35607. a bit of a side trip with John and Jas

They sat there looking at him Livie said. “Four more birds are here, Uncle Wane, Aunt Jo, Aunt Vicy ans Samantha. All wanting to know what is going on with Katie and why they didn’t hear it from you. What do you mean by changing shapes? The teachers all just glossed over that in the classes on changelins, they were more forced on the ability to use the lines for some reason. I still don’t see why that is so upsetting. It is the same as any wizard just without chanting. Using the energy keeps it in balance. Or so I gathered, but Nate says I just can’t see it because I have no gift for it, that there are many different types of energy and the lines are the most wild so dangerous. Yet I would think that meant it was a good thing there were some around that knew what do with it to keep it from being so wild.” Ruth said. “I had best start on writing those letters. I don’t see just what the fuse is, but clearly they won’t stop. I do hate it, but even if I called half won’t answer, and the rest don’t even have a phone! Of all the. I hate using this. It is so backwards. We moved away from this centuries ago!” She got up and left. Her way of ending an argument she knew was lost. Rob said. “It means that they can take a shape other than the one they are born with. In some cases those born with fur can change so they look just like us, or close to us. In others those born human can look like them. Typical they can also take the from of animals. Sis didn’t say just what forms she can take, but yes she can change. She has been able to for years. She did say that those in her school get their names from the animal they are most comfortable with, so as hers it cat that means a type of a cat is hers. It is going to take time. She knows that she hurt everyone leaving as she did and feels that we would be fully justified if we didn’t speak to her. She is not going to start any consternations, you will have to. As I said she has her apartment, so you can find her there or on campus. We know what class she is taking.” Livie said. “The biggest room in her places is her library and it is full. She did have books sent here so is likely planing to be here some even after school, for all it isn’t her home. You would be amazed by the wall hangings. For all the palace and her school look a bit imposing.” They looked at him. “I delivered her flour and sugar, she gave me a book on the animals there and told us to look around if we wanted to.Seth asked what the buildings in the hangings were, for the castle truly is a bit dark. She said it wasn’t, that few were scared to enter it at anytime. Just that image was dark. The school though was something few went to.” Rob said. “A book on the animals? Can I see it?” Livie nodded. “It was do to meat. There was a sell on roasts and so I was telling them to by some. She said she would just take two, that she was not used to pork or beef anymore, but buffalo, lamb and deer. I said I had no ideas what buffalo was but there would be lamb and deer at the market. So she said she would show me a picture when I brought the flour.” He sorted through the books next to him and handed it over. “The marked one is the buffalo, they are huge and would feel a freezer.” Rob said. “Thanks. One of the traders was talking a bout an odd bird that had gold feathers. I think he was drunk, but I have to see if there is anything like that.” He did look at the buffalo and shook his head. “They farm them, like cow? There are even some that are cross with cows. I don’t think I would want to be around something that large.” He started looking trough the books, then smiled a bit. “I don’t believe it. There is a bird with gold feathers. Not ten feet long, but still. They do have some different animals there. Even without the magic changed ones.” It would be something to see. Wonder if sis will be up for a visit sometime? I bet that Petter and John are already working out a way to make a royal trip. Zander said sttiffly. “There is nothing there for honest folks. It is a twised land, not safe to travle. No matter what sort of beings are there. You surely are not even considering it.” Rob said. “I think it would be worth seeing some day. There is nothing wrong in traveling. It is getting safer every year to make the crossing, more so as more maps are shared. Those of the Nighlin empire have been mapping the oceans as we were mapping our continent” Petter nodded. “And they have started sharing more of those maps. So far just coastlines, but as they come to know us there might be more. We know they have trade for places we have never seen. It is time that we expand our knowledge of the world, we have been to closed off. It is a danger to not know what is out there. We have maps showing what it looked before the shift, but after it we have been focused on learn what has changed here and neglecting the rest of the would. More ships are being built and that is going to get fixed. We need to know who out there is a threat and who isn’t before they arrive.” Zander shook his head. “Yes I can see the need of that, yet it is not safe to be in those twisted lands. Still it must be balanced against the danger of not know, for some could cross the shield. Yet to risk communication. Jasper stayed after supper?” John said. “No, he went to his folks place. They need to know Kat is here. He wanted to stay, but she is standing by the break up. Said that she will not even think of it for two months. That they were both different people now and