A fraction of a moment more passed, and then she half-turned at the shoulders. It was an incomplete movement, glancing at the man that was easily a head and a half taller than her. His stature was great in many ways: broad across the shoulders, scarred features, and callused hands. There was no hair on his head, she noticed, since it was kept shaved clean and no hair on his face. His name was Telis Otar, but beyond their initial meeting, she did not call him by his name.

?Gaiden,? she called him. It meant ?Brother to Battles?. It was as much of a title as Warder but it was one she preferred to use. And as there were no other Warders presently around, it would cause no confusion.

?Are you well?? He risked the foolish question. Telis Otar knew better than to ask it of his own Aes Sedai, but he was unfamiliar with Valucia, other than in passing over the years. He had never seen her frown and she was doing just that.

?Just in thought, Gaiden. Nothing of concern.? Dark, black-pearl colored eyes glanced briefly to him only to return her gaze to the quiet arch of stone before her. ?The Builder said he must come through first??

His hand came to rest comfortably about the grip of one of his swords. It merely rested there without intent to use it at that time. ?Yes. That is what he said to Aelani Sedai. He is to come through, as planned today.?

?And at the seventh hour of the morning.? Valucia murmured it under her breath, but she knew he could hear her well enough.

?It is unlike one of The Builders not to keep his word.?

?I do not think that to be the case. Perhaps time here is not the same time that passes there.?

Telis Otar looked at the woman from the Blue Ajah. He had not thought of that. The surprise of it might have reached his gaze vaguely and just a little, but it was quickly put down and buried. ?I will be here when he arrives.? He meant to assure her of that. Neither of them expected trouble from any Builder, but trouble could always follow through the portal to where they were.

It was almost dark when the Gateway came to life. In the hours that preceded it, Valucia had left the courtyard of The Four Keeps to bathe and change her dirt- and grass-stained dress. She passed the fountain quietly, but the Warder already knew that she was there; he could hear her chatelaine and whispers of her skirt?s layers over the dirt and flagstones.
He glanced over his shoulder to observe that she had neatly arrange the long lengths of her black hair into a bun. As she drew closer to where he stood, he could also see finer strands had been braided in decoration against the side and back of her head. From her ears hung a delicate set of silver earring; of the Westlands and not RhyDinian; obviously to him by their design. He could not help but to think of her as the lady from the Great House of which her family belonged.

?I felt it.? Said as she approached him and the Gateway that had been dormant at their end for days.

The Warder knew what she meant. Even those without her learned skills and talents for what might classify as the arcane could feel the change in the air: it was electrified as if lightening had struck nearby. The hair on his arms and at the back of his neck had risen moments earlier.

?Yes, but none have journeyed through yet.?

?The journey is a lengthy one,, Gaiden,? She mused aloud with consideration of a few possibilities. ?It might have taken more than one to make the journey possible.? Gateways did not usually take the strength of more than one to create a weave for it. She frowned with outright curiosity to wonder about it.

He grunted, knowing that it was unusual ? if that were the case at hand. ?Doubtful.? He muttered it out while he eyed the Gateway. It was an archway of stone. He also knew that the structure was entirely unnecessary, but it helped the people and animals that might come through it. Traveling could be very unsettling for man and beast alike.

Voices were heard before either of them say their visitors coming into view. A throaty, deep sounding voice that was decidedly male, another male, women, and the nervous chattering of a child. Even among the voices, Valucia could hear the horses and the wheels belonging to a cart.
The child was a girl with fair, flaxen hair. She had her face pressed into the shoulder of an older man that could have easily passed as her grand-father or great grand-father by guessing at his age. As soon as they were clear of the barrier, she quickly turned her head and looked around with wide, brown eyes. ?There she is! Let me down, please! Let me down!? Her energy was on par with that of the Gateway itself.

The women rode upon the horses and the men walked them through with a tight hold on the reins beside their mounts. A mule followed, hitched to a cart and at its seat and reins was not a Human, but an Ogier.

Valucia knew all of them, except the Ogier and the two Warders that followed on horseback behind the cart and brought up the rear of the mismatched group.

Duncan traveled with a party of six other men.

The Yyngard was dressed in a gray tunic with dark, fading trousers that seemed old and well worn, with black leather boots and a wide belt. Across his back were his swords and that leather pack with its metal hook dangling dangerously below. Compared to the man who rode beside him, Duncan was an unimpressive sight.

