Following Fate’s Kiss

By: Rebecca Anne “Sinead” Fahey-Leigh

Chapter Two:

Learning the Trade

            “Qyriian Hrutan, yeh tell me who this girl is right this instant! And yeh tell me how ye got t’ th’ Higher Form!”

            I looked at my betrothed, and saw him look to his mother. The Gyrkin female was pure white with frosty blue eyes. She indicated me with her eyes again, and Hrutan smiled shyly, before bowing his head slightly and replying, “Mother, this is Harmony Riian. She’s the human Grandfather told you about. You remember, the one that I swore to protect?”

            The Gyrkin walked over to me, her blue eyes still hard. “Have ye slept t’gether?”

            I shook my head. “He’s acknowledged my wish to stay a virgin until I’m wed.”

            “Good. He’s learned something. But that doesn’t explain the Higher Form.”

            “Yes it does, mother.” Hrutan said quietly as he smiled gently at me, reassuring me. “We love each other. We . . . we want to marry each other. Why else would I have the Higher Form?”

            She whirled to look at him in happy astonishment, her wings nearly braining me in the process. I heard a snuffle, and saw Hrutan stiffen before leaping over to me and wrapping his wings around me. The atmosphere changed instantly as he growled, “Gharala! She’s mine.”

            A dirty-brown Gyrkin growled. “Ye smell like Hrutan, yet he never had th’ gall t’ stand up t’ me, the whining brat. An’ ’e would’ve never allowed ’imself t’ love a ’uman!”

            “Because I’ve seen and been through more by leaving the Clan and getting out to the world on the western coast, I’m able to do both, and easily! You even think about touching my Riian, and I’ll kill you.”

            Gharala walked closer, grinning. “Why d’ye think that I’ll let ye get away wi’ havin’ a human, a late virgin, without me goin’ fer one before ye?”

            A white form sprang between us and the new Gyrkin. Her broad paw whipped out and clouted him across the cheek. “Ye leave my son an’ his woman alone, otherwise ye’ll be answerin’ t’ me in th’ Ring. Dinnae yeh mother teach ye anythin’ ’bout two betrothed?!”

            He backed away, growling, holding a paw to his cheek, but he backed into another, larger Gyrkin, who set into him with another hit. This time, though, his tail was hit hard enough to spin him to face the older Gyrkin. Varthin snapped at him, causing him to cower at the larger Gyrkin’s glare. “Get back to your nest, cub, before I bring you there in pieces.” Varthin growled out in the accent of the Gyrkin, “Ye’re t’ respect their vow, an’ iffn I find ye tryin’ t’ do anythin’ tha’ breaks our laws, ye’re death will be long an’ painful! Have I made meself clear?”

            He nodded and left silently, smoldering. I sighed and Hrutan’s wings went slack. “I could never stand him. And he never liked me, either.”

            I ran my fingers through his feathers, then sighed. “He looks at you with jealousy. I could hear it in his voice as well.”

            “Good.  You saw that too, Riian?” Varthin said. I nodded. He smiled, and looked at his daughter. “Qathin, meet Harmony Riian. She’s the one who has changed Hrutan to what he is today. Quite literally, actually.”

            “Don’t ye be gettin’ all high an’ mighty wi’ me, Da.”

            “Right, me lovely. What have ye been doin’? I’ve been spendin’ too much time at that human’s academy, drownin’ meself in books an’ th’ like,” he replied, sidling up to her, and nudging her side lightly.

            She laughed, and they engaged a wrestling match, tumbling easily and loose-jointedly, apparently used to it. I looked up at Qyriian, but he was watching the sky. A lone Gyrkin was spiraling down to land before us. He sniffed a few times, then hissed, “Who’s this virgin, Qyriian. Why’s she ’ere?”

            Hrutan didn’t answer this Gyrkin at first. “Good hunting, Father?”

            “Qyriian Hrutan, tell me.”

            My beloved’s pure-white wings drew in closer around me, and I felt them completely surround me. His answer was harsh. “Once you take back what you said, Father, I will introduce you to her.”

            “Ye’re toyin’ wi’ ’er longer. Ye’re improvin’.”

            “I’m not ‘toying,’ Father, I’m demanding an apology for what you said.”

            “Jagha, ye do what he says. He’s explained it all t’ me, an’ I agree wi’ ’im,” Qyriian’s mother, Qathin, replied.

            Jagha snorted, then replied, “Fine. I’m sorry. Ye happy?”

            Qyriian’s wings separated, but he kept a firm hand upon my shoulder, keeping me close to him. His voice was no more warm than it was when he was addressing Gharala. “She is Harmony Riian. We’re to be wed next spring, if we are able to.”

            “Where do these humans get these names? Riian’s th’ name of one o’ our slaughtered kin! Yeh’r cousin!”

            I sighed, and winced mentally. “I helped in that kill. He had attacked the village I was in, and I was protecting a clan’s-member. I was the only one brave enough to get between the Gyrkin and my own second-cousin. The Gyrkin had introduced himself when he was demanding one of the girls I knew. I wasn’t gong to let him win. The Tietha clan elders gave me the second name, saying I was as ferocious as that Gyrkin. I didn’t agree with it, and I know that I’m never going to be as brutal as a virgin-hungry Gyrkin is.”

            “Hah! Ye killed Riian?” Jagha snorted.

            I shook my head, letting my eyes lock upon his. “No, I didn’t kill him. He was already wounded from a first attack. I distracted him so that the Tietha could kill him. I would have been killed, had I not dodged out of the way fast enough.”

            “He was mad. Attackin’ a Tietha village? Bloody lunacy.” He walked over to me, and Hrutan’s other hand rested upon my shoulder, tense. Jagha’s breath was sour, and his red eyes glinted. “Assassin quality, Hrutan. Dinnae ye feel it?”

            “Why else do you think I was stalking her for seven months before finally meeting her? She could have killed me upon her own. Both of us knew that, too. I didn’t want to risk my life before getting to know her seriously.”

            Jagha backed off, turned to spread his wings to take off again, and then hissed over his shoulder, “She could still kill, Qyriian. I dinnae suggest that ye allow many more Gyrkin to see ’er. Not all’re like Gharala; not all will be driven away as easily as ’e was.”

            That night, Hrutan brought me back to the Academy. We entered the large library where Headmaster and his wife Headmistress were sitting, watching the flames. They looked up at our entrance, and the Mistress smiled. “We wanted to hear about how you were received, Riian.”

            I sighed, and said, “The Gyrkin males all wanted to eat me, and all the females wanted to dote over me. The femme-folk were so happy that I had changed the little terror that Qyriian once was into something even slightly respectable.”

            Qyriian chuckled, and added, “She did well in reacting to them.”

            I looked up at him, and said, “All thanks to you and your shock therapy when I first met you. Gyrkin aren’t ones for first impressions.”

            “No, they definitely are not,” Master Varthin replied, chuckling, as he closed the door behind him. “My daughter loved Riian, however, her husband didn’t understand what Qyriian saw in the girl. Personally, I don’t know what my daughter saw in that bloody idiot of a husband. He still goes on raids when other married males of his age have given them up to breed, to have more than seven cubs. Although, when they saw Hrutan, then I can understand why they stopped.”

            “Oh, so funny, Grandfather,” Qyriian grumbled, sulking.

            I walked over to the large Gyrkin and rubbed at his ears, smiling. “Thank you for helping getting rid of Gharala. I didn’t think that you were still that agile.”

            He swept me up, and tossed me onto his shoulder, but not before giving me a rather wet lick upon fully half of my face. “Agile that, young rip.” I rubbed at my face and then hopped down, dodging all his attempts to try to catch and contain me again. Finally, he sat, and said, “Fine. You win.”

