14. The Return
It was a further three days before Cassy could remain awake throughout a complete day. She now felt closer to attempting the trek back to school. She had resisted the lure of using her magic in that time and her strength returned more quickly as a result. She let Drako finalise his plans for their return. Knowing her boots had not been warm enough and she had been far too cold, she mentioned it to Ebony. Ebony later presented her with a sheepskin pair of chaps and some furry over-boots.
‘Since you’re only little, those should fit over your trousers easily and these will overlap the boots,’ Ebony commented with a grin.
‘I’m going to look like a sheep,’ Cassy grumbled but was very happy to have them.
A pregnant woman, who would be too far along to ride comfortably come spring, came with them along with her husband and toddler. They had family already in the village and needed to be somewhere safe to prepare for the birth. The last thing anyone needed was to be on the run when someone went into labour. These three and Ebony necessitated a second tent and packhorse. Since further snow had fallen and the footing was too treacherous to travel at much more than a walk, a packhorse was not likely to slow them.
Cassy mounted her horse awkwardly. ‘Need any help?’ Drako asked her.
‘I’ve got so many layers on I cannot bend,’ she told him ruefully. ‘Could you straighten my boot things?’ she asked unable to bend to them. He took care of it quickly, giving her a jaunty grin. He checked over her horse and her accoutrements, making sure everything was secure and properly fitted. Freddie took the lead, scouting ahead, and Cassy rode beside Drako automatically taking the leeward side. Ebony rode behind her with one of the hunters. The couple took the third position behind them and the remaining hunter brought up the rear with the packhorse. The hunters took turns scouting ahead, coming back to swap every couple of hours so no one got too tired or the job too onerous.
The horses had all had a good rest over the last few days, and were eager to be out despite the cold and their burdens. Once they reached a clearer road, they increased the pace but generally, they walked. Following the pattern they had established on the way out, they set off early. Utilising one of the many small isolated field barns for shelter, they stopped for lunch giving all of them a very welcome respite.
‘How are you doing love?’ Drako asked Cassy gently and took her hand so she could not keep anything amiss from him.
‘I’m not as cold as I was coming, these chaps and booty things work really well. But I’m very tired,’ she admitted.
Drako picked up her worry that maybe she’d thought herself recovered before she truly was. ‘No, I don’t think that’s the case. I think you’re healed, but may not yet have rebuilt the endurance you had before. Sit down and rest. Once you’ve eaten you’ll feel better.’
‘He watches over you like a mother hen,’ Ebony observed sliding down to sit beside Cassy out of the wind. She watched the men light a tiny fire and set out a pot they suspended over the fire. The meal could be served cold, but was far more satisfying heated.
‘I know,’ Cassy said. ‘He’s very sweet.’
‘My brother: sweet?’ Ebony chuckled but didn’t deny the accuracy of the description.
Once they had eaten, Cassy did indeed feel revived. ‘Drako, we didn’t send word we were on our way. Do you want me to? We’ll need places made ready.’
‘Cass, you were tired enough. Doing a spell will just wear you out before we’ve covered this afternoon’s ride,’ he objected.
‘The afternoon ride is always shorter; I’ll be brief.’
‘There’s no dissuading you when you want to do something is there? You go straight for it.’
‘Where does that sound familiar from?’ she asked him and Ebony laughed. ‘So help me,’ she invited and waited for him to take her hand.
‘Jim? Can you hear me? It’s Cassy.’
‘Glad to hear from you. Finally on your way back?’ he asked feeling bitter cold around her and a tiny campfire.
‘Yes. All being well we’ll be back in 3 days time. Can you tell the potter we’re bringing his daughter and family? Ebony will need a place too until Drako’s made some furniture.’
‘No problem. Reserve your strength Cassy, you expend yourself too much,’ he chided lightly but he was guilty of that too. ‘Safe travels,’ he wished them and was gone.
‘See. That took but a moment and now they know to expect us.’
‘That’s always an advisable precaution,’ Drako admitted and helped her back on her horse.