The man, who was named Gensinimo, was as flamboyant a man as they came, it seemed. He wore on his head a great, wide brimmed hat with a plume of vibrantly colored feathers sprouting from it. His hair was curly and red and he wore a meticulously shaped mustache and pointed beard. He wore a brocade of red and gold, with a violet sash tied about his waist for a belt. His pants were blue and seemed made of a material similar to velvet, despite the heat. His boots were a rich brown leather with golden thread stitching creating a myriad of strange patterns from his calf to his toes. Pinned in place by a bejeweled silver brooch was a thin and light cloak of deep red that seemed to shimmer in the light. In all, he was a spectacle to behold, for better or worse.

Behind the two men who seemed ill-suited for each others' company came a horse drawn wagon with another four men, two of him sat at the driver's station while the other two sat in the back with a plethora of tools and equipment that seemed to make the wagon sag slightly on its large wooden wheels.

As the company approached the plot of land now called Bulwark's Cove, passersby could hear the colorful Gensinimo chattering away merrily to the silent tower of a man that was Duncan. The latter did not seem bothered by the seemingly endless stream of words coming at him, but he said little during their "conversation" and seemed more intent on the road ahead of him.

The clattering sounds of the wagon slowed to a halt when Valucia came to greet the company. Duncan dismounted as she spoke to them and the man, Gensinimo, followed his example soon after. Both led their horses along by the bridle while the wagon of men behind them began a slow crawl anew. Duncan offered the ghost of a smile to the Aes Sedai and nodded.

"I think there is time enough to eat," Duncan said. "Though I cannot speak for him and his men," then he paused and gestured toward the man who walked beside him. "This is Master Gensinimo," he then turned to the man and completed the introduction. "Master Gensinimo, this is Valucia Sabet. It is her you will be working for during this project."

Master Gensinimo, for his part, removed his hat and bowed with a series of extravagant flourishes that sent that shimmering cape flapping through the air. He smiled broadly at Valucia and said, "Greetings to you, Madam Sabet. This one has the pleasure of being Master Gensinimo d'Lars, and has the greater pleasure of making your acquaintance. My men," he gestured over his shoulder and indicated each of the four men in turn. "Bron, Guill, Thomassen, and Cristoph," each man had slipped from the wagon during the introductions and approached to give the lady Valucia a bow as they were introduced, and each offered a similar (if briefer) greeting to the one Gensinimo had given just moments before. They were less fancifully dressed than he, though their clothing and boots were of fine quality and seemed to indicate a deal of success in their craft.

"If the Lady Sabet is not offended, I prefer to keep my men fed myself. We work on a strict schedule and diet, you see..." behind Gensinimo each man seemed to slump only slightly. "But good Master Duncan has no such obligations to me and we will not require him this evening. If you would be so kind as to point us to where we are to be working, we will unload and enjoy a small meal before examining the task at hand."

As he spoke, Gensinimo had a habit of twirling one of the ends of his mustache and his eyes, which were a dark brown, seemed to dart everywhere at once as though he were eager to begin working.

The small caravan of men followed the Aes Sedai dutifully, with Duncan and Gensinimo walking on foot and leading their horses by the bit. The taller of the two men stood closer to the walls of the structure when Valucia showed them the area in need of repair, whereas Gensinimo tossed the reins of his horse to Bron, who hopped from the wagon to tend to the beast. After this had been done, the flamboyant man circled around the cart and dug through a pack, producing what looked like a small, flattened out spyglass. He approached the damage wall and began to inspect the mortar with the miniature magnification device, muttering to himself for a time.

"Good Lady Sabet, you may rest assured that my men and I will get to the root of this," he said without looking at her. "Guill, Cristoph," he started, turning to the wagon. "Go around and tell me what you find, be thorough."

Duncan eyed the blackened stone with a thoughtful knit to his brow and took a few steps back to look up toward the top of the structure.

"Do you know who owned this land before you came to possess it?" he asked, while Gensinimo returned to the cart to search for a few more tools of his trade.

"Do not thank me yet, Valucia," he said with a wry smile. "Master Gensinimo knows his trade, and I have not known of any task he could not complete. But there is a first time for everything."

The man dressed in vibrant colors seemed to overhear this remark and stood up straight at once, fixing Duncan with an almost withering look. Were it not for the good natured curve to the man's lips one might have mistaken his expression for genuine offense, but instead he halfheartedly muttered something and resumed the task at hand with a few new tools clutched in his gloved fingers. The other two men from the wagon were soon put to task as well, both mimicking their master's actions and examining the mortar closely and assessing the entirety of the structure's damage.

