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The King smiled at her, delighted, for that was indeed one of the very things they had been debating. It was good to hear that there were questions out there, and she had brought it up just fine. Clearly she was one to watch, and he hoped he had convinced Iron to see she got the education she needed. It would be a shame to let her hide that mind. “There is the issue of how to reach them. My advisors are insisting that we would need to get past the trolls, as they seem to have the sea ports now.” Now to see what she says, I don’t like the idea of using a gate, but if there was a way to use the temple network, as she suggested with the ruins. That feels less invasive. Now to see if she will say more, or will withdraw again. I am surprised that she dared to say that much. There is no reason for her to be so scared to offer opinions. “We should see if a few more would help with the ruins. It is not right that any feel the need to hide any ability. We need to do more to see that all are using their skills, no matter where they come from.”

Idrias had been frowning a bit and looked at her father. “I do not mean to sound like I know more than your advisors. It is just. Father do you remember that article last year about that Jack somebody who was looking for a better way to get coconut? It was a dull, and his description of the cost was irritating.”

That had Iron nod. “Yes, the Jack Blake expedition that was to go to the Ivory Islands but didn’t.”

Idrias nodded. “That is it. I think he said that the fifth port he passed had a defend flag, and the sighting of trolls dropped off after it. Now I don’t know how he counted them, but.

Iron said. “I will pull that article when we get home and check. That will help. I stopped reading when he failed to find the islands and started down the cost. It was a disaster, but it might be worth checking into. He might not be credible, but I don’t think he made anything up, just didn’t know how to navigate.”

Lord Walton said. “You can’t be serious. Trusting shifters to explore alone, letting them go ungoverned. Saying that the records are lies, and trying to talk to the beasts that blighted the land. Just what next? You cannot trust or reason with those that do not have the capacity of thought. The records make plan that those Waith things are just single minded killers. There is no reasoning with them. I do not see why you are pushing for this. Then to get the girl to trot out your lines. That is going to far”

Idrias said. “I am sorry for raising an issue that is being debated. It was not my intent. My Father has not spoken to me of the meetings nor of the bills. The question of the Waiths is something that I think about every time I come to the border area. I did not know it was being talked of and saw an opportunity to bring it up as I feel it needs to be looked at. I do realize that is pushy of me, but from outside it looks like they are being forgotten, that the poison is expected to be a permanent answer. Everything I have read makes it clear that ignoring a problem is only going to make it worse. Here you can see for yourselves that the poisons are covering less area and there are no extra ears so it seemed like the best place to raise my concerns.” She hoped that sounded alright. Likely it was to much, but to let it go would have just made his belief stronger.

The other lord nodded. “Well said, and thank you for saying it. It is something that needs to be addressed. We need to start talking more or there will be greater fear when the toxin lefts, as it is going to do. We need to learn more so we are ready to meet the threats what ever they are. However treating the Waith like an enemy when we don’t know they are one is as big a mistake as not having a guard. We need more information. Some might just be in the ruins, and so we need learn what is there as fast as we safely can. The best way to do so is to make use of the talents we have. That includes the shifters. I do not see the need for the governance.  I will sponsor it and the request for more of the testing units.” Idrias moved off to talk of the ruins and let them debate the issues.

Iron waited until they were back at the house to talk to Idrias. He was pleased at how she had done, but upset as well. He didn’t like that she was putting herself forward like that. For all it did help, he just wished she wouldn’t push so hard. It was just going to increase the stress and that was not good for her. No matter what she thought she was different and did need to be aware of it. However she was clearly at the point where she needed to learn it the hard way. Telling her would just make her push back. No matter how it worried him, how he didn’t want her to get hurt it was time to pull back and let her fall. Before she did something foolishly. This way he could see there was a net there to catch her. Still it was a bad idea, but after today there was no real choice, not that she had intend it. Still best to let her know she would be going. He did wish he could see that it was local, but sadly it would international with both of them. No need to Alice that, let her think that the child would stay to Royal.  He had to shake his head seen she was with the same two boys. Jolt was just for the fling, that other one though. No matter what Idrias thought he wanted more, that to she needed to see. Fastest way to see a couple from was to tell them to stay away from each other. “Sorry to intrude on you game, but I need to borrow Idrias for a bit.”

Sally said. “Sure, that will let us round up some more snacks, given they have disappeared again.”