            I smiled and sat in a chair, feeling Hrutan gently move me over to sit next to me. His wings trailed over the back of the thickly-padded seat, but he didn’t seem to mind. With a sigh, he said, “They were somewhat harsh. Not many male Gyrkin can do as I did. They don’t see humans as equals. They feel almost the same way that you do about them. Or rather, the way the majority of humans feel about Gyrkin.”

            “The males only see humans as a stress relief.” Master Varthin continued. “Even then, human females are more useful to them than human males. The females of the Gyrkin, however, see differently. They are more relaxed about it all. They see humans as equal creatures, with talents all of their own. They pity humans, since you have neither the luxury of flight, nor any natural weapons. If it were not for them, there would be many more raids, and many more deaths.”

            I stood, and stretched, careful of my recent wound. “I have to get to bed, Master, Mistress. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            The Master stood. “Before you go, Riian, I have the knowledge that you might have been in with the assassination of the man in charge of the clear-stone drilling in the lower mountain regions.”

            I blinked. “What of it?”

            “Why did you?”

            Master Varthin stood, and replied for me. “She was doing what was right for the Dragons. There is an ancient breeding ground in that area, that only Dragons and Gyrkin know about. We help them protect it, and will keep doing so until the end of time. Hrutan couldn’t go in there and kill the man; Gyrkin only kill females, unless males get in the way. That’s Gyrkin law, and has one exception: when the breeding grounds of either our race or the race of the Dragons are in danger. Riian the Assassin has awoken and will remain for quite a while, I believe.”

            I looked at him, then sighed, and replied, “I understand.”

            “Good. Then you know that you have another job.”

            I blinked, then shrugged marginally. “I didn’t know until now, Master Varthin.”

            “Ah. I see. Hrutan will tell you soon enough.”

            As I changed behind a screen, I said, “You knew about another job, didn’t you.”

            “Yes.”

            “And that’s why you brought me to meet your family so soon.”

            “Correct again. I wanted them to know you before you had to bloody your hands a second time, or was endangered a second time.”

            “Where is it?” I asked, walking around the screen, and towards the bed, where the Higher Form Gyrkin was reclining, his wings folded and still. A white skin was across the bed. It was the softest fur anyone would ever feel, but waterproof and tougher than an ox-hide. It had been Qyriian’s. It was customary for the Grykin to skin the old body and present the fur to the woman. She would hide it to prevent him from shifting into his old body, his old ways of thinking, but I left it out. I let Qyriian have his choice, even though I knew he wasn’t going anywhere. He knew that as well.

            “Qyriian?” I asked softly. “Are you awake?”

            “Yes.”

            “What are you thinking?”

            “I’ll have to don the skin again, so that I’ll be able to protect you completely,” he whispered. I leaned over him and ran my fingers through his platinum blonde hair. His tan skin contrasted against his hair perfectly. His eyes met mine, as his hand wrapped around the small of my back and pulled me to rest against him. “You’ll have to be careful in the first three minutes. I’ll be as bloodthirsty as I had been before I met you.”

            “What will I do?”

            “Arm yourself. Don’t be afraid to hit me. I heal ten times faster than a human does.”

            I pulled myself up so that I could look directly into his eyes. “I will not harm you, Qyriian.”

            “Harmony . . .”

            “No, listen to me. I’ll hide somewhere. When you’re calm, I’ll know, and I’ll come to you.”

            “Harmony, I’ll scent you, smell you, find you right away. You won’t have a chance.”

            I smiled up at him and he sighed, nodding a few times. “All right, we’ll try it your way. Once everything’s calm again, I’ll pull out of the skin. I’ll be able to do that on command. Next time a job comes around, we’ll try it my way.”

            “Deal,” I replied, then settled against his shoulder. “Once question, though, and it doesn’t have to do with the job at all.”

            “What is it?”

            “Are . . . are you a virgin?”

            He was silent for a moment, then sighed, and said, “No. At least, in my old form, I wasn’t. But I think that since I have a new body, then . . . I am. Euah, I don’t know, Riian, just sleep. Let all other questions wait until tomorrow.”

            I nodded, and then closed my eyes. “I love you.”

            His gentle chuckle was warming to my heart. “I’ve always loved you, Harmony. Sleep, now.”

            The door burst open, ripping off of its hinges, and a paw swept me out. Blood-red eyes bored into my own, and Hrutan snickered evilly. This was the Hrutan before I knew him, I realized.

            Knowing that I had to do something before he did something he’d regret later, I reached out almost fearlessly and wrapped my arms around his snout, kissing it. “Qyriian Hrutan, I love you. Come back to me.”

            He shuddered, then held me gently, carefully, and set me upon the ground, curling up so that his head was hidden from me. I maneuvered my way under his arm and looked up at his closed eyes. They opened, revealing them to be a mahogany brown again. He whispered, “Ye see what I mean? I had all intentions t’ rape an’ eat ye here.”

            I kissed him, and said, “But you didn’t.”

            “Next time, stay wi’ me. Talk t’ me. Th’ moment ye’r voice hit me ears, I knew it was you, an’ I remembered my vow t’ ye.”

            Sighing, he stood upon all fours and put his wings away. “We’ll be walkin’ again, Riian.”

            “I know,” I replied. “Let me change.” As I was around the screen, I said, “Your accent’s back.”

            “Mm-hm.”

            “And you’re the color you were before, not white.”

            “Aye.”

            I walked around the screen a moment later, dressed completely in a black free-moving suit. I reached for brightly-colored royal-blue-and-crimson carnival clothing, and got into them. “So what were you doing, Master Distracted?”

            “Oh, ah, nuthin’.”

            “Right. I believe you.”

            “I’ll tell ye later.”

            “Fine by me.”

            I retrieved my blow-pipe, darts, and my small cross-bow, which only strapped onto my wrist, concealing them easily in my baggy tunic, and over-large skirt. I pulled on the black boots, and then strapped on over them larger boots, with regular soles that made more noise that I thought necessary. I tucked knives and daggers all over the place upon me, and then reached for a sword. Hrutan’s paw touched my hand. “Lass, I dinnae think that t’ be a wise idea.”

            I shook my head. “This is a thieve’s den, Qyriian. I grew up among their type. Thieves wear a sword of their choice at all times. Every one of them is different, all according to the individual.”

            “It’s yeh personal sword, Riian.”

            I sighed, and pointed at the scabbard of the ancient-style saber. “See that symbol? The fox. It’s the clan symbol for the Harutha.” I drew it partially, showing him the mark upon the folded metal. “It’s upon the blade itself, too, see? All the other requirements for the other three clans are also represented, but you wouldn’t recognize them unless you know what to look for.”

            He looked over the sword. “It’s only for show, then?”

            “No. All thieves can wear and use a sword, generally of the shorter variety. We’re trained as soon as we can walk. The Xaqtha use a long saber, which is why I use this style of sword. Also, their clan symbol is that feline whose tail curls around the end of the scabbard while its running upwards. That hawk represents the Kalitha, while the wolf that’s right above the fox is for the Tietha.”

            He nodded, seeing that I wanted him to know. “I understand. I’ve seen th’ symbols ev’rywhere, but I dinnae know what they meant.”

            I smiled, and rubbed at his face, tracing the black streak that ran along his cheekbone on either side. “I’m ready. Are you?”

            He smiled, nodded, and replied, “More’n I’ll ever be, lass. This time, try not to get hurt.”

            I smiled and nodded as I grabbed my cloak and wrapped it around my shoulders, walking beside my betrothed back out into the wilderness. Thankfully, though, it wasn’t all that far to the Harutha capital where I grew up.

            Harutha carnivals and fairs aren’t something that you’d want to miss. I hadn’t been to one is ages, and I saw that I had missed the constant flow of events going on. I could feel Hrutan watching me from somewhere, and so I did everything that a non-single girl my age did when at an event like this one. I specifically gave out signals that the Harutha would notice, such as the color I wore (crimson and blue), the style of skirt (free-flowing, length to right above my ankles, crimson and blue panels running from the hip downwards in straight lines), the top I wore (not too tight around the chest, a wide neck, the shoulders and sleeves crimson, the bodice blue), as well as the way I wore my hair (halfway pulled up into a half-bun). Physical appearances were a second language to Harutha, who are all about watching.

