Chapter Eight
Like most teenagers, Chloe wasn't much of a morning person. Having to roll out of bed at the crack of dawn was most unappealing. Four legs and a tail hadn't changed that.
:: You know at some point you are going to have to open your eyes. :: Haron informed her.
:: Nuh-uh. ::
:: Yes-uh. Come on, it's a beautiful day out. ::
:: Oh joy and rapture. Another glorious morn. Wake me when it's over. ::
"Time to wake up Chloe." Damn. Outnumbered and outflanked. Chloe pried open one bleary blue eye. Wren was holding her saddle and looking disgustingly well rested. Ugh. Chloe had to duck her head in the water trough before she was fully conscious.
Fortunately it wasn't very far to Errold's Grove. They could have gotten there last night if they had wanted to arrive well after bedtime. The place they were actually bound for was a little ways outside of the town, something called k'Valdemar Vale, whatever that was.
As they passed a statute in the village square, Chloe noticed that Wren's hands were tensing on the reins. As they got deeper and deeper into the forest of sequoias, Wren continued to tense up until Chloe was becoming rather uncomfortable. Chloe came to an abrupt halt. It took Wren a few moments to notice.
"What's wrong?" Wren asked, voice slightly higher than usual.
:: You need to relax before you start turning trees into kindling. :: Chloe grouched back. :: Ease up on the reins 'kay? ::
"Sorry." Wren dropped the reins.
:: Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. :: Wren complied. :: Repeat after me. 'I can do this.' ::
"I can do this." Wren said grimly. Chloe was surprised to hear the determination in her voice. Maybe the girl was finally getting some confidence.
"That's the spirit dear." Sashi replied. Chloe started moving again before Wren could change her mind about that.
Chloe would have missed the entrance to the Vale if she hadn't been looking for it. It was only two pillars of rock guarding the entrance to a small valley. The tops of the pillars seemed to have divots in them, perfect for holding a bonfire at night. They now served as perches for a couple of bird of prey. One seemed to be from the owl family, the other looked rather like the phoenix from Harry Potter, except it was white.
The welcome party seemed to be composed of a lizard, an elf and an escapee from "The Birdcage". The most normal looking one was wearing a simple, but very well tailored tunic and trews, in forest colors. The outrageously dressed man Chloe remembered from Rolan's briefing on magic as Firesong. He was wearing a blindingly red robe with silver and white designs and a matching mask. Chloe got the feeling that he had been aiming for 'subdued' and missed the mark entirely. The small lizard creature (about Hobbit height) was in an embroidered vest standing with Firesong and the forester. Chloe was glad her jaw couldn't drop anymore.
Sashi slid off Haron to introduce Wren to the welcome party. The normal one stepped forward.
"Welcome to k'Valdemar Wren. My name is Darian. This is Firesong and this is Ayshen (the lizard creature bowed). We're glad to have you here." Wren immediately relaxed.
"Welcome child. I am most glad to have you as a student." Firesong said, fully aware that his attempt at solemnity was not succeeding. "I have had a glowing report about you from Lady Elspeth." Wren relaxed enough to blush.
Sashi mounted up again. "Good luck child. I'm sure you'll do well." Wren flushed again. As Sashi and the rest exchanged salutes, Haron spoke into Chloe's mind.
:: Do try and stay out of trouble. ::
:: Who me? Never. I'm a good widdle horsie. :: Haron snorted and turned back down the road.
Wren dismounted a little shakily. Darian et. al. led her in around the Vale to the rooms she would be staying in. Now Chloe knew why no one had been quite able to define a Vale for her. It was something you had to see for yourself. Trees and vines and plants and dear lord so many flowers. It was like a massive outdoor greenhouse. A tiny creek wove every which way, filling the air with water music. All the water and greenery was a bit overwhelming for a girl raised in the heart of Texas.
Finally, they came to Wren's room. It was really the guest quarters, but there was no need to quibble over semantics. They also appeared to be the only rooms with Companion appropriate facilities, which was a definite bonus by Chloe's reckoning. Darian, Firesong and the hertasi left Chloe and Wren to get settled in. A lunch tray appeared courtesy of another of those hertasi.
:: Well, dearie. Hanging in there? ::
"I guess so." Wren replied, totally unconvinced. Chloe decided that she was too used to having strings attached to trust this particular piece of paradise.
:: Do you trust me? ::
"Yes." Wren was startled by the question.
:: Then trust these people. They aren't going to bite you. ::
"But…"
:: No buts. Now, are you going to eat that apple? ::
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
word out to my homie-g, Elycium, who pointed out yet another plot hole. no function good i lately.
Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Make your voice heard.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.
