Angharad: Promised Meetings

Court was as dull as ever, with more nobles going over more land issues and more tarriffs and more... everything. More than once, Alexius felt his eyes drifting closed. They snapped open, though, as a new courtier stepped forward. He was a simply dressed man in his later years, though not without dignity. He bowed to the king, then straightened.

"Hiral, of New Avalon."

Alexius might have been nearly sleeping through the more dull of the disputes, but the words New Avalon focus his eyes on the newcomer.

Alexius doesn't say anything, but his eyes flicker between his father and the courtier, having gone from dull quiescence to almost doing jumping jacks.

"Well met," said Random, his cheek resting on his upraised fist. "What news do you have that Corwin isn't going to deliver himself?"

Hiral, to his credit, took the rebuke with a small smile. "Only that the king of New Avalon is en route through area difficult to trump from, and will be in Amber by sunset."

Alexius' eyes nearly boggle out. Uncle Corwin, coming here? He noticed the rebuke from his father and just listened and nodded. Dad had gotten down the slight denigration thing down, pretty well.

The father of his favorite cousin coming to visit was usually a very good thing.

"He didn't tell me he was leaving." Random cocked an eyebrow, but Hiral only repressed another smile.

"It is the young princess heading the need for this trip, if rumors speak true. Her nameday comes, and she made but one wish."

Alexius blinks his eyes in response. HE didn't need to be told who the young princess was, nor her wish. HE still had the letter where she had promised to invite him, where she had asked her father two years ago.

Apparently, she had prevailed upon her father...but would he now have to prevail upon his own father to make it happen? Alexius just gave a nod of the head to Hiral in recognition.

"And Corwin said where he wanted to stay...?"

"I believe he assumed his rooms are still in tact."

Random sighed, leaning back in the throne. "Yeah... From back when he was a Prince around these parts. Alexius. Make a note. Take down all the old snapshots of Corwin's girlfriends down, and set up the spare for Harri."

"Yes, father, I will have the rooms attended to." Alexius says quietly, only really loud enough for father to hear. It wasn't impertinent, and he had translated father's words to meaning that he wanted the rooms prepared properly for their guests.

He then turns to regard Hiral

Hiral only bowed, then retreated a step. "Shall I warn the embassy of any preparations for dinners?"

"I think I'll let him get the dirt out of his shorts first, before making him sit through an Amber dinner... After all, New Av doesn't have those. Corwin's probably soft." A polite twitter raced around the court, and Random leaned over to Alexius.

"Get out of here while you can, kid. I know you're about to explode out of that seat."

Alexius laughed. "Thank you father. I'll see to getting the rooms ready." He was out of his seat a moment later, and tried not to be undignified as he hurried out of the throne room, and up to the third floor in search of a servant. He was going to need to dragoon some help in getting the rooms ready.

Cousin Harri was coming!



The rooms took a good hour to air out, and another hour to purge of favors and pictures. Random had not been kidding. Then there was dressing up the guest room in something other than black and silver, and seeing about a place for Wolf to sleep... By the time sunset came, Alexius was dusty, sweaty, and near exhausted. He leaned on the window overlooking the road up to Amber's castle, and to his dismay, saw a trio of horses and a wolf making their way up to the front gate.

The day wasn't long enough.

Alexius was hot and tired when he looked out at the group of horses. He had gotten the rooms ready, but now he looked like a wreck.

Running, he grabbed fresh clothes and headed to take as quick of a bath as he possibly could.

He wanted to give Harri a good impression. And not have Wolf be suspcicious, either

When a servant came to fetch him, he was hopping around, half out of his breeches, his body still damp from the all too short bath. His hair clung to his forehead, and not for the last time did he wish that shorter hair was in fashion. The servant watched him struggle a moment, then announced with a perfectly bland expression:

"Princess Angharad of New Avalon is in the main lobby, highness."

Alexius made a start of surprise. He let out a couple of choice invectives.

