ave Emaline come draw ye a bath. She should be up now anyway."
"Oh, uh, thank you Timon. Very much so. These look lovely." He nodded, put the things on the bed, walked over to the fireplace and in no time at all had a roaring blaze. He left with a cheery expression glued on his face.
With a heavy sigh, River walked over to the bed and grabbed his saddlebag. Then he walked over and sat it on a table.
He started to remove his knives from their various hiding places on his wrist, ankles, waist and such. Once all nine were removed, he got out his cleaning kit Mother gave him and set to work. They rarely needed attention, but he felt a good polish couldn't hurt, plus it was just busy work.
Willow began to put their extra clothes and other belongings in the overly large wardrobe they were given.
Wind put himself to use by finding candlesticks and setting them in strategic positions around the bed- and bathrooms. Then, he mentally grabbed a bit of the blue fame from the fire that was ferociously guzzling up wood in the fireplace. That bit of sapphire heat fled the pit and zoomed to the candlestick he held in his hand. The wick lit and gave birth to a bright orange blaze.
He continued to light all the other candles, manually, not magically, from that lit one.
The room gradually brightened up considerably.
"Ah, better. Much better."
Willow, who didn't need any light, shrugged. But since putting away their meager belongings took all of two seconds, she got out her and Winds bow maintenance kit. She found he bow where she dropped it and set to work. Wind joined her. They polished the wood, cleaning away all the dust from the roads, and took off the strings to oil them. They also attended their quivers, rubbing the leather with a cleaner, then a polish. They were both experienced fletchers and they repaired their broken arrows as well.
River sat, getting his daggers mirror bright, and polishing the leather sheaths as well. Each dagger hilt had a small, black stone that, to River, looked like it held fire. Anyway, he got those to gleam.
They were all nearly done when a knock at the door demanded their attention. The door opened up to admit a young girl, wearing a simple gray skirt and whit blouse, carrying an armful of sheets.
"Hello. You must be Emaline. I'm Willow and that is River and Wind." Wind didn't look up, but mumbled a quick greeting and River was busy polishing one of his fire-stones, which apparently required all of his attention. Willow scowled at their behavior. "Brothers." She said exasperated, while shaking her head.
Emaline gave a soft smile. "Well, if you don't mind, I will change the sheets, then draw you a good bath, well- three. I guess. I can also do a bit of dusting for you." When she spoke, River looked up, all work forgotten.
He was taken aback. Her voice sounded of sweet honey and her eyes were that same color. Her hair, long, straight, and reaching lengths past her waist, was like golden silk. Her small, round face presented rosy cheeks and skin like peaches and cream, which in the candlelight, glowed. When she smiled at him, his breath caught in his throat. He scanned her petite figure, taking in all of whatever it is guys take in.
Willow snickered when she noticed her brother's reaction to the pretty Emaline. She walked to him and slapped him on the spine, really hard, to, you know, start up that mindless yet vital pattern of inhaling and exhaling.
He choked and Wind snickered too. He was the one that normally fell head over heals at the drop of a hat, but this was River's first reaction like this in, well.....a while anyway.
Emaline commenced stripping the bed of the old sheets and replacing them with the fresh ones.
Wind kept out of her way and made a few more arrows, or tried to. He was tired so they were a bit shoddy. River sat in a corner and gaped at Emaline, while working hard at not letting her catch him staring. Willow was helping her (being useful) but then decided to let her finish dressing the large bad and begun dusting with a rag that was ever so damp.
"You know, I do have a feather duster, if you prefer." Emaline offered Willow, though she declined.
"Thanks, but this wipes dust away AND keeps it out of my face. I'm allergic, you see." Emaline nodded. It seemed sensible enough. She even thought that she might try it herself. Dust often got in her eyes and turned them red and itchy.
"Clever Miss Willow. Clever."
"Thank you Emaline."
"Oh- do call me Ema. Only Timon and my father call me Emaline." She crossed the room and went to start filling up the bathtub.
Willow gathered her nightdress, which basically was a large shirt, and a fresh loincloth and breast band and told her siblings, "I am gonna bathe first, then you two can fight over who gets to go next. Sleep all you can while I'm in the bath, ok? River?"
"Uh-huh."
Wind, Wind...WIND!?"
He WAS doing exactly what she said. He was dead asleep, sitting in a chair with a half- finished arrow lying on his lap.
"Oh I give up on that brother. River, you are my new favorite sibling."
"As if I wasn't already."
They both chuckled. All three of them played those games that siblings do. You know- who was mom's favorite, who each one loved the most, who was the best at running, or climbing trees, or.....who's power was strongest... Well their contests weren't always normal, but every family is odd in it's own way. Right?
ANYWAY, Ema then spoke and they were startled back to reality.
"Bath's ready Willow." When they jumped, she inwardly smiled. "Do you need anything else?"
