I own nothing except the characters that I create and the plot The Wonderful Lady Lackey owns EVERYTHING!!!!!

Thought

:mindspeaking:

Flashback

-Sign language-

Adara's Secret

By

Elskestar

The Collegium is huge. Not just a large building, but something you would expect to see if you where visiting a castle. On one side I could see large chunks of stone that looked like they would be impossible to put into place, I figure it was done by magic. On the other side though, it was made of big thick bricks, small windows and wooden doors. There are huge trees. Full trees too, not like the little saplings they plant on the sides of roads. It looks like they have even been planted far enough away from the building to dissuade thieves. Not that I would have any experience in that.

Somehow they managed to keep the grass trimmed down short, yet plush, I wonder how they do that? I am sure they don't have a lawn mower. And the gardens. Oh they are a sight! I do not have a "green thumb," but I do love to look at gardens. I really must have come at the right time because they where full of color, almost every flower in bloom, not a single wilting flower in sight! Whoever does the gardening is high in my books!

We could take the indoor route, but I am so excited about looking around I don't even notice Alberich motioning the door and I keep walking. There are huge bird nests in the trees! I am lucky if I can find one or two in my neighborhood! Oh! I hear chirping! There must be little ones! Oh how I would love to climb up and watch them grow up!

I think Alberich gets tired of this, but I noticed an almost-twitch in the corner of his mouth. He grabs my elbow and steers me into the next entrance, one semi-hidden by the bushes. He sighs and shakes his head. I wonder if he knows American Sign Language? Or I guess it would be Valdemerian Sign Language. I ask -how are you?-

He pauses and tilts his head. He signs back! -Follow quick-

-I not fast sign-

He nods and continues to walk.

Finally something! Sadly, I only took one ASL class and the teacher's skills where questionable. I guess I will have to learn more from Alberich.

I almost expected the hallways to be dark and dreary, like the pictures of old European castles, but this place was still in use. I visited a Fort in Florida once, it was minimal in, well, anything. The Collegium, though, had decorations. Tapestries hung next to windows, probably waiting for winter, paintings hung on walls of important people, there was a long rug running along the center of the hallway in blue and beige, I guess white would have stained pretty quickly. Fish oil lamps hung at even interval, still unlit. The walls have been whitewashed, I don't think I would run my hand along them though, they looked pretty rough.

We traveled up a flight of stairs, probably servant stairs because it was a very narrow cold hallway. The light traveled as well as the sound. I could have fun singing in here. I wonder if the bards no about this hall, probably not. We exit through a door, I look back at it and notice that it blends in really well with the wall; in fact the door is probably a secret entrance or something. Hmmm I really want to explore now! I finally start focusing on where I am. This hallway is very well lit, the walls look smooth, the rug covers the floor and there are what seem to be magelights in slightly different colors floating in place instead of the fish oil light of down below.

Five doors down my guide stops and knocks on the door. I think that may be a pattern, but it could just be the way he knocks.

THUMP

I hope we didn't interrupt something. Something flutters. Is there a bird in there? Someone says something that I still can't understand, they sound pretty frustrated.

The door opens and a very flustered woman answers. She has a young face, very similar to the Lady. :Selenay is the queen, this is her daughter Elspeth: Yet, she is a bit more handsome, she has wavy hair streaked with white, and a scowl on her face. She speaks very quickly, she isn't having a good day. Alberich says something and motions to me. Elspeth looks at me somewhat shocked and then smiles. The two of them talk for a bit, so I start to lean against the wall. Maybe I should play being a mute. I can't seem to talk to anyone anyways.

:Excuse me:

That voice sounds a lot like Elspeth so I look at her and tilt my head. :Yes? Can I help you?:

:We have a way for you to learn our language, but it is very painful.:

I smile before nodding and replying, :I know. You have dyhelli. Well not have them, but they are your friends. I know of your world. I do not know your language.:

I smile at the look on her face. She seemed really confused to say the least. :Well come in then: She retreats into the room and I follow. Alberich leaves shaking his head.

Her room is surprisingly decorated. It is as if I walked from a castle into a forest. Oh, the furniture was still there, it was just modified. There is a mask on the wall that looks like the face of an owl. The couch and cushions where covered in green and brown. In the window sill there was a large branch that was carved out so it became a pot for other plants with a large branch coming out of the side, scratched up as if a powerful bird often perched there, Oh of course! Vree, how could I forget? He has the best timing for what he says.

I don't know how they managed to make this square room so lush and inviting, I almost want to look around to make sure there aren't any spiders, I really hate spiders. The sheer wall hangings with forest-like prints would cost a fortune here. A man walked out of a side room, standing out in his bright costume and stark white hair, I hear a tearing sound from the doorway, maybe it is lunch time for Vree. He stops and looks at me for a moment, I don't think he is admiring my outfit, maybe he is looking at whatever gift brought me here.

Elspeth sits on the couch and pats the seat next to her, so I follow her suggestion and sit, maybe I could be a mime? They certainly don't talk, do they have mimes here? I turn to look at Darkwind and raise my eyebrow. He then turns to Elspeth and nods at her. Then she stares at me. Not a talkative lot I see. Her eyebrows furrow in concentration and she looks even more confused than before.

I decide I am sick of silence. I reach into myself as Rive showed me and grab a "line" I turn to look at them to find their presence and "knock" on both of their shields. When they do nothing I knock harder and glare at them. Elspeth finally looks between Darkwind and I and opens a connection.

:Finally. while I am a quiet person, I really don't like all this motioning and silence. What is that look you keep giving me? I know you, both of you, have looked for my gifts and I know there is something odd. Please tell me what is going on before I decide to find the dyhelli myself.:

:You have a Gift I have not seen before. Well you have several Gifts. You can obviously mindspeak, you have a projective ability, although it is not empathy, and something else. Have you had Gift training where you are from?:

:No, we have no Gifts, no magic, we have science and knowledge. These Gifts that your country and world is so proud of would put someone in my world into an insane asylum.:

___

AN: I am having difficulty finding the Companions to these characters, can someone help me with that?

Co-Consort Daren (?), Myste(?), Dirk(?), Kerowyn(?), Dean Elcarth(?)