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Devlin shook his head, not that he doubted her. Father had made it clear that he felt the older ways should stay in the past, he didn’t like to see any of them reading about the other Powers. So yes that would have been loud and ended badly. Gale was likely under playing how rough it had been. No wonder Father was so insistent that she was dead, to him that was the better outcome. Still I have to tell him, hiding it will just make it worse when he sees her. “I can bet that was rough. I am sorry I was so out of touch. I still. He didn’t react right, but I can understand a bit better just what I was told. I just wish I had of seen better. Just how did you get here? This is the last place I expected you to ever go. You always complained of the solders when they had been around.”
Gale nodded. “It is not what I had in mind, but it is how it needed to be. It is hard to explain, and some of it is just too big to get to right now. There was a lot that happened way to fast. I went to Idras as from Grandfather’s books I felt sure that they kept more of the old ways alive and that is what I wanted. It was better than I thought, and I have a home there. That is why my unit’s uniforms are do not have this lands crest but the moon and eagle, for that is Idras crest, as are the colors. There is a tradition of units train in each other’s lands. You will see a wide mix of crests among the troops here. I was making arrangements to start at a school there, but well. Life had other ideas. You know a bit about the bonds and how they can complicit a Riders life. How they tend to change what a relationship looks like for us. We both had those classes, but it is one thing to read of it, to know that such complex relationships exists but it is another to find yourself deeply, fully in love with two others in the space of a day. Then to realize by the time the week was up that it was just the start of things. That it would get stranger and be yet right. A year later and I am still amazed by it. First of course I bounded with a Dragon, my partner Stormcrow. I was expecting it, after all I could talk to the wild ones. Still I thought it would be a young one as most bonding are, but that is not the case. He has lead wings of free dragons in wars we have no records of. I was still real a bit from it, trying to recover from the having the new knowledge that came with it. Then I saw these two guys, they were talking about something and looked over, and well we just got swept away. Between the first bound and this there was nothing no controlling anything. Anyway they were both students here and for a long list of reasons it was better that I change my plans than have them change their plan. And so here I am. It is better than I expected. I didn’t know just what to think when I heard Father was coming here. I never thought I would run into anyone I knew here, even after the exchange program was listed. Few even remember my last names is Cloudless not Goldwing, so no one would have connected me too anyone. So I was trying to decide the best way to approach him then saw you. Vale wasn’t happy that I just didn’t go talk to you that first day, but I wasn’t sure what the reaction would be. Still I should have before now.”
Devlin said, after he finished his hamburger. “I can see why it would be hard to know what to say. After all, I didn’t do more than stare at you, now did I? That had to unnerve you. I saw you and Vale talking so I knew he knew you, yet I never asked him even when it was clear that it was you. You are not the only one that didn’t know how to start. I am glad that I get to know this side of you. Just don’t trying running away again and we are good. It is going to be odd for a bit, but you are my sister, and I’m glad to have you back in my life.”
Gale smiled a bit, wait until he finds out just how true this promise is. “Remember you are a part of my unit now. I can’t run away. You will always know where to find me after this. Heck, one of the breaks I will take you home with me. After that you will have a way to reach me no matter what.  Now go easy with them, and let them know that I will not push things. Father is not going to be happy and I do see why they might want to leave things as they are, but we are going to run into each other. The campus is not that big and I will have members in their classes, which sooner or later will bring them into contact with me. We are an active unit. That means that we get pulled out of classes and sent to the field at least four times a semester.”
Devlin said. “I was just going to tell you not to be surprised if it takes them a bit to come around. I do think they will. However it is going to be slow. It will be better on me to tell them. I think he will understand that I needed to be sure, but if I don’t say anything it will be hiding things. Eldera is with them, as you likely guessed from Wallace being here. There was a bad accident and Ron was one that was lost. She tried too hard to hide how she was hurting and well it was bad for a bit when it all caught up to but she is doing better. Still.”
Gale winced. “There are some here that can help, that have dealt with the loss. It is a hard thing to lose any loved one, but to lose a bond. I am glad that she is let the folks help. I will let the right people know so when she is ready they will be. I was wondering why Wallace was here. I had best go, it is getting late and you have had a long day. It is good to have you here. I have wanted to tell you so many things, but I was scared to. I didn’t want to make trouble and I knew Father would be hurt and angry. So I didn’t reach out. I deactivated my family email before I left and you never got the letter that had a different address in it so had no way to reach me. For that I am sorry. It won’t happen again. Truth is even if you had the address I likely wouldn’t have known. I am seldom near a computer these days. The magic about me makes it uncomfortable to use them. However I will see that you have a better way to reach me before you return home.”
He smiled and stood up as she did. “Don’t worry we will have a lot of time to catch each other up on the last few years. There is so much that I wish I had told, and I am going to.” He hugged her, that saying it far better than any words could. “I love you Sis and I look forward to getting to know those in life now. I will do my best not to be too much of the over protective big brother.”
She laughed at that. “I’m not worried, all you ever did was tell me to be careful. It was Uncle Roger that would beat the guys up if thought they were getting to close. Not to worry you will meet them. I love you to, see you soon. You have a good night. I think I can avoid them for the first few days after classes start, but still the sooner the better, sorry.”
He nodded, “I will tell them before classes start, and don’t worry. It will be rough, but it will work out.” He walked he to the door and then shut it. Just how do I do this? What a day. At least I have a real bed tonight. I need a good night’s sleep after this. First a long shower, I think.



Chapter 3. Telling the rest, and meeting the Unit.

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