The Return of the Season

[Breanna Keelan]

Part 1

Hawk and Breanna Keelan, The Azrae

"Wind whistling, whipper wheeling off the sea, through the trees. Blind men see the mystery of mermaid folk a'polkin in the cove, to-raa-loo-ra-lay.." The man named Hawk was so named for two reasons: Of the first, he forever 'hawked' the curio of his master's shows, arts, books, and events. Secondly, he was so named because of the bird that followed on his shoulder while he pulled a wagon onward through the sand. "Too-ra-loo-ra-lay!" The verse was not the same as the first, picked up by his employer's wife (realy the Keelans to him were one in the same. Both paid him, both he loved, and both he never wished to anger). Breanna continued on, watching as new wagons settled, tents were pitched, and the settled hugged new settlers, "Sea is wide, sea is long, sea is turnin, turnin' strong. Skye and sea are mystery going on, no end in sight. Dark and light. Day and night. Too-ra-loo-ra-lay!" What was different of this year? Bonfires height, the sound of new shells with chimes? Scents of cinnamon and flowers, of violins and guitars? Ah no. It was that the Keelans were not two, but three. When they did an act, their youngest patron would be a blood watcher. "Look.." She told the bundle held against her chest with strips of fabric, so tied so she might be craddled in a way encouraging her to lift her small head. Firelight caught the open eye to illustrate how spellbinding, how bright, they were! Mother's burnished gold untamed, father's hazels mingling. "Welcome to the seaside, Illona." (d)

Master Conlaed Keelan, Vagabond Prince of Fire Eaters

There was a soft bit of laughter from Conlaed, as he canted his head to watch Hawk as they went along toward the beach. There was a murmured, "Tha' tis nae 'ow I recall tha words bein' ta tha' Spanish Lady bein' sae arranged." There was a bit of laughter. There was little doubt that the Keelan family could be considered more than just Breanna, Conlaed, and Illona. Didn't Hawk and Busy also have their own parts to play in not only the traveling shows --- but in the Keelans' heart as well? While he did think on this, Conlaed could not help but look back on the other members of the family. Even if they were only by adoption... and only for a time? There was a smile as he lookeddown to Hope, then Luke. He made sure that they were keeping up. Before he picked up Luke in his arms, since the boy looked to be tired and lagging a bit. (D)

Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

She made him promise to spend one night home, angered he had been gone, but understanding his French Princess who lived her life now as clan leader. So to this, the night was lived in the company of gypsy. Here he would spend his small amount of time with the little bit of family he had. He worried sick, and it showed through the pale color that was unnatural on his bronzed skin. He held lines of worry, and even felt himself rather ill as the sound of the sea thinking of how unnatural it would be to sail it again towards a distant land not in search of bounty. There could not be a price on any of their heads, not one Peregrine would ever dare for. Within his palm the rather quiet shadow of her mother laughed only when the sea touched her barefeet, and when Aldric splashed. Genna, there still on his hip he felt rather the man of honor in this single night in Skye. How fitting it was there would be a bonfire. He knew his cousin would be there, with her bookbinding husband, and with Hope the other portion of his rather small yet cherished family. Of course the Roma welcomed their once King, and laughed when he spoke of Mother needing a break and Daddy a drink. (d

Mistress Breanna Keelan

"Come my sweet, look..see there. That is the Rom Baro of the Balkans. He is the King of all the Balkan gypsy, and his son? His son is set to marry a woman of Hungary that traded her life of leisure to become a Roma." Breanna told the story to Hope, who stood wide eyed as if all the world was a stage and the actors who had a consumate part to play, smoldering in desire. "People become gypsies, Aunty Bre?" "Da, my love, they do. My mama loved my Papa, so she learned to live as a Rom to become a Rom. I chose to be Rom, because I did poor at staying in one place." "But you and Uncle Conlaed live on the island, isn't that one place?" "Mm, we have a house In Luib, a house In Turas Lan, and the one on wheels. Vardo. We move all about island, and that means we have house that not move for the cold season, and in the warm, we roam." Her heart began to heal in the people so like her Uncle and her Father all at once. That blend of artistry, mystique, and warmth! "Are you going to dance? Will you sing, will you tell stories, eat fire!" Laughter pieced through the veil of smoke they passed, only for Breanna to pull out a bolt of sari like material to flutter from a pole, to signify they were there. (d)

Mistress Dora Lynch

Here came the woman with her little boy in tow, Loomis goggle eyed at all the wonders of life off the family farm."Lookit there! " She pointed to the gathering."We have got here already." (d)

Master Conlaed Keelan

There was a smile as Conlaed caught sight of Pere. There was a light cant of his head, as he went over to Pere. He leaned, quietly asking, "You an' I need speak, dah?" He grinned, "Come, let us talk...." And he would lead Pere away from the a fire a bit. Still smiling - oh, this was not good - Con asked, "What worng wit' you, huh?" And applied a dope smack to the back of Pere's head. "You not tell Hope why you bring her to our home?" 'Nother smack, "An' what of Luke?" There was a sigh, an' another smack, "You best be thankful tha' the shire reeve in Luib knows us! Poor Hope cried." And there was another smack, "An' ye woke Illona up." (D)

Mistress Dora Lynch

"Come Loomis, we have got us some coin to spend this eve. Such a strange thing, so mamy folk bought them poor quality turnips and such like, all rotted they was. I tried to tell them but they insisited." she babbled on, drawn by the bright banner flappin in the breeze. "Mum. They used the rotted veg to throw at some people. I heard the rumor at the market place. Did ye not know?" The child was more aware than his Ma."I think tis gossip you been hearing, child. Come, let us watch fire eating and buy sweetmeats. " She tired to distract him from the fact his brother Liam was no longer beside him, but off in Ulster. (d)


Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

In the moonlight there had always been a glimmer of what was beneath ocean colored eyes, the gold of a heritage on it's brink of extinction. Peregrine was not a tall man, yet he added weight where it was needed, but in this moment he would keep himself at peace. "Because she would fight me either way. Hope understood..if you do not get it by now Hope is..She is..well..she is like her mother, Conlaed and I don't trust any other damn soul on this island like I do you and Bre." The wild one put his hand upon his hip to square his feet with his shoulders, this son of the trees. His children waited watching, though quickly pulled away, but the smallest..his bastard child with Ada, still rest on his hip, her wide eyes watching the man. "I..well.." A kick of sand then, as he shuffled his feet, "I was going to bring you one more," He motioned towards Genevieve in his arms. He did not trust any other. That was true, watching, though quickly pulled away, but the smallest..his bastard child with Ada, still rest on his hip, her wide eyes watching the man. "I..well.." A kick of sand then, as he shuffled his feet, "I was going to bring you one more," He motioned towards Genevieve in his arms. He did not trust any other. That was true, not even his wife as none could protect them like Conlaed. "You hit me..." He grinned, that smirk that could belong to the devil, "At least pull my hair next time hmm? I enjoy it that way." (d


Mistress Breanna Keelan

"Aunty Breanna, are you and Peregrine blood blood?" "Dah, but it has little matter, he be family either way, just like you." "Why is Uncle Conlaed hitting him." She hid behind her skirts, secretly giggling by hiding it in the upper most tier near Breanna's hip. Her eyes were distracted for a moment by Loomis. Had she seen in in the valley, aye? Coming with his mother during wool sheering time or the lambing, to talk of all things wool, wheel, and good in the world. She waved her hand, but didn't let Breanna go. The world while brighter was still half of what it should be. Luke merely watched wide eyed. Conlaed was like Papa in the old days. Gotta get a man square in the...well what did he do, hit him on the head? "Uncle Conlaed did ya challenge Uncle Pere? Is it over a pretty lady? Aunty Bre is reallly pretty." The little boy grinned his award winning smile as he looked at his rather delicious looking aunt. One day, he'd have all the women eating from the palm of his hand. He just needed lessons from Pere and big brother Saul to do it! Breanna sighed, pitching up another side of her banner this one with their name, their act, and their bohemian family affiliations. "Uncle Peregrine needs to shake silly things out of his head, Uncle Conlaed is helping him. Here, tie this for your Aunty.." Breanna went over and smacked both men upside the head, "Work to do you leaving Hawk and busy! And do that in front of children for shame..look at this angel, I know, I know!" As if she spoke the same language as the girl by sheer want of being. "Come put girl with children, or they be poisoned by." She fluttered her hands as if to find something..well they were just so...just..vagabond males. Hopeless really. Hopeless! Seeing the farm folk come to sell things as well as marvel, she grinned to Mistress Lynch while bouncing Illona on her chest. (d)

Master Conlaed Keelan

Conlaed merely groaned when Pere told him that another wee one could wind up staying with the Keelans. There was, of course, facepalm. When Peregrine made the comment about wanting his hair pulled, Conlaed turned a death glare on the man. "Next I am going my boot up --- " Smeck! There was a sigh, a hanging of his head. Hello, dear. Conlaed hold his hand up, "Before you do that, Pere. You tell us the chavi's name?" (D)

Mistress Dora Lynch

Loomis slipped his hand from Dora's grasp and ran to greet a child he recalled from his Ma's business trips, for with Liam and Albert no longer in the Lynch home, the child was so lonely for the company of one near his age, he ran
ahead wearing a huge smile and waving both arms. The green onions and herbs he carried for Dora bounced in a backpack he wore. "You remember me? I be Loomis." Dora glanced to the two men in their intense "conversation" and gave thema wave in passing, not really expecting they saw it. "Ah good to have the sand between me toes! Especially since them new shoes pinch somewhat!" (d)

Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

He would laugh then, Genna to follow as he would toss her up, little hands reaching for the stars. "Conlaed..you've grown soft." He would settle her once again, blue eyes a fire with mirth passed over Bre with a smile, but as she walked away he would turn his attention back to the book binder, but he would in turn let Genna go to join the other children. "I might take her with me." His face sobered as the conversation drew a bit more close to home, "We did
not find Eirian in Avaria as hoped, but the moon tells me she is somewhere in England..I dream it." Even now he chilled, shaking free the feeling as his spine twist to brace for the shiver. "I really do appreciate it..I'll repay you
they were with the General's children..his lot of six..I had thought of bringing them all, their home is so broken, but the castle looks out for them. Would too the children of my brother, but not..not like you." He shuffled his feet again, crossing his arms over his chest and catching the look from Dora across the shore. Of course he would wink and pucker his lips in a kiss. Foxy little silver haired minx that one. "Genna is the one that the Underdark wanted.. a child of the full moon, conceived with the trees.." He lowered his voice, "A secret." Child of his own, not very many knew the truth. Adelaide's daughter, the witch." A true witch. (d

Hope Apollius, Mistress Breanna Keelan

"Aunty, can I?" Loomis' want for her company with matched with the want to hold him, inhale all his vegetables just to remember what the earth was like. Wry grin lit her features to full born smile shortly after Breanna said yes. She ran with the sound of jingling bells on her ankles, sewn coins on her skirt. Her hair left the scent of the desert where ever she went from a bottle of oil Breann had saved for many years. She flickered like a ghost in this world, not substantial enough for it yet whole. Genna's wide eyes were Mother Luna. Little Loomis was a country child, and Luke was a boy who lived for the feel of leaves in his hands. All of them made her heart beat in time. As for the youngest of them, she was so coveted, now to be in the flesh as a living dream. Breanna allowed the men their talk as she went to discuss matters of womahood with Dora while Hope wrapped her arms about Loomis, "Aye, I do!" she smiled as she took his hand "There's gonna be a show, lots of shows, and a market, and and there are gyspies from everywhere. Wanna see the Gypsy King from the Balkans?" Thick, dark hair swung auburn spokes laden with a chain behind each ear suspended dangling chains intermingled with beeds. How she sang when she moved! "Welcome, Mistress Lynch, you come! So many from the country slow but you not slow. Nyet. Come, come!" She opened one arm, not too, for she held Illona with the other. (d)

