Soarer's Children, Part II
Chapter Seven, North of Iron Stem, Iron Valleys.
"Alucius, come get your breakfast. Wendra and Father are already out with the flock," Lucenda called to her son.
"I'll be right there, Mother."
Alucius walked into the kitchen, looking a bit sandy eyed. He sat down at the table and sipped at the hot tea that awaited him. In quick order his mother put slices of ham and egg toast on the platter in front of him. There was also some berry preserves.
"You must have been up late, son."
"I was thinking about my discussions with the Lord Protector. It was quite a while before I could drop off to sleep," he replied as he cut into the the first slice of ham.
"Are you worried?"
"Not worried as such, Mother, but there are things I need to look into so I can understand what's going on better. I may have to be gone for a while today," he said.
When he saw the look his mother was giving him, he said,
"I said look, Mother, I'm not planning on doing anything. At least not yet."
Chapter Eight, Matrial's residence, Heiron, Madrien
Alucius hovered beneath the Matrial's residence, looking up to see how the lowest chamber where one of the scepters had been kept had completely collapsed. Above that the upper chamber where once the huge purple crystal had spun was in similar condition. From what he could tell it appeared that the two floors of the actual residence were being supported by some form of stone and timber props, most likely the work of trooper engineers.
Alucius allowed himself to drift below the residence, getting a sense for where people were gathered in more than just ones and twos. He finally found a spot where at least half a dozen or more people were gathered in a room that he thought was at the top or fourth floor from where he was. He noted the location and moved on. After covering what he thought was the entire residence he drifted back to this spot and could see that a small room, possibly even a closet, adjoined the room where the group was meeting.
Gaining access would be tricky. He could easily get up through the first two floors, using the thick foundation walls, but that area of the upper floors was built of wood and lathe and he would have to take to the corridors, using his ability to convince people they didn't see him. Once he felt comfortable of where he needed to be when the time was right he made his way back home and emerged once more into the yard in front of the house. It was only about mid morning so he went to see if his mother would need any help with the vats or spinnerets.
Chapter Nine, North of Iron Stem, Iron Valleys
Later that evening at dinner, Wendra looked at her husband and said,
"Just what is it you think you're going to do, Alucius?"
"I'd thought I'd cause some trouble and see how much I can scare the Matrites. I'm going to try and convince them it's time to quit," he said with a grin.
He had taken some time after he had given his mother some help in the spinning shed to review the map that he and Feran had drafted out. Not only did it have the location of all the Northern Guard units but most of the Southern as well and a quite a few of the Matrite forces that faced them. He intended to visit a few of these units and try and convince them that all was not well.
His target for the that evening was a force of three companies of Matrite horse troopers a few miles south of Arwyn. Using the now easily recognizable landmarks, Alucius made his way west, finding the crossroads in the center of town and then turning south. Long before he could see them, he could feel the mass of men and horses clustered in a semi-permanent camp. Apparently, someone had ordered them to hold fast at their present location. He drifted off to the east of the camp, surfacing in a small but thick stand of trees. With his herder's night vision it was easy to pick out the sentries, the picket lines for the horses and the general layout of the camp. There was a moderately talented officer inside what he figured was the command tent.
Wrapping himself in the suggestion that whoever looked his way should ignore him, he slowly made his way out of the trees and began walking towards the encampment. As he approached the nearest sentry he reached out and gently struck at the mans life thread, which appeared to run further south and east, possibly to Lanachrona. The man pitched forward and lay sprawled face down on the ground. Alucius quickly reached his side and with a deft movement and a thought, snapped the weld that held the torque around the man's neck. He turned the man over and laid the dull silver device on his chest.
He moved forward again, closing the distance to the tents, picking up the sound of voices in various conversations. From what snippets he could hear it sounded as if the troops were confused and concerned about the apparent lack of movement since the end of winter. He had high hopes of adding to that concern and confusion before he was done. As he approached the tent he could now tell there was a single occupant who's talent was modest but present. He didn't know if it was enough detect him but he wasn't going to give her a chance to find out. From the glow of the lantern inside he could see the officer stand up. Perhaps she felt something after all.
Without hesitation he struck at her life thread, hard. She dropped immediately and Alucius could feel the all too familiar wash of red roll over him. He moved through to the south edge of the camp heading toward one of the sentries. Quickly the trooper was down and his disconnected torque was laying on his chest. From the camp he could hear a few shouts so he assumed the officer's body had been discovered. With a grim smile he dropped back into the earth and made his way home.
