14543 settling in

Devlin smiled and said. “I will be glad of the help, as I am sure the others will be as well should you not be escorting anyone when I return. It will be a few hours. Have fun, just try not to brake anything.” She laughed and Gale smiled, recognizing the words, as it is what he would tell her each time she started off on a monster hunt. Smiling he made the way to his parents and then had to shake his head a bit at seeing that a gold dragon had been added to the lawn.

His Father, Willber, said. “I take it that we have been sponsored by one of the units. Something about it being a way to cut down on pranks. That will be welcome, for all I never thought to have a dragon in my lawn. It was odd enough to have the army’s sword in the window for Robby, never expected to have an air force tag. Come on they have been waiting for you.” Devlin let himself be led into the house and spent the next few hours helping them make the house look lived in.

Willber said. “Aright it is time we take this to your place son and get you moved in. We are wondering just why there hasn’t been a single pitcher of your apartment. How bad is it? You said it looked a bit dark, and aged, so was it inside as well. Want to look for something off campus instead? No point staying there if it isn’t going to be comfortable.”

Erin said. “Dear, let him answer before you go trying to get him to move. You don’t know it is falling down.”

Devlin smiled, he had missed this more than he realized. “Well it happens that I am not in the building that I was originally to be in, so I still don’t know what it is like on the inside. However my apartment is nice, big and well furnished. My new place might just be related to the dragon out there. See I said that I needed the battle magic classes as I was going to go into the service. Turns out that if you say you are going to do a turn in service you are put with a unit for training and house in the military section of campus. The commander of the golden dragons said I would train with them as it would fit what I needed. So I am housed with their support teams. Vale said that where I would be going out on raids it would be close to what they trained to do. For all they must be able to fight to be considered for a place in the unit.” That had them all look at him and Robin started to say something. “Yes, he knows and said that he told his cap, that I have no business holding a sword. He said that the cap said that her unit was set the best to see that I learned what I needed to. So it seems that for the next two years I am considered a member of the Gold dragons, an air unit that doesn’t accept non-fighters.” That had them all laughing. “If we take the back gate we will avoid a lot of the traffic and will go past the duck so you can see it. Just wait tell you see where I am. The outside is wild.”

Willber stood. “Sounds good. Just how did they know what you will need? Mind you I am glad to hear you will be in train, that is going to make it easier on you, but it sounds odd.”

Devlin nodded. “It does, and I found it strange that they would let me in a Unit here when I am clearly not interested in staying here. Vale said that there was truly not much considered classified, but yet they do post guards. I am not sure just what made her sure, it is the same unit Vale is with and I had told him bits, but I don’t know that it would have been enough to judge the fit.” Likely it was Gale’s doing, but I don’t want to bring her up yet, not until I know what she wants.

He nodded and started out. “It could be they have been watching more than we thought. No harm in it and it is going to help a lot that they are being so open. I can bet that Roan will see it gets in the news that you have been put in a unit here, for all you have said you will be serving in our army not theirs. That will help the open borders get accepted. Our being so closed has let fear grow on our side as well as the stories here. At least it is getting fixed before it went too far. Get in the car if you coming.”

As they enter the campus the others were looking around and soon were laughing. “It really is a duck! And that’s a dragon! I thought you were joking. How strange that they would live in a dragon as well as partner with one. I can’t see that going over at home. Did that person have blue hair? How can they move in those clothes? They look like they would rip the seams if they took a step!” If they saw Gale, they didn’t say it, but then she was gone fast. Devlin would have missed it if he wasn’t watching for her.

Devlin shook his head a bit. “The next left will bring you to my building. A lot of the clothes are not as tight as they look others are stretchy stuff that looks painted on. There are all kinds of colors, hair dyeing is accepted here. Grace, my neighbor, has purple hair, or did when I saw her last. However she was talking about going orange, or at least put a strip in as it was two tame. That might have just been because I was shocked by one of the women in the market who had rainbow hair. That is the building we want.”

Robin said. “How did they even find that much murderous pink paint? I didn’t think there was such. Does it continue inside. I have got to send a picture to Aunt Healn she is going to flip. I can’t believe you live in there. Do you think it would eat people or just house the drape killers? Either way it has to be a crime house.”

Devlin was laughing to hard to say anything, but Beth had heard and said. “It was the assassins, but they were cleared out and troupes moved in to so they can’t take it back. However there could be a few lurking and there is likely some rooms that haven’t been found, as there had to be more weapons and there should be a dungeon, but no one has seen it. The pink is all out here but the top floor is blood red and empty, any that have tried to stay up there can’t sleep.” They looked at her startled and she laughed. “Now then go on and get your door unlocked so we can get the boxes in, Dev. I meant it, you are not going to carry them. The top floor is red, but as far as I know nothing here has housed criminals.”

