40,865

Idrias said. “I am managing.” To prove it she took a bite, wince a bit at how shaky she was, but leaving would be the wrong thing. “I am sorry, but it seemed the best way to answer. I had no idea just what I would stir up. I did not mean to enter into the debate or cause it to spill over. Yet, well clearly there are issues that have not been raised, but should have. The bonds that are formed in a clan are mutual, and they existed long before the warevector. I am not sure how it came to be considered as being something just for shifters. Lily as the more common bonds before than just involved two or three people, where now it is four, if there is not a shifter, more if there is. Another of the effects of virus or so one paper said. Another said the groups were there, just hidden. That doesn’t matter. I just meant to explain that bonds cannot be forced, both must be accepting of it.”

Glenda said. “You would say that. Just how would you know? Just because you want us to let our guard down. You think I haven’t seen you with the young men, trying to get them off alone. We are to take this child’s word for it. That is hardly a fitting source for anything. She is just repeating what she has been told. She is a shifter, that means she is barely learning to think for herself at this age. Yet she thinks to tell us how the world works. Can you not see the harm?”

Idrias smiled a bit, thinking what those young men might tell her. Still best to let that go. As well as the stuff about me being too young. It would be enough to explain how she knows what she does will be enough. It will cause more yelling, but she was growing increasingly tired of being thought completely foolish just because she was younger and a shifter. She knew she had a lot to learn yet, that there were some big gaps to fill in, but that did not mean everything she said should be disregarded because she said it. “Milton was my playground, as bad as that may sound. It was where I spent most of my time. Before I could read myself my brother or one of his friends was there to read to me, and I didn’t care if it was a textbook or a story, I just liked to hear the words. When I was able to read the library was open to me. I made use of it. The library was safe, nothing there would hurt me. I was free to run, as long as I stayed to the back halls, and no one ever got upset to find me curled up with a book, no matter what form I had. I stay mostly to military histories, geography and cartography, but I have also made a good try at all the books on weravector and shifters. I might not fully understand them, but I learned what I could. I also have been at all classes that went on in the library when I was there. Generally I went unnoticed, but I was there, even when I had no idea just what it was about at the time, I still learned from listening to them. Once I had control I started going to the open lectures held on campus. There again I haven’t been picky about the topics and so have been lost a few times, but still picked up bits.” That was a bit too much. The irritation she felt came out far more than she meant for it to, but just maybe it would get them to listen at least a bit to what she had to say. She took the last bite and pushed the plat away. Just waiting to see who complained first.

It didn’t take long, this time three stood up, looking horrified. One of the inland lords in a silk suit spoke the loudest, drown out what the other two were saying. “You had the run of a college library! That is preposterous! How did you even get there? University libraries are not for a child. They are not to be used as nurseries! How is it? How do you even have a port? It was not meant for those not mature enough to use it. No matter what your family did. This is the problem with the system. It is far to easy to abuse. To even think. They let you run wild. There, just what is this come to. Yes shifters need to be involved, but not pushed before their age.”

Lord Weston said. “I did not realize that she had unrestricted access or that you had given her a port back then. That does seem a bit much. Just how did it come to be? My children do not enter the library alone before they are teens, it just isn’t safe to let them run. There is far to much that is not fit for the young. No wonder that was has such ideas, young need to be directed in their education, not all is fit to be read without guidance. Then clearly that is not a belief we share. Still the thought of a young child playing in a library.”

Idrias winced and was going to explain that she stayed out of the study areas and other frequently used areas. It was normal to avoid people, that there were some halls that held books that were seldom used and that was where she spent most of the time during open hours even now. Before she could Iron said. “Trust me I was not thrilled with it when I found out that Luke was taking here there and had told her it was safe for her to play there. I tried to put a stop to it, his answer was to hand her an unkeyed port, which bonded to her. As the law says any that holds a port has free access to the library it was out of my hands. Not that I liked it. I did try to limit it at first but Grant, who was the president then, told me that there was no problems with her being there. That she stayed out of the way and never proved a distraction.”

