~ Chapter 20 ~
Keli double-checked the address to see if she was in the correct place. Around her the people of the middleclass neighbourhood watched curiously. How could people who were obviously well established tell their child they were no longer willing to pay for her upkeep? Keli clenched her teeth to keep from saying something aloud she would regret but her mind repeated a litany of curses her father would have been stunned to hear from her.
Keli knocked on the door and clasped her hands behind her back. More to keep from strangling whoever answered the door than anything.
:No gerbils.: Kenyon reminded her.
:Rabbits?: Keli asked.
:No. What happened to never turning your powers against your people?: Kenyon reminded her.
"What do you want?" A portly woman demanded as she answered the door then stared at her like a stunned deer.
"Are you Mrs. Pewyth?" Keli demanded coldly.
"Herald, I am sorry, I thought you were someone else." She said it a politer tone of voice.
"Obviously." Keli drawled. "Are you Mrs. Pewyth?"
"Yes." The woman glanced around nervously as people on the street stopped to watch the spectacle.
"Do you have a daughter named Fyn?" Keli asked, ignoring her uneasy reaction.
"We did. She died of a fever two years ago." Mrs. Pewyth's eyes widened slightly and she paled as if she knew what was coming.
"Kindly refrain from lying," Keli said coldly, "I am well aware she was living with her sister, your elder daughter, Kale, until she died nearly a year ago."
"Why don't you come in where we can discuss this quietly?" She suggested nervously.
"No, I prefer to stay out here Mrs. Pewyth." Keli said with all the coolness she could muster when her overwhelming urge was to strike back at these people who hurt Fyn.
"Listen, if Fyn is in trouble it ain't my fault. I turned her out when she started making trouble." Mrs. Pewyth said defensively, her eyes darting about, looking at everyone who was gathering to watch the showdown.
"You are aware that child abandonment is against the law?" Keli's voice carried out over the crowd and she heard a twitter of condemnation through the crowd.
"Kale took her in. If she got in more trouble there it ain't my never mind." Mrs. Pewyth insisted belligerently as she stepped back inside and tried to close the door, which she found wedge firmly open by magic.
Keli produced a piece of paper, "Kindly sign this, it states in effect that you no longer wish custody of Fyn."
Mrs. Pewyth looked about at the crowd and snapped the paper from her hand and quickly signed it.
Keli accepted the paper back and checked to make certain it was signed properly. "Is your husband here?"
She eyed Keli warily and went to fetch him. The far from sober man signed the paper when his wife put it before him.
Satisfied Keli folded paper and tucked it in her tunic.
"What's it to you who has custody of that little brat?" Mrs Pewyth asked as Keli left, uncaring of what more talk she would create, the Herald had managed to reveal to the entire neighbourhood that her youngest daughter had been abandoned and her eldest was dead when she had been telling everyone that Fyn had died of a fever and that Kale ran away.
"I am more interested in that you don't have custody of her, at the moment." Keli answered icily.
:See, there was no need to turn them into rodents.: Kenyon nuzzled her tunic.
:Embarrassing them will have to be enough I suppose. I am very glad they have no more children.: Keli grumbled as she swung into the saddle.
:So am I.: Kenyon said with heartfelt agreement. :Where to now?:
:Now, I adopt her.: Keli said as Kenyon trotted down the street.
:This ought to make for interesting explanations.: Kenyon commented dryly. :They will want your last name.:
:I will tell them I am a descendant of a cadet branch that remained in the Empire.: Keli answered. :Now I need a judge.:
:I can find us one.: Kenyon offered.
Soon Keli was sitting in a waiting room of a city judge. She just needed him to approve of her adopting Fyn and sign some papers and it would be legal.
"Herald Kelisiaori," The judge appeared in the doorway, "It is rare for a Herald to call upon a city judge."
"Hello sir. The only way to legally adopt a child in the city is by speaking to a judge." Keli pointed out.
The older man's eyebrows rose. "You plan on adopting a child?"
"Yes. She has been living with me at the palace for ten months now attending classes at the Collegium. She has finally told me her parents are still alive and that they had turned her out on her own when she was seven." Keli explained respectfully.
"Where was she living prior to living with you?" The judged asked with keen interest.
"On the street." Keli gave him the papers. "Before that with her late sister."
"Her parents have given up custody?" The judge read the first paper.
"They have told everyone she died of a fever two years ago. They were eager to sign away responsibility."
"Are you going to be there for her?" He asked as he read over the paper.
"I am assigned to court and will be remaining there for the foreseeable future." Keli assured him.
"And you have a reference from the Queen's Own and one from the Queen, impressive." He said as he scanned the other sheets.
"They are my friends, sir." Keli explained wishing that she had gotten Jaime and Deverell to write references up for her instead of Talia and Selenay.
The judge put the papers aside. "What will happen to her if something happens to you?"
"She has a powerful Bardic gift. She is taking music lessons but I am holding off on enrolling her in Bardic since she has only just turned nine. So if something were to happen to me she would be welcome there. Also children who have parents who are Heralds are treated like a beloved niece or nephew by the other Heralds and they will always have a place for her." Keli answered readily.
"Do you have a blood kinship with her?" He asked.
"No." Keli admitted, she wished she could say she did, it would nullify most arguments against her.
"Is anyone else interested in adopting this child?" The Judge persisted.
"Not to my knowledge." Keli firmly dismissed Kevyn and his interest in Fyn from her mind, he had never said he was willing to adopt her.
The judge nodded and remained silent for several minutes. "I can see no reason to not grant your request."
He removed a piece of paper from the desk. "What's your last name?"
"Valdemar." Keli answered with a blush.
"I beg your pardon?" He looked up at her in confusion.
"I get that reaction a lot. I am from a branch of the family that remained in the Empire." Keli explained.