15. White Haven
Drako turned up his lane glad to see home. They had dropped off the new family at the pottery and his hunters were already making their way directly up to the school taking everyone’s horses. Drako now walked with only his sister and Cassy. Cassy halted partway up the lane and he followed her gaze to the swing seat on his veranda. A huge pale gold lion was reclined there and watching them. The lion climbed down from his perch, stretched, and vanished around the corner of the house. A moment later, he reappeared in human form and fully dressed.
‘Welcome home,’ Jim said warmly trotting down the steps to clasp Drako’s hand, then Cassy’s and then turned to the well wrapped up third. ‘You must be Ebony,’ Jim enquired and seeing a nod smiled. ‘Welcome. Drako, I hope you don’t mind but when I got Cassy’s call I came down here to check all was well and found icicles hanging everywhere inside. I’ve had the fires lit and banished the worst of the damp, but it’s still going to be chilly.’
‘Thank you. Now tell me what else you’ve been up to,’ Drako added suspiciously knowing just how restless Jim was and that he was capable of astonishing changes day by day. Drako had two week’s worth of days in which to catch up on.
‘Well, Cassy’s original floor plan did show furniture and knowing you were about to come home with a guest I went ahead and made some bits,’ Jim commented casually, and waving Drako inside.
Drako hurried inside and stared. His bare house now felt a home. Cassy’s bench was now upholstered and a pair of comfy wingback chairs had been added to match. A big dining table with six chairs rested at the back of the room near the kitchen. The office now held a massive oval table with twelve chairs, but Jim was also gesturing that they look upstairs. Drako’s own room was unchanged but the next largest bedroom was properly furnished.
‘Well Ebony, will this do for you?’ Drako asked his sister, aware she was wide-eyed at the luxurious fittings. ‘Jim’s obviously made sure you’ve no excuse to be anywhere else, you’re to be stuck with me.’
‘Thank you so much,’ Ebony said warmly to the striking young man. She was feeling rather overwhelmed.
‘If anything’s not to your liking they can easily be amended,’ Jim said quickly. ‘I’ve left everything plain so they could be carved or finished off to suit,’ he added to Drako.
‘Thank you so much for doing all this,’ Drako told him sincerely. Whilst he knew each of these pieces would take a wizard of Jim’s strength but brief minutes, he had to have planned it and collected the materials first, which for him tended to be the slowest part. He’d just saved Drako weeks of work.
‘It’s nearly dinner time. You’ll all join us?’
‘Yes, that’d be most welcome,’ Drako readily agreed and watched him turn to leave then glance at Cassy.
‘Do you want to walk with me Cassy? I assume you’ll need a hand carrying your stuff back to your dorm,’ he added pointedly.
‘And Drako shouldn’t be seen to be carrying it? You think it looks better for the headmaster to be packhorse instead?’ Cassy asked Jim and he shrugged.
‘No-one’s going to question me; they’ll think I’ve just collected you,’ Jim said. ‘Unless you’re happy for the school to see you two returning together and in deep winter trekking gear,’ he added surveying Cassy’s many furry layers. ‘Perhaps it’s better for everyone to think Drako’s been busy hosting his sister or perhaps away on clan matters rather than on a private h
oliday with his new girlfriend?’
‘Why would it concern anyone even if they knew?’ Drako asked, piqued.
‘Because Cassy is a pupil here. The parents of all the students expect me, in my role as headmaster, to look after and protect them. I don’t need a flood of complaints from parents that I am allowing un-chaperoned trips with boyfriends without their knowledge.’
‘We get the message,’ Cassy told Jim hastily. The last thing she needed either was for her parents to learn she had made this trip without their knowledge or permission. As it was, she had tried to lead them to believe she’d contacted them from school. ‘I will slip in and when Drako and Ebony come for dinner they can sit with you rather than me. Is that better?’
‘Yes,’ Jim affirmed and watched Cassy go to Drako; he was clearly not pleased to be separated from her and not to be able to sit with her at dinner, but to his credit, he hadn’t complained. Instead, Drako knelt to remove Cassy’s cumbersome over-boots and then unbuttoned the furry chaps for her. He rose and lifted her out of them like a child but swept her close against his body. Her arms slipped around his neck and they kissed.
