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John said. “She had reasons to do what she did, for all I hate to admit it. Our parents are among those that believe everything here is out to kill us. She didn’t want to case trouble for us with them. I can understand that, but all the same. I wish it had of been different. All the same I will not be trying to get you to tell me what you know of her. The events of the past years are hers to share when she is ready.” Kat was looking at the ruins, remember the hours spent here learning form the wonders that camped close. They had helped her a lot, but one thing the could bet her over was the feeling that she had to hide. “I hid more than I should have, more than I needed to. I should have, However the past is the past. All we can do is move froward. I am doing my best to be open, but it is harder here. So call me on it, and tell them what you think they should know. I do not mean to hid any more than I do at home, it is just harder here.” She walked of to one of the half standing houses. “To many years spent seeking. This is where I came to meet the wonders for lessons after that first trip. It was closes enough that I could spend a few hours, and make it back before I was missed. Twice a month until the last year. That year it was harder to take the pulses of the energy in the shield and so I came here more. I should have said something, but you were rising in the guard and I was being told how noble and right they were. When the parents said right they were saying free of changeling influence.” He looked at her shook wondering just how he could have not seen it. “I know that they were against the trade expanding, but I didn’t know they went that far. Just how did I not? I mean I am changed as well. Yet I never was a target. I somehow missed them separating like that.” Kat said. “Elf gifts are acceptable for they are mostly human, and besides they they were around before the break. They are not a magic made thing like the changlings. That meant they were not right, did not belong, were a danger. That is what I heard in those words then. I do not know that it was what was meant, I cannot know if they knew what it did to me, how it made me feel. I never tried to find out, I just hid. Rob did hear bits of it, but he felt that I was over reacting and I likely was. It didn’t hit me that way until I started struggling with my changes.” She went around the corner and in to the house. John looked back at Petter who was talking with Milly the followed her. It was hard to trust others. He was doing better, but still didn’t like it when he couldn’t see him. It was silly, but at least he was able to leave him. It was easier in the city where they knew the dangers, but here with the guards so bad. However he needed to make sure that Kat was alright. Just why had he failed to realize what the folks were doing to her? Why did they pick on her and not him? “It is more than elven gifts I have. I don’t think that they alone would explain my eyes. I can shoot better because I see clearer. I can change my eyes so I can see trough smoke or dust. My night vision is like a cats. Not that I knew I was different before training. Yet I am. I can not change fully, but I can sharping my hearing over here.” Kat said. “Right you are, but I didn’t know it, nor do the folks even now. There are few elfs here, most live on a different content just as they always have. They are on this side of the break, so our knowledge is limited, but they are strong as they were. No, I don’t think I am a monster. I never did believe I would kill everyone. For all I was troubled by the changes that happened when I stopped taking the pills, I never was temped to take them. Even where hearing of the evil things changlins did when not properly cared for. It is not your fault. You didn’t know what was said when you weren’t in the room. I was the one that read the old looking books in the study. Books that I don’t even know they looked at, after all a lot were just there to be seen until Rob or I read them, and believed they felt that way. And started piking up hints that might not have even been there. I jumped to conclusions and acted on them. I caused a lot of the distance.” Smiling she knelt down next to a lump on the floor. John said. “They might not have read the books, but they did check them. There wasn’t a one on those shelves they didn’t know what was. Trust me I tried to hide a few there. I found better ways after that. Besides that the fact that they were poisoning you means they knew. Don’t think I missed you saying the changes happened after you stopped taking the pills. Block any gift is considered poisoning under the law when done with out consent.” He looked at the wall then back at her. “Just what do you have there? That looked like part of the house, but it isn’t?” Kat said. “Is there a reason that you and Petter haven’t exchanged trackers? That would make it easier for you to be away from him. Read the word on the wall out loud. You should know that one, we studied that language in high school. The pills were either prescribed or labeled as vitamins, there is reason to believe they didn’t know what they did to me. I find it hard to believe, but a court wouldn’t. As to this, no it isn’t organelle to the house. I kept some things here, but this is the first time I have checked to see if they are still here. The snares on the wall and my fire pit have used, so someone has found it. I should check the shelter and see if it needs restocked.” John looked at the wall staled a bit. Why? Well only one way to know. There it is. Why would they write vision on the wall? Then a lot of about this settlement was a puzzle. It had been built after the break, but there was no records of it. “Vicilint.” The wall cleared, letting him see out of it. “How in the? Is that common on this side? I have no idea what a tracker is. I am trying not to hover, but it is harder out of town. I did better when we were keeping separate rooms, but now.” Kat opened the case and nodded, for it was there, but she could tell it had been found and used. “When this town was built there were still a lot of unknowns going on. No one wanted to go outside without checking. The spell used here is different than the ones I have seen in Nightlin do have enchanted walls. I read everything out loud and so found a number of spells that still work. Like I said I came out here to work on my gifts, knowing very little about them. I was trying