65600

Herrold said. “Just scattered randomly is fine, say one every six feet or so until you run out. Just try not to put them in a straight line, we want reads from as wide an area as possible. In that light we want the two of you to separate, Ralph will howl if he runs into trouble if the radio doesn’t work. That is if you will be able to locate him that way.”

Idrias nodded, and looked at Ralph. “Just go slow and stay outside of the buildings. If you find one you want to enter call me and we can check it together.” Ralph nodded and she didn’t think he was upset, but still thought it best. Not knowing just what Arthur was up to, he might need to know. “The further in the harder it is to tell what is safe in them. I have had a cabinet try to swallow me, for example. Then one house has floors that slide around. It is safe but scary.”

The tec bowed. “Ralph says thank you for explaining. It helps to know just why it is a danger. Not that he was going to go in them, but was wondering if it would be safe to in the outer rings.”

Idrias said. “I would advise against it in that from as it is easier to get trapped at that size. I haven’t been attacked by anything in the outer rings but a few floors have sunk a bit when stepped on.”

Ralph nodded, the tec said. “That makes sense, thank you.”

Idrias frowned a bit, she had caught the edge of the exchange that time. Not enough to hear it, but she hadn’t been trying. Best not to say, it was strange enough that she could see the bond and so knew that more here were in the clan, and that Arthur was the holder. She didn’t need them knowing she knew who had spoken. At least she hoped that meant he would be careful when he went out.

Arthur said. “I am the one that can move the cases the easiest so will meet you at the fence. I can go to the red one if you want, that way you won’t have to carry them as far.”

A few of the rangers laughed and Idrias smiled. “The yellow fence is fine, thank you. I will be there by the time you get the cases there. Now I meant it, the half from is scary looking, but it will be me not some monster. There is nothing dangerous near.” With that she stood up and left.

Harvy shook his head a bit. “I do wish she would stop that. Anytime she has to shift she warns us three or four times first, and apologies for it. That is just taking the tiger. I do see why it would worry her more, but it shouldn’t embarrass her like it does.”

Harrold nodded. “I am going to hate not having here as much, but going to school and being around more people should help with that. Governor said she leaves for the test tomorrow, they will take a week. Then there will be about two months before Elxta starts the new year. Once it does she will be around a deal less, for all she will be coming here more than she should. The standing gate will be running by the end of the month, and they will promises her access to it in the papers, given how badly the professors that were here want her in their classes.”

Idrias smiled a bit as she entered the trees and took her clothes off, leaving them on a stump. They would be safe here, for all it might have upset Landen that she was changing in the open, but then given the from, that would be the least of his complaints. They know she could blind of course, had seen her change her skin to fur when cold, that didn’t mean they liked. Then, well it was the scales of the dragon from that were best at repealing the toxins. They would be hid, but there was a chance it would be noticed, likely the height would be a hint as well, but they did need a better image of what the poisons were doing. There was always the chance they would mutate and become more dangers by looking safe. Slowly she let her limbs lengthen and more of the strength show, might as well let him see a bit of it. She changed her feet to the paws with the claws, for they would handle the ground better, but kept her hands, for now. Though smiling a bit she let those claws shoe a bit, they were always there but mostly unnoticed. Then let the scales cover her skin followed by the thick white fur that covered them. She was glad that the claws were not glowing, for that was hard to disguise. It had to be something to do with the dragon, but it had been happening more. A quick illusion darkened her fur. Likely it was silly, but she felt better. They feared her enough as it was, without knowing they had seen her kill the monsters they could only run from. Her face was more human the tiger, but it had lengthen some and her teeth sharpened, her ears pointed and moved higher on her head. She truly did look like some mixed up mess. She wonder just how Arthur would react. This was a bit less scary that when she went with the half dragon according to Luke, but Arthur would be more at ease with the Dragon, being one. Though she did wonder what they thought of her kind. She wasn’t one of them, no matter that she had a form that matched them. It had to be upsetting.