Like most teenagers, Chloe wasn't much of a morning person. Having to roll out of bed at the crack of dawn was most unappealing. Four legs and a tail hadn't changed that.
:: You know at some point you are going to have to open your eyes. :: Haron informed her.
:: Nuh-uh. ::
:: Yes-uh. Come on, it's a beautiful day out. ::
:: Oh joy and rapture. Another glorious morn. Wake me when it's over. ::
"Time to wake up Chloe." Damn. Outnumbered and outflanked. Chloe pried open one bleary blue eye. Wren was holding her saddle and looking disgustingly well rested. Ugh. Chloe had to duck her head in the water trough before she was fully conscious.
Fortunately it wasn't very far to Errold's Grove. They could have gotten there last night if they had wanted to arrive well after bedtime. The place they were actually bound for was a little ways outside of the town, something called k'Valdemar Vale, whatever that was.
As they passed a statute in the village square, Chloe noticed that Wren's hands were tensing on the reins. As they got deeper and deeper into the forest of sequoias, Wren continued to tense up until Chloe was becoming rather uncomfortable. Chloe came to an abrupt halt. It took Wren a few moments to notice.
"What's wrong?" Wren asked, voice slightly higher than usual.
:: You need to relax before you start turning trees into kindling. :: Chloe grouched back. :: Ease up on the reins 'kay? ::
"Sorry." Wren dropped the reins.
:: Close your eyes. Take three deep breaths. :: Wren complied. :: Repeat after me. 'I can do this.' ::
"I can do this." Wren said grimly. Chloe was surprised to hear the determination in her voice. Maybe the girl was finally getting some confidence.
"That's the spirit dear." Sashi replied. Chloe started moving again before Wren could change her mind about that.
Chloe would have missed the entrance to the Vale if she hadn't been looking for it. It was only two pillars of rock guarding the entrance to a small valley. The tops of the pillars seemed to have divots in them, perfect for holding a bonfire at night. They now served as perches for a couple of bird of prey. One seemed to be from the owl family, the other looked rather like the phoenix from Harry Potter, except it was white.
The welcome party seemed to be composed of a lizard, an elf and an escapee from "The Birdcage". The most normal looking one was wearing a simple, but very well tailored tunic and trews, in forest colors. The outrageously dressed man Chloe remembered from Rolan's briefing on magic as Firesong. He was wearing a blindingly red robe with silver and white designs and a matching mask. Chloe got the feeling that he had been aiming for 'subdued' and missed the mark entirely. The small lizard creature (about Hobbit height) was in an embroidered vest standing with Firesong and the forester. Chloe was glad her jaw couldn't drop anymore.
Sashi slid off Haron to introduce Wren to the welcome party. The normal one stepped forward.
"Welcome to k'Valdemar Wren. My name is Darian. This is Firesong and this is Ayshen (the lizard creature bowed). We're glad to have you here." Wren immediately relaxed.
"Welcome child. I am most glad to have you as a student." Firesong said, fully aware that his attempt at solemnity was not succeeding. "I have had a glowing report about you from Lady Elspeth." Wren relaxed enough to blush.
Sashi mounted up again. "Good luck child. I'm sure you'll do well." Wren flushed again. As Sashi and the rest exchanged salutes, Haron spoke into Chloe's mind.
:: Do try and stay out of trouble. ::
:: Who me? Never. I'm a good widdle horsie. :: Haron snorted and turned back down the road.
Wren dismounted a little shakily. Darian et. al. led her in around the Vale to the rooms she would be staying in. Now Chloe knew why no one had been quite able to define a Vale for her. It was something you had to see for yourself. Trees and vines and plants and dear lord so many flowers. It was like a massive outdoor greenhouse. A tiny creek wove every which way, filling the air with water music. All the water and greenery was a bit overwhelming for a girl raised in the heart of Texas.
Finally, they came to Wren's room. It was really the guest quarters, but there was no need to quibble over semantics. They also appeared to be the only rooms with Companion appropriate facilities, which was a definite bonus by Chloe's reckoning. Darian, Firesong and the hertasi left Chloe and Wren to get settled in. A lunch tray appeared courtesy of another of those hertasi.
:: Well, dearie. Hanging in there? ::
"I guess so." Wren replied, totally unconvinced. Chloe decided that she was too used to having strings attached to trust this particular piece of paradise.
:: Do you trust me? ::
"Yes." Wren was startled by the question.
:: Then trust these people. They aren't going to bite you. ::
"But…"
:: No buts. Now, are you going to eat that apple? ::
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
word out to my homie-g, Elycium, who pointed out yet another plot hole. no function good i lately.
Questions, comments, critisicms, complaints? Make your voice heard.
.•´¨`•»¦«•Kerowyn•»¦«•´¨`•.