"Wars, though...I wonder if this is the result of some battle from a time long forgotten," his smile faded slowly into another thoughtful frown and he said nothing else on the matter, instead turning his back on the structure to look down at Valucia.

"I imagine you have much to get back to, I will leave Master Gensinimo to his work and be off from here so that you may return to your own duties."

"I would not wish to impose myself upon your hospitality, Valucia," Duncan declined the invitation politely. His attention was stolen away by the presence of the young girl and he studied her thoughtfully for a time. Sashanii's presence brought a curious look from the Yyngard. A faint smile touched his lips and his eyes seemed less distant and guarded. He watched the exchange with a quiet kind of simple pleasure that hinted at longing for something lost, or an opportunity missed. And then he looked away and fixed his gaze upon the Aes Sedai once more.

"Should you have need of anything, or require advice in how to best handle Master Gensinimo, for he can be quite mule-headed at times, I am happy to assist," he said, inclining his head to Valucia. He turned toward Madrigal and climbed to rest easily on the large stallion's saddle, taking the reins in the same motion.

"For now, I must take my leave. But I trust we will be seeing more of each other soon," he said, his eyes darting momentarily to Sashanii before he turned and rode off.

Maetra had stood watching the exchange between Duncan and her sister, Valucia. She was a fair-haired young woman who was no more than in her early thirties, in years counted by Humans. She wore a peach silk dress that was layered over a cream-colored gossamer. The merest of breezes brought a certain life to the woman's dress.

She was a lady of one of the great houses but always felt like a child of ten when having to see the woman that was often in the color of blue. Maetra was in wonder of her sister's strength that many took as being bitter or cold. She only knew a few of the things her sister had been through and had witnessed. None of these could she have survived, but Valucia had.

Maetra folded her arms over her chest in a pensive manner when she saw the man start to take his leave. She neared her sister and Sanshii with little more than the sounds of satin's whisper to give herself away.

"It will rain soon, my dear sister." Whether the man was going to linger about or leave, she did not know. Sanshii was drawn in against her in a hug of her daughter while she looked between Valucia and Duncan. Obviously, she had a few questions but did not embarrass either of them with prattling on nonsensically.

In stark contract, she was the opposite of her sister. So much so that it looked as if Maetra and Valucia were born to different houses entirely. Valucia was dark haired and darker eyes while her sister was fair headed and blue eyes.

Valucia's hand reached out to Maetra's arm and gently took her by it. "How tired is father, I wonder. I have matters to discuss with him."

" 'lucia. Can it not wait until the morning?" Maetra complained.

The Aes Sedai smiled and gave her sister a nod along with a smile. "You are right, of course. I will wait until to-morrow." With that, Valucia cast a look and smile towards Duncan and the three ladies turned and started back towards the hall of the keep. There was food, drink, and talk of other things before the weary travelers would be shown to their beds.

"You show yourself too openly, Telis," The voice came from behind him and to his left as the man approached Telis. Ian Aershaen, Warder to Harista Sedai of the Blue Ajah. At a height not as tall as Telis, his was at the mark of five feet ten inches. Unlike the dour blade brother, Ian Aershaen had a full head of hair; brown and to his shoulders. The top part of it was pulled back and tied off to keep his gaze fully unhindered. His armor was still worn: leather-sectioned worn in layers with metal rivets to keep it fast, tunic, and shirt. Bracers were strapped in place over his forearms and his hands un-gloved. Leather trousers and boots at his legs and feet. Swords, daggers, and others weapons were on him. At his shoulder and back hung packs he had untied from his horse less than half and hour's time ago.

Hanging off his left shoulder was a cloak the Warders were known for: making part of his side invisible and clothing with it. To look on the cloak was to make those unused to is nauseous with the absence and presence of images depending when he moved. Ian's temperament was quiet, reserved and never fully known, even to his Warder brothers.

Telis looked over his shoulder at Ian and scowled at him openly. "You say that because she is of your Aes Sedai's order. Nothing more."

"Far more," Quietly countered Aershaen. "I know the truth of it. Who do you think was there to carry the body of her Warder home when his friend betrayed them with a knife to both his throat and heart? Hmm?"

Telis narrowed ice-blue eyes on him to meet his brother's gaze of muddy brown. "Not true."

