Transporting Elementals should have been a simple task. Instead it became a complicate decision: to use what was traditional to Yransea, or to use the newly established portal. In the end, going by boat seemed the most efficient and reliable method. Storm wasn?t sure how well everyone would manage of the other side of the portal, much less the durability of their things.

So Storm took Renan, Rukiya Shawn, Regina, Andrew, Celeste, Anton and the triplets Luke, Grant, and Austin across the sea from Rhydin and to Yransea with her family. It was a strange combination, to see her family of elements and family of blood coexisting together and going to the same location. Still, her children were familiar with everyone, and they helped in breaking the silence and stimulating conversation. Once they arrived to Yransea, they wasted no time in putting their belongings into wagons and beginning the short trip to the mill.

Ewan sat beside the driver of the wagon. It carried some basic foodstuffs, essentials that had not been brought when the servants came to clean and make ready with minor repairs the old mill. The industry of the carpenters had even set the mill to working again, but disengaged the inner grinding wheel, turning it into a large table so the ambassadors might gather for meals or to talk. It was, he thought a positive sign of the people working to assist the Elementals in their endeavors. He hoped it was not a singular instance.

He turned to check on the other wagons, those that chose to ride in them, and those that did not. Another turn along the road that edged between forest on one side and river on the other would bring them in sight of the two-story building, and he wanted to make sure none had been lost on the journey to it.

Storm had been moving between wagons, and sometimes even left them all together to stretch her legs. The other Elementals did not necessarily require her supervision, but still she felt compelled to keep a close eye on all of them. Mostly the duo of Elementals kept closely together; Rukiya, Renan, Shawn and Regina shared the back of a wagon and talked quietly amongst themselves, Storm joined Andrew, Celeste and Anton not long ago, and Luke and his brothers stayed outside of the wagons as to not miss a single sight.

Storm also enjoyed the new landscape of Yransea. She remained rather quiet during this portion of the trip, trying to pay more attention than anything else. When the mill came into view, The triplets all looked to each other with a knowing grin, before breaking out into a sprint to see who would reach the building first. Storm's attention peaked as she watched the young adults stretch their legs and take off.

When the triplets took off to a run, Ewan lept from his seat on the wagon to catch up to them and stall them. "I do trust you will not be greeting His Majesties residence in such a manner." It would do enough for a warning, then he unlocked the door and ushered the boys inside. Calling them boys was in some ways a disservice. Ewan had killed, sometimes assassinated, more than he dare count by their ages. Still, he took his look about the outside of the mill, searching among the decorative shrubs paling and thinning towards the coming winter as well as the further grounds and to the river. Treachery always ticked at the corner of his mind. All was sound and he went to assist with the unloading while the ambassadors roamed their temporary lodgings.

The door itself opened up to a large room, stretching unbroken from front to back of the building. The large round table was near the back. A corner sighted would have lead them to a back room that was the kitchen. A smaller table inside there, a cook fire, a smaller stove, and a cool box and pantry. Cupboards fresh made lined the inner wall.

Just inside the entry to the right were the stairs leading up to a long landing that overlooked the room below. Three doorways lead off of it, each leading to a room. Below the stairs to the right, two more doorways were tucked into the wall before the far room of the kitchen. Each of these doorwayed rooms held beds enough for the counted for occupants as well as a necessary room between the two below and two of the furthest rooms above.

The game was quick to leave their eyes and their faces became more solemn, "Sorry, sir." Luke managed to pipe up, suitably chastised. Storm felt Avery next to her strain for a better view, and she frowned down at him, "We will be there in but moments." Storm felt only mild sympathy for the young men. Not at the words, but she would have been intimidated by Ewan as well.

"Well," he smiled again though it did not hold the warmth in his eyes for others as it did for his wife, "it is hoped that you all will not feel as prisoners here either. Is there ought else you require or see lacking in accommodations?" He opened the question to all when he finally released Kellan to investigating the building in the company of Avery. Ewan signaled that Avery should keep very close tabs on his little brother.

There seemed to be a general agreement that everyone shook their heads, but Shawn was the only one that spoke up, "I believe that we have everything we need. We have been well provided for." He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement.

Renan, an older Fire, spoke up next, "Storm had mentioned that Lord Keefe, Her Excellency, and others would be visiting. We will be previously informed of these visits?"

