"Hawk?" after trudging for a full week in knee high snow, it was all Wren could do to keep warmth in her toes and fingers, let alone talk, but talk she did.
"Mmhm?" Hawk answered without even turning. If he looked, he would break his reserve.
"Hawk, you aren't fully recovered yet, and need to rest. I need to do another transfer, and we can't go on unless we rest and do these things. Come." she took firm hold of his arm and led him down a hunting trail, and into a close knit copse of trees which kept most of the snow out. Pulling out four logs from the woods with her magic, she set them in a heap ans used other powers that Hawk was unfamiliar with to set the wet wood ablaze. Pointing at two other logs, she set them down with amazing accuracy by the fire, one beside the other. "Sit." she commanded. Hawk was dumfounded. She sighed and set him there herself.
"What? What was that? How did you light the wood? That's no spell I have ever heard." he cocked his head– much like a hawk would.
"I am Iyon Daiyin. Didn't you know?" he shook his head. "Right then." feeling Hawk's forehead, she raised an eyebrow. "You didn't drink that tea you were offered this morning, or the past six mornings, did you?" he shook his head again, and Wren let out an explosive sigh. "Well, that's not good. I made that tea for you to help you on this journey. It has infused Iyon Daiyin magic that would heal you more the farther you walked. It would also help you adjust to what a difference there is in the Summer Isles. I hate to say it, but if you don't get more body heat, you most likely won't survive the night." Hawk didn't look too concerned. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"Well," Hawk replied. "My life has been pretty miserable of late. I am probably hindering you, and my wyrd would probably be something like a bottle of poison. I– " he was cut short by a slap across the face by Wren.
"Stop that. First of all, you are NOT hindering me. Quite th opposite Second of all, what of all of your people in your city? Alif? What about Alif? Tess depends on you as well. Not just the Queen, but Tess. Tyron, Connor, we all need you. You better as hell live this night through or I will never forgive you. Now, stop talking, if all you are going to talk about is how no one would miss you. I have heard that too many times." He blushed. Nodding, Wren said "Conserve your energy because you need it. I'll be right back." Sitting down in the snow, Wren slowly fell into a trance. Hawk watched her with interest. One of these days, I will truly find out about Wren and her life. Until then, I fear I am becoming attached to this little girl. He thought to himself, then remembering Wren wasn't, in fact, a little girl, but two years younger than his twenty years. She's gotten taller too. Hawk could easily remember a time when Wren didn't clear his shoulder, and now she could look him in the eye. Going deeper into his thoughts, Hawk hit upon something he didn't want to think about and tried to clear his mind. The thought persisted, and suddenly he felt weak and fell off the log he was sitting on.
"Wren!" he gasped, and all went black.
Wren came out of her trance just in time to see Hawk fall and call out her name. Running over to him, she noticed signs that she was afraid of.
"Damn you!" she sobbed, pounding her fist into the snow. She grabbed the blankets she had set hovering over the fire to warm and wrapped them around him. Rubbing his arms and legs fiercely, she thought of all the things Kial had taught her. "When a victim falls into a cold torpor, restore all possible body heat. Do not warm them up too quickly if they have been out for over ten minutes. Otherwise the blood will rush to quickly to the heart and cause a heart attack." she recited to herself. "Damn you Hawk. Why didn't you tell me you were so cold?" After rubbing him Until her arms were sore, she grabbed both bed rolls and shoved one into the other. " oh I hope this works." she whispered and slipped herself and Hawk into the inner bed roll.
"Tyron, what's happening? What's wrong?" Just as Wren had fallen asleep with her arms around hawk to keep him warm, Tyron had felt something wrong and started to scry them. The Queen pleaded. "Please tell me!" Accidentally, she took hold of Tyron's arm and looked into the stone. Seeing Hawk's deathly pallor, she gasped and let go of Tyron's arm.