"Do you think I am lying to you? Do you think I am breaking my vows and oaths to tell you as much?" There was a glint of steel in his gaze to regard Telis; a warning for the man to mind himself and his accusations.

After a time, Telis grunted. "She told you what story you needed to hear then."

"I was there." Again, the quiet Warder of the Blue spoke. His warning reflected in his words.

Telis had had enough. He believed what he believed and seethed with it. He turned and skulked off to find something to drink from the banquet the Blue had arranged for her visitors and family.

The Warder chuckled and looked from the others that were eating and talking across the Hall, back to Valucia. "Because he believes he does. In some kind of a way, Valucia Sedai." Ian swallowed some of the wine and continued. "I believe he thinks you have no right to the shawl after Skarsbane murdered Alrin Martan."

Valucia's lips pressed thin and her brow held a fine frown, for only a brief moment of time. "I hate that name: Skarsbane. And I truly hate few other things in all of life, Gaidin." Skarsbane, he was called by those who could not stand to call him anything kinder and could not call him anything worse. Traitor, schemer, Darkfriend. A habitual touch was at her right side, to the old scar that lay there beneath cloth and corset.

"Forgive me, Valucia Sedai. I did not mean to bring up a bad memory. But you did ask to know what it was that was wrong with Telis. He thinks you are to blame for the death of a Gaidin. He is angry. And un-trusting."

"He is mistaken." Murmured at no more than the sound of a breath exhaled. "You know the truth of it."

"I know the truth of it, Lady. I know it all too well. It is not the first time that I have told a Warder that it was not your doing but Skarsbane that did the deceiving and killing."

Her head lowered. The memory of Alrin Martan had always been with her. The great darkness that followed his death would never be forgotten.

When she breathed again, she lifted her head and looked at him. "Come. Unburden yourself and sup with my family. I know that you must have as many questions as I do my other guest." Dark, grey eyes looked towards the rather large but gentle beast who was an Ogier. Many, many questions flitted about in her thinking. She was smiling by the time she reached the long table, at its middle where the hearth was and dormant.

Sanshii about fell to get up from the plank-seat and hurry over to Valucia. "There are sweet breads and rice pudding and so much more!" She spun about, making her dress of yellow brocade move about from the effort, then laughed a musical little laugh to tug at Valucia's kirtle sleeve.

She laughed to look down at her toe-headed little niece, knowing very well what had been served, but the child had mentioned a couple of the sweets and she knew well that Sanshii would want more before the evening was through.

The Aes Sedai smiled. "What a wonderful compliment, Orlen! Thanks to you for your words. They are large and strong, are they not?"

He grinned a toothy grin. Though he was not lacking in intelligence, he was still young by his kind's standards and did not wish to embarrass himself, his hostess, or anyone else with foolishness. "Yes they are."

"You created the Waygate to ferry my family and the others here, I wonder." Valucia glanced to Ian and back to Ogier. She set her untouched goblet of wine to the table and broke some bread. Some gravy was added over it, taking a bite while she waited on what the large creature had to say. Some found them to look like dreaded Trollocs, but they were not. She had never made the mistake between Trollocs and Ogier -- Ogier were kinder, gentler, and far more intelligent.

"No, no, great Lady. No, no. Just repaired it. Had to make certain everyone comes and goes safely too." His grin was there and happy that his repairs and maintenance of the Way had been good and successful. "No harm, all good as you see."

"I see." She tasted some water and continued. "Orlen, what is your age, I wonder. It is so difficult for...us..." A glance flicked to the others in the Hall that were definitely Human, then back to him. "..to tell."

Orlen continued to grin, happy to answer. "I have just celebrated my one-hundredth Name Day."

"Quite grown then!" Valucia said it in a happy, proud lilt of her words. Hastily, she guessed him to be around the age of a Human male of eighteen or twenty. "No wonder you were given the task over the others of your stedding." The Aes Sedai nodding, quiet steadfast in her thinking on that. "Do you have enough to eat? I have seen that much was made so that you will not go hungry. Meat and fruits, alike."

"Most kind. Most kind, great Lady." He sounded relieved, as if he had been hungrier than he was letting on and not about to ruin hospitality by requesting more than three helpings.

Valucia nodded to the girl in her white dress and brown long-apron. The girl nodded back, smiled and was off to get more food for the very tall being.

Often-masked, placid and ageless visage warmed a little as her father had caught her deep in her thoughts while watching the doorway where Saresan had hurried off to in her simple dress and slipper-shoes. Slender, pallid hands delicately met the stem of the glass goblet of wine she had not tasted yet and looked to her father with a smile in her eyes. ?I was thinking that I am very much at ease this evening. For what woman could be happier of want for more with so many loved and trusted in her company, hmm??