everything I could in those days. Seemed to that in a town built so soon after the shift they would be struggling to understand it so would leave records. It did help, and so recorded my findings for others that came here needing it. There are boxes with books all over the town, and hidden rooms. It is a help to see that this has been been found. I need to get more flint in here for the fire starter, it is running low.” John came over and looked then looked at her. “How often did you spend the night out here? This is cooking gear, not just for a simple meal. You were coming here more than you said.” Kat shook her head. “No, well in the summer sometimes the camping trips I cam here not lister like the folks thought. Most of this I put here for others. There is a storm shelter below this building and a fire in that hearth will not be seen by any patrols. That is all in the new writing over there. I checked it of course. Anyone would have to right at the house to know there was a fire. The hearth is spelled, but I couldn’t read them then so built a good sized fire and then went outside. Now the hunting gear I did use, after all I spent the day here so needed lunch.” John said. “Are there a lot of these? We should be supplying the shelters. Storms out here are bad and are going to worse. We are building places on the trails but didn’t think to go under ground. I will have to suggest that.” He shook his head. “To think I just said that I would make a recommendation to the counicle like it was normal. I can’t believe it at times.” He looked back at Petter. “Truly I was fine being his guard, that was enough with the nights we had. Even knowing that there would have to be a marriage for him soon, we were good. This is better, but I never. We both expected a lot more anger if it got out. Never thought Doug would just order me to sit down and stop pretending like we weren’t engaged, that he was done with pretending. During a state diner! Of all things. I still wonder just what caused it. I knew better than to say we weren’t, but wasn’t to sure. Still there was an empty place next to Petter, so I went to take it only for Petter to stand, saying that in that case I need to take the chair he had, for I belonged on his right. I was dumb enough to just shrug and take it, not knowing what he had done.” Kat shook her head. “I remember telling you that you couldn’t ignore the politics when sleeping with a Prince. That you needed to learn how court worked. A bit late, but at least you came to see why. So you will be getting the hirer’s crown. I bet that Dad and mom have yet to realize it. Then they don’t know that it is Petter that will take his father’s place. Few do, but after Coronation.” She shook her head. “I will get you a set of trackers. They are just gems that will let you see where each other is and if the other person is in trouble. You each need to wear one for forty eight hours then exchange them. It is common for bonded couples to do so in Nightlin. That will make it easier to let him out of sight. As will having fit guards. Those with you toady shouldn’t even have night duty. I take it the better ones were to scared of Milly?” John nodded. “That and I don’t trust Ambassador Hinrickes, with Wills coming I wanted the some that would have to stay there. I didn’t know why but she makes my skin crawl and Dough had a meeting with her. I saw to that that there are some I trust that know how to block spells there and the shields on the throne are solid as are his personal shields. Likely I am be overly careful, but things are moving that weren’t before.” Kat said. “Overly? Um, did you miss the part where I sent for a assassin to head your guard? No brother, you are being reasonable. There are a lot of things waking and not all is good. Spells to make walls transparent only from the inside are not easily done. Yet all the buildings here had them. They were needed. We don’t know why, but the fact that they were says there is reason to worry about what is waking. I don’t like that those with you are that sloppy, but at least you did accept that you had to have some. Come on, Petter is getting stressed. He doesn’t like you being away any more than you do. Clinted.” The wall looked like a wall again. “Took me a few tries to get the right word. So thought I would save you the struggle. Could be some place in the palace have spelled walls. Might be worth testing.” He looked at her. “I didn’t have a chance. There are old spells but I am not sure what they are.” She stood and they left the house. Kat had to smile at the way Petter’s shoulders relaxed. Cheetah said. “Why don’t they have trackers? They clearly need them, for all they are better than Bear and Owl at being apart.” Kat said. “I now know that they don’t have such here. I am going to make a set. I am thinking jeweled cuffs for them to exchange at coronation. Of course they will have a smaller one before then, but the cuffs will change color and so will work better. Or is that to tacky?” Both of them were looking at her oddly, so she thought it best to explain a bit more what she ment. “You would have to wear then for at least two days before but a week would be best. Then when the time is right you could public exchange them. After all some are saying it is as much a weeding as Coronation and nether of you would wear rings. I can get you a small necklace for now, but it won’t do more than point you in the right direction and show red if there is problem. The cuffs will be able to give clear direction and send two word messages. The exchange would need to be done publicly, I just thought it would be liked.” Wills said. “It will be they are just upset that they didn’t think of bracelets. The ladies have been pushing for rings and they have been trying to get out of it. No fighter likes the idea of wearing a ring, but a tight fitting wist cuff is done a lot.” Petter nodded. “Mom is going to love it and will like it even better that we are seen wearing them before the exchange. Just one thing. Are wrists aren’t the same size.” Kat said. “They will be enchanted, and will match your wrist perfectly when on. They will not be a hazed in a fight.” In fact if I can get it they will be dragon forged copper and have embed shields. Made from the same batch they will be linked together tight than my spells along could do, but we will see. They might find it to much of an ask to put such things in the hands of those unknown. It is powerful and I do see why they want it controlled.