            Even though I was giving off the signals that I was taken, I was being watched intently by a few single men when I chose the medallions and the chains I had been specifically looking for, then handed the man behind the booth the money for the metal items. The three men were nowhere to be found after seeing what I had chosen. the Harutha were raised to be respectful of women and their choices.

            As I was walking, I especially honed my pickpocketing talents, gaining quite a few gold bents as well as a few other bents of lesser value. I had avoided any and all attempts to be stolen from, since I could sense the movements of those around me. With the money I gathered, I bought clothing for Hrutan, so that his semi-human form could go out and gain a few less odd stares due to the furred kilt of sorts.

            I was about to turn and leave the fairgrounds when a hand grasped my elbow. Instantly, I was out of the person’s grasp with one dagger to their throat and another at his groin, dropping the tightly-knotted bag to do so. The young man held his hands up. “Woah, calm down! I’m sorry that I startled you!”

            “Eschew?” I asked, lowering the blades and tucking them back into their appropriate sheaths.

            He chuckled and bowed, producing three gold bents from seemingly nowhere. “I owe you these, Milady Harmony.”

            I took them, and chuckled. “Finally getting back to repaying that debt, eh?”

            Laughing, he nodded. “Monie, you’ve missed so much, not being in the village and all.”

            I sighed, and smiled sadly. “Village? It’s a city, Es. And I’m nearing eighteen. I have different responsibilities, and at least fully half of them aren’t what I had originally aimed for them to be.”

            He nodded, and said, “You know of my lineage, right? How I’m fully half Xaqtha?”

            “Yes . . . ?”

            “I’m hired as one of them.”

            “Oh. I see.”

            “And I heard, Milady, that someone had gotten to the clear-stone mining overseer who seemed to be impossible to kill by a half-breed. He had three of them tortured publicly.”

            I sighed, knowing now why I had been the one chosen to get to that man, and replied, “I didn’t know that they had been tortured.”

            “Yeah. Now, they are also looking out for a second attack, upon the man who paid the overseer to find those lands below.”

            I nodded, silent. Eschew understood, somehow. He knew about what was behind the assassination.

            “I was talking with a prospective DragonRider, you know him, Grasp, I believe, and he said that you came back with an arrow-wound. And a soldier from the mining city said something about a Gyrkin–”

            My glare cut him off. He swallowed, licked his lips, then said close to my ear, “The man’s going to be making an appearance late this evening. After, he’ll most likely be going to the pleasure quarter, specifically the third house on the right side of the first street.”

            I nodded, planning how I’ll get to him. I looked at Eschew, and said, “Thank you for stopping me, Es. I would have overlooked you. It was wonderful seeing you again.”

            He bowed, replying, “Milady Harmony, it is always a pleasure to see you. I can only hope that we may meet again, and soon.”

            We went our separate ways. I counted six more gold bents than I had thought I had, not including the three Eschew gave to me, repaying the debt he had owed me, when I had bought him a horse. His mother had been visiting her clan, and had been injured in a mock-duel. So I bought him the fastest horse in the town, since his mother was like my own second-mother, and sent him off. Once she had been recovering well, and when I had refused the horse upon Eschew’s return, he had said that he owed me, and that he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

            I smiled at childhood memories, and then went to another merchant, buying a few more blankets and two more cloaks. After shoving them into the sack I had brought to carry everything, I started back out to the forest, fully aware that I was being followed by Eschew. He would wonder why I was buying mainly male’s clothing, and only a few items for myself in comparison.

            The fire was started and burning merrily when I returned to the campsite. I set the sack down and called out, “Hey, where’d you get to? I got something for you! Quite a few things, actually. Come and see for yourself.”

            “Riian . . .”

            “Oh, come out, you. I missed you being there with me. If it doesn’t fit you, I have to barter it off for another size. They’ll let me.”

            Hrutan came out, causing a startled shriek from behind me. I whirled and pinned Eschew against a tree, covering his mouth. “Shut up! Eschew, if anyone of my old clan finds out, I’m pretty much done for. Where are my parents? I need to talk to my mother about something very, very important, and it simply can’t wait one more day. I didn’t see her anywhere at the faire.”

            I pulled my hand away. He panted, then whispered, “You don’t know, Riian? How could you not know?!”

            “Know what?!” I hissed back.

            “It was your father who was the one paying the clear-stone overseer.”

            Hrutan was holding me close against him, cradling me against his broad chest. “Missie me darlin’ . . .”

            “What are you doing, talking to her like that?” Eschew snapped. “And will you get your paws off of her?!”

            “Shut up, Eschew,” I snapped in return, then burrowed back into my comfort zone. This couldn’t be right. I turned, still within Hrutan’s arms, then looked at Eschew. After a few moments of an uneasy silence, I sighed and then rubbed at my face. “Where’s my mother.”

            “At the manor. She didn’t leave once today.”

            “Why isn’t she here?”

            “She knows that your father was cheating on her. His mistress was with him.”

            “Oh, for all the . . .” I sighed, stood, and began to pace.

            Hrutan started talking again. “Riian, bring me to yeh mother. There’s an exception to who Gyrkin can kill, and who they can’t.”

            I looked at him, then replied, “You’d kill my father?”

            “Not without yeh permission. Ye’ve had dreams, that ye’ve cried out for yeh father t’ stop doin’ somethin’.” He leaned closer to my face. “Please. Tell me.”

            “Why would she tell a virgin-eater anything?” Eschew replied smugly, crossing his arms over his chest and smirking.

            “Because I trust him,” I hissed at the human, throwing a small knife and hitting the tree right above his head. “You really don’t know anything, do you? You’re Haruth, you should know these things by simply watching! You also have Tieth blood in you, which heightens your level of attention!” Sighing, rubbing at my face with my hands, I replied with renewed patience, “Look, go back to the carnival, and tell Da to keep his back open. Then go to that house and tell them that you’re looking for a room. You’re backup for me and Hrutan if we can’t handle things. Which I highly doubt. Then return to my father and stand by him. He knows you’re a half-blood, so he should think that you’re going to protect him.”

            “What good will that do?” Eschew muttered.

            “He’ll tense up so much his fault will show. I’ll be able to get him easier.”

            “You’ll . . . you’d kill your father?”

            I glared at Eschew, then stamped out the fire with a bucket of dirt. “Hrutan, come with me. I have to introduce you to my family. Mother will also be proud to know of my approaching marriage. Especially to one who will remain faithful, and will protect me as well as he can.”

            “Monie, you’re getting married?!” Eschew asked. “Why didn’t you say anything?!”

            I looked at him, telling him though my bored gaze that he should really start watching closer, then looked to my Hrutan, who had stood and was lifting the sack to place over a shoulder, holding it there until I could hop on. He blinked at Eschew, brown eyes holding a challenge. “O’ course she’s gettin’ married. Why else would she be comin’ back t’ this forsaken city?”

            The young man sat. “But . . .”

            I shook my head and vaulted to Hrutan’s back to hold the sack steady. I secured all of my weaponry, but not enough so that if something came up I’d be able to move quickly. “Look, you go and play your part, okay? I’ll give you something in return, once this is all over.”

            “Anything?” he asked, perking up.

            I snorted. “Nothing in the relationship business. And no assassination jobs. I’ll be having plenty of those.”

            He nodded, then asked, “So who’s the lucky guy?”

            I smiled at Hrutan, then rubbed at his ears. “Qyriian, of course.”

            “Who’s he?”

            “Oh, you’ll see,” I replied as Hrutan started off.

