-1Disclaimer: I do not own any of Misty's books, stories, songs, maps or drawings. Please don't sue me.
Of Hawks and Herbalists
It took an hour the next day for Elspeth, Darkwind, and Firesong working in tandem with Sejanes and Treyvan back in Valdemar to build the Gate that was taking us all to a new home. Wintermoon had offered to come with me, 'so that I won't be the only Tayledras face' in Valdemar. I refrained from mentioning Darkwind and Firesong, but I was glad for his warm arm around my shoulders. We're closer than I and Darkwind, mostly because Wintermoon had taken me in when my parents died, and it was he who'd brought Ame back to me for my thirteenth birthday. Now, with Corwith and K'Tathi waiting above us, and Ametha in my arms, we stood patiently beside the Gate way.
"It's hard to believe that we're leaving…"
"Hmph. I'm used to it by now."
"I'm not, though, so be nice."
"Sorry, Wingsib."
"It's alright." I thought back to this morning, and smiled to think that it would have been an ordinary day. Wake up, warm up and feed Ametha, get dressed, start Summerstar's patrol, take a break at noon and eat a cold lunch, then run my trails. But by evening, I would have been dreading the trail home, with Rainwing waiting in my ekele, another sick, twisted perversion of sex lying just on the surface of his thoughts, his hunger dangerously lurking beneath it. I would have gulped down an equally cold dinner, then unwillingly walked to my own bed, and forced myself to share it with that monster. Morning's calm light would not have come soon enough, and Rainwing would have asked me again why I wept when the stars shone.
But no longer. In fact, my ekele was no more mine, for Summerstar had asked me for it, and I nearly threw her up the ladder. I was not interested in sleeping in a place that so many awful memories inhabited; I hope that Summerstar found it a better home than had I. Instead, I stayed with Wintermoon. Peace of mind suffused my whole being; I'd spent countless hours searching for this strength in the dark of the night, the ache of hurts so deep easing with each passing minute. The Gate filled in slowly, for the distance was a great deal more than they had done before, and I turned half way, leaning into Wintermoon's shoulder as I gazed up at the Heartstone, it's great rosy pulse a balm for the heart.
It filled my vision, and though I couldn't reach for its great power, I didn't particularly care. Like every Tayledras, even those like Wintermoon and myself with nearly no magic at all, the Heartstone is the center of our lives, our nexus, if you will. It is the rhythmatic soul of our Clans, its power so ancient, from before Urtho, far, far before the Great Mage of Silence. I could see the leylines stretching out all across the land from just here in front of their current node, my Mage-sight glowing with the white of the lines and the node, the greens and blues of life bustling all about above them.
The tug at my jerkin brought me back around, and there was the Gate, complete. Before us stood the old mage Sejanes and dear Treyvan, and I waved, laughing to see the gryphlets, no longer so small, dancing around behind the two. Elspeth and Darkwind slipped through, releasing their holds for Firesong to take up, and Wintermoon ran through behind them, Corwith, K'Tathi, and both their mates and broods winging in after him. Silverfox followed, leaving only myself and Firesong. I was suddenly rocked by the realization that this was really happening, that I had a home to go to, that I had a reason to live. I ran through the Gate before that feeling passed, and my stomach dropped, the Gate crossing making me stumble with dizziness out onto sunlit dirt, my leather boots warming in the bright warmth. I opened my eyes, having closed them for the crossing, and suddenly gasped.
Before me rose a great palace, shimmering white in the summer heat, standing regal in a sea of white-clad people before me, knots of green to the right, and brilliant crimson to the left.
"Rather incredible, is it not?"
"I-I-I…."
"Shall thank Firesong for keeping that damn Gate up when you couldn't decide." I managed to detach my eyes from the wondrous sight, to behold a somewhat sardonic Firesong, panting from the exhaustion. But he smiled when I nodded dumbly, and pulled me into a hug.
