The four hour long trip home from my vacationing spot started getting on my nerves, so I decided to write another chapter, cannot have too many of them to add.
Mind you, I continued finishing this chapter after the trip ended, writer's block hit me in head with a shovel!
Writer's Block - grins evilly, still holding the shovel
Glares Anyway, on to the chapter!
Chapter 7, Géven's Problems
Aoko looked out the small window in the room she was currently occupying. The Holderkin men that Géven had hired to work on the hold, were mostly from Holderkin families, but he had mentioned that some of them had come from the towns around here.
The construction on the hold was nearly finished, and the family that was supposed to be moving in, was no where to be seen, even from the tallest tower. At least, she wasn't able to see them the day before.
Aoko always thought that life in the country was much better than in a busy place, like this one, but this experience was proving remarkable comfortable for her, maybe because it was so different from Edinbrook that it was something that she found it more interesting that she would have thought.
At that moment, Géven opened the door of the room and walked up to where Aoko was standing in front of the window. "I hear that you have a remarkable Gift."
"Yes," Aoko turned to look at Géven, a confused expression on her pretty face. Her light blonde hair falling lightly into her crystal blue eyes. She looked so innocent. "They didn't tell you before this? I'm surprise, so many know about it and how it helped me."
"My Companion seems to forget those kinds of things now. He's getting old, and I think a little senile." Géven chuckled, and Aoko figured that Raven had told his Chosen off for that remark. "Mind you, I don't think that he agrees with that statement!"
"Well, would you agree if he said the same thing about you?" Aoko smiled.
"True, I think that I would disagree on that subject." Géven paused and got the look when a person was 'talking' to their Companion. "Raven thinks that I should apologize, but I think that I just got him back about him not telling me before today!"
Aoko giggled at his comment and stepped away from the window where she had been gazing down. "I think that you both bug each other all the time, you probably have something to pay him back for other than the incompetence to deliver information on time!"
"Rather large vocabulary for a person your age, no?" Géven raised an eyebrow at her word choice on her last statement.
"My father had an extensive library, for a farmer, and in it was a dictionary which I used for when I read books meant for older people. My vocabulary just changed as I read." Aoko smiled, not many children her age knew a lot of different words for a certain meaning.
"Might come in handy while being a Herald. Anyway, I did not come here to talk to you about your ability to use different words than most people, but to ask you if you would mind taking a little something to my son when you go to the Collegium."
"What is it that you would like me to deliver? And of course, you will need to tell me his name."
"His name is Murron, and his Companion's name is Darrow, yes he is going to be a Herald. I would like you to take him a letter from me. I have not been in contact with him since I left, mind you Darrow and Raven are quite good friends, and they keep in contact, so I know what Murron's been up to. The letter should be ready in a few days, I still have a lot of other things on my plate right now. I hope that doesn't mess up your schedule?" Géven got that look that told Aoko that Raven was telling him something.
When it seemed that Géven's attention jumped back into the room, she smiled lightly and answered his question, "I don't see how. Midori is teaching me right now about shielding, and she told Naomi that we shouldn't leave the hold until I have full control over full shields. She doesn't want a Gift breaking out by accident."
"I can see what she means by those words, though. Rouge Gifts can be quite dangerous in certain situations, and you never know what kind of things you will run into on the way to Haven. I've heard some mighty interesting stories, like one of a boy being kidnapped by his Companion, and while she did so, caused him a broken nose!" Géven chuckled when he thought about how the boy looked when he told him that particular bit of information.
"I've been thinking, and if you don't mind me asking, why don't you ever talk to your son, or even send him a message, or anything? It seems quite peculiar for someone who seems so wrapped up in the wellness of a child."
"Well, Murron never really got to know me that well. His mother was a Herald who spent her days working in the Collegium, she never went on circuit, she was teacher. I was one who couldn't just sit around, mark papers, give out assignments and teach children about the country. I wanted to see the country, so I went on circuit, though I think that I should have stayed there, now that I look back at it. Senatra, his mother, passed away when he was quite young, ten to be exact. I was on circuit at the time, and didn't have a replacement for my position. I had to finish the round, and I ended up staying out another year and 2 months. After I got back, he was older, unfamiliar with me, and your age now, so you know how rebellious he probably was. He refused to speak with me, though we shared the same rooms. I quit circuit, and took up the job that Senatra had left open, which had temporarily been filled. Murron stayed untalkative for the rest of the year, and the next year, and at fourteen, he was Chosen, by Raven's friend Darrow. This, he found, was his escape from me. He moved out and into the actual Collegium, and began his training. That was when Queen Seleney and Queen's Own Talia asked me if I wanted this position out here. I have not talked to my son since." Géven sighed.
"Wow, I never knew someone could be so… so, heartless at such an early age! I can't believe that he would just ignore you because you couldn't be around as often as Senatra." Aoko stared in amazement.
"Well, I hope he's eased his heart a little, I'm probably going back to Haven, son after you leave. I'm assuming that Raven and Naomi told you about their Lifebond?" When she nodded, and added, "Well, there's another thing to bug him about not telling on time!"