            Just as the front door opened, a scream rent the air. The maid ran off, jabbering incoherently. I looked to Hrutan, completely confused at why she’d run at the sight of me, and he shrugged, grinning. “Virgin.”

            “Oh. Of course.”

            We walked in and through to the back gardens. From nowhere, an arrow sped past my ear and lodged itself in Hrutan’s shoulder. He roared in surprise and pain, causing me to drop everything, leap up to pull his head down, and rub at the sides of his face, causing him to calm his breathing slightly. My voice was calm, soft, and I locked my eyes upon his. “Hrutan, quiet down. Relax your shoulder.”

            “Riian! What d’ye think ye’re askin’ me?!”

            “Just to shut up and relax. You know that you can.”

            He growled, and I saw a flash of red streak through his eyes. I glared at him, softening that glare with a rub under his chin, and then moved aside the fur around his wound. He sighed and let his arm go slack, looking away from me for a moment. He looked back, then rested his head against my right shoulder lightly. I tapped the shaft imbedded in his own shoulder feather-lightly, and he hissed in his pain. After a moment, he closed his eyes and sighed. I drew the butt of the arrow free, feeling it detach from something, and sighed. “Arrowhead’s still in there. Great. I’ll have to fish it out.”

            “Euah. You might not have to.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “Harmony? Is . . . is that you?” a new, soft voice said.

            I turned, and looked to see my mother. I nodded, and she waved her hand behind her. The longbow in her left hand had another shaft ready upon it. Archers came out from seemingly nowhere. I smiled. “You got yourself some sharp-looking half-breeds, Mum.”

            She smiled and walked up to the Gyrkin, looking him over swiftly. She nodded once, then said, “I take it that you . . . well. I’ve only seen Gyrkin with blood-red eyes. Why do you have brown?”

            His voice was as gentle as he could make it, due to the pain and trying not to appear all that hurt. “I’ve taken an oath not t’ eat another virgin.”

            “Why?”

            He looked to me and smiled gently, then returned his gaze to my mother. “Because yeh’r daughter loves me, an’ I her.”

            Mother looked at me as well, then blinked. “I wasn’t expecting that one, Harmony.”

            I smiled, and replied, “I promise that I’ll tell you what happened after I look into this wound again.”

            The arrowhead came free relatively easy, and I had stitched up the small hole. At the moment, I was sitting upon Hrutan’s good shoulder, while Mother was working upon a hunting bow. We were silent. I had told her everything since I had left the academy. Before I had left, however, I had kept her up-to-date by way of letter. I hadn’t had time to write her one in about a year-and-a-half, now, except for the small notes I’d send, telling her that I miss her, that I love her, and that I’m still alive. I sent her presents from the various places I’ve been for any occasion that I could think up.

            Finally, she broke the silence. “So he can become human?”

            “Almost human,” Hrutan said. “I have wings, an’ can fly.”

            “What if you have children?”

            I looked at the Gyrkin, and he sighed, then smiled. “They’ll be human, with Gyrkin traits.”

            “Traits?”

            “Oh, aye. Sensin’ skills an’ th’ like. Nuthin’ physical, that I know of. Eh, possibly wings, though, but that’s a simple matter.”

            “Not the want to go after virgins?”

            He blinked, then shrugged carefully. “I cannae tell ye f’ sure, Missus. Sumthin’ like this hasn’t happened in two decade, I’m sure. Possibly e’en more.”

            I smiled and said, “I’ll send you a letter in the old language and tell you about everything once we find out about this. Trust me, Mum, we will.”

            She smiled and said, “Then I believe you. But . . . about that husband of mine.”

            Hrutan gently shook his shoulder. I slid off, revealing to Mother the black clothing in doing so, and a glint of a throwing dagger. She nodded once. Hrutan paced. I said, “I was assigned to assassinate the man in league with the clear-stone overseer. I didn’t know he’d be my own father.”

            She sighed, and sighted along an arrow towards a far target. It hit bull’s-eye. Mother looked back at me. “I leaked the information. Eschew was the one I told.”

            “He told me.”

            “I thought he might have.”

            “Has Father made a will?”

            “No. I’m sure of it. You know how he is about that.”

            “Yes, I do. He thinks he’s immortal. But that means that you and I inherit all this.” I looked back at her. “But how will I get to him?”

            “How did you get to the clear-stone overseer?”

            I hadn’t told her about my first job, but . . . she seemed to know somehow. Good. She was still as sharp as ever. Mother’s smile never left her face as she said, “Poison dart, correct? Knowing you, however, it was an undetectable poison that attacks the brain alone, and leaves the rest untouched. Perfect for hunting, if you want edible meat and not much of a hassle in hunting the animal. So you used your training well.”

            “How did you know it was me?”

            “Only one with four heritages can do so. Your children will be gifted with five.”

            I smiled, and we walked inside. Mother walked next to Hrutan, and ran her fingers through his rough outer fur on his uninjured shoulder, silently apologizing for her action of shooting him with the arrow earlier. He looked at me, smiled, and closed his eyes. Carefully, quietly, he became the winged human I also knew him as, and was holding the soft white fur over his left arm. His right shoulder had not one mark upon it, where mother’s shot had pierced his skin as a Grykin. Mother blinked. “Oh. Oh, my. Harmony. He’s simply gorgeous.”

            We both laughed, and Qyriian held out the white fur. “This is easier to touch, Missus.”

            “Oh, oh, please just call me ‘Mum.’ Everyone else does, Hrutan.”

            Qyriian Hrutan nodded once, then folded his wings tight against his back as we entered the house. I pulled out a few pieces of clothing from the bag and showed them to him as we were waiting for my room to be unlocked. He blinked, and then handed me the silvery-white fur, taking the royal-blue cloak and inspecting the weave. The maid came with the key, handed it to me, then left in a hurry. She was the same one who had answered the door. Qyriian and I hid our smiles and amusement.

            After we entered and the door was closed and locked behind us, I spread the fur upon the bed and got out of the carnival clothing, revealing the black boots and pants, with a blue top underneath. I then set about hanging up the clothing I had bought. “We’ll hopefully stay here for a while, Qyriian.”

            “I like your mother. She’s from the Xaqtha clan?”

            “Tietha. Close though; the Tietha are partially from the Xaqtha clan. They have the same ancestors.”

            “Then do the Kalitha and Harutha have the same ancestors?”

            “Yes.”

            “Hmm.”

            “Oh, and what is it?”

            “So you are a combination of all four clans, correct?”

            “Right.”

            “And those two ancestors must have had a singular ancestor as well.”

            I looked at him, and he smiled. “What I’m getting at, is that you must be like the original ancestor. You, and the others at the academy.”

            I sighed, and then shrugged. “I really don’t know.”

            I pulled out the item I had concealed in my pocket, gently took his hand, and placed in it a gold chain, hanging upon which was a gold circle pennant. It was what the woman who was being married presented to her husband-to-be. It was the sign of ultimate faith in the other, and was only presented to one who the woman knew she would marry. It was also bought only when she was sure she wanted to marry the man. This pennant was the one congruity throughout the four clans that meant the same thing everywhere.

            Qyriian looked at the two-inch-round golden medal and whispered, “What is this, Harmony?”

            “A wedding circle. It’s the engagement commitment item.”

            “Euah. It’s expensive.”

            I smiled and pulled out the second chain and medal, which had been in the second secret pocket. He touched that gently, and then whispered, “What’s done with it?”

            I took his, and stood upon my toes, reaching around his neck to fix the clasp. He looked at the smaller version resting in his palm, and then gently reached around my own neck, placing it on with a breathless look about him. I looked up at him, letting him find himself in my eyes, He rested his hands upon my shoulders. “If you don’t want to go through with this, the assassination, then you don’t have to, Harmony.”