She reached the fence first as she had expected, but a glance showed he was coming. She wondered how far he could see. It wasn’t long tell he was there he looked at her and shook his head a bit, but didn’t back away. “I still don’t see why you didn’t let me take then further, they are heavy. These are yours Ralph has his and is getting started.” He looked at her a bit.

Idrias smiled and picked them up easily. “The others were laughing at you as I lifted up that mettle desk with the computer on it for them. I can manage the crates just fine, but thank you.” She looked at the ruins and nodded. “Ralph is making good time, he just entered the fourth row. I had best get moving myself. Looks like he is staying left of main so I will go right.” She wanted to ask if he planned on taking to the air, but thought that might be insensitive.

He blinked. “You can see him, from?” He stopped seeing her eyes and then said in one of the Dragon language. “Yes, you can. Your eyes are gold now, that is only seen in a few beings, and they can all read the temples from here.”

Idrias shrugged, and her eyes were back to the normal orange, she answered him in the one she had used before. “try using your mage sight and you will be able to track him as well. That is a bit of how I can see the toxin to as magic was used in making it. See you soon.” She left, wondering if she should have answered his commit about her eyes, but that might just have made him sure. She knew they were not gold, she never had gold eyes, her dragon from had orange not gold, but that had been what he was after. Not answering him should help, for those words were said outside of human hearing. It had been a test, but a bad one. Still it ment he did suspect that there was a third a form, and what it was.

Arthur looked after her and shook his head, wondering why she was hiding so much. The rangers had warned him not to ask her about the illusions, said that she needed them to feel safe shifting around them.  He heard the footsteps and turned to look at Harrold. “She is more of a mage than you hinted at. I don’t know just how she kept it hid before, but in that from it is easy to see. I can see through the illusions, if you want to know.”

Harrold shrugged. “Her fur is white not tan. I have known since my second year here. She runs the forests and helps keep the monsters in check. The child she saved was an Keetcicn, we have trade with them. She killed a Wyathvern that time. Her father insists she has only the one other from, the tiger that she runs the lands as. If you have reason to think different do not share them. She has enough problems with them. I told you that you would find it hard to be here, uncle.” He looked and said. “Avian shifters are the least respected, not that any are in this part of the land. They believe that the longer life spans and the animal forms cause issues with the brain development.”

Arthur shook his head. “Even if she didn’t have the gifts of the temples she would be welcome. Now though she needs to come to us and learn what they haven’t been able to teach her. She will understand the books that confuse the others, as you thought. Is there more that needs to be done to insure it?”

Harrold shook his head. “No, once the offer comes her father will see to it. He will expect her to fail, but will see it as more damaging that she not go.”

It was later than normal when Idrias made it in. She just barely had time to make it to the table. Her father looked at her as she took her seat. “Was there trouble?”

Idrias  shook her head. “No sir, everything is good there are just some researchers in with new monitors to test. One of them is a dragon, he was in human from and as far as I know has been. However I do not what all they have to test, they might want a few readings from the air, so thought you should know. Just in case.”

Iron nodded a bit, frowning. “I had been told they were coming but thought they were not due for a few days. I hope it wasn’t to upsetting for you. So they had you help them?”

Idrias said. “I was a bit startled, but Harrold was there and took care of everything. I had some items to move in for Willow’s team and the two that could enter the zone came with me to get a better idea of what the portable tests are used for. That will help them improve how they work. Then I helped set up some of the erumpent they wanted to test. That is what took so long, as they needed it spread out.” Well that and Ralph finding that house with the moving stairs. That was a trick to get out of, but was fun. Then there were those wood items he found, that seemed to be repelling the toxin. We moved them to place that is easier to get to so they can be observed easier. Might be they can come out to the shed. Never thought to test that far in.