"That will be a certainty. Unless it is a matter of emergency, they will send word of their intention to visit at least a day prior to doing so. I can tell you not to anticipate a visit until after your first full week. Her Excellency is currently out of the country until next week as it is."

Renan shared a brief look with Storm, and she nodded in silent communication. "Very well," now she turned to address her fellow Guardians, "We will rest and recover from traveling today. Tomorrow, we will begin training. Please stay within close boundaries." Storm felt certain that any warnings were not necessary, but she did it for Ewan's benefit. Some Guardians stood, eager to look around more or perhaps take their hand at the game available in the forest. Others seemed content to just rest.

"Will you be leaving soon?" Storm asked the quiet question to Ewan once chattering started up again from the rest of the crowd.

"I should be returning and seeing to some matters that await my attention. Did you need me to stay and help see things settled?"

A slight shake of her head, she watched as the triplets and Andrew left through the door with various hunting weapons with an eager tone to their conversation. "I suppose this is one of those 'need versus want' dilemma." She offered him a half smile, "I do not like feeling uncertain of when I will see you next."

Dropping his guard, pulling his thoughts away from surroundings and focusing on just his wife, he drew her close. His arms wrapped around her and he rest his forehead against hers. "No matter the distance, I am never far from you. Not until my Mistress Death take me, and even then, I will always be with you in our children. And she has no desire to claim me yet. You are not rid of me, yet." He smiled and kissed her. It was a restoring of his own inner balance to have that nearness. How far he would be pushed along that edge and to not have her presence centering him again. He wondered if he had gotten too accustomed to that certainty of her being there to draw him back from the evil in him.

The attention she received that was usually reserved for only the intimacy of their own home brought out a flush to her cheek, particularly at his kiss. She didn't look to see if anyone was watching, but it seemed as though they were largely left alone. "I know, beloved." Her words were quiet, and she smiled sadly, "It is just a different. You do know however, that you are always welcomed to come here, at any time while we are here. You are one of us." The last was offered a beat later with a slight shrug and smile. Despite his bloodline, no one here would argue against her statement.

It finally started. After time and struggle, everyone had managed to access their gift. Through much trial and error, the Guardians found that like Storm, sheer exhaustion was the most reliable method of using their gift. However, once touched, everyone had their own methods of practicing and manipulating their elements once more.

Storm had Shawn quickly take over the practices when Celeste and Renan had difficulty recovering from the initial shock. Rest seemed to be the only cure to their discomfort and exhaustion. The harder they tried to work, the worse they seemed to feel. Storm trusted their instincts to their own limits, and stopped hovering when the proper routine was adjusted.

Despite the winter chill, the clear skies provided ample opportunities for the Guardians to continue their training with their gifts. Andrew and Celeste were working on a side of the water, changing the current patterns and creating simple waves. Renan and Rukiya created several small pits of firewood and took turns lighting them and extinguishing them. Shawn was out of sight, getting a better feel for the native plant-life in the nearby forest while Regina worked on creating different slopes and textures with a mound of dirt, before it returned to its normal form.
Storm, along with Anton and his sons, were manipulating the air with winds and platform to toss a ball around large open space, while Avery and Kellan did their best to catch it.

Ewan came up the narrow path. The walk was good for him. Not only did it give him the opportunity to track and hide his own tracks, but it gave him the quiet for his thoughts. There were several issues plaguing his mind, and it was good to be out in the woods.

He did not linger, however, and finally reached the area of the mill and searched out the activities.

Regina was the first to look up at the approaching vibrations in the ground, however faint. A friendly smile, before she continued in her work. The first real break didn't come until after the boys saw their father, running away from the game and to him instead.

Storm did not run, but her pace was efficient as she made her way to him. "Good afternoon." Her smile was warm, but her eyes looked past Ewan for a moment, to see if he was alone.

He caught each boy under an arm, holding them like grain sacks and half hugs. "Good afternoon." Catching the glance past him, his grin took a teasing twist. "Expecting someone else?"

A small shake of her head, "No, however.." Shawn appeared from the same small break as Ewan, branches and foliage under his arm, "Sorry." A quiet apology, his mind on the matter in his arm before he made a beeline for Regina.

Storm's eyes followed, before she looked to Ewan once more, "Did you arrive today?"

"I did. However what?" He asked as he swung the boys back and forth, Kellan much easier to do so than Avery, who had gotten just too tall for those games anymore, and it took such a moment for Ewan to realize it.