For the next five evenings he made similar trips although on the last night he made his way to the training post outside of Heiron and left five different troopers unconscious in various places, the loose torques on their chests. The bodies of two talent officers would also be found in their studies the following morning as well. Two days later Royalt was taking out the flock and Alucius was headed for the Matrial's residence and the conference room.
Working his way up from the secret basements he found himself in a corridor on the third floor. He wrapped himself in the illusion of invisibility and began walking towards the staircase he knew led up to another corridor close to where the meeting room was. The few women in uniform that he saw as he made his way to the fourth floor looked perplexed and worried. How much of the details they knew he could not guess but he was sure they knew that something was very wrong.
He found the closet he had noticed the last time and slipped inside. As he suspected, with his enhanced hearing he could overhear the conversation in the room without having to maintain the invisibility illusion, conserving his strength. Some of the voices were very agitated while others were striving to maintain a semblance of calm.
"Will you all calm down," one voice overrode the others, "this solves nothing. It is obvious that we are being attacked by a talent user, most likely that renegade herder. Unlike our earlier loss of officers, those in the last few days have no trace of bullet wounds."
"So what can we do then?" asked a voice that obviously struggled to remain calm. "There have been no signs of this assassin, apart from a stray boot print here or there. Just dead officers and unconscious troopers with their torques removed."
Alucius wasn't sure he liked the idea of being called an assassin but he had to admit, at least from their point of view, there was some validity to it.
"You are my advisers. I'm asking you for advice," replied the first voice. "Is there a pattern? Can we anticipate his next move. He obviously does not fear us, since he struck so near this last time. And now the wait. Why?"
There was a rush of voices and then one rose above the others.
"What of the offer of truce? With the loss of the talent weapons, the engineer and the mounting losses of troopers, perhaps we should entertain the idea, if for nothing else to gain some breathing room."
This set off another barrage of voices. The first finally got control of the discussion again.
"I would prefer not to do that, yet. The Southern Guard is much weakened after the fiasco at Southgate, their losses were near as great as our own. They are barely able to hold their lines and it will be some months before new companies can be brought up, and our sources say they are few enough. The north is our greatest threat right now. How those two Northern demons managed to turn around all the damage that had been done to their command structure..." she let the thought drop.
Alucius had to smile at the thought that he and Feran were considered demons. A voice that had been silent up to now said,
"I believe it was a combination of competence, leadership and skill, Marshall Alyuin. While the herder colonel may possess greater talent than any man has in generations, he possesses many other skills that have allowed him to use that talent to great advantage. It may well be that we face a threat far beyond what has been assumed up to now. Or that we may be able to overcome."
"He is one man, lamaial or no. The idea that he will singlehandedly bring us down is absurd," the Marshall replied.
"The Matrial or the Regent might suggest otherwise, were they able."
Alucius wasn't sure he'd agree with their assessment of his prowess but he was just as glad they thought such. It would play into what he had in mind rather nicely. Checking for anyone in the corridor, he resumed his invisibility illusion and slipped out of the closet. He moved up to the door that led into the meeting room and he could sense the two guards that stood on the other side. He had some time so he decided to wait and see if he could get in without being noticed. He could still hear the often agitated discussion.
It took almost a quarter of an hour before two women dressed in the green accented purple of the staff approached the door carrying folders. One knocked and waited to be admitted. Alucius stepped up closely behind and held his breath. The door swung open and a guard gave the two staff officers a quick look and then stepped aside. The two women walked in with Alucius close on their heels. Once inside the women approached the table while Alucius circled around to the opposite side of the room.
He watched as the two conferred with the Marshall, looking over papers from the folders. The older woman's expression became more grim the further she read. Finally, with a wave of her hand, she dismissed the two recent arrivals who quickly left the room.
"So it begins," she said. "We've just received word that several groups of troopers have mutinied. Having seen that the torques no longer work, they killed their officers and have deserted their posts. Two groups are headed east, one north. And that's just from units within a few days hard ride. I imagine it's no better closer to the frontiers. To make matters worse, we have lost nearly half our officers, and fully two thirds of those with talent."
"What now?" asked a woman that Alucius thought was an Overcaptain.
"What indeed," Marshall Aluyn said.
"You have your answer already," Alucius said in perfect Madrien as he let the illusion drop.
The initial reaction of the room's occupants was stunned silence. Even the two guards by the door hesitated and in that moment Alucius reached out and gently struck their life threads and they collapsed to the floor.
