Carrots, potatoes, celery and onions piled high atop the choice cut roast and seasoned with various herbs within the roasting pan. Lyndra slid the uncooked dinner into the oven and shut the door when she heard the doorbell ring.

She waited a moment or two and listened for anyone answering the door. When no one was heard, she set down the hotpads, washed off her hands and wiped them dry on the towel as she made her way to the door.

Stuffing the towel to hang from her apron, she tucked her chestnut brown hair behind her ear and peeked out from the window to see who it was. Ever since this business with Cutter, she'd been a little wary just to open the door without a peep first.

Hazel eyes took in the tall figure, strong sleek form, black hair, sapphire blue eyes ... thinking he looked familiar or like someone... and then her eyes widened at the sight of the twin swords along his back. She quickly stepped away from the window.

A moment later, after she talked herself into it, she was peeking again. Hazel hues sparked with an emerald flair, a smile tugged across full lips causing those dimples to show in both her cheeks and that delicate right brow lifted giving her a quizzical visage. She was almost the spitting image of Bryce's Grandma Sharalis as he may remember from portraits that Sha'uri would keep, except the lack of platinum hair.

Finally she opened the door motioned him in, stepping to the side to allow him to pass into the recieving room.

"Hello. I'm just the resident cook... and door woman. I guess the others are busy. How can I help ye?"

Lyndra tilted her head.

"No, I don't think we have. My name is Lyndra." She had no last name so she left it at that, hoping not to have to explain.

"Besides, I would've remembered ye. Arrowny? Are ye related to Mistress Sha'uri?"

She smiled and closed the door, blocking out the bitter cold of winter and motioned to the next room, a parlor with a fire warming from the fireplace.

"Come warm yourself by the fireplace. I know it's so bitter cold out there today. Something warm to drink? something to eat?"

"Oh!" Lyndra seemed to realize something, as if one plus one equaled three now.

"I wondered what happened. She came running by me muttering something about telling the Headmaster, only if he asked about her, that she had a family situation to attend. She seemed apprehensive and happy at the same time. So I wasn't too worried. I haven't seen her since, though. I assume she's okay then."

She wasn't going to pry for what his father and Mistress Sha'uri were doing, suddenly assuming they were married and doing what married people normally do after being away for a long time, as Bryce seemed to indicate. She went into the room and offered him the chair.

"Ale? of course. I have a few bottles once in a while. Sha'uri joins me now and then. Other then that, we're the whole of the fermented hops or honey drinking crew here. Oh, wait, Honey mead is what I have this week. Will that do?"

Lyndra was quick to get Bryce his ale. In fact, she was also very quick about running all the way to Briari's office and telling Melody that an important guest was waiting in the parlor recieving room to see the Headmaster.

"Who is it?" Melody asked.

"Sha'uri's son.. no, not Alex, the other one. Uh... Bryce." Lyndra explained.

Melody looked confused.

"Yeah, she's got two. Apparently he and his father came back and that's where she's been.... with the father." nod. "Just tell the Headmaster he has an important guest who's interested in a teaching position."

Lyndra ran off at that point, trying not to shake up the ale too much. She stopped running a few paces from the parlor door and flicked the top of the bottle, waiting until she was in the room before she opened it up for Bryce. It fizzled but didn't overrun the bottle. She silently thanked Sha'uri for showing her that trick of the flick.

She remained standing as he began to talk to her. Lyndra figited with her hands, as if she were very uncomfortable with the question.

"I believe that is right from what I've been told, he was married to your grandmother. As for my employment, I've been with the school since it opened. "

She glanced back to the door as if hoping the Headmaster was there. Golden green hues came back to rest their gaze on Bryce.

"Your Mother is a very kind woman. She and the Headmaster.. well they have certainly given me a home, as well as others. They have adopted us as family, some more officially then others but we are a family here. I ... just wanted you to know that."

She wasn't sure why she just said all that, embarrassed, she just turned away and moved to put another log on the fire.

"Let me handle that. My father would be ashamed of me if I just sat there while a nice young lady like you did all the work."

What else could she do but let him have the log? She was grateful and stepped back out of the way with a thank you.

Brushing the wood crumbs from her hands, she sat down in the other chair on the other side of the couch from Bryce. It gave her better view of the door and still keep eye contact with him.

She almost wished she hadn't sat down, had made some excuse. Bryce kept... staring at her and now she thoiught she knew why.

Ever since Briarius told her the truth, she'd been struggling with that self consciousness. Precisely why she hadn't been to Exodii.