            I broke off our gaze, since I suddenly couldn’t look at him. He sighed, and drew me against his bare chest, bowing his head over mine, not saying anything more. That’s the way we were, fifteen minutes later, when someone pounded against my door. I looked at my feet, seeing the clanky regular soles, and then up at Hrutan. He nodded and picked me up silently, then went to the wall I indicated. I opened the secret door as he still held me, and we passed through. As the door was open, I pulled the boots off and handed them to Hrutan. He took them, and I ran silently out, grabbed the white skin and brought it back in with me, then closed the door in the nick of time.

            Father stormed in. I watched silently through a peephole. Hrutan was watching through another one. My father glared over his shoulder at my mother. “Where is she?!”

            Mother looked around the room, blinking. “The door was locked. Harmony might have gone back outside, Jest. She might not have even been in this room.”

            “Don’t you fool with me, Kismet. I know that she is here. Where else would this clothing come from?” he growled, pointing to the bed, where I spread out a few things for Hrutan to look at. They were dresses for formal occasions that the academy puts out every so often. Two of the seven dresses had split skirts for riding. Things like that came in useful every so often.

            Mother blinked slowly, then said, “I sent a few of Harmony’s old friends out to find me a few presents she would like. Her birthday is nearing, you must remember. I haven’t had time to get her something on my own. I’m managing this estate nearly solely upon my own.”

            “She hasn’t written anything to us in a year! You expect that you can track that little prostitute down?!”

            “Since when has your daughter become a prostitute, Jest? Since when did you start thinking of her like that?”

            “Since she has stopped writing!”

            “Her last letter stated that she wasn’t going to be able to write to us for a while. She’s been a bodyguard for quite a while, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she won’t write for another while.”

            Father whirled, his open palm snapping across my mother’s cheek. I was about to run out and defend her, when a hand rested upon the back of my neck. Another hand took my right hand, and gently caused it to release the sword-hilt. I didn’t even know that I had gripped it in the first place.

            I didn’t stop watching as Father . . . as Jest beat Mother. He then left, spitting at her, and stepping over her body. A few minutes later, Eschew ran into the room and then knelt by my mother, helping her sit up. “He’s gone, Lady Kismet.”

            I ran out of the hiding place, and knelt before my mother as well. She smiled at me, and whispered, “You did right, not letting him see you.”

            A bowl of cool water, herms had been steeped in it by the coloring, I noticed, was placed by my left hand, a cloth within it. I looked up at the maid. “Take it to Mum’s room. Hrutan, give me a hand.”

            The winged human took my mother’s left arm as soon as the bowl was moved, and I took her right, putting it across my shoulders. Eschew looked at my betrothed. “He’s the Gyrkin?”

            I nodded. “No questions. Lock the manor down.”

            “Yes, milady.”

            He took off, and we brought Mother to her room, laying her down. I quickly took off the knife sheaths that were strapped to my sides under my shirt. I sent Hrutan from the room, then set about to taking off the outer gown, leaving my mother in a fighting outfit underneath. I smiled. “Good. This absorbed most of the blows, then.”

            “I got one right after you told me about them.”

            I tended to my mother’s wounds, small though they were. The worst was to be a black eye. I put a thin paste of herbs around it, to lessen the swelling as well as the discomfort. She sighed, and took my hand. “Daughter mine, you do what you think is right. The sooner you make your decision, the better.”

            I nodded, and then pulled a blanket up around her. “Sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

            “I’ll have a few of my Kalith friends on call just in case, Harmony.”

            I sighed, looking down at her hand held in mine. “Tonight, Mum, my name is Riian.”

            She chuckled dryly as I replaced the sheaths around my waist. “Then, Riian the Assassin, my daughter, go and take care of your job.”

            I kissed her hand and slipped out of the room, just in time to see Hrutan pin Eschew up against the wall, his tanned fist pulled back to his ear. I rested my hand upon it, then glared at Eschew. “What did you say.”

            He swallowed, and said, “You don’t deserve a Gyrkin, Monie. He’s probably lost whatever he should have saved for you a long time ago.”

            I blinked slowly, as the golden pennant around Hrutan’s neck twisted slightly from the movements he had made. “So what if he has, Chew? I forgive him for that. Neither of us knew that this was what was meant to be. I’m thankful that he loves me–”

            “But I love you.”

            I stopped, and looked at Hrutan. He sighed, and let go of Eschew. I looked at the thief. “But I only thought of you as a friend. And I can’t think of you as anything more than a brother. Forgive me. I have to get going. Hrutan, love, don’t kill him, please. Come on. You’re my primary backup, and I can’t have you too angry. Eschew, please . . . please stay here. Guard my mother.”

            Eschew nodded, face showing his despair that I had chosen, but also showing his resignation not to let me down, no matter what.

            With an irritated groan, Hrutan followed me. As he was pulling the skin free from the secret room, I asked, “Just out of the blue, can you tell me what ‘Hrutan’ means?”

            He blinked, and calmed himself down, sitting upon the side of the bed. “‘Hru’ means human, specifically female human, and ‘tan’ means heart-holder. If two Gyrkin love each other so much that they cannot see anyone else other than each other in marriage, then they are in tan,” he replied, watching me. He smiled, and added, “You and I are in tan.”

            I chuckled, and continued whetting the edge of a dagger. “So what does ‘Riian’ mean?”

            “‘Ri’ means heart, and ‘ian’ means warrior. It’s a fairly common name.”

            “Then ‘Qyriian’ means something about a heart warrior?”

            “‘Qy’ means beloved. Mother chose my name. It’s custom that the mother chooses the first child’s name, and the father the second’s name. It alternates like that for all the other children.”

            I tried to piece the two names together. “So your name means ‘the beloved heat’s warrior, lover of human females?”

            “Close. It goes backwards, and is in first person. ‘I, the heart-holder of a human woman, will be the beloved warrior of her heart.’ Or, ‘I, the heart-holder of a human woman, will be the warrior of her heart, beloved.’ I never knew what the full meaning meant, until I knew that I loved you. Mother dreamt about us while I was still within her. That’s how the mothers choose the names; through a dream. The fathers usually are out on the night before the cub’s birth, and just sit under the stars. The find the name in themselves, somehow.”

            I smiled, and reached over to touch his cheek, smiling my wordless love for him. He smiled, toying with the few strands hanging over my face, and then looked at the skin. “Riian . . .”

            I sheathed the dagger, as well as put the stone away. “Where do you want me to stand.”

            “I don’t know. Somewhere.”

            “Where you can see me?”

            He sighed, and nodded. “Let’s try it that way.”

            I stood in front of him, as he draped the skin around him, lining his arms up with what would be the arms, and the legs with his legs. Instantly, where the head was, the tan fur of Hrutan appeared, molding around the human’s frame. Everything shifted, as silver fur turned to silvery-golden-tan, and his frame filled out in the skin, into the Gyrkin’s form.

            His bloody eyes sighted upon me, and before I could move, he tripped me, and was about to slash through the clothing completely, when I yelped his name.

            He threw himself off of me and backwards, shaking, turned completely away from me. I sat up, and looked at the shredded chest of the black over-shirt. Pulling it off completely, leaving me in the sleeveless blue under-shirt, I walked over to his back, and rubbed at it gently, playing with the long fur. His wings were limp, resting nearly completely upon the floor. He was shuddering, and I walked over to the secondary black shirt I had packed, and changed into it swiftly, stuffing the torn shirt into the complete bottom of the pack and planned to burn it later.

            Turning back, I saw his face. It was drawn tight, eyes firmly shut, with dark stains tracing from them towards the tip of his snout. I walked over to him, and kissed his nose several times, then held his tear-stained snout close to my chest. “Qyriian . . .”

            “We shouldn’t do this anymore. Hide th’ skin from me, Riian. I dinnae want t’ do that t’ ye ever again.”

            “I was silent, Hrutan. I should have been talking, but that was the first time I saw how you go back to becoming Gyrkin.”

