Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘He said what would most aid you,’ Jim told her. ‘You have clearly earned his trust and I suspect he thinks of you as a real dragon. It certainly sounds like he respects your will and didn’t want to anger you or frighten you away. He will now be confident that you will answer should he have need to call on you again. You did rush to his aid and save the day.’

  ‘Damn,’ Amelie muttered and they resumed trotting for home.

  Some hours later, they stopped by a stream for a break. ‘So what happened with that wizard? Jared was it?’ Amelie asked. ‘You started to tell me something before we left.’

  ‘They are the ones that keep watch on the South Rosh portal. They saw us come through, and he says they have been tracking us ever since. I’ve no idea how much truth there is in that. He only mentioned that in passing. He had planned to speak to me in depth I think, but was keen to get his father out from under your claws first. Naturally you thwarted that intention,’ he added.

  ‘But if he does know where we ended up, he might come to White Haven?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘He’s unlikely to travel with three meld’s worth of wizards is he? We certainly have at least that many at our backs at the school if it should be necessary,’ he told her. ‘They might only want to talk of course. We’ll just have to be ready for anything.’

  ‘Once we’re back,’ she told him and nudged him back onto his paws. They had many miles yet to cover and the afternoon was drawing in.

  24. Parental Visit

  ‘Cassy, can you hear me?’

  ‘Headmaster?’

  ‘Yes. Dorian and Juliette, your parents I believe, have just come through the front gate.’ He projected the image he’d gathered from Freddie’s mind so she could verify their identity for him. ‘Freddie’s bringing them up. Are you expecting them?’ He was aware of a shocked silence as their imminent arrival sank in.

  ‘No. They’re really here?’ she repeated and hurried to the window. She could see three people, two on horseback, walking up the drive.

  ‘Excuse me sir,’ she said to her teacher. ‘I’ve just been advised my parents are arriving unexpectedly.’

  ‘Very well, off you go,’ Vincent conceded, having gone to the window and seen the headmaster was already outside on the steps to greet the couple dismounting outside.

  Cassy jogged downstairs and was at Jim’s side before anyone had done more than introduce themselves.

  ‘Mum, Dad. I didn’t know you were coming. Is everything alright?’ she asked whilst going to give each a hug.

  ‘That’s what we wanted to know. We’ve heard some strange rumours; that’s why we’re here,’ her mother began, then glanced at the two strange men.

  ‘Freddie is our head of security,’ Cassy said. ‘Do you think he needs to hear it?’

  ‘Goodness, I hope not.’

  Cassy abruptly realised Freddie was looking at her in the way he often did when he wished to say something. She reached out to his mind. ‘Freddie?’

  ‘Just tell Drako anything you think we should know. Don’t worry your family unnecessarily.’

  ‘Thank you Freddie for bringing them up,’ Cassy said, glad of his calm words. He nodded and left.

  ‘Come into my office,’ Jim invited and led the way back inside.

  ‘You weren’t here the last time we visited were you?’ Cassy’s father Dorian queried. ‘I seem to recall it was an old wizard we saw. Vako was it?’

  ‘Yes. He’s still here. He appointed me his successor so he could retire from the Head position and return to teaching.’

  ‘Ah. How long ago was that? Things seem markedly different here to what I remember.’

  ‘I took over about eight months ago. Vako searched for a replacement for quite some time before appointing me. This is a big place; there was too much to do for one old wizard to accomplish alone. I think we’ve got the important things remedied now.’

  ‘Are you still seeing that young man, the animus man you showed us?’ Juliette asked her daughter quietly, as they were going down the corridor to Jim’s office.

  ‘Yes,’ Cassy said simply, aware Jim had arrived at his office door and stood waiting to wave them inside. ‘I’ll take you to meet him. That’s his home over there on the hill,’ she added pointing to it from the office window.

  ‘Well that’s certainly a nice spot,’ Dorian remarked. ‘I noticed it on the way in.’

  ‘Drako is headman of White Haven village,’ Jim volunteered, but not knowing what Cassy had told her parents, he said no more. ‘Please sit down.’ There was a knock at the door and Jim hopped up to let Mrs White in, laden with a tray of refreshments for four.

  ‘Thank you,’ Dorian said politely and met the young wizard headmaster’s gaze. ‘You have an unusually strong aura.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jim responded a little uneasily. He had no idea what abilities Cassy’s parents possessed and how much they could therefore discern of his dual nature. Cassy had strong magic and had to have inherited it.

  ‘Dad, what’s happened?’ Cassy asked, deciding she had better divert her father, who was staring rather speculatively at Jim. ‘What are these rumours you mentioned hearing about?’

  ‘There’s been talk of strange things going on in this area. Clan Green Bear were reported entering the area but then disappeared, only to be sighted again many miles away at the same time. No one quite knows what is going on. Many investigators have gone missing too. Huge flares of heavy magic use have also been reported coming from here.’

  ‘Well, the magic use I know about,’ Jim said easily. ‘I melded the students together to repair the holes in the school’s perimeter wall. That took quite some magic. So did repairing the leaking stable block roof. Finding projects to teach the practical applications of magic has been easy in the last few months.’

  ‘You used the students for building works?’ Dorian asked affronted.