Donald said. “When someone needs a book on some hard to find topic it is most often that Idrias is the one to find it. That is the only time she will be seen in the study area during open hours. For all we have told her that she is welcome to use it, that she need not stay to the back. I will agree that some topics need an interdiction, and there are books that young children do not need to see. And if it wasn’t her I would have been a bit more worried about what she was reading. However, Luke took her around the library and explained that there were some books that she needed to leave alone until she was older, setting an age for each one. She would sometimes get one of those books if it had been asked for, but she never opened them until she was old enough, even though some of the restrictions no longer made sense, there was nothing that could convince her it was alright. She flatly refused to help me translate a passage out of Hulerrcion’s biology of Nummer as that was one she was not to read before she was twelve, even when I told her that it was a different section that caused the restriction. As much as it irritated me it also helped, for it showed me that I did not need to worry even though he wasn’t there to check.”

That got some laughter, Professor Aldermen said. “Just when I was thinking that it couldn’t get any stranger you all go and prove me wrong. It was bad enough to find the lass in the library after it was closed. To think that she was allowed to roam alone, when clearly so young. I had come to terms with the fact that the older girls were going around unescorted for all I still see it as asking for trouble, things are different here. You do not have the same problems we do. Yet Idrias was clear far too young and said she was not even a student, it was troubling. Then to learn she is a shifter and so even younger than I thought, at least it explains why no one was worried about her getting into trouble being out late.  Now then she, that child, is supposedly able to read one of the old languages.” He shook his head. “No wonder you all believe in literate dragons and friendly trolls. It sounds almost normal now.”

Iron said. “All of us can read a few of the old languages. As we have a number of ruins in the lands and those can have the remains of spells all in my family have visited on of the old teaching sites to learn how to recognize the spells and what to do when we encounter them. Since it has been safe for them to be in the forest Idrias and Seth have been to a number of the old sites and so there are few of them they have not been taught. If they encounter one are unable to read they usually are off to one of the sites with a sample to see if they can learn it. There are at least six different written dragon languages that we have found samples of. I do not know where the friendly trolls are from.”

Idrias said. “Dr. Burgurres’ excavation has found some evidence that there were trolls involved in the building. So I brought up Carrmeath Risscakol’s Species wanting to know if he thought the Rift fits the site of Black Star. There is nothing to say that the trolls were working with the humans, but it is an interesting idea. You know how I have been wondering since discovering that Black Tide used to be called Red Star. That reminds me I have the maps I was talking of laid out in the study, when you have time Sir.”

His Majesty said. “I am glad to hear that I am not the only one to think of Risscakol on learn of the evidence of trolls at that site. What are the maps?”

Idrias said. “The ones of Black tide and Daived’s retreat are the ones I want to be sure he sees. If it is the rift Black Star then the locations should match. Also I have some of Hurt’s maps and a few form both Miltion’s and Neill’s courts that he might want copies of. Dr. Jackson has said he would take him back and let him go through the archives, but I thought he might like an idea of what is in them.”

He looked at her. “You have the map of the retreat, the complete map?”

Idrias nodded, smiling a bit for it was one of her treasures. “One of Bugan’s first printings.” That had a few looking at her then at Iron, who shrugged, to him it was just an old outdated map. “I was looking at one of those online auction sites and found a collection of items relating to the last Waith war, only some of the items had photographs, one being an early printing of Duke Arounld’s analyses of the battles, which I had been looking for. So after some talking I received permission to bid on it up to a certain amount, it came in well under the value I had put on the book. When the items came the map was with it, having not even been mentioned. Other items in the box were even earlier. I was amazed, what I couldn’t use the library got and they have a copy of the all maps.”

He stood up. “This I need to see and I want a copy of it. We have a third printing, and it does not match the account of the battle.”

Idrias stood and said. “Of course, your Majesty. It might be that you will find some others to your liking as well. I think that a few might relate to the first war, but I am not sure. The information I have of that time is mostly stories wrote years after, so it might be they just relate to those stories. I do not know which account you are trying to match the map to but if it is Jerffsone’s then it will not match up, but it does line out with Hurrlt’s.” She noticed that a number of the lords looked upset. “Judging by the faces I see I have done something I shouldn’t?”

