Stormson pt. 3

There are certain things you often come to expect, given your life. For some, it's a family dinner, for others it is trips of solitude. For Talon, it was getting woken in the middle of the night by the settlement guards.1

That's all they were called. When things had names, they tend to become more REAL, more THERE; this was something the people of the settlement were desperate to avoid. 2

There were many things Talon had to become used to when he was assigned Starthorn as his charge, ranging from being tackled by her two companions to runs through the underbrush. He may have been a little more hesitant to volunteer if he'd known most of these exhausting runs would be at night, and if he'd realized how often they would occur.3

He wasn't her official guardian anymore since she'd chosen her name...at least not in the way that he was responsible for her every move, but it was still necessary for him to be called in whenever she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. Nearly a week...couldn't even make it one damn week...4

After entering the gates of the city he was led to Lady Saytre's settlement. Sabor greeted him with his ears down and a wagging tail. For Gods' sakes, what'd she do now?5

She'd been five and he'd been eight when he first saw her sitting in a corner in the Lady's parlor, and when Sabor led him in, he was struck by that image buried back in his memory. Star sat there like she did when she was a five-year-old trying to e a lady, with her hands in her lap and her feet under the chair, unable to quite suppress her figiting. Sabora sat at her feet, still as stone, a shocking contrast to her brother whose eyes searched around for what was about to happen, trying desperately to appease anyone he thought might affect the outcome of this meeting.6

Starthorn attempted a charming smile when Talon entered, but turned off the charm when the Lady looked at her. Charm didn't work on her...nothing did. Her stern glare caused immediate silence among any who dared to whisper before permitted to speak. Even though it was the middle of the night she still wore the stately clothes she put on for her rounds around the city after she'd gone out for her ride. Comet's mate sat by her side, staring at his son and daughter, reflecting his companion's glare.7

Talon saw the sleep at the corner of the Lady's eyes, and even if he hadn't been experienced at these midnight runs, he knew she was more tired that she let on, and not at all ready to deal with this. "Yes she was out, no I didn't know she was coming out, yes I found out, yes I sent her back, and yes I'm willing to accept any punishment you choose."8

Star made a sour look behind the Lady's back, dissolving it the moment she turned. Most likely the punishment would be something EXCEEDINGLY boring, usually involving the "beautification" of the city. Now, she was all for beauty and whatnot, but god what a complete and utter hell.9

The Lady smiled as all lady's should, even though you sometimes got the impression that they had been sucking on a lemon. "I suppose this is of great humor to at least one of the two of you," she said, not bothering to favor Starthorn with a glance. "But as the matter stands, this can not continue. Given the nature of our home, sneaking out at night and tearing out holes in walls is of more importance than one might think." Her voice seemed to echo through the silence. "I would never go back on my word that I will keep my citizens safe, but this has gotten out of hand. It turns out that I have some things that must be delivered, and none of my rider's seem to be available." Both Talon and Starthorn's faces wore masks of confusion. To be a Rider was an honor, for they were the only ones allowed to know the paths through the woods that led to the settlement, and Starthorn had wanted to leave ever since she was old enough to climb on the walls and try and see beyond the trees that blocked her vision of the world. Some hope must have shown in her eyes, for the Lady's voice took on a quality that bit like ice. "Since you have become something of a threat to our security, it may be necessary that you leave for some time." Star cringed in her seat. "You will be led out to the main road, and from there you will head to the city in the east. Riders will be waiting on the road for you on the way back, and you are to meet them in no more than three weeks. If you do not meet them in time, they will leave, and there will no one to lead you home."