Bane

Disclaimer: The descriptions of many of the buildings described in this chapter came from "Owlsight," by M. Lackey. Also, see chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames are not.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Chapter 3

Sunlight filtered through the translucent windows of a small room perched high in a tree top. A mop of black hair poked out of the covers and pillows of a futon on the floor. Slowly a young teen stretched and yawned as he sat up.

Harry James Potter aged eleven, now known as Harry, rubbed his eyes as he took note of the day.

It'd been a year since he'd been de-aged from a fifteen year old back to the age of 10 and given to a pair of strange men in another dimension. All by the will of a warrior-like goddess who'd answered his dying prayer.

Once Harry got used to being in this strange new world where living in a box canyon among the tree tops was the norm, he'd never felt so at home, so cared for and loved.

Three months into living with the odd pair of fascinating men, a small, new tree house called an ekele was created higher up in the tree next to the one that housed his new parents' ekele. They were connected by a slender rope bridge.

Of course Harry also had his own exit to the ground dwellings, so he didn't have to go through his parents' ekele. Firesong and Silver Fox were life-mates and he really didn't relish walking in on them if they were. . .'busy.' Once was enough, thank you very much!

Harry's ekele wasn't as large as their's, but it was perfect for him with just enough room for a bed and a small table. The color scheme was in shades of green, for the summer months. When the wheel of the seasons turned the colors would change.

He looked around as he stood up from the futon and headed for his small table and the breakfast awaiting him. Home.

About a week after his arrival Hedwig found him. How she found him was a mystery. He could only assume the Star-eyed had something to do with her appearance.

However it happened Harry was very happy that she was here with him. It had been one of his greatest regrets that he was leaving her behind. Now she was here with him, sleeping each night on a perch near his bed.

Silverfox, in Harry's opinion, was the coolest person he'd ever met. He'd been the one the goddess selected to be his new parent. A fact that worried Harry as he hadn't wanted to be a burden, but Silverfox killed that notion quickly.

"The Star-eyed asked me and I had the option of refusing," the tall, lean man explained. "But Firesong and I have been discussing adopting a child for some time and frankly, you're perfect. Just the right age for us. Firesong gets someone he can pass his knowledge and training to, and I get someone to fuss over," Silverfox teased gently.

If Silverfox was the coolest, Firesong was beyond scary brilliant. He was as snarky as Professor Snape, but with none of the underlying hatred.

What really blew Harry away was the fact Firesong reminded him of Lockhart in all of his vain glory, only Firesong had better class and far better taste. The only physical imperfection of his new guardian was the fact that he had been badly damaged in a massive magical explosion that left half his face badly scarred.

Harry noted that on his small table waiting for him was a tea service with scones and other breakfast items. Harry didn't find such service unusual, being used to the house elves at Hogwarts.

What was unusual was the fact small shy lizard-like beings known as hertasi tended to the needs of the folk of the Valeinstead of house elves. They didn't like to be seen by anyone. Harry knew that his personal hertasi that took care of his needs was called Cera. She was a bit bolder than most of her kind, as she was raised in k'Valdemar instead in one of the more established, traditional Vales.

And Harry adored Cera. He had never had anyone fuss over him like Cera. Dobby didn't count as he tried to save Harry by trying to kill him, but then Dobby was insane anyways.

Once he was finished with his morning routine he found Silverfox waiting for him down in the common room set for the public. Firesong was still upstairs.

"Morning, Harry," came the deep lilting voice of his guardian. "Happy anniversary."

Harry smiled. Today marked the first year anniversary of his arrival in k'Valdemar. He was excited. He knew that the people of the Vale loved to party, and party hard.

Today would mark not only his arrival, but his new birthday. Since they had no way of knowing the true date of his birth, they'd decided to go with his arrival date in the Vale.

"Excited?"

Harry nodded with a smile. He really never had a true birthday celebration, or a party. The Dursleys never allowed it.

Silverfox counseled Harry throughout the past year to help him work through the memories and feelings of his past life.

Although he had the body, and sometimes mind of a ten year old, Harry had all the memories of his past fifteen years. The goddess may have de-aged him to ten, but She felt he needed those memories.

"Well, head back up to your room after our morning bath. Cera's waiting for you. She wants to put the final touches on you before the party."

The taller man laughed as Harry made a face. He loved Cera; he really did. She was adorable, but in her eyes Harry was nothing more than a large dress up doll.

The first thing Harry'd had to get used to was the clothing. He felt as if he'd fallen into a medieval world with a touch of fantasy combined.

Today Cera had dressed him in a light green poets shirt with an over tunic of forest green embroidered in threads of silver and gold, and a pair of loose brown pants. Thankfully, he didn't have to wear the long, flowing over robe that marked him as a mage in training.

"The hair lotions is working, young sir," Cera commented as she worked her long reptilian fingers through his hair. "Now, sit still! Let me finish this."

"Yes, Cera." Harry knew better than to protest. He already knew he wouldn't like the lecture she would give him. At least she didn't do the more elaborate braids that some of the Tayledras like to sport.

Silverfox came up to Harry after Cera had finished dressing him. "Well, you certainly do not look like the half-starved waif from a year ago."

And Harry didn't. Gone was his thin, malnourished body. In its place was a lean hard body that had the start of strong muscle. His hair was the biggest change of all. It was longer and less messy, and his eyes. . . they were bright, clear and the dead, despairing look was almost gone.

"Come, everyone is waiting," the tall kestra'chern urged. "Have you decided what you want for a gift from us?"

Harry nodded as he walked over to his guardian. "I have."

