Disclaimer: Yeah… Ditto the first page.
Note: This chapter drags, I think. And a cameo by…. Someone. And foreshadowing. Yey foreshadowing! Not much else to say, other then… You'll see.
At length, Gio guided the horse and carriage across the roads and bridges of Tyra, arriving at a home on a canal. Shrubberies and herbs covered every possible inch. At the house already stood two horses, a two-toned cob and a gray mare. Both equines had turned their heads to gaze at the new comers, but mostly to greet the new horse. Cinder was looking rather weary, yet found it in her soul to perk up at the sigh of the other horses.
Gio moved swiftly on his long legs, helping his wife to the bench, who in turn helped the kids out, despite the father's disapproval. Either way, the man began to work the horse free of the carriage. Francesca growled as another contraction rolled through, causing all three horses look at her with their calm eyes. Leon was a tad shaken up, Phoebe as well, and both children were waved away when Gio came to check on Fran. The horsed seemed to have rolled its eyes before trying to shake the harness off. Be left Leon's side to finish the project, glaring at her father entering the house. The mother had a similar expression to her daughter. Once the last of the straps were off, Cinder immediately joined the other horses.
Be's gaze softened as she watched Leon shift a jagged cobblestone with his foot. The older sibling placed an arm around the younger, and guided the silent boy behind the parents who had already received admittance into the building. On the doorstep was the hedgewitch, giving a curious look at the children. She had lighter hair then the normal Tyran native, and she was smaller too. Her fingers were long and knobby, and her face sported a hooked nose. The full lips of the woman broke into a cheery smile as she beckoned them in. This was the second time Leo and Be had ever met this woman, Rose Biancardi.
The main room inside the home was getting slightly crowded, but Rose knew she'd have to make do. Already situated in the room was a family of five. The older man in the room was tall like Gio, wearing a dark robe, and his black hair tied back. Beside him was a much younger woman with brown curls and bright blue eyes. In her arms was a sickly looking toddler, being examined by a woman bearing resemblance of Rose. On her side was a girl watching with wide blue eyes, and black hair. Next to the man was a smaller boy, with dark, curly hair, and dark blue-hazel eyes.
"So," started Rose in common, guiding Leon and Be further into the room, and drawing the attention of the other family. "What brings the Tegacis Clan to my shop? Fran, I'm surprised you got the man to step foot near me." Rose flashed her white teeth in a mischievous grin at the end of speaking. Fran smirked triumphantly from her seat, weariness still notable.
"Leverage." Francesca replied in the same language, wrapping her arms around her belly. Rose seemed to understand with the nod of her head. The light eyes of the hedgewitch glazed across Gio; he was sulking behind his wife, eyes sharp and his body tense.
"Well then, I almost feel honored." Rose replied with humor, as she led Fran to a back room, Gio slinking behind him with his tall frame. Leon and Phoebe exchanged glances; they hadn't yet moved from their spot. The healer examining the other family's child looked up and smiled at them, her straggly, brown hair everywhere in knots, ties, and braids.
"You two are welcome to come in further, we don't bite." Her voice was soft, as she indicated a bench near the family's oldest boy. Obediently the two sat down in the indicated spot, shrinking slightly under the friendly gazes. The female went on, "My name is Anne, and if Rose told me right, you two are Leon and Phoebe."
"Yes, ma'am." Phoebe replied in a heavily accented common. Leon scooted behind his sister to hide, shading his eyes with his bangs. Anne had went on speaking, even though she returned to the sick toddler, whom was surrounded by the light blue of the healer's gift. Her voice, however, had hushed.
"Just Anne. So, Leon… If you would like, e can test you for the Gift. It can be our secret, and I'm sure the Salmalín's will stay quiet." A bit of color had returned to the female toddler as the light blue light faded away. Anne's gray eyes turned to Leon waiting for an answer.
The boy with the blue-hazel eyes smiled at Leon. "It's quick, and fun." Understand a good portion of what they said, the Tegacis boy looked at his sister who shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"I won't tell, and Da doesn't seem to notice what we do anyways." Be said in Tyran, hoping to keep it somewhat private, even if it caused Leon to frown. Yet, the older man in the robed showed an inkling of understanding the Tyran tongue, as he gazed sympathetically at the two. Leo sighed, then nodded his head as he slid off the seat.
"I'll do it." Offered the black robed man, as Anne had gathered her skirts to stand up. She hesitated at the claim, before actually standing up and gazing at one who spoken.
"I suppose so, Numair. But please, try to be subtle." Anne stated, walking across the room. Numair moved to sit infront of the boy, crossing his legs as he offered his hands. When Leon looked up at him, the mage offered an encouraging smile.
"Like Anne said, we don't bite-"
"Sarralyn might though." The boy interrupted his father, earning raised eyebrows from Numair. Sarralyn defiatnly stuck her tongue out at him.
"Nonesense, Rikash." Numair stated, as Leon cautiously placed his hands on the male's larger ones. "I'd be more weary of your mother's. Now." The mages voice turned professional, cutting off what Daine might retort. "You might want to sit down – there, just like that. Close your eyes and breathe in… breath out…. Don't move now, and in…. Out."
Leon did as he was told, fighting an urge to itch the dried mudd off his scalp, or fixing his shirt to hang more comfortably. Instead, he kept focused on the man's voice, as black strands floated across his vision. Cautiously, Leon followed it deep inside himself, a sense of comforting warmth increasing. Quickly enough, the found themselves facing a pool, its depth an endless color of orange-red. Threads of magic, nearly lit on fire, intertwined peacefully about themselves. The boy was drawn to the pool in a daze, hardly noticing that the threads began to thrash violently. Leo was brought out of the trance as the threads broke free of there imaginary wall, slamming against the black of Numair's magic. Leon hesitantly opened his eyes to see the shop, everyone for the most part unmoving.
