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Dear Diary, We had a "snow day" -- or at least that is what they called it. It was really an ice sort of day. I've never seen anything like it (but then, I'd never really seen real snow until I went running in the mountains with Wolfie after winter fell). It started with cold rain that turned to ice and before long the world was covered with ice and snow. They closed the king's highway (err, the "interstate" -- but the great highway, what I'd call the King's Highway for sure) and called off classes, telling us to stay home and safe and warm. Which left me wondering what I should do. I was about studied out, Major Dragon was still recovering from the wild troll she had taken out (now that was a story. Someone had sent a rock troll after Duck's favorite lawacore and the major saw it. If Wolfie hadn't given her that ruby, she wouldn't have survived the tangle, as it was, the troll didn't survive and Teal was pretty impressed with her. They are calling her a bird colonel -- I guess its because she is supposed to learn to fly or something -- but she has gotten a commendation and a serious promotion. They are still leaving her with me, they've decided she should have been a lighter colonel instead of a major one or something, and so her new rank fits being with me better. I don't understand these people at all, but it doesn't matter, I only have to understand cohorts and phalanxes and the rest instead, and I'm doing well in that class. Anyway, Tindalasse invited me to court and I brought Wolfie along. Tinda seemed kind of miffed at that, but Wolfie just acted like he was my dog rather than a guest of the crown prince and that seemed to placate Tindalasse. He kind of thinks that Robert-Etienne really doesn't add to the court or something. He was polite about it when he explained it, but still.

When we got back, I found out that Wolfie had given Major Dragon a present too. Or make that two presents? He had a crimson blood ruby he had saved and he gave it to her. He also gave her a white silk spirit shirt. Not that a spirit shirt really would do much for the Major, except this one had a shimmer spell and a healing spell woven into it, and he taught her the feel of the shirt -- so her mind could reach the spells woven into it. Then, while he had her meditating on the shirt, he handed her the ruby and told her to focus on it. Boy was she surprised when it disappeared, but he told her not to worry. I'm glad Wolfie is looking out for the light dragon (I'm not sure what to call her now that she isn't a major.  Bird Dragon? I don't know). That shimmer spell helps her, that troll that she fought kept swinging places she wasn't and she just kept shooting it with that gun of hers. The healing spell helped too, since it didn't always miss. But after the troll dropped, she just started to come back together, and before you know it, she was standing, a few scars older but very much alive. We took her out and fed her some steak and enough food to fill a horse and she recovered from it all. I'm glad we didn't lose her. Without both the shirt and the gem she would have been gone.