Idrias stood up, Iron said. “Then my timing was good, you go round hem up and I will try to have her back in time.” He waited until they were away from the table and then said. “I know you have been worrying that you upset me. I am not. I very pleased at how well you did. I was shocked as I didn’t expect it, but I am proud of you. That was very well done, and you solved some problems that you were not even aware of. Trust me Landan is now glad that you went for all he has no idea what went on. Your behavior out there was just what he needed to save four of the deals he thought were lost. And you got me the votes I needed to get the bill passed. All without knowing it and so you have the right to know just what has been decided tonight. There will be a mapping expedition of the coast now, one with people sent to look at fortifications, and they have orders to attempt to make contact with all ports not displaying the flag of a know hostile.”

Idrias shook her head a bit. “I was just sure I had gone to far. I did not realize it was being talked about. Last year it was six months to see truly noticeable change. Now I can see it in a week. So something needed to be said, and it just seemed like I might have a chance of being heard. Sorry about the other ruins, but we do need answers and are running out of places to look.”

Iron said. “I have no issues with you using the gates or visiting the temples. If they take you someplace it is your duty to learn what they want you to. There is no reason to hide it, and every reason to say it. They did need to know that you could safely explore the ruins and how far you can see. You are not going to be the only shifter that can do so, and as you said we need to know what is there. Before we are taken unaware, you did just fine. Now then you have to take those lessons and learn how to use the readers if you can. I can’t see how they ever make since of the data on the screens. I don’t know why I never thought to see if you could learn to read them. It will be a help if some items can be brought to the hut and processed, plus books copied. I just assumed it wasn’t safe to move things so never considered it.” He shook his head a bit. “You might just be using the gates a bit more next year, if you can read them. They will be asking you to try and help on the weekends even when you are in school. The next tests are being held in Lextor, at the palace, in three weeks. You will be there for a week, now Seth will be there as well, so hopefully it won’t be to scary, but you have your port if you need to get to someplace you know. I am not sure it is wise, but it is your right, so yes you may take the test and attend a university. Now you had best get back to the game, and it is up to you who you tell. Your mother and I are not saying anything more about the tests until it is time for you to go. By law we may not tell you what to do or which ones to take. It is completely up to you.” With that he turned and left, knowing she was staring after him, but he knew that he could not keep from saying what he shouldn’t if he didn’t leave. He didn’t like it, but there was no long a choice, his Majesty had told him that he would have rooms waiting for them, making it clear that he was prepared to make it a Royal order if they didn’t show. Now to tell Alice that we can’t just let her take them at Royal as we had been intending. If only I had of thought and had her working with the rangers, but now he feels that I have been making her hide her abilities. Never mind that there is danger to her with using them openly. There are those that seek to use shifters, but he does not see how young she is.

Idrias looked at him shocked. She had thought that at best they might let her take the tests at Royal, where she would be home each night. Never had she expected to be some place for the week. They had never let her go even to town. If it hadn’t of been for Luke she would never have been to Milton, little own out on the campus, and it had been made clear she was never to leave the campus.  It was only with reluctance that they had agreed she could be on the campus, long after Luke had started taking her out of the library, and a year after they had Seth taking classes. Likely they had only let her as he was refusing to go unless she could. He had stopped going and started back after they told her she could visit the campus. So this was unbelievable and scary. It couldn’t be real, they would change before it was time. She went back to the others and rejoined the game shaking her head a bit.

Sally said. “So what did your dad want? You look puzzled.”

Idrias didn’t think it was right to say anything of the tests, there was still time for plans to change and it was just unbelievable. “I take it that I somehow helped Landen make a few deals that he thought I had ruined. I am not to sure just what or how. At least Father is pleased. Also he agrees that I should see if I can learn how to read the testing devices for the black zone, and is wondering why he never thought about it. I was just sure he was upset by my saying I could enter the zone and had done so, but turns out he is glad I did. I should know by now not to try and understand. However just how I did anything to Landen’s deals is beyond me. More so as I am sure that the one he was most worried about involves a certain blonde in a too tight dress. I am just certain that her father was most displeased, he was one that was frowning, for all he didn’t speak. I don’t know that I will ever understand this stuff, but at least some did understand and will be putting some more funds into the testing and research of the zone. Some of the ruins there were left in the first attacks and so might just have some uncensored books. We need to see them as soon as it is safe, but right now it is hard to know what is safe.”

Sally said. “Glad it wasn’t trouble and you need to come and take the archeology classes. You would enjoy them as well as the history. So when are you taking the tests? Can’t wait to see you on campus, even if it will mean one of us has to drag Travis away from your room so you can get some peace.”

Idrias shook her head. “I don’t know about that, I do want to look into a few classes on cartography and strategy, but I think that it would be vest to leave the archeology to those that are looking to save and recorded the settlements. I see the value in it, but I want the military data more than the daily life.”