"The child's name?" He continued.
"Fyn, F-Y-N, Pewyth, P-E-W-Y-T-H." Keli spelled out.
He filled in several blanks on a standard adoption form then made a copy and gave her the original paper. "Congratulations."
"Thank you sir." Keli read over the paper. She finally relaxed, it would take a high level judgement by a Herald to remove Fyn from her now, and if Keli did try to abandon Fyn there were severe penalties that were outlined on the adoption form. Not that Keli would ever give up Fyn for anything.
"I am glad she has a brighter future, too many children don't have that." The judge said, sounding much friendly now that his duty was done.
"I know. Thank you again." Keli left.
:She will be ecstatic.: Kenyon said.
"I know. Let's get back, I can't wait to tell her." Keli said eagerly.
~*~
Keli was curled up on the couch and was reading a massive old tome of magic when Fyn returned from classes. She wore the necklace from Keli around her neck.
"How were classes?" Keli asked as Fyn hurried to her room to put away her books.
"Good, we were learning about Herald Vanyel today, did you know he died?" Fyn said to her.
"Yes." Keli shook her head.
"And he did so many things, like fight demons and track down assassins." Fyn called from her room.
"He was a busy man." Keli agreed.
Silence emanated from the bedroom.
Keli set her book to the side and waited for a response. An ecstatic Fyn charged across the room and threw herself into Keli's arms.
"Thank you." Fyn said happily and squeezed Keli's neck until Keli started to gasp for breath. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Keli held her tight.
Fyn sat back and studied the piece of paper, a happy tear drop marred the corner of the paper. "Your last name is Valdemar?"
"Yes, and now it is yours." Keli said as she wiped away her own tears.
"Fyn Valdemar." Fyn tested it. "It sounds kind of funny."
"You don't have to use it," Keli assured her, "I rarely do; it causes too many questions."
"So now you are my sister forever." Fyn said happily.
"Yes. Forever." Keli agreed.
"Like you said. We are sisters by choice." Fyn repeated as she gave her another hug and ran back to her room and placed the paper in her book of songs from Tris for safekeeping.
~*~
Tris could barely wait to get back to the Waystation to read the letters from Fyn and Keli. The letters almost burned a hole in his tunic as he listened to complaints from the villagers.
He opened the letters before he even started his supper. As always he kept Keli's for last. Fyn's letter contained several days of rambling, as always. Tris laughed over the tales she shared of her fellow students. When he got to the page about her birthday he grinned. First she raved about the book of songs, then described her recital and raved about her own performance. She even listed off all the people she had known who had attended. She even dedicated an entire page to her party. Lastly, she described the gifts she had received from Keli.
The next section was surprising.
…Keli had a big surprise for me today, she adopted me. She actually went out and got a paper that says we are family forever now. My name is now Fyn Valdemar, funny isn't it? Keli's real last name is Valdemar. This means she will always be my sister…
Hopefully Keli's letter would have more information.
Dear Tris,
Fyn adored the songs, trust me you will hear all of them when you return. Kevyn sent her a new saddle for Honey. I gave her a new lute and a harp case. You would think we had given her the moon from how she reacted. All told, I think she enjoyed her birthday.
The only mar on the day was a rather odd reaction to the presents. She said she didn't want to cost me anything, apparently her mother kicked her out and told her she was too much of a burden to keep around.
Kenyon won't allow mw to turn them into guinea pigs.
I did pay a visit to her parents and got their signatures on a form saying they no longer wanted custody of Fyn, I admit I did use the occasion to embarrass them. She is a cook for a large, high class tavern and they live in a fair sized house, there was no reason other than maliciousness for how they acted. Then I had to convince a Judge that I was worthy of being Fyn's parent. He was concerned that if something happened to me she would be left alone.
I wish you could have seen her when she found the certificate. Other than the last name, she is ecstatic.
I finally managed to get the diary up to date. I admit that it feels like I am writing a fantasy novel.
You mentioned you wanted to know if I saw the man again, I was out riding Kenyon in the field and I saw him, the only information I cam add is he was glowing some how.
Perhaps I am seeing an echo, a side effect of time travel, but why would I only see this one man and why can't I remember him?
Well the Bandit Baby Bard has just invaded my room again, I will write you again soon.
Sia.
Tris folded the letters and placed them with the others he had received from Keli and Fyn. Fyn's letters were generally several pages long and Keli's were rarely more than one page.
He wished he had time to write back more often, as it was he was barely managing twice a month.
:They understand.: Caewen assured him. :Just think, only six more months until you see her again.:
:Six long months.: Tristen agreed.
:Considering a year ago at this time you were content to live your life as a carefree bachelor you certainly have been thinking about those two ladies a great deal.: Caewen teased.
:A year ago I didn't know Sia or Fyn. Both of them are wonderful, Fyn is like a little sister and Sia…: Tristen smiled at the memory of the night before he left, it had left him with a craving for her.
:I know.: Caewen's mindvoice was coloured with amusement. :You saved her when she first arrived. No one, not even Kenyon, thought she would survive. You watched over her until she was capable of standing alone.:
:She return the favour. She was scared to death on that ledge and could have left at anytime but she stayed. I could feel her heart pounding when the storm started to clear, she was holding on to her control tooth and nail. And then the basket ride, she couldn't stop shaking but she never panicked.: Tristen recalled.
:I am glad you found her.: Caewen said sincerely. :You two deserve happiness.:
Tris served himself some of the soup he had left simmering and took a seat on the bed. :How happy can we be if I am always out on circuit? Besides, she may only be interested in a light affair. Her letters certainly aren't love letters.:
:Perhaps she wants more than an affair of any kind. Perhaps you should just wait until you see her again to discover what her preferences are.:
:Six very long months.: Tris sighed.