Master Conlaed Keelan

There was a his, "Pere, ya need put yer mind ta things first!" He hissed. "The midsummer faires are almost 'ere -- an' ye give us more children on top of our own!" Conlaed paused, sighing, "Much is made difficult, Pere. ...how we
to travel wit' so many children? How we care for them all when we perform?" There was a frown, "An' *you* of all should knae what the gadje think when children show up - or worse, go missing! - wit' gypsies. You at least tell other what you do? The shire reeve in Luib knows us -- but not every shire reeve we meet will! What they say when they look at Bre, an' Busy, an' Hawk, an' me -- and then see gadje children? The old liabel still there!" That was
Conlaed's biggest concern. What would happen, if they ran across one who too readily believed the old stories? However, Conlaed's face would soften, "We travelers, Pere..... we never turn away those that come to our door in need. So we not turn away Hope or Lke or Genna." There was a pause, "Or you." The last was meaninful. "We find away around all of this Pere... and we help you." He clapped Pere on the shoulder. (D)

Mistress Dora Lynch

One hand over her mouth almost covered her smile but her still girlish giggle escaped when Dorie spied that wink of Pere's."Breanna! Tis been far too long." Dora wrapped one arm about her friend and stepped back to see the little one all the better. "She is a beauty, such a sweetie, yes you are sweetie." Lynch made a squinty eye face and tried to make the baby laugh. " Have you need of yarns this season? I will trade yarn if ye will dye up some for me, nice and bright colors?" Dora loved life and all the colors in it. (d)


Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

"I have been an outcast Conlaed for far too long, you forget I do not remember these things." He had sobered in his attention, the face that Rosalind had truly fallen in love with; void of any shifting grins or shady smirks. He felt
the weight of the bookbinder's hand and turned his gaze to meet. "You have no idea how important this is, Conlaed, I wouldn't ask if it wasn't. If I were simply taking children you do not think I would pull them from their windows?" Like Peter Pan, but he wouldn't teach them to fly. A sigh escaped him, with the curl of his lips only turning away from the heavens, it was a very hard subject. "I'm worried about Eirian, so pissed at my brother I can't see straight , and sick with the fear that mortality will hit them long before I've had my fill." Selfish bastard. "I could take them with me..I know she is in England, but.." Bah, he didn't know, and ran a hand through his mop of blonde strands straight , "Just want to be at home with my wife you know?" He laughed then lightly, realizing he just nearly spilled his entire heart out the bookbinder. "Took the summer off to be with her, and haven't had the chance...I did manage to break her window, and get blood all over her new carpets." A kick of the sand idly as he snorted, "I'm sorry..I just acted, I didn't think. All I could think about was getting them to you two." (d

Mistress Breanna Keelan

"Too long. How is life in the country? When we take to the road we will look in on your farm, and look at your son. Loomis is so large I hardly remember him the size of Illona. Any child is a treasure. Illona? I can hardly say which gem, merely whole case!" Hand craddled the back of the head with dark curls already on it. "I always need yarn, my friend..many things to do with it! For the show, for the home. We will trade. I will give you bright shades of the yellow, the blue, the greens, the reds, and all this for good two baskets of yarn if you can. Two baskets of plain yarn for two baskets died?" Despite the funds they had to secure the Luib trading post and the home in TurasLan, it was all a matter of business. They thrived on their performances, bartering, renting rooms, negotiating prices for all manner of things as it took great money to fund the printing press. Paper was not a commodity still cheapeven if the press was not a foreign invention here, nor was the best wood for the type setting. Nor were the tools for the artisan crafts of either of them, such was life not being in a caravan they fended for themselves. Still, it was worth it. They had roots here - state sanctioned artisans were they - to leave the states they feared would be ruin, loss. She enjoyed cleaning all of her floors for it meant they owned something. She bent down to Dora to whisper as the children played. "We are keeping the Lady Eirian's children, my cousin, Peregrine. He bring them. Someone took the Lady! The children fare better now. I hope she is safe, the men no doubt talk of this now." She wanted to say people always fear things they didn't understand. She worried, in truth, for the fate of children like the Apollius lot or the Moon-Child who was now happy to play with Luke, Loomis, and Hope beside the fire. "I will start a show, and if all goes well I may give yo ufour baskets of died things." she grinned.."Come to fire, hold Illona for me?" (d)

Mistress Dora Lynch

The light breeze blew silver white strands of Dora's tied back hair flitting across her sun tanned face, worry wrinkles mixed in with those from age. "They all be treasures, and at me age, it were a miracle." She paused thanking theAlmighty for the blessings her friend and herself had been granted. Tonight she would pray intensely for Eirian's safe return."Oh! I love the wee ones, I am honored to hold her." Dora held out her hands and long years of experience gave her the cofidnence that the baby would not cry for her. The longing for a new baby was not sharp, dominating her mind any more. She was happy with her lot since Loomis' birth and still had enough love of children to let it spill over onto any little one in her sight. Loomis took a stick from the fire still burning at the end and traced letters in the air, little sparks following its path. "My brother run off to Ulster alone. That is bad, being alone. Here at Mz Breanna's there is always to play with, no one is lonely." (d)

Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

He made his way towards the fires coming to rest beside Dora who now held the child, and with it he smiled--a tired face soon came to play on his boyish good looks.(pimp) Sleep suffered through the lot, and he would press hisshoulder against her own, looking over to Loomis, but pondering "Where is my little pirate buddy?" His eyes passed to Bre with a smile, Honey plopping her thumb in her mouth and making her way to Daddy. He missed her too, and as the child climbed on his lap he smiled closing around her. (d