he needed to see her not the girl that left him. She is different, more sure of her self. Clearly used to being in command. It is strange to see her not even blink when a plate is put in front her. There was no complete to the guards bring the lunches to us. She just went to the table, trusting they would get them. It is so odd, given how she was. Then she was looking a bit stressed, so likely needed a break.” Zander said. “Good for her, glad she is showing some sense at least. Yet say say she would at all. Well what is new about it. The way those two have been all their lives. You are all free to visit her as you like, so need to hide them. Just be careful. Not all is going to be safe, just as around any of those that use lines. Things will twist in odd ways. As it clearly has changed her. To think of a person being so twisted as to take on form of lessor beings. What madness the energy cause beyond the protections we are blessed to have. So her name is Kat?” John said. “Yes, among us it is Kat Wildstone. It is a translation of a longer name most likely. Given her school is a sister to Sheves, and all their grads shorten their names when dealing with us. Her title of Black Knight will carry over too our court, though mostly Ambassador will be used.” There was a knock on the door. “That will be our escort, we need to get back and find out just what they are planing now.” He stood and started to the door. Truly not sure he dared say more. He was close to snapping. Rob said. “I had best be going as well. See you in the market. It is looking to be a good day for it.” John said. “There are more wagon's here already, and the riders say there are some that will get here in the morning. There is looking be be over flow into the next square for the first time in six months.” Zander said. “Good, that should mean that there will be a number of good local people here. Should be able to get restocked fully for a change. It is getting harder to get good trust worthy good for the store. So many coming from outside.” John went out the door. Rob said. “I am glad to see more trade and most of the farmers are as well. They are finding that some new crops grow better than what they had been trying. Not all that comes from the center is fit for the lands here. Have a good night everyone,” When they were outside he said. “When you send your letter tell Uncle Herbert that they have doubled the anti-mage charms. It was enough to make me itch. I don’t know how you stood it. Like sis would ever come up to this door even. She knew better than we did. I just. It isn’t right that we didn’t know how bad it was for her. Just how did she even stay in there ever? It had to be why there were days she couldn’t get out of bed. All those headaches she had, the medicine. To think. She knew and yet accepted it. I can’t believe that I didn’t see it, didn’t realize that they paid less attention to her because they thought she wasn’t worth protecting. All the times she got away with something, I was so jealous. Yet it was that they cared more about me. It isn’t right. Yet she is still more worried about them, about how they could be hurt.” John said. “It wasn’t as bad before or we would have seen it. Yes they let more slid and not just because she was ill so much when younger. At least I know now what changed. I didn’t know how often she was crossing. I knew you both were, but knew it was safe no further than you could go it is patrolled. It is normal for teens to wonder the ruins. I never made the connection, but then I didn’t realize that you couldn’t be tested at the school. Just how many are getting hid from the class they should have? That needs to be looked into. Here there is a lot of mixing that is why those treats are tested for. The changed need those classes and some, like sis need to spend time across the line every few days.” Petter said. “We will get Kat convinced that we don’t care that she is a changeling. That it doesn’t matter, she is still our little shadow sister. Even though we will be the ones showing her when we visit Nightlin. It will take time, but we will get her to stop looking guilty about being here. I will be meeting with the eduction minster and health minster to find out what can be done to fix the whole she was hidden in. We need to do what we can to find all that have been or are being harmed by it. To make it clear that being changed by the magic is nothing that needs to be hidden. I never realized before how much more we needed to say it. You get your letters written. I think it is something your Grandparents need to know as well as your uncle Love.” John nodded Just what I was thinking. I don’t think that Grandma and Grandpa will be to happy to learn what we just did. They might know better what to do. At least then it won’t be their son that is yelling at them. Rob I wish you luck in the market. I hope you are able to do your own shopping without to much yelling over buying imports.” Rob said. “I will manage, for all they are going to be worse this time. You have a good night.” Just how many of the guards and servants are going to be limping come morning? At least I know Petter will see you work it off. Jasper waled up to his house smiling a bit, think about what his parents were going to say. They had told him to stop watching for her two years ago. He had tried, he had even dated a few girls, one last a few months, but they both knew his heart was inti. Hers wasn’t either, but they had enjoyed each others company until she found someone she did have