The dining hall was one of the few wooden buildings in the Vale. It was a long, low structure with a ceiling supported by slender pillars.

There were a few tables with stools. Many cushions were scattered about, some new, some well worn, as well as couches and individual chairs. Along the far end many savory finger foods were laid out, along with a huge birthday cake and several smaller cakes of different flavors.

Harry smiled at all of his new friends. Darian and his wife Keisha were among the many celebrating with Harry.

Darian, although young, was the Vale's elder. He was very plain looking compared to most of the Tayledras, but he did sport their salt and pepper hair. He was also the main reason the Vale was in existence in the first place.

"Hey Harry!" Darian called as he broke from his group of friends and headed to the young mage. " 'bout time you got here! Cera keep you primping?"

Harry blushed as Keisha smacked her laughing husband. Everyone who lives in the Vale was well aware of the hertasi and their ways. Darian and Keisha were used to having a pair of the lizard-like people looking after them.

"Excited?" Keisha laughed.

Harry nodded. He'd never had a birthday party before. Mrs. Weasley had tried, but Dumbledore and the Dursleys wouldn't allow it.

As usual, the party lasted all day and into the early evening. The Tayledras knew how to party as they were well aware that there might be trouble around the corner. There was always something that needed to be dealt with, but whenever possible they took time to enjoy life.

People came and went from the dining area all day. Either Firesong or Silverfox stayed with Harry, much to his surprise. Never before had anyone taken as much interest in his life as those two.

Was this what having a parent meant? He knew what he wanted as a gift, and hoped they weren't too angry with him for it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

An older, taller Harry, now known as Firefox, concentrated as he leaped from tree to tree a few miles from k'Valdemar. It had been two years since he arrived at k'Valdemar, and he was heading home for his twelfth birthday party today. He loved traveling through the trees. Many were not strong enough to hold his weight, but those were easy enough to avoid.

Two days ago he'd been sent to Sanctuary to deliver a supply of medicinal herbs for the healers there. Sanctuary was a healers complex secreted under a heavy canopy of trees. So well hidden was Sanctuary that one could easily miss it.

The outer walls were well constructed out of the natural rock and slatted wood, protecting the complex of small stone buildings and the healers within.

Firefox was now more confident in his abilities as a young mage as well as a welcomed member of the Vale.

Last year he had been formally adopted as the son of the two most respected men in the Vale. He was no longer known as Harry James Potter, but Firefox, and he was loving every moment of his new life. He'd been relieved when his request to be adopted into the clan had been met with eager acceptance. In fact his name "Firefox" was a play on both of the men that blood adopted him.

This past year Firefox learned more about how to mold his magic, to pull it from the rivers of magic that flowed just under the surface of the earth and shape it to his needs.

"Wands and other foci are for hedge wizards and low rank magic users! You Firefox," Firesong told him in a lesson. ". . . are more powerful than that. I will show you a better way to use magic, but you must always use it to better your world."

"Yes Father," Firefox acknowledged, never tiring of the fact that Firesong was willing to teach him. He soaked up all the knowledge his fathers offered.

Besides learning mage-craft from Firesong, Firefox had other duties as well. He had to help with the chores around the Vale. His main one was scouting once he was shown how to travel through the canopy of the northwest section of the Pelagir Forest.

The Pelagir was massive, running for hundreds of miles across the continent and although their section of it was pretty tame, it was still dangerous. The wild magic tainted the forest and caused many foul and dangerous mutations that were a danger to all who were careless.

The mage storms that almost destroyed the world many years ago had done a lot damage to the lands and magic. It was the Tayledras' duty to cleanse the land and to protect the magical creatures that lived in and around the forest.

Although the trees around Errold's Grove were younger, they still were massive and Firefox took to traveling through the treetop highway as if born to it.

Scouting was fun for the most part. His duties included checking the trees for trouble as well as hunt for trade-able goods as well as keeping watch for danger.

He would bring back whatever he found and turn it over to one of the elders. Sometimes Firefox would received a small commission if it was something someone wanted specifically, but mostly it was to help replenish the coffers of the Vale.

It wasn't long until he spied the mage lights of the Vale. 'I still can't decide what I want this year,' he mused. 'Maybe I should ask for a baby sister, just for the shock value.'

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Firesong waited impatiently for his adopted son to return to the Vale. He couldn't believe how much that young man had changed his life. He had given up teaching after Darian, but Firefox was his dream student.

Firefox, once he overcame all the abuse that had been heaped onto him in his short life, became a mischievous and caring child. Silverfox was still countering all the damage done to him, but more and more of Firefox's true personality came shining through.

"Wonder what your son will ask for this year as his gift?" came an aged voice behind him.

Firesong turned to see his father, Starfall standing behind him.

"Well, I do hope it isn't for a baby sister," the flamboyant mage quipped. Then he paused before saying. "There isn't much he wants. He has a bond bird. That Hedwig is quite the drama queen in her own right. He's almost ready to take the master class exam. His working of the ley-lines is almost as refined as Darian's at that age."

"So true, my son," Starfall commented. "He's too young yet to do much outside the Vale, except for scouting and messenger service."

"Are you talking about our son, your grandson?" Silverfox asked as he joined in the conversation. "I would say he's turning out to be more like Firesong each day. Even to the point his hair is already changing to silver white. There isn't much left of his dark hair."

"Even Darian's hair didn't start changing until he passed his master exam," Firesong commented, adjusting his new mask. "I think we should test our son soon."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Thanks for all the reviews and comments. For those that have commented they haven't read this series, boy are you missing some good reading. We start reading M. Lackey when her first series came out and have never stopped.

Until next time. – GF and the Frau