"Please tell her I will be there presently, Pyotr." Alexius said. He straightened his hair as best he could, there was really no help for it.

Hopefully dad would not be too angry.

Finally finding a calm center, he headed to the main lobby, just remembering to pick up the gift he had been ready to send her via the mails. Nicely wrapped and boxed, he carried it in his hand as a welcome gift.

Downstairs in the lobby, three figures were standing before a large protrait of Oberon and his children - a painting that took up almost the entire length of the wall (and proved extremely intimidating to visitors). One figure he recognised - his Uncle Corwin - was explaining the painting to the smaller figure beside him - a figure that Alexius had not difficulty in recognising, even if it had not been for the third of the party, a large black wolf who was sitting beside the painting and seemingly gazing up at the painting too, as though he were equally interested in Uncle Corwin's explanation.

Both Harri and her father were wearing rather travelled stained riding clothes. While Corwin was in his customary black and silver, Harri was wearing an elegant riding dress in a green so dark as to be almost black, which brought out reddish highlights in the brown hair that reached below her shoulder in a smooth curtain. She seemed small, but perhaps that was just the height of her Sire, and the size of her Wolf.

"His Highness Prince Alexius," intoned the footman, and Harri whirled, her face alight with shy delight. A heart shaped face, with large eyes almost as dark as her father's.

Then, with a look of michief, she was dropping into a curtesy as grand and formal as that of any lady of the court.

"Your Royal Highness," she said demurely.

The large black Wolf at her side stared at him, taking his measure. When she curtseyed, there was a moment's pause before Wolf mimiced her gesture, crouching in a fleeting faint hint of a bow before returning to sit.

He leaned into Cub, his large head insinuated beneath her hand, as he watched Alexius arrive.

Random was right there behind him, coming from the throne room. He swatted at a handful of nobles and turned to his brother, foregoing a bow for a firm handshake. He looked down at Harri and her Wolf, cocking an eyebrow.

"You didn't tell me you had a second... What are you feeding them over there to make them that furry?"

Corwin laughed. "This is Wolf." He looked like he almost might reach down to pet him, but then thought better of it, remembering some unspoken treaty between them. "You remember him. He saved her from the Wyrr, then took up residence in the castle. And this is Alexius?" Corwin studied the boy's two inches of height that he had on his father with barely repressed amusement.

Harri dropped another polite curtsey, the correct degree for the daughter of one reigning monarch to another. But her eyes were sparkling as she straightened, and she said, "Thank you so very much for inviting me - and helping to grant my Name Day wish, your majesty ... Uncle?"

"And Wolf thanks you too," she added mischeviously, with a glance at her companion.

Her voice was light and sweet, but with a certain firm decisiveness underlying it.

One might have thought, from the rumbling growl, that Wolf laughed. He did whuff loudly, and again, make a slight bend of his forelegs in an imitation of a bow.

Alexius responded, a little stunned and speechless at finally meeting his epistolary friend and companion, with a formal bow.

"I am Alexius." he says, looking from Corwin to Wolf to finally, and lingeringly, on Harri.

"Forgive, me, I find myself stunned to finally meet you at least. Please be welcome to the Castle Amber." he says, and then brings the box forward. "And accept this as a token of your arrival to our land." Alexius smiles.

Harri gave him the most brilliant smile and then stepped forward to take the box from his hands.

Thank you so much," she breathed, and then gave a delicious little giggle. "It seems so strange to be exchanging name day gifts for real, doesn't it?"

Her fingers was carefully opening the box as she spoke, and then, as the golden contents lit up her face, she gaved an awed gasp. "Oh, Cousin Alexius! Is this really for me?"

Alexius smiled and bowed. "Twas indeed to be your next Nameday gift, but when I learned that you were truly visiting us, I did not think that a Prince of Amber." he smiles at his father "should be known for being a skinflint. Truly, it is a gift out of my own pocket, and of myself, for you."

"Do you want to change?" Random looked over their road worn clothes. "We've cleaned up your old rooms for you, Corwin. Does, uh, pups here need anything special?"