"You couldn't just do it the easy way, eh, Numair?" Daine scolded as she held a cup of steaming, medicated, tea beneath the nose of the toddler. Leon looked up at the mage, who shook his head, eyes focused on his hands. The orange eyes followed his gaze and winced, for there were blisters on Numair's hands, twinkling with traces of the boy's magic.
"Did I do that? I didn't mean to, sir." Leon stammared as he backed away from the man. Truthfully, Leon half expected to get his ear pulled, even though it wasn't his fault. Apparently, Phoebe thought the same, for she had moved to stand behind her brother. To their surprise, the mage smiled weakly.
"Don't worry about it. I should've just done it the other way." The mage admitted as Anne appeared with bandages and burn ointment. She offered a small smile at the Tyran children. Kneeling in front of the mage, she roughly grabbed his hands and applied to the salve and bandages. "Thought," Numair went on, cringing at the sting of the medication, "If you ever would like to pull up some fire, just do what he just did, only grab a thread. Your gift is rather large; you'd need training." Training also meant seeing how far Leon could go with his gift.
Anne noded her head slowly in agreement as she finished off the bandages with a tight tug. "Aye. We, Rose and I, will sneak you away to a University if we have to. I'm sure Fran will agree."
"I thought we weren't telling anyone." Phoebe interjected, putting emphasis on the last word. Anne smirked a bit.
"I promise you, lass. I don't think your mother will mind."
"Ma told me its almost impossible to lie to a spouse."
Anne laughed lightly, and Daine smiled. The Wildmage replied in a soft voice, "That is true, but you can always tell the half truth." Be frowned in response, but she accepted it, even though she didn't approve. The girl shrugged her shoulders, her expression showing one who doubted that it would work. Akward silence progressed after that, only to be broken by rapid commotion coming from the back room where Fran had disappeared into with Rose and Giovanni.
Suddenly, the hedgewitch's excited expression appeared as she swung out of the room, nodding her head back as she said in a rushed tone. "Anne, quick now. I'll need your help." Just as quick as Rose had entered, she had left. The healer named offered a delighted smile at Leon and Phoebe, before standing up.
"Daine, dear, keep that there for another five minutes, and if you can, get her to drink some." Anne didn't feel the need to explain things to the Wildmage, as she disappeared into the room. Numair idly stood, fiddling with his long fingers the tight tie of his bandages, trying to loosen them. His eyes glanced down at the quiet and lost Leon.
"How old are you, Leon?" Numair questioned, situating himself beside a whispering Rikash and Sarralyn.
Upon hearing his name, the orange-eyed boy looked up at the man. "Seven, sir. Phoebe is eleven." Phoebe nodded her head in confirmment, ignoring the occassionally rising voices in the other room.
"I'm seven too." Rikash announced, leaning past his father to smile at Leon.
"And I'm nine." Sarralyn added, before pointing to the toddler with Daine. "That's Maura, and she's three." As the commotion in the other room rose, it was notable starting to upset and distract Leon, while Phoebe stuck her chin out, focusing on the other girl.
Sarralyn did her best not to frown at the silence from the Tegacis children. Turning to her mother, a hand reached up to tap her on the shoulder. "Mama, where's Kitten?"
"She's out back." Came the reply, the blue eyes of the Wildmage turning to look out a window for her charge. Sarra, motioning Rik to do the same, hopped off the seat to lean out the window. The sounds of Fran, Anne, and Rose were more distinct, but they ignored them. The blue gazes of the children weaved about the backyard instead.
"Kitten!" Rikash called, and was responded with a whistle, a blue dragon popping out of one of the far bushes. Befuddlement crossed Rik's face as Skysong trotted over to investigate as to why she was called. "Wait, why are you calling for Kit?" The coal-haired boy asked his elder sister, who only smiled in return and whispered something to him. Rikash nodded his had, as the two allowed room for the young dragon to perch on the window sill.
Leon and Phoebe starred at the dragon, as the kids whispered to the creature. Suddenly, the two Salmalín children turned back to the Tyran kids. Kitten, in a few steps, stood before them on her hind legs. A blue scaled paw as big as medium-sized dogs, was offered to the children. –My name is Skysong. You can call me Kitten– The dragon spoke to the two, Be now kneeling to get a closer look. Leon cautiously took the offered paw and shook it, his sister doing so as well. –Sarra and Rik said you were sad; Want to see a trick?–
Rikash had bounced to sit beside Leon, legs crossed, and nodding his head for the two. Kitten back backed up a bit, and landed on all fours. Both hind legs then pushed off the ground, her immature wings flashing out. Kittens head and long neck arched, her tail falling near her face, and she held the pose. Rikash clapped. –I learned it from the preformers. Watch this.– She told the children, Rik's wide grin spreading to the other children, and his parents.
Slowly, the dragon pup picked up one foot, and, after holding the position once more, Kitten began to waddle around the room in an uneven line. The female dragon almost ran into several tables, before the door of the birthing chamber quickly opened up infront of the dragon, whom toddled backwards before falling over. In the door was an upset Rose, who ignored the the annoyed whistles of the dragon as she quickly hurried into a different room. Most of the noise in the room was silent.
Kitten returned to being on four legs, and stretched out a bit, –I still need to work on the walking part, though…– Skysong stated idly. Be smiled weakly in response, Rikash and Sarra giggling lightly. Leon, however, made no response, but instead gazed into the room where the door was ajar. Within, the sounds of an infant wailing could be heard, but nothing yet earsplitting. Impulsively, Leon ran to the doorway, before anyone could stop him. Gazing at the scene before him, the boy tensed up, mouth dropping in as he drew in shakey breathes.