I leave the room where Sean was and wait, still pondering to myself,
"Well here I am again, teaching someone. Once again, Fate has done it
to me again. Oh well. I
promised Tanara that her child will be safe, then so be it. "
After it quiets down for Sean I return.
"How can I assist you, Squire Sean?"
"What's happening to me?"
"Last night was your first change wasn't it? Don't worry you'll get use to them."
"What have I become?"
"Only the person who gave you the gift of change can tell you."
"Why can't you tell me?"
"It is not my place to be the teacher, but where Fate lead I end up following anyhow. However, I can give you some advice. Until you learn to control your change,
the next time Luna inscribes a complete circle, be alone. 'Tis safer for the populace."
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A gift...HA! How can this be a gift? A curse more likely. Let the giver
of this gift show themselves that I might sink this gift into them. Who
could this ( These ) being
be that could bestow such a gift on a soul without making their intentions
known.
Ah yes, their intentions. What can they possibly be/ I, myself CANNOT
be so important in the grand scheme of things that I be made a legionnaire
in some dark
army for no reason. Jahsm... I mean Changeling seemed oddly confident
I would play my role , a role I seem to find myself cast unwittingly.
I must play my role lest i never find out who has cast me in it and
what they desire from me. I must admit it is a role that I am not at all
uncomfortable in. I have not
felt this good in years. The aches and pains of skirmishes past a mere
memory. My strength ,senses, and desires stronger than ever I was as an
adolescent.
KNOCK , KNOCK, KNOCK.
Who could that possibly be, and at this hour. Most descent people are asleep, or otherwise horizontally engaged. " Chan... Jahsmihna! see who that is at the door."
Before he, she, it...whatever, can get to the door it opens as
if by itself. " Who is it Jahsmihna?" " You will know soon
enough my lord." A moment that seems to
not end passes in an instant. A lone wolf approaches the thresh hold
of my home and takes a seat outside. It seems to be sniffing the air from
inside the house as if on
some kind of recon mission. It stands on all fours and is quickly joined
by three others of its kind. As they approach the entryway of my
abode the two in the center
of the line begin to change.
One of them into a woman with silver red hair and haunting eyes, the
other into a man wiry of frame and reeking of attitude. "Stop! Announce
you intention or I will
call the guard!" I can feel fear, anger and an adrenalin rush that
is mildly intoxicating. To my surprise my hands are becoming weapons ,
with claws half the length of
the fingers themselves.
The party stops.
The two who now appear to be human look at each other as if they are
impressed with themselves. The woman approaches, arms outstretched
and a smile on her
face. The man..."Much better than I expected me boy. When they told
me of your episode in the street night before last I could not believe
it. I had to see for myself.
Now that I do I must say I am impressed." " O.k. Mr. impressionable,
WHO ARE YOU ! What are you doing here. Tell me lest I rip you to shreds
myself! At that
moment a hand rests on my shoulder. 'Tis Changeling, " These are the
people who can answer the questions you have been badgering me with for
the past two days."
The woman wrapping her arms around me... " My child be not so cross. We mean you no harm. We wish only to welcome you into our family"
With a sudden burst of anger and fear all in one I swing at her raking
her across the face and the top of a breast with my claws. The attack sends
her flying back at
her comrades. The don't even stir. She looks back at me, licks the
blood from her already healing cheek.. " Not now darling, business before
pleasure." "Yes young
one, business before pleasure." Smiling from ear to ear he approaches
hand extended in a gesture of greeting. I am ICE, this" ...the woman blows
a kiss at me..." Is
the Lady Tanara. We are not here to harm you; unless you want us to.
We are here ;as Tanara said, to welcome you into our little family."
"Family! I am not your family you freak. I am Sean Carlton Speaker of
the Saracens of the Emerald Hills, Lieutennant to the Guard of King Ewne
McFadden of the
Emerald Hills, and Squire to Sir McFadden, His Royal Majesty!"
Tanara approaches and put her hand on my shoulder wipes her blood covered
finger across my lips and gives it a playful kiss... "We, my child , know
EXACTLY
who you are. You are all those things and so much more. You are the
one being that will insure our victory when darkness falls for you have
the ear of a king in your
pocket and soon a regal knight for a puppy." "Never, I will not harm
my king. I would die first!"
Ice approaches from the other side places his hand on Tanaras hand ,
still on my shoulder... "We would never ask you to HARM your king, we just
need you to
listen , look, and maybe talk a bit when the need arises. For that
we will teach you all you need to know to become the being you truly deserve
to be." " My lord.
The evening grow old. We've yet to feed and must leave our young friend
to consider these things. It is much to swallow in one big chunk."
Tanara wipes the gash in her chest with the pointer finger of her left
hand again places in on my lips. She kisses me again looks back into my
eyes ... " My child your
fate is sealed, do not fight it. Mere mortals are not as forgiving
as we are." She licks some of the blood from her finger and offers the
rest to Ice who looks me in the
eye as if to be looking through me..."Impressive me boy, but learn
your place, and quckly lest you find yourself on the wrong side."
Ice and Tanara turned and left Sean Carlton to consider and absorb what had just been told to him summoning the other two wolves to follow.
They walked out into the cool night air. The air was alive with
smells and odors not mere mortal would notice. Tanara examined the
rapidly healing wound on her
chest Sean Carlton had just given her. "Do you think he will
understand and play his part?"
"He will," Ice replied with the confidence and arrogance that were his trademark. "Given time he will not just play, but will understand and be willing to do his part."
"This is a confusing time for him. I remember when you did this
to me," as Tanara jestured to herself and the wolf that walked close
beside her. "I was fortunate
enough to have been surrounded by the pack when you gave me this Gift.
I can only image his confusion. And sending Changeling in to be his
guide?"
"Who else in the pack could 'blend' into those surroundings? Both
of out Bards would stick out like sour thumbs. Do you see any
other Bards here or anyone else
that even remotely resembles any of us?" Ice reminded her with
a knuckle to the forehead.
Rubbing her forehead absently, Tanara mumbles an agreement as she searches
the night sky. Ice's curiousity heightened since he senses no danger
begins to try and
look where she is looking. "What..."
With an upraised hand to silence Ice, Tanara closes her eyes and nods. Pointing to Sean Carlton's dwelling, "Stay. Watch. Guard him close. Call if we are needed."
Just as she opens her eyes, a very large hawk which glowed blinding
golden landed just outside Sean Carlton's window. It bobbed its head
once as if understanding
its instructions.
"Is that wise?" Ice asked as Tanara bowed to the hawk and turned to go.
"SHE seems to think it is wise. Only you and I can see it," Tanara said solemly.
"Me and my requests," Ice remarked in a huff thumping something on his belt. "Who...what shall we have for dinner?"
"I would much rather sink my claws into..."
"All in good time my child. All in good time. How about something presauted?" Ice smiles evilishly and breaks into a run.
"Not what I want," Tanara snarls. "But its dinner." As she
runs after the two wolves ahead of her and motions for the other one to
catch up to them.