"Hawk's fallen into a cold torpor. Wren is trying to restore heat to his body by transmitting her body heat to him." Kial answered, on the other side of Tyron, gripping his shoulder. Good girl, Wren! He thought to himself, remembering teaching her. " She also spelled the blankets to retain the heat of the fire. I'm glad she got the knack of that so quickly. Otherwise Hawk would most likely be dead."
"Hmph" answered Tyron. "Be better off without him."
"Tyron!" cried Queen Teresa, not Tess. "Without him we would ALL most likely be dead!"
"Not to mention that there would be no one to protect Wren." Pointed out Kial, grinning. At this, Tyron blushed.
"I'm sorry, my queen, I spoke rashly."
"Forgiven. Now, how can we help them?" She asked forcefully. Kial grimaced.
"My lady, we cannot help for fear of interrupting her quest."
"WHAT?!" Tess screamed, bringing Orin into the room.
"My lady, there is a group at the door that needs to see you. Do you wish...?" she asked tentatively.
"Oh who is it now. If it's one more damned courtier..." she trailed off.
"M'lady, it is Connor's cousin. The one who was your commander in chief. He has been there for hours, waiting for you. It is 'of dire importance', he said. Shall I turn him away?"
"Garian..." Tess breathed. "Kial, I need you to go into that corner" she said, pointing to the far west corner of her room. "There is a small door behind the tapestry. Hide in there. Tyron, I need you to stay here. Orin, please escort him in. You may stay if you wish." Orin nodded mutely and ran outside. A minute later, all three remaining in the room heard footsteps pounding on the stone floor. A disheveled and frustrated looking Garian burst into the door.
"Your Majesty! You are in danger! It has come!" he cried out before falling in a pathetic looking heap upon the floor.
"Kial!"
"Mumnph" groaned Hawk as he awoke, completely enveloped in darkness. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he quickly turned around. Looking up, he saw that his head lay on Wren's chest, and it was her hand he felt on his arm. Feeling suddenly ten times better, he peeked out of the bedroll, only to draw his head back in swiftly. On top of the bedroll there was a complete blanket of snow. At this stirring, Wren woke and let out a glad cry. Hugging him tightly, she yelled "you're alright! You're alive!" over and over again.
After a few minutes of this, Wren realized that this might be taken the wrong way.
"Er..." Wren cringed, but she didn't get what she expected. Instead of a sardonic and caustic remark, Hawk just grinned and hugged her back. Someone does care! He crowed to himself. Oh how this changes everything.
"Thank you Wren. You have saved more than my life, and I will be forever in your debt." Suddenly taking notice of their close proximity, they sprang apart and both blushed deeply.
"Umm..." stammered Hawk. "I... er..." Wren held up a hand. Grinning, she nodded.
"Me too. I won't mention it if you won't." Hawk tried to laugh, but he started to cough instead.
"Hush now. You sleep. I need to tunnel out of here." before he could protest, Wren closed his eyes and placed a sleep charm on him. Clambering up and out of the bedroll, she took a mittened hand and began to dig her way up. Pausing only briefly and rarely, she broke the surface in little over a half hour. Waving a hand and muttering a word under her breath, she heard a small cry and Hawk's dark head popped out of the hole. Writhing a little bit he narrowed his eyes.
"I'm stuck. Get me out." It took Wren a moment to stop laughing and slid a hand under Hawk's arm. A mocking bird above Wren's head chortled.
"Oh stop– " her eyes widened. Placing both arms under his, she heaved with all of her strength. Looking this way and that, she whispered into his ears "Run. Hard, and fast. Your magic is as restored as it's going to get today. Take this," she slipped the summons ring off of her hand. "When you find it, up in the mountains. Get in, and stay in. Tell them Wren and Connor sent you. When you have a moment alone, hold the ring to your chest and think, as hard as you can, of me." Hawk looked ready to protest. "No, NOW. RUN. You will know when you see it."
Not showing any signs of moving, Wren turned to him. Opening her mouth, she was struck by a bolt of blue fire. "Run!" she cried. He shook his head. "You will do as I say!" making signs quickly in the air, he vanished. "Go. Be smart. Leave me. Turning to the direction of the fire, she tied back her hair. "I'm here!"
