47.095

Idrias wondered just what it would take for him to realize she was able to manage herself, that she could say when something was going to far. Yet even as she thought it she realized that was unfair, he was just acting as any parent would. There was reason to be concerned given that she had told everyone to ask her questions. “No, nothing to personal. I was asked if I ever hunted, but that is something I was expecting to come up after that question about who I killed.” She shook her head a bit. “I still can’t quite believe that. I do think that Sally got them convinced as she did give everyone a better expiation of the science. As to the hunting I explained that yes I did what I could to keep the more dangerous predators down. That satisfied them. Only Travis and Sally have asked to see my other form. None have asked what it is which I find a bit odd. I thought that would be one of the first things asked.”

Iron said. “Likely they are getting earfuls from their parents. Your mother and I have been asked repeatedly. We have told them it is a tiger, but they are not satisfied with that.”

Irdias shook her head. “What more is there to say? I mean that is what I shift to. Perhaps they want to know the color or something?” Likely they want to know the other from, but you want me to confirm there isn’t one. That is as close to it as I am going to go. Some of the tension left Iron ‘s shoulders and he nodded a bit. Idrias fought the urge to roll her eyes. She didn’t need the reminder. At least he was almost talking to her, both of them had been avoiding her the last few days.

Iron said. “I never thought of that just could understand why they kept asking after being told. Starting to get the idea they don’t believe me. You have a nice run, see you later. Thank you for letting me know, they should know the forest is safe here but likely a few won’t. Know I will at least know what the grave danger is.” He smiled a bit.

Travis said. “A run sounds good, but you might want to lose the dress first. I don’t want you to get tangled in it trying to keep up.”

Iron coughed a bit. Idrias said. “Thank you for the offer, but you couldn’t keep up this time. Another time perhaps, I will think about taking you to those ruins Seth was talking of.” He smiled a bit and Irion shook his head, well able to guess which it was. “That might be another reason they complain of me going into the forest. I am sure some would find the idea upsetting, for all I am clearly alone.”

Travis winked at her, and smiled, trusting she would see he was joking. “There is no reason for you to go alone. Even though I would be unable to keep up later there is other I can do.”

Idrias smiled a bit, for her father’s shock was easy to read. He had clearly never thought if the possibility that one of them might be after more than a fling. “Behave before you have my father scared. I told you that I am not ready yet. That is something that takes time. I need to get used to the idea before I can let you see me. Now I will see you when I get back, have fun. I shouldn’t be more than three hours, likely less. I am sure you can find something to keep you busy.” She waved and started to door.

Iron looked after her then looked at Travis wondering if there was a reason to worry. Travis said. “I was joking sir, as she knows. Not that I wouldn’t mind, but I am not going to push her into anything. Yes I did ask once if she would think about letting me see her other forms, but only once. I know it was hard for her to even talk about it. I just want it clear to her that I am not going to run because she is a shifter. I don’t like that she finds it something to hide, but then that is likely because I am from Landed. We have more shifters that you do here so are used to them. Few have issues shifting if they can do a task faster in their other from.”

Iron shook his head. “I didn’t realize that you had more there. I would have thought you had less where you did not have the labs. You saw the folly in that action. I just wish that we had, it would have been better for all. However nothing is to be gained by that. We do need to do more to see that they are not feeling segregated here. The education campaign clearly has not been working. The amount of hate that has been exposed is shocking to a number of us. That said there are differences that need to be understood and respected. It is just as unfair to ignore those differences as it is to exaggerate them.” He turned and left, realized that Idrias had seen it as a joke, but knowing that the lad had meant it. He wanted more than she was ready for. That was another concern with letting her go. Yet she had asked and as Alice said the other two should get a break from the shadow. There was so much harm now. At least if she went far enough few stories would make it here. However she truly had no idea what she had asked. She had no idea what she would face. It was not easy, but she did have a point. Idrias did not know what the world was but they couldn’t keep her from it much longer. This way she would know to return when she found out she wasn’t ready. He went into the meeting and turned his attention to the bills on the floor.

Idrias wondered just how long it would be before Sara turned up to tell her that she needed to be careful about encouraging the boys. She didn’t want to make anyone think she was looking for something she wasn’t. Never mind that it was Travis that was doing all the pushing, and that I have been flirting with others, or trying to. I don’t know that it is working. I will ask her if it would help if I am seen going with one of the others. If I have been too careful about not being noticed, and point out that I publicly turned his offer down, I don’t think I can get any clearer. Not that he meant it, he just wanted to see who he could upset. However, just the fact that he might have meant it that some could look at me that way is going to have them upset. I expected it, but they would never have thought it was possible even with all of Lady Gretchen’s yelling.

She reached the cave and wasted no tome getting out of her clothes and shifting. It felt good to be out here and not having to worry about what she did. She moved out to the gate at a lope smiling a bit as she thought of what her father would say if he knew just what her plan was. After all she was never to show her other from, not even when she couldn’t be seen. That was another of the reason he had been so upset with Luke over the library. After all I had no control at all. So yes there was times my forms merged and times I was a dragon. That my wings might get seen upset him far more than what I might get into. Granted he wasn’t quite as bad as Landen, but still. I don’t know that he every considered what I might learn. He certainly never asked what classes I attended, even after he found me with the medical book. The only restrictions they have ever given me have been about being seen. Main among those is that I must never let my wings be visible, I must never let it out. Yet as I long ago decided what they don’t know won’t hurt them.