‘Damn,’ Jim muttered. ‘Cassy, tone him down. You’re amongst wizards now; everyone will be able to hear.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Drako demanded.
‘You’re broadcasting my friend. I don’t know how you are but it’s yours not Cassy’s power. Step apart. Ah, you’ve just done something magical again. What did you do? You’ve just gone silent.’
‘Is it your beard?’ Cassy asked Drako softly.
‘Beard? What are you talking about?’ Jim asked in confusion.
‘You know Amelie showed us how to part shift, to grow our fur?’ Drako reminded and Jim nodded. ‘Well I was just changing my beard into fur, that’s all,’ Drako explained and saw Jim’s surprise.
‘Do it again,’ Jim asked coming over quickly. He watched Drako’s thick beard, felt a surge of magic and the black beard had suddenly gone soft and glossy. ‘Neat trick that,’ Jim admitted in amusement. It was something he would have to try.
‘Almost as neat as the speed of your change and getting dressed,’ Drako suggested.
‘I’m learning,’ Jim admitted. ‘Who likes standing around freezing, not to mention the lack of dignity hopping about on one foot in public?’
Drako burst out laughing as did Cassy and Ebony slightly more tentatively. He watched Jim go still, his gaze turning towards the school.
‘No Am, that wasn’t me,’ Jim replied verbally as well as mentally for Drako’s benefit. ‘Drako’s home and is trying out a new spell. Seems to have a slight flaw in its side effects,’ Jim added mildly. Abruptly he burst out laughing. ‘No, you can tell him that! We’ll be up shortly.’
‘Amelie has a theory?’ Cassy asked wondering about the laughter.
‘Yes. You know when Amelie tries some spells that they turn out unexpectedly?’
Cassy nodded remembering the old rotten fence posts they were renewing suddenly grow bark and shoot leaves.
‘She thinks that’s her animus side showing itself. Drako is of course animus but he’s obviously worked out how to access his magic to do some minor spells. What else was going through his mind when he created that spell has a bearing on how it ends up. Next time, clear your mind before you try that spell,’ Jim advised him and headed out the door with Cassy’s packs.
Cassy followed Jim quickly knowing Drako was watching her go with mournful eyes.
‘So what was the trip really like?’ Jim asked once she had properly joined him on the path back. She was a little hesitant at first but soon relaxed and chatted away, although not truly telling him a great deal he didn’t already know.
‘Ebony will want to talk to you, or maybe she’ll leave that to Drako, about the possibility of more of the clan coming here,’ Cassy advised. ‘How big do you think the village can be to still look acceptable to the parents? It’s already rather conspicuous,’ she added turning to look back. Because of the undulations of the ground and the hillock Drako’s house sat on, the village’s upper stories and roofs were what were mainly visible from the house. However, from the gates where the village’s lane joined the drive, the bulk of the village was visible.
‘A hedge in key places might be the least conspicuous screen,’ Jim commented. ‘How many more would want to come do you think?’
‘About the same again,’ Cassy told him ruefully. ‘You’ve given them a ray of hope. We’ve had to be firm in stopping any from following us back today. I suspect you’ll be inundated with requests.’
‘Be honest,’ Jim invited. ‘You’ve met them; am I being foolish even considering allowing more to come here? Won’t that make us more of a target?’
‘Perhaps, but if they have their whole family here, they will fight, especially if they have homes to defend. If the crown’s inquisitors come just because there are animus here then they will not stop at the village; your students will also be in danger. You no longer feel completely a wizard either. Did you know that?’
‘I have an animus colour now?’
‘Partially. When you’re calm, the wizard is what one notices first. It’s only when you’re upset that the animus takes over. If you look closely however, you can see there’s another equally dominant side in the background of both states.’
‘You’ve been looking closely at me?’ Jim asked, wondering how Drako would take that.
