Winds Of Fury

muscle.

But not unexpectedly; Elspeth had been her pupil for too long ever to be taken by surprise, especially after tossing out a challenge like that one. Instead, it was Kero who got the surprise, as Elspeth lashed out with a mage-born whip of power and knocked her feet out from under her. Kero went down onto the marble floor in a controlled tumble, and if Elspeth had not been as well-trained as she was, Kerowyn could have recovered for another try at her. But Elspeth was not going to give her that chance. She kept a 'grip' on Kero's ankles to keep her off her feet, then wrapped her up in an invisible binding. Kero did not resist, as most Valdemarans would have. Elspeth knew she had seen magic often enough when she led the Skybolts as a mercenary company in Rethwellan and southward. She simply waited, lying there passively, until Elspeth released her, then got to her feet, dusting off her hands on her breeches.

'You'll do,' was all she said, but Elspeth glowed from the compliment, and Darkwind winked at her.

'And you have learned much of magic, lady,' Firesong observed, 'Enough to know not to fight mage-bonds, which is far more than anyone else in this land would know. And I am curious to know how you came by this knowledge.'

Kero gave Firesong a long and penetrating look; in his turn, he graced her with one of his most charming smiles. It would have taken a colder woman than Kero to ignore that smile; it would have taken a more powerful wizard than Firesong for that smile to affect her. But in the end, she decided to answer him.

'Simple enough; I'm not from around here.' That was in Shin'a'in, not Valdemaran; Firesong's eyes widened a trifle and he gave her a look full of respect. Kero looked around for somewhere to sit, and finally chose the side of the gryphons' 'nest' by default. 'I was born and grew up in the south of Rethwellan. I was the granddaughter of a sorceress, trained by a Shin'a'in Swordsworn who was her partner, adopted as a Clan Friend to Tale'sedrin, then took a place in a mere company. Eventually I got the Captain slot, and circumstances brought us up here.' She shrugged. 'We hired on because I knew Prince Daren, we both trained with the same Shin'a'in, and the Rethwellans owed the Valdemarans a debt that hadn't been discharged. The Skybolts were part-payment on that debt. Never guessed when we came riding over those mountains down south, I'd lose all my mages and pick up a stubborn white talking horse.'

:No more stubborn than you.:

Every Mindspeaker in the room looked startled at that, with the sole exception of Kerowyn. She only sighed. 'That was my Companion Sayvil,' she said, apologetically. 'She can Mindspeak with anyone she pleases, and she won't pretend otherwise like the rest of 'em. Next thing is I expect her to start Mindspeaking people without the Gift. She's gotten worse about it lately.'

:That's because there's been more need for it lately. And speaking of 'Need' - :

'I suppose the damn sword decided you didn't deserve it or something?' Kero asked. 'Or did you get fed up with it and drop it down a well like I threatened to do?'

'She's with Skif's lady, Nyara,' Elspeth began, hesitantly addressing the air over Kero's head. 'That's a long story and - '

:You!: came another, and far more excited voice. From the other room bounded a startled kyree, trailed by the gryphlets :You had Need! You! You must be the youngling trained by my famous cousin Warrl! Lady Tarma's pupil! The one Lady Kethry gave Need to!:

He bounded over and prostrated himself at her feet for a moment, in the kyree imitation of a courtly bow :I have heard so much about you! My famous cousin Warrl said you were destined for greatness! You must tell me all of your life so that I may make it into stories!:

All the time that Rris was chattering in open Mindspeech, Kero's face had taken on an expression that Elspeth had never, ever expected to see.

Completely blank, and slack-jawed. She was, quite clearly, taken utterly by surprise.

She recovered fairly quickly, however. 'I don't believe this,' she said under her breath, as Rris finished and waited eagerly for her answer. 'I mean - what are the odds? Who ever sees one kyree in a lifetime, much less two, and for the two to be related? I just don't by-the-gods believe this!'

Rris took on an air of extreme dignity, and fixed Kero with an admonishing gaze. :My famous cousin Warrl used to say that there is no such thing as coincidence, only mortals who have not fought the winds of fate.:

'Your famous cousin Warrl stole that particular proverb from the Shin'a'in he ran with,' Kero countered. 'It happens to be about five hundred years older than your 'famous cousin Warrl.' And believe me, I fought so-called 'fate' plenty. I don't believe in fate.' She shook her head again. 'All right, kyree - what is your name?'

:Rris,: he said proudly :Tale-spinner, History-keeper, and Lesson- teacher of the Hyrrrull Pack.:

'All right, Rris, I'll tell you everything you'd like to know, but - ' she interjected, holding up a hand to stave off the eager creature, ' - not now. We have a lot to do, and I have the depressing feeling we have a very short time to do it in. It's only a matter of time before Ancar hits us, and right now we can only pray he follows his old patterns, and makes several feints and tests before he decides to truly come after us. Now, unless I miss my guess, what you