            “Ye were fascinated.”

            “Yes.”

            “An’ ye were distracted.”

            “Like you were a few days ago.”

            “Oh.”

            “Going tell me, love?”

            He sniffed, and smiled. “I’m a virgin anew, and I canna stan’ meself.”

            I laughed, and kissed his eyes gently. “Next time, I’ll stand behind you, and talk to you while you change over.”

            “Aye. We’ll try it like that. Now. Are we gonna be goin’ now?”

            I nodded, and tied my hair up and back, then pulled the hood over my head. I tied the veil around the lower half of my face, and then looked at my lover, resting my hand upon the side of his face lovingly. “Let’s go.”

            Hrutan stalked a few paces forward, then scented. He knew my father’s scent, and was searching for him. Neither of us knew how we were going to assassinate him, but I knew that it had to happen. As it is, I didn’t even think that I was his child. He doesn’t have a Kalitha ancestor. Yet mother said that I had a Kalitha ancestor upon my father’s side.

            I had searched the archives in the academy along my father’s lines. He was a pureblooded Harutha, all the way back to at least twenty generations.

            Hrutan indicated the third house from the left. Good. Eschew’s information was correct. I crept up towards it, then waited. A woman left the back door. I grabbed her, covered her mouth with my hand, and pulled her back to the cover of the forest as Hrutan’s hiss sounded. “Quiet.”

            She nodded, and I released her. Hrutan’s voice whispered quietly from behind me. “Who’s in tha’ pleasure-house, s’ that it’s so popular?”

            “Lord Jest, the owner of these lands.” She spotted Hrutan over my left shoulder. “Hah. You can’t get at me now, Gyrkin.”

            Hrutan shrugged, eyes glowing in the darkness. “I owe me life t’ a woman-virgin. I have no want for a virgin anymore.”

            “Well. Been taking Master Varthin’s teachings to heart?”

            “Grandfathers teach their grandsons well.”

            She looked back at me. “Varthin’s sole grandson was known to be traveling with Lord Jest’s daughter, Harmony.”

            “She’s Riian the Assassin.”

            “Oh. You after Jest?”

            “’E’s high on ’er list, yes. Seen th’ room ’e’s t’ be in, lass?”

            “Nope. I know that he’s in the tavern-room at the moment, though.”

            I held out three gold bents, and she blinked at them. “I only get three copper, and that’s for a good job. I’m the girl for you, grandson of Varthin. What do you need done?”

            “Come back out when ’e’s in a room.”

            “He might not stay here.”

            I flipped a coin to her, and pocketed the other two. Hrutan grinned over my shoulder. “Ye get him to stay with you then, ye get the other two gold bents. Tell ’im t’ take a break from ’is current lady.”

            “But I don’t think that he’ll notice me.” She snorted. “His kept woman’s practically in heat. She’s all over him.”

            “Make ’im notice ye! We dinnae have all week, lass!”

            She seemed to be thinking over this. I tossed a silver to her, and she nodded. “Right. I’m in the middle room, top floor. One candlemark, and I’ll have him there for you.”

            “I know what th’ motherless whelp smells like, lass. Ye try to trick us, an’ I’ll kill ye for it, whether ye’re a virgin or not.”

            She nodded, and took off, grabbing wood from beside the door as she did so. I looked at Hrutan and pulled down the veil from around my nose and mouth. “If she saw my face, then I think that she would have known it was me. Even if she heard my voice.”

            He sighed, nodded, and then led me to the lowest roof near the middle of the row. I’d have to travel across seven houses to get to the one Jest was in. I leapt up the two floors, aided by Hrutan’s powerful toss upwards, then waited for him to stand upon the roof of the house we were going to. I saw his shape, then his eyes. I leapt from roof-top to roof-top, then landed next to the Gyrkin.

            I stopped, then drew the sword, backing away from the sour-smelling creature. He advanced, snickering evilly. “I told ye that I’d have ye, virgin.”

            I drew a curved, saber-like dirk as well, and hissed, “One more move, and you’ll be speaking to your maker.”

            He took another step. I yelled and attacked, hitting his chin with the dirk, then his throat with the sword. When his jaw went slack, I shoved the dirk up into the roof of his mouth, knowing that I was drenched with Gharala’s blood. Hrutan took Gharala’s head in his forepaws and twisted it violently, snapping the Gyrkin’s neck. I stopped him from throwing the body, and pulled the dirk free. “Toss it.”

            He threw it into the center of the town, and then turned towards me. I was calmly cleaning the blades off upon my black clothing. He took the weapons from me, placed them on the roof, and pulled me towards him in a shaking embrace, not caring of how bloody I was. “He could have killed yeh, Riian.”

            “Hrutan, you remember who I am, and what I did eleven years ago.”

            “I know, but please, be more careful, darlin’. We’re one house off.”

            “When we get home, comfort me then. I can’t be distracted now.”

            “Aye. Ye know that I’ll be there f’ yeh.”

            We got over to the next house, and I crouched upon the ledge next to the window. We were about four levels up. This was a wealthy pleasure house, it appeared. There were noises from within, and I peeked over the windowsill, in through the open window, and saw the young woman from before sitting upon Jest and grinning at me.

            I shook my head, and she shrugged. I waited until he passed out, then entered. The girl was dressing again. I didn’t look at her until she touched my shoulder. Her fingers came away slick with blood. I sighed, and pulled my mask off. “Ran into another Gyrkin. Here, five gold.”

            “Monie . . .”

            “Hush, now. Quiet. Go to a sink. In seven flickers, scream as you enter this room. Tell the Nannie of this house that the assassin got to Jest when you were going to clean up. Tomorrow, get to my mother’s manor, and tell her that I sent you. You can serve as a high maid there, and you won’t have to deal with another man until you want to. She’ll pay off any debts that you might have here.”

            She nodded, smiled, then left. I replaced the veil and waited at the window. Jest’s short broad-sword was beside me. He stirred, and then turned to look at me. I didn’t blink. He frowned. “Who are you.”

             I whispered, disguising my voice slightly, “Someone who knows you well.”

            “Why are you here?”

            I didn’t answer.

            “It’s because of the overseer, isn’t it.”

            Still, I remained silent. He was starting to panic.

            “I’ll give you money, riches, land, women, anything!”

            “Anything?” I hissed.

            “Yes, please, anything!”

            “Then you’ll give me your lands.”

            “I will! They’re yours!”

            I took the veil from my face and raised the small crossbow. “And, Jest, you will see that you were wrong to lie to me and tell me you were my father . . . to beat me because you were doing what was so-called ‘right’.”

            He stopped his pleading, then glared at me. He was about to rush when I squeezed the trigger and shot the dart square between his eyes. He fell with a thud, and I leapt out the window to Hrutan’s waiting arms below. He tossed me over his shoulder, and I gripped the armoring between his shoulders, so I could hold on as he rocketed though the trees.

            We were just running past the carnival lands when we saw a man look up from the whimpering girl before him. Hrutan roared, and the man left, tugging at his over-large pants as he did, so that he wouldn’t trip over them. Hrutan didn’t move as he asked, “Ye all right, lass?”

            She didn’t move either, and only shivered and whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut, hoping that the Gyrkin wouldn’t harm her. I hopped off of Hrutan, and crouched over slightly so that I was at eye-level with her. She was younger than I was, only about fourteen. I sighed, touched her hand, and said, using an honorary title for her, “Get up, Little Sister. Go home.”

            She opened her eyes to look at me. “But he’ll get me there.”

            “Who is he?”

            “My sister’s husband.”

            “Lovely leash she has th’ boy on!” Hrutan snorted. “Lass, look. Did ye want us t’ scare th’ boy?”

            “Can you . . . can you tell my mother instead? She’ll . . . she’ll have his hide hanging upon a wall when she finds out.”

