~ Chapter 19 ~
"You are looking rather blissful," Talia teased that night in the bathing room. Both of them had a habit of bathing late at night to ease the stress of the day.
"I am feeling rather blissful at the moment," Keli couldn't keep a smile off her face.
"You and Tris made peace?" Talia guessed.
"That is part of it," Keli admitted, "Fyn has been gloating all day."
"What is the other part?" Talia asked.
"This morning I was showing Tris how I make portals with that memory sharing technique and it was different. It was like we shared more." Keli said as she stared into nothing.
Talia eyed her speculatively, "Are you an Empath?"
"Yes, but I don't use it much." Keli directed her attention to Talia.
"Except to read people's intent?" Talia asked.
Keli shook her head. "No, not even unconsciously. I can be shielded to the nines and still know people's intent. My school and Rodry tried many times to figure out how I do it but the nearest explanation is magic. People shed Power simply by living, they believed that even if I am not using mage sight I am still testing the Power to see if they give off negative taints. No one has been able to duplicate it to the best of my knowledge."
Talia accepted her explanation. "Could it be that because you are both mages you can share more?"
"Maybe. But I have done that with other mages." Keli answered doubtfully
Talia hesitated, "Perhaps it is amplifying your lifebond. Also, the other times you have used it you were feeling strong emotions, grief and fear, that may have blocked you from that sharing."
Keli bit her lip and tilted her head to one side. A sure sign she was trying not to ask a question.
"You can ask," Talia laughed.
"What's a lifebond?" Keli asked.
"I figured that was what you question was. Dirk and I are lifebonded, as is Daren and Selenay. It is like your souls recognize each other the instant they meet. It's more than just love but that is a big part of it. If they are miserable, so are you. It is very rare, before you arrived there were four couples, Skif and Nyara, Keren and Sherril, Daren and Selenay, and Dirk and myself." Talia explained.
Keli nodded, "You believe Tris and I are lifebonded?"
"Yes. I know you are." Talia said emphatically.
Keli ponder this for a few minutes, "I will have to read up on it."
Talia laughed, "Your solution to everything."
"It works, books don't run when they see me coming with a question on my lips." Keli said lightly.
"Speaking of questions, I have been meaning to ask you about-"
Keli interrupted. "My acrophobia?"
"If that means fear of heights, yes." Talia nodded.
"When I was young I got locked on the watch tower off the Old Palace, the one with the tiny safety wall. I was stuck there for most of the day and into the night. I spent the entire time scared the wind would blow me off. I have never been able to face anything more than two stories off the ground since." Keli felt a little odd as she spoke but dismissed it.
"Keli! Listen to this!" Fyn burst in with her harp, "Hi Talia."
Fyn played a short song that lasted half a minute and beamed, "I made that myself!"
"It was beautiful," Keli complimented.
"You are obviously a natural," Talia commented.
Fyn beamed, "I am going to show Jemmie."
"No, you are going to bed." Keli corrected her. "You were supposed to be sleeping."
Fyn scowled, "But I want to show him."
"No," Keli said firmly, "I heard you nearly fell asleep this afternoon because you didn't get enough sleep last night so I want you in bed, without the harp, by the time I return to the room. You have five minutes."
Fyn grumbled but left.
"She is very talented. No wonder the Bards are eager to have her," Talia commented.
"You should hear her sing. I finally understand what the Bardic gift is." Keli said proudly.
"Do you normally give her a time limit?" Talia asked as she added some extra hot water to her bath.
"Yes, otherwise she will waste time with little things." Keli said. "She still does half the time but she is usually in bed sooner than later if she has a time limit."
"Jemmie does the same tricks; needing a glass of water or to go to the bathroom. It can take forever to get him into bed sometimes. But I would be suspicious if he didn't test boundaries."
Keli stepped out of her tub and drained the water. "I better go make certain the lights are out and that she hasn't just stuck a towel under the door again."
"See you tomorrow." Talia settled deeper into the water. "Oh, did you hear? Skif is to become her teacher as well as yours."
Keli grinned wickedly as she paused in the doorway, "This ought to be interesting."
~*~
Keli and Fyn went to the salle together the next morning; both dressed in clothes suitable for working out in.
"Am I going to like him?" Fyn asked nervously.
"He is the Herald who used to be a thief. I think you will have a lot in common," Keli assured her.
"Do I get to work with a sword like yours?" Fyn referred to Windrider, which currently hung on a wall in her room since she didn't need it.
"We'll have to see, maybe in time you will." Keli hedged. "You will also learn wrestling."
