Reviewers:

Ashfur- You really want him? tosses bandit at you Have fun :-) (I would use the normal up arrows to make the face but for some reason they don't show up… neither do the asterisks...)

Fireblade K'Chona- It's to prove officially to the Council that Rowen speaks the truth and that the bandit's original testimony was false.

Ken- Thanks. They call their horses jel'enedra and… can't remember the other word, but I think it means like 'wind-born sibling,' so I'm going to try to work that into conflict later on.

Wizard116- Huzzah.

Afreial- Tea for the nice ones and willowbark tea for the bad ones. . And maybe Julian's cooking for the stupid ones.

Julian: Hey!

Hiro: It's bad!

Rowen: Don't make judgement calls; you might find yourself on the other end of one.

Hiro: Quit quoting proverbs at me. And you're biased!

Rowen: May you get exactly what you deserve.

Hiro: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortenson, and a tub full of whipped cream, cherries, melted chocolate, and chains, all in the same room?

Reanna/Rowen/Julian: O.O

Mischakitsune- Funny thing, that. My sister and I both noticed it, then she said immediately that it was Romany, then the other day, I did research, and voila! All of the Shin'a'in words that I put in were the same as Romany, with the same meanings. So now I have a nice, wide vocabulary to choose my words from. Oh, the joys of using a language from another world to use as your own. And you can't copyright a worldwide language….

Alright, then. EVERYBODY ON THE BUS!

Chapter Seven: Do You Mate With Horses?

Selaney nodded, and the Councilors began vying for who would ask the first question.

Jarim won out, and queried him in a clear, strong voice.

"Have you ever killed anyone in that body?"

"No."

"You have no horse instincts whatsoever?" asked a man a dun colored homespun shirt.

"No, as I said, Gehdri's mind vanished after the transformation."

"How doesss the horrrrssse body feel?" Treyvan asked.

"Different," he admitted. "It's… different, but it doesn't feel unnatural, not anymore."

"You have how many organs?" That came from a woman in deep green robes.

"Er- two hearts, four lungs, I'm not sure how many stomachs or other organs, but I'm sure that the Healers would be willing to discover that for me."

She blinked once, then smiled. "Perhaps we can reach an agreement."

"Indeed."

A few more questions were answered, then,

"Milord," the Karsite began in slightly accented Valdemaran. "Do you have any… mind powers, or anything of the like, that could cause a Companion to Choose you?"

'Choose?'

"Ah- not that I know of," he confessed. "I've never been tested, but nothing untoward has ever happened to anyone that I've been at odds with, so I would have to say no."

"Ah. What caused you to stay in the forest, instead of returning to the Plains?"

Rowen winced. This was a painful subject for him. "I cannot say exactly, Ambassador, however I will admit that it was fear of rejection and knowledge that feelings of repulsion and anger might overcome familial bonds."

The Karsite nodded, and Rowen turned to the next speaker, who was Talia, and it was more phrased as a request than a question.

"Rowen, might I come to see you in your rooms later on, to ascertain a few things, to keep doubt out of the minds of the other Heralds?"

"Of course," he answered politely. In truth, he didn't want to be disturbed, but if whatever she needed to know would keep more people off his back, then so be it.

The meeting lasted for another hour or so, with Rowen answering the important questions and ignoring the stupid ones, such as, "Have you ever eaten a baby?" and "Have you ever gotten the urge to mate with a horse?" and "Do you eat hay?" The horse stomach had been modified so that it could accept things that both a human and a horse could eat; meat, vegetables, fruits, most anything. His esophagus had not modified, however, and hay could tear the throat lining, so no, he couldn't eat hay.

And the question about mating with horses was ridiculous. If looks could kill, the Councilor that had asked that question would have been dead and his soul scattered to the four winds. Rowen was not a horse. Not precisely a human, either, but did a gryphon ever get the urge to mate with a bird? A kyree with a wolf? It would be like mating with a simpleminded person; something not as smart as you, something less sophisticated, and something that was only in it for the urge to mate or the urge for pleasure. In his opinion, mating was a sacred thing, to be done with someone you loved and cared about, and was an added expression of your love.

He left the meeting with mixed feelings. Some of the Councilors had been quite decent, such as the representative for the Healer's Circle, Heraldic Circle, and the Lord Patriarch. The Karsite Envoy- Karal was his name- had proved to be an intelligent young man, though Rowen was still unsure of the purpose of the cat. Treyvan and Hydona were quite interesting beings, and had taken affront at those unintelligent questions, spitting the askers with stares that burned. The Queen had watched the proceedings, venturing intelligent questions of her own every so often. Talia was the same, along with Herald-Prince Daren.

The Bardic Circle representative had eyed him with some suspicion, and Rowen was sure that Jarim didn't know what to make of him. The common representatives, those for the farmers, herders, traders, and the like, had, he was sure, been afraid of him, although one or two had looked at him with speculation and a small smile of welcome. The Mages had been annoying, except for one man, Sejanes, who had turned out to be a representative of Hardorn.