            I grinned and Hrutan ran off, laughing, following the girl’s scent. He returned  with the mother upon his back soon enough. She leapt off of the Gyrkin and embraced the young teenager. Looking at me, she whispered, “Dark things are going on tonight, Assassin.”

            The girl looked at me in wonder. She didn’t recognize the garb, while her mother had seen an assassin, bloody and done with a job, when she was younger. She told me so later on, when I knew the family better.

            I smiled and replied, “What do you mean by dark?”

            “You know how word travels amongst the Harutha. A Gyrkin was found dead in the square, a pleasure house found Lord Jest dead with a crossbow dart between his eyes . . . and all pleasure houses shutting down for a week, saying that these were bad omens for business.”

            I looked at the girl. “Are you still untouched?”

            “Yes.”

            “Good. I’ll find a decent Gyrkin to make sure it stays that way. Also, what is her lineage, Mam?”

            “All four.”

            I took my veil off for the final time that night and smiled at them both. “I’ll be returning to the academy within the week with Hrutan. If you wish, I could take her there to train. It will keep her out of her brother-in-law’s sight, and will train her to use all of her talents to their best usage, so that she can protect herself.”

            “Milady, I’m sure that your will is for the best, however . . . we don’t have that kind of money.”

            “Nonsense!” I replied, getting back upon Hrutan’s back. “I’ll pay for her. Mother would only be happy to know that I’ve found another like me.” I paused, then asked, “What’s your name?”

            “Concord, milady Harmony,” she replied shyly.

            I chuckled. “As a future classmate, call me Riian. Nobody calls me Harmony ’cept for Headmaster and Headmistress there. And that’s only when I’m in trouble!”

            She nodded smiling tentatively. I smiled kindly in return. “I’ll get her clothing and everything that she needs. If you’d like, I can also have her sleep at the manor with a guard until we leave.”

            The woman nodded and I pulled Concord up behind me. Hrutan sighed. “Ah, I’ll be th’ happiest Gyrkin of all. Two virgins upon me back. I’m in bloody heaven, I am.”

            I hit his head lightly and said, “You behave. Remember our wedding date. I most certainly can push that back, Hrutan.”

            “Aah, fine. I’ll be nice.”

            “Good. You can also massage my bad shoulder when we get back.”

            “Euah!”

            “And my back.”

            “But missie–”

            “And my feet hurt, too.”

            “Darlin’–”

            “Not to mention that I need food. I’m hungry.”

            “Do I look like yeh bleedin’ slave?!”

            “No. You look like my future husband.”

            “Euah, missie darlin’! Ye’ll have me six feet under in no time!”

            “Well, that’s the idea, isn’t it?”

            He blinked over his shoulder at me in shock as the girl and her mother laughed. As it turned out, I got my food and my massage once I was cleaned up from all the blood that had been spilled upon me. I fell asleep during the massage, though. I didn’t mind that, since I woke up warm, encircled within Qyriian’s arms and wings, with the white Gyr-skin fur-side-down over us.

            He awoke a few minutes later, and I let him embrace me tightly once before sighing and sitting up, getting out of bed. I wrapped a robe around myself and then looked over my shoulder at the winged human, who was quietly pouting at my departure. “I have to speak with my mother, Qyriian. Sleep a bit more.”

            “Can I come with you?”

            “No. This I have to deal with myself. Please stay here.”

            He nodded and answered, “I will. May I use that bath?”

            “Thank you. And yes. I’ll send someone up to heat the water for you.”

            I left before he could say no, and as I passed a groggy man-servant, told him what was needed. I quickly found my mother in the large garden after that, and sat down with her on a secluded wooden bench. “I looked up my lineage.”

            “Then you know that Jest was not your father.”

            “Yes. I know.”

            She looked at me, and then indicated a small gazebo where tea sat brewing. I looked at her eyes once we were there, and she said, “It was an arranged marriage. Neither of us wanted it. I was in love with another man, and had been with him the night before Jest and I were wed. I didn’t want to give myself to someone I didn’t love. I know that it was wrong, but I couldn’t make myself love Jest. I loved you, though, the moment I knew I was with child. Jest and I didn’t even sleep in the same room as me for three weeks after we were wed. He was busy partying with his friends, and I was sitting with your true father, loving him, listening to him for one last time.”

            “Where is he?” I asked quietly.

            “On the Island.”

            “Which one?”

            “Fortune’s Island,” she replied softly. I looked at her, and she smiled. “Go on. Find him.”

            “I’ll be stopping at the Academy first. There’s a girl I found of all four heritages, and I’ll be paying her way.”

            “What are you protecting her from?”

            “Her sister’s husband. She’s the girl I had brought home with me last night.”

            Mother nodded and smiled sadly. “You’re growing up. There’s something else that I see behind your eyes. Something else you’ll be doing for her.”

            “I’ll be finding her a Gyrkin bodyguard.”

            She laughed, and said, “She’ll be just like you!”

            “Hopefully not. Hopefully she’ll awaken a Dragon.”

            There was a frantic scramble, and Eschew ran up to the gazebo. “Milady, there’s a pleasure house worker at the door, wanting to speak to you upon Riian’s behalf. Who’s Riian?”

            I smiled. “Good. She came. Mother, she’s one of my old friends from when I was seven. Virtually fearless, well-mannered unless provoked, and is top-notch quality for a high maid. All she needs is a little training.”

            “Good. You’ve remembered that I was in need of one. Thank you for finding her, daughter. I’ll pair her up with one of the older maids. Eschew, please bring her to me.”

            I smiled, knowing that I had planning and preparation to do, and returned to my room. Qyriian was asleep again, his hair and feathers still glistening from his bath. I changed into festive clothing remembering Haruth visual quirks, and woke him up. He blinked, and I said, “Get the skin on. You’re known to be traveling with me as a Gyrkin.”

            He turned away from me, and then said, “Tell me today’s agenda.”

            As Hrutan was becoming Gyrkin once again, I was talking. “I’m going to go to the girl and bring her to the faire. Jest had been a greedy and cruel tax-keeper, so the unnecessary taxes will be lifted by my mother today, since she is now the keeper and mayor of this city. The carnival will have a new purpose other than whatever it had been before. She will also set lower, easier-to-handle taxes in individual cases. Anyway, I’ll be bringing Concord to the carnival to get new clothing and supplies for the academy. After that, I think that we shouldget moving back to the Academy.”

            He turned, eyes brown. “Aye. An’ th’ way ye chattered kept me mind clear. I think we’ve found th’ trick.”

            I smiled, and leaned against his side, running my fingers though his fur. He yawned, and said, “I’m hungry, love. I’ll be back in a short while.”

            “Hunting?”

            “Aye.”

            “You didn’t know that there’s a large stash of meat salted and stored in the basement?”

            He blinked at me. “Large?”

            “Several carcasses.”

            “Leapers?”

            “Obviously. My mother is the best hunter of our clan in this area.”

            “Love, I’m in heaven. Lead th’ way.”

            “You have to ask permission to have one.”

            “I’ll grovel rightly enough.”

            “Better. She worked hard for the twelve she has down there.”

            “Twelve?!”

            “Oh, right. I sent by word of mouth that I was coming here with you. You can’t have any leapers until tonight.”

            “But . . . why?”

            “Feast. For the officials and to announce our betrothal. You’ll have to appear in your Higher Form, though. So why else?”

            He began to leave the room, muttering, then stopped at the door and said, “I’m goin’ t’ beg yeh’r mum f’ food. I’ll be back shortly.”

            I chuckled and then walked down the opposite way, seeing the female guard standing outside of Concord’s room. She smiled at me and saluted. I nodded, acknowledging her, and knocked upon the door. “Concord?”

            It opened a crack, then fully. The girl flew into my arms and squeezed me in a wild embrace. I laughed and asked, “Did you sleep well?”

            “Uh-huh! The bed is so comfortable!”

