35358 her father and her sort of talk

He looked around and realized that professor Cloudless hadn’t been through this before and so was likely confused, for all he had moved to the center and was sitting with the others. “Sir the horn means there is a person on campus that has refused to surrender weapons and is a likely threat. Most turn out to be nothing, but it is best to treat all such as a threat. We are waiting for any in the hall or the class rooms across the way as those windows are too large to block. Once there is none out there the door will be sealed.”

Willber nodded. “Thank you that helps, I had been briefed on the system but was unsure just what this was.”

More came in and moved to the center or over to the windows, depending on if they were armed or not. Gale came in last and looked around and nodded. “General Fisher this is the last from the hall, the rooms across the way are cleared.”

Fisher nodded and looked at her, but when she said nothing more he smiled a bit. “Thank you Lieutenant Goldwing, would you secure the door? Roger rotated those desk, we need to see, and then take up places to the sides. Cadets make a ring around the non-fighters.”

She nodded. “No problem and the alarms on the stairs are set. It is a low threat, but could be a test.” He nodded and she smiled. “Thank you for letting us in.”

Willber watched as gale pulled the door down so it blocked the room but left a crack so she could see the hall, then blinked as a shield snapped up, holding it in place. It was one thing to hear and another to see. She looked good, clearly this fit her. Still it wasn’t right that she would go so far from the way. It was shocking to see but at least it was causing few problems than he had feared it would. Still just how did it happen? This was the place he thought she would be, she should have safely stayed lost. He looked around as the students pulled out books or deks of cards and seemed untroubled. He shook his head a bit, but agreed to play a few hands when one of them asked if he wanted dealt in. it was all a bit surreal, but the other professor was playing so it would be rude not to.

They were into the second hand when the chime sounded again. Fisher said. “That the clear folks, it is now eleven, so classes are changing.” Willber watched puzzled as the students broke into groups, some moving the desks back others leavening the room, always with at least one armed member in the group. Clearly this was a well practiced event, but it seemed a bit much.

Fisher said. “They are still checking for a second person, but they don’t believe there is one. Still it is best that for the next thirty to move in groups. It is over kill, but the extra steps are why it is safe for the students to forget who their parents are and just be students when here. By making it the same for it makes it hard to pick out a target. Whereas just escort those with known threats would be the same as painting a target on them. I believe you are heading to your office, sir?”

Willber nodded. “Over to the Amster building.”

Gale said. “I can walk with him, Fisher. Have a good class, I hope this won’t after your test. Frank remember to tell Professor Wilk that you are leaving for two weeks. I don’t want him worrying about you again.”

A small boy with glass nodded. “I told him last night Cap. Not to worry, Sally will have everything waiting when I get there.”

Fisher said, smiling. “Thank you Gale that helps and have a good flight.”

Gale nodded. “That fine Wilk, we aren’t leaving until ones so take your time. Later Fisher.” She sent her bow and sword away then smiled at her Father. “There is no real worry it just looks better if you aren’t walking alone. I prefer not to carry my weapons on campus when there is no active threat unless in uniform. It is a small think to send them back to the rack as they are spelled to go there if dropped” He nodded a bit and they started out.

Willber looked at her, knowing he needed to say something. Ella wanted her to come over for supper, but had said it was up to him to fix it. Yet where to start? “So do these kind of things happen often? They had told me there was an alarm, but I didn’t realize just what they meant.” He looked around and only then thought of Devlin, but surly he was safe. I believe he has a class.