"Like Jemmie?" Fyn asked with an expression that was best described as wicked.
"Yes." Keli answered suspiciously.
Fyn grinned, "I'll show him girls aren't wimps."
"You certainly are no wimp," Keli pushed the door to the salle open. "And you are not going to use any of this unless you have to, right? It is not for play."
"Only if I need to." Fyn said obediently.
Most mornings it was empty at this time but this morning a handful of Heralds were practicing were at the far end of the salle.
Keli started stretching immediately and Fyn imitated her. When they had completed the thorough stretching routine Skif approached them.
"Hey Kel, are you ready?" Skif asked as he approached.
"If you are." Keli answered with a grin and chose her usual practice blade from the wall.
She was no match for him and she knew it but tried to give a good accounting of herself as she blocked blows and tried to deliver a few of her own. Finally he delivered a hard whack to her unguarded side, a killing blow that would leave a massive bruise. What was worse was that it was in the same spot as yesterday. She yelped and grabbed her side. This time she did not drop her weapon as she would have done in those first few weeks.
"Watch that side, you always over react leaving yourself vulnerable." Skif scolded and turned his attention on Fyn. "Do you know any fighting?"
Fyn nodded shyly, "Not like that and only a little."
"Show me." Skif ordered
Fyn took a deep breath and charged at him, agilely ducking his arm as he tried to grab her. Her shoulder hit his gut hard and he grabbed her shoulder only to be bitten for his trouble.
"Ouch!" Skif released her, "You are a fierce little thing."
Fyn nodded trying to suppress a grin. Her years of having the street as her playground had taught her a style that was best described as fighting at its dirtiest.
The Heralds on the other side of the room were now watching. Among them was Jaime and Deverell, all were watching expectantly.
"Not bad, you are fast and flexible." Skif praised just as he grabbed her under her arms and lifted her off the ground.
Her shin collided with his groin in a deliberate move that resulted in her being dropped and him grasping for breath from a crouched position. The Heralds at the other end of the salle groaned in sympathy.
"Skif? Are you alright?" Keli asked worriedly.
"That always works." Fyn said as she scrambled to her feet. "My sister, the one I had before Keli, taught me to kick there if I could."
Skif recovered enough to raise his head. "I think that is enough of a demonstration. Let's start with swords."
Keli moved back to the wall to watch the unrepentant Fyn take the stance Skif showed her.
Skif proceeded to show her a move and then had her emulate it. After the third such move she offered him something.
"Can you hold this? It's getting in the way." She asked innocently.
Skif accepted the object to find it was his own belt pouch.
The dumbfounded look on his face brought laughter from the other Heralds.
"Well done Fyn," Jaime congratulated her loudly.
"I think you are a little out of practice Skif ol' boy," another Herald laughed.
"The money too." Keli said patiently. "And you lot, stop encouraging her."
Fyn sighed and dropped the coins into Skif's palm. This brought a fresh round of laughter. Skif himself had to laugh at having the tables being turned on him after all these years by the puckish little girl.
Keli managed to keep a straight face, and wondered how long until he realised his belt was missing too.
~*~
Keli was sitting in the first row wearing formal Whites, eagerly awaiting Fyn's first recital. Talia, Dirk, and Jemmie were also present and several of the Blues Fyn attended class with. Kenyon and Solaris were just outside the window, eager to hear the little protégé. Several of Keli's friends were in attendance and others who were curious about the 'Baby Bard' as she was known by her Bardic classmates and the 'Bandit Bard' by those who knew her tendency to remove select articles from one's person. There were also several other Students playing today to get experience in front of a crowd so they had guests as well.
Fyn wore ordinary clothes rather than a uniform and had her harp, now called Angel Song, at the ready. In the five months since she had started these lessons she had shown a positive genius for music. Today she was supposed to sing three songs and play one.
Since her favourite subject to sing about was Heralds she had chosen three songs about Herald Vanyel. The first was Colddrake, the second was Magic's Price, and the third was Demonbane. She was going to play a beginners song on her harp after that.
:You look like a proud mother.: Solaris commented from the window.
:I am proud beyond words.: Keli sent back.
In her quest for something to replace her CD player, which she missed dreadfully, she had learned to make song crystals, similar to a spell that bound a message into a bit of crystal, so she was recording the recital.
As Fyn began to sing the Power behind her young voice was apparent to all. She pulled them in and sang to their souls. No one noticed the small mistakes she made.
When she was done everyone clapped. Keli beamed proudly.
Fyn made a small bow than rushed off the low stage to give Keli a jubilant hug. "I did it!"
