~ Chapter 15 ~
Keli still had her face buried in Tris' tunic when their helped arrived several candlemarks later.
"Are you alright?" A booming voice asked from above.
"I have a broken arm and leg but otherwise, we're fine." Tris called back.
"We are going to lower down a basket, if you both climb in we can get you out of here." The voice instructed.
Keli moaned. "I am not looking forward to this."
Tristen watched as the massive basket was lowered towards them. Keli forced herself to focus on the basket until it was just above them then banished the shields and used magic to keep it from hitting them.
"You first." Keli said as she grabbed the basket edge. It was big enough for both of them but it was going to be a tight fit.
Tris didn't argue as he pulled himself into the basket. Keli was white with fear but she still helped him into the basket. It took some work but he managed to get his arm and leg positioned so there was little stress on them and there was plenty of room for Keli.
"Are you ready?" Tris asked her.
Keli nodded mutely tossed the blanket in and pulled herself into the basket. Freed, the basket swayed back and forth. Keli draped the blanket over both of them and gripped the side of the basket.
"Are you praying?" Tris asked, unable to make out her muttered words.
Keli shook her head. "Swearing."
Tris pulled her close. Above them the sound of large wings warned them as the basket lurched and they were aloft.
Keli was shaking for the entire flight, and obviously not from the cold.
A candlemark later Keli was finally on solid ground and swearing to never fly again. Healers bustled them off as soon as they landed. Keli was giving an incredibly sweet bar with honey, nuts and dried fruit and ordered to eat it while they checked her for injuries then nearly drowned her in a hot bath. After sleeping for the rest of the day and through the night she was finally feeling like herself again. Keli demolished a massive breakfast and went in search of Tristen.
"There you are." Keli smiled warmly.
Tris was immobilized with a cast on his arm and leg, and obviously brooding. "You are looking much better."
Keli looked down at the massive Whites she was wearing. "Being on solid ground does wonders for me. You are looking rather lonely, would you like me to stay and keep you company for a while?"
"If you don't mind, I can't even hold a book." Tris gestured to the book on the floor.
Keli picked up the book. "How about I read to you. I think we have exhausted every topic we can think of in the past couple of days."
"I'd like that." Tristen was very pleased with her offer.
"The Healers have said they will allow us to portal to Haven tomorrow." Keli said as she sat on the chair at his bedside.
"What about the bandits? Those children shouldn't be left out there." Tris said heatedly.
Keli didn't open the book. "What could you do? You aren't up to it and my Companion isn't here."
"Have they sent anyone else out?" Tristen pressed.
Keli shook her head. "No, they can't get over the pass."
"What about gryphons?" Tristen persisted.
"They are exhausted from rescuing us and if the bandits are holed up in a cave they could do nothing." Keli pointed out.
"So are you proposing we just leave them out there?" Tristen demanded loudly.
"I have farsight, I can look for them." Keli offered.
"If you would." Tristen settled down now that someone was going to take up where he left off.
Keli didn't even close her eyes as she started her search. Everything was foggy and vague until she suddenly felt herself being pulled across the snow. Keli found herself looking at four dead horses covered with snow and six bodies, two of them small.
Keli took a deep breath as she returned to her body. "They were caught on the path during the storm."
"Oh Gods." Tris closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry." Keli said softly. "It looks like they tried to hide behind the horses."
"I should have expected it." Tristen berated himself.
"I know that they probably only fell asleep and never woke up. They didn't suffer." Keli assured him.
"If the path hadn't given out I may have reached them in time. If only I had been paying more attention to the path."
Keli understood his guilt. "I don't know if you would have been able to. They had a massive lead on you. I think they would have been beyond help when you caught up with them."
"They weren't dressed for the weather." Tris admitted.
Keli reached over and stroked his hair out of his eyes. "I know."
"Thank you for searching for them." Tristen said sorrowfully.
"You're welcome, I just wish we had found them alive." Keli opened the book. As she read Tris still wrestled with his guilt.
~*~
Fyn was waiting eagerly for Keli to return. Even though they weren't expected for at least a candlemark she was waiting in the field next to the old temple.
:You are going to freeze out here kitten.: Solaris appeared.
Fyn jumped. "Solaris. You scared me. Are they coming now? How long till they get here? I hope they get here soon. Keli's alright, right?"
:You know, I think this is the last time I agree to baby sit.: Solaris sighed. :They will be here soon enough.:
"Is Kenyon going to come out and meet them?" Fyn sat on the ground in front of the empty doorway.
:Yes, he is off doing horsy things at the moment. You could go wait inside.: Solaris suggested.
"No. I'll wait here." Fyn said stubbornly.
:Very well.: Solaris capitulated with a sigh.
Without warning Fyn felt like she had lost her stomach then the portal opened behind her.
"Keli!" Fyn jumped to her feet and ran through the portal.
"Hey Imp." Keli smiled in greeting and swept her up in a hug. "I hear you are our saviour."
"It was my idea to ask gryphons to help." Fyn grinned happily.
"You must have grown a foot." Tristen greeted her.
Fyn took in the two casts and the bandage on his head. "Is that why you need Keli?"
Tris nodded. "I am glad you could spare her."
