A/N: I apologise for the long wait. I really have no excuses except that my muse went to Maui with out me and has yet to return. Thanks for all the reviews guys, it makes it easier to keep trying.!

Chapter 7

Tarsha yawned as she headed up the stairs to her room. She was tired, looking after all the horses, a few that were ill, had stones or were just had too much energy so she ended letting them out into the exercise field and most of the time had to round them back up to bring them back in for the night. She still found it hard to believe that so many people had come to help out with the renovations and it had been two weeks already, and the stable walls were already up along with the roof and half of the stalls. So already her domain had doubled in size with a grand total of one hundred and eighty stalls and twenty companion friendly stalls. By the time the stables were finished there would be around two hundred and ninety stalls, and a large room for her was being added into the new stable, with her own sitting room, bedroom and a small bathing room with a shower instead of a bath and a privy.

Her old room was going to be turning into Daniel's room for when he finished his apprenticeship with Meren so he would be on hand for any injured Heralds and customers. The old hay loft and storage room were being expanded to hold more and the two spare rooms under the bedroom were being turned into healing rooms.

The Inn itself was only barely started, with the walls in place and sealed along with the roof. There was also talk of adding another floor on top just so they wouldn't have to do more renovations next winter, as every one was sure that ninety six rooms should keep the inn going for another year or two, mainly because they had never had over one fifty people at one time but they were sure that it was going to happen eventually. But Jacob, the village elder and Lord Deren who had dropped by to see how things were going all agreed to wait to see how much time they had left after they had finished. A small group of people were working on installing a large bathing house out the back of the Inn, with a smaller one that would be private for the family.

A group of women were helping Ma, Annabell and Jazmine in the kitchen and moved the veggie patch and herb garden to down the back of the inn, while it would be harder to get to there would be more room to grow more and they could expand the laundry and have a second storage room for all the food that they would need. Also five of the younger girls had offered to work for them to help with the high load of customers as servers, cooking helpers and cleaning.

Several boys from the Keep and the village had also requested to help out at the stables to help Tarsha. Jacob was actually surprised as at least fifteen of them had offered and had left it to Tarsha to go over their experience with animals and how well they worked as to which ones to hire, but told her no more the five and she had been working with all of them over the last two weeks to get their measure.

She wasn't just going at how well they worked but what the horses had to say about their treatment by the boys, and had seven names and was trying to cut it down to four. She knew that the other eleven were going to be disappointed, but she also knew that Lord Deren and Jeral had their eyes out for some stable boys to take to the Keep.

Tarsha shook her head to get it back on track as she entered her new rooms and smiled slightly as she spotted Leren fast asleep on the cot in her sitting room but had left a candle burning for her. She was grateful that Daniel and Meren had kept their eye on him over the last two weeks to make sure that he didn't over work himself so soon after his injury and were nearly ready to clear him so he could return to his duty. She was of two minds of that. She was glad that he was good enough to return to his work and saddened that he was going to be leaving soon.

She sighed softly and picked up the candle and made her way to her bedroom and changed for bed and slipped under the covers and blew out the candle but after awhile found that sleep was eluding her.

She wasn't exactly sure what she felt for Leren. She liked him and found herself attracted to him. It terrified her that he might be injured again or might end up dead, but she understood his need to do his duty to a certain point. Travis had once tried to explain it to her but eventually they had both come to the conclusion that if you weren't chosen then you really couldn't explain it or understand it completely.

She sat up in bed as Yual slipped into the room.

:Shara, companions approach.: He informed her and she sighed and got up changing back into her clothes and pulled on a thick cloak and slipped back out of her room and to the main entrance and smiled as she recognised them.

"We didn't think you were coming Dirk, Talia." She greeted them quietly as they dismounted and gave her grins in return.

"We had to leave a little late…" Dirk looked around and gave a low whistle. "Wow, you guys sure have been expanding." He commented as she led them all to the companion stalls.

"Yeah, we have nearly the entire village and half of Lord Deren's soldiers here helping us with the renovations this time so everything should be ready for the first rains in four weeks." She nodded and lent against the stall as they removed the tack from their companions.

"Have you heard from Leren?" Talia asked as she picked up her saddlebags, looking concerned. "No one has seen him in two weeks."

"He's here, he came in injured two and a half weeks ago. Meren is about to clear him for work, even though he has been lending a hand." She nodded. "He should be back on the road in a day or two." She hid the sudden feeling of uncertainty and dread. She looked towards the doors as James slipped in.

"Ah I was wondering who was here." He gave them both a hug in greeting. "Come, I'll show you to a free room and make sure you don't trip over anyone." He chuckled.

"That would be nice." Dirk nodded and yawned.

"I'll see you two in the morning." Tarsha told them before pour out a little oats for the companions to eat and water before heading back to her room and fell back into bed and this time fell straight asleep.

OOOOOOO

She woke a little groggily with Yual licking her cheek to wake her.

:Shara, it is after dawn and your mother wishes you to join them for breakfast: He told her looking a little guilty at waking her.

"Alright, alright I'm up." She grumbled as she stumbled out of bed, grabbed a fresh set of clothes and into the bathroom for a shower before stumbling her way to the kitchen and fell into her seat next to Travis and Daniel.