"I just heard another is all." She jerked her thumb over to Shawn, who seemed rather excited about his findings as his shared them. She turned to face the activities going on, "Everything seems to be coming together nicely. If anything, at least everyone has touched their element in some way. Though, some better than others." Her eyes followed the swinging boys, noticed the smiles on their faces. It was a smile that she understood well and shared, with their family back together, if at least for the moment.

"And how are they feeling afterwards? " He set down Avery with a warm touch to the shoulder instead of a tousle of the hair. The boy was growing up and deserved to have that changed acknowledged. Kellan, however, got a zerburt to the belly before he was set down. A pat to his backside to go off and play some more.

"Understandably tired." A glance to the sun, Storm knew it would not be much longer before preparations for dinner would start, and a much deserved break. "I have a few theories. Would you care to walk, or go inside? It was a gentle way of saying that she did not wish to share her thoughts to everyone yet. "Or, perhaps we could demonstrate?"

Bowing a little and sweeping a hand palm up, "The choice is yours. Whatever you think is best. I do not wish to presume, but due to the anticipated weariness, I do hope you have taken up rotations of using your gifts, so not all of you are hampered with the after effects all at the same time."

"We are taking good care of ourselves." A smile of reassurance, before she made her way into the mill. At least from there, Storm could take the opportunity to prep the meal, since everyone else was already working. And the windows would provide Ewan the benefit of watching the practicing should he wish, "Mostly, only Renan and Celeste struggle the most with their gift." Even as she made her way to the kitchen, Storm knew that neither were pushing and testing their limits. "It is unlike how I have ever felt. Almost like an illness if they go too far."

Following inside, Ewan took the usual inventory of what was going on, what had altered, the changes in features, if any looked thinner or ill, as well as the alterations on the world around them. Inside, he made himself marginally useful by getting things when Storm gestured to them, but mostly he kept watching the activity through the windows. "Illness in what way?"

"Like a cold. The first night they accessed their gifts produced a fever." Once all the materials had been gathered, Storm started washing and chopping the vegetables. It would be a humble but filling stew. Still, there were a lot of people to feed. "Anton's sons are progressing very well. They should be ready to go to the King within a week or two. The only differences I can think of are how we are all created." She paused in her work, "Celeste and Renan are like me, in that they were not traditionally procreated." That made her lips turn up a bit, considering the irony of what was considered 'traditional', "Still, that does not explain much, as I have never felt that way."

"Recall though, that your first arrivals here, you did little by way of using your gifts. Perhaps if you had before your body acclimated in some small measure to the absence of ..." a negligible motion of fingers to fill in where words did not about magic or elemental or whatever it was that Palendies was bereft, "...you would have been more than tired but ill as well. They have recovered, though, yes?"

"Hmm, yes." It was a curious thought, one that she gave some attention to as she continued her work, "I suppose time will tell." Some of the Elementals broke away from their training while a handful of other set to sparring against each other. Celeste and Renan were not one of them. "Perhaps that is why Luke and his brothers are adapting well." A look over her shoulder as Kellan gingerly made his way into the mill, obviously being told to go inside since everyone was either going out to hunt, spar, or do something else that required attention. "It took them longer, and their gifts are not as strong, but it is consistent and reliable."

"And what of their ability to maneuver in court? Who is training them on that?" He took a lean against the counter, but unlike many who would fold their arms in such a position, he set heels of hands to either side of him on the counter edge. "Are you certain they are the ones you wish to send to Maelgwn's court?"

"Yes." There were no traces of doubt as finished placing the vegetables in the large pot, before moving to the ice box to retrieve the meat that had been prepared the night before, "I know they are young and sometimes seem restless, but they are well-versed in the ways of our people and are familiar with some human culture. They will have each other. Shawn and I and helping them prepare." With that done, Storm added the simple spices that were easily accessible outside, "If it were not for Shawn's family or my need for him here, perhaps he would have gone."

"Lord Keefe, why can they use their gifts when others can't?" Cian, scratching at the feel of his formal tunic pressed against his back with the heavy cloak. He wore the small circlet made for him.

He was not the only one if formal attire with winter cloaks protecting. Lord Keefe had his crest of Protectorate on his shoulder and the council member that joined them, also had his fine wear and signet ring.

"I do not know exactly, Your Excellency." Cian hated when Lord Keefe called him that. "It is something of their nature."

Cian shrugged and kept riding the small gray pony through the woods and to the sight of the mill by the stream.