"Mmhm?" Hawk answered without even turning. If he looked, he would break his reserve.
"Hawk, you aren't fully recovered yet, and need to rest. I need to do another transfer, and we can't go on unless we rest and do these things. Come." she took firm hold of his arm and led him down a hunting trail, and into a close knit copse of trees which kept most of the snow out. Pulling out four logs from the woods with her magic, she set them in a heap ans used other powers that Hawk was unfamiliar with to set the wet wood ablaze. Pointing at two other logs, she set them down with amazing accuracy by the fire, one beside the other. "Sit." she commanded. Hawk was dumfounded. She sighed and set him there herself.
"What? What was that? How did you light the wood? That's no spell I have ever heard." he cocked his head– much like a hawk would.
"I am Iyon Daiyin. Didn't you know?" he shook his head. "Right then." feeling Hawk's forehead, she raised an eyebrow. "You didn't drink that tea you were offered this morning, or the past six mornings, did you?" he shook his head again, and Wren let out an explosive sigh. "Well, that's not good. I made that tea for you to help you on this journey. It has infused Iyon Daiyin magic that would heal you more the farther you walked. It would also help you adjust to what a difference there is in the Summer Isles. I hate to say it, but if you don't get more body heat, you most likely won't survive the night." Hawk didn't look too concerned. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"Well," Hawk replied. "My life has been pretty miserable of late. I am probably hindering you, and my wyrd would probably be something like a bottle of poison. I– " he was cut short by a slap across the face by Wren.
"Stop that. First of all, you are NOT hindering me. Quite th opposite Second of all, what of all of your people in your city? Alif? What about Alif? Tess depends on you as well. Not just the Queen, but Tess. Tyron, Connor, we all need you. You better as hell live this night through or I will never forgive you. Now, stop talking, if all you are going to talk about is how no one would miss you. I have heard that too many times." He blushed. Nodding, Wren said "Conserve your energy because you need it. I'll be right back." Sitting down in the snow, Wren slowly fell into a trance. Hawk watched her with interest. One of these days, I will truly find out about Wren and her life. Until then, I fear I am becoming attached to this little girl. He thought to himself, then remembering Wren wasn't, in fact, a little girl, but two years younger than his twenty years. She's gotten taller too. Hawk could easily remember a time when Wren didn't clear his shoulder, and now she could look him in the eye. Going deeper into his thoughts, Hawk hit upon something he didn't want to think about and tried to clear his mind. The thought persisted, and suddenly he felt weak and fell off the log he was sitting on.
"Wren!" he gasped, and all went black.
Wren came out of her trance just in time to see Hawk fall and call out her name. Running over to him, she noticed signs that she was afraid of.
"Damn you!" she sobbed, pounding her fist into the snow. She grabbed the blankets she had set hovering over the fire to warm and wrapped them around him. Rubbing his arms and legs fiercely, she thought of all the things Kial had taught her. "When a victim falls into a cold torpor, restore all possible body heat. Do not warm them up too quickly if they have been out for over ten minutes. Otherwise the blood will rush to quickly to the heart and cause a heart attack." she recited to herself. "Damn you Hawk. Why didn't you tell me you were so cold?" After rubbing him Until her arms were sore, she grabbed both bed rolls and shoved one into the other. " oh I hope this works." she whispered and slipped herself and Hawk into the inner bed roll.
"Tyron, what's happening? What's wrong?" Just as Wren had fallen asleep with her arms around hawk to keep him warm, Tyron had felt something wrong and started to scry them. The Queen pleaded. "Please tell me!" Accidentally, she took hold of Tyron's arm and looked into the stone. Seeing Hawk's deathly pallor, she gasped and let go of Tyron's arm.
"Hawk's fallen into a cold torpor. Wren is trying to restore heat to his body by transmitting her body heat to him." Kial answered, on the other side of Tyron, gripping his shoulder. Good girl, Wren! He thought to himself, remembering teaching her. " She also spelled the blankets to retain the heat of the fire. I'm glad she got the knack of that so quickly. Otherwise Hawk would most likely be dead."