Gale said. “Not more than once a month and generally less than that. Having the base as a part of campus keeps the risks low, even though only three are active on campus and so in uniform normally. Though for the summit we will all be in uniform on and off campus. Dev was at the dorm, so away from the threat. He is headed to class now, but Vale is walking him over.” He looked startled. “I just checked and thought you would want to know as well. Stromwing is in the air and so has a good view of the campus, making it easy for me to find them.” She looked at him for a bit wondering what to say. “I was surprised to learn you would be coming here, but thought that I could easily stay unnoticed then Devlin showed up. That took care of any chance I would go unnoticed, I knew that even before I learned he was studying for battle field work. Once I learned that I had to see to it he was with Steve or I. The others that I trust don’t train for the rough forests that he will see. We do. If he is going to do this he is going to be as ready as I can get him. Even though it meant I came back from the dead. Just why would you think he would believe I went in to the forest? I knew that would never work, that is why I said I was going to Willmonton. It was far enough that he wouldn’t try to check and yet it would be believable as I had talked of it a few times.”

Willber said. “I was foolish not to give him the letter you left him. I was just upset and somehow thought it would be better not. It was stupid of me. I wasn’t the one that said you went to the forest, but I didn’t tell him what you said either. The gates were checked but there was nothing found so it was decided that you hadn’t used them, and that left only the one option. I should have said more, but well it was easier not to.”

Gale said. “I opened Furton to Willmonton, as I wrote it should have shown, even though it wasn’t used. It never made a difference in the records if the gate was used or not. I am sorry for the confusion and can see why it was easier not to push it. I hope it didn’t cause you too many problems. You should know that Robin will be doing a few training runs with my grounders, once Hank feels he won’t hurt himself. He wants more experience with dragons and I don’t want him trying to sneak in to get it.”

Willber said. “Thank you. I was worried about that when I discovered that there were air units here as well as the army. I can see him doing just that, and finding a lot of trouble, yet saying anything to him would be sure it happened.”

Gale nodded. “He just asked about watching, but I am sure it wouldn’t stop there. Both of them are doing well.” He looked at her and she shook her head. “The Stars were after Wallace before I said anything, but yes I asked if they had seen his run. He would fit in there better. The class room setting just doesn’t work for him. The stars work the academics into military training. History is taught by battles, geography by map reading, math comes up in campaign planning. It is all there, just in a way that he will be able to relate to it.”

Willber smiled. “I told him that he should do it, but he doesn’t think I meant it. I will talk to him some more. I don’t like it, I don’t want to see any of you take that road. I hate that you four will be out there in the middle of the war that is coming.  However trying to stop it just leads to more pain. I truly wish that things were different, but that will change nothing. Your Mother would like it if you would come to supper. I want you to know you are welcome to come over.” He winced hear what he said, that wasn’t the way to do it, but at least it was done. He couldn’t pretend that he was pleased with the fact that she had turned her back on the faith he had raised her in and tried to teach her to respect. What she had done, what she was, was nothing short of shameful. It was a slap in the face. However he would not have his family split over it. He had seen too many fall apart over such a thing to let it happen. Best to accept her where she couldn’t stay dead.

Gale said. “Thank you for the invite and please let them know they can come by the dragon and find me. I appreciate the offer, and will try to come by when I am back from this scouting run and at least say hi. I am not sure that I will be able to make supper until after the summit is over, but I will try. It is just going to be crazy for me until then.” At least he isn’t going to force them to choose, for all he doesn’t want me around. I know it hurts him.

Willber said. “Devlin told us that your unit was royal, and your mother studied Idras enough to know that means that you are somehow attached the royal family, so we guessed that you would be busy once they get here.”

They had reached his building so stopped walking. Gale said. “I had forgotten that she did her doctoral thesis on the southern lands, which of course would have included a good deal on Idras as it is the one best known in Lighton. Luckily I can get out of most of the politics. However the summit is going to cause the attacks to increase so I am going to be out in the field more as well as the events I have to go to if I am here. My bond mate is the fifth son of one of the leaders so I share his titles do to the bond. It is a bit of a mess, but one I haven’t yet found a way out of. I hope the rest of your day goes better and I will see you when we get back. It is just a patrol run along the Caspian mountains. They get checked out once a month and this time it is my turn. Dull as tears, most that has ever turned up was a wraith. Not even bandits to clean out usually, but we don’t want there to be either.”