Her father was a tall man, as the mark of six feet and four inches with a strength that could match a man half his age. In his sixtieth year, he had hair to his shoulders and a thick beard to his collarbone that was shot with white completely; soft and kept. Piercing grey eyes were the same shade as Valucia?s, but there was something far more alert in them, as if he were on a constant prowl or hunt for the next stag ? or trending topic of politics.

He wore his finest, even when on hunt ? no matter the person or animal. That evening was no different with him in a fine shirt and doublet of black and red. Claret britches and red leather boots all matched his kid gloves that were the same color as the wine he drank. The sigil of his House was stitched bold and clear into the left breast of his doublet. ?You could be happier.?

Valucia smiled, but somewhere within her she knew his next words and cringed inwardly. *Get yourself married and put the shawl aside, girl.* ?And what can you mean by that, my loving father?? She did give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps old habits had been broken. Or at least fractured.

?Get yourself wed, girl. Truly, have you not played long enough as the lovely flower in the Tower, hmm? I say be done with it and marry one of these brutes who go about wielding their sticks.?

?Father!? It was Maetra who chimed in, half-chiding and the other half-laughing aloud. She could not believe he had just said something so disrespectful about the Warders.

?What is this, Maetra? Nonsense. You are already wed.? He gave a flippant gesture of his gloved hand and finally started pulling his gloves off and dropped them on the table beside his plate.

?That?s not at all what I was going to say..?

He hushed her with a look, a grin to his son-in-law Rikart, and then steered his attention back to his other daughter whose gaze had a subtle glint of steel to it. Perhaps it was just the light from the tallow candles nearby. ?I am quite serious, Valucia. Enough of this Tower business. I want a grandson.?

Valucia frowned a fine furrow. ?You are being most unkind to Maetra.?
?And you are being stubborn. Aes Sedai!? The lord scoffed at her.

?I will allow this as you must be weary and your age affects you much, father. You know the oaths I took and will not toss the shawl aside so easily. Be still. Please. No more talk of me leaving the Tower.? She did not decline the notion of ever marrying, but it was as unknown a thing as knowing who truly turned The Wheel or wove the Great Pattern. ?Now, please?eat and rest. I am certain the journey here was not an easy one.? Tones were firm. She would hear no more talk of her leaving the service of the Tower.

The argument had caused everyone to go quiet. She breathed, found her smile again and allowed for her back to meet the chair to relax. She Saresan return from the kitchen with a large platter of meat, vegetables, and to one end of it were pies and other treats. She laughed to hear Sanshii squeal with delight and clap her little hands. ?Elderberry pie!?

Saresan had impeccable timing.

Valucia smiled and finally took a small sip from the goblet of wine that has been poured almost half an hour earlier and ignored the stare from her father. It was going to be a very long night in a month they were to be her guests.

?You sit before a hearth with not fire, Valucia Sedai.?

?I do.? Eyes the color of black pearls regarded him as if she had heard something else in among his spoke words. ?The chair is comfortable.? Her reason for it. At least, it was one of her reasons. ?Are you not tired??

?Yes, but not enough to sleep yet.? The tankard was put on the small table between them. ?Will you allow some questions, Valucia Sedai??

?Of course questions are allowed. But know that I may not answer them.?
That sounded fair enough to him and gave her a nod. ?What are your intentions with the Four Keeps? Do you welcome Aes Sedai and Warders here ? bonded or un-bonded??

?Yes, Gaidin. It is a stopping point, a training area, a place to live. It is a place to also seek out those in these lands that might have the spark.?

?Have you found any yet??

?A feral creature ? male ? was found with it. And another man who could touch the One Power without going mad.? She smiled a little as she saw the surprise and concern narrow his gaze on her. ?They have not been seen or heard from in a long time. Not by any of the many eyes and ears I have throughout the lands of this place. And there was word that came me last year of a girl who seemed to have the spark, but it seemed she did not.?

?Then it is very rare here, to find such??

The Aes Sedai nodded. ?It is.?

?There are some I have spoken to that want to travel here and man the keeps. Some are Warders. Others have not yet risen in the ranks to warrant the title. But the interest is there, all the same.?

The goblet she had once held wine but it was now empty. She had sipped on that one glassful over the hours and finally placed it with gentle, neat are to the table beside his own drink. ?Are they trusted by you, Gaidin??

