day 19 (Friday) 34043

Kell said. “How you doing? I see the years have been good to you old man.”

He looked her over. “You have grown a bit. You learned how to use that blade yet?”

Kell drew her sword. “Why don’t we find out if you know how to use yours. My skill is not in question.” They circled and soon the fight was on. Kell did well, but Philp won.

He looked at her a bit odd. “Mind telling me how I won this fast? You were not moving right. Why were you favoring your right side?”

Kell said. “I still have some healing to do. I thought I could take you even so, but you are to good for my week hand, and my other won’t last a long bout yet.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say something? One of you go get Riper in here.”

Kell shook her head. “It is nothing, and is healing. I just have to watch it. I got in the way of a blade and dislocated my shoulder. It is still a bit week so I have to watch it. Only thing for it at this point is time. Trust me I have been under the care of a fist rate healer.”

“We will see when Riper gets here just how good that healer was.” He point to a chair and took one next to it. “Why are you here, and is that a glove?”

“I am looking for information. Where ever we have went we have been having trouble show up, or proceed us. Not unusual for a company admittedly. But this trouble has all ways centered around a guy wearing this.” She handed him a sheet with the Symbol on it. “We followed leads to Ariby’s library where we found whispers and some new place to look. Then word reached that took us to help a town in trouble. There we found an army wearing this, not the usual mind controlled troops. I never made it into the town, but what I did see. It was sick.”

“Why didn’t you make it into town?”

“It was in the last battled I took the blow. It was aimed for my head. But somehow I turned enough that it just glazed by head and got my shoulder, knocking me to the ground, I got out from under the blades and passed out. They used a mage strike to take them out, but the shields on me were not strong enough so my left side was singed. It was all over by the time I was well enough to know anything, and the worst of it destroyed by the time I was out of bed.  I did call in help for the deeper contamination before we pulled out, and honestly If I hadn’t went to the paths I would have been down longer.” She shudder a bit. “I need this folks added to the non resident scholar list. Full passes if possible.”

“Ah there you are. The Princess took an injury and assures me she is fine, but I have my doubts. Would you pleas look her over.”

“I am fine, and have been seen to. The injuries he happened well over a month ago, on a battle field.” She shook her head. “Fine.” She lowered her shields a bit. “It is my right shoulder that has him worried. It was dislocated, and is not up to heavy use yet, but is getting better.”

The man came over and laid his hand on her head. “Dislocation is a mild way to put what you did. There is little I can do to speed the healing. Time will be the biggest factor. I am doing what I can. Is there a reason you didn’t tell me of the burns? They are doing well, but could be doing better. And they will be.” He removed his hands, and Kell realized that only she had heard what he said, for he raised his voice. “The hearer who treated her was good. There was little I could do. The shoulder will still need time but is healing well. Keep using it as you are. If it starts hurting, or feels stiff send for me right away. If that is all I will get back to my students.”

Philp nodded. “Yes thank you.” Once he had left Philp turned back to Kell. “You know you can put these names on yourself. So of course I will. But I want to know what you aren’t telling me.”

Kell bit her lip. “It cannot leave this room. It is all guess work at this point.”

He nodded. “You know me better than that. Why else would you come to me here.”

Kell said. “I know but it bares stressing as you will see.” She took anther pice of paper out of her pocket and handed it over. “That was fount tucked in side the cover of a book in Aribiy’s archives, well it is a copy. But you get the point. It is pointing at the forest as the source. But let me start at the begging.” She then took him though the encounters. “Like I said, I have nothing real yet. But I have received indications that there is something to find.”

Philp sat back. “This is to be a full meeting. For the fist time in years everyone is to here. Everyone. Now I wonder.”

Kell bit her lip. “Everyone, including Kellver?” Philp nodded. “I was going to get some passes for my comrades from the store, just the general. But now I think I will include some of mine. I will fell better with more swords around. But if you think it will look unwelcoming I will hold off.”

Philp said. “Do it soon and every will be used to seeing them around. You have the right to give passes because you earned it. If you trust them then I see no reason not to. But when you find something firm.”

Kell nodded. “I will come to the meeting, but only then. I will try and mingle in court some evenings once everyone is here. But I will need some time I have to work up to it.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. Just as long as you do come sometimes. And I would much rather have you hunting in the library than sitting on her hands in the meeting room, shooting daggers at everyone.”

She stood to go then turned back. “One more bit or warning. If I find what I expect I will. I am going to have Johnathn come back. Yes I know how to reach him. I have all ways known. I will tell Father before I do it. But he will not stop me, we will need him and his men. I will anyway.”

Philp said. “You have my backing and at lest three other loards, anytime you want to call him home. If you find what you think there will be more agreeing, no doubt some will send there own calls. But thanks for the heads up. If I knew where I would have long ago.”

“I don’t know that he will listen to you. But have you heard of the eastern merc company named the Bears? A massager sent there would find what it seeks.”

“Thank you, and keep me informed on your findings, as much as you can.” She nodded and left, making her way back to the library.

She was not surprised to see that Athions and Rick were still wondering the stacks. She passed then and went to Aran. “There are going to be a few more nonresident scholars coming in the next few weeks. They will be looking for anything related to this.” She handed him the drawing.

“So you found Philp then?” he took the paper and looked at. “I have seen this some place. When I remember where I will drop a book your way, or there way depending. I take this is what brings you back. Can you tell me more?”

Kell said. “Not much is know. Just that starting two years ago we ran in to creeps warring this, and farms doing thing hardened solders had trouble with. Kill the creep and the stopped. It was like they had no idea what had gone on the moment before. The guys keep showing up, and we want to know who they are.”

He looked at her then nodded. “Being on the road has taught you some. You are better at that tan you were. So who won?”

Kell smiled. “Believe or not He did.”

“And you are walking? Just how?”

“How am I walking? The same as always.”

“You know what I meant?”

“I am healing from an injury so am not in top form. My right arm is next to useless and me left can’t take to many hard blows. But I am healing and given time will be back up to speed.”

He looked at her, but just said. “Coming to diner?”

Kell shook her head. “No, I am not up to that. I will in time mingle some evenings with the court. But that is all I am willing to commit my self to just now. I still want to stay away as much as I can. So I will ask the guys, but I bet they will want supper in the rooms.”

Aran nodded. “They seem bright enough lads. Not who I thought you would be with. But that is good. Your dad will hate them, but you know that. I need to change.”

Kell smiled and knowing a dismissle when she heard one went to find the guys, who weren’t to far from where they had been when she came in. “Hi there. So finding anything fun?”

Athions said. “I think I could spend years here.”

Kell laughed. “You can take some back to the room with you. In a bit this place will be crawling with students. Which is why the others are leavening.”

Athions nodded. “The tour included the schedule. We were just deciding which books to take.”

Kell said. “There is one more thing to decide as well. Do you want supper in the room or dinning hall? I have made it clear I will not be attending the court dinner anytime soon.”