"Next time ask sooner." Fyn scolded then ran over to give him a hug as well.
"I'll try to remember." Tris laughed and hugged her with his good arm.
Fyn preceded them through the portal where a few people had gathered. Tris needed help from some Healers over the threshold. Keli and Caewen brought up the rear.
"Which way to your rooms?" The healer asked.
"Through that door to the second floor." Tris pointed.
"You can use one of the spare bedrooms in our suite." Keli offered when she saw the strained look on the Healers. "The door is right there."
"Thank you." One of the Healers mouthed as they moved towards the door.
Fyn ran ahead to open the door. Inside there was very little furniture, only an old chair. "Imp, would you mind taking the bedclothes off the bed in the next room?" Keli asked.
Fyn rushed off to oblige.
"You can put him on the couch in the sitting room." Keli suggested.
"Thanks for letting me stay." Tristen said as he was placed on the couch.
The healers were rubbing their sore backs as they straightened. "We thank you as well, Herald."
"We can get him into the bedroom." Keli assured them.
"It should only be a few more days before we can remove the casts then he can move up to his room." A healer assured her as they left.
"All done." Fyn burst back in.
"I am just going to put something on that fits." Keli vanished into her room.
Fyn perched on the couch next to him. "Do you love her now?"
Tris nearly choked.
:Way to go Kitten, kill him before he heals up.: Solaris commented sardonically.
"Well, do you?" Fyn ignored the Firecat
Tristen tried to answer but failed dismally.
Fyn looked very pleased with herself. "Thought so. Don't worry, I won't tell her."
"How have your classes been?" Tristen changed the subject.
"Good, Jemmie and I are the youngest in almost all those classes. He's my best friend. Keli says I am doing really good." Fyn allowed the subject change. "I got a letter from your brother. He is coming to Haven soon, he said he was hoping to see me ride Honey."
"He didn't mention that in his letters to me." Tristen wasn't to surprised, his brother was obviously fond of Fyn.
"Probably because you are supposed to be out on circuit." Fyn shrugged. "Maybe you'll be here to see him."
Keli returned, in much better fitting formal Whites. "Is she talking your ear off?" She asked with a smile.
"No. She's telling me about her classes." Tristen explained.
The bell summoning the trainees who had kitchen duty rang. "Gotta go." Fyn jumped off the couch and ran off.
"Does she ever slow down?" Tristen asked bemusedly.
"No." Keli took a seat in one of the chairs. "I have never regretted scooping her off the street though."
"Not even when she is filching everything that isn't tied down?"
"Even then." Keli smiled fondly. "I love that imp."
"She loves you, too. She certainly has grown these past few months." Tristen observed.
"She should be with the way she has been eating." Keli laughed. "Fyn still insists she will become a Herald and has been taking many of the classes Heraldic Trainees take."
"I hope she isn't disappointed." Tristen said sincerely.
"So do I." Keli glanced at her watch. "I have to get going. Would you like some help into your room?"
"No, thank you anyway." Tristen said gratefully.
"I'll get you some books then. You'll probably have visitors soon to keep you occupied." Keli stood and picked several books off the shelf and set them beside him on the couch. "See you later."
"Thanks for letting me stay here." He said again/
"What are friends for?" Keli called as she left.
~*~
"I am glad to see you're back." Talia greeted Keli when she appeared at the Royal apartments.
"I am glad to be back, but even happier to be off that mountain." Keli answered. "Did I miss anything? I hope Fyn didn't make a pest of herself."
Talia hesitated.
"What did she do?" Keli asked with a feeling of foreboding.
"She was upset that we wouldn't tell her where you were so she snuck into my apartment and held my harp hostage." Talia found herself actually smiling at the memory.
"Your harp is still in excellent condition I hope." Keli said worriedly.
"Yes, she gave it back once we told her what we knew." Talia quickly assured her.
"Fyn certainly has her own way of doing things." Keli chuckled. "I am sorry she caused problems."
"It was her idea to send in gryphons to get you out. Otherwise I don't know what we would have done. We aren't used to having gryphons to call upon." Talia admitted.
"I appreciate it, otherwise we would have to wait till he healed enough to climb and then we could call Solaris and ask her to help us Jump back here or walk down on our own."
"How would you survive that long with out food in the freezing cold? We didn't expect to find either of you alive." Talia admitted.
"We are both mages and we could have survived off Power if necessary. We also created a weatherproof shield to keep us warm. Similar to the idea of a Vale." Keli explained.
"Keli, you've returned." Selenay entered the outer room where Talia and Keli were waiting. "I expected you to be bundled in bed sipping soup after that ordeal."
"I am hardier than I look." Keli assured the Queen. "I hope I didn't cause too many problems."
"Not really, just a few cancelled classes. The Healers tell me if you hadn't gotten there so quickly Tristen would have died, that is more important than a few cancelled classes. How is Tristen?"
"Immobilized and hating it." Keli answered. "He is using one of my spare rooms for the time being, I didn't think the Healers could carry him up to the second floor with all that plaster."
"We should get going for Court." Selenay reminded Keli.
"Dirk and Jemmie are waiting for me." Talia stood. "I'll see you both later."