Disclaimer: I don't own Mercedes Lackey. I do own the plot. Whee.
Reviewers: Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you all. And you deserve fresh-baked choccy chip cookies!
Queen's Own: Here is more!
Faeborn2930: I've been chained...*bemused*
Shahanna: It's bugging Helia to no end, but Liluye's afraid it'll ruin their friendship.
Kierseth: That's just the problem...she doesn't know.
Hawk: Dead in the black. *groan* They have minds of their own! Not that this is bad...mostly...
Ssjbookgirl: Yes, but seeing Liluye's reluctance now, it's doubtful it'll happen anytime soon.
Cerulean Sky: I agree with Frayley, too. But it wouldn't be in-character for Liluye. She has to agonize first. It's soo much haaaarderrrr! *whimpers*
...but it does give me a nice plot to work with.
Lightning Rain: Thank you! For both the plot and the review!
Paige: Good question. Kree was born in a Vale and lived there for about two and a half years before he got bored, left, and found Liluye. He's still not fully mature.
Kree's Physical statistics: Golden-brown feathers, golden eyes, long sharp talons, built like an eagle, but slightly smaller-slightly for a bondbird meaning a wingspan of about nine-twelve feet. That's how big an owl-eagle is. A bondbird eagle has a wingspan of nearly fifteen feet. Kree's wingspan is about eleven feet or so. Really, really big. Kree is about fully-grown, but he needs to get older for his mind to fully develop. But of course, Liluye still needs to realize who and what she is, so he'll grow with her. A good match, all things considered.
Muse responsible: Rrissa.
Onto the story!
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To a farmgirl from western Rethwellan, Kata'shi'na'in was an exotic city of wonders. I had never seen such wonders all packed into one place. Wandersrest was nothing-nothing-compared to this.
I wandered into the bazaar on foot, my purse close to my body and a knife at my hip-customers weren't allowed to carry axes or swords. I was drawing stares already, however-I had my wrist-brace on, and Kree was sitting as lightly as he could on my arm. Since he was still growing, it was no easy task to hold him there-my arm was mostly held up by determination, now. Kree looked around the bazaar, interested. As did I, but most of my attention was on not letting my bondbird fall.
"Here," said a familiar voice behind me. Helia's arm appeared in my vision as Kree stepped onto hers. She handed me the staff I used.
Gratefully, I swung it to my shoulders and braced it. "Thanks," I said as Kree stepped back, shifting a bit to find his balance. :Bondmate's arm not- hurt?:
:I'm all right now.:
:Thanks to wish-mate,: said Kree. :When you offer flower?:
I almost dropped the staff. Recovering myself, I said, very quickly, mind- to-mind, :Kree, I would appreciate it if you did not discuss that here.:
:Why?: Kree's thought was direct and open. :She see your needs, she help without need to ask you. Would be good mate-match.:
:A friend can do that too,: I said, lamely, looking over at Helia, who had wandered off and was inspecting a stall of horse paraphernalia-and haggling over a currycomb.
[Gods, I'm low. I'm lying even in my own mind...and to the one that shares my mind.]
This prompted a pang of guilt. [Can I do that to Kree?...]
Kree was still waiting for my answer.
Reluctantly, I said, :I-I can't. I'm afraid it would ruin our friendship. Forever.:
Kree tilted his head as he considered this. :Afraid she refuse flower?:
:Yes,: I replied, for lack of a better answer. :Can we continue this conversation later? I want to shop.:
:If I can look.:
:Of course you can, bird,: I chuckled, scratching his crest carefully. That done with, I wandered over to a jewelry-stall. The merchant eyed Kree nervously.
"He's very well-trained and intelligent," I said, reassuringly. "And if he pecks at anything," I continued, looking up at Kree, who merely looked innocent, "Someone will get a long lecture about being the same species as magpies, but it doesn't have to mean they'll act like them."
:I? I innocent bird,: said Kree. :Not-peck shinies.:
The merchant looked at me curiously. "He won't do anything," I amended, and leaned forward to inspect the rings he had to sell.
I didn't really have enough to buy any at his prices, so instead I straightened and moved on.
Kree continued to draw odd looks. [One good thing about this...] I reflected as I stepped out of the way of a pile of manure, [Is that everyone gets out of my way. And no one's going to try and attack me, either-]
I didn't get to finish this thought, however, before someone grabbed my arm. I whirled, to an undignified squawk from Kree as he righted himself, and found myself face-to face with...
