~ Chapter 7 ~
Keli quickly recovered and grabbed the small body that was sprawled over her.
"Don't let that brat go, Herald." A man in dark blue huffed up to them.
Keli didn't release her grip as she stood. Looking down she saw a grubby child struggling against her grip.
"I'll take him." The watchman reached for the child.
"No." Keli said firmly, not looking away from the child. They stopped struggling and looked up at her with bright, fear filled green eyes. "Give me the pouch."
The child tried to struggle again. "No."
"Give it to me." Keli lowered the tone of her voice and infused it with a command.
Reluctantly the child gave her the pouch, Keli's own.
"Is there anything else this child has stolen?" Keli asked the guard.
"No. She is just where she isn't supposed to be." The watchman tried to explain.
"And since when is any area of Haven forbidden to her people?" Keli asked coolly. "You may leave; I will make certain there are no more missing purses."
The watchman nodded and reluctantly backed away.
Keli waited until the watchman was out of sight before turning back to the child. "Are you alright?"
"What's it matter to you?" The child said stubbornly.
"It matters to me because I don't wish to see you injured." Keli said calmly. "Now relax."
The child reluctantly stilled.
"You can't have been on the street for very long." Keli commented.
"What are you going to do?" The child stuck their chin out stubbornly.
"For a start, a bath." Keli easily picked the child up and set them on the saddle and swung up. "Tris, I hope you don't mind if we take a bit of a detour."
"What's your plan?" Tris asked as he mounted Caewen.
"Do you know of an inn we can stop at and purchase a hot bath?"
"We can use my brother's town house."
Keli and the now meek thief followed. Keli kept her arm around their waist to make certain they didn't escape.
"This house is ugly." The thief commented as Tris dismounted.
Keli felt them tense to run so when she dismounted she didn't release her grasp. "No accounting for taste of one's ancestor."
Tris knocked on the door and spoke with the servant who answered the door. "I hope you know what you are doing." He said when he returned to her side. "They are running a hot bath now."
"What if I don't want a bath?" The thief protested and tried to wriggled out of Keli's grasp.
"Don't you?" Keli asked softly.
The thief said nothing. The three of them made their way up the stairs to the third level.
"You do have running water, right?" Keli asked hopefully.
"Hot and cold." Tristen assured her.
"Good." Keli relaxed.
"Perhaps I should take him in." Tristen offered and reached out to take the child.
"Her." Keli corrected.
"What?" Tristen stared her in confusion.
"Her, our little thief is a female." Keli explained.
"How'd you know?" The thief squawked.
"You are too pretty to be a boy." Keli explained. "There are towels in there, right?"
"There is plenty." Tris assured her.
"Excellent." Keli led the thief in to the bathing room and closed the door.
Releasing the girl's arm she leaned against the door.
"Why did you do that?" The child said obstinately.
"I am not exactly certain, but I always follow my instincts and this time they told me it was important to keep you from getting into trouble. Do you need some help undressing?" Keli offered.
The girl looked longingly at the steaming water.
"I won't jump you." Keli assured her.
The girl quickly shed her clothes and scrambled into the bath.
"Need some help?" Keli pulled her tunic over her head so she was only wearing the soft under shirt.
The girl nodded as she shivered with delight at the hot water. Where the water touched the grimy skin patches of pale flesh were revealed.
Keli hoped they had a lot of hot water, this was going to take a while.
~*~
Tris was reading in the library when Keli returned with the thief. The young girl had red hair that curled in fat ringlets, pale skin, and massive green eyes. She was barely eight years old and looked much younger wearing cast off clothing he recognized from his own childhood. Keli however was rather damp and her shirt clung to her skin in a rather intriguing manner. He set aside his book and stood to greet them.
"Fyn, this is Herald Tristen. Tris, this is Fyn." Keli introduced.
"Pleased to meet you Fyn." Tris set his book aside and offered her his hand.
"You are really a Herald?" Fyn asked, her attitude gone, as she accepted his hand and pumped it vigorously.
"Oh, there's the little one." The portly cook appeared in the doorway. "Come with me and I'll fix you some cookies and milk."
"Really?" Fyn's eyes lit up and dashed off with the cook.
"I thought you were losing your wits for a minute there." Tris admitted. "Why did you scoop her up?"
"It's a little hard to explain." Keli looked around for a safe place to sit. "Sometimes when I touch people I get a feeling. When I touched her I got the feeling that she was scared and alone, and that she hadn't eaten in days. How could I ignore that?"
"So you scooped her up and rescued her." Tris grinned this time.
Keli nodded. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Not at all. I didn't want her dragged off anymore than you did, I just wasn't exactly certain how to manage it." Tristen confessed.
"I find giving orders works well." Keli admitted.
"You are very good at giving them. So what are we going to do with her now?" Tristen gestured for Keli to have a seat.
