Disclaimer: The wonderful author, Mercedes Lackey, owns any and all concepts relating to the world of Velgarth. This includes the Kingdoms of Valdemar, Karse, Rethwellan, the Haighlei Empire, the city of White Gryphon and the assorted varied populations thereof. I own the ability to procrastinate at the Olympic level and to ineffectually multi-task.
Notes: Because I don't feel that it is odd to react to bad things with humour, this one is for Ant. Sorry I couldn't help you kitten.
Chapter Three- You Did What With Leylines?
:Agghhh!: I echo the Mind-spoken cry of pain and surprise with a vocal one.
"Agghhh!" The whistling coldness of the air rushing around us snatches the sounds from my beak as I involuntarily furl my wings and gravity reasserts its dominance over things. Not surprisingly, the basket and myself begin to head downwards. Very much downwards. In fact, I appear to be heading downwards faster than the basket and am rapidly catching it up— out of the bottom of my blurred vision I can see Frostfire's cloud white face staring numbly upwards at me. Fallingstar's face is bright red and he's yelling something, by the way his mouth is moving.
:Halliran! Fly!: Fallingstar's command blasts through the shock and dancing spots that are currently filling my mind and I manage to snap my wings open, catching the air and sending a bone jarring set of vibrations through my entire self— something that is compounded by the basket wildly juddering around below me. My tail lashes around in circles as I indulge in some panicked and pointless clawing of the air with all four legs.
A high pitched shriek pierces the atmosphere and I suddenly have to contend with a insane falcon whipping around me in barely controlled acrobatics. :Bondmate fall! Bondmate fall! Bad Halli-big-bird!:
Over the sound of my energetic wing beats I can hear fervent cursing. The Tayledras must be Frostfire, and the violent mix of Kaled'a'in and Haighlei can only be my scouting partner. If the wind wasn't scattering their words, I definitely think that the varnish would be blistering off the wicker and wood of the carry basket.
After a few long moments of frenzied activity I manage to stabilise myself, and the basket, and get us back onto a pretty even flight path… albeit one several lengths below the level I was previously flying at.
Um… oops?
Fallingstar's Mindvoice is tight and flat. :What the Hells just happened?:
That is a very good question. What the Hells did just happen? I still have spots dancing in front of my eyes and the inside of my head feels like the Haighlei Royal Hunt just stampeded plains-bulls through it.
:I—: I manage. I really should try to order my thoughts before trying to articulate them, shouldn't I? :I—Mage-sight… looking over at the waterfall—Frostfire's Vale—bright!:
Apparently, I've included the aforementioned Tayledras scout in my sending, as I feel him jerk to look up at me, the basket swinging forwards slightly, before Fallingstar moves his weight backwards in counter. :You have Mage-sight?: He sounds surprised. There seems to be a whole bunch of that going around at the moment.
:I'm a mage-made creature,: I manage to point out with remarkable calmness, given the events of a few moments ago. Let's get down to the point; :What have your people done with the leylines?!: I even manage to keep the hysteria to a minimum at the end of that question.
:What?: You don't get any prizes for guessing how Fallingstar sounds.
:Ah—: Frostfire says at the same time, sounding genuinely puzzled. I'm off on a little rant however…
:I used my Mage-sight to look at his home and I damn near got blinded!: I inform Fallingstar. :That's what in the Hells happened— they have a weather shield— and wards— and a bloody node that has six lines running into it, but none coming out! By all rights it should explode! Bang!: My name is Halliran, and I came first in my class for diplomacy. And reconnaissance. Honest.
:That's the Heartstone—: The Tayledras man sounds slightly timid. :Um, all Vales have one; the mages could probably explain it better than me, but it's part of what makes us Tayledras…:
Right, make note: Long lost cousins have tendency to meddle with node magic, also known as: That Which Ye Should Not Meddle With. How have they survived this long without the whole lot of them being turned into wee little piles of ash? Thinking about it, don't answer that question… the possible answers are making my head ache. More.
:Oh.: Well, I think Fallingstar has pretty much summed up both of our replies to that particular nugget of information. Attention back on flying, I think.