?A few I have complete trust. The others are not known well enough and some I wouldn?t trust to carry my chamber pot.? Ian grinned and chuckled.
?What is the talk from your Aes Sedai of the Tower and the Amyrlin, I wonder. Only so much can be conveyed on parchment, you understand.?

His head nodded to that a couple of times. ?She says little these days, Aes Sedai ? more than usual. And her Warder says nothing at all to his fellow brothers-at arms.? It was not uncommon for a Warder of the Seat not to say much, but to not say anything at all drew wonder and suspicion.

?I see. She is very ill, then??

?No one will speak of it, but everyone knows. We can only guess that she will not live to see the turn of the year, Aes Sedai.?

A breath left her slowly, softly but she did not sigh. She simply was not that sort of woman to go about sighing. ?A grave situation, though I am certain that the Sisters have matters very much in-hand and will see to her needs and know who best among them to look to for a replacement.? Valucia shifted slightly. It was no small task that she spoke of. It was hard, difficult and there were often acidic feelings to be discovered when such a change came about. ?Thanks to you for that information.? She might have said that she was relieved to hear something from the Tower, but that would have been a lie.

The shawl slipped from her shoulder and she drew it back over it before she stood. Skirts whispered and the chatelaine clattered quietly. ?If you will forgive me, I need to sleep. Please?feel free to treat Bulwark?s Cove as your home, Gaidin. ?

Ian stood and bent with a bow and grin that would have given a gleeman a run for his money with such flourish.

Valucia shook her head and smiled. ?My Sister must have her hands full with you. It is the quiet ones to watch the closest, yes?? She took it as silliness, something to try to make her smile after hearing about the ailing Amrylin. And it was mutely appreciated. ?Rest well,? With that said, she made her way through the long, large hall that was lacking of shields, banners, and weapons that many Halls were known to display. But it was something that was a pleasant distraction in her thought when she stepped from the area and turned down the corridor.

"It's been quiet since we got here. Nothing. No humming or giving us a headache." Her outer leg swung as if she were sitting in a chair. "Why is that? Is it broken? Is it sleeping? It looks old.. how old, Aunt?"

Valucia laughed aloud, warm and gently at the girl. She gave her another affectionate hug. "Child, you could tire all of my Sisters of the Brown with all of your questions!" Black-pearl eyes passed from the pallid, bright-eyed visage of the girl to look upon the quiet gateway. As she did, she strolled from one end of it to the other and settled both of them down upon a bench of stone with scrolling back and sides made of blackened ironwork.

"Let me see. It is not broken, but it could be said that it 'sleeps', yes." Light weight of Sashanii was slid to the seat of the stone bench beside her. She smoothed out the girl's dress, then her own skirts. "But I do not know how old it is, dearest. Decades? Centuries?" She suspected that some of the mysteries she had at Bulwark's cove would be better put to a couple of Sisters she personally knew from the Tower.

"Oh. That could be very old then!" Said with awe she breathed out.

Valucia's gave her a little sound, something sounding like an agreement. "You did not answer me, Sashanii. Why are you up so early, hmm?"

" 'couldn't sleep." Simply, the child answered it and looked at the gateway a while more then at the flowers she held. One was offered to Valucia. "You still have flowers growing here! Not in the Westlands. Not in Altara!" Laughter rang out, pleased to have found some growing.

"I suspect that the leaves are turning and Winter is soon to arrive there." Mused aloud.

"Father says it will be a bad Winter. Simply horrible, with feets of snow and too much ice for traveling."

Feets. It brought another smile to her. She had not smiled enough the last few years. "I see. That is why the visit is only a month. Your father wishes to return before the snows." And others return to their Houses from their own travels, Valucia though mutely.

" 'Bad to travel in all that cold -- not happenings!' "

Valucia could tell that it was Sashanii quoting her own grandfather and kept her smile for a time. "He is a man who knows exactly what he wants."

"And father."

"Hmm." There was another topic entirely. Maetra had married a man that was still a conundrum to Valucia, even to their father. He was a man who played well at the Game of Houses. Far too well. He seemed to know too much and was always a few steps ahead of others.

The weather was fair and the courtyard was open to the sky above, allowing a view of the pinks, oranges, reds, yellows and blue of the particularly lovely dawn. Valucia was looking at it while Sashanii dropped down from the bench and trotted, dances, and skipped about the area with her flowers.