Aoko giggled, "Don't be so hard on him, he's probably in a Love Daze. People get into those and don't come out for weeks, even months. You should be happy that he told you this soon, eh could have waited until the day before we left, and said 'We need to go as well!'"
"I guess you are correct, always look on the bright side of life, right?" Géven smiled slightly at her, and that was when Aoko realized his smile was slightly crooked, where had she seen that before?
"Géven, did you ever do you circuit near here?" Aoko thought that she may have seen him before, years before.
"Why, all the time, why do you ask?" Géven looked puzzled.
"Well, I remember that one time a Herald with a crooked smile came to Edinbrook, he helped settle the feud my family had with the next door neighbours. They thought that the bull in the shared field was theirs, and really it was ours. Were you that Herald?"
"Yes, I do remember that, and I remember you. Little young, tough, fair haired farmer girl. You always had a glare on your face when one of those neighbours was near." Géven chuckled heartily, he could still see the look on her face when she had seen him ride up on Raven for the first time. She had been in complete awe.
"Yes, and I remember how happy I was that I actually got to see a real Herald!" Aoko laughed.
At that moment someone knocked on the door, and Géven turned to answer it, while Aoko finished stuffing a shirt into her pack. When Géven opened the door, the guard on the other side stood in attention.
"Herald, sir, the family that you invited here, ahs arrived. They are waiting for you in the courtyard, what shall I tell them?" The guard wore the blues and silvers of Valdemar, and had rapier at his side, gleaming in the light.
"Would you please tell them that I shall be down in a few minutes." With that, he waved his hand, and the guard saluted and walked away from view. Géven turned to Aoko, and smiled, as she tried to tighten the latch on her bag. "I should be getting down to take care of my visitors, I think we should talk after they get settled, you aren't leaving for a few more days, right?"
"Yes, well, it all depends on what Naomi would like to do. But, I'll make sure to talk to you before we leave, and make sure that the letter is done sometime soon, so that it is definitely done for when I leave." Aoko looked up at Géven, and he nodded in agreement.
"I will do that once I have the time, most likely tomorrow or tonight." Géven reopened the door, and stepped half way out, into the hall.
"Thank you." Aoko replied, and wached as Géven closed the door behind him.
:Naomi, you feel like a ride right now? I think I need some fresh air at the moment, care to help in that quest?: Aoko slipped on her boots, and exited the room, and headed for the stables.
:Would love that dear, now hurry up, my saddle doesn't get on by itself you know!: And Aoko could hear Naomi whinny from her stall.
Mind you, I continued finishing this chapter after the trip ended, writer's block hit me in head with a shovel!
Writer's Block - grins evilly, still holding the shovel
Glares Anyway, on to the chapter!
Chapter 7, Géven's Problems
Aoko looked out the small window in the room she was currently occupying. The Holderkin men that Géven had hired to work on the hold, were mostly from Holderkin families, but he had mentioned that some of them had come from the towns around here.
The construction on the hold was nearly finished, and the family that was supposed to be moving in, was no where to be seen, even from the tallest tower. At least, she wasn't able to see them the day before.
Aoko always thought that life in the country was much better than in a busy place, like this one, but this experience was proving remarkable comfortable for her, maybe because it was so different from Edinbrook that it was something that she found it more interesting that she would have thought.
At that moment, Géven opened the door of the room and walked up to where Aoko was standing in front of the window. "I hear that you have a remarkable Gift."
"Yes," Aoko turned to look at Géven, a confused expression on her pretty face. Her light blonde hair falling lightly into her crystal blue eyes. She looked so innocent. "They didn't tell you before this? I'm surprise, so many know about it and how it helped me."
"My Companion seems to forget those kinds of things now. He's getting old, and I think a little senile." Géven chuckled, and Aoko figured that Raven had told his Chosen off for that remark. "Mind you, I don't think that he agrees with that statement!"
"Well, would you agree if he said the same thing about you?" Aoko smiled.
"True, I think that I would disagree on that subject." Géven paused and got the look when a person was 'talking' to their Companion. "Raven thinks that I should apologize, but I think that I just got him back about him not telling me before today!"
Aoko giggled at his comment and stepped away from the window where she had been gazing down. "I think that you both bug each other all the time, you probably have something to pay him back for other than the incompetence to deliver information on time!"
"Rather large vocabulary for a person your age, no?" Géven raised an eyebrow at her word choice on her last statement.
"My father had an extensive library, for a farmer, and in it was a dictionary which I used for when I read books meant for older people. My vocabulary just changed as I read." Aoko smiled, not many children her age knew a lot of different words for a certain meaning.
"Might come in handy while being a Herald. Anyway, I did not come here to talk to you about your ability to use different words than most people, but to ask you if you would mind taking a little something to my son when you go to the Collegium."
"What is it that you would like me to deliver? And of course, you will need to tell me his name."
