~ Chapter 11 ~
Keli was waiting patiently outside Teren's office, Fyn beside her eyeing the ornate doorknob.
"Don't even consider it." Keli warned.
"I'd put it back." Fyn assured her.
"I know you would." Keli smiled and ruffled her hair. "Eventually."
"Kelisiaori, I am sorry to keep you waiting." Teren finally appeared. He turned to Fyn and smiled. "You are new."
"I'm Keli's." Fyn said happily.
"Really? Please come in, both of you." Teren was obviously amused by Fyn's response.
Keli accepted the seat in front of the desk leaving Fyn to take the one by the door.
"I am glad to see you are looking much better." Teren said diplomatically.
"I am not likely to lose control and flatten the palace if that is what you are still worried about." Keli said.
"In part. May I ask who you are?" He asked Fyn.
"I'm Keli's so you have to let me stay." Fyn said mutinously.
"She is Fyn. I found her in Haven. Put it back." Keli turned to Fyn and levelled a quelling look at her.
"How did you know?" Fyn complained as usual then turned to Teren. "She keeps doing that."
"Doing what?" Teren asked, looking between the pair.
"Give it back." Keli repeated.
Fyn held out the pen. "I just wanted to see if I could."
"I assume she was trying to rob you when you found her." Teren accepted the pen.
"Yes." Keli suppressed a smile. "Tris said you decided to leave me in Whites."
"Part of the reason is that you appear to have all the advanced training and only a few gaps in the early training. Tristen mentioned you working on filling those gaps. We have never faced a situation like this before, as you well know, no doubt."
"I would be surprised if you had." Keli said with dry humor.
"We decided that we should assign you to Court for the time being with lessons to fill in your gaps in education." Teren explained.
"I need some weapons lessons. Our …forms of defence were very different from what is here. I have some training with swords but that was more for exercise." Keli informed him.
"We have already arranged for you to have some." Teren assured her and handed her a piece of paper with a schedule on it.
Keli studied for a moment. "What would my duties at court entail?"
"We like to have one mage on duty as bodyguard to watch for magical attacks, illusions, and spell casting. As your little exhibition in the field showed, you are a trained mage and obviously powerful." Teren said diplomatically.
Keli fingered an ice white curl.
"Am I a mage?" Fyn asked. "I want to be a Herald too, Keli says if I am Chosen by a Companion I can become a Herald."
"I don't think you are a Mage but you may become one. As for becoming a Herald, who knows, most are Chosen around thirteen so you have a few years to go." Teren smiled kindly at her.
Fyn accepted this.
"If you will follow me we can find you some rooms." Teren stood and led the way out the door.
Keli let Fyn precede her out the door. Teren led them not to the upper level of the Collegium but to the Herald's Wing. Teren stopped at a door on the first level in the corner.
"There aren't many apartments with more than one bedroom." Teren explained.
The apartment consisted of a large sitting room with five doors leading off of it.
"One is a Mage's workroom, I don't know if you use one, but the rest are bedrooms. It is the only one currently available with room for both of you." Teren stepped to the side and allowed them to look around.
"I think this is wonderful." Keli assured him.
"You'll have to visit Gaytha to get some uniforms in your size." Teren reminded her as he left.
"I will, thank you." Keli said distractedly as she followed Fyn in her exploration of the suite.
The room Keli chose was next to the mage's workroom with large windows, a comfortable bed, a fireplace, several book shelves, a large desk, and two massive, comfortable chairs. Fyn chooses the room across from her that was much smaller but had a window seat looking out over the small garden outside, a desk, a few chairs, and a bed.
Fyn flopped down on the couch in the sitting room. "This is all for us?" She asked.
"For now. Perhaps in the future some other Heralds will use the other rooms." Keli sat on one of the chairs.
Fyn nodded. "I like it here."
"I am going to see about enrolling you in some classes to keep you busy. I expect you to take on a few chores like the trainees." Keli warned.
"Like what kind of chores?" Fyn asked suspiciously.
"Well, I know you can cook a bit and your sister taught you to sew so perhaps helping in the kitchen and mending. I doubt it would be much." Keli assured her.
"Classes and a few chores for this? That's it?" Fyn asked with a smile. "I got a lot less for a whole lot of chores and classes with my sister."
"I also don't want you to steal anything, even as a joke, from the palace, alright?" Keli warned her sternly.
"I'll just do it to Heralds." Fyn promised.
"Very well. Shall we see about my uniforms and your classes?" Keli suggested.
Fyn ran out the door ahead of her.
