Cookies for xDarklightx, HPLUVR71495, R0ki, RooenEnnyte, and xMxRosex.

I couldn't continue this without your support!

When Eleni managed to come out of her Gift-induced sleep, she was still in her little, wooden cage. As her tired eyes darted about, noticing that she wasn't in the garden anymore. In fact, she noted, it was a brand new day.

That gods-cursed little mage used his Gift on me! As soon as he gets close enough, I'll tear his eyes out! The indignity! I have never in my life been treated so poorly. And by children no less!

In her rage, she didn't hear someone enter the room. She only acknowledged the girl when her cage was roughly picked up. Holding the cage securely in her hands, the girl stared at the moving crow. A minuscule small graced her lips, but her emerald eyes were shining brightly.

"I am very pleased to see you awake, Mistress Crow. My baby brother made a fuss when you wouldn't wake up. Shook your cage quite vigorously." Eleni would have growled, if she had been able to. Shaking her cage, indeed!

But she didn't have time to be angry. Without a care in the world, the girl had thrust the cage below her arm and started for the door. Apparently, they were going on a trip. Eleni could only hope that one of the children would be foolish enough to open the cage. Lokejo was probably already half had from worrying.

The girl was assaulted by a multitude of children when she entered a second room. Hand tried to grab the wooden cage and Eleni was justled more than a sack of grain. Small voices called out in a dizzying mix of Common and Yaman. Half-deafaned by the noise, Eleni was surprisingly relieved to hear an ear-splitting whistle. It got the children to settle down.

The sound had come from one of the few people not trying to take her cage, the mage who had spelled her. Green-eyed Galen was the only male in the room who was older than ten, and obviously the one in control. Various children voiced their disgruntlement at having their fun interrupted, but he ignored them.

"If you do not settle down, I will set the bird free." Eleni fervently wished that the children acted up again and that he would be forced to free her, but the children remained quiet. "Good. Miuko, hand me the cage." His voice was authoritative and left no room for arguments.

However, Miuko was not one to be ordered around. "Mistress Crow does not belong to you." She held the cage up to show off the crow to the small children in front of her. "Besides, after that spell you used on her, I doubt she wants to go with you."

The children were behaving properly, and making appreciative cooing noises. Eleni had now resorted to praying. Every god in the Divine Realms was receiving a prayer from the half-crow, asking to be freed. If one of these children would simply undo the latch that locked the cage. Tt would only take one stray hand to undo the stupid latch!

"Give her to me, Miuko." Galen had made his way through the sea of children and stood with his hand outstretched. "Now."

"Why should I?" Dear gods, they were going to argue.

"I am the oldest," the boy stated simply. His greater-than-thou attitude was starting to annoy Eleni. Just who was this Galen?

"The oldest boy. Do not forget your place, little brother." Miuko walked past her stunned brother and bowed to two nearly identical girls sitting on a couch. "Your highnesses."

"Miuko, be kinder to Galen," the girl with warm brown eyes chided.

"I am very sorry, your Highness."

From her vantage point beneath Miuko's arm, Eleni could study the two girls. Because of the way Miuko had addressed the two young ladies, Eleni could surmise that these two were Princesses Lianokami and Aiokami, Crown Prince Roald's eldest children.

"Stop it." Despite her calm face, two bright red patches had appeared on her cheeks. "Do not call me by a title."

"Sorry, Liano." There seemed to be little love lost between the girls. Though she had only seen them interact for a few minutes, Eleni knew the two older girls were excellent friends.

The other princess was Aoikami, and she had inherited the sapphie Conte eyes. "Come, Miu," she patted the couch. "Show us your new friend."

Eleni was yet again presented as some silly trophy. How long before they tired of her? Eventually they would grow bored of having her in the cage, it was only a matter of time. Patience was her friend in this predicament. Eleni just had to wait for one of them to unlock the cage, then she would fly far away.

"Karasu!" That word again. As her eyes darted about the room, she saw Yasumaru and his mother enter. He was already making a beeline for her.

"Yasumaru," his mother called out. "Remember that your new friend doesn't speak Yaman." As if sensing what her eldest son would say, she added, "And we will not force her to learn Common."

Galen visibly withered at his mother's words and left the room. Clearly, he was a proud little mage. In the meantime, Yasumaru was trying to pry Eleni away from his sister.

"My friend!" He was adamant, that could not be denied. However, his methods didn't work with Miuko. If anything, she was getting annoy. That is, if Yamanis could show annoyance.

"Yasu, go play with Jonnie. Poor Jonnie's been waiting for you this whole time. Go on." It was a brave effort. She tried to dismiss him and hide Eleni at the same time. It didn't work.