"His name is Murron, and his Companion's name is Darrow, yes he is going to be a Herald. I would like you to take him a letter from me. I have not been in contact with him since I left, mind you Darrow and Raven are quite good friends, and they keep in contact, so I know what Murron's been up to. The letter should be ready in a few days, I still have a lot of other things on my plate right now. I hope that doesn't mess up your schedule?" Géven got that look that told Aoko that Raven was telling him something.
When it seemed that Géven's attention jumped back into the room, she smiled lightly and answered his question, "I don't see how. Midori is teaching me right now about shielding, and she told Naomi that we shouldn't leave the hold until I have full control over full shields. She doesn't want a Gift breaking out by accident."
"I can see what she means by those words, though. Rouge Gifts can be quite dangerous in certain situations, and you never know what kind of things you will run into on the way to Haven. I've heard some mighty interesting stories, like one of a boy being kidnapped by his Companion, and while she did so, caused him a broken nose!" Géven chuckled when he thought about how the boy looked when he told him that particular bit of information.
"I've been thinking, and if you don't mind me asking, why don't you ever talk to your son, or even send him a message, or anything? It seems quite peculiar for someone who seems so wrapped up in the wellness of a child."
"Well, Murron never really got to know me that well. His mother was a Herald who spent her days working in the Collegium, she never went on circuit, she was teacher. I was one who couldn't just sit around, mark papers, give out assignments and teach children about the country. I wanted to see the country, so I went on circuit, though I think that I should have stayed there, now that I look back at it. Senatra, his mother, passed away when he was quite young, ten to be exact. I was on circuit at the time, and didn't have a replacement for my position. I had to finish the round, and I ended up staying out another year and 2 months. After I got back, he was older, unfamiliar with me, and your age now, so you know how rebellious he probably was. He refused to speak with me, though we shared the same rooms. I quit circuit, and took up the job that Senatra had left open, which had temporarily been filled. Murron stayed untalkative for the rest of the year, and the next year, and at fourteen, he was Chosen, by Raven's friend Darrow. This, he found, was his escape from me. He moved out and into the actual Collegium, and began his training. That was when Queen Seleney and Queen's Own Talia asked me if I wanted this position out here. I have not talked to my son since." Géven sighed.
"Wow, I never knew someone could be so… so, heartless at such an early age! I can't believe that he would just ignore you because you couldn't be around as often as Senatra." Aoko stared in amazement.
"Well, I hope he's eased his heart a little, I'm probably going back to Haven, son after you leave. I'm assuming that Raven and Naomi told you about their Lifebond?" When she nodded, and added, "Well, there's another thing to bug him about not telling on time!"
Aoko giggled, "Don't be so hard on him, he's probably in a Love Daze. People get into those and don't come out for weeks, even months. You should be happy that he told you this soon, eh could have waited until the day before we left, and said 'We need to go as well!'"
"I guess you are correct, always look on the bright side of life, right?" Géven smiled slightly at her, and that was when Aoko realized his smile was slightly crooked, where had she seen that before?
"Géven, did you ever do you circuit near here?" Aoko thought that she may have seen him before, years before.
"Why, all the time, why do you ask?" Géven looked puzzled.
"Well, I remember that one time a Herald with a crooked smile came to Edinbrook, he helped settle the feud my family had with the next door neighbours. They thought that the bull in the shared field was theirs, and really it was ours. Were you that Herald?"
"Yes, I do remember that, and I remember you. Little young, tough, fair haired farmer girl. You always had a glare on your face when one of those neighbours was near." Géven chuckled heartily, he could still see the look on her face when she had seen him ride up on Raven for the first time. She had been in complete awe.
"Yes, and I remember how happy I was that I actually got to see a real Herald!" Aoko laughed.
At that moment someone knocked on the door, and Géven turned to answer it, while Aoko finished stuffing a shirt into her pack. When Géven opened the door, the guard on the other side stood in attention.
"Herald, sir, the family that you invited here, ahs arrived. They are waiting for you in the courtyard, what shall I tell them?" The guard wore the blues and silvers of Valdemar, and had rapier at his side, gleaming in the light.
"Would you please tell them that I shall be down in a few minutes." With that, he waved his hand, and the guard saluted and walked away from view. Géven turned to Aoko, and smiled, as she tried to tighten the latch on her bag. "I should be getting down to take care of my visitors, I think we should talk after they get settled, you aren't leaving for a few more days, right?"
"Yes, well, it all depends on what Naomi would like to do. But, I'll make sure to talk to you before we leave, and make sure that the letter is done sometime soon, so that it is definitely done for when I leave." Aoko looked up at Géven, and he nodded in agreement.
"I will do that once I have the time, most likely tomorrow or tonight." Géven reopened the door, and stepped half way out, into the hall.
"Thank you." Aoko replied, and wached as Géven closed the door behind him.
:Naomi, you feel like a ride right now? I think I need some fresh air at the moment, care to help in that quest?: Aoko slipped on her boots, and exited the room, and headed for the stables.
:Would love that dear, now hurry up, my saddle doesn't get on by itself you know!: And Aoko could hear Naomi whinny from her stall.