"You alright Tarsha?" Annabell asked her in concern as she set out the breakfast dishes and frowned at her sisters exhausted state.

"Didn't sleep well." She mumbled setting her head on her arms on the table.

"Oh Aunt Talia and Uncle Dirk came in this morning" James spoke up as he served himself. "A mark or so after every one went to bed."

"Where did you put them?" Ma asked as she handed out a jug of chava and watched as her children filled up their mugs and she ran her eyes over them. "Does any one know when Karen is going to get here?" She asked as she realised that there was still one missing.

"Any day now." Jacob spoke up looking around the table himself. "It is going to be good to have the entire family around again."

"Yeah it's been a year since the family was all together." Devid nodded in agreement.

"Very nearly two." Jazmine corrected as she helped Annabell feed her kids.

"Tarsha are you going to eat?" Travis asked her in concern when he noticed that she hadn't moved from her prone position leaning on the table.

Daniel frowned as Tarsha just shook her head and placed a hand on her forehead.

"I'm alright." She groaned pushing his hand off her head and sat up. "I'm just tired." She added as she took the bowl of porridge that her mother passed her and dug in, trying to push the fuzzy feeling out of her head.

"Tarsha do you have the names of the boys you are willing to let help?" Jacob asked as he finished up his own meal.

"Yes…" She nodded and swallowed the mouthful of food. "Stev, Randel, Lissa and Gamina"

"I didn't realise that there was some girls that were helping you." James blinked in surprise.

"Just those two, they are good workers and they treat the horses right." She nodded. "And they get on well with each other with out any large conflicts."

"Good, alright I'll talk to their parents." He nodded and scribbled their names down on his ever present note book that he had taken to carrying about over the last two weeks, to keep track of every thing.

"I have a list for Lord Deren and Jeral with my comments on how the others worked too." Tarsha added as she finished off her bowl and pushed it aside.

"Make sure you give it to him today, he's sure that he will have to leave today." Jacob nodded. "We should finish up another six rooms today and another twelve to twenty stalls."

"At the rate we are going we should be finished in another two weeks." James smiled. "Just think no more tripping over equipment." He grinned.

"Or people." Devid sighed. "I'm grateful that they are helping us out but there are so many of them that I feel like I am constantly tripping over them."

"Alright everyone knows where you are supposed to be." Jacob said as he stood up.

"Tarsha may I have a word?" The youngest of her uncles asked as he stood up and followed her out the door. He was only ten years older then James, and was the odd brother out have pale brown hair that it was almost while with bright blue eyes.

"Sure Uncle Steph." She nodded and they both walked towards the stable.

"How are you feeling?" He eyed her carefully.

"Just tired…" She stopped when he frowned at her. "I have a fuzzy head and a slight headache." She admitted with a small shrug, she frowned a little. "It's almost as if I have a slight buzzing in my ears."

"Like you are hearing something? A very distant conversation?" He asked looking a little curious.

"Well…" She paused thinking about his question. "Yes, it's just like when my animal speech opened up and I started hearing the horses." She nodded firmly and then her eyes widened. "Who or what am I hearing?" She asked softly.

"Did the Heralds test your gifts?" He asked as they walked down the corridor of stalls as she looked over the horses before she walked to the storage room and filled a barrow full of oats and grain and a bucket before filling the troughs.

"Yes, they confirmed that I have a strong weather gift and animal speech." She nodded. "They think I might have a third gift but they can't identify it."

"Hmm, when you have a moment would you mind if I have a look?" He asked.

"I didn't know that you had any gifts" She looked over at him in surprise.

"I do." He chuckled. "I take it my brothers didn't tell you what I do?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, just that you wonder around a lot." She shook her head.

"I was a bard and still am at heart." He replied leaning against a stall patting a mare's neck as she nuzzled his chest and he scratched behind her ears. "I am also a Adept Mage."

Tarsha spun around her eyes wide in surprise. "They are so rare!" She exclaimed.

"I know." He nodded. "I wasn't trained in Valdemar but in Rethwellan, I only returned to Valdemar five years ago after I got my training finished. It might be possible that you have the mage gift or it could be gift that just hasn't become active enough for them to identify." He told her as she went back to her work.

"I don't mind you looking, after I finish up here would be best…" She smiled as Yual trotted up to her carrying a note. "Morning Yual." She greeted him.

"This is the first time I've seen a Kyree in Valdemar, that wasn't at the palace." Steph's eyes widened.

"Is that what he is?" She asked looking curious. "He doesn't know what he is, he's been on his own since he was a little pup, he's been my friend since he was a few months old." She opened up the note and then pulled one out of her pocket and handed it to Yual. "Give this to Lord Deren please Yual and then you can go hunt if you want." She turned back to her work as he nodded and trotted off.

"He doesn't know what he is?"

"No." She shook her head. "He has never met anyone else like him nor heard them in his dreams." She sighed as she reached a section of horses that had already been given their breakfast and looked around the corner of the stable and saw six of the fifteen helpers were working, including the four that she had chosen. "He said that some times he heard the faint whispers of them but he can't find them when he searches and just says that it isn't time yet." She shrugged as she turned the barrow around and went back the way she came. "all he will tell me is that he will always protect me."