After, the Healer had taken him to a small examining room back in the Healer's Wing, and asked him a few personal questions. Surprisingly, some of the questions that he would have taken offense to had they been asked by anyone else had seemed normal, as if he were commenting on the weather. She had scanned him, and announced that he had two stomachs, one in the horse body, one in the human, two hearts, four lungs, all of the muscles of each being, minus the neck of the horse and below-waist of the human. He was definitely a male underneath, with more muscles than either being had had before the melding. Healer Miriam figured that it was because the new body had to adjust for the added weight and added stress to the body. His backbone extended into the horse's, which in turn ended in the tail. Two sets of ribs, one brain, four sets of kidneys.

She had discovered a tiny, tiny hint of Gehdri in the corner of his subconscious, that had allowed him to adapt to the body as quickly as he did. Then she'd finished the Healing of his leg, so that he could walk without any pain, and the muscles of that leg were completely without problems. After, she had thanked him profusely, and allowed him to leave without any questions asked.

He was now back in the Vale, setting up a medium-sized tent in the southwest corner of the garden, in a small patch of grass. Triangular windows provided the entire Vale with natural sunlight, and it cast a glow through the window as they set up. It had enough room inside for Rowen so lie down on his side completely, if he chose, along with some other items he'd asked for. Jarim had gruffly supplied him with a Shin'a'in blanket, and Rowen treasured it deeply. It smelled of horses, clean, fresh air, grass, and the smoky taste of the campsites. When he lifted it to his nose and inhaled deeply, he could almost imagine that he was home. The tent he'd gotten was also Shin'a'in, though it didn't harbor much of any of the smells of home.

Julian would be residing upstairs. Elspeth had helped him set up once the gabbling, annoying servants had brought his things. Rowen had hidden himself outside the Vale, in the trees, and still they had been full of fear. The page, Sorcha was among them, carrying Julian's instruments, and Rowen wondered if Julian had gotten him assigned to them, since the boy now exhibited no fear of them. He was currently with Elspeth and Julian upstairs, and Darkwind was down here with him, working some small magics on the doors to keep the insects out.

When they were finished, Darkwind went upstairs to help Julian and Elspeth, leaving Rowen to wander the gardens on his own. There were plants of many varieties here, numerous ones in full bloom despite the fact that it wasn't their season outside. Night-blooming plants were releasing their fragrances as he wandered, and he breathed in deeply, savoring the unfamiliar though pleasant smells.

He found a special surprise in one corner; a small bed of grass that one could only find on the Plains, and two of the stunted tress that were found there as well. His eyes almost teared up as he welcomed the old smells of home. It astonished him that these could be found here. Whoever could force Dhorisha Plains grass indoors, and so far from their natural home must be a great gardener indeed.

Talia found him there, on his knees, simply breathing in the fragrance of the grass, reminding himself of what he had missed for so long.

"Enjoying An'desha's corner of the Vale?" she asked smilingly. He turned and greeted her. "Yes; it's amazing, and it reminds me so much of home."

She must have heard the longing in his voice, because she reached up one tiny hand to pat him gently on the shoulder, which she could only reach because he was on his knees. "Rowen, you honestly don't have to stay here if you don't want to. This is for our benefit, but some of us want to help you as best we can."

"It is- I do want to go home, Lady, however- I gave my word that I would attempt to become the Envoy to the Changechildren, and I also promised Julian. I would not break my word, and especially not a promise." To him, he silently added.

"Mmm." She stood next to him and enjoyed the peaceful moment with him, then asked suddenly, "Do you know who An'desha is?"

"No. His name sounds Shin'a'in, though."

"He was," she confirmed, "but he was so much more than that. He was a young Shin'a'in of fifteen summers when he left his Clan, to journey to the Tayledras to learn to control the Mage Gift that he held. You know the story of the Bloodpath Adept Ma'ar?"

He nodded. "He was the enemy of the Mage of Silence, when he and the Mage died, they caused the armies of the other Mage to scatter. One of the armies arrived down here, and the Sundering of the Clans occurred, and the Tayledras and the Shin'a'in have lived apart, yet together, ever since."

"Yes, but when the body of Ma'ar died, his spirit did not, and he took over the body of An'desha. Someone will tell you the whole story eventually, probably Elspeth or Darkwind, since they were there when An'desha was freed, but I will keep it short for now. The Mage gave himself the name Falconsbane, and lived in the forest near the Plains for a while, until he was defeated by the Gryphons, Elspeth and Darkwind, their Companions, Skif and his Companion, and Nyara, Falconsbane's daughter. When he was overcome, he fled using a Gate, and wound up in the Court of Ancar, former Prince of Hardon." Talia's face twisted, and he waited for whatever problem she was having to pass.

"When- when that happened, they joined forces, and when Ancar died, the Mage Firesong drove Ma'ar out of An'desha's body, and defeated him, destroying his very soul. An'desha came back to Valdemar for a while, and this is where the he and Firesong lived together, as lovers. That is why this is here. And- An'desha was like you; he was also a Changechild, though by force of will of Ma'ar upon his own body, in the shape of a humanoid cat. So you two were both in a similar predicament. He did not much enjoy Valdemar either, he was Shin'a'in, and you are both Changechildren, though the Star-Eyed Goddess changed his form back to his own, with the exception of his eyes and his hair. He was involved in the ending of the Magestorms, as was the Karsite Envoy Karal. That is why Karal is blind. An'desha is now living on the Plains, learning to become Shaman."