"Do you know how he blocked that?" Storm whispered the words to Avery as they watched the young Luke duel his katana against Andrew and his twin blades. When Avery shook his head briefly, intent to watch the battle and not look over to his side, Storm whispered again, "He is predictable to use it. A swing from the shoulder is strong but," a pause in the words when Andrew took advantage of the move and jabbed the iced blade to the younger's middle, "slow."

Most of the Guardians were watching the beginning of the battle, keeping a respective and quiet distance. Storm glanced over to Kellan, as he sat by the stream and watched Celeste adjust the movement and create shapes and figures in the ripples for the little one's enjoyment. When the horses came into view, Storm straightened and moved away from the small crowd to greet them.

Cian was very ready to just jump out of his saddle and run over to say hello to Avery, but Lord Keefe put a hand to his saddle, and Lord Kalensson was the first to speak. "Ambassador, good day to you. His Excellency Cian, Baron of Yransea and Lord Protectorate Keefe Gannonsson are come to meet with you and your people and learn of the progress."

Cian was pretty sure he thought he saw Mrs. Storm laugh -- with her eyes or something, because she surely did not laugh out loud.

There was a trace of mirth in her eyes at the formal introduction, but nonetheless she bowed her head and held it for a few moments, "Your Excellency, my lords." She suddenly felt out of place without her Guardian silks and in her simple clothing, but the thought was dismissed.

The other Guardians took pause in the duel and their watching, all to give their polite welcome. It was Anton that walked up to join Storm and give a warm smile, "We would be delighted to share our discoveries and perhaps show a few demonstrations, if desired."

Cian knew what he had to do. The circlet warm on his head and stuffy clothes reminded him. When Lord Keefe dismounted, he did so as well, and with all the formality he had ever seen in his mother and others around him, he smiled and nodded. "Yes, I would like that. I would like to know how you can use magic when others cannot, too."

For the moment, Keefe and Kalensson stood behind Cian in their positions as advisers and let Cian take the lead.

Storm straightened once more and placed her hands behind her back, "I cannot say why others cannot use their gifts, or magic. You see Your Excellency, Elementals are made up of the elements of air, water, earth, and fire." She pointed briefly to an Elemental to represent each element. "While we appear to have the same structure as humans, these bodies are only visual representations. We are a part of the elements around us as much as they are a part of our existence. In other places, such as RhyDin, we use our gift by manipulating the element that is already there. However, in Yransea, it is like there is a shield around the elements. We are unable to use and manipulate them. The elements that we can use are from within." She tried not to frown, realizing that the concept was rather abstract, and she tried to simplify, "I am of the air, therefore I can use and manipulate the element from inside me rather than the air that is around me."

Cian looked at each of them, then his eyes fell on Kellan. "But, if you are made up elements and not bodies like humans, how do you have babies?"

Keefe intervened. "An issue not paramount to our visit, Your Excellency, and of which I think the dowager baroness would prefer to be part. Shall we see demonstrations instead?"

Thwarted when he must have been getting to the good part, the only reasons Keefe would have stopped him, but Cian nodded. "Yes, that would be nice." He snuck a hip angled wave to Avery.

Avery gave a brilliant grin, but when he glanced up to his mother, his smile eased to something more normal looking and he put his energy into keeping an eye on Kellan. He was looking at his younger brother with a critical eye of thought after Cian's previous question.

Storm, Andrew, Rukiya and Shawn separated from the small group to gather around the edge of the stream. Shawn began by raising a thin band of the earth under the water, using slow hand motions to encourage the moving process. The ground appeared to grow and go higher than the water line, making the stream overflow. Andrew then began to making closing motions with his hands, compressing the water to split and create a perfect curve around the side of ground, and lifted the curve so that the water met and made a perfect arch over the raised ground. Rukiya produced controlled, thin streams of flames from her palms, forcing the ending portion of the arch to evaporate into steam before it would have met back into the stream. A slight smirk came to Andrew's lips before he bunched his fists and made the arch of water freeze instantly.
Before Rukiya could melt the ice, Storm created a platform that pushed violently, causing the ice to shatter onto the other side of the stream.

Cian's mouth dropped open. To his credit, he did not step back like Kalensson did. Keefe had only his willpower to stay near Cian to divert catastrophe to keep him from doing the same as the councilor. In his reserve, he thought over the display of talent, then looked to each of them. He whispered into Cian's ear a question. Cian asked, "How do you all feel when you use your elements?"