"His name is Wolf," said Harri, politely but firmly. "And he would like some clean water and some fresh meat."

She looked a little anxious. "He will be able to hunt here, won't he?" she asked worriedly. Even if it's just rabbits in the gardens ... "

Then she returned her attention to the box, and carefully lifted out the shimmering gold torque.

"Cousin - it is so beautiful!" she said earnestly to Alexius. "And far too nice to wear with this habit. But once I'm changed ... I shall put it on at once! Or perhaps you would like to put it on for me?"

Wolf padded over to Alexius' feet and sniffed. He sat, staring at the boy, panting slightly.

Alexius' eyes lit up when he saw that she liked the torque. "I'll put it on you, once you've cleaned up and got yourselves settled from the long trip. I just couldn't resist giving it to you as soon as possible." He blew some air between his lips and then smiled a little nervously as Wolf came over.

"Hello Wolf." Alexius said seriously, as if he was addressing one of Julian's hounds. Cautiously, he slowly lowered one of his hands, to let him smell his skin.

"I wonder what he thinks of a person with blue skin." Alexius says with a trace of a smile. "Although I'm hardly as pigmented as full blooded Rebmans."

"We'll find a place for him to hunt, won't we father?" Alexius turned to look at Random.

"Sure... how about your Aunt Flora's gardens? I think her cats could use some terrorizing." He grinned at the wolf. "Maybe he can run around with Julian's pack."

Corwin gave his head a small shake. "That may not be the best idea..."

A whuff of agreement. Wolf sniffed Alexius' hand, pressing cold nose against his skin before drawing back to CUb?'s side, opposite where her Sire stood. He had no desire to be with Julian's pack... in case Julian had some strange idea about keeping him... tame.

Alexius nods to Corwin. "From what Harri." he favors her with a smile, finally getting his sea legs with her at last. "tells me, the hounds and Wolf might not get along very well. And Wolf apparently prefers to be close and near to Harri."

"What about the area upslope of the Castle, father?" Alexius offers. "Not near the path to Tir, but there's a fair stand of trees there. Probably even rabbits and other small game. He could run free up there and not bother anyone in the slightest."

Wolf leaned against Cub's hip. The boy's suggestion sounded palatable -- Wolf would not invade the territory of others. He had no desire to cause that trouble. Although he might wish to explore... if Cub did.

"That sounds just right for Wolf!" said Harri, one hand carelessly caressing his ruff - not stroking - no, Harri didn't stroke Wolf.

"Although, if I could, I would love to see Tir," she added wistfully. "Not to go there, you understand. Just to see it.

"Although I do want to see everything I can while I'm here," she added hopefully.

Alexius smiled.

"Of course. And as much as I can show you." he said. "I will. Admittedly, I am still learning, and I've been here my entire life."

"But I can show you the things I think you'd like." he added.

"But I think, now, would be time to get yourselves settled." He looked to his father for confirmation. "Get cleaned up, properly dressed and outfitted, and rested."

"You can hold onto the torque until you've changed." Alexius adds with a smile.

Random didn't look very trusting as he studied the eager wolf and Harri. "You know... it's a long walk up there, and dangerous. Hell, Tir almost killed Corwin here..."

"We won't go up there," said Harri reassuringly. "For one thing, Wolf would find all those steps a bore ... "

She looked questioningly at her father. "I didn't know Tir almost killed you!" she said, a little accusingly.

Then she turned to Random again. "But I would like to see your Pattern, your Majesty, and see if it's different fom ours.

"And I definitely not promise not to walk that!" she adds firmly.

Alexius nods in relief at Angharad's words. The Pattern was blackly dangerous, and he'd sooner not lose her to its fickleness. But he had seen it, seen its seductive lines of power. It was almost hypnotic, sometimes.

But he looked to Random for the response to Harri's request to see it.

Wolf leaned in closer to Cub's side, his weight heavy against her hip. He nosed her hand, fur ruffled, inwardly bothered.