:We did it, bright-feather.:
:Firesong…Thank you…:
:Now make us all proud, Wingsib. You're to be a Bard, no, a Master Bard. You deserved the chance all those years ago, and had I known then, you would have been one now. But you were happy just singing and playing, about everything. Though dear Snowdance is no longer with us, you have made her and Ghiadrek so very proud.: I stiffened at my parents' names, but then relaxed. He was right, and I remembered dimly, the four of us, me playing in the waters of a stream, Father watching me as Mother and Firesong talked. Father would always pull me away from the current, his gentle strength so unlike the fierce fighter I knew him to be.
I felt the tears well up, and despite all that I tried, I wept for the father I had loved so dearly, the kind man with laughing green eyes and his short, rich chestnut hair so at odds with my mother's silver eyes and hair. The strong man who taught me to ride a Shin'a'in warsteed as a baby, the good man who always stood up to cheaters and thieves. The man I watched wave back at me as the forest swallowed him up. Firesong understood, I think, more than I just what those words had meant. I wanted suddenly more than anything to sob for my father, wanting him to be here to see me, wanting so badly to be his little girl again.
But I pulled myself together, and pulling away from the mage, I wiped away the tears and turned to face my cousins, and a tall woman in scarlet, her eyes chuckling even though her mouth was a frown.
"So…you're our new Trainee, are you?"
She asked me in the standard trade talk; I answered in crisp Valdemaren.
"Yes." She looked me up and down, impressed, taking in every little detail, from the disgruntled hawk on my shoulder, having gnawed her way out of my embrace, to the worn leathers dyed a fading blue. She seemed unperturbed by the feathers dancing in my hair, but her interest lit to my flute case.
"Do you play…?"
"And sing. I've written down my melodies, but they're in my pack."
"Good. I was hoping that we wouldn't have to teach you that particular skill."
"Why is that?"
"Often times, such Gifted musicians decline to write down their tunes, preferring instead to memorize them. The only problem is that we Bards cannot see and perform your work." She smiled, and I laughed, and we shook, and I soon found Master Lira to be among my dearest teachers.
"Now, it's time to introduce you to the Bardic Collegium, Trainee Watersong."
I sank into the soft bed I'd been given, reaching up tiredly to unlatch my small window for Ametha. Master Lira had drug my sorry hide all over the Palace Grounds, giving me the official tour. Of course, lucky Wintermoon and Silverfox could follow at a leisurely pace, letting Elspeth and Darkwind lead. I, on the other hand, had to keep up with the long-legged stride of my teacher. All through the halls we marched, from the Housekeeper's office for my measurements to the dining hall to the grounds. Goddess, this place is enormous!
I had enjoyed the Library, though, and Bardic's personal song collection had entranced me. The rich wood surrounding my little room reminded me of home, but the clothed ceiling struck me as reminiscent to a Shin'a'in tent. It even rippled with the evening breezes, the reds becoming crimson waves. I sighed slightly, the used red leathers I'd been given comfortable to just rest in, and Ametha's soft wing beats echoing through the huge dormitory. She had slipped in, and now swooped to her perch, landing quietly and giving me a warm wave of love.
:How goes it, feather-head:
:Good. Vree an' me hunt good. Darkwind ask for 'Song, say dinner on him. You need food: I chuckled, and hauled myself out of the sweet softness.
:Hop on, Ame. We'll both eat well tonight.: She griff-grinned and walked up to my shoulder, nestling herself into my neck and hair. One golden-brown eye glowed beside my own as I closed the door to my room, and walked down the hall towards our personal entrance. Bardic was rather nice in the fact that it had a dozen different doors for each area, including two separate openings for the dorms. The cool air outside was spiced with the scent of a rich and welcoming dinner, and dozens of warm fires. At dusk, the Palace shone with a sort of ambiance, and a hint of melody escaped my throat.
It was a homecoming tune, one that the Shaman had taught me as a babe, and I whistled the high notes all the way up the path, oblivious once more to all but myself. Naturally, I never suspected that a rock, sharply pointed, would come flying to hit the back of my head. Spinning around, I found myself staring down four younglings, and all in the pale blue that denoted their status as separate students, highborns. From their evil little grins, I could believe the tales that Herald Talia had told me about these wretched brats. But being eighteen had it's benefits, and one of those was size. I was easily a head and a half taller than any of them.
"What did you think you were doing, youngling?" I snarled, letting Ametha scare them with a piercing cry. They backed up, but the lead boy just snickered.
"What're ya doin' here, bird-bitch? Tryin' ta peck at some Herald's dinner?" I cringed at the terrible grammar, and simply turned on my heel.
"Actually, I was off to visit my cousin, Adept Darkwind, but I think now I'll just go talk to the Queen and ask her to speak to your parents." The collective gasp was almost funny, and I started off at a jog, ignoring the cries behind me as they gave chase. I led them on a merry romp, for me at least, and slowed as I reached the doors to the Palace. They straggled in behind me, dirty and scratched up, and their leader looked like he wanted to cry.
"Please, lady…"
"Don' tell our folks…"
"They'll make us have tutors.."
"Then promise me one thing." They were rather taken back, but all agreed, heads bobbing worriedly. I smiled gently. "Promise me that you won't bully anyone else ever again. Then I won't tell your parents." Grudgingly they promised, and I bent down to meet their eyes. "Younglings, just because I'm different from you doesn't mean that I'm bad. Why did you say those things?" The boy snuffled, but he raised his eyes enough to meet mine.
"Cause the big kids said too. Sorry." I ruffled his hair.
"Don't worry about it. Now, get yourselves home and get your dinners." They smiled, big, gap-toothed smiles from missing baby teeth, and ran off. I scratched the back of my head, and suddenly remembered the stone. No bleeding, but a big lump made itself known. I sighed again, then made my way into the Palace, and up to Darkwind and Elspeth's suite. There, I found a warm dinner, my friends, the gryffins, and my dear family, all spread out over the floor and furniture, saving a spot by the fire for me. Hydona must have seen the exhaustion in my face, for she started up, clucking disapprovingly.
"You mussst be worrn out, little one. Come rrrest yoursself." I let her lead me, stretching out after lifting Ametha onto the mantle.
"Thanks, Hydona…"
"So this is yet another of my cousins." I peered up through the fire's glare to find two green-blue eyes glimmering. The angular face above me smiled, seemingly ageless despite a long gray braid. She was all muscle, and I recognized the Shin'a'in-tooled armor. And the lean look of a merc Captain.
"So you're cousin Kerowyn…"
"Yup."
"Father adored your exploits."
"My plains cousins always have."
"Hmph. The Tayledras know of your legendary life too…" I grinned suddenly, exchanging an evil look with Elspeth. "In particular, 'Kerowyn's Ride'." She groaned and stomped to the door, then raising her head skyward, included the gods in a surprisingly colorful description of a few rather anatomically incorrect acts one could perform with a donkey. She slammed the door at the end of her tirade, and Darkwind snickered.
"She never has gotten over that…"
"No, and she never will, thanks to us." Firesong grinned down at me from a chaise lounge, Silverfox behind him. I threw a dumpling at him, and Aya caught it, daintily plucking away the soft bread.
"Shameless hussy."
"Bratty tomboy."
"Oh, stop it, you two. So, how did the tour go?" Elspeth barely hid her smile at our little exchange, candidly changing the subject.
"Fine. Love the library and the Song Archives, and I haven't seen so much open land since the last time I visited the Dhorisha Plains."
"Did you see Companion's Field?"
"We didn't have time. I'll go down there tomorrow after I visit Cousin Kerowyn and Alberich."
"I'll have Gwyna meet you there, then. Darkwind and I have our classes, but we should be able to take some time off this evening." A sudden yawn punctuated her sentence, and I smile, and stiffly stood up.
"I'd better get going, my dears. I've a long day tomorrow, and yours is even longer. Good night."
"Good night." That chorus of tired, yet happy voices bolstered me back to my room, and I fell asleep that night to the memory of their smiles and a cooperihawk's soft snores.
Well, since I managed at least one reviewer, here's Chapter Three. The story takes a serious turn here pretty soon, and hopefully that will go over well. But first, I've got to reread the last pair of trilogies. Sigh.
Laters!
KD