Well, it'd be more accurate to say face-to-collarbone with a Shi'na'in who was about a foot taller than I. "You. With me. Now," he said, shortly, in the trade-tongue.
I had absolutely no intention of going with him, and tried to wriggle out of his grip. Kree took off as I struggled, gaining height, then whirling and diving, only-
The Shi'na'in somehow got me in front of him, so Kree's fisted claws hit my chest as I threw up my free arm in defense. Kree's eyes went wide with shock as I toppled onto the Shi'na'in, landing in a tangle of staff, legs, arms, and bird. :Sorry!: he said, frantically, into my mind. :Bondmate all right? I try to get mean one, he twist too fast, I hit you! Bondmate broken?:
"Just-bruised, I think," I coughed out in Rethwellan. Kree managed to stand, slowly, on my chest. "I don't know about him, though."
"Get off. Now," said a clipped voice from beneath me.
Taking Kree onto my arm and launching him into the air, I Sent, :Circle above, very high. I'll call if I need you.: To the Shi'na'in, I said, "Considering that this is all your fault, I'd think you could be nicer.
I was answered by a sudden heave of muscles beneath me. Suddenly, I was standing, and the Shi'na'in was standing as well, brushing himself off and handing me my staff. "I apologize," he said, shortly. "I was abrupt."
I glared at him. "Considering that you grabbed me, panicked my bondbird, then had him attack me instead of you with a flashy fighting-move, when I had done absolutely nothing to you, you should be nicer." Looking around, I saw several Wanderers converging on us, Helia and Leon among them, several others I knew less well, all of them looking rather angry.
"Are you all right?" demanded Leon as the Wanderers moved between me and the Shi'na'in. "Is Kree?" All this was in rapid Rethwellan, so the Shi'na'in had less chance of understanding us.
"Kree's fine," I said, "My chest bloody hurts, but I don't think anything's broken. I'm not sure about that one, though-"I jerked my head sourly at the Shi'na'in-"But he had my arm just about in the breaking-hold."
The Shi'na'in looked rather irritated and tried to shove the Wanderers between us aside. They stood firm, braced against the shoves, not moving. [Thank the gods for Company loyalty,] I thought, gratefully. [Everyone looks out for everyone else.]
"Please," said the Shi'na'in, in a gentler tone. "I wish to speak with her. I meant her no harm. I apologized."
"Why?" asked Helia, flatly, as I stood on tiptoe to look at him.
"I wish to speak to her," he repeated, "Or, rather, I wish to bring her to the shaman."
We exchanged looks. There was some muttering. Then-
"If two of us can go with her," said Leon, taking his authority as my specific officer. The Shi'na'in nodded resignedly. Leon looked over the group. "Me..." he said, "And Helia. We're in her scouting group, that should be enough. Thank you," he added, and the other Wanderers dispersed.
The Shi'na'in turned and led us down the street. My chest aching, I followed, leaning on the staff.
Down a street, cut through an alley, down another street-I kept careful track as he led us at last to a building. Knocking at the door, he called something out in Shi'na'in.
He was answered, and, opening the door, he gestured us abruptly inside, saying, "Go no farther than the first room."
With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind us.
Looking around, I saw cushions scattered over the floor. A woman was sitting on one of them, chatting amiably with someone I thought was a Swordsworn...at least until I saw that the one in question was in dark blue.
"I am the shaman of Pretera'sedrin," said the woman, standing gracefully. "My name is Li'ahe. Are you the one with the Tayledras bondbird?" she asked, looking directly at me.
I swallowed. "Yes...his name is Kree."
"Please step outside and call him for us," said the woman. It wasn't a request.
Heading back out the door, I saw a Wanderer casually standing across the street, buying a fruit pie. Seeing me, she dropped an eyelid in a wink and turned back to the pie-vendor. Raising my arm, I said, simply, :Kree?: and waited.
He landed light as a feather on my arm several minutes later. I carried him inside, carefully. The shaman's blue eyes widened. "I had thought..." she whispered in the trade-tongue, "I had thought he was just a well- trained hawk," she finished.
Kree's head swiveled to glare at her. :I, just stupid hawk? I not! I bondbird! I Mindspeak! I smarter than stupid hawk! I bond to Liluye!:
All this was in clear Mindspeech to everyone in the room, with various reactions. I blinked, Helia stared, Leon looked around to see where the voice was coming from, and the shaman gaped.
Both Kree and I eyed her levelly. "I think," said the shaman, slowly, "That you should explain."