Rowen took a long while to digest this. Talia simply stood there with her hand on his shoulder. After several moments to think, he finally asked her, "Would it be possible for me to contact him?"

She smiled again, and said, "Of course."

He rose and nodded, and then Elspeth, Darkwind, and Julian came downstairs and there was no more time to talk. The lifebonded couple greeted the Queen's Own, and after saying goodbye to Julian and Rowen, they all left, leaving the two alone in the Vale.

"Rowen?" Julian ventured timidly.

"Yes?"

"I didn't want to ask this earlier, but- can I feel what you look like?"

Rowen was confused. "What?"

"Can I feel what you look like? It's how I create an image of someone in my mind. I need to feel your face, and I can place a picture of you in my mind."

He was startled by the request- but why not?

"Alright. Do you want to do it now?"

"Please."

"Come over here, then- no, let's go over here." Rowen led Julian to the hot pool, where he sat the young Bard down and folded his legs beneath him and made himself as comfortable as possible. Julian arranged himself into a crosslegged position, took a deep breath, and closed his blind eyes. Hesitantly, he reached out fingers that Rowen thought he saw trembling, but they were steady when they touched his face. Julian's slender fingers traveled the contours of Rowen's face, his hairline, strong nose, his eyebrow ridges and eyelids, his cheekbones and jaw. They traced the outlines of his lips, and moved back to Rowen's slightly pointed ears. The calluses on the tips of his fingers felt smooth as silk to the warrior's features. Julian's hand fell to his shoulder and lightly skimmed his biceps, running back along the under arm to Rowen's chest. The sensation roused something in the Changechild, and before he knew what he was doing, he had caught Julian's wrist and trapped it, Julian's fingers still splayed in the middle of his chest.

"That's enough," Rowen said gently. He hoped that his voice wasn't shaking as much as he thought.

The Bard nodded silently. "Your face," he finally whispered. "It's so strong, but so tense. It feels like you never smile, and I can only think that it's because you've had so little joy in your life."

"You are a great reader of faces, Julian," Rowen murmured. He was stern looking, and had been even when he'd been back with Tale'sedrin. His parents had died of a fever when he was fairly young, and nothing that the shaman could do had been able to save them. He didn't have any siblings, and was left alone at the tender age of nine.

Rowen was not a scholar, but he was more learned than the average warrior. He'd walked his own path, and studied and trained with an intensity that had startled, then delighted his teachers. By the time he was sixteen, he'd been serving as a full scout, and by the time he was eighteen, he was a full warrior among the Shin'a'in. Not as well trained as a Kal'enedral, but his skill came frighteningly close. He'd actually almost been able to beat one of the Swordsworn, but the goddess-chosen had pulled an unexpected move at the last second and Rowen had ended up sprawled in the dust.

As a result of his parents' dying fairly young, Rowen hadn't had any brothers or sisters, and was not close with many of the people in the Clan He'd always tried to distance himself, but his cold façade had failed to impress three people.

Sa'heera, a young woman two years older than him. Most of the other Clan members had suspected a romance; they shared nothing but a strong spirit-sib bond. Nadar. The bright young seven year old had attached himself to Rowen for reasons unknown, and made Rowen his proxy older brother, presumably to make up for the male sibling that he'd never had; all of his sibs were girls.

Jadrek, the Clan shaman, had made himself sort of a surrogate uncle to the orphaned Rowen, but the boy had never felt comfortabssle. Whether it was the magic, or the fact that Jadrek was the son of Kethryveris, who had repopulated the core of Tale'sedrin almost by herself, he had always felt like he was never alone with the man, like someone or something was watching them. Sa'heera would be… twenty-seven now, and little Nadar would be nearing thirteen. Oh, how he missed them.

"You feel sad," Julian observed quietly. "Is there someone back home that you miss?"

"A few people," Rowen replied softly. "An older spirit-sister, and a younger brother."

"Ah. I have my father and one brother- he's older than me, and Gifts seem to run in the family; he's a Healer stationed here at Haven, but we've never really been close. Father was never exactly pleased with certain… preferences I had, and Rojer usually sided with him."

'Preferences?'

Julian seemed to realize that he'd said too much, and ended the conversation. "Well, it's getting late, and we should be getting ready for bed."

"Right…"

Julian headed towards the stairs, then turned back just as he reached the base. "Rowen?... Thanks."

"Thank you, Julian."

"G'night."

As Rowen drifted off to sleep in his tent, breathing in the faint smells of home, he listened to the strange sounds of Valdemar. An owl hooted softly on the other side of the window, and he could hear Companions moving around the Field outside.

'Sa'heera once said, 'May you live in interesting times.' If I ever see her again, she will be living in too interesting times...'

And with that final thought, he drifted off to sleep in this strange, new land.