Mistress Breanna Keelan

"What you be needin' missus?" Busy was the aspect of his name to every degree, moving already around the makeshift stage he'd spent hours construction this very day so she could have something solid to stand on. "Just the fire batons." Hawk pulled off the cloak on his lady's shoulders, revealing a long dress of sorts, strands of twisted died cloth wrapped artful in places though it dipped low on her back, wrapped over her breasts and bore portions of thenow flat belly that held a baby not so long ago. It was still soft, the muscles not as tense as before. Feminine. Conlaed sighed as he looked out across the world he adored paired by the world he could never forget. What contradictions, his wife supporting a business that kept them still (or should have) when the wind was their blood. Knocking a hand on the side of the vardo, he dipped his magician's tools in oil to proceed (d)

Mistress Dora Lynch

She sighed so deep that it was like a little of the air that gave her body its size exited, leaving her a little less than whole. "He run off. Liam never was at school, like he told me. He took ship, a stowaway. " She looked away, to watch the fire and wonders unlike her little world. "I would give anything to see me Liam again, Anything." (d)

Lord Peregrine Lamont-Inveryne

Peregrine put his arm around Dora with a small frown he let his fingers brush her arm pulling her in to press a kiss to her temple. "I'll keep my eyes out for him, but Dora..think of it. You don't run off to sea, it calls you out.
He's safe out there, he learned from the best didn't he?" Catbird, and one that gave a heavy yawn, and soon coiled around his beloved daughter. "I've got to get them back, and to bed." He let his eyes rise once more to Bre, "I'm leaving tomorrow for England." He smiled to Hope, "Without the General, he is off to the border." (d

Mistress Breanna Keelan

"Then the Wind keep full in your sails, cousin, the moon light your darkest hour and the sun shine like gold in your day." She cast off her voice with a bit of firespark from Conlaed's mouth as he swallowed the element only to breathe out a long strip of it. Gold glitter caught the wind for all of them, to kiss the cheek of him and Genna when she could not. Hawk called the folk to the stage as the props were laid out. Master Keelan, the Vagabond Prince of Fire Eaters and his wife, the Azrae..the Scarlet Flame had returned! Shrill violin would follow them out into the night as Breanna dipped the bow string in oil before pullit it taut on the bow. A fingersnap, and she played the instrument in flames. Hope watched with rapt attention..no longer afraid of the element that had given her so many nightmares when her mother awoke in silent contemplation of the vision. This was why Hope had been given to them, of many reasons. The little girl leaned in to Loomis "You should come out to the Valley when Uncle Pere brings Mama home. It is never lonely there." (d)

Mistress Dora Lynch

"I ain't running back to Ulster; although, I know I ain't gonna see him no more, he got skills for work and he can be a man early, that is all." She trusted Pere's judgement on Liam, for what else was there to do? It made her calm. She visualized her prayer protecting Liam at a distance like the fire the gypsies showed their audience and the violin sound going out over the water, carrying her messages of love and support. And Dora added the same prayer for Pere, on his mission away. Loomis listened and as he always did thought before speaking. "I will do that, come out to the Valley. I can bring pages for us to read, too."He was going to share his most precious possessions, more than the toys his Da carved were the words on parchment his best friend Mistress Janice had give him. (d)

to be continued..most assuredly

[Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius]

Part 2



Master Jean-Claude de Aquitaine

It was a strange world, one as mad as the moon that hung so high over the English ocean that soon turned to Skye. The crew seemed alive under the pale light, as if ghosts haunting over the very same grave, their posts the watchtower for the next, and with it all eyes seemed veered towards the breaking of the glass like still water. The summer weather had been far too calm, keeping the near windless night in pressing manner as the sails were only half full. It was there within the border of the morning hour before the sun made it's attempt at the night, and the moon went to bed--Jean-Claude kept with his post on the bowsprit where he had kept a solid stance as the ship sliced through the sea.The part of the sea captain had always been played by the pirate, but Peregrine hardly ever moved the ship's crew; it had always been Jean-Claude. In his time after the fires it took him years to learn to stand again, and only would ever come from beneath at night. The heat of the day tore at him, and with the night watch he earned the fear of the crew. From the bowels of the ship this man came, with eyes as black as the sea, and hair as black as the night--it had been a gruesome sight those nearly 7 years after the fires. Imagine how strange it felt to stand here, without pain, breathing the ocean air once again a new man. However, on this night they were part of no pirate crew, no..he had made sure each dressed the part as if they did in fact transport a royal Queen. She was given a quarters that no mere passenger would ever possess, and with it the reign of freedom across the deck; escorted and tended to. Dinner was spread out before her, and when she woke a morning meal that could rival the placement of the King's. There had not been much of a selection, but a few of his more practical gowns were waiting along with the start of one of the few things an artisan should ever be without--jewelry. They had a certain eye for talent, these open minded imagination motived, and everywhere he went he was thankful for the inspiration. Gone now the man undone, and with this new dawn Jean-Claude went back to his normal attire that was far too outfitted for a common dressmaker, or even humble Scientist. Yet, now there was very much the French nobleman who had left his title in Paris..for now. His white gloved hands, seemed a certain pristine contrast to the deep crimson of the red coat. The outline of the Isle was there, not far in the distance. (d