"No! My friend." In no time at all, a tantrum was underway. His mother hung her head, as if asking for the patience to handle her children.

"Yasumaru. Miuko." Her voice was soft, but, somehow, Eleni knew their mother was angry.

I certainly am.

Silence fell over the room. The children who had been playing quieted at the lady's words. They knew what was coming. Rapid words were exchanged in Yaman between the Miuko and her mother. Still, Eleni had to admit, that even while arguing, Yamanis knew how to keep composed.

"Fine!" Miuko thrust the cage at her little brother and stormed out of the room. So much for composure. Her friends sighed in unison and rose to follow. They gave a quick bow to the lady.

"I apologize for Miu, Lady Yuki," Aoikami said.

"You know that she has a temper," her sister added.

And just like that the two princesses had left. Eleni didn't have the chance to contemplate what their departure meant for her, because Yasumaru was shaking her cage. Seeing that the new pet was in the possession of someone smaller, the remaining children gathered around Yasumaru. Eleni found herself surround by children, and more than a little frightened.

One boy with startling blue eyes and coal black hair was extremely fascinated. "How about we let her fly around a bit? It must be cramped in that small cage." He sound genuinely upset for her circumstances, but Eleni cared more for the possibility of being freed.

"Okay!" Yasumaru agreed with the enthusiasm all toddlers possessed for new ideas. His little fingers were undoing the latch before he had finished saying the word. Eleni's eyes were trained on the cage door.

Faster than lightening, she had burst through the opening. Right away, a piercing wail resounded throughout the room. It wasn't just Yasumaru protesting Eleni's escape, three other children were crying. To add to the din, someone had slammed the door open. Eleni shot towards the door, not interested in whoever it was that had joined the fracas.

The door closed before she could get through. Ready to peck the eyes of the man below her, Eleni realized too late that it was her grandfather. He grinned up at her, beseeching her to land on his wrist. Though put out, she did as she was asked. The children were instantly pacified.

The grin hadn't left George's mouth. He bowed to Lady Yuki and in the direction of the children. "I was almost knocked down by one of your daughters, Lady Yuki. I believe I heard her complaining about a 'silly crow'. I just happened to be looking for my own pet crow." He passed a gentle finger over Eleni's beak. "Imagine my surprise to find her here."

The cries started up again. The children were not pleased by the news he brought. Yasumaru was especially unrelenting in his protest, going so far as to kick George. Eleni cawed in amusement, glad that someone else was getting a taste of what she had endured.

Lady Yuki was not amused. Another round of softly spoken, yet obviouly angry, words were directed at the little boy. Bowing his head in shame he went to his mother's side.

"I do apologize, my Lord." A bow followed the apology. "My son is headstrong."

George brushed away her words. "No need, milady. I'm sure he just doesn't want his friend to go, but she must." He bowed once more to the lady and the children. "If you'll excuse me, I'm sure my pet would enjoy going back to our rooms."

The walk back to the Baron's suite was a slow one, but Eleni never considered flying ahead of her grandfather. She knew she was in enough trouble without sending him on a wild chase. And who knew who else might capture her in this form. Once inside George's office, she hopped off his hand and landed on his desk.

"We're going to have a talk," he said. His calm tone made her anxious rather than comforted. "And you're going to stay in that form, because it's the only way I'll manage to speak without you interrupting." Eleni let out an indignant squawk and puffed up her feathers. "Oh, stop it. You're lucky that Trickster told me to you were missing. Otherwise, you'd be eating crackers for a very long time."

Glowering at her grandfather, and even more incensed that Kyprioth had interfered, Eleni nonetheless settled down for what was sure to be a very, very, very long lecture. He'd never let her out of his sight again. Stupid Trickster.

"How dare you interfere in with my chosen!"

The Divine Realms were thoroughly shaken by the furious roar. Despite the thousands who worshiped her as the "Gentle Mother", the Great Mother Goddess knew how to fight as well as her husband. At the moment, she was pinning her younger brother with her burning spear.

"Dare to meddle in my affairs just one more time, crow, and it will take you millennia to recover. She. Is. Mine."

When she left, her brother was nursing the gaping wound on his shoulder. It didn't bleed, but it damn well hurt.

"I said I take care of my own," he muttered to himself. "Can't expect me to ignore her just because you do."

The Queenscove children are a real handful, but all of them are dears. More than one of them is destined for knighthood, and there is another one on the way. Neal has his work cut out for him.

I love Kyprioth. He said he looks after his own, and helping Eleni angers the Great Mother, so it's a perfect way to kick back during the weekend.

Part of me is just dying to move on the the squire years, but I can't! Arrgh. I have such great things in store for Eleni, it kills me that I can't write any of it yet.

Reviews make me feel loved! Thanks again for all of them!