We are fast approaching the site of the waterfall, and I can just make out the slight light-refraction that marks the edges of the weather shield that appears to be erected over the whole 'Vale'. Just looks like a lot of really big trees and a bit of a clearing around the waterfall's base to me.
:Where's the Vale Entrance that Tarragon mentioned?: I ask Frostfire as I scan the area closely. There are a few clearings that look as if they have landing possibilities, but I don't want to commit to one until I'm sure that I'm not going to produce a grand landing, only to find that there is a distinct lack of appreciative and/or awed audience to stare at me.
:Uh—: He leans forwards, hands gripping the front edge of the basket, and stares downwards, before pointing, :there— the two big pine trees close together in amongst the golden oaks.:
I send back wordless assent and fix my eyes on the trees indicated. There is indeed a clearing in 'front' of them that is large enough, for both myself and the carry basket, to land in. I cant my wings back slightly, slowing my forwards motion and half fold my right wing, sending me into wide spiral. I snort out thoughtfully, the warmth of my breath contrasting sharply with the cold of the air on my nares for a moment, as I stare down— assessing how to land.
:Hold on.: I send shortly and tighten my spiral, dropping lower faster, the basket below me creaking as the tension on the basket lines changes in a mirror to my movements.
Ziff calls out and drops past me in a dive, flaring her wings as she reaches the level of the canopy and darting across the clearing— shapes rise from the trees as other birds join her. I can make out several hawks, at least one owl and three corbies of some kind. From their size, they can't be anything but Bondbirds.
The bright flashes of colour now apparent under the trees can only be our welcoming committee. Our cousins on parade definitely rival Haighlei Court-wear— the clothing is of a strange cut that seems both familiar and exotic at the same time, and is in a riot of colours; each person's clothing harmonises perfectly with whatever else its owner I wearing, but there are some definite eye-burning moments when certain members of the group stand together.
I continue dropping lower and they move out from under the shadows of the trees slightly; they all have magic bleached white hair. Of course, given this 'Heartstone' thing they have in the middle of their home, that doesn't surprise me.
:Brace and lean backwards—: Fallingstar commands Frostfire, before leaning backwards himself; this tilts the balance of the basket towards my tail, so that the rear of it touches the ground first, before the rest of it settles on the loam. I kite forwards slightly, the ropes coiling onto the ground behind me and abruptly flare my wings, pulling myself into an almost vertical position.
One hind foot touches the earth, followed by the second one and I pose for a moment, wings outstretched, before dropping down to all fours and calmly furling my wings. Behind me, I can hear my passengers climbing out of the basket— the slower one is Frostfire, I guess.
My claws dig into the earth and I cock my head slightly to one side and stare at the 'welcoming committee'. There are five of them; three men and two women… I think. Long flowing robes and a penchant for yards of hair makes telling the sex of three of the group difficult. The two with shorter hair— although clad in finery equal to that of their companions, all have the same wary alertness about their person that I recognise well from being a Silver. Their costumes also have a more practical look to them… one that indicates that flounces and embellishments can be lost quickly and easily.
Hmm…
Fallingstar comes to a halt next to my right side and I catch his glance flicker in my direction before his conducts his own observation of Frostfire's people.
:Colourful bunch, aren't they?: I observe to my scout partner on a private level of Mindspeech.
:That they are, Halli.:
"Uh—" The voice belongs to Frostfire and he semi hops in between the Tayledras and us. "Elder Leafspear, zhai'helleva," with that he bobs his head to the oldest looking figure; a man dressed from head to foot in an elaborately layered costume that mimics bird feathers. Except for the bright blue colours.
The man addressed as Leafspear nods his head in return and breaks into a smile, his blue eyes glittering with amusement as he regards Frostfire. "Zhai'helleva, scout Frostfire—" his gaze settles on myself and Fallingstar, "and to you also, I had not thought I would see another gryphon in my lifetime; especially not at my own Vale!"
Fallingstar blinks. "Zhaai helliva," he manages, unconsciously giving the Kaled'a'in form of the greeting.