            “Good! Good sleep means that you’ve worked up an appetite dreaming!”

            “Yeah . . . so . . . when’s breakfast?”

            “Whenever you like. Tomorrow we’ll be starting back to the academy.”

            Her face fell. She looked at her hands, and then whispered, “I don’t want to go.”

            I lowered my head to look eye-to-eye with the girl. “Why not?”

            “My brothers aren’t going to be able to go.”

            There was a snort from behind us, and I turned to see Varthin at the door, glaring at the guard. I chuckled and gently pushed the girl forward a step. “Master Varthin, you’re always following me around.”

            “If only to keep you and my grandson out of trouble.” He smiled kindly down at the girl and asked, “So, Riian, who’s this lovely little one?”

            “Someone who doesn’t want to go to the academy.”

            “She has all four traits. I smell that in her. Why not, little one?”

            She shuffled her feet and whispered, “Because my brothers won’t be able to go. They’re like me.”

            “How many are there?”

            “Five.”

            Varthin blinked. “How many sisters?”

            “Seven.”

            “The youngest?”

            “Three.”

            “Oldest?”

            “Twenty-four.”

            “Now that’s what you would call a busy woman, Riian! Take note! I want numerous great-grandchildren, and as soon as ye can start!”

            I reached over to tug at his whiskers. “Be nice, Grandfather. What’ll we do about this? I can only fund for one child.”

            “Never you mind the funds for any of the children, including Concord. You get the five boys, get their gear, and I’ll talk to the board about them. Your mother told me why you chose the girl, and I agree. I have just the Gyrkin to watch over her. He’s her age, and is quite responsible. He’s also been an avid keeper to what I have suggested, although he isn’t quite like Hrutan, who has quenched his love of first-let blood.” He smiled. “Hmph. Yet, anyway. This one will change his mind, and will become brown-eyed in no time.”

            I smiled, and said, “Good. When will he be here?”

            “Today. Once I heard about this little one, I sent word off to him.”

            I smiled, and then looked at the girl. “Concord, this will be one of your teachers. His name is Master Varthin.”

            A scream tore through the house, and I loked over the banister just in time to see the maid scurrying towards the back of the house. Varthin looked over the banister, and I saw a light golden-brown head appear. Varthin sighed as Hrutan came from the back of the house leisurely, licking his chops free of the blood that had been upon them. I still saw a trace upon his upper lip. Varthin sighed. “Grandson!”

            “Oh. What ’re ye doin’ here, ol’ ’un?”

            “Bringing one to keep an eye upon Concord.”

            “Aye. This ’un ’ere?”

            “Yes. That’s him. Ghan Fghara!”

            He looked up, at me. “That’s Concord? Bit older’n I expected.”

            I shook my head. “I’m Riian. This one is Concord.”

            Fghara blinked up at her, then walked forward so that she could see him completely. He sat just as Mother was walking into the atrium. “Gyrkin! Stand up right this instant!”

            He did so, shocked at the scolding, angry tome my mother used. Mother tugged his whiskers down so that he looked into her eyes levelly. “When you enter someone’s house, what do you do first?”

            “Greet th’ parents or owner o’ th’ house, Mam.”

            “And?”

            “I send me best greetin’s, an’ I hope ye can forgive me f’ not doin’ so from the get-go, Mam.”

            “Forgiven thus far. Why are you here?”

            “T’ keep bodyguard over Concord,” he replied, not letting his eyes stray from my mother’s.

            She nodded, then asked, “Upon whose orders?”

            “Harmony Riian’s and Master Varthin’s, Mam.”

            “Right. Did you two send for him?” she asked, looking up at us. Her hands still held tight upon his whiskers, not letting him go. His hidden wings shifted nervously.

            I smiled and walked down the stairs with Concord beside me and Varthin behind me. Once at the bottom, I continued alone to face the Gyrkin. “Fghara.”

            “Aye, miss?”

            “Mum, please let his whiskers go.”

            She did so and I said, “You can sit. I want to ask you a few things.”

            He sat. Mother looked at Varthin, who walked over to sit by her, Hrutan upon his left side. I placed an arm around Concord’s shoulders, guiding her over to him, and said, “This is Concord, your charge. What are your duties to her?”

            “T’ protect ’er from those who wish t’ violate ’er. T’ keep ’er safe from all types o’ harm. T’ help her wi’ ’er studies at th’ academy.” He stopped, and looked at me. “Are there any more, miss?”

            I shook my head, but Hrutan walked forward. “One more, cub. Ye should never leave ’er side. Never. In th’ blink of an eye, she could be killed. Even worse, she could be violated, an’ would never trust ye again. That defies th’ purpose of ye bein’ ’ere. Ye catchin’ me drift, pup?”

            He nodded, and I looked at Concord. She walked forward to Fghara and reached up, her hand shaking, towards his snout. He lowered his head, and pushed his forehead against her hand. She didn’t move for a second, but looked at me in shock, not knowing what to do. I smiled and reached over to scratch Hrutan’s forehead. He closed his eyes, and leaned into it, enjoying the rare ministrations. I then rubbed at his ears once and looked back at her. She was watching me, her hand moving subconsciously, rubbing at his forehead. Fghara was enjoying it immensely. Most Gyrkin can’t scratch there easily due to their bulky shoulders and where the wing-muscles were positioned. She stopped, aware of what she was doing, then blinked at him. He sighed and arched his neck, stretching it, blatantly asking though his body language for her to itch there. “Ah, that was lovely. Ye’ll learn, little miss.”

            I smiled and replied, “Right. We have to get to your house, now, Concord, and tell your brothers that they’re going to the academy with you. After that, we’ll get to the fair and get the gear that you’ll need for studying at the academy.”

            She nodded, and I grabbed my waist-pouch, tying it around me, then walking outside. It was a fair walk to the carnival grounds for a human from Mother’s house, the on the opposite side of the city and on the outskirts, but for a Gyrkin, it was merely a short jog. I got upon Hrutan’s back easily, and saw Concord look up at me. I indicated Fghara. “He’ll help you up.”

            “Can’t I ride with you?”

            “You’ll have to learn how to ride his back soon enough. Why not start now?” I asked as Hrutan shifted his wings beneath me. I looked down at him, and he nodded. I looked back at Fghara, and said, “You’ll be showing off.”

            “Finally! A time t’ stretch!”

            Hrutan looked at Concord. “Get onto ’is back, willye? We have to get movin’, little miss.”

            She did so, and I looked at her. “You see those shell-like plates?”

            “Y-yes?”

            “Push them apart.”

            “Why?”

            “You’ll see. And hold on tight.”

            As she did, I did also. Hrutan’s wings shot forth, and I reached through to pick out a stray feather. It was long, and shore iridescently in the early sunlight. I found a strand of hair behind my ear, and tied it to that strand securely. I looked over at Concord and Fghara, and smiled. She was touching his wings, feeling the feathers. Fghara said something, and she looked in surprise at the hole the wings were coming from. Hrutan chuckled, and said, “It’s like watchin’ ye an meself all over again, missie.”

            I smiled and itched beneath the second skin, feeling Hrutan arch his back. “Aah, that’s been botherin’ me a bit lately. Thank ye, Riian.”

            “It’s nothing. You know that it is.”

            Varthin came out of the house and reached over his shoulder easily to move aside the plates. His wings came forth and he glided over to us. “You were waiting for me?”

            I nodded and he smiled. “You always were polite like that.”

            I chuckled. “Well? What are we waiting for? Let’s go.”

            He nodded and Fghara looked over his shoulder at Concord. “Hold on, miss.”

            “Can you call me Concord?”

            Hrutan and I laughed as he shook his head, grinning, and we took off. That was a good day. I could almost hear Fghara’s mother scream at him in the future already:

            “Ghan Fghara, yeh tell me who this girl is right this instant! And yeh tell me how ye got t’ th’ Higher Form!”

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