"The lamaial," one of the women at the table shouted.
"Please, just be calm and we'll get through this quickly. I'm here with a message," Alucius said calmly.
"Just like a man. You talk of calm while you kill with casual brutality," Marshall Aluyn said with disdain.
"No one is dead, Marshall. I just put them to sleep for a while. See for yourself," Alucius replied.
One of the junior officers left the table and crouched besides one of the fallen guards. After a moment she called back,
"They're both breathing."
When she hesitated to stand Alucius said calmly,
"Leave their pistols alone, Undercaptain, one wrong move and you I will kill."
The Undercaptain visibly flinched and then stood up slowly, both hands in clear view. She walked back to the table and resumed her seat. The Marshall regarded Alucius and then said,
"Why are you here Lamaial, if not to kill us all?"
"I thought I would try and convince you that it was time to accept the Lord Protector's offer. Your situation is bad and getting worse. You face mutinies, renewed pressure from the North, a solid line to the south and you've lost the advantage of your talent weapons. You're slowly being bled dry. Would you rather fight to the last man and woman or try to salvage some vestige of your way of life?"
"Don't make me laugh. The Southern Guard have committed numerous acts of atrocities upon our women. Were we to lay down our arms they would sweep over us like a ravening horde. I doubt your Northern Guard would be much different," the Marshall replied.
"I can't deny that such things have occurred in the past. I saw some examples myself when I was a captive trooper in the south. On the other hand when I was a young trooper in the Iron Valley Militia I saw more than a few men of the Valley run down and shot from behind or had their homes burned down around them. And you were the invaders. You women of Madrien have no claim on virtue, that is for certain. But I can offer you the guarantees of the Lord Protector that under a truce no Northern or Southern Guard troopers will cross the borders as they exist at that time. The rest can be negotiated."
"You expect me to accept the word of a man, this treacherous beast that attacked us, took from us what was ours?" she said standing up.
"You speak of what was yours? You who invaded the lands of the Reillies and the Iron Valleys, who had never lifted a hand to you? We were perfectly happy living our lives within our boundaries. Your Matrial made the choice to invade us. You forced our Council to conscript troopers, including me. Your actions ultimately led to me being brought to Heiron. And it cost the Matrial her life, for it was I who caused her death. So please spare me your righteous indignation at your current dilemma. It is entirely of your own making. And as for men, you should be happy you're dealing with a man right now, because if my wife and mother were here you would all be dead as object lessons to those that came after you. And my wife is every bit as talented as I am. If you ever see a tall redhead carrying a herder rifle coming towards you, I suggest you run. It probably won't help but you never know."
The Marshall was now facing Alucius, her face red with rage. When she heard him confirm that he was the one that destroyed the Matrial, or caused it to happen, she was stunned but was now consumed by her hatred of this man from the wastes of that miserable little valley. She could think of only one thing.
"Don't do it, Marshall," he warned in a low tone.
"Marshall Aluyn, control yourself. We have lost too many already," her deputy urged.
"It cannot be countenanced," she ground out. "The eternal Matrial should have ruled Corus, and would have, but for the likes of this one."
Her hand darted to her sidearm, the only other one in the room. With regret Alucius reached out and severed her life thread. Her lifeless body dropped, hitting the table hard before sliding off onto the floor while her stunned staff looked on in horror. Alucius focused his attention on the Sub Marshall who was now the defacto ruler of Madrien.
"Sub Marshall, the choice would appear to be yours now. I suggest you reread the Lord Protector's offer and make contact with Marshall Alyniat. He's somewhere along the southern frontier. But I wouldn't waste too much time. If I have to return here, your successors will have that object lesson I mentioned. I'll not see more troopers die needlessly."
With that, he moved towards the door. When he reached the fallen guards he bent down and took both pistols. Over his shoulder he said,
"I'll leave this outside somewhere."
And then he drew the illusion of invisibility around himself and as far as the Sub Marshall and the others knew, he simply vanished into thin air. He made his way down to the first basement level without incident. He dropped the pair of pistols on the floor and then dropped back into the coolness of the earth. He drifted about until he found what he thought he was looking for. A building with several large, three axle wagons parked outside. He could see that no one was presently inside so he drifted upwards until he was standing on the flagstone floor.