Lady Eirian Apollius

The English Sea was a creature comprised of calm gray-blue clarity in need of the wind to disturb the surface. The sea didn't match the land at all; fire crisped the North as prayers rose in intercession for the Spanish to take the thrown while others prayed for the divine intervetion needed to save the throne of the King who kept it at a distance. Still, to leave from where they did the blossoms on the trees looked as they ought in June. Eirian remembered with no difficulty the heat and beauty of an English summer. Her feet never touched the place where she had formed from babe to woman, but she looked in its direction the entire time with naught but fond memories as God soothed all of life by repairing the rifts on the road of her travels. When she left, she was attired in a gown the shade of soft rose. Black hair the length of the body it seemed was twisted in a beautiful braid around her head with enough to still hang ribbon twisted over the right shoulder. It was more oppulence than any aspect of the last several years could have given. "In majesty the Lord teaches humility," she told the maid who fastened a beautiful necklace around the slender throat. So the Queen of a land that took itself back stood with the French noble who reclaimed his due. From the fires all emerged, changed, different. They skimmed over water that reflected none of that, but maybe it was a further lesson in patience. Now she came to him, the rose attire exchanged for the color of a robin's egg, all the hair braided and twisted into a golden net studded with small pearls and beads. There was something to the old rumors that followed her, of each court saying while women dripped in diamonds the Lady Eirian had no need of the garish stone. The necklace, the small tear drop jewels in her ear, simple. Enough. They needed no more or no less than what was provided. "So you have brought us back," the Welsh accent was more lyrical than the neighboring English cousin, as if by opening her mouth she was inspiration, poetry personified. (d)

Master Jean-Claude de Aquitaine

For a moment he was quiet, so many things he wished to say, and all at once he could think of nothing, but.."I have brought you home, as I promised, but I can not even stay the day." His heart fluttered in his chest, the strength behind it to rival even the Lord Generals. "I pray that I might find Peregrine..Rosalind," He closed his eyes, "Genevieve, oh my darling Genevieve." His hand came to his chest to touch where the ache had finally sank in. "Word from Julain..Adelaide..Eirian, it is no wonder my heart gave out when it is split so no?" A smile there, and nothing less. "Claramae will not wait for me, and I pray thatat her letter has reached the King." He turned to face her then, and would she be surprised to see the surprise on his own lips, "Mon Dieu..look at how lovely." His hands came to clasp behind his back after he gave her a bow, "Shall we pray that next time we meet it will not be as this? I had hoped you would come when this is settled and help me rebuild Oxford. It is such a passion of mine that I fear of the world without great schools." He smiled so easily, a calm graceful manner that was nothing but kind. He would be rather bold and take her hand, pressing her cool knuckles against his pale lips, "But I can not ask this of you, but I do so swear that the next time you are on English ground it will be out of pleasure." The coldness of her fingers had instinctually settled her hand in the bend of his arm, as he moved to escort her back further from the railing. "Even a place to bring your children." (d

Lady Eirian Apollius

"A day will keep you, for naught will end in a day. We are not immortal Jean, only our legacy, not the form to which it is made." Her heart? Steady beats in time to the rhythm of the world as it should be without flinching to the off-set when it would not. How much in common had they; living items of death prolonged, pale as snow with places of intense color that made them seemed to be illuminate with more than the human condition. "The words you have will need to settle for a man who needs the comfort of action with words, time for him to grasp what is transpiring. A day will keep you, only not two." Purchased time from the mouth of angels could settle in the mad man's head. He didn't look the part of a mad man, did he? She looked as she had in the many years of Kingdoms risen or failed. The part of the courtier beloved of Kings and desired of sword men. A pious woman of knowledge who had the mystery of Wales in her hand in a tragedy that became symbiotic with the joy she could exude. When he took her hand, she smiled in the open, touching his forearm. "How the children would so like to see, and it is good for them to see where their heritage lies. I had not thought of a world to do so, nor found it so necessary. Yet, it is important to embrace whom we were in order to appreciate who we will become. Even to be so attired as this," She acknowledged the gown, "is a part of something." She would wear gowns of colors but often was seen in simplistic earthen shades, blue or gray. She was memorable but formed no great lasting memory of late, nor sought to (d)

Master Jean-Claude de Aquitaine

He would shake his head if only lightly, "I can not..I will sleep on the way home. I will not leave her, I fear it enough as it is, but I promised Adelaide I would check in on Genevieve, and I promised you I would see you home." The rest would still be there, Harper kept the shop up well, and his experiments were all locked in the tower. "I pray that you do forget most everything of this voyage, but remember me. I feel we have much to learn from the other, and I look forward to the future." He laughed then, kind eyes seeming to soften only further at her mention again of how he will stay one. "Really..I will be fine, forget you that I spent many years picking up after your brother in law." The sight of the dock thrilled him, though his eyes quickly shot to the still burning campfires on the shore. "Tonight was the new moon. They will be on the shores." He nearly gasped remembering the gypsy schedule that one had to if they wanted to keep up with the pirate. "Look.." He lead her to the railing, escorting her still like some Queen; very few ever got used to his manners, but when his governess beat them into him as a child it was as natural as breathing. His gloved hand came to point at the little dark figure escaped from the sleeping form of her pirate father who had come back from his night home to comfort a once again screaming child.She tore through that sand until the boardwalk sounded like pounding drums under her bare feet. Genna held no fear that once the plank was dropped she flew up the boardwalk and into his arms; Jean-Claude hardly had time to meet her half way before her three year old French gave him the what for. She was livid, happy, sad, tired, but most of all loving he was home. Her little hand came to touch Eirian's cheek as if pushing her to see the fires. (d

