gryphon, his expression typically unfathomable, then turned back to face Lord Breon.
âWar-trained though he is, the Heraldic Circle feels that his experience in dealing with mages of so many different cultures will be useful here among us. Iâm told that since the war heâs been riding circuit on the Karse and Hardorn borders, so heâs been running liaison with Sunpriests and Imperials. But thatâs not the whole of the newsâheâs bringing your Shandi back with him!â
Darianâs eyes widened in surprise equal to Snowfireâs. âAlready?â he said cautiously, wondering if Shandi had somehow gotten herself in deeper trouble than she could get herself out of. It had been three years, perhaps less, since she had gone to the Collegium; surely she couldnât have gotten her Whites yet!
âAlready,â Lord Breon said with satisfaction. âThe girlâs got her Whitesânot the record, maybe, but sheâs ready for other duties. Anda hand-picked her himself as his assistant, so sheâll be groomed for permanent service here!â
âBreon! Thatâs excellent news!â Barda said heartily, beaming at him. âI hope sheâs as happy with the posting as her parents will be! Well, heyla, with all this increase in attention, perhaps we can see some funding for better roads and a second bridge!â
âI donât know why she wouldnât be,â Breon repliedâand behind his back, Val rolled his eyes at Darian, who smothered a grin. Val and his lady were about to take Breonâs place at Court, and Val could hardly wait to get away, out from under his fatherâs well-intentioned restrictions. Not that Val was going to be irresponsible when the parental ties were severedâhe wasnât the adolescent whoâd yearned for âthe clash of sword on swordâ two years ago. It had been Darian whoâd seen how he chafed under the burden of being âonlyâ the son, but it was Starfall whoâd suggested that Val would make an excellent representative for his father at Haven and the Court.
That Lord Breon had embraced the suggestion so readily told Darian that he himself hadnât worked out what to do with a young man full of energy and ideas with nothing to do.
âI want Herald Anda to meet you, Val,â he said, turning to his son, who quickly assumed a more appropriate expression. âBut as soon as heâs settled in, itâll be a good time for you to leave; any later and I might not be able to spare you a proper escort.â
Val grinned back at his father. âIâd have been disappointed if youâd asked me to go to Court before he arrived,â he assured his father. âIf there was ever an excuse for a Tayledras celebration, this will be it!â
Snowfire grinned, and Kel chuckled. âWhat an excellent suggestion, Val!â Snowfire said facetiously. âWe would never have thought of that, we are so completely serious-minded. Weâll take it under advisement!â
Val knew the Hawkbrothers too well now not to recognize the teasing for what it was, and just grinned back. âIâd be happy to advise you on the menu as well,â he suggested.
Nightwind raised an eyebrow. âNot that you would ever volunteer to cook any of the proposed menu,â she said dryly.
âYou beat me to it,â chimed in Ayshen.
âYou wouldnât even suggest that if you had ever tasted his cooking, lady,â Lord Breon replied with an exaggerated shudder. âI wonât even let him make tea when we are out on a hunt.â
Val opened his mouth to protest, then realized that he might get himself into something he didnât want, and shut it again. Darian smirked.
âWell, before we get into too many celebration plans, Iâve got a protest to lay before the Council,â Barda announced. âArd Kilmer and Fern Holl are not happy with Ghost Cat at