Kree glanced at me, and we spent a moment in silent communication. At last, we agreed and sat, slowly. The shaman held out her arm. "May I see him?"
"Go ahead, Kree," I murmured. Warily, the hawk-eagle spread his wings slightly and used my launch to glide across the room, wings only half- spread, landing gently on the shaman's arm, unprotected but for the sleeve of her robe. Helia and Leon sat as well, on either side of me.
The shaman whispered several words I did not catch to Kree. Reluctantly-I could feel this radiating across our bond-he spread his wings fully and held them in place, folded them, turned around, and allowed the shaman to inspect him. When she was done, he hopped back to me, crest down in irritation until I scratched his head.
"He is a true bondbird," said the shaman. "Would you tell me how you came by him?"
"Actually, he came by me," I said, leaning back on the cushion slightly and passing Kree to Helia. "I used to be a farmgirl, but I was bored with that life, and chose to leave. I went west into the Pelagirs for a while, first, just to see what I could find, but didn't get far before Kree dived at me and bound to me. That was really quite a shock," I added, looking at him affectionately. "I didn't used to be accustomed to diving hawks. Anyway, we started traveling together to join a merc Company-Wendell's Wanderers, which I am in now. In a town along the way, I met Helia, who decided to come along with me." I nodded at my traveling partner, who inclined her head for a moment and went back to scratching Kree.
"I joined the Wanderers, trained for months, and this is my first foray. We're not on a mission-"I added, "But Wendell was bored, and so we left."
Li'ahe nodded, slowly. "So I see. I have traveled to the Pelagirs myself, to visit K'Sheyna, a Tayledras Clan. It was quite a shock to see a bondbird here in Kata'shi'na'in, without a Tayledras along. What Clan is Kree from?"
I looked back at Kree. :K'Vala,: he said, only able to give one word in his bliss of being scratched.
"I see," said Li'ahe, thoughtfully. "Thank you for your time."
This seemed to be all she would say for now, but I had a niggling feeling that I hadn't seen the last of Li'ahe. And I hadn't-her parting words were, "I may want to speak with you again, sometime."
Kree launched into the air as soon as we left the building, and I went back to the bazaar with rather more to think about than I had left with.
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And here is your chapter. I hope you liked! Reviews make me write faster!
~Fireblade K'Chona
Reviewers: Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you all. And you deserve fresh-baked choccy chip cookies!
Queen's Own: Here is more!
Faeborn2930: I've been chained...*bemused*
Shahanna: It's bugging Helia to no end, but Liluye's afraid it'll ruin their friendship.
Kierseth: That's just the problem...she doesn't know.
Hawk: Dead in the black. *groan* They have minds of their own! Not that this is bad...mostly...
Ssjbookgirl: Yes, but seeing Liluye's reluctance now, it's doubtful it'll happen anytime soon.
Cerulean Sky: I agree with Frayley, too. But it wouldn't be in-character for Liluye. She has to agonize first. It's soo much haaaarderrrr! *whimpers*
...but it does give me a nice plot to work with.
Lightning Rain: Thank you! For both the plot and the review!
Paige: Good question. Kree was born in a Vale and lived there for about two and a half years before he got bored, left, and found Liluye. He's still not fully mature.
Kree's Physical statistics: Golden-brown feathers, golden eyes, long sharp talons, built like an eagle, but slightly smaller-slightly for a bondbird meaning a wingspan of about nine-twelve feet. That's how big an owl-eagle is. A bondbird eagle has a wingspan of nearly fifteen feet. Kree's wingspan is about eleven feet or so. Really, really big. Kree is about fully-grown, but he needs to get older for his mind to fully develop. But of course, Liluye still needs to realize who and what she is, so he'll grow with her. A good match, all things considered.
Muse responsible: Rrissa.
Onto the story!
---------------------------------------------------------
To a farmgirl from western Rethwellan, Kata'shi'na'in was an exotic city of wonders. I had never seen such wonders all packed into one place. Wandersrest was nothing-nothing-compared to this.
I wandered into the bazaar on foot, my purse close to my body and a knife at my hip-customers weren't allowed to carry axes or swords. I was drawing stares already, however-I had my wrist-brace on, and Kree was sitting as lightly as he could on my arm. Since he was still growing, it was no easy task to hold him there-my arm was mostly held up by determination, now. Kree looked around the bazaar, interested. As did I, but most of my attention was on not letting my bondbird fall.
"Here," said a familiar voice behind me. Helia's arm appeared in my vision as Kree stepped onto hers. She handed me the staff I used.