"Yes- uh, since I won't get any sleep with wind here sounding like a waterfall of swords on to rocks," she motioned to her snoring brother. "Could you bring us some tea? Some STRONG tea, please?"
"Of course, Milady."
"Oh- Ema! I'm no lady! Willow, plain and simple." Ema smiled and nodded in recognition.
"I'll be back quickly then, Willow, with some STRONG keep-awake tea." She walked to the door and was gone.
"You can stop drooling now. She's not a piece of venison you know." Willow tartly pointed out.
River gave his sister a sour look. "I wasn't drooling. She didn't even catch my attention, not with her beautiful eyes, or long flowy hair,....or her remarkable smile..." He found that he was drooling. "Shut- up! Besides, you're doing that thing again."
She leaned her head around the corner of the bathroom door. "What thing?"
"Being RIGHT." He muttered, even more sour than before.
She smugly smiled, content as could be, and returned to the bathroom sink. "When are you two gonna lean that that is my greatest attribute? My uncanny habit of being correct- ALL THE TIME."
She stripped down to her loincloth and breast band and played with her hair in front of the mirror- like any normal 15- year- old girl.
'I wish River would say something to Ema. Just any conversation would do. But he is just so Gods- cursed shy. If he would open up Ema would like him back.' Willow thought to herself, and then sighed. 'Well, I was thinking of taking up a hobby- this can be it. Oh- a chance to meddle in River's love life!' she stepped behind the dressing screen, smiling, and excitedly thinking of ways to draw River out of his non-social shell.
Soon after Willow got in the bath and was soaking, enjoying the heat and wondrous smells, Ema returned with her tea. "Willow got in the bath, I take it?" She asked River, who by the way, refused to look her in the eye.
"Yes." He mumbled.
Ema happily thought to herself, 'Good- a challenge. He is very cute, I give him that. Maybe if I can just coax out the River inside..... well. Challenge ACCEPTED!' She grinned and set down her tea tray, looking for any good material or topic to "bring up."
"Would you like a cup?" She asked him.
"Uh- sure, thanks" he downright refused to look her in the face!
She poured him a cup and carefully, without spilling a drop, gave him the steaming tea. "Careful there- it's hot."
He looked up at the cup and carefully took it from her dainty hand. "Thanks."
'This is going nowhere!' she thought.
For a few minutes, while she collected her thoughts, neither spoke. River toyed with his daggers and Ema tidied the little room, struggling when she tried to clean the shelf above Wind; he tossed and turned in his chair, flailing his arms without regard to those nearby.
Ema noticed the weapons River handled and was surprised. She didn't know many commoners who owned, let alone knew how to use properly, such daggers, or ones so well made.
They displayed a black opal in the hilt and were made from the finest metals, with black leather sheaths and grips. He must have inherited them, because the quality of everything else they had was, well, bad working class, and they sure didn't pack like nobles. Only nobles, though, RICH nobles, could afford that many knives from the Raven Armory.
"Did you inherit those from a rich uncle or something?" Ema broke the silence with her question about his daggers' origin.
He was puzzled. What would make her ask THAT? "No, my mother bought them off a peddler when I was 5."
She balked. You don't buy Raven Armory weapons from a peddler! Then the thought occurred to her that he might not know the value of his possessions. He might not know of the small fortune he had in daggers.
"Are you sure?" She asked, crossing to his chair and tentatively picked up one. "Do you see this mark here?" she pointed the armory's trademark.
"The trademark. So what?" River didn't see what she was getting at. So he didn't have the greatest stuff? So he got used bags and amateur made weapons? Did she have to rub in?
"I don't believe you understand. These marks signify that you can't gat better made weapons. Well- unless made by the GODS, you can't get better made weapons." She let this sink in for a moment. His thoughtful purple eyes glancing from her serious face, to his almost priceless daggers, and back again.
"This is well worked, young cow hide, and this stone- wait." She had a thought, "What do you know about this stone?" She wanted to know what he knew about his possessions.
"I always considered them....no, you'll just laugh."
She gave him a wholehearted stare. "Try me."
He sighed deeply, hesitated but then gave in to her exquisite eyes and their mile- long lashes. "I always thought they were a black stone, or crystal maybe, that..that held, uh, FIRE." He blushed. His infantile way of explaining things made him feel very small and embarrassed sometimes.
"That's..um," Ema searched for the right words.
"Juvenile, stupid, idiotic?" River offered, overwhelming with self- loathing.
"Sweet." She gave him one of her kindest smiles.
Only when Willow dropped something in the bathroom and let out an impressive string of curses that would make even the toughest sea dogs blush, did they break away from each other's eyes.
"Anyway, these stones are power-holding stones- Black Opals. Very rare. No these daggers right here are worth, well more than you or me."
"How much? Well, how much do you price them at?" River asked, an odd mix of disbelief and awe filling his voice.