"Ah then he is your familiar." Steph nodded in understanding. "He has bound himself to you because he likes you and trusts you."

"Yes that is true." She smiled as she put away everything that she had used before perching on a bale of hay and Steph sat down in front of her. "If I remember this right I have to lower my shields and then relax, right?"

"That's right." Steph nodded and looked deep into her eyes.

She shuddered slightly as she felt him enter her mind and held her shields down as she felt him shift through her mind as they tried to spring back into place. She felt him retreat after a few moments and raised her shields again. "What did you find?" She asked curious.

"You do have a third gift but it is barely active enough to be considered a potential gift, I am not sure what it is at the moment, I'll think on it." He replied with a slight frown on his face.

"Tarsha do you have a moment?" She looked up at Leren's voice and smiled when she spotted him beside Jerna.

"Sure." She nodded. "Do you need me?" She asked her uncle.

"Not at the moment. I'll think on this and see what I can come up with." He shook his head.

She nodded and made her way over the where Leren was brushing Jerna's mane. "Sleep well?" She asked leaning up against the stall and pulled an apple out of her pocket and sliced it up and fed some of it to Jerna and Ahrodie.

"I did yes." He nodded. "You came in late."

"I know, two mare's went in to labour and were having some trouble." She nodded and glanced down and saw his packs at his feet. "You leaving?" She asked, trying not to sound upset or disappointed.

"Yeah, Jerna had a long conversation with Rolan last night and we got our orders to head back to Haven." He nodded, his face looking curiously blank.

"Oh…" She sighed. "I was hoping that you would be here for a few more days…" She shook her head. "Just remember that you are always welcome here, day or night." She gave him a lop sided smile.

"I know, but it is still nice to hear it." He said softly nodding slightly, before flicking his eyes up to look at her. He chuckled softly before reaching out and plucked a piece of straw out of her hair.

"Thanks" She smiled back at him.

"Well, I'll be leaving in a mark or so, after I talk to Talia." He said a little awkwardly.

She nodded in understanding. "Find me before you go?" She requested. "I have a gift for you that I was keeping for Midwinter."

"I'll do that." He nodded as he packed away his brushes.

"Tarsha" She turned to see James heading towards her. "Pa wants a word."

"Coming." She nodded and gave Leren one last look before she followed James back to the Inn and saw her father talking to Lord Deren. "You wanted to see me Pa?" She asked at the lull in conversation.

"Yes, I've spoken with your chosen four's family and they all agree to let them take the job, all you have to do is let them know." He informed her with a smile and gave her a quick hug.

"Tarsha I am curious as to what problem you had with Wes?" Lord Deren inquired.

"I didn't have a problem with him, nor did the horses." She shook her head. "The problem was that he didn't get on well with many of the others that I had chosen and I didn't want any conflicts as they would be sharing a loft." She replied. "If it wasn't for that I would have added him to the list." She frowned thoughtfully. "Wes was my fifth choice, if Pa thinks he can afford five I would take him in an instant, but I think he might do well with you My Lord." She said. "He has a faint animal speech gift that he knows about but hasn't said anything to anyone. I've been helping him refine his control a little, the same with Randel. Wes's is just a little stronger." She smiled at him. "I thought you might like a chance to snap up a animal speaker for your horses. Wes is actually a little better at his job then the others so I thought you might appreciate a trained stable hand."

"Yes you do bring up an interesting point." Lord Deren nodded deep in thought. "I was actually thinking of taking Randel as his parents are coming to the Keep to work, his father is a armour maker and his mother is a pottery master."

"If that is the way you want to go." She shrugged. "I don't have a problem with that, I get along with both of them and they are both hard workers. I think it might be better if you ask them which they want to take though, they are both sixteen and able to make decisions for themselves."

"I'll do that." He nodded. "They in the stable?"

"Been there since they got up" She nodded as he nodded at both of them and hurried off. Tarsha sat down at a table and wrote out a note and added her gift to the letter and sealed it and made her way back to the stable.

:Tarsha, you should wait around for Leren.: Jerna told her as she slipped into her stall and placed the letter into his bags under his clothes. :I know from experience that he doesn't like goodbyes.:

"I know Jerna." She smiled a little sadly and stroked the mare's nose. "That's why I wrote the letter, if he comes to say good bye then that's okay but if he doesn't then he will at least have the gift I bought for him. It will be his choice." She said softly before pulling out a little charm out of her pocket of a little dog being held by a little girl. "I got this for you Jerna, it's a focus so if you ever need me it will help you focus on me." She told her softly. "May I braid it into your mane?"

:You may, it is a very thoughtful gift thank you.: Jerna looked a little surprised.

Tarsha smiled and braided it securely into the mane, close to the skin so it could only be removed if it was cut off deliberately and could be seen unless you were looking for it. "Keep him safe for me Jerna, make sure that he takes care of himself." She whispered softly before kissing her nose and hurried off leaving the companion looking after in with a thoughtful look on her face.