She wondered what Bryce was thinking right now. She knew what she'd think if she were in his shoes looking at her now. She couldn't stop thinking about it, though she bit her bottom lip to steady her nerves and shook her head. It didn't help that he was as attractive as his brother Alex, differently yet just as much. The smile was put in place.

"No, I've never been there. I stay here to help take care of the place. It's the only home I know, the only place I've been. I don't even go to the Inn like so many do."

I doubt my father will ever leave, though I don't think it's the scenery that'll keep him there.


An odd but curious expression crossed her visage having no clue of what he was talking about. It confused her. She wondered if it was an ugly place.

Lyndra watched him as he fell silent, apparently he was thinking about something, but she didn't know what. She only saw his smooth features darken, causing her to shift her gaze from him to the floor.. just being politely quiet until he spoke up again.

"Oh, no, I haven't met him. How could I when he probably won't come here and I haven't been there?"
Grin, soft shrug of her shoulders as she made light of the comment.

"And, it's true, there aren't many of us here. It's just been the Headmaster, his assistant Melody, yer mother and myself as the staff. We've had just a couple of students so far. But, there are plans to expand and include more mundane subjects. I think we'll be opening the school to teach all children in RhyDin. I have no idea when that will be, though. What's it like in Exodii? I mean, to go exploring... what's it like?"

She glanced down, seeming in deep thought as Bryce spoke. Though she still figited with her fingers, she seemed to relax a little. Maybe it was the analogical common ground.

"Kind of like... straying from the normal recipe to create something better then what everyone else does. Hmm, yes? Sometimes it's aweful, even dangerous if ye blow it up or catch it on fire... or it can be beautiful, wonderful to sight, scent and taste. I've gotten a few scars just from being in the kitchen."

She glanced at the back of her right hand, a few burn scars were sprayed across it enough to leave small puckers of scars. She never told anyone about it as it happened while everyone else was gone.

"Though, I doubt it's anything like yers. This camping, sounds exciting... maybe then.. maybe. Would it be too dangerous to take children?"

"Right this way, Headmaster. He is in there with Mistress Lyndra." Melody's voice could be heard just before the door opened and the Headmaster walked in.

"Hello. I am Briarius Ravensheart, Headmaster of the Ravensheart School for the Gifted. I understand you are here for a teaching position?"

Although straight to the point, the Headmaster seemed very cordial.

Whoa...Talk about abrupt. "Oh..uh," Bryce stammered a moment before composing himself. He acknowledged Briarius with a nod before turning back to Lyndra. "I'd really like to continue this conversation. Perhaps after I'm done here we could have a beer? That is, if you're not busy?"

Upon receiving her answer he'd return his attention to the headmaster. "Nice to meet you, Master Briarius." He stuck out a calloused hand. "Bryce Arrowny. My brother, Alex, told me about this place and I thought I'd come and see what you teach here and maybe see about a position. My mother trained me in the use of a variety of magic but I specialize in combat magic. I just spent a couple years exploring Exodii with my father so I possess a number of more mundane skills, as well. I'm also not bad with a blade. Um. Speaking of blades..." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the swords on his back. "I hope my being armed isn't a problem. I've worn them so long it's almost like they're a part of me."

The Headmaster politely shook the young man's hand

"A warmage? Interesting. As you may have heard from your mother, I am expanding the curriculum here. I believe the martial arts would be a welcome addition."

"We have no official facilities as of yet. As far as our enrollment, it is small now but we hope as we expand the school to the general populace, it will grow"

"At this moment being in a transitional phase, I am not actually able to answer that question effectively. Though I do have the perfect building for the martial arts. Would you care to see it?"

Briarius walked out the back door and headed towards a small copse of trees and stepped into it. As one walked through the copse, it seemed more like a wood, down a path in the woods there was a large dojo-style building.

"This is it"

"Let us have a look, shall we?"

Although it definately looked like an eastern style dojo, the exterior walls seemed to be made of an odd material, probably enchanted. As they entered, the building, like all the buildings on campus, seemed to have an ambient light making it possible to see. The building was large...and empty. There was a main hall and 8 rooms off of the hall. At the end of the hall was a stair leading down. The stair was large, as if it was meant to accomodate large beings or large groups of people.

The stairs led down to an underground arena. It was a medium sized arena suited for any form of public duels...maybe even melee skirmishes.

"Immediately. Of course, I would like all things cleared with me, but as long as the request is the best for our students, then there will be no problems."

He smiled weakly.

"I am certain it will make her very happy"