Gratefully, I swung it to my shoulders and braced it. "Thanks," I said as Kree stepped back, shifting a bit to find his balance. :Bondmate's arm not- hurt?:
:I'm all right now.:
:Thanks to wish-mate,: said Kree. :When you offer flower?:
I almost dropped the staff. Recovering myself, I said, very quickly, mind- to-mind, :Kree, I would appreciate it if you did not discuss that here.:
:Why?: Kree's thought was direct and open. :She see your needs, she help without need to ask you. Would be good mate-match.:
:A friend can do that too,: I said, lamely, looking over at Helia, who had wandered off and was inspecting a stall of horse paraphernalia-and haggling over a currycomb.
[Gods, I'm low. I'm lying even in my own mind...and to the one that shares my mind.]
This prompted a pang of guilt. [Can I do that to Kree?...]
Kree was still waiting for my answer.
Reluctantly, I said, :I-I can't. I'm afraid it would ruin our friendship. Forever.:
Kree tilted his head as he considered this. :Afraid she refuse flower?:
:Yes,: I replied, for lack of a better answer. :Can we continue this conversation later? I want to shop.:
:If I can look.:
:Of course you can, bird,: I chuckled, scratching his crest carefully. That done with, I wandered over to a jewelry-stall. The merchant eyed Kree nervously.
"He's very well-trained and intelligent," I said, reassuringly. "And if he pecks at anything," I continued, looking up at Kree, who merely looked innocent, "Someone will get a long lecture about being the same species as magpies, but it doesn't have to mean they'll act like them."
:I? I innocent bird,: said Kree. :Not-peck shinies.:
The merchant looked at me curiously. "He won't do anything," I amended, and leaned forward to inspect the rings he had to sell.
I didn't really have enough to buy any at his prices, so instead I straightened and moved on.
Kree continued to draw odd looks. [One good thing about this...] I reflected as I stepped out of the way of a pile of manure, [Is that everyone gets out of my way. And no one's going to try and attack me, either-]
I didn't get to finish this thought, however, before someone grabbed my arm. I whirled, to an undignified squawk from Kree as he righted himself, and found myself face-to face with...
Well, it'd be more accurate to say face-to-collarbone with a Shi'na'in who was about a foot taller than I. "You. With me. Now," he said, shortly, in the trade-tongue.
I had absolutely no intention of going with him, and tried to wriggle out of his grip. Kree took off as I struggled, gaining height, then whirling and diving, only-
The Shi'na'in somehow got me in front of him, so Kree's fisted claws hit my chest as I threw up my free arm in defense. Kree's eyes went wide with shock as I toppled onto the Shi'na'in, landing in a tangle of staff, legs, arms, and bird. :Sorry!: he said, frantically, into my mind. :Bondmate all right? I try to get mean one, he twist too fast, I hit you! Bondmate broken?:
"Just-bruised, I think," I coughed out in Rethwellan. Kree managed to stand, slowly, on my chest. "I don't know about him, though."
"Get off. Now," said a clipped voice from beneath me.
Taking Kree onto my arm and launching him into the air, I Sent, :Circle above, very high. I'll call if I need you.: To the Shi'na'in, I said, "Considering that this is all your fault, I'd think you could be nicer.
I was answered by a sudden heave of muscles beneath me. Suddenly, I was standing, and the Shi'na'in was standing as well, brushing himself off and handing me my staff. "I apologize," he said, shortly. "I was abrupt."
I glared at him. "Considering that you grabbed me, panicked my bondbird, then had him attack me instead of you with a flashy fighting-move, when I had done absolutely nothing to you, you should be nicer." Looking around, I saw several Wanderers converging on us, Helia and Leon among them, several others I knew less well, all of them looking rather angry.
"Are you all right?" demanded Leon as the Wanderers moved between me and the Shi'na'in. "Is Kree?" All this was in rapid Rethwellan, so the Shi'na'in had less chance of understanding us.
"Kree's fine," I said, "My chest bloody hurts, but I don't think anything's broken. I'm not sure about that one, though-"I jerked my head sourly at the Shi'na'in-"But he had my arm just about in the breaking-hold."
The Shi'na'in looked rather irritated and tried to shove the Wanderers between us aside. They stood firm, braced against the shoves, not moving. [Thank the gods for Company loyalty,] I thought, gratefully. [Everyone looks out for everyone else.]
"Please," said the Shi'na'in, in a gentler tone. "I wish to speak with her. I meant her no harm. I apologized."