"I hadn't thought of that yet." Keli divulged.
"Hey Keli, look at the size of these cookies!" Fyn burst back into the room waving a cookie the size of her face that was already missing a few bites.
"Those are massive." Keli agreed.
Fyn perched herself on the couch next to Tris. "Is this your house?"
"No, it belongs to my brother." Tristen explained.
"Give back the box." Keli ordered.
Fyn scowled and produced the ornate box and gave it to Tris. "How does she do that?"
"I don't know." Tris admitted as he accepted the box.
Keli's brow creased in thought as she paced the length of the room.
"What's wrong with her?" Fyn asked quietly.
"She is trying to decide what to do with you?" Tris admitted.
Fyn shook her head in protest. "The bath and cookie were nice but I am fine."
"Fyn, if we brought you to the palace with us, would you refrain from pocketing knick knacks?" Keli asked finally.
"The palace?" Fyn gaped.
"Yes." Keli smiled again.
"Don't worry, I won't nobble anything!" Fyn cried as she tossed the half eaten cookie on Tris' lap and ran to give Keli a hug. "I don't want to go to one of them flesh sellers."
"I won't let that happen." Keli assured her as she stroked the bright curls.
Fyn grinned.
"Now then. I am still damp if you two don't mind, I would like to finish our errand." Keli said as she absently stroked Fyn's hair.
~*~
Fyn was perched behind Keli happily chatting away. Everything around them was new and interesting, the birds, the trees, even the road. Tris listened indulgently but Keli rode in silence.
"How do they make the fields?" Fyn asked. "How come there are so many trees? Can all horses go this fast?"
Tristen patiently answered all her questions to the best of his ability.
"Keli, are you alright?" Fyn asked after several candlemarks of silence from Keli.
"I'm fine." Keli smiled reassuringly.
"Why are you so quiet?" Fyn pressed.
"I'm just thinking." Keli assured them. "How long until we reach your brother's estate?"
"Less than a candlemark." Tris assured them. "I imagine both of you are getting a little sore."
Fyn nodded.
"I doubt either of us is used to riding long distances." Keli confirmed. "Normally the only long riding I did was parades."
"Were there many?" Tristen asked, judging from her expression they were not her favourite past time.
"Every time I entered a new town." Keli nodded.
"You were in parades?" Fyn asked eagerly.
"To my regret, yes. They are not fun." Keli assured her.
Fyn looked disappointed.
"Hold on." Keli warned and asked Kenyon to show his parade walk.
It only took a few jolting steps for Fyn to agree that it wouldn't be fun to ride like that for very long.
"It looks impressive." Tris commented.
"Care to try it?" Keli asked.
"No." Tris laughed.
"Is that your brother's other house?" Fyn leaned to the side to look past Keli.
Below them was a castle that date back almost to Founding. It was made with a warm golden stone and unlike many other old castles it had massive windows. The outer wall had long been removed so it sat in the middle of a park with artful copses and what appeared to be a hedge maze and two babbling brooks. There were also several winding paths and terraced flowerbeds.
"It's beautiful." Keli said honestly.
Tristen couldn't agree more. "His wife was an avid gardener."
"Was? Did she die?" Keli asked.
"Yes, she died in the war with Ancar." Tris' face darkened. "She was a wonderful woman."
Keli refrained from asking who Ancar was. Obviously her death still bothered Tris.
"Is he a prince?" Fyn asked, still in awe.
"No, just a lord." Tris recovered his normal good nature.
:Those are the Elluen Ruins.: Kenyon commented.
:Its is horrible that such a beautiful castle fell to ruins.: Keli answered. :What do you think of Fyn?:
:She is a darling, but why did you bring her along?:
:It felt right. Sounds silly doesn't it.:
:Selene always said she placed more faith in your 'feelings' then she placed in researched guesses.: Kenyon said with a hint of sadness.
:She swore she would never play cards against me.: Keli smiled ruefully. :Gods, I miss her.:
"You look sad again." Fyn commented.
"It's nothing." Keli assured her.
"There's my brother." Tris pointed out the figure walking towards them. "I hope he hasn't been waiting for us."
The figure waved when he realised he had been seen. They soon caught up with him. Tris leaped off Caewen's back and pulled his brother into a hug.
"I thought you had a Circuit." His brother said.
"Plans were changed. I hope you don't us turning up on such short notice." Tris asked.
"Not a problem at all. Your letter didn't say much however."
"Allow me to introduce Keli and Fyn. Fyn is the short one. Sia, Fyn, this is my brother, Kevyn." Tris introduced.
"Pleased to meet you." Keli said warmly. "I hope we aren't intruding."
"Not at all. I am glad to meet both of you." Kevyn greeted them.
Keli dismounted and helped Fyn down.