"Oh- 40 gold nobles, probably"
Now THAT was impressive enough.
"Each."
No way in hell.
But then again,.... Their mother WAS supposedly one of the greatest warriors of all time. Surely a great warrior like her could afford such fine instruments of destruction. (A/N: I have always wanted to use that phrase- instruments of destruction... hee hee hee! Well on with the show!)
"Not to mention your maintenance packs and, or quivers, or bows."
He was still concentrating on HIS weapons. Who cares about Wind's or Willow's?
"Huh?"
"The bows and such. Not many know this, but the Armory also fashions a few bows. Finest made in the Realm, they say. Willow and Wind have two of their longbows. Also their quivers. And their maintenance kits. These are all very pricey too." She handled on of the kits' well made metal box with care. "If I were you, I wouldn't let these pretties out of my sight." She put it down and examined the damaged leather chest. Willow never out it away. "You know, by the quality of your baggage, you'd think you were penniless drifters. But then you see you weapons and...." She didn't finish but had the most perplexed look on her face.
"What?"
"And it's almost like you're Royalty. I mean, the most I've ever seen one person own of the Raven Armory is, what?, three pieces? Even those she didn't buy, but were gifts from the most powerful sorcerer knight in the REALM!" she said this, then looked a bit relieved to get the weight off her shoulders, but still, she felt an annoying itch in the back of her mind, one that refused to go away, like a horsefly bite that was just out of her reach.
"Well, perchance she DID inherit them. But they were so new when I got them! Plus, mother did say she bought them from a peddler. She even told us a funny story about her haggling with him. BUT there were a LOT of things she lied about. A LOT of things she neglected to mention." By the bitterness in his voice, Ema concluded that this was a raw subject, one that was best left alone for the time being.
"Well- whatever. I was just curious." She surprised him how she just dropped the conversation like that, then jumped up on the desk and swung her legs back and forth, digesting it.
Willow felt clean and refreshed, even if she did drop a bottle of lotion on her foot. She walked into the room, noticing the tea more then anything else. Its aroma was rather enticing and she hoped it still hot.
It was.
River seemed a bit more relaxed and alert too. Perhaps he and Ema found a good topic to discuss. She had heard mumbled voice before, but Wind also talks in his sleep on occasion.
"Hey sis?" River asked.
"Yeah?" she sipped the ginger flavored tea.
"Do you remember the story mother used to tell us about the way she bargained with the peddler for my daggers?"
"Yea. So?" What WAS he getting at?
"Not true." She nearly choked on the tea.
"Come again?" Why would mother lie about something like that? Of course she lied a bunch, so it seems.
"Apparently mother had a few other secrets. All of our weapons are from the Raven Armory, and our managing kits, so we have been carrying more money than Lady Sheera on our backs!"
He wasn't joking.
'This isn't possible!' Willow thought to herself then managed to blurt out "How much is it all worth?"
Ema answered this. "I'd say- rough estimate mind- about 500 gold nobles." (With a straight face too!)
Willow fainted and Wind woke up, both near-impossible tasks to manage.
A cold compress lie on her forehead.
Someone had her left hand clenched in theirs.
Soft murmurs sounded in her ears.
She opened her eyes and her field of vision was filled with River.
"Good." He sighed.
"What happened?" Wind asked, voice sounding out from the bathroom.
"She's awake." Ema and wind stuck their head around the corner to see for themselves. When the truth was confirmed- she WAS awake- they bounded out of the bathroom.
Ema got her another cup of tea that, miraculously, was STILL hot and helped her to sit up so she could drink it. That's also when willow realized that she had been moved to the bed.
She looked out the window to see false dawn. The sun would be up in about ¾ of an hour and River and Wind still need to bathe.
"Thanks, but I just felt a bit lightheaded. I believe we can finish the previous discussion later?" She pleaded with River with her eyes, and her thoughts.
He nodded.
"Good. Now River and Wind have yet to bathe, so I suggest that they do so promptly." She gave them one of her "looks" that every woman inherits from their mother. Wind pretty much soared into the bathroom, just to escape it. Ema followed, smiling to herself.
'I could get on with these three divinely. I'll tell uncle Timon that I will take the job.' She thought, and then started drawing a bath for Wind, thanking the Gods that she got there before he stripped.
The night proceeded as thus: After River bathed, Ema brought some breakfast down, which all four enjoyed. Then there was a knock on the door, and even though weak and weary, they were going to begin their new lives after a day that, all in all, wasn't half bad.
So~ whadda think? This took me FOREVER to type, and then my computer froze, and I thought I would lose everything (I didn't save yet- grins sheepishly) but I only had to retype a little. God bless the back up recovery- whew! Anyway- please REVIEW or I will be force to hunt you down and demand that you give your opinion, even if it's not that great.......thanx!