Looking around he was able to see benches that lined the walls, some holding tanks of strange looking fluids, a few with what appeared to be small crystals suspended in them. On one table was bits and pieces of what appeared to be broken equipment, perhaps what could be saved from the first crystal spear thrower he destroyed. Poking about in cabinets and drawers revealed some manuscripts and drawings. He pulled them out and piled them on one of the benches. He took down several wall lamps and emptied the oil onto the paper and table. He had no idea what the fluid in the tanks was but he wasn't going to tamper with it. He figured the loss of the information would be enough.
He barred the one small entry door and the large barnlike doors and then he took a striker from his belt and in a moment had a good flame going. He dropped down through the floor and began the journey home. Had he surfaced to watch he would have been rewarded before too long with the sight and sound of a thunderous explosion. At least some of the fluids were very sensitive to heat.
Chapter Ten, North of Iron Stem, Iron Valleys
Alucius sat at the table eating dinner and, at his grandfather's insistence, explaining what had occurred.
"So at least some of them at the table seemed willing to consider the truce. Maybe with the Marshall gone they'll have more influence."
"That and the fact that you threatened to return like an avenging Soarer," Royalt said with a smirk.
Alucius just shrugged.
"Dear, did you really tell them to be worried about me?" Wendra asked.
"Well, yes, but I was just trying to make a point. This whole 'men are always the evil' business was starting to get on my nerves. But let's face it, you stalking down some hallway, gun in hand with that look on your face, I know I'd run," he replied with a straight face.
The look she gave him would have given any Matrite commander nightmares. The others just laughed.
"So, what are your intentions now?" Lucenda asked.
"I'll work the flock and wait until my next meeting with Lord Protector. It should take some time for messages to go back and forth so I can't expect anything too soon. Then I'll decide. I suppose I'll need to take a look east after too long, but one thing at a time."
The time that passed while Alucius waited for his next audience with the Lord Protector was fairly low key. As usual the days in the saddle were long and the temperature was peaking as summer settled in. Of course, warm on the quarasote flats was a relative term. It was barely what the temperature would be in Zalt in early spring but for a herder it was starting to approach the uncomfortable level.
The only thing of consequence was his sensing of sandwolves again. They were at least a mile away and didn't seem to be moving towards the flock, but he'd have to start paying more attention to his surroundings. His gaze was pulled towards the shear sides of the Aerlal Plateau, with the green tinge of the giant crystals that ringed the upper edges. Exploration would have to wait until he was sure the other issues were well in hand. He looked away and urged his horse towards several stragglers that while in no danger still needed to stay with the herd. When he got back to the house he saw Wendra sitting on the bench on the porch with little Alendra sitting on her lap. She held a sheet of folded paper but she didn't appear concerned so he assumed it was nothing too troublesome.
"How was it today, dear?"
"The shoots are a little thin but it's not too bad, we've seen a lot worse. Noticed a trace of sandwolves, finally, but they were a way off. But we need to start being careful again," he said as he sat down next to her.
He gave his daughter a brief kiss on the forehead and a much longer one on the lips to his wife. Alendra gurgled a bit in what sounded like a happy tone. Her mother and father broke off the kiss and looked down at her. The gaze she returned seemed awfully direct and full of meaning for an infant.
"Do you think what she went through in the translation tubes affected her?" Wendra asked.
"I'm sure it did, but I think she was pretty special from the beginning. I could sense it while you still carried her. I'm not sure but she could be the first of her kind. Born in full possession of her talent. There's not a trace of black in her thread. Should make for an interesting childhood," Alucius said with a bit of a grin.
Wendra nodded then held out the folded sheet to her husband. He took it from her and opened it, scanning the words, his face settling into a grim smile. He looked up when he was finished.
"Gortal has thirty days to close down the dream dust works and have everything cleared out. By order of the Lord Protector in consideration of ongoing operations against the Matrites. Feran says here that Gortal was in a fine rage but a company of troopers in the road backing up the message bearer kept him civil. Apparently they'll be running road patrols past the place every few days," Alucius said looking over at Wendra. "I just hope the loss of business doesn't hurt your father."
"In the short run it won't. I'd have to imagine Gortal will need barrels to pack everything up and Father and Korcler have been busy with the orders from the traders in Dehkron. Despite everything that has happened, they still need to do business and Father is giving them the best deal. Once they start work on the new post he'll have more than enough work. When your grandfather and I went into town the other day, their was quite a lot of conversation about the possibilities."
"It will be nice to see a little life brought back to the town. We'll just have to make sure that it doesn't attract the types we're leaving behind in Dehkron," Alucius said.