Travis said. “Just why would you be pulling me away? I would let her study, but she needs to play some as well. If we leave up to her she will just hideaway all the time. Look at how hard it is to get her to join us now, it will be worse when she is taking classes. Someone needs to see she takes.”

Idrias said. “I am perfectly able to take care of myself. You don’t need to keep encouraging the fear that I am trying to from a clan. Just what makes you think I will be at Elxta in the first place? That is a bit hard to think of.” Just what would it be like there? There were dragons there, not that she should know it, but the temple had taken her to one in Landen and shown her. That was how she had learned for sure just what her other from was. In fact that could well be why it took her there, for all it did teach her a good deal about them as well. She had been upset that day as it was one that her father had found her looking at her wings and so yelled as she was showing them. Never mind no one else was there. “I am used to forests not mountains, which is what that area looks to be. I don’t think I would fit to well.”

Travis said. “There is a good deal of forests around, some not far from the campus. You will do just fine there, and will have plenty of room to run. Though you are likely to get a bit thrown at first by the fact that the shifts are seen on campus in their other forms as offend as not. That it is not hidden will take you a bit to get used to, but I do think you will like the area as well as the classes. There is an old dragon city not far from the school, with intact spells, and a temple. I have never gotten the temple to open, but others have and I bet you will.”

Sally nodded. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you could read some of the writings we have been trying to get translated. There are complete books and scrolls locked into cases in one of the buildings. It is amazing and no one knows how it was done. The pages in the books will turn, but they can’t be moved nor copied. It is strange, and just one of the many such places. We have a number of old dragon settlements around, mapped and open to the public, but not fully understood. You would find a lot to explore there, just as you do here. In fact it might just be that another gate is built soon. A few have been trying to get permission to visit the zone, and it seems as if they might get it now. So it won’t be that hard to get back here for all it is a distance. It was strange at first there is a lot more shifters up there and no one hides from it. You will find it rough, but we will be there so you won’t be alone. I do think you will like the campus as well as the classes, for all it will be strange. It will do you good to see more.” She was looking at Alice when she said that last, she meant it and once Idrias took the test she would be admitted to Elxton, so they had best get used to the idea. They couldn’t afford not to send her once she had the letter, for all Idrias didn’t know it. there was a political cost to turning down offers to the top schools and they had spent it with Landen’s refusal to go to Wallace.

Idrias shook her head. “I don’t know about you all. It is just too silly. I will agree that Elxta is a good school, with a number of awards, but it is not one my family has attended so there is no reason to think that I could even get in, even if I was to take test, which I never said I was. I have more than enough to do here, the last thing Ineed is more to try and decode. However just what do you mean they can’t be copied? It would take time, but surely they can be transcribed. I have never seen one yet that couldn’t for all some are near imposable to get right, it can be done. I mean look at the drawings from the Echin cliffs, those took ten years to get copied right.”

One of the others said. “These are no where near as complex, the writings look a bit like Gramen. However they cannot be reproduced. Nothing appears on the paper when any tries to. The ones that can be read the translation can be written but not the words. Thought those words can be written with ease outside of the buildings. No one knows why, and there are records of attempts dating back fifty years.”

Idrias frowned wondering if she dare ask. After all they were an unknown. Wait no there was one book in Milltion that talked of them, and did mention the sacred texts. “Hinndun temples? They were all north, I am sure that said it was strictly a Northern religion. So why would there be any in Lander? Yet that is the only thing I have ever read of that would act like that.”

Travis smiled a bit and said. “Nope, not a temple, that was the first thought, though I never heard of Hinndun, it was some religion started withed with an S. that was the first thing ruled out as some places have the books in more than one building and there is nothing in common about the buildings that have the books. No symbols tied to any religion. You really do need to come see them, the cities are amazing on there own, then the spells and all the unsolved mysteries around them just make them more compelling.”

Idrias laughed. “You don’t give up do you? The day might come when I have time to go see a city, should that gate happen it would be an easy trip. However I do not see it happening soon.” Yet now I really do want to see if they are Hinndun texts, the lack of a recognizable symbol fits well. However they are sure those cities are dragon, and they would know. So how can they be, as I am just certain the other is Waith construction? Could there have been trade once? More likely I am wrong about that one, or there is no tie at all, outside of the spell. Hard to know not seeing it. I might just have to see if the temple will open for me again, and then explore a bit. Not to soon for I think the temple was in an area around the school, from the map. If so they will be watching for a bit, wanting to see if I can use that old gate I felt.  “Now then who’s deal is it?” With that the game started back up.

It was a relfe to all when the last person left and things got back to normal.