Harri caressed his nose gently, slightly surprised by his concern. But then, he was always worried by her father's Pattern to - not that they were allowed near it very often.

At times like this, she wondered how much of the conversation Wolf understood. More likely her body was giving off little involuntary signals that he was picking up.

Random and Corwin exchanged looks. "The road didn't wear wear her out a bit, did it?"

Corwin shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. She was born on a horse."

Random looked back at his son. "If you can swear to be back by dinner, you can go trolloping around the mountain to get Wolf here fed."

"Oh, thank you!" Harri said in delight. "Shall I get changed first - or can I stay like this and changed after dinner?"

She looked hopefully at her elders, her soothing hand still resting on Wolf.

"You can go like that," Corwin said as he peeled his cape from around his neck. "I don't want my first call home to be telling your mother how you ruined some of your best dresses running around underbrush."

Alexius chuckles a bit. "Of course, I am going to ruin a little of my finery, but I don't mind that much." he grins.

"We'll be back in time for dinner, father. Uncle Corwin. Don't worry." Alexius says proudly, grinning from ear to ear.

Wolf jumped to his feet, ready to get out and explore. He whuffed to Cub, butting his head against her hip, and then moving towards the door with easy steps. He stopped, looking back at Cub and the boy expectantly.

"Well, Wolf's ready," said Harri with a little laugh.

"Thank you, your Majesty," she added with a polite - but far less formal - curtsey to Random. Then she stretched up to kiss her father, and reached out a friendly hand to Alexius, ready to begin the exploration.

"Let's go." Alexius said with a grin, taking his cousin's hand and looking over at Wolf. "I can't exactly blame him, Wolf is not for Castles, I think."

Alexius led Angharad out of the lobby and back into the courtyard of the Castle, walking confidently with her toward the outer entrance.

"A perfect day to do it." he said, looking up at a blue sky. "climbing around in the rain isn't bad, but your father would kill me for mucking you up, and mine would probably just double my sorcery lessons." he said.

Alexius kept looking over at her and grinning.

"I thought you enjoyed your sorcery lessons!" Harri protested, laughing. "And I'd love to see you do some sorcery," she added. "That was one of my reasons for dragging you out here - as well as feeding Wolf. When will it be safe to let him run? I don't want to cause a fuss ... and nor does Wolf."

Wolf didn't need to run... at least not quite yet. He insinuated himself between the two for a moment, his head between their clasped hands, then backed away before he tripped the pair. He moved back to Cub's other side, loping along and matching her pace, looking as if he had no need to be anywhere else just that moment.

"In a little bit, once we're safely away from the Castle. To any one who looks, he is a wild animal." Alexius replies as they start circling the castle's exterior together.

"As far as my sorcery lessons, though, you haven't met Master Lorius. He's tough on me, very tough. I think its because he wants me to do the sorcery right, and I enjoy doing it, but the homework is a killer. Especially on top of the other stuff Father has me look over."

"Okay, about here Wolf can get himself some exercise if he likes." Alexius decides, the Castle now behind them, and the three of them heading upslope toward a stand of pine and oak.

He still holds her hand.

Harri climbed beside him easily, taking long strides. It was clear that she was used to long walks in the country, for she and Wolf seemed to set each other a companionable pace.

"Could you ... would you show me some sorcery?" she asked presently, as they came to the edge of the stand. "If we go somewhere where no-one can see us?"

Wolf still did not leave Cub's side. With the slope stretching up he continued to match her pace. He glanced at the Boy when he spoke, and made a snorting whuff sort of sound, but did not leave.

Alexius considers this a moment. "All right. Beyond this stand." he points at the trees in front of them "is a clearing, not far in. We'll go in there, and then I will show you some of my sorcery."

There wasn't quite a path into the trees, but the daylight shining on the open space not far within it made it clear where Alexius intended to lead them.

Harri moved forward eagerly.