Devlin shook his head but smiled. “Yes Ma’am. Come on, I’m on the fourth floor. I take it that things haven’t been too busy?”

Beth said. “Like I said we aren’t too busy to see you moved in. We had to show a two off and three others left. Rick ended up help the clown you saw leave. He tried to issue orders, and went so far as to swing at another person. I thought he was a tossed, but didn’t think he would go that fast. Come on guys, one trip each and it will be in. Go on and get the door open, and yes you can go up and check out the top floor, no one will care, young man.”

Devlin nodded and went in, leading the others to his room. “As I was leaving they were explain to one of the incoming riders that it was not permissible to wear blades until he had been tested, that if he didn’t remove it or leave they would escort him out. I gather they have a few issues each year. I don’t see why he would need it to move in, but then I don’t get the attraction.”

Wallace said. “There comes a point that it feels odd not to have blade, where you can forget you have it on. I have to be reminded now and then when I get home. That said no any student worth his training should know to pay respect to the locale weapons master. Having the blade on here was just poor form, and refusing to remove was insulting. If you are not a master and are coming in peace you check in and get permission or leave the blade off unless you are in active service. That is the first oath I gave on being granted a blade, and I was told it was so in all the allied lands.”

Beth said. “Well said lad, and luckily most coming in follow the rules but a few tend to think that being bonded means that the rules have changed. That doesn’t fly here, but other schools sadly do let it go. It doesn’t help that some of them have titles off campus, and failed to read that those titles do not matter on campus. That here they are just students. It makes move in a bit rocky, but most come to enjoy not having the title for a bit. If any of you want to work out on camps let me know and I will arrange the testing for you, if the high school you are attending doesn’t do so.”

Wallace said. “Thank you. We are still looking into the high schools and it will depend on the program they have. Robin and I both have earned our blades and wish to keep our skills up. I am hoping to set my first masters exam next summer do want to be in a challenging program. Robin has a bit more time before he is ready for the exams but likewise was in the program back home.”

Beth smiled. “Like I said if the school you choice doesn’t set it up I will, just come to the dragon and ask whoever is outside for Beth. Now I had best go see where they are with those boxes.”

Erin said. “You have a nice place here. This is better than what you were looking at near Col, for all the building is so bright. Yes Robin you can run up stairs and see it, but do remember to say that it isn’t blood when you send out the pictures of it, you have them worried enough by saying that your Devlin is living in a murderous house.” Laughing he took off, as the first of the boxes came up.

By the time they left an hour later the apartment was less empty and Devlin was feeling more comfortable. It was a help to have them here, made it a bit better. He still wished that this would have passed him, but at least he wasn’t alone. Having put the last of the dishes away he looked at the stove and thought about starting supper, as he was getting hungry. Yet he wasn’t sure just what he wanted. As he was frowning at the fridge a knock on the door made him jump.

He went to it and opened it smiling, thinking it was vale or Grace. Then was surprised to see Gale there with a bag in one hand and drinks in the other, she smiled a bit. Looking unsure. “Hi, so is this odd or what? I know that I have a lot to account for and it needs to be done. So I thought we could talk over dinner, if that sounds good to you?”

Devlin blinked and reached for the cups, of course, come in. just set it on the table. Do we need plates or silver ware?” Just where do I start? “I just. When they told me that you had went into the forest and. Well. It was just too much. I couldn’t see you going that way, but they checked the gate and there were no reports from other towns. Everyone is sure that you are dead. I just. Well why didn’t you go to Eton?” He flushed as he hadn’t meant to say it, but couldn’t stop the words.

Gale started unpacking the food and said. “Hamburgers and fries, so we don’t need anything. I had a few pizzas sent to the folks. Didn’t see any reason for them to cook tonight. So you haven’t said anything to them? I thought you would have. I don’t know why he said I went into the forest. I left a letters, one was to you, but I guess you never got it. I should have mailed it, not just trusted he would give it to you. Still he should have read the one on the desk. I said I was going to take the Furton gate to Willmington, that was a lie, but at least he would know that I didn’t run to the forest. I don’t know why. I am sorry that you were told I was dead. I never wanted that. I just had to leave before it got worse.”

 Devlin sat down and said. “They checked the gate but there was no record of it being used, so as there were no reports from other towns it left the forest. I don’t know if they thought of the other gate or not. I was told nothing about a letter in fact they waited a month to tell me anything. I was afraid at first that I was making it up, that it wasn’t you I was seeing. That it was me wanting something I recognized. Then once I was sure I didn’t know what you wanted said, and well. It would worry them. They don’t like it when I talk of you, as I refuse to say that you are dead. So see, it is a bit rough.”