The Lord of the Plains (91 page)

‘Yes, but Vann gets… what Vann feels is a
bit more, I think. He told me he doesn’t like it so I… I feel I
would let him down if I just let him go off with her.’

‘I see that. But he is a Coastsider. So it
wouldn’t be all that unusual… ’

‘Can you keep an eye on Vann?’ Riley asked.
Her eyes were on Rose. She did not like the expression on her
face.

‘Of course.’

Riley quickly strode over to Rose and
Aerlid. The unhappiness she had felt at Vann’s disinterest in her
was gone. She saw now his interest had never had anything to do
with her. And the distress it caused him was enough that she felt
she would have wronged him to hold it against him anymore. All she
felt now was the lingering pain of caring for someone who had never
cared for you. And she was going to explain that to Rose.

‘Rose.’ Riley said. ‘Aerlid has explained
everything?’

‘He has. I can assure you, I will not harm
him.’

‘Not harm him? Letting this continue is
harming him!’

‘No. If I used his feelings to say… make him
betray his home, that would harm him. But merely to enjoy his
company? That won’t harm him. In fact, I think he’d be very happy
with it.’

‘Enjoy his company?!’ Riley demanded, her
voice rising. ‘You don’t
like
humans! And he told me he
doesn’t like this feeling, so it
would
harm him!’

‘It is not for you to say who I like or
dislike!’ Rose yelled back. ‘And he does not need you to make his
decisions for him!’

‘Children, stop fighting.’ Aerlid said
calmly, stepping between the two, his hands held up.

Two sets of angry eyes were suddenly fixed
on Aerlid.

‘Clearly, you two are not going to agree. I
suggest Adila judge Vann and determine what he wants.’

‘Adila!’ Rose exclaimed. ‘
I
am the
Judgement Master!’

‘Yes, and you are also involved in the
problem. Do judges often judge problems involving themselves?’

Rose closed her mouth and frowned at Aerlid
in a way that was quite disconcerting.

‘Riley,’ Aerlid said. ‘Will you accept
Adila’s judgement?’

Riley glared at Rose and crossed her arms.
‘Aerlid, why don’t you just
make
Vann see Rose as human. And
then he can
tell
us what he wants.’

Rose’s eyes flared with anger. Riley
responded in kind and Aerlid had to step between them again.

‘I can’t.’ he said. ‘It’s very bad manners
to change how someone sees a person without their permission.’

‘Bad manners!’ Riley exclaimed.

‘Riley, Adila will be able to determine what
he wants, just as well as me making Rose look human.’

Riley glared at Rose, who glared right
back.

‘Why not, Rose? Are you afraid he’ll say
no?’ Riley bit out.

Rose drew herself up haughtily, her voice
trembled in anger. ‘I am the Judgement Master. I change myself for
no one
!’

Aerlid sighed. ‘Riley, will you accept
Adila’s judgement?’

She glanced at Aerlid. ‘Very well.’ the look
she shot Rose was venomous.

‘Alright. Now if you two would just step
back.’ He waited til they complied. ‘Excellent. Now I will summon
Adila. And I’d like it if you two didn’t get into another fight
while I do.’

Adila arrived within half an hour. Riley and
Rose spent that time glaring at each other from across the
campsite.

When she arrived she first talked with Rose.
Rose did not seem pleased, her back was stiff, her frown ever
present. It did not take long though until Adila stood and
approached Riley.

‘Why don’t we go somewhere more private?’
Adila suggested.

Riley nodded and stood. They walked until
they could no longer see Rose or Vann.

‘Why is she interested in him?!’ Riley
exploded as soon as they were out of earshot.

Adila smiled. ‘For a Judgement Master, there
are few suitable partners among the valkar. Nor do valkar often
call each other beautiful. In fact, this is probably the first time
anyone has expressed any romantic interest in her.’

Riley couldn’t keep her surprise from her
face.

‘I think you will have the same problem with
the gemengs.’

Riley didn’t reply.

‘So it’s not so strange. A valkar taking a
human lover is uncommon, but not unheard of.’

‘Lover?’ Riley exclaimed. ‘I thought she
just wanted to spend some time with him!’

‘Oh dear.’ Adila sighed. ‘Even that you
don’t want to allow?’

‘Adila, I spent some time in his home. Even
that was enough to make him… he told me his friends all thought he
was crazy. And now that I seem human to him, he agrees. He told me
he didn’t like this feeling, that he needed to fight it. So how can
I just let her.. I can’t just let her take him away.’

‘I understand. You’re concerned about your
friend. But I think you need to give Rose more credit. If I judge
that this is what Vann wants, I can tell you Rose won’t hurt
him.’

Riley, morosely, nodded. ‘I guess I need to
trust you. I just.. I don’t know what’s right for him.’ Riley
wished then that Lillia was here. Riley really hadn’t spent much
time with Vann at all (time when he was obsessed with her didn’t
count)- she didn’t know him that well. Lillia had known him for
years. She would know whether to step back or to keep Rose
away.

Adila smiled and touched her arm. ‘Rose
understands he feels this way for all valkar. Even myself. If I let
this happen, she won’t be taking Vann anywhere. He’ll be ok.’