When they reached the clearing, she found a convenient tree stump and sat down, waiting for Wolf, and looking at Alexius expectantly.

Wolf sat next to the tree stump, his head in Cub's lap, waiting expectantly for her hand to fall upon his head. He, too, watched the Boy.

Alexius walks about ten feet away from the two of them and then turns around to face them.

"Sorcery is changing or affecting the environment by magical means." He recited, like a catcheism. "Watch."

He turns to look at a small rock, about the size of Harri's fist. Alexius begins chanting and speaking, and suddenly the rock begins to float, at first a few inches above the ground, and then finally to the height of his forehead. It then makes a graceful loop around his head, and falls back down to the ground, a bright green light flashing as it does so.

Harri gently caressed Wolf's head as she watched, nodding as Alexius began to explain.

As the rock started to float she gave a little gasp - and then started to watch intently.

As the rock fell again, she said awed, "But how do you do that? Is it in the words you speak - or is it something more ... the will that drives them?"

Wolf whined softly, then let out a soft sneezing snort when the rock fell back to the ground. He padded over and nosed the rock, expression quizzical. Sitting down he stared at the Boy for a long moment, before returning to Cub's side, and again, laying his head in her lap.

To Harri, his discomfort and unease was a palatable thing.

Alexius looks between Harri and Wolf, perhaps sensing a note of Wolf's discomfort with what he has done.

"It's hard to explain." Alexius says. "It's a matter of will and evoking the unnatural world to affect the natural one." he stammers, all of a sudden nervous and shy.

"The words don't matter so much as Intent." Alexius rued that he was quoting his teacher so much now, but now he saw the benefit of his lessons. "Like when I made that light, when I wished." he smiled to Wolf "that you would somehow be reunited with Wolf. My will and force made the light, without any words at all."

"I am still learning though." he admits.

Harri slides down to sit on the ground, careless of her riding dress, and puts her arms around Wolf's neck, leaning against him.

"I'd like to learn too," she said. "But not if it upsets Wolf. And that did ... perhaps because it was so unnatural for him to see a rock flying. Or perhaps he sensed something. Perhaps, for a wolf, sorcery has ... has a kind of scent. Like he can hear notes that we can't - really high-pitched. Perhaps it works for things like sorcery too."

Wolf leaned into Cub, his head on her shoulder, licking her cheek. She had the right of it... that tickled his nose like the time Cook sprinkled pepper across the doorway to the pantry in order to keep him out. Only more unpleasant.

Alexius nodded, looking from Wolf to Harri and back to Wolf before settling his eyes on Harri. "It does seem to upset him, so I won't do any more, then. One was enough." Alexius says easily.

"As far as learning, is there a Court Sorcerer in New Avalon?" Alexius asked. "I'm not sure if you told me one way or another. He'd be the best equipped to teach you. Although if you wanted your aptitude assessed, I am sure Father could get Master Lorius to do it."

Alexius slowly and cautiously walks over toward the two of them, sitting down at slightly more than arm's length away.

"We don't have a Sorceror as such," said Harri. "People come visit when we need."

She caressed Wolf's muzzle thoughtfully. "Wolf likes you, you know," she told him. "If he didn't, he'd have growled at the trick. But he just watched and ... was a bit alarmed."

She smiled suddenly. "He sees in black and white, you know - or so Uncle Julian says - that means, to Wolf, our skin tones probably look the same."

She looks at her cousin thoughtfully. "I think it looks nice - I wish my skin was that colour! Although it must be a bore that everyone always knows who you are. Sometimes, if I'm in my old clothes, visitors think I'm just one of the castle staff!"

Wolf watched as the Boy joined them, seeming to nod in approval at his choice of where to sit. Liked him might be too strong a word just yet... but Cub liked the Boy, and he hadn't done anything yet to merit getting himself bit.

A soft snort, almost laughter, turning to concern that she might be wandering about without him. Wolf nosed Cub, reminding her that they always knew who she was, as long as he was with her.

