Winds Of Fury

Companion.:Vanyel's mind-voice dripped irony :It never fails to annoy me how little faith people can have in each other, Herald or no. Ah, well. Now that 'Fandes has her away from you, I'll tell you what she may 'forget' to tell you about the Grove-born. Be gentle on her, Elspeth; as Companions go - when compared to, say, Sayvil - she is very, very young. No older than you, in fact. She makes all the kinds of mistakes any young thing makes, but because she is Grove-born, she thinks she will always make the right decision.:He shook his head :She forgets that she has no real, human experience to base her decisions on. It is like dictating music when you yourself have never learned to play an instrument.:

If this was supposed to mollify Elspeth, it didn't work. But on the other hand, she had gotten used to Gwena, and her 'habits'; by now she had a fair notion how to figure out what was going on from what Gwena wouldn't tell her. Gwena wasn't going to change, so there was really no point in getting upset with her at this late a date. And despite her faults, Gwena had been a good friend for a long time.

:Actually, it would be a good thing if I could have a word with the two adult gryphons along with Elspeth and Darkwind. Since there are magics to talk of, it would be best to discuss things with all the mages at once.:Vanyel looked hopefully at Treyvan and Hydona, as the little ones watched the spirit solemnly from behind their parents' wings :This valley is quite well shielded and protected; nothing can get in or out unless I permit it. The gryphlets could get some exercise.:

'While we adultsss ssspeak of thingsss that would bore them into missschief,' Hydona laughed. 'Well, if Rrisss isss willing to take charge of them - '

The kyree nodded his head in a way that made it look like a bow : Of course, lovely lady. I can continue hunting lessons if you like.:

Both gryphlets perked up their ear tufts at that, and suddenly the little round baby faces looked as fierce as the adults'. Elspeth kept forgetting that they were carnivores. They were so baby-fluffy and, well, cute. But they were raptorial, like Vree, and like him they enjoyed the hunt and the kill - when they actually succeeded at the latter, which wasn't often.

'Yesss,' Hydona replied thoughtfully. 'Hunting lesssonsss would be mossst appreciated.'

:Then come along, younglings,: Rris said, trotting off with his tail high, looking surprisingly graceful for a creature the size of a young calf. The gryphlets bounded off after him, with a great deal less grace. Treyvan winced as Lytha crashed into a bush, tumbled head-over-tail, and kept right on going without even a pause. And Jerven was no more coordinated than his sister, blundering through the remains of the bush.

:This is not secret or private,: Vanyel said then, looking at Skif and Nyara, :But - much will be very technical. You may stay if you wish:

'I don't think so - thank you, but I'm not in the least interested. Really. I think I'd be better off not knowing,' Skif said hastily. 'And I wouldn't have Mage-Gift if you offered it to me. I wouldn't have it if you paid me Cymry's weight in gold to take it!'

He glanced at Nyara, who shrugged. Elspeth hadn't thought she would be interested, and she was not proven wrong. 'My abilities are at the level of Journeyman in a school, or so Need tells me. I would be wasting my time with higher magics. The mage who knows how to use simple spells cleverly is just as effective as the Adept with no imagination. I should enjoy simply being with my friends in this lovely place.'

And putting off the encounter with more strangers, Elspeth thought. I can't blame her, either.

:l'm too old to learn another style of magery without a long time to study it,: Need said :To be honest, youngsters, there's things I know you people have forgotten. Simple stuff, but sometimes simple is better. We'll run along, and you'II have your conference without me going 'What?' every few moments.:

Darkwind snickered.

:Van, I can show them the springs,: Stefen offered.

At Vanyel's nod, Skif and Nyara followed the little wisp of mist that was Stefen out of the clearing. Firesong came back a moment later, face impassive and unreadable, but eyes sparkling.

'Mother says that this was quite discourteous and inconsiderate of you, even if you are our forefather,' he announced. 'She told me to tell you that you are old enough to have better manners, especially by now. The only way she is prepared to forgive you is if you teach me what you did. And how to defend against it, if there is any defense.'

The spirit rippled, and Elspeth got the distinct impression Vanyel was either laughing or stifling laughter :Very well,: he said after a moment :It is, after aII, the least I can do. Now if you could make yourselves comfortable.:

That was not difficult to do, here. In fact, Elspeth suspected Vanyel had taken a leaf or two from the Hawkbrothers' book, and had constructed this place along the lines of a Vale.

The gryphons reclined on the soft grass, and Darkwind and Elspeth used them as backrests :The first thing I need to tell you about is what I call the Web,: Vanyel said :I created it because there were too few Herald-Mages left - originally there were four we called Guardians who remained at Haven and kept up a constant watch on the Borders. I changed that; I tied all Heralds and Companions into a net of