"Ass he ssaid, sszshai'helleva." I add in what I hope to be a friendly tone of voice. It certainly startles the Tayledras. The faint tinkle of the ornaments and crystals braided into their hair fills the space between us.
Leafspear's amusement deepens into a grin, and I respond by dropping my lower jaw in a gryph-grin of my own. "I confess, I have not heard a gryphonic accent for a while," he admits.
"Oh?" Fallingstar asks, his posture alert.
"Yes," Leafspear nods, "I was visiting one of our fellow Clans a while back and they have a pair of gryphons living near them…" The silent questions hangs in the air between us.
"Imaagine thaat," I say blandly. One advantage to being an unfamiliar non-human is that only Fallingstar can accurately read my facial expressions.
The Tayledras Elder takes the hint and nods his head briefly. "So, introductions; I am Adept Leafspear; this is Healer Sunstone—" he gestures as one of the obvious women, dressed all in earthy colours.
"Wind to thy wings," she inclines her head towards us. She has crows, three of them, sitting on her shoulders.
"This is the Leader of the Day Scouts, Jadefox—" one of the shorter haired Tayledras nods, "—and the Leader of the Night Scouts, Silvermist." The other short-haired human nods. Jadefox is female, and dressed in mottled finery that looks like Frostfire's clothing, the same goes for Silvermist, except that he is male.
That leaves the other two with long hair… the ones who I initially thought were male, but then couldn't really decide. Leafspear continues introductions after Fallingstar and I have exchanged platitudes with the Scout Leaders. "Master Darkrain and Adept Stormsong complete our little group."
A tufted owl hoots and alights on Stormsong's raised fist. "Bright the day," he sounds cheerful. And male… definitely male. The owl sidles up his arm until it is sitting comfortably on one of the padded shoulders of his grey and silver outfit— finery that is offset by the multitudes of silver chains woven into his long hair.
"May I speak on behalf of us?" Jadefox looks around at her fellows. "I am most glad to extend the welcome of k'Shona Vale to you— to both of you, for as long as you wish to stay with us."
I turn to Darkrain and covertly try to stare and work out his… her?… gender. :A him or a her?: I plaintively ask Fallingstar, after all he is human too, sending him an impression of the Master.
:Male, silly bird.: My partner sounds amused. Far too amused.
:Oh.: I manage as the hawks I spied from before make their presence known by indulging in a raucous set of calls as they chase each other around the group. The pair of Scout Leaders sigh and give each other slightly exasperated looks.
I buzz of just-out-of-Hearing Mindspeech tickles at the back of my mind and then one of the birds breaks off, wheeling around to land on Silvermist's shoulder, chattering happily. The other bird, deprived of it's playmate, squawks with derision and lefts up to a tree branch, where it commences staring at Jadefox. Both birds looks almost identical— sun tail hawks, and from the slight downiness just apparent about the edges of their covert feathers and around their faces, I'd say recently fledged sun tail hawks; probably nest mates. Which explains the game playing.
Poor Tayledras having to put up with that in your head all the time. I know it's drive me mad.
Fallingstar steps forwards slightly. "For your kind greeting, thank you." He starts in his slightly backwards Tayledras. "And introductions of us, we should now make, eh?"
The thin tendril of Mindspeech touches me. :How far do we go?: I sense that Fallingstar's attention is on me, despite him looking at, and clasping hands with the welcoming committee. That is actually something that I was pondering on the flight over here— in between plummeting out of the sky like a stunned duck, of course.
:We may as well go the whole hog,: I say consideringly, :I mean, Treyvan and Hydona are supposed to be letting slip the whole "k'Leshya" thing to their local bunch of long-lost cousins… and it's not exactly like we can contact White Gryphon—: a brief picture of the box teleson and a sour snort. A thought occurs to me, :besides, I've already said k'Leshya to Frostfire, I don't think he picked up on it, though… not too much, at any rate.:
:Too overawed by your gryphonic majesty.: The sarcastic reply arrives in my head and I stifle a chuckle.
"So, Fallingstar k'Leshya of White Gryphon, I am." He introduces himself.
