Red Skies: Fiona

As the students made their way to the main hall for morning exercises, Fiona leaned over and whispered to her new friend Saber, "I hope these are quick exercises so we can eat breakfast." She placed her hand on her small belly as it seemed to ring empty like an empty ballroom. She wanted to ask questions during the short trek down the hallway, but it was not her place. Eventually they would be told everything they needed to know.

The small group of girls and the Leurna turned the corner and entered the massive room with a glass ceiling that was at the center of the building. Sunshine flooded the room, giving it a warm and inviting feeling. The girls moved to the center of the floor, still led by River and Angel.

Red Skies - Saber

Saber grinned, glad she had guessed correctly.  Realizing that she was turning into a common uncontrolled girl, she cleared her throat and corrected her smile to one more polite and elegant.  But there was no hiding the happiness in her eyes.  With their white tunics on and hair done, Saber turned to Angel with a question in her eyes.

Angel nodded, "let's start walking towards the entrance.  That main area is where we do our morning exercises."  Giving Saber a wink and rubbing her back briefly, she turned to lead them all the while explaining.  "They are slow motion exercises designed to help you gain better balance, muscle control, breathing control, and coordination.  We do as a group a series of movements.  There are a otal of 24 movements.  That why it is title the Beginners 24."

Saber looked at her questioningly, wondering if it was rude to ask when breakfast was.  Shyly she glanced at Fiona.  She would have asked Angel, but she so wanted to keep Fiona as a friend and displaying impatience or bad manners was a good way to lose them.

Red Skies - Graff

Graff made good time past the borderhold's small villages and soon the trees started to space themselves out.  Coming up over a hill, he saw the tree line.  Past it was a large walled town.  "Thorn, what is this place?" 

Thorn restlessly shrugged himself off Graff's skin and leaped to the ground.  "That is a mercenary's winter village.  A good place to get a change of clothes that are not so... ritualist.  I hate to tell you this Graff but you really do stick out."

Graff smacked the dragon across the side of his head.  Thorn rolled his eyes, "well go on then.  I'll catch up with you once  you are done there and on your way."

Graff nodded, striding forward confidently.  Heading down the hill and crossing the grassy plain, he noted the farms and gardens planted around the walled town.  This place was definitely self sufficient.  Reaching the gate, he signed in with the guards and got directions.  Clothes was only one item on his list.  There wasn't an inn since everyone living here were all part of the same mercenary company.  They each had their cabin or stayed in a barracks.  No, he would need to find a place that solely sold food and drink.  That would be where the gossip was.

Red Skies - Winter

Susan stretched out her feathers, her wings stretched up.  Winter laughed excitedly, eager to take to the skies again.  Sophie sat on Kevin, both looking east restlessly.  Susan nodded to them, "Go on, you have things to do and a lot was spent to get you this headstart."

Sophie looked at Winter, "You are going to love the College and Heralds there.  Just a bit of advice, there are students who attend who are not Heralds.  Maybe they have Gifts and weren't Chosen.  Maybe their families had the money to send them.  Trust in the herald trainees and Heralds above them.  They may be good or not.  They may mean well or not.  But you are now a herald trainee and set apart from the rest of society.  So measure your actions and words carefully when outside our company."

Winter nodded with big eyes.

"One last thing, the tube I gave you, it is very precious to me.  Susan will help you know who to give it to when you arrive at Gryphon Heights.  Please protect it for me."

Winter nodded again and watched as Sophie and Kevin took to the skies, flying fast and hard towards the east.  What they had found in Gryphons Rest that was sending them east in such haste a momentary concern for the little girl.

Susan looked over her shoulder at Winter and mindspoke, "My dearest love, we should go too."   With a goodbye to the bard and innkeeper, they also went skyward, Susan's wings beating strong and sure.  Winter huddled down into Susan's feathers, relishing the warm and closeness of her friend.

Red Skies - randy

Randy had just delivered another message and was hurrying back towards the inn.  Pausing, he glanced down a street that had several smithies.  A odd longing filled him.  It wasn't the job he had wanted but working with family was less lonely.  Even orphans had a family of sorts by those that they banded with.

Continuing on his way, he soon paused again.  This time looking down a street with pottery.  Something tickled the back of his mind.  Turning, he walked carefully around to the ally and then looked at the ground.  There was bits of clay here and there from the shops.  Small tidbits.  He reached down and started picking them up.  It took awhile and the resulting lump in his hand was an odd color assortment.

Turning, he restarted his way back towards the inn.  This time he stuck to back streets and ally ways.  He still wasn't familiar with the layout but by keeping the main roads in view, he was able to manage.  The entire way he rolled and mixed the clay together creating an odd red, purple, and blue mixture.  Before reaching the inn, he had carefully taken the small ball and rubbed it onto the skin behind his ears and neck smoothing it to blend with his skin.  

Letting his hair fall back down, he grinned.  If anyone looked closely, it would appear that he had crippling injury to the head that might have damaged his earring and even his brain.  Now he would change his mannerisms to act simple-minded and slightly hard of hearing.  See what new things he learned when people thought him in this new light.

Red Skies: Tavon

Tavon ate in silence with his father, too tired to say anything. The images from the marketplace yesterday were not as vivid as they had been in the night, but he was still very afraid. Not so much for himself, but Jayson. What would happen to him? And who was going to teach him how to pick up money from strangers? Running errands at the inns was about the only thing a boy his age and education could do. His father took care of him and their small house but mostly sat inside during the day, working on his weaving or other crafts that he could do while ill. No, the money came from what Tavon could make, and he made the most when Jayson helped him. What would he and his father do now?

Red Skies: Fiona

Fiona also rose from the pool to dry off and dress for the day. “Yes, I have been to the Festival! The lights, the singing, the colors…. And the ‘Spirit of the Snow’ dance is pretty, too!” Her plan to blend with the students was momentarily forgotten in her excitement of meeting someone who was from the same city and had seen the same things as her. “I hope to someday be a part of it,” she added, her words muffled as she slid the tunic over her head. As a little girl, Fiona had been determined to dress herself every chance she got, despite the disapproving looks from her mother. But the maids were always insistent when it came to her hair, so she didn’t know what to do with it now. As if to rescue her, River came up behind the child and began brushing her crimson locks into a low bun.