Keli followed more sedately. Soon Keli had an armful of Whites and Fyn a list of classes and chores and a set of blue uniforms. Fyn had been ecstatic to find she had choices in classes and had spent ages choosing her classes. The Housekeeper had been glad to assign Fyn to the kitchen and mending, as Keli had predicted.
"Well, Imp, are you satisfied?" Keli asked as she put away her Whites.
Fyn nodded as she examined her self in the mirror wearing the new uniforms. "Someday I will be wearing the grey uniforms but these are good for now."
Keli tried on her own uniforms.
"You look good." Fyn assured her.
"Thank you." Keli responded as she studied the fit of the clothing. The Housekeeper had assured her that ones made to her measurements would be made soon but these fit rather well.
"You are all white." Fyn pointed out. "Like an ice queen."
"Thank you, I think." Keli smoothed the uniform's tunic.
"I am going to go see Honey." Fyn called as she ran out the door.
Keli chuckled, she was certain Fyn had enough energy to power Haven centuries. She set her saddlebags that she had brought from the future, still unpacked, on the bed. She had left them behind when they had gone to visit Kevyn.
First she removed the pictures of Selene, Rodry, and her father and set them on the desk. There were also several books of magic Solaris had packed and the diary Rodry had given her, these she set on her shelves. Then she found the dress again.
She felt a stab of mourning but hung the dress in the wardrobe and brushed the wrinkles from the fabric.
The undergarments in the bags she quickly put in drawers. She wasn't about to admit to Sola that she had been right about packing them, the undergarments of this era left a lot to be desired. At the bottom of the bags was the small chest with jewellery. This she left on the desk.
Her saddlebags empty, she opened her leather backpack. The first item she removed was a small photo album she didn't recognize.
Sitting on the bed, she opened to the first page. It was a picture of her at five years old sitting in the middle of the floor reading a book. Keli could see the white streaks that had already been visible in her nearly black hair.
:It was Rodry's.: Kenyon explained.
:I know.: Keli flipped to the next page and another picture of her, this time on her pony. The pictures continued until the week before she left. There was even a picture of her in her white dress. Some were of her with her father, or her and Selene.
She remembered him taking that picture too.
:Thank you Solaris.: Keli called.
:You are most welcome.: Solaris answered with out appearing.
Keli placed the album on her desk.
"I'm back!" Fyn burst into the room. "You should see Honey, they are treating her like a lady."
"I am glad to hear it." Keli smiled warmly. "Let's go see what mischief we can find."
~*~
Keli sat on a hard bench watching the others fight, rhythmic and smooth movements the fighters displayed fascinated her.
"Do you have any experience fighting?" The regal woman, named Kerowyn, asked.
"None that is applicable here." Keli confessed. "I was taught how to use my sword, but mostly that was for exercise."
"At least you are more honest than most new arrivals." Kerowyn said as she put a practice blade in Keli's hands. "Attack me."
Keli hesitated but adjust the hilt in her hands, it was heavier than Windrider and felt clumsy. She knew her attack was clumsy and Kerowyn easily deflected it.
"May I try a lighter sword?" Keli requested.
Kerowyn gestured for her to choose her blade from the racked weapons along the wall. Keli tested several likely looking swords before choosing one.
Keli took a fighting stance. This time her attack was more graceful but no more effective.
"At least you have magic to keep you whole, that was weak." Kerowyn said derisively.
"I told you I have little experience." Keli reminded her. "I was taught some hand to hand fighting."
"Let's see that."
Keli racked the sword and turned to face Kerowyn. Kerowyn was obviously waiting for her to lunge at her. Instead Keli delivered a swift kick to Kerowyn's side. Kerowyn barely dodged it but in the end Kerowyn won the little exchange.
"Maybe you aren't completely helpless." Kerowyn said. "I'll assign you to Skif."
Skif turned out to be a tall man with black hair and bushy eyebrows.
"Lets see what weapons you are used to." He said.
Keli produced her sword. Skif tested the blade.
"Very impressive even if it looks like it couldn't cut butter." He held up the Windrider. "Good weight, well made."
Keli accepted Windrider back.
"Show me what you can do." Skif suggested and stepped back.
Keli took a deep breath and started on the exercises she knew. Every so often Skif stepped in and corrected her form.
"You have a lot of work to do." Skif told her honestly. "Shall we work on hand to hand?"
By the time Skif dismissed her Keli was exhausted.
Just before she left she turned back. "Shouldn't you return the Captain's knife?"
Skif was dumbfounded. Kerowyn reached for her knife and found it missing.
Keli immediately sought a bath. Her muscles were quivering with exhaustion when she sank into the hot water. It felt heavenly.
"I heard you had returned." Herald Talia entered.