"See, there was nothing to be worried about." Keli teased and returned the hug.
:You were wonderful Kitten.: Solaris said so only Fyn and Keli heard her.
:She's a talented little thing.: Kenyon commented.
Fyn always liked to entertain so Keli wasn't surprised she had enjoyed her first stage experience. Fyn sat next to Keli for the rest of the recitals, loudly applauding the others. Even as they returned to their rooms Fyn chattered, reliving each moment. Keli had to remind her to change before she ran off in search of Jemmie.
Alone, Keli removed the small blue crystal from her pocket where she had hidden it and located the silver wire she had bought earlier. Using pliers she made a cage around the stone and hung it on a silver chain. She studied it critically before placing it in a small carved box as a gift for Fyn's birthing day.
Tris had sent a gift he had bought for Fyn, as had Kevyn, thankfully he hadn't written her since their confrontation. She had hidden the gifts under the bed and in the wardrobe in her room hoping that Fyn wouldn't go snooping. These she dug out and placed on the table
Their gifts were also placed on the table. The one from Tris was a box the size of a large book. The gift from Kevyn was a fair-sized crate. Thankfully there was nothing alive in the crate. Keli had also bought a new lute and a harp case for Fyn which, lacking wrapping paper, she hid under a blanket.
:Care to go for a ride Fleetfoot?: Keli asked Kenyon since she had a candlemark before Fyn would be done telling Jemmie absolutely everything about her performance, even though he had been there watching.
:That would be nice.: Kenyon agreed. :It's a beautiful day.:
Keli emerged into the bright spring sun from the small door in the spare room and found Kenyon waiting for her.
:You look lovely today.: Kenyon complimented her.
"Thank you." Keli smiled and swung onto his back. "How are you and Rolan getting along?"
:We get along well, we still have occasional debates over who is higher ranking. Me, from age, or him from being here first.: Kenyon said lightly. :He is glad you have been taking some of Talia's duties. He was worried she was being run off her feet.:
:I would like to help more.: Keli admitted. :She needs time for her family. I know she wants to have another child.:
Kenyon seemed to be thinking.
Movement caught Keli's eye and she spun to see who it was. It was the stranger again.
"Wait!" Keli didn't look away from him, knowing he'd vanish.
:What is it?: Kenyon froze and tried to see who Keli was looking at.
:Its him.: Keli answered.
The man didn't move, just watched her.
"Who are you?" Keli demanded, "Why are you watching me."
He face didn't show any acknowledgement that he heard her.
Keli used her magesight to look at him, between her and him it seemed like there was almost a tunnel of power.
"Oh gods…" Keli whispered as her eyes grew wide.
The man vanished before her eyes.
"What the hell was he?" Keli asked, very shaken by the experience. The now familiar dizziness struck her and she nearly fell from Kenyon's back. She grabbed his mane to keep her balanced.
All she could remember was seeing him again and a light.
"Damn it." Keli took several deep breaths as she felt herself returning to normal. "I should be used to it by now." She complained.
:I didn't see him.: Kenyon said mournfully.
Keli sighed, "It doesn't matter, I am sure I will see him again. You had an idea for what we could do to help Talia?"
:Not really.: Kenyon said dismissively.
"You are more evasive than ten other Companions combined." Keli rubbed her brow. "Sometimes I don't know why I love you."
:I love you too, Empress.: Kenyon replied warmly.
"Perhaps you should drop a few more hints." Keli said sarcastically. "Talia having too many duties, you and Rolan being equals, and thanking me for taking over a few of Talia's duties. You think I should become a second Queen's Own."
Kenyon didn't answer but was definitely pleased with her solution.
"If I did, it will take years of work. And you would become a Monarch's Own stallion again. It would also change the balance of power on the Council," Keli warned, "I agree though, Valdemar has become much larger than it was at Founding and its needs have changed. The Companions will have to consider if the second one always going to be a mage and the first always not?"
:No. We will always Choose those best for the job.: Kenyon assured her.
Keli considered that. "Will they both be a Monarch's Own?"
:I don't know.: Kenyon would have shrugged if he could.
"And of course it is up to us mere humans to figure the rest of this out," Keli looked over her shoulder at the palace, "Fyn is returning."
Kenyon understood and quickly returned her to the small door and Keli entered the sitting room just as Fyn opened the door.
"Are you coming for supper?" Fyn asked.
"Some gift's came for you." Keli pointed to the assorted pile.
Fyn looked at the boxes then at Keli. She ran past the boxes and buried her face in Keli's tunic.