"With you living just up the road, I'd think not," Wendra replied with a laugh.
Chapter 10, Lord Protectors Palace, Tempre
"I must say, Colonel. As much as I have come to admire and respect your abilities, even I was surprised at the haste with which we received a response to our latest overture. Although the only condition they would agree to at the moment is the cessation of hostilities and holding present positions, it's a start and gives us all a chance to take a deep breath," the Lord Protector said with a sense of satisfaction. "I've also received word that a number of captive troopers are making their way across our lines. So the torques truly are ineffective."
"Yes, sir. I left a number of object lessons here and there. The word spread fairly quickly, it seemed," Alucius replied.
Talryn shook his head slightly.
"I have my own ideas for the future, Colonel, but I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts, having spent some time living in Madrien. What would you see happen there?"
"With the torques no longer working, I'd insist that all those men that wish to, be allowed to leave, particularly those captive troopers. I can't imagine them balking at that idea. I don't see much advantage for the Matrites in trying to keep a lot of potential trouble penned up on their side of the border. For any trooper that wants to leave they should be given their horse and the torque as a sort of reparation. On the other hand, not everything about Madrien is bad."
Alucius went on to describe how clean and well maintained the homes and other structures were. He even commented on how the fort at Zalt seemed to have deteriorated somewhat since it changed hands. The Lord Protector regarded Alucius and then replied,
"My dear wife would say it's a result of a woman's touch. She can't abide disorder or the slightest traces of dust. It would appear we have some things to learn as well. I understand you and Colonel Feran have selected a location for the new Northern Guard Headquarters. I was briefed on your plans at my last staff meeting. You have my approval. My only stipulation is that you reserve one quarter of the funds you have available for operational expenses. The treasury is a bit lean at this point and I'd like to do what we can to reduce any future drains for the time being."
"I should think that won't be a problem, sir. I'm getting good advice from my grandfather and my wife's grandfather. If we can't bring it in for a quite a bit less than that, we don't deserve to be called herders," Alucius replied with a small grin.
"Ah, yes, herder frugality. One tends to forget your steads are businesses that live or die on the margins. There is much there for us to learn from as well," Talryn said with a nod. "If you have nothing else, I believe we are done for this evening. I would ask you remain a moment. Alerya wishes to see you."
"Of course, sir."
The two men rose and walked down the hall to the private apartment of the Lord Protector and his Lady. As they entered Alerya looked up from where she sat with her son resting on her lap. The heir looked to his father and smiled, then shifted his gaze to the big herder and his smile became more shy.
"Ah, Colonel Alucius, it is so very wonderful to see you again. It amazes me that so fearsome a demon could wear so pleasant a smile."
"Demon?" Alucius asked as the Lord Protector put his hand over his eyes and groaned.
"Talryn, dearest. Have you not been filling the Colonel in on the latest intelligence from Madrien?" she asked archly.
"Only what was needed for our discussion. I thought to spare the good Colonel from the gossip and barracks talk," the Lord Protector replied with some chagrin.
The Lady Alerya laughed and considering her burden, rose from her chair with alacrity. She approached Alucius and laid a hand on his forearm, looking up at him.
"My apologies, Colonel. It is not often I have the opportunity to tease the mighty Lord Protector such. He greatly admires you and values your service and would seek to shield you from some of the indignities of life. It seems that with the return of some of the escaping captive troopers come stories of a vengeful demon that has been striking down the officers of the Matrite forces while demonstrating that those cursed collars no longer function. We, of course, know who that demon is, don't we?"
Alucius smiled a bit ruefully and said,
"Yes, ma'am, we do. And I've been called a number of things in the past, but demon seems to be a new one. Do you think anyone in the Southern Guard has tied it back to me?" the last being directed to the Lord Protector.
"I'd imagine your former comrades from the Hyalt expedition might make the connection but I can't imagine any of them speaking openly of it. My guess is your name will be whispered around Guard barracks for years to come," Talryn said with a grin.
"I think we've delayed the Colonel enough, dearest," Alerya said with a kindly smile. "Rest assured, Colonel, that we guard your privacy closely and my jest is a sign of the affection we hold for you. In that vein I wish to present to you that which was promised. From Talus to your little Alendra, a token of said affection."
With that she indicated a woven basket atop a side table. It was fairly large and had a fine linen cloth covering the contents. Handing their son to his father, Lady Alerya moved to the table and pulled back the cloth. Inside were several items, most notably a finely carved horse, exquisite in its detail.