Riley sighed. ‘Ok. Well, let’s go find out
what he wants.’

Adila and Riley walked over to Vann and
Messenger.

Vann looked up when Adila approached. There
was something in his eyes, similar to when he looked at Rose, even
though Adila looked human to him.

‘Vann.’ Adila said. ‘I have been asked to
judge you to determine whether you want to be with Rose or not. Do
I have your permission to continue?’

Vann nodded and stood, his eyes intent on
Adila.

‘Very well.’ Adila said. And then she swung
her staff. She whacked Vann on the side of the head. He crumpled.
Adila kept the staff connected with his head as he fell.

‘What did you do?!’ Riley exclaimed.

‘That’s how Adila judges.’ Aerlid explained.
‘It’s alright, Riley, he’ll be fine.’

‘By hitting people on the head?!’

‘With her staff. Yes.’

Adila was silent, her eyes closed.

Minutes passed. Then she sighed and withdrew
her staff. She turned and faced Riley. Behind her Vann was slowly
stirring. Messenger helped him up.

‘I have judged Vann. Let me explain to you
what I have found before I give my decision.’

Riley nodded. With a sick feeling, she felt
she already knew.

‘Casual relationships are not at all unusual
for him, Riley. I believe a relationship with Rose would not be
anything new to him. The feelings may be stronger, but the actions
the same. You should step back, and let them do as they will.’

Riley sighed and bowed her head.
‘Alright.’

Rose approached then. She stopped in front
of Riley. ‘I will not hurt him.’ she said. ‘I merely want his
company.’

‘Do as you will.’

Riley turned her head away as Rose took
Vann’s hand. Vann halted. ‘Riley, I’m going to be fine. Please,
look at me.’

She slowly raised her eyes.

‘Thank you for trying to protect me.’ he
touched her arm. ‘It’s good to know I can trust you.’

Riley said nothing. He squeezed her arm
lightly and let go.

She did not watch him walk away with
Rose.

‘That was very interesting.’ Messenger said,
breaking the silence. ‘So what does judging do, exactly?’

Adila turned her eyes to him. ‘I see a
person’s soul. Having the ability to see a soul, and being able to
understand it are two different things. It takes many years to be
an effective judge.’

‘Soul?’ he asked, confused.

Adila nodded. She touched her hand to her
chest, then her head. ‘Heart and mind. I see who a person is. I
know things about them even they might not know.’

‘That’s… that must be a big
responsibility.’

‘It is.’

Then, in a surprisingly calm way, he said ‘I
have met other valkar before. But they have always been
uncomfortable answering my questions. Would it be ok if I ask you
some things?’

‘Certainly, you may I ask. I don’t promise
that I’ll answer.’

At that Messenger grinned, his eyes lighting
up. ‘Really! Oh, where should I begin?’

‘Riley,’ Adila said and turned her gaze to
her, ‘do you have questions?’

Riley shook her head.

‘I think perhaps later, when you are feeling
better, you will. So I will talk to both of you then.’

‘Oh.’ Messenger’s smile faded. ‘Oh,
alright.’

Adila smiled. ‘Do not worry, Aerlid can call
me. I will come. You know,’ she said with a small smile, ‘I don’t
often get called to judge romantic disputes.’

Goodbyes were said. They moved off. Aerlid
came and touched her elbow. ‘Are you alright?’

‘I don’t want to think about it.’ she looked
up at him. ‘Aerlid, can I go chase some cats?’

Aerlid took a deep breath.

‘You can come with me.’

He sighed. ‘Well, you’re not a child
anymore, so the chances of you getting killed by a cat are rather
small. Alright, Riley, let’s go chase some giant predators. I’ll
just change into something that doesn’t matter if it gets
shredded.’

Chapter 76

When Riley went to the human camp next
morning she saw Vann was happy.

She did not comment on it. Inside though a
little voice was saying,
why not me? why not me? Why will he
risk those feelings he tells me he doesn’t like for her and not
me…?
She wasn’t angry though, just disappointed. And perhaps a
part of her understood; he hadn’t made a fool of himself for Rose,
he hadn’t made any promises to her, he wasn’t supposed to be
finding out if she was planning an invasion.

The day proceeded as usual; Messenger with
Aerlid, Vann with her.

It was some time in the afternoon when Vann
said with a grin, ‘so, are you going to try and teach me
again?’

‘Oh, you want to?’

‘Sure. I need to show you how to teach
properly, after all.’

‘I’m an excellent teacher!’ she cried
indignantly.

‘You’re terrible. You just need to stop
doing it that way and start doing it properly.’

Riley narrowed her eyes and frowned at
him.

‘Annoying, isn’t it?’ he said with a
smile.

‘Well you haven’t shown me the proper way,
Vann.’ she said primly, but a smile was curling her lips. ‘And I
have
shown you how to move through the grass.’

‘Let’s go then, and we’ll see who’s the
better teacher.’

‘What are you going to teach me?’

‘I’ll show you how to use a lightning
rod.’

At that Riley’s eyes immediately lit up.