Iron said. “No dear, you are fine, go on and show them the maps. We can’t go to Black tide, but there is an overlook that is reachable. I will check with the rangers and set a date to visit.” That caused some coughing and the King looked at him. “After seeing the maps you are going to want to see the area Your Majesty.” He bowed. “I hear of your exploration of the Custer site. Trips to the overlook need notice as there are some natives that do not care to be noticed. There is a fairly intact old dragon settlement just a short hike from here that we can go to as well, if you are interested.”

Donald said. “I was going to talk to you about a trip to both of those, but have been too busy. So what can I do to help?”

Idrias smiled a bit as she led them to the maps. “I fear now a number of the court will feel the need to go on the trip to the ruins here. If so another time I can take you to a different site with less build up before it. Should you want time to look at the ruins in relative peace your Majesty. Also, please forgive me if I am being to informal.”

He smiled at her. “You are fine dear I am not as easy to offend as the Lords seem to think. As fun as it would be to sneak of it would just alarm them. It will be enough if they can be persuade to stay back on the trip to the overlook.”

Idrias said. “That won’t be a problem, getting there means going through an old gate, that plus the fact it is close to unsafe lands will keep most away.” They reached the table she had left the maps on. “We don’t have a stand large enough, so this will have to do.” With that she unrolled the first one, which covered the table. “I will get the others laid out as you are examining this one.”

Chapter 6: Trip to Overlook

Idrias shifted in her chair again, finding it hard to sit still. She needed to go for a run, likely should have gone out last night.  However the game went long and she didn’t end up in her own room. She was just glad that it was her habit to keep changes around the house and so she had on clean clothes before she was seen. Even though it had been a shirt and pants, not one of the dresses she had been do her best to stay with. She said. “I am going to pass on the next hand. I want to talk to my father for a bit before the next session starts.” She felt it was best to tell him she was going out, for likely she would be seen. Still that might be a good thing, a few are looking worried again. Besides it won’t hurt to see if they are going to the overlook soon. She wanted to sweep the area before they did so, just to be extra safe. Most of the beings in the area would never attack a human, but there were some that were nasty. The little ones would be scared off by her having been there, and if there was something larger she could take care of it. She needed to hunt, the exercise would do her good.

She walked to the front room only to stop in the door for her father was holding court, which she had not remembered.  She was going to leave but then she recognized the landowner that was there, so moved on in, staying at the back. Wanting to hear what he said. “My lord we had an awfully bad storm up Hight way two weeks back. It done washed out a lot of places. I fear that I lost half my Oats, all my grain and most of the corn. I just don’t know how I am going to feed my family and meet the full tax. On top of that it took out the fence and all the cows blotted, we only found four of them. Then something has been sniffing around the mill and spooking the horses and goats there. We would be grateful for what help you could lend us. I know that you have been most generous the last few years, but it is harsh trying to make a go on the mountain.”

Landen said. “I know that there are bad years, but you see to be having a long run of them sir. I will see that we get someone out your way soon to check on the animal problem and see what we can do about your shortages. They will bring you the current tax assessment at that time.”

The farm bowed. “Thank you sir, we will be watching for him and most grateful to you.” He bowed again and left.

Landen looked at his father who nodded. Iron said. “Well done, that is one complaint to many. There is something going on. We will send a different inspector this time as well.”

Idrias looked and made sure that he had been the last petition of the day then stepped away from the wall. “Sir, I was by his place last week and there was no storm damage. However there was also no corn or grain in the fields, there was one acre of oats. The rest I did not recognize the crop from the trees and didn’t feel safe to leave them. The fences did look week, clearly, they need to be mended soon, but I saw no signs that they had been breached nor any trace of cows in the forest and no signs of any large predator. I don’t know why, but it just didn’t feel right. I was planning to go by there again for one and see if I could get a better read of the town. Now if Triumph has been in, they did have considerable losses in the storm.”

Landen smiled. “Thanks, that helps. No one from Triumph was here, but then that is the town that was half washed out and said they had minor damage in those floods three years ago. I will see that they get an amended tax bill. They overpaid last year as it is. Father what do you think of sending Jane and Aron to Riverton, Jane should be able to tell what was in the fields even if he has them cleared. Aron will see that she is safe and will be able to judge the state of the people. I don’t like that sis felt unsafe.”