I raise my plumage slightly and rumble slightly in my chest to gather attention. "I am Hallirran Sarrikae k'Leshya, Ssilver Grryphon Sscout." I announce with aplomb, eyes glittering wickedly with amusement as the five Tayledras digest mine and Fallingstar's words and their expressions uniformly move towards shock.
:Hello again,: The female Mindvoice is accompanied by a mental wave and I twitch an ear tuft before blinking at Tarragon.
:Bright skies to you Tarragon.: I reply. :I see we've managed the shock factor you were anticipating,: I nod at the mages and scouts.
The dyheli doe produces a creditable laugh. :I can see!: She shakes her head and paces forwards. :King Stag Dirrkin has sent me to tell you that the hertasi are in a positive frenzy of pre-party planning, and, if you please, could you all retire to the meadow so that they can complete preparations.:
It sounds more like an order than a question and this time, I can sense Fallingstar stifling a laugh.
Leafspear nods, "Of course, if you would care to come with us?" He pauses delicately and eyes both Fallingstar and myself. Belatedly I realise that I am still in my harness and hooked up to the basket.
I cough slightly and nudge my partner. "If yoou would jusst give uss a moment." I reply to Leafspear as Fallingstar blinks and looks over at me.
"Whole lot off and into the basket and let's sort it out later?" He looks over at me and asks in our native tongue and bob my head.
"Oh, yess," I reply fervently, also in Kaled'a'in. "I have had enough of rrropess and harnesssesss." I wiggle from side to side as Fallingstar quickly snaps open the locking clips and catches on my harness, and step out of it as the whole lot pools onto the ground in a tangle of soft leather and dulled metal.
We both stare at it, ignoring the avidly interested expressions on the faces of the Tayledras around us as they listen to our conversation. It must be strange for them to here something like their language… but not.
"That—" Fallingstar pokes the harness with one toe, "is going to take forever to sort out Halliran." He sighs.
I flatten my ear tufts slightly. "You're right…" I admit grudgingly. "At least it'll keep you're fingers supple!" I gape my beak open in a grin at his unimpressed expression. "I know, I know; Not Funny Halliran." I lump the mess of harness into a rough bundle and manage to pick it up in one fore claw and my beak, before walking the few lengths to the basket and dumping it on top of our packs. Fallingstar doesn't answer me and instead follows behind gathering up the rapidly tangling basket lines and shoving them after the harness.
"All done!" I exclaim brightly in Tayledras and pace over towards Leafspear and the other Tayledras. I can sense Fallingstar behind me. He could well be muttering.
Frostfire speaks up for the first time in a while. "Are you just leaving your basket here?" He asks.
Fallingstar stops muttering at the back of my head for long enough to shrug. "Apparently," he says, shooting me a look. His expression clears slightly as he addresses the group in his careful Tayledras. "Unless you have someone free to the basket, move?"
Adept Stormsong and his owl fix the basket with identical looks. "I'm sure that the hertasi would be happy to move your basket for you… but I don't see how even five of them could lift that thing."
I turn from Leafspear and raise my crest in amusement. "Ahh, but that isss ourr magic basssket," I tell him. "It hass a sspell on it, one I did myself."
"Oh?" Stormsong, as do the others—mages or no— gain even more interested expressions at my nugget of information.
"Daa, spell that we usse in White Grryphon all the time; it leavesss thingss with their masss, but negatesss their weight." Maybe a hint of pride creeps into my voice. Maybe. I twitch my tail from side to side and Leafspear takes the hint, stepping forwards to lead the way into his home.
I glance sideways at the fascinated mages who now look as if they want to stay and poke our carry basket for the rest of the day. "I sshall sshow you the sspell laterr," I promise. "But now, I would like to sssee yourr Vale I think."
Fallingstar rolls his eyes at me. :Overdoing the 'mysterious magic creature' part aren't you?:
:Not at all,: I assert as The two Scout Leaders fall into step beside Fallingstar, and I find myself walking next to Stormsong and the others who were introduced as mages.
We exchange pleasantries and walk towards the two huge trees and the faint shimmer of a weather shield that mark the entrance to k'Shona Vale.
Even from out here, utterly confusing Heartstones aside, it looks entirely alien from everything I've called 'home' for all of my life.