Lady Eirian Apollius

"Trust me when I say, you will." Electric whimsy shot across the Elysium sky of unspoken thought as to why the reason was so tadamount to the action, yet all things with Eiriansimply were. Sunrise, sunset, or the way a smile warmed your heart. How could he not seek to stay when all he valued in the world would reach out to take hold of him? It would be that thought which would see her not return to a healed England devoid of what now sickened her without the people that mattered most to her. The gypsy people took over the shores in a parade of colorful tents, vardos, and nationality identified in a way that no outsider could understand. Her heart actually skipped beats, "Peregrine shall be there. I hope, I pray this may mean a poor Welsh heart might find some relief.." Sh ewould fall to the sand no matter the price of the gowns or the necklace or the jewels in her ears. The true treasure was what kept her alive. "Before we dock..I am going to tell you I shall never forget England. If only to find the God where so many had left it astray. Do not tell them, at least in public..howwe were found." The small slice scar showed as most of her bangs were pulled away, but it was so inconsequential many would not think to look for the true network under her hair. The gown was long enough to hide the chaffed, raw skin at her wrists, "Not until we find the God in that story ourselves?" How fast disembarking happened. Once her feet hit the boardwalk she felt the sea, stars, heaven, and the city stone marry to her mind. She shut her eyes, she even smiled. Watching his reunion with little Genna she chuckled before being too included. Gently, she kissed the palm of the small girl's hand with eyes that told her what words could not. By no way would she ever allow a sight of that."See. Stay a day." Without escort, she would walk beside him. (d)

Master Jean-Claude de Aquitaine

"It is not something I fear any will ever forget, but of all on this earth Eirian, there is no other who keeps secrets like I." The early light started to break over the horizon though it only a faint pale shade as the night started to come to an end. He would ask Genna who she was with, happy to hear the response of pirate as it gave him someone to break their face..she could wiggle free from anything, but in the middle of the night...her hair hadn't been combed, she smelled of salty sea water.."Genevieve.." He held her out, "Are you wearing a boys clothes?" She cackled, and he suddenly held her as if she were be an illness.

Lord General Maahes Asad Aziem

The morning prayer had started early, and Maahes had yet to move from where he had knelt the night before in his homage to the Lord. All night he had watched the candle flicker until his eyes were red from tears that did not come, and the light that burned them. He had been called out, back to the English boarder where he knew a battle waited. He felt the world close around him, his heart so empty with Ealora, but angry at himself for letting Eirian slip through his fingers; now he could not chase after her. If Adam had known, he would have understood when Maahes asked to be relieved, but like always he kept it all inside. For the past five years he had lived an open free life on the Isle, with words that seemed to dance from one conversation to the next. He lived to be under the soothing palm of Bess, or listening to the sweet songs of Eirian, over the past years..in the arms of the woman he loved. Only when it rained did he feel God, and even now with the sun on the rise all Maahes could do was tip his head back and speak to a God that he felt for sure had left him. "Bring her home.." No..his prayer was not for Ealora. (d

Lady Eirian Apollius

"That is all I ask, sweet friend, that is all I ask. Even as England is upon her turning point Skye remains good, and strong. Word of that would taint in some way the religion that thrives here.A view of god as multi-faceted as the diamonds you place in my ears." She grinned, only to burst in to full laughter as Genna was truly a child of the shores now. "Perhaps she stays near Peregrine's cousin, he would hunt for her here, no? She can be our compass, children better navigate than we." Morning prayer had expedient answer for once. As he asked for her to return her small feet stepped across the docks until they reached the sand, where she slid her feet out of the slippers to feel earth under her feet. That would be what truly started to heal. It hurt like no other to be away from the earth, the sky. Adam did know for even now the letter of the Duchess had caused him much aggrivation, much worry, information that only he and Beathag shared as they sat to deal with what was before them in Struan. It was not that the Isle lived in Oblivion, only that English shores were not these. "Oh, by heaven. By heaven what a wonderful feeling!" She could hardly contain herself as her own interior compass divined True North; wherever Hope and Luke sat (d)

to be continued...

[Peregrine Inveryne-Lamont]

Peregrine:

He felt the sun rise, over the dark of his eyes, but the warmth could not be mistaken. He was a son of the trees, a child of the forest who thrived only where the light touched; even in the years he spent in the underground Peregrine found himself slipping away to the rooftops to feel the warmth of the golden light. His eyes opened, but the night was still there with stars shinning as if they were on at auction, and the highest bidder won the right to remain it's last in the sky before the day put them all to bed.

"Luke.." He whispered shaking him gently from the bed he had made against his chest, clinging to the warmth of her uncle who no matter how cold the weather seemed always radiated with heat. "Hope.." Reaching out under the blanket he touched the back of the sweet child of his brother's wife who had turned away from him in the night clinging the pillow made for her from the softest down.

Jean-Claude:

"Yes..perhaps at least the day." He smiled tucking Genna back against him, but already starting to sweep his fingers through her hair. Lord..he would never get those knots out. "Where is Pere', Ma petite? Hmm?" Her little hands would rise to point in the direction of the Gypsy, and then turn her smile to Eirian. "'ope." Hope. "'ope, there." Again with her laughter as she nuzzled her face into Jean-Claude's neck, happy to have him home.

[Lady Eirian Gwenyth Apollius]

Part 3

Lady Eirian Apollius

The full moon on the shores of Turas Lan rivaled anything the sun could have produced at its brightest hour. The landscape rivaled the moon, thus everything collided in a world of constant glow not extinguished despite the sense found in doing so at this hour. Jean-Claude was going to stay the day where he had none to spare before. How could he refuse, with his Genevive safe in his arms once more? The child adorned with sea salt and dreams pointed in the direction of the pirate who would, by sheer default, be where heart's desire sat. She suddenly found Jean-Claudes insistance of treating her as a rescued Queen so humerous that she begged her pardon of him as she lifted skirts to the point just before ankle was shown. The gown was by far brighter than her usual fair, but how does one make it in kaleidescope? All fire throwers, jugglers, knife tossers, traveling wayfarers. All gypsy who came for the start of the fair season to entrance, to delight. Senses sang of where North was as fabrics colored more than Joseph's coat of colors baffled the wind as if to suggest beneath them all the stars were born. The visitors looked at the gown attired woman, her dark hair braided about her head and flowing across the left shoulder. They watched it as despite a groan of pain she laughed it away, pushing on through the environment to see if two entities did not quite belong She turned her head this way and that, ears opened..but so was the mind. It was the mind that th epriest scientiest William Occham had wanted, that mind he swore gave eternal youth. It made men younger, more vibrant.It held the future. It granted immortality. If she wouldn't have shared..he would cut into her. One scar of that cutting, just on her brow so...seemed to hint at the aura only the gifted could see. Suddenly it dawned on her that she had indeed crossed the waters from the ruins of Oxford. Even the chain chapped places on her wrist did not hurt so! Father Buridan had said he had told Occham of her..but what if the ruining of God's faith was his will for her being there? Another trial passed? She escaped Jean-Claude's watchful eye to look as the noble courtier in a world that tempted her. "Hope, Luke?" (d)