"Why?" asked Helia, flatly, as I stood on tiptoe to look at him.
"I wish to speak to her," he repeated, "Or, rather, I wish to bring her to the shaman."
We exchanged looks. There was some muttering. Then-
"If two of us can go with her," said Leon, taking his authority as my specific officer. The Shi'na'in nodded resignedly. Leon looked over the group. "Me..." he said, "And Helia. We're in her scouting group, that should be enough. Thank you," he added, and the other Wanderers dispersed.
The Shi'na'in turned and led us down the street. My chest aching, I followed, leaning on the staff.
Down a street, cut through an alley, down another street-I kept careful track as he led us at last to a building. Knocking at the door, he called something out in Shi'na'in.
He was answered, and, opening the door, he gestured us abruptly inside, saying, "Go no farther than the first room."
With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind us.
Looking around, I saw cushions scattered over the floor. A woman was sitting on one of them, chatting amiably with someone I thought was a Swordsworn...at least until I saw that the one in question was in dark blue.
"I am the shaman of Pretera'sedrin," said the woman, standing gracefully. "My name is Li'ahe. Are you the one with the Tayledras bondbird?" she asked, looking directly at me.
I swallowed. "Yes...his name is Kree."
"Please step outside and call him for us," said the woman. It wasn't a request.
Heading back out the door, I saw a Wanderer casually standing across the street, buying a fruit pie. Seeing me, she dropped an eyelid in a wink and turned back to the pie-vendor. Raising my arm, I said, simply, :Kree?: and waited.
He landed light as a feather on my arm several minutes later. I carried him inside, carefully. The shaman's blue eyes widened. "I had thought..." she whispered in the trade-tongue, "I had thought he was just a well- trained hawk," she finished.
Kree's head swiveled to glare at her. :I, just stupid hawk? I not! I bondbird! I Mindspeak! I smarter than stupid hawk! I bond to Liluye!:
All this was in clear Mindspeech to everyone in the room, with various reactions. I blinked, Helia stared, Leon looked around to see where the voice was coming from, and the shaman gaped.
Both Kree and I eyed her levelly. "I think," said the shaman, slowly, "That you should explain."
Kree glanced at me, and we spent a moment in silent communication. At last, we agreed and sat, slowly. The shaman held out her arm. "May I see him?"
"Go ahead, Kree," I murmured. Warily, the hawk-eagle spread his wings slightly and used my launch to glide across the room, wings only half- spread, landing gently on the shaman's arm, unprotected but for the sleeve of her robe. Helia and Leon sat as well, on either side of me.
The shaman whispered several words I did not catch to Kree. Reluctantly-I could feel this radiating across our bond-he spread his wings fully and held them in place, folded them, turned around, and allowed the shaman to inspect him. When she was done, he hopped back to me, crest down in irritation until I scratched his head.
"He is a true bondbird," said the shaman. "Would you tell me how you came by him?"
"Actually, he came by me," I said, leaning back on the cushion slightly and passing Kree to Helia. "I used to be a farmgirl, but I was bored with that life, and chose to leave. I went west into the Pelagirs for a while, first, just to see what I could find, but didn't get far before Kree dived at me and bound to me. That was really quite a shock," I added, looking at him affectionately. "I didn't used to be accustomed to diving hawks. Anyway, we started traveling together to join a merc Company-Wendell's Wanderers, which I am in now. In a town along the way, I met Helia, who decided to come along with me." I nodded at my traveling partner, who inclined her head for a moment and went back to scratching Kree.
"I joined the Wanderers, trained for months, and this is my first foray. We're not on a mission-"I added, "But Wendell was bored, and so we left."
Li'ahe nodded, slowly. "So I see. I have traveled to the Pelagirs myself, to visit K'Sheyna, a Tayledras Clan. It was quite a shock to see a bondbird here in Kata'shi'na'in, without a Tayledras along. What Clan is Kree from?"
I looked back at Kree. :K'Vala,: he said, only able to give one word in his bliss of being scratched.
"I see," said Li'ahe, thoughtfully. "Thank you for your time."
This seemed to be all she would say for now, but I had a niggling feeling that I hadn't seen the last of Li'ahe. And I hadn't-her parting words were, "I may want to speak with you again, sometime."
Kree launched into the air as soon as we left the building, and I went back to the bazaar with rather more to think about than I had left with.
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And here is your chapter. I hope you liked! Reviews make me write faster!
~Fireblade K'Chona