"Is that your castle?" Fyn asked Kevyn. "How old is it? Does anyone else live there?"
As Kevyn answered Fyn's endless questions Tristen and Keli trailed behind silently.
Keli could see the strong resemblance, both had dark brown hair, both were tall, and both had brilliant blue eyes. However, where Tristen was handsome his brother was rather homely. She instinctively liked Kevyn, there was a thoughtfulness and kindness about him that he shared with Tris.
Fyn seemed to sense the same thing and had already latched on to the lord.
"Fyn seems to be enjoying her adventure." Tris commented.
"I am glad we found her. She is a darling." Keli said affectionately.
Tristen was pleased to see her smile again. It appeared the thief was just what the Healer ordered for Keli. "I am surprised she trusts us so completely."
"She hadn't been on her own very long otherwise she would not have trusted us. She was living with her sister up until a few weeks ago. Unfortunately her sister died in child birth." Keli had the entire story from the night before. Fyn had happily chattered late into the night and since she was sleeping on Keli's floor at the time Keli listened late into the night.
Tristen frowned at this bit of news. "What about her sister's husband?"
"She had none. Her sister was a lady's maid. According to Fyn, she was turned off when she couldn't hide her pregnancy anymore." Keli shook her head. "I don't understand why someone would do that."
"Did the baby survive?" Tristen asked, hoping there a baby out there didn't need rescuing.
"No. Fyn says he was born blue and limp." Keli explained.
Tristen watched the eager girl holding on to his brother's hand and asking a dozen questions. "Have you considered what you are going to do with her yet?"
"Yes. I am keeping her." Keli said. "She wants to become a Page."
"I don't think she is old enough." Tris warned.
"We'll find something." Keli said confidently. "I have a feeling she will find her own place very quickly."
~*~
The inside of the castle was as impressive as the outside. While the outside hadn't been changed much in the past centuries the inside had been redone recently. The walls were paneled in wood to keep out drafts and colourful tapestries hung on the walls and from the ceiling. The tapestries showed mythological animals, hunting scenes, the familial device, and the flag of Valdemar. The furniture was all well polished and showed the care given to it rivalled that of the park outside.
Fyn had promptly asked for the stories behind the tapestries. Kevyn had happily provided them.
Tris showed Keli to the family wing and installed her in a sunny room that looked over one of the brooks and a statuary garden. A massive, ancient bed with heavy, dark blue hangings and blankets with pristine white sheets dominated the room. The walls were the unadorned golden stone with a tapestry of a silver dragon on a midnight blue background on one wall and one of a winged white horse over a silver city on a matching background on the opposite wall. There was an old wardrobe and desk for her use and a chair upholstered in a matching blue to the blankets and hangings.
"I hope this will do." Tristen said as she looked about the room.
"It is perfect." Keli assured him.
"Fyn can have the room next door." Tristen gestured to the neighboring room.
"Where is your room?" Keli asked as she set her bags on the bed.
"Down the hall. I'll let you settle in." Tristen started toward the door.
Keli turned away from the window. "Perhaps we should rescue your brother first. I don't think Fyn ever stops asking questions."
Tristen stopped in the doorway. "I think he is enjoying it. He loves littles and I know he regrets not having any."
"I'll see you later then." Keli watched him leave and started to unpack. The day before she had bought several pairs of breeches that she found much more comfortable to wear, soft white shirts and some fitted vests. None of it was what she was used to but they did not have business suits and jeans here. She had also brought some books she wanted to study and a few changes of her uniform. Keli had also brought her sword, Windrider.
Once she had everything put away she sat down on the massive feather bed. She had to admit she did feel better away from Haven and the half familiar surroundings of the Palace.
:I see you are settled in.: Solaris appeared in a beam of sunlight.
"I wondered when you would appear." Keli greeted her. "This place is beautiful, isn't it?"
:It most certainly is.: Solaris agreed whole heartedly.
"Are you going to stick around?" Keli asked as she stroked Solaris' soft fur.
:Perhaps I shall do the cat-thing and act mysterious.: Solaris lay on the bed next to Keli. :I shall be around if you want to talk.:
"Thanks. I'll remember that." Keli absently scratched Solaris's ears. "I think Kenyon missed having you about to argue with."
:He can be so stubborn at times.: Solaris chuckled.
"Odd, he says the same thing about you." Keli said dryly. "What do you think of Fyn? I assume you have seen her."
:She is a little mischief maker, I don't need to see the future to foresee how much trouble she will create.: Solaris said honestly. :I can hardly wait.:
"I better go make certain she isn't pocketing everything in sight." Keli slipped off the bed.
:Honestly, how are you feeling about going back in time?: Solaris stopped her.
Keli paused and considered the average height of everyone she had met so far, on average they were seven inches short than in her time. "Well, one good thing is I am no longer considered short."