Sir Saul Apollius

There was a soft music that drifted across the sandy shore line. It was a subtle clarion call that lured all who listened. At the heart of the camp sat a man with a tamed beard and long, thick hair laced with wooden beads. Dressed in a plethora of multi-colored tunics that hung loose over a well conditioned frame, Saul sat playing his lute. He wore a distant looking smile, his eyes closed as he just let his fingers play the notes. --


Lord Talion Apollius

At the entrance of the camp was a series of tents, not uniform or ranked. Smoke drifted skyward from small orange fires, but none were bright enough to light Apollo's whiskered face. Nostalgia overwhelmed his senses as stopped a moment and glanced about. Apollo looked like he had twenty years ago. He stood tall, as if age did nothing to restrict his back. Draped over his head, hiding all the wild strands of hair, was a hood that helped conceal his identity from those who were curious. The sounds of the music, the movement, everything that went on around Apollo made him feel insignificant. He felt it was insignificance that insured he had successfully came to a place without causing a scene. Hopefully this feeling would remain as he traversed the rest of the encampment. Easing forward once more, Apollo caught the ominous tune carried by Saul's lute, and he lingered closer unaware it was his own son that played. He didn't stay long, because something of an urge came over him and drove him closer to the actual shore line. Appearing like the others, the legendary Ranger drifted amongst the people present. He did well to watch the happenings around unloadingship. Men moved with cargo to load, while others departed. A certain voice caught his ear and made him pause amidst the shuffling.[d]


Lady Eirian Apollius

The Pirate reclined among the gypsy until he took to the nearby roofs as if having to be a mythical entity meant he so slept on them. The children of Apollo and Eirian were on a roof with the night air to kiss them good night until the steadfast wisdom touched their uncle to make him awaken. Was that his brother he sensed, or merely a reason to be? With Luke in his arms and Hope on his back, he descended back down into the litany of color. Of sounds? Eirian was listening for two particular tones amid the many avenues she twisted on made of tents, vardo, and horses? She bypassed gypsy speaking dialects of the mother-tongue in the Balkan varieites only to collide among the Spaniard style. Desert citizens were not far as were the broken bits of English used to make deal with the Gadje. Jean-Claude no doubt was infected by the sense of expectant reuinion, but wanted to hold the woman who was still his patientback if only for everything not to be overwhelming! "No, no, forgive me.. I can not." Indeed the bells set of hundreds of echoes to her ears, the colors distracted her eyes. Head ached but it was so laughable compared to what had really suffered: her heart. Her body healed over so many times she couldn't count. Catching her breathe, she continued on, pulling out the diamond earings in her ears as happy to trade information for the encampment of the one thing senses sang, Keelan... the only gyspy who owned places to travel between on the island. "Luke, Hope? The keelans have you seen them...their cousin, Peregrine? The Keelans?" Peregrine had such docile associates until the moment Hope's mind caught the same flow of thought. ""Uncle Pere, Mama, Papa?" she told him, before her six year old self could not be contained. Groaning she took off under a flag...past even her lute playing elder brother. Her senses sung so clouded for want of the pair wouldn't be until her arm steadied them she could even begin to feel him. Some part of her knew, some part of her answered in the extension of luke. That boy could pick up a sound or a voice even if it was miles away. "Hey..hey!" he began to tug on the pirate in direction of the lute. Had Saul ever seen the boy who held his name as his central? He was about three now, full of vigor, talent, and so much mischief.(d)

Sir Saul Apollius

Saul remained where he was, calmly stroking the strings of his instrument as he watched everything around him. Little knew he wasn't of right mind, emotionally floating from the effects of a rare mineral packed within a pipe he: puffed on. The sound, the motion, all a blur; just surreal images passing by.--


Lord Talion Apollius


Apollo stepped from the flow of the crowd to observe. Older eyes made him squint more as he listened first. The sound of his daughter made him look toward a parting group. Seeing her, followed by her younger brother was all the evidence he needed. He felt like Hope did, his emotion teetering about in a bucket filled to the brim and threatening to tip; the tell-tale signs of it spilling showed in the haphazard motions that followed. Apollo attempted to close the distance to Eirian by taking the most direct route to her; which left a few people stumbling from his path.[d]

Lord Talion Apollius

"Mama! Mama?" She didn't need to hear Eirian's voice on air to know that her mother was there, she felt the earth move the moment she touched the shore, the sky open to give her all the knowledge of the event! As banners billowed she saw the ship sails at various points on the journey. Humming as if to follow where the energy sang the loudest, like a tuning fork, the child pushed under, over, and through. Peregrine wanted to follow the sporadic, brilliant intelligence of Hope but had to give rise to Luke's insistance too. Was it so that children of the earth, sun, and sky could live in a world of skeptics? "It's a guitar, lute..thing." His vocabulary was not a landscape of exactness, the boy was three afterall. Yet imagine the way he pulled his uncle toward what he knew to be reality much as Talion followed the daughter he knew was not mistaken. As a woman's skirt tossed in a dance, she saw flashes of purple rose with bare feet under them running to her, "Mama, Mama? Have you seen her, Mama ..mmm and Papa...Papa?!" She was so spellbound in her own happiness the flow of images was like swimming in a rainbow colored pool. So it was more than happenstance..it was...fate, when all three turned on the same cornerstone. When diamonds finally purchased enough information to lead to the Keelan's camp, when just west of the stage she saw her, combing in sand, peering at stars. She nearly fainted at the..feel..of.."Talion?" Eyes flooded with tears, bringing her to her knees to give way from under her..still, she was able to find her feet soon enough. People gathered, concerened, but she laughed waving them away with her hand. Just to see..feel them again. (d)