"Lady Talia, I was going to go search for you later." Keli greeted her.
Talia ran the bath next to her. "Just Talia. I was worried before you left but you are looking much more centred now."
"Thank you. I am sorry for showing those memories to you." Keli apologized.
"It alright." Talia assured her. "I understand. Actually I wanted to speak to you as well. I have never met another Queen's Own."
"That is part of what I want to talk to you about, too." Keli leaned on the edge of the tub.
"If you are worried about stepping on my toes, don't be." Talia sank into her own hot bath.
"Kenyon hasn't said I am a Monarch's Own even though he is a Monarch's Own Companion. I think he is worried about stepping on Rolan's hooves. That is what I am worried about. How is Rolan taking our appearance on the scene?" Keli asked.
"He was worried before and confused but not resentful." Talia assured her. "We can't mindspeak."
"Lucky you." Keli laughed. "Kenyon and Solaris are almost constantly arguing, it is almost enough to give me a headache."
"So you have Court duty tonight?" Talia asked.
"Yes. I reviewed the court insignias and device, they haven't changed much." Keli smiled slightly. "They got a bit more ornate but that is all."
"It took me weeks of solid studying to master them." Talia admitted.
"Is there anyone I should keep an eye on?" Keli asked seriously.
"No one in particular but if I sense anything I'll bring it to your attention. Tonight is a party; there will be several people there that normally only see the Queen from a distance. One of them may cause trouble." Talia explained. "Do you have something suitable for a party?"
"A dress? Maybe. I brought one with me that may suit if it's a little formal. It's a little long for fighting in but I was told I was there mostly for magical protection."
"That should work for now until you have some court uniforms made." Talia reassured her.
"I hope it isn't as boring as my time." Keli said with obvious revulsion.
Talia laughed at Keli's distasteful grimace. "Probably."
"I was afraid you would say that. I thought I had escaped the tedium and the scheming." Keli grumbled as she soaped one leg. She was glad that she had that treatment back in her time that made shaving unnecessary. She'd hate to see what they had for razors here.
"I heard you have a new little sister." Talia commented.
"Fyn, she is a piece of work." Keli smiled fondly. "I was worried she wouldn't be allowed to stay."
"I have a son about the same age. He mentioned she was in some of his classes." Talia said. "He's delighted that he is no longer the only 'runt' in the classes."
"I was worried about her being too young for some of the classes she chose." Keli divulged.
"She is rather young for classes with the blues but they have had younger." Talia agreed. "From what Jemmie said I think she and Jemmie plan on sticking together."
"I wonder what kind of trouble they will find." Keli said with a smile. "And I wonder how often we will have to bail them out."
Talia laughed. "Knowing Jemmie it will all be in good fun."
"Knowing Fyn it is going to leave no few feathers ruffled."
"Hey Keli! I thought you were at that fighting class." Fyn appeared in the doorway with an armload of towels.
"I just got out a little while ago." Keli explained. "How was class today?"
"Wonderful!" Fyn chattered happily as she ran herself a bath.
"Fyn, slow down for a moment Imp." Keli laughed. "Talia, this is Fyn."
"Pleased to meet you Fyn. Jemmie mentioned you." Talia greeted her.
"You are Jemmie's Mum?" Fyn perked up. "He said you are a Herald."
"Yes, I am." Talia laughed.
"I am going to be a Herald too, I just have to convince a Companion to Choose me." Fyn said confidently.
"I don't doubt you will." Talia grinned.
Fyn quickly bathed and hurried off as the kitchen help bell rang.
"She's a sweetie." Talia said as she emerged from the water.
"Is she ever." Keli twisted a towel around her wet hair. "I am very glad I found her."
"We have to hurry if we want to make it to supper." Talia warned.
"I'll see you there." Keli hurried out the door.
She quickly changed into a uniform and started to brush her hair out, an arduous task without conditioner.
She took out the dress and glowered at the wrinkles.
"Damn." She cursed as she laid it out on her bed. "How on earth am I going to get those wrinkles out?"
:Magic?: Solaris appeared on the bed.
"You're right." Keli stroked Solaris's head. "Who knew magic could be so useful."
:Almost every other mage alive.: Solaris answered dryly.
Keli ignored the Cat as she used magic to smooth out the wrinkles. "There. Do you think I will shock them?"
:You will certainly start a new trend.: Solaris assured her.
"I better get going. Would you like me to bring something back for you?"
:I will join you if you don't mind. There is fish tonight and that never tastes as good cold.: Solaris assumed her guise of a grey cat.
"Come on then." Keli said as she glanced at her watch. "The bell should ring in a few moments."