No one is ever around Tower Rock, after all it is deep in the Waith territory and so out of reach. So that is where I go to fly and I need to fly. So smiling a bit she reached the gate and let it now which one she wanted it to connect to. Just why no thought to try. Then they likely believed the gates were destroyed on that end as the Waiths took the territory. That would have been the best way to keep the panic down. I can see why something was needed, but the leaders should know the truth. There should be someone using them to monitor activities. That would help us learn more about them, and might just give us a clue as to what we need to do. Why nothing short of making a section of land toxic worked to hold them off. It was not a victory that ended the war but a disaster. It was a hollow win, because it was not a win even as it is celebrated as such. Truth is we have no idea what caused the explosion or why they stopped. Yet there is no sign that anyone ever visits the sites, and I have left makers that should have been disturbed. I can see this one not being visited as it is supposedly in the toxic area, which is why it is where I fly.

She smiled as she left the shelter were the gate was and moved out onto the platform. It always made her wonder what it was like before, when the gates were used. Was this a busy place or one just a few used? There was an elegant staircase leading down, up here it looked sold enough, but whatever it had led to was now just ruble. There were few other buildings left standing here. However it was age and the fact that most had been made out of and not the war.  Or so she thought, not that she had anything but observations of other places to judge by. The places were stone had been used still stood, as did some of the true wood buildings. A few were even safe to enter and the items in them were amazing, for all you had to move with care. The knowledge that was there. She couldn’t help but wonder what an historian would do to see the books and computers that were in a few of the houses. The books were mostly intact and readable. Some were helpful with filling in bits that the knowledge pools couldn’t. A few were frustrating because she had no idea the language. More she didn’t dare open, even with the spells she used. If only it was safer here the amount that someone trained could learn. However, safe is the last thing it was. There was a waith city just a few miles away. They never bothered her, but she never shifted to human from and stayed to just side of the ruins when exploring them. Therefore it could well be she went unnoticed. It was hard to say.

No one truly knew anything about the Waith’s, not where they came from or what started the war. All that was known was from the records and there was something missing. There had to be. Every scholar agreed that the accounts did not make sense, for all the serving records agreed. Those records also pointed to a good deal of rewriting and purging done by Empor Nullsas.  That alone would make one wonder’ without the fact that the records have the Waiths appearing with guns firing. Claiming they had not been seen, yet naming them. Yes they might have wanted the land and be bent on destroying humanity, that is decidedly possible. It is well know that there is a race of trolls that feels that way Also there have been a lot of kingdoms that felt they were the only ones that knew the way to live and so moved to impose their rule on all around them. After all that was how the Empire came to be, for all it wasn’t so tyrannical now. Yet there were thousands of years in which there was no encounters with these waiths, there were fights with trolls and other kingdoms, but not one word of a waith. Until the attack on Willminton. The accounts of it all start with the same line. “The blood thirsty waith horde appeared in there red ships a mille off the coast and the cannons rained fire as their plans dropped bombs, destroying the town. There was not a baby left living.” Supposedly that seen repeated up half the coast then they started moving inland. Yet how did they know what a waith was? Who was on the red ships? It was not before the third battle than any gave even a hint of what a waith was and that was just a bit about “the mist like creature was unfazed by bullets, their line untouched by any weapons.” Bad poetic licenses aside. There is something rotten.

There are far too many unknowns, and nothing being done about it. The toxin was all the answer needed. Even as it fades no one is paying enough attention. We don’t know if the Waiths are a threat, but they could be and we have no plan. We should at least make some attempt to make contact and see if they are a threat, if they still want us gone or if a treaty can be worked out. Yet no effort has been made, or at least not that is known. She had to why.  After all there had been three envoys sent to the trolls, who were killed out of hand. Their hatred is plan and has not changed. So guards are set against them. Yet the Waiths are ignored completely. That is going to be a downfall. One way or another. If they are not as we believe, then fear is going to cause needless harm, and if they are as our history say then we are not ready for the trouble that is on our door step. She shook her head. Maybe seeing how the toxin is thinning will let the King see what has been missed. If he has never seen it reports are enough to make it real. The toxin is visible, even human eyes can see it is clearing. As the King is a mage his mage sight will tell him even more.

She knew that her father would be yelling that it is not her place to think on any of this. She did not belong in government and so had no right to say what actions the leaders should take. Moreover she was to young to understand the way the world works. Yet he asks her to rough out the Troll defenses. If only he could see the double slandered there. Then it might be he could also come to understand why she was so frustrated, why she didn’t want to hide all the time. However that would mean admitting he was wrong and she was able to reason, for all she was a shifter.

Slowly her white fur was replaced with silver feathers and scales. Her limbs lengthened as her frame filled out. Her wings unfurled and she took pleaser in stretching them. It always felt good to be able to. It was hard not to roar with joy, but that would wait until there was more distance. She had scared herself the first time, not knowing just how loud her voice could be.  She did try not to advertise her presences not wanting to cause alarm. For all it was imposable to know what they saw. She did her best to stay at a height which human sight would take her for a small bird at most, when flying over their towns. That limited what she could learn of the towns, but better that than making them think there was a threat. It was imposable for her to know how they thought of dragons. The few camps she had seen had not reacted, but they might have thought the shadow was caused by a cloud and not seen her as she did her best to leave on seeing them.