Lord Talion Apollius

Talion came from the far end of the gathering as Eirian was finding her feet. He pushed the hood from his face, and a whiskered face was lit up by a nearby fire. Dark eyes looked into Eirian's as he reached out with his hands to touch her. Emotions fluttered within his mind as everything came to an explosive, relieving conclusion. Weakness found the stalwart warrior, and the sand cratered below his knees when he fell to them. Upclose, the man looked weary with dark circles under his eyes. Moisture gleened there as he sought to gather everything up and never let go![d]

Lady Eirian Apollius

"All I need is my husband, my children, they are close, no no.. please! I am well.." She crawled a little bit until she came to her knees, sitting on the backs of her legs to gain baring. Yet before she could stand again one of the points on the compass crashed in to her body. Just as she stood, her form in his hands she fell as he fell. For a moment nothing was said as his eyes collected water. Her own released them, mouth releasing laughter, relief..sorrow at ever being parted..the joy of answered prayer. She thought..for a moment..she might never have him again. Hands brushed at the whiskers on his face, combing out through his hair as she shook with tears. She cried as she laughed, drawing him into her arms so tight! "Never let me go.." she pleaded, only sobbing more as Hope crawled her way in to the circle. :"Mama, mama! Papa I missed you...Mama....mama you're home! You're not gone.....I saw..Mama!" She pulled her arms around both, the gypsies watching something they understood well. Peregrine's tale had been told to them, and they remembered the niceness of the gadje of this land, imparticular the Apollius family. The Artisan who patroned them with no qualm, the man who sat at their fires. "Never let me go, never let me go...Thank you God, thank you!" (d)

Sir Saul Apollius

A good portion of time had passed when Saul managed to stand without collasping. His walk was something humorous, leaving him off-kilter and swaggering about. His clothes matched those around him, as did his style. He came to the gathering, pausing to raise his hands to blot out the bright fire light. He squinted, his stance teetering a bit sending his arms wildly about to show his prestine ability with balance. He looked like a drunkard! "Oi! Who is leadin' this 'poiret' [pirate] gathering. I find m'self needin' sommat t' drink and can't even make it to the stand without trippin' over people mmmleeehh..." No one knew what he said, it was belligerent. After the weird sound he made, his hands rose up making a shooing motion.[d]

Lady Eirian Apollius

"Talion. Hope." She kissed them both many many times, pulling back to look at their faces through her teary eyes. Hands were gathered up to be kissed and pressed against her face. "Come..come! Show us to Luke yes Hope? He must have been with you hmm? " As it was, Luke had come upon the drunkard man, the intoxicated sir who made him giggle as nothing else, "he was playing, Uncle Pere" squeeled the boy, watching him half-dance in weird states, "What's wrong with 'im, did he...get to the barrel, or the bottom of it, like they say at the Willingham? Maybe he should crawl out?" He didn't get the suggestion, getting up closer to the man to study him. He looked real identical to someone he knew, then again, between the pair of them? Luke looked much like his father. Both parents had dark hair, but his fell in that foppish Talion manner. He had dirt under his nails, had Talion's face, but benfited from his mother's eyes. Not fair to show a man swooning, given how bright a blue they were. Hope got free, beckoning them, "Mmhmm! We were staying with Uncle Pere's cousin Aunty Breanna and Uncle Conlaed. Uncle Pere had me sleeping on a roof again!" She watched the giddy girl like watching a dream before turning to her husband, "Our son sir?Before he falls in to a pretty lap?" She jested with him, unable to stop touching him. (d)

Sir Saul Apollius

Saul leaned forward as Luke drew closer to study. Both of them studied each other for a long moment, at least until Saul reached up and pried his own hair back to look into the boy's face. That face looked familiar...--


Lord Talion Apollius


Apollo had been lost to his surroundings until Eirian and Hope pulled his attention back. He grunted, straightening after he stood, incapable of letting his wife go. "Helluva head start, aye?" Speaking of their youngest, Luke. Already, the lad's charm and looks drew attention everywhere he went. However, looking at the parents he came from, this was only a small feat for sure![d]


Lady Eirian Apollius

"Indeed, our pride and as he ages, our worry, But he is ours..and you, you are mine. All of our days." She refused to be released, walking with her arm about his middle as they guided one another down the path. Secertly, Breanna and Conlaed smiled, but did not cease just yet to perform. The end was already coming, and soon all could meet. As for the Lad? "Ye look like Da," came his brogue island blessed, Scotts mixed with something lighter? He was a smart boy, hearing many languages around him daily. He understood Welsh and could reply alright, and was even starting to glean the occasional bit of Avarian. He had hope, at six, his sister was a polygot: English, Welsh, Avarian dialect, and the Chinese dialect that made her slant eyes. "You were playing a guitar?" He pointed to the instrument as the man studied him "You smell weird..in the mouth! Uncle Pere, he ate funny stuff!" They followed their daughter through the fair, no stop had as still healing hurts subsided because she could ignore them. Later, he would look beyond her hair to see what lay under it. He would see the chaffed wrists, with questions she readily answered. All that mattered now was taking up the boy to complete the family. Of course, Luke Saul found his namesake, pulling on his clothes, "What the hell did ya drink?" said the boy, trying to sound like a man. (d)