Alexius laughs lightly.

"You're right, Harri. No one mistakes me for anyone else. There aren't that many Rebmans hanging around the Castle. Mom has a couple of servants that made the trip from Rebma and so joined the staff, but besides them..." Alexius said. "Just Mom, my brother Martin, Aunt LLewella? and I are the only ones with this skin colour in Amber."

Harri laughed.

"Well, I suppose I can never pretend to be anyone else for too long - not with Wolf somewhere not too far from me! But New Avalon is different, perhaps. Less ceremony - I thought I was never going to learn all the ettiquette rules for Amber! And Father says your father has really relaxed things too!

"I suppose we have more types of ... inhabitants. Only a few at the moment. But different races that Father's encountered over the years who he think will thrive. Or even just because he likes them, like the Meerut."

She gives a sudden smile. "No Rebmans though. Or half Rebmans. So you'll have to teach me about that too."

She rises to her feet and dusts a little at her skirt.

"Can we go and see where Tir is now?"

Wolf stood with Cub, patient and waiting.

"Certainly." Alexius replies with a smile, rising and straightening himself out for a moment. "I did promise your father and mine to get you back by dinner, after all. The ire of one would be bad, two would get me in true trouble."

Alexius leads the two of them out of the clearing at a different direction than they entered, another faint trail (although likely not faint for the likes of Wolf) leads back to the main way up the mountain.

"It's a fair climb to the top." Alexius explains. "The Castle is about halfway up the mountain, and the mountain in total is about 4200 meters tall." He laughs. "Too many classes, I was about to ask how high the Castle is."

Harri laughed in response, but the prospect of a long, steep walk clearly did not daunt her (or even seem anything out of the way to her). This, of course, might have been in contrast to ladies of the court or noble children.

"We should manage that and be done in time for dinner," she said cheerfully. "Unless it's very rough going!"

She let Wolf take the lead, and follows carefully in his tracks. It might seem that this was an established way for them to travel over unknown terrain.

Wolf watched where the Boy led, and moved just before Cub, periodically glancing back to make sure she was still there, and still okay. Every once in a while he stopped, waiting for her, but he did not run ahead.

(Hmm thought I responded to this already)

Alexius led the two of them up and up, with him in the lead and Wolf between. They exit the clearing and pass through the trees briefly, taking a not well-known or used paths that eventually connects to a larger one. This path, Harri and Wolf can see, is the main route back down to the Castle, and above them to the summit.

Satisfied that they are keeping up, Alexius climbs the winding path. It's not a bad grade, although certainly not for the overly soft or faint of breath.

Finally after once last curve, they reach the relatively flat summit, a plateau of sorts that serves as the top of the mountain. On the far end of this plateau is a hanging cliff where three upward steps have been apparently carved out of a natural knob or peaklet.

"That's the staircase to Tir." Alexius says proudly, walking over and patting the steps.

Harri walked forward slowly.

"It looks so ... simple," she said, awed. She rested her hand on the second step.

"Have you ever seen it - at night?" she asked Alexius, her voice serious.

She backed away, still looking at the steps, to the reassurance of Wolf.

Wolf moved forward, nosing the steps and snorting as he sniffed them. He backed away, close by Cub's side, his expression clearly warning her away.

"From here, once." Alexius explained. "Dad said he wanted to get it out of my system, so that I didn't get tempted to go up there. Its blackly dangerous, and likely, I would wind up falling to my death if I did." Alexius shuddered and walked back to where Harri and Wolf had backed up.

"Otherwise, I am not sure what side of the Castle you got for a view. It'll be either the sea, or the north, so you might get to see it from your room." Alexius said.

"And its clear Wolf doesn't like it either. Good." he gave a nod to Wolf. "This IS dangerous for your Mistress."

Wolf nodded to the Boy, then returned his dark look to Cub.

Harri caressed his ears.

"All right. We've seen it now, so we can go. Do you want to hunt in the woods on the way down? Alexius will be with me, so I won't be alone ...