The Court was something. I'd asked Ducks about sea silk after a trip to the market in Vancouver netted three feet of thread. Yes, that is going to make a biiiig dent in the yards and yards of thread I need, not to mention it was the wrong color. He suggested that the Elven Court might have some, but the more likely thing was that we would need to travel to the Islands of the Five Families in Shattered Norns. He gave me a mark for a city on the coast, but he had to get a pass this semester on his classes and went back to the war. Guess I'm not going to see him for a while, but I hadn't even noticed he was gone. Anyway, I hadn't realized that almost all the elves looked as gorgeous as Tindalasse, some were even, hmm, prettier isn't the word you would use for guys, but they were. Anyway, we were standing there, watching things, just enjoying the way they all looked, even if they looked a little feminine for the most part, when Wolfie changed into his manform. Tindalasse looked annoyed, though he was really dressed up, magic and glamors and everything, just like he would have been for the Seelie Court. And he had the other diadem in hands -- the one that matched the one he gave me. He winked at me and so I let the one I had on show. It was the prettiest of anything in the hall and drew attention, as did the one he was holding. He merely handed it to Tindalasse and told him to present it and then shifted back into just a big wolf sitting at my feet. Everyone thought I was making some sort of point, they weren't sure what it was, but the Bitter King's wife was pleased beyond words with her diadem and is wearing it as a coronet now. There isn't a traditional crown for the Consort Bitter but this circlet, with the bright Star Sapphires mounted in it and shining with power, really set off her eyes. Suddenly she looks beautiful. Mine has brilliant diamond jewels, but hers has Sapphires. Which makes it ok that it otherwise matches mine. I think she would have been upset if they were identical. But everyone was in awe of the stars on her brow, one slightly above the other, both the size of small hen's eggs, and powerfully magic (+mana/+skills/much faster cast) too. Just what she needed to not be ashamed of the relative poverty of her court. No one can match her crown, which is suddenly one of the three treasures of the Sidhe court here in the americas. Tindalasse has been a lot more polite to Wolfie ever since, especially after he found out that Amber's mom didn't send the gift, it actually came from Wolfie. He could have returned it to the Seelie Court in Paris, it is the missing Precious Crown, but he still isn't reconciled to them and they slighted him a bit since the Lightwalker is at the wars. Tell you what, I'll bet that they are regretting that all the more. When the Precious Crown was lost, it did not have the jewels, but Wolfie tells me he found those in a world lit only by starlight that he reached from the fir bolg. It led nowhere, but he had some adventures there and found the matching sapphire jewels which he placed in the diadem. Guess Tinda is wondering what is next, especially after he tried to chat me up about the story behind the Precious Crown. I told him that Wolfie was trying to decide what to do with it and the Seelie Court in Paris snubbed him about the same time the Rukh mentioned to him that he ought to favor the Bitter King too. He wasn't sure of that, but decided that if he was invited with me he'd give the Consort the Precious Crown, if he wasn't, the Joyous King would always appreciate a gift. As it is, the Crown has a property most do not know of, a giver can recall it for a period of time. I think Tinda is thinking a little more about who he plans on snubbing for the next while. His mother, the Consort, even visited the campus and presented Wolfie with a Bitter King hrythgar circle glyph. Did she know the crown could be recalled or was she grateful? Who knows, but it was a good visit for Tinda who is shaping up better. As for the Court, they think I've got a tame pooka-wolf or something as a familiar now. Not to mention, they are wondering if the Consort wants me to kill someone (they thought she was visiting me, not Wolfie, and couldn't think of any other reason for a visit). I didn't decide to say anything to the gossips, as if it would help. I learned that lesson a long time ago. But it is funny to hear about them.

I didn't get any sea silk at Court, but I did get a letter of introduction to the fey people in the city that Ducks gave me a mark to. That will help us with the sea elves and should get us safely to the Islands where the sea silk comes from. Now we just need to decide what we are taking to trade and when we can go. Probably over spring break.
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Oh, there was another ball at the Court when we visited. I danced with Tindalasse (and now the gossips have it that I'm breaking Amber's heart) and with Wolfie (and the gossip is that I thought everyone else at the ball was lower than a dog, and so I danced with one to make my point, even if, as one put it, he was a ruggedly handsome dog). Sheesh. What was I supposed to do, dance with the Joyous King when the procession started coming my way? Dance with those elves that were sure I was there to kill them for some sort of stupid plot and got so scared that they soiled themselves. Ick. Ew. Not to mention, Wolfie really dances well. And he doesn't look feminine at all. Those elves are pretty to look at, but dancing with them sometimes seems like you are dancing with a girl; as my mom put it once, dancing with an elf can be like dancing with your sister. Elegant if you are lucky, but not much fun.

Then the ice melted and it was wonderful, green and beautiful. Spring here is a marvel. The weather sure is different from what I'm used to, but it fills my heart with peace. It is hard to express, but seeing the green life start to fill the world, the mountains crowned with light and just everything good happen is so good for me. I didn't think I'd feel this way again.

Copyright 2001-2004 Stephen R. Marsh and Heather N. Marsh E-Mail comments and suggestions to: story (at) adrr (dot) com We would love to know how you got here and what you think about the site All Rights Reserved Terms of Use / Story Index

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