"While a stead relies on the produce of its nightsheep, no herder can work without a horse. Let this serve as a reminder that in Tempre there are those who now appreciate what a herder and his, or her, horse means to the rest of us," the Lady said.
"It is an amazing likeness, Lady Alerya. In many ways he reminds me of Wildebeast, the horse that carried me to Deforya and back. I'm sure Alendra will treasure it, as will we all," Alucius replied.
"And as a token of our regard for you, your dear wife and all your family, some items of note that represent Lanachrona's finest. Several bottles of the finest Vyan vintage. A set of four crystal goblets, for it is the only way to drink wine. Also some samples of Tempre's best bakers and cheesemakers. I thought the basket and cloth might find a use on a stead as well."
"This is most generous, ma'am. Perhaps too generous," Alucius replied.
"Nonsense, Colonel. It would be impossible to provide you with proper reward for just the one service you rendered to us personally and to Lanachrona," she replied with a knowing nod towards her son. "Let alone all your other actions and sacrifices. I would ask of you one favor, however. A personal one."
"Ma'am?"
"When your daughter is old enough to be able to remain at home for a few hours with her grandmother, would you consider bringing your wife on one of your visits? I would very much like to meet her."
"I will certainly relay your request, ma'am. I think she'd be very pleased to come," Alucius said.
"Wonderful. I look forward to it. Now I'll leave you to finish up any last business. Until next time, Colonel," the Lady Alerya said.
With a smile and squeeze on Alucius' forearm she reclaimed her son and left the two men alone.
"I trust you'll be able to take that with you, Colonel. After your tale of taking rifles and that scepter through those tubes we felt this shouldn't be an undue burden," the Lord Protector said.
Alucius hefted the basket and found it to be quite manageable and said,
"This should be no problem, sir, and again, thank you."
Talryn waved him off.
"You are more than welcome, Colonel, much more. If events proceed as they appear, this will seem a mere pittance. I look forward to your next visit," he said by way of dismissal.
Alucius lifted the basket and walked back down the short hallway. In moments he was on his way home.
Chapter 11, North of Iron Stem, Iron Valleys
Alucius' family was surprised, but very appreciative, of the gifts sent by the Lord Protector and his Lady. Wendra marveled at the horse figurine and Alendra seemed to recognize it was something of interest. Lucenda took charge of the basket and its contents, and much to Royalt's disappointment, doled out the treats sparingly.
"It's nearly time for bed, father. They will keep until tomorrow," she told him sternly.
Much was made over the crystal goblets and the basket. The glassware was to be safely stored away until a suitable case could be made for properly displaying them. Wendra thought her brother Korcler would be able to make something for them, he was showing talent for more than just barrel making. Lucenda was particularly taken with the basket. Her father suggested that it would find it's way to gathers and the market on a regular basis.
"Only for special occasions, father. I wouldn't want to wear out such a special gift," Lucenda replied.
"Does it seem an odd assortment of gifts from someone like the Lord Protector and his Lady?" Wendra asked. "I know they are some very fine things, like the crystal and the horse, but to me it all seems, I don't know, sort of homey."
"Think of it this way, Wendra," Royalt began, "the Lord Protector has already awarded Alucius the highest award for valor he has. He made him a Colonel and the Commandant of the Northern Guard, if only for a short while. He provided you with golds when he called your husband back to service and he has guaranteed the preservation of our way of life, at least as long as we can make the steads work. What more can he offer? So instead, they provide more personal gifts as expressions of their gratitude for what you've both done and I would think out of genuine feelings for Alucius. He is a charming fella after all," the last being said with a small smile.
Alucius shook his head and then laughed with the others, then said,
"Oh, I almost forgot, but the Lady Alerya asked that when you feel you're ready to leave Alendra home with mother and grandfather for a few hours, she'd like very much for you to come with me on one of my visits."
Wendra looked at her husband wide eyed.
"Whatever for? Why would the Lord Protector's Lady have any interest in me?" she asked.
"Well, you were every bit as responsible for defeating those Ifrits and severing the ties to Efra. Plus I think from my talking about you she realizes you two have some things in common. You're both intelligent with strong views and values. You're both new mothers with their first children. I'd think you'd have quite a bit to talk about."
"When you put it that way I guess it makes some sense. I'll think about it and let you know before your next trip so you can tell them," she said, then her eyes went wide and she exclaimed. "What am I going to wear?"