"Not that he ever goes far from me," she added to Alexius. "He is my guard really, and I could not ask for a more devoted one."

She swung the train of her riding dress up again, preparatory to moving down the mountain.

"No, I guess you couldn't" Alexius agreed. "Now that he knows the way up, I'm sure he can hunt on the way down back to the Castle. We can stick to the lesser trod paths, too, to give him a better chance at game." he offers.

He looks up at the sky. "And we've some time before dinner."

Harri grinned. "Not so long before I have to get changed and have my hair dressed and do all the stupid princess-y things. And whereas at home, I can always say Wolf and I got distracted and that was why we were late - I can't do that here. They might try to send Wolf away."

Something behind her words suggest to Alexius that she views even the thought of such a separation with panic.

Wolf trotted a bit away, starting to explore the area as Cub and the Boy talked. At the note of panic in Cub's voice he turned back, in a quick lope back to her side, his nose beneath her hand. He would not leave. They could not make him.

"Noo." Alexius looked from the returning Wolf and back to Harri. He stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder, before drawing it away. No need to really provoke Wolf.

"I wouldn't let them. You're an honored guest. To send Wolf away would be a betrayal that my father would.not.live.down." he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"My mother alone would castigate him for years. You'll like Mom, I'm certain." he said confidently.

"I hope she likes me," saidHarri. "Master Idolwyn taught me to play a ballad that Father wrote about your parents - telling their story. Do you know it? It's very beautiful. But you'd need to get someone else to sing it - my voice is nothing special. It sounds lovely on the flute though, very sad to start with .... and then it grows and sort of ... warms."

She caressed Wolf's nose. "Go and hunt," she said, "if you want. Alexius will make sure we're not parted."

She grinned at Alexius. "Don't think I'm mad in talking to him. I don't think he understands every word. But he can register my tone, and my emphasis. That's almost as good as communication, really. And I ... I can sort of read him too. At least, I feel as though I can."

Wolf whined, licking her hand as Cub caressed his nose. He whuffed at her words, and then bounded off into the trees to look for prey, leaving Cub alone with the Boy. Although he was never far from earshot, nor entirely, from sight.

Alexius smiles back.

"I don't think you're mad in talking to him. Julian talks to Morgenstern, and his hounds, and, well, you've met Julian. I'm not going to call *him* mad."

"I think Aunt LLewella? talks to Dolphins, too, and they've got to be as intelligent as Wolf." he adds and then thinks a moment.

"And of course he's intelligent." he smiles at her. "He picked you to bond with."

Harri blushed slightly and gave a little laugh.

"No-one's said anything like that to me since Rorwuil went away!" she told him.

Alexius smiled. "If I started comparing the softness of your gaze to satin, and the beauty of your eyes to the sky, or your hair to the soft color of fine chocolate, sinfully delicious, then perhaps." Alexius grins. "I might be more like Rorwuil."

Harri smiled. "He was a page," she explained. "And he was always saying stuff like that. It made me laugh, but Wolf =hated = him and chased him whenever he saw him. So in the end, Father said I'd have to dispense with either Rorwuil or Wolf. So Rorwuil went."

She smiled. "No contest," she said firmly.

Then she gave a little gasp. "How lovely Amber looks from here! And the castle - with all the lights coming on ... "

[And dinner time is getting close....]

"Well, I should stop saying such things." Alexius responds softly. "Or else Wolf might try and chase me, too."

He then stops as they reach a ridge and see the City and Castle.

"It's magical, isn't it?" Alexius says. "Most people paint the view from a ship coming into the harbor at this time. Not so easy to find a view from here. But its my favorite, I almost sometimes think of it as my secret."

"One that I've gladly shared with you."

Harri smiled at him shyly. "Thank you!" she said.

For the few few minutes, she stood quiet still on the ridge, watching the town sink into night - occasionally asking him the names of streets or important buildings.

At last she fave a sigh.

"What time is dinner? Are we going to be late?"