"Hmph" answered Tyron. "Be better off without him."
"Tyron!" cried Queen Teresa, not Tess. "Without him we would ALL most likely be dead!"
"Not to mention that there would be no one to protect Wren." Pointed out Kial, grinning. At this, Tyron blushed.
"I'm sorry, my queen, I spoke rashly."
"Forgiven. Now, how can we help them?" She asked forcefully. Kial grimaced.
"My lady, we cannot help for fear of interrupting her quest."
"WHAT?!" Tess screamed, bringing Orin into the room.
"My lady, there is a group at the door that needs to see you. Do you wish...?" she asked tentatively.
"Oh who is it now. If it's one more damned courtier..." she trailed off.
"M'lady, it is Connor's cousin. The one who was your commander in chief. He has been there for hours, waiting for you. It is 'of dire importance', he said. Shall I turn him away?"
"Garian..." Tess breathed. "Kial, I need you to go into that corner" she said, pointing to the far west corner of her room. "There is a small door behind the tapestry. Hide in there. Tyron, I need you to stay here. Orin, please escort him in. You may stay if you wish." Orin nodded mutely and ran outside. A minute later, all three remaining in the room heard footsteps pounding on the stone floor. A disheveled and frustrated looking Garian burst into the door.
"Your Majesty! You are in danger! It has come!" he cried out before falling in a pathetic looking heap upon the floor.
"Kial!"
"Mumnph" groaned Hawk as he awoke, completely enveloped in darkness. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he quickly turned around. Looking up, he saw that his head lay on Wren's chest, and it was her hand he felt on his arm. Feeling suddenly ten times better, he peeked out of the bedroll, only to draw his head back in swiftly. On top of the bedroll there was a complete blanket of snow. At this stirring, Wren woke and let out a glad cry. Hugging him tightly, she yelled "you're alright! You're alive!" over and over again.
After a few minutes of this, Wren realized that this might be taken the wrong way.
"Er..." Wren cringed, but she didn't get what she expected. Instead of a sardonic and caustic remark, Hawk just grinned and hugged her back. Someone does care! He crowed to himself. Oh how this changes everything.
"Thank you Wren. You have saved more than my life, and I will be forever in your debt." Suddenly taking notice of their close proximity, they sprang apart and both blushed deeply.
"Umm..." stammered Hawk. "I... er..." Wren held up a hand. Grinning, she nodded.
"Me too. I won't mention it if you won't." Hawk tried to laugh, but he started to cough instead.
"Hush now. You sleep. I need to tunnel out of here." before he could protest, Wren closed his eyes and placed a sleep charm on him. Clambering up and out of the bedroll, she took a mittened hand and began to dig her way up. Pausing only briefly and rarely, she broke the surface in little over a half hour. Waving a hand and muttering a word under her breath, she heard a small cry and Hawk's dark head popped out of the hole. Writhing a little bit he narrowed his eyes.
"I'm stuck. Get me out." It took Wren a moment to stop laughing and slid a hand under Hawk's arm. A mocking bird above Wren's head chortled.
"Oh stop– " her eyes widened. Placing both arms under his, she heaved with all of her strength. Looking this way and that, she whispered into his ears "Run. Hard, and fast. Your magic is as restored as it's going to get today. Take this," she slipped the summons ring off of her hand. "When you find it, up in the mountains. Get in, and stay in. Tell them Wren and Connor sent you. When you have a moment alone, hold the ring to your chest and think, as hard as you can, of me." Hawk looked ready to protest. "No, NOW. RUN. You will know when you see it."
Not showing any signs of moving, Wren turned to him. Opening her mouth, she was struck by a bolt of blue fire. "Run!" she cried. He shook his head. "You will do as I say!" making signs quickly in the air, he vanished. "Go. Be smart. Leave me. Turning to the direction of the fire, she tied back her hair. "I'm here!"