Magic's Promise

Vanyel did not answer immediately :'Fandes?: he called, softly. :Are you awake?:

:And following the conversation. Yes, provided it's needful for her to get the training and she stays as sweet as she is. I'd say by age ten. Maybe sooner, two years from now :

'Yfandes guesses that if she needs the training, between age eight and ten. Remember, for the presumptive King's Own, that won't be a bonded Choosing - she won't bond until - until she gets the office. Then she'll bond with Taver.'' Vanyel ignored both Shavri's frightened face and Randale's elation. 'So, given that - there's a little something she and I ought to do.'

He focused himself down again, pulling on Yfandes' strength to assist his own, and thanking the gods he could do so, because Jisa should not remain as open as she was now. This time he did not close his eyes, but locked them with the child's, and showed her without words - for she did not yet have sufficient Mindspeech to use words- how to shield herself from unwanted thoughts and emotions, and unshield again at will. He was, he feared, the only person who could have taught her at this stage; Empathy not being a normal Heraldic Gift, and most Healers not using it in the way a Herald-Mage could.

He showed her how to find her center - she knew with an instant of studying him how to ground. The fundamentals it had taken him so long and so painfully to learn came to her with the ease of breathing, perhaps because learning was as easy as breathing at her age, and perhaps because his learning had come at the cost of so much loss and pain that had nothing to do with his Gifts.

' - there. That should hold her until she's got enough to be taught formally. Teach her yourself, Shavri. You won't find anyone in the Heralds with Empathy as strong as hers. When she's got it at full power, she'll be able to control a mob in full cry.'

Shavri had herself back under control again, and the smile she gave Vanyel was genuine. 'Thank you, love.'

He shrugged. 'No thanks needed. Before I forget it - I brought you two some 'pretties' also.'

Shavri took the pendant with an exclamation of genuine delight as he handed the matching cloak-brooch to Randale. 'Van, you shouldn't have - ' she began.

'Of course I should have,' he said. 'Who else have I got to bring things to?' It came out bleaker than he intended.

'Oh, Van - ' Her eyes softened, and Randale cleared his throat and blinked. They reached out in the same moment and each took one of his hands. He closed his eyes, and for an instant allowed himself to feel a part of their closeness.

But it was their closeness, not his.

And I have no right.

'Mama, I have lessons,' said a small voice, still at I Vanyel's knee.

'Bright Havens, so you do!” Shavri exclaimed 'Van - '

'Go,' he said, wrinkling his nose at her. “I'll be back in a few weeks, and maybe this tyrant of a King will let me stick around for a while this time.'

She shooed Jisa out and followed her with the light step of a young girl. Randale's gaze followed both of them.

'You sire wonderful children, Van,' he said softly.

“You raise better ones,” Vanyel replied, uneasily. “You are Jisa's papa, don't you ever forget it. I was nothing more than the convenient means to a rather attractive little end.'

The King relaxed visibly. 'I keep thinking you're going to want her back-especially now that she's showing Gifts. She's more like you than you know.'

Vanyel laughed. 'Whatever would I do with her? Great I good gods, what kind of a parent would I make? I can't even train the palace cats to stay off my pillow! No, Randi, she's all yours, in everything that counts. I would rather be Uncle Van, who gets to spoil her.'

Randale reached out without looking and snagged a chair with one hand. He swung it around and put it in front of Vanyel. 'She'd make a good Queen.'

'She'd make a very bad Queen,' Vanyel replied, draping himself over it as Randale took another. 'The things