Iron waited until everyone was done eating then nodded. It was best to remind her and give her a last chance to change her mind. Once they got there it would be to late. “Now the University tests start tomorrow. This year they are being held in Lextor at the palaces and those taking them are to board there for the week. There is just one section, and placing for a school in the top ten means that you are agreeing to attend it. If you place for more than one so ranked you will be able to choose from them, but it advised that you go with the highest. No matter what your goal was. You can transfer after the first year, of course, but it is going to be rough.” He shook his head a bit. “It is not something I like. They are wild, but we do need to have a prescience, for all it is hard to see the young face those ideas. It can’t be helped. It can’t be put off another year, I am already getting flack for not sending you last year. So Seth and Idrias see that your bags are in the living before breakfast. We will leave right after it, I will see you to the check in, after that you are by law on your own. How you do in the tests is completely up to you. Your luggage is in your rooms waiting for you.”

Idrias was a bit shaken, she never thought it would really happen, no matter what he had said. Seth though nodded. “Thank you sir. Come on sis we had best go pack. Glad that you are taking them with me, that helps. I didn’t want to be there alone but wasn’t sure you would feel up to it so didn’t ask.” There now that should see that Landen is to shocked to start yelling if I can just get to leave. She needs to go, and it would be far to easy for them to talk her out of it. “Sis we just need the type of kit as you helped me pack for that trip to Lord Fishers last year. I know it is a first for you, so you want some help?”

Idrias said, as she stood up and moved, realizing she did need to. “I think I can mage, but would you mind coming by and checking after you have yours finished? I fear I never thought of packing tell now.” She mentally ran things over, hoping she was remembering what had went in the bags. It was strange to think of packing one for herself. That had never occurred to her once. Yet she had watched the others getting ready for trips. She had never thought she would take one and then to think there would be a longer one after it, if she placed.

She started up the stairs as Landen found his voice. “What? Her to? She can’t! Do you have any idea. Those will see that Exlar offers. How that place got first rank I will never. She can’t be exposed to that. She is not that sable, to be there without guidance. It would be bad enough to let the child take classes at Royal, this is going to insure that they think we let it run wild. Just how?”

Iron said. “This is far better than having her run off. She wants to do more and needs to see for herself that she is not ready. I do not like the idea of that school, but there is no choice. His Majesty told me that he would have rooms for them. There was nothing I could say to that. It was not what I had in mind when considering it, but it is out of our hands. To tell her what to do is to break the law. It is their choice, meaning they will both be going to one of the top five. I have the trunks ordered, just waiting to know the school. I see why you are upset, but it will not harm your plans. If anything having her away will help, for a part of the issues was that some follow Hustan so her being here was upsetting to their beliefs. Go for a walk and cool off, both of you. It is done, and I don’t want either of you breaking the law by advising them.”

Idrais heard him start bet kept on walking. This was one time he wasn’t going to hold her back. As long as father let her she was going to take the tests. Granted she had never thought that she would go anyplace but Royal and then only for a few classes, using the gate to get there. Now though, well as hard as it was to believe she would see Exlar after all, and would be in a dorm, as frighten as that was. At least there were more shifters there according to Sally and Travis, so her needing to run would not be an issue, and the hate should be finished by then. Even if it only linked to a few places she would be able to get to where she needed to. Plus she had the port that would take her to Milton no matter where she was. Not that it was any less scary.

She reached her room and found the bags had been left outside her door. She shook her and wished that she didn’t have to use them, but it wasn’t like she had anything. Just why did they have to be in the family colors? She just couldn’t stand the poisons green and brown. At least it wasn’t check, just half and half. That made it a bit less like the Cholkers hide, but it was still all she could think of when she saw the colors. She knew that she should be pleased that she was being sent with it, for it meant she was going with the full backing of the family. Something more for Landen to worry about, as if it wasn’t enough that I had the name without the power. I do wonder why Father would send me with the House colors, that is not something I want or expected. Hopefully it will be less later. She took up the bags and went on into her rooms and set about trying to pack for the first time in her life