21879 reaction.

This time they were watching Willber, just waiting. He was red, clearly angry, for all he had tried to hide it before there was no hiding it now. It had been bad enough that she was here, but this. “She what? You mean. Just how? If her bonded brought here just how does that turn around? It can’t have been a dragon that was coming here. Just who and what? I can’t see this. It was bad enough before with hanging on to old beliefs, trying to bring them to life. This though is unbelievable. Just what gives her the idea that She knows the first thing about leading. War is not the domain of women it would be like me saying I knew a thing about preserving the past! It is ridiculous! I know they put some up here, but This! They really go too far. Just how do they even mange anything. It is a wonder they get anywhere. No wonder she said she would stay away. Just what sort of things did she tell you? I hope you are not still chasing her blindly. For better we never knew! Far better before this. We didn’t need to know how sick it became.”

Devlin looked at his father and said. “I never went after her with my eyes anything but open. I saw her and knew she would go where I couldn’t. That is why I chased her where I could, as I knew that she would leave me behind. Our roads were always meant to diverge, but she is now and ever my sister. Nothing will ever change that. As I told her. She in turn said that she wouldn’t seek anyone out and that I shouldn’t get upset when you refused to see her.” That she understood that she had gone too far. That even if she had of went to Willimton as she said in the letter there would never have been a place in your house again. That is what she told me. That she knew she had hurt you by being unable to join the sworn ones, by taking the path she was called to, not the one she was born to. Yet to say that with just make it worse, make you to mad to hear anything.  At least I was able to get control of my own temper a bit. Now is not the time to say anything about the letters.  “I know it is a shock, it was to her as well. No it wasn’t the bond to the dragon that did it. I didn’t as too much, after all it has to be odd to be tell your older brother about your personal life. We all know the how the bonds grab the riders and how complex those ties can make the relationships look. So it was with her. Gale said that she was still reeling a bit from melding with the dragon and saw a couple of guys talking they looked at her and well. It is they that caused the change of her plans, for she didn’t want to make them change theirs. She didn’t ask for any of it, but couldn’t turn away. She is majoring in military tactics and history, but others of her unit will be in your classes and she is sure that means your paths will cross, something about her unit being active. I will not let Gale disappear from my life just because her home is elsewhere and her ways are not mine. I see no harm in her using her talents, for that is what we are asked to do, even should they lead one to a different path.  I am glad that I will get to know her and where her path takes her. However I will not speak of it unless asked after this. I just didn’t want you to think I was trying to hide anything.”

Willber shook his head. “Did she say just where her base was or just that it wasn’t here? It is a wonder she was talked around, give how she looked each time the soldiers were helping with the bandits. You are all free to talk to her and about her. I am just shocked. It is not what I ever thought. However it is not my path so not my right to judge what she does. I will let them know at home that she is here. An active unit is one that will be sent out on raids. If called up all assignments are extended and exams can be made up. Such calls are not known much in advance so people get pulled out of classes.”

Devlin said. “I will not be in the field before I am judged fit to work alone. That seldom happens before third year, never in first. Gales said she would take me to see her home over a break, I don’t know just where it is other than in Idras.”

Willber shook his head. “It is good that you told us. It is better than finding out by seeing her. I can see how that would have been hard to believe. Idras would attract her, giving her enjoyment of those old books. I will have to see if she wants them, I don’t truly know why she didn’t take them.  So are you all set for tomorrow?”

Devlin nodded. “As ready as I can be. It is going to be a long day from the sound of it, then the classes start. From the books everything looks good, but it is going to be strange to have females in the classes and there are bound to be differences. Most of the Med students did their undergrad years here as well, giving them a leg up on the rest of us. What do you think of the schools? Were you all able to find one you like?”

Elli nodded. “The youngest are all going to the public school, just the high schools we split on. Robin and Wallace are going to that military thing, as I expected, Don is going to the nanotec as that is what he wants to go into, Arnold went with the public school.. Rachael and I are going with the regions school, Susie wants to try the public school, as they said she could transfer in at any time, and for her grade the classes aren’t that much more than at home, but the other school actually teaches less. They don’t trust most of science, seeing it as trying to disprove the Powers. That is going to be a bit strange. Oh I have already be asked if I won’t be in trouble for talking to them unescorted. It is good we are doing this. Seeing us and that we are not controlled will do a lot. Our reporting back the things we are asked should help show why we need to open up and attend more of the large shows as well as see that ours are better published. We are missing out on too much. Did you know that there has been three trips to the Gaza Cannon in the last year? Only one made the news at home and we heard that nothing was found, but they found a city! Not ground breaking, as we knew there was one in the area, but it could have been.”

Devlin smiled. “Are you going to see if you can get some dull credit classes? Might be you could get approved to take intro to archeology, the do sometimes let juniors and seniors take a few classes.”

She nodded. “All my core are duel, and they will go over the possible classes at the orientation. I will be taking at least two. The more I get now the better a start I will have. I will be coming here for at least some of my undergrad. I want to do my grad at Fillmer so it might be best to transfer back to Hilton, I will see what the rankings look like. However starting here will make a big stamen as this is the hardest school. Father’s teaching here means we all have open offers. I wasn’t too sure before, but now I want to take part. I will go home next year and graduate from there with my friends then will be back here as you head to Col, if you do. Yes I know I will change my mind a dozen times, but I am going to be taking classes. That I am not going to change, nor my focus.”

Devlin laughed. “If you were going to study anything but archeology then I would know you were sick. I am glad you are going to give it a chance here, no matter where you decide to start your undergrad. I see the value in the exchange, but I still wish it had of passed by me. This is not something I want, for all it is something I need.”

Robin followed Devlin out, saying he wanted to go for a walk. He almost made it to the street before saying. “What’s Gale’s email, will they let me in that area of campus or do I need to wait until you have time to meet me? What’s her dragon like? Have you met her bonded? I know that had to upset her, she never did want a long relationship. I don’t know why Father was so shocked, he must not have paid attention to those games. She was way better at strategy than Master Garthanr. He told Father that and that she would be wasting her talent if she had of stayed here. Did you know that Graint told him that if he let him check her gifts as he asked that he would have to take her? For all they don’t generally do so, she was that strong of a mage at ten.”

Devlin shook his head, laughing. “You will likely have someone come over to you when you cross into the military area, but they won’t keep you out. Heck they could likely take you to Gale if you tell them you are looking for her. Just ask for Gale Goldwing, not Cloudless. I know she won’t mind. She said she had an email, but never checked it and didn’t offer it. Her magic is such that it makes using tec uncomfortable. I haven’t meet Stormcrow and just a few of her unit, most of whom you have met. I haven’t met the two she was speaking of as far as I know yet. I will meet them tomorrow, and have promised not to do the overprotective big brother thing."