Keli could feel Fyn was sobbing. "It's alright little one." She tried to soothe Fyn. She had never thought that Elf would react so badly.
Fyn said something that was muffled by the tunic.
"Pardon?" Keli tried to ease Fyn's face away from her stomach.
"You didn't have to." Fyn pulled away and wiped her tears on her sleeve.
"I wanted to," Keli assured her, "We all did. How about you open the gifts?"
Fyn hesitated, and looked longingly at the gifts. "I don't want to cost you anything." She said plaintively.
"Sweetie, what do you mean?" Keli asked with concern.
"I don't want to cost you anything so you won't give me away." Fyn explained softly.
Keli felt rage build within her at who ever had hurt this delightful girl. "What gave you that idea?"
Fyn didn't answer. Instead she just stared down at her feet.
Keli bit her lip as she remembered what little she knew about Fyn. For about a year before her sister died Fyn had lived with her sister, who she had loved, but before that Keli didn't know who had cared for Fyn. "Fyn, tell me why you were living with your sister. Are your parents dead?"
"Mum said that I cost too much to keep," Fyn said quietly.
"She was a fool," Keli brushed a red curl out of Fyn's eyes and tipped her chin up, "You are worth more to me than all the money in the world. I swear to you now, I will never send you away."
Fyn sniffed and looked doubtful.
"Fyn, I love you as I love a sister, nothing you could do would ever convince me to send you away," Keli hesitated, "We are even better than a family by blood, we are a family by choice. Now why don't you open your gifts, then your friends are going to have a party for you."
Fyn hesitated but gave in and opened the box from Tris. Inside was a note and a leather wrapped package. Fyn read the note eagerly and opened the leather revealing a book.
"It's songs!" Fyn eagerly opened it and poured over the songs revealed.
Keli picked up the note and read it quickly.
Happy birthday little Imp, I expect to hear you sing at least one of these songs when I get back! Tris.
Fyn was still reading the songs. "They are all songs about Heralds."
"That is the perfect gift." Keli laughed and took a seat to watch her open the next present.
Fyn set it aside and removed the cloth that covered the lute and harp case. "A lute!" She pulled the instrument onto her lap and caressed the smooth wood.
"You mentioned you wanted to learn the lute." Keli reminded her.
"Oh, I do. And this is for Angel Song?" Fyn stroked the harp case.
"Yes, so you can carry her around easier." Keli explained.
Fyn rushed off and got her harp, it fit perfectly. "These are perfect. Thank you." Fyn gave Keli a quick hug and returned the crate.
Fyn removed the lid and found a new saddle and bridle of soft, dark brown leather. "Wow!"
"You are ready to hit the road, you have your songs, your lute, and your saddle," Keli laughed, "There is one left."
"This little box?" Fyn asked when she noticed it on the table.
Keli nodded.
Fyn opened the lid and drew out the necklace. "Is it ever pretty," She said sincerely. It glinted in the light from the mage lights.
"Put it in water," Keli suggested.
Fyn poured a glass of water from a pitcher that was always kept filled on the sideboard. Slowly she lowered the stone into the water.
Her own voice filled the air.
"Your first performance." Keli said needlessly.
"Is that really my voice?" Fyn looked up at her amazed.
"Yes, I made it while you were singing earlier," Keli took the necklace out of the water and slipped it over Fyn's head, "You were wonderful and deserve something to remember it by. Your friends will be here in a few minutes so you should move your gifts into your room."
Fyn carried everything into her room still admiring her gifts but Keli sensed Fyn still had reservations.
"Is Fyn here?" Jemmie appeared in the doorway.
"Yes, she's in her room." Keli gestured to the open doorway.
"Thanks." Jemmie crossed the room and into Fyn's room.
:Don't even consider it.: Kenyon warned, still feeling Keli's anger.
:Consider what?: Keli asked.
:Going and talking to her mother.: Kenyon said in a tone that let her know that he wasn't fooled by her 'happy sister' act.
:I have to, I am going to get full guardianship of her. For that I must speak with her parents. Fyn led me to believe her parents were dead.: Keli said logically.
:You aren't going to blow up are you?: Kenyon asked worriedly.
Keli thought the idea very tempting but knew it would count as turning her Gift against her own people. :Have you ever seen me blow up?:
:Not in years.: Kenyon admitted. :But you haven't been this angry in years either.:
:I am capable of handling myself coolly.: Keli assured him. :I won't turn them into anything smaller than a gerbil.:
Kenyon heaved a mental sigh. :Please don't.: