-1Of Hawks and Herbalists
The soft song of the morning breeze intertwined with the birdcalls alighting over my window the next day, waking me slowly from dreams of the Shin'a'in and the plains. The ache of homesickness for both my trails and my lands dug a little deeper, even as I picked up my newly made Reds and chatted nonchalantly with my neighbors on the way to the bathroom. To my right was a pale young girl, perhaps thirteen or so, by the name of Dahlia. She yawned beneath a crop of short blond hair and peered up at me through half-glazed brown eyes as she spoke, explaining where everything was.
"Down here is the bathing room. Three tubs, two showers, and completely separate from the lads. Classes are held in the rooms on the lower levels, and there's a balcony on the second floor that we can access from our outside stairs. The choir and orchestral halls are farther down the first floor hallway, and thankfully they're kept apart from one another. So, you're Watersong, right?" To my left was her complete opposite, and I secretly likened Omarie to Firesong, simply because they were both so exquisitely flamboyant.
"You see, we all-"
"Spend our free time out amongst the rest of the world-"
"Excuse me, and then we-"
"Get to do all sorts of wonderful things! Haven's music shops and stores are to die for! Oh, did you hear that the Adept Firesong has come back to Haven? He's so handsome! And with the ball coming up…do you think that he'd like a song about his firebird as my offering?" It took me a few moments to process that, and when I finally stopped laughing, the housekeeper that Dahlia had fetched was looking at me like I was insane.
"She just busted up laughing, and wouldn't stop! Oh, Yinra, will she be okay?" Omarie didn't catch the gleam in my eyes. Yinra, on the other hand…
"Child, I think you'd better get going before this young'un tells you something you don't want to hear."
"Huh? Watersong?"
"I'll tell you after Weapons class. Meet me in Companion's Field, alright?" I chuckled, and avoided a blow from Omarie as she swiped at me angrily. But her rage was short-lived, and I soon found myself the unintended ear to an evident fan of my own adopted 'uncle'. Strangely, any mention of Silverfox was hushed or outright ignored as Omarie waxed eloquent over the various attributes of being Firesong's lady. I fought desperately to keep a straight face, and more than once I had to dunk my head in the soapy water to avoid splitting a rib. Finally, though, we managed not to stumble out of the bathroom and as the others headed to breakfast, I paused by an open window and let my awareness drift, pinpointing a still sleeping Aya, and a not-so-sleepy Firesong and Silverfox…I turned from them without a blush, though I did sigh softly, and caressed the link between myself and my beloved bondbird.
:Ametha? Are you awake:
:Hmm… 'Song? You up early.:
:Heyla, ke'chara. Did you eat well last night:
:Yes. Nice rabbit.: I laughed mentally at her self-satisfied mental purr, and finished fastening the protective sleeve over my tunic. The richness of the leather caressed my cheek as I reached up to pull back a stray feather, and I smelled the rich oil that kept our gloves so supple and strong. Memories of k'Sheyna warmed my heart and saddened me too, but never before has my dual identity meant so little. Here, in Valdemar, an alien such as myself was of little consequence. I smiled slightly, and with a silent beckoning, I called Ame to my hand. She didn't thunder in like Treyvan or Hydona, but nor was she as silent as K'Tathi or Corwith. She back winged, but only to spare me of the striking blows her wings could deal.
"Come then, dear heart; we've a long day ahead of us." I scratched her crest feathers and was rewarded with a happy gurgle, like a contented chick tucked into her nest.
I launched Ametha easily enough and fingered the worn wood of the lute that Master Lira had given me to start. I wasn't really used to stringed instruments, but she was all stern granite when I mentioned that it was a talent that I wasn't all too sure that I even had. I sighed and slung it over my shoulder, then closed the door to our dorm. The staircase only had four flights, so I was on the ground in no time, without even a light sweat to show for it. Ekele like Icefall's were marathon runs when compared to that light jog. I started limbering up on my way to the salle, walking alongside the Companions' massive field, letting muscles lose their tension before a veritable beating from the infamous Herald-Captain and Weaponsmaster both, just because I was probably the most in-shape and skilled fighter they had that just lately showed up. That is, of course, until Ametha warned me that I was being followed.
: 'Song! You've got trailers:
:Where are they:
:Behind you, by the big oak: I sent up a wordless call to help, and she relayed it, contacting every bond bird and gryffin within her distance. I waited only until I was about ten yards from the salle doors to spin and whip out my hunting dagger and my smaller throwing daggers. Behind me stalked a good sized group of Blues, about five all together. The biggest was a ruddy faced lad a year or so younger than I, handsome, but rather stupid looking. The others were forgettable, and so I ignored them, save for any weapons they might produce.
"Lookee what we have here….a little bard-bitch to play with…here, girl, come to maste-GAH!" I slammed the pummel of my knife into his gut, winding him while I danced back on my toes, moving to avoid his half-hearted blows and his colleagues' angry swipes.
:Ametha…:
:Firesong coming: I blessed her claws just then, as she dived down shrieking as one of those accursed fools tried sneaking up behind me, great gashes taking crimson precedence over his dull hair. Firesong, Silverfox, and a Heraldic Trainee were the first to reach us, Firesong casting a spell of immobility over my attackers. I leaned up against the fence surrounding Companion Field, trying to calm Ametha out of her killing rage. She snapped and mantled at my touch, her eyes angered beyond reason to even recognize me.
:Ametha! Ame, come to me:
:Kill! Tear! Rip to shreds:
:AMETHA: That new mind-voice penetrated my panicking mind and her utter rage, cooling her temper like a bucket of icy water. I looked up slowly, and found a pair of sapphire eyes gazing into my own, breathtaking in their sheer magnificence. The Companion nodded at my stunned surprise and pointed her nose over to a similarly shocked Ame, clutching the fence post in her claws like it was the last bastion of the world. I looked over at my terrified bondbird, and hesitantly stroked her soft breast feathers.
:Ametha:
:Want Watersong…: She staggered onto my fist and curled up in my arms, trembling from the unusual mindspeech, afraid to even peep her little head out of the shelter that was me. Silverfox slipped over to us amid the chaos and the Trainee joined him, nodding to me.
"Watersong, are you hurt?"
"No, no…and Ame's fine, Silverfox. Um…" I hesitated to talk to the Trainee, though he looked my age. He was a handsome fellow, a little shorter than me, (but then, I'm a giant compared to most) with shoulder-length jet black hair, and strange silver eyes that reminded me of the Tayledras mages. He smiled as I pondered what to say, and with a laugh answered my unspoken question.
"I'm Kavyn, Chosen of Myria. We saw you while we were riding and figured we'd give you some help, since Arlen tends to be a bit of a danger to any of the new Trainees. Myri tells me you're from the Tayledras?" I chuckled and nodded.
"Tayledras and Shin'a'in. I grew up both in the Vales and on the Dhorisha Plains. This little bundle of feathers is Ametha, my bondbird." He nodded in return and smiled, then his eyes alit to something over my shoulder.
"You must be something to have the mages run out here. At least Kero's here…" I turned around and was nearly suffocated by Firesong's hug. He was careful not to crush me or Ametha, but it still took Silverfox and Darkwind several minutes for him to let me go. His mask today was a feathered owl's, the downy feathers shifting as he moved. I had a few bruises from the fight, but nothing too serious, so I just laughed it off, until I saw Kero's face. She was studying the troublemakers with a worried look. I laid a tentative hand on her shoulder.
"Kero?"
"Have they given you problems before this afternoon?"
"No, not at all…why?"
"Because I fear you're the only one of the Tayledras here that they can harass. Darkwind and Firesong are too dangerous, as is Wintermoon, because those three are acknowledged warriors. You….unless you can beat them at fighting, you're nothing to them." I chewed on her words for a while, and noticed that some free Heralds were hauling the offenders away. Arlen leered at me, looking unpleasantly like Rainwing in his more insane moments, and I schooled my face into a stony mask. It was Ametha that screamed in defiance, and for a moment, I saw absolute rage cross Arlen's face. Ametha mantled, bristling her feathers, but the unholy anger was gone, replaced with disdain. Even so, I pulled her down into my arms. I felt a chill go down my spine as his eyes returned to me, and turned away, resting in Firesong's embrace gladly.
I looked up at Kerowyn, and wished suddenly for a chance to talk to this impressive lady, alone and with nothing between us. I slipped out of Firesong's arms and caught her elbow as she headed back to the salle.
"Kerowyn? May I talk to you?"
"Of course, cousin…come on, we'll use my office." She led me past the commotion into the quiet salle, and I breathed in the scent of sword oil and leather, all clean and warm from the sunlight streaming through the clerestory windows. The wall of mirrors at the far end delighted my vainer side and I could help but criticize myself in their incredible reflections.
"What artistry…"
"They are pretty nice, aren't they? We use them to practice technique and form when the student has to see what they're screwing up." I nodded and touched them. "Our hertasi make similar mirrors, but not so clear…The makers of these must be a family, or very dedicated apprenticeships." Kerowyn laughed and patted my back. "Good job. They are indeed a mix of family and apprentices, and we've used them for generations. Now…" Her face turned serious as she opened the hidden door behind the mirrors and motioned me inside. "You wanted to talk to me about something."
She pulled out a chair from her desk and sat down, motioning me to one of the armchairs across from her. I sat, but it was very uneasily, for I kept thinking about Arlen's rage at Ametha, not me. She watched me wrestle with my thoughts, and was kind enough to let me work things out in my mind. Finally, I drew a breath and sighed.
"It's that Arlen…he worries me. He…he looked like he wanted to rip Ame to shreds and roast her, but not me. It scares me to think that someone like Rainwing lives here, too…." My eyes were closed by now, one hand shading them from her fierce gaze, and I jumped when she laid a hand on my shoulder.
"Who's this Rainwing, ke'a'char? He sounds like a nasty piece of work if he managed to scare one of Darkwind's kin." I sighed, and nibbled on my lip. How much to tell her? How much would she understand? Would she realize that my shields were half-built at best, which allowed Rainwing to control me? I took a deep breath, let it out, and took another. "He…was my lover, at first. He was charming, handsome, and excellent in bed…I should have been happy with that. But, when I took him to the Plains for a visit to my grandmother Jadrie, he became intensely jealous and sulked the entire trip. Most of the young men that had flocked to me were merely cousins, and I'd had my heart set on Rainwing.
"That was before, of course, he laid the coercions on me-" "HE WHAT!" She was half to the door when I stopped her. "Darkwind, Elspeth, and Icefall took care of those. May I continue?" She paused, and nodded, then sat back down. "In any case, we had a fight a few nights after we returned to the Vale, and I moved out, for he'd been caught with a k'Leshya trondi'irn who shared his name and many of his passions. I took over Darkwind's ekele, and rejoiced in my relative freedom. But Rainwing was not content for long, because his lovely trondi'irn moved back to her new Vale, and no other Tayledras would take him.
"So, he snuck into my home just before sunset and when I came home, he sprung a trap, encasing my mind in his shields and his power. I am not mage-talented, so I thought I was doomed. Six moons of slavery to that man…every night, his mannequin to abuse as he pleased, every day his insurance that the Elders didn't get wind of what had occurred. The end, you know as well as I, thanks to Elspeth. I…I'll go now…" I got up and reached for the door handle, expecting only a dismissal. What I got instead was a bear hug, and a soft voice.
"You've done enough, child. I'll go with you, and Agnira help the fool who gets in my way." She led me back out into the sunlight, and I was dimly aware of Omarie's voice calling to me as I looked up at my cousin. Aquamarine eyes shimmered with anger and understanding, just as that ageless face was set in stone about her decision. "I'll go speak to your other cousins and Elspeth; in the mean time, I'd suggest staying near Companion Field or the Collegia. Anywhere else, those little bastards can get you." With that, she marched off, and I smiled faintly before heeding Omarie. Things seemed so much brighter here in Haven.
I am sooooooooooo sorry that this has taken so long. Please forgive me! -bows low-
Laters,
KD