feelings for. He just couldn’t ever forget Katie, it never changed from wanting her in his arms. No matter how he had tried, and he had. After all he had understood why she broke it off. That she didn’t want him at her feet, but that was all she could offer him. That no matter how she tried to keep from it he just was not her equal. He was fine with her being in charge, but she wasn’t. Might never be. She might not flinch now when waited on, but it still was not something she wanted. It would be worse when he was the one seeing to her. Never mind that was the way it should be. He opened the door and walked in, then followed the sounds to the living room. Wanting nothing more than to shout that Katie was back but that wouldn’t do. “Hi guys, hope you don’t mind my dropping in, but there is news I wanted to be the one to tell you off. First dad the grumbling over traders setting up from across the break is going to triple, and stay high. There is going to be an resurgence of anti -trade and anti-mage slogans. Next week the court is welcoming an official Ambassador from the Nightlin Empire. Those that don’t know where that is will by the time market is over.” Mr. Watersmith said. “Thank you for the warning. Yes that is going to up the problems. We were already planing double patrols, but I will see that they stay that way for now. I am glad that they are reaching out, if they are friends it will be a help with Akland sniff around you know there is trouble coming. They could be a powerful ally. I Just hope they are at least neutral.” Jasper smiled a bit. “They are friendly, but are not to sure we are. They were worried about approaching us, knowing that there is fear about the lands on that side of the break. However they are willing to start talks. For all they were planing to check the feelings and then if it seemed it would be welcome make a entrance to the court around mid-winter. However the Coronation next month forced a change to that. Still the welcome they receive should settle any doubts about it in Nightlin.” His mother looked at him. “Sounds like it was a busy day. Have you had super yet? Just how do you know this? I can see Petter telling you they would have an ambassador, but the rest.” Jasper said. “Actually I found out that they were sending an ambassador when Petter did. Coronation caused the change as Kat realized that she had to be there and she couldn’t show up there as John’s runaway sister, then come in latter as the Ambassador. It had to the other way around. Petter told us when the presentation would be over supper.” He looked at them waiting. “His what? You mean Katie? Just how? When? How is she? Why aren’t you with her you fool? This could have waited. Yes it is good to know, but.” Jasper didn’t even try to guess who said what. “Yes Katie, but it is Kat Wildstone now. Her school gives them new names, like Sheves does. It is in the Nightlin Empire. She was the one that saved the Emperor in that attack Travis told about. So she is his champion and a Lord of the court. She needs some classes that should could get here just as easy as any place else so she offered to come when they were trying to find someone to send. She was just sure none us would want to see her, but still felt she was best choice to make contact. She is as thin as rail, looks like a strong wind would carry her away, but insists she is fine. She did look better this evening than she did on campus. As to the other. She said she will consider being more than friends in two months. Four years is a long time and we no longer know reach other. I can understand that, and two months is nothing to the years it has been. At least I will be seeing her most days.” Kim said. “Good for her, and she is right. You don’t know who she is now and you should find out first. You are not going to let her get away again, so best be sure before it gets to that point. I bet that it went over well with Ruth and Zander.” Jasper said. “John and the others were going there to tell them as I came here. However, they knew she was coming back. They had two letters and in them she gave them contact information. The last letter she had hand delivered to her father. John and Rob were upset.” He looked at them. “You should know now that Kat’s school is a lot like Sheves, but it only accepts changelings that can change shape. Yes I knew that she could, but I never thought it mattered. However her parents will, they hid the fact that she was a changeling from the rest of the family as well as the school. I didn’t realize that until today. That is when it dawned on me that I had never said anything about it. Never realized that it needed to be said.” His dad said. “It should need to be, it should have been known., there was no reason for it to have been a secret. That it was needs to be looked into. She was able to get help, but others might not. Now then if that school was like Sheves she has someone with her.” Jasper said. “Not yet, but yes she will have a bonded servant, and yes I will be answering to that person if she lets me. I am not going to force my way in, for all I could, It will be up to her all the way. I am going to give her the two months. Yes I am worried about her, but I am not going to force anything.” He nodded. “Good, it is going to be hard on you, but better than when you couldn’t see you. You know I will help if you need me to, or Fern will. Now you look done in, so why don’t you stay the night?” Jasper nodded. “I know and, yes I think that it would be best if I stayed here tonight.”