‘Of course; what you say goes. You’re a complicated character and I prefer to know how those who have control over my life think.’ She abruptly smiled up at him noticing he seemed rather deflated. ‘No, I wasn’t flirting with you.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ Jim laughed, knowing they both had possessive partners. ‘Right, after dinner come and see me. I need to make a start on giving you the lessons you missed. End of year exams are coming up soon, but you don’t need to be disadvantaged. I’ve been taking your classes,’ he added and chuckled at her shock. ‘As I think I told you, I’ve not finished my schooling. Whilst I’d already covered most of them, some were new to me and potentially useful. If I didn’t have so much on my plate I’d join more of the lessons.’
‘Can’t you delegate more of it so you can join classes?’
‘Now Drako’s back I won’t have that side of things, although his taking care of his people has a tendency to create just as much work for me as having no-one in charge. If more people want to come then that’s going to take a great deal of planning and discussion. However, it’s more a case of having someone able to take on more. Max is a capable man but he’s not a wizard. He’s also now swamped by more than double the animus students he had before. I’ll work something out,’ he added and they entered the school.
Amelie was waiting in the hall for them and helped Cassy off with her heavy coat, hanging it in the rack by the door. Now they no longer looked so conspicuous. The three then went directly up to Cassy’s dormitory. Classes would soon finish but for now the dorm was empty. Cassy dropped her bags in the box at the end of her bed and sat down wearily.
‘May I check your head?’ Amelie asked. Cassy regarded her but nodded. ‘I don’t like not knowing if a healing has truly worked or whether it still needs a little help,’ Amelie explained. Now Cassy was properly at home in her head it was difficult to narrow her search to find the physical skull injury. So many intriguing thoughts, impressions and questions, were chasing about in Cassy’s mind, distracting her. Finally, she found her own magical signature and focussed.
‘Your skull has healed almost completely already. I don’t see any signs of damage in your brain either. Excellent,’ Amelie remarked. ‘Jim, you shouldn’t be in here. This is the girl’s dormitory,’ she reminded him.
‘If you ladies are sure you don’t need me?’ Jim asked. Amelie merely flicked her fingers at him and he left, despite being very curious as to what they might be about to talk about.
When Cassy finally came down for dinner she’d managed to bathe, put on something c
lean and feminine and speak with her curious dorm mates. Those hurdles accomplished, she hurried to dinner. The dining hall was already thronging, with animus presences clustered on one side of the room. Even through all those distracting signatures, she identified Drako’s position; they were clustered around him. She heard his deep laughter and instantly felt her spirits rise. He was perched on the edge of a table and surrounded by his people. His head went up scenting and he turned and saw her. She suspected he had been watching out for her. Their eyes met and she felt the strength of his absorption in her. He immediately stepped around the people he was with to go to her. A moment later he’d swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
‘Drako,’ she objected glancing round at the large audience. She couldn’t help shaking her head at him whilst laughing. He was completely unrepentant and wore an overly innocent smile. There was no ambiguity in his feelings or their relationship. He then took her hand and kissed it and she realised she’d been holding the shape of the ring on the chain around her neck.
‘I like your dress,’ he commented eyeing the soft pale grey wool. ‘Reminds me of a wolf,’ he added. ‘You are beautiful,’ he told her earnestly and saw her hand creep up to hold the ring again. His heart leaped and he felt lost in her eyes.
‘We should sit. There’s Jim and Amelie,’ she told him gently feeling their presences entering the room. She walked over to a handy table not far from the head table. He pulled out her chair for her and she sat. ‘Go on,’ Cassy told him softly, aware he was hesitating. She heard him sigh softly and lead his sister to the head table.
‘Are you going to introduce me or continue moping over Cassy?’ Ebony chided her brother. He had just taken her to a long table with only one other woman present.
‘Everyone, this is Ebony, my sister,’ Drako said simply. He caught her frown and relented. ‘You’ve met Jim, this is Amelie.’ He noticed his sister’s gaze kept returning to one man in particular. ‘You sit there next to Max,’ he added gesturing to an empty seat while he moved quickly to go round the table to the other side. He wanted to be able to see Cassy and couldn’t with his back to her.
Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven Page 18