  ‘It was necessary and as it happens it was very instructive for the students. I was shocked when I arrived to see holes in the perimeter wall and no security at all for the students. Vako had put a call out for wizard help to rectify these things I believe, but no one had come forward. I am strong, as is my lady, but even so, such repairs were not possible without a proper meld. None of the wizard students here are truly children and there were enough of them to spread the load thinly. In actual fact everyone seemed to want to participate when they could see such tangible results.’

  ‘I see. Where have all these animus people come from? There were several at the gate and I thought I could feel more in that village.’

  ‘Why is that surprising?’ Jim asked. ‘I’m not about to ask students to be gate guards or to look after the security for the school. We have always had animus students here. Naturally their families are concerned for their safety in these increasingly troubled times and have now provided adult assistance.’

  ‘Don’t you think it would be better to send them away? Surely, the more animus people there are here the greater a target the school becomes. What of the children?’

  ‘My animus students have just as much right to be here as the wizard ones. Besides, if I forced them out, where could those children go? Unprotected and alone, they would be picked off and murdered along with their parents and just because their magic takes a different form. Could you live with that?’

  ‘No. Not when you put it like that. I see your dilemma,’ Dorian conceded.

  ‘My role is to protect all my students. I’ve repaired and improved the defences so we are no longer a soft target. We’ve been keeping a low profile, or I thought we had. The other wizard parents have always known we had animus here. Parents have been coming to enrol their children for the new term in greater numbers than usual, so they are obviously not too concerned about mixing with our animus students. Certainly, I cannot ignore the persecution, arrest and murder of children. I would have thought the wizard parents would be concerned that their children’s school friends face attack and that no one seems to care. This is
wrong on so many levels.’

  ‘Your views could get you arrested,’ Dorian warned. ‘You don’t seem concerned that perfect strangers know of them either?’

  ‘No, it makes life simpler this way. I dislike subterfuge and political jockeying. I know what my conscience says is right. I also believe my students, and of course their parents, have a right to know where I stand.’

  Dorian pulled at his lip absently. ‘I admire your bold stance but surely you are setting yourself up as a target. The authorities will become obliged to remove you.’

  ‘I’m not advertising my stance. This school is isolated and I’m not reaching out to anyone outside these walls, or preaching propaganda. I’m only acting as I should be acting, protecting students enrolled here in their parent’s absence. If the authorities arrest me then they’ll take the students too.’

  ‘You mean the animus ones of course,’ Dorian clarified.

  ‘Not necessarily just them,’ Cassy interjected. ‘I know I and many of my classmates would fight to defend my animus friends.’

  ‘Cassy!’

  ‘Mum, I could not stand by and watch my friends fighting for their lives and do nothing. Jim has brought us all closer together and I’m glad. He has taught us not to be scared of our differences. We all have magic here and that in itself is wondrous. No two people are the same and neither is the form their magic takes.’

  ‘This is to do with your boyfriend isn’t it?’ Juliette asked sharply. ‘He is the reason you’ve suddenly become so aggressive. How could you want to copy animus behaviour?’

  ‘Mum, you know nothing about animus people do you. How could you allow yourself to be so blinkered? Anyone persecuted and fighting for their life is going to be aggressive. That doesn’t mean that’s how they normally are. You blindly believe the lies and propaganda spread about them,’ Cassy said, her tone cold with scorn.

  ‘Cassy, Drako’s just come through the people gate,’ Jim told her and wasn’t surprised to feel the light hum of her magic as she immediately reached for him. Whatever Drako said to her was calming. He glanced at her parents noticing they were watching their daughter closely.

  ‘We should meet him,’ Dorian said decisively. ‘You’re talking to him now?’ Cassy nodded. ‘When would be convenient?’

  ‘He comes right past the school to go back to his place,’ Jim remarked, ‘unless you’d prefer him to clean up first?’ He wondered if Drako was sweaty, muddy and covered in blood from his hunting in the forest. That would be a good first impression!

  ‘He’s coming over directly,’ Cassy said simply.

  Jim noticed that she was unconsciously moving her head, tracking Drako’s position. He sent his own senses out but simply felt a mass of animus presences inside the building. Amelie however, he could always locate. Cassy clearly could do the same. Maybe it was because they were linked; they could feel their other half. Her gaze turned to the door and only now could he differentiate and identify Drako’s strong signature.

  Drako knocked and entered. He went directly to Cassy before nodding to Jim.

  ‘You’re back early Drako,’ Jim said glancing at the clock.

  ‘Cassy called,’ Drako said simply.

  ‘Did I?’ she asked him on their link.

  ‘Well, you were upset about something then blocked me out. I was worried,’ he added.

  ‘Mum, dad, this is Drako. Drako, Dorian and Juliette,’ Cassy said into the speculative silence. She didn’t realise she had her hand on Drako’s chest proving she was accustomed to physical contact with him. Normally wizards avoided touching others casually; it was a breach of etiquette. A wizard touching an animus could easily listen to his thoughts. Whether the uncensored thoughts of a man were appropriate for a young unmarried woman to hear was another matter. Of more concern was that a wizard could also take control of an animus, mind and body, yet she did not appear to be doing that.

  ‘Pleased to meet you properly,’ Drako said with a small bow to each of Cassy’s parents.

  ‘Likewise,’ Dorian agreed.

  ‘Would you like to come back to my house so we can talk?’ Drako asked.

  ‘That’s a good idea,’ Dorian said glancing at his wife. ‘I’m sure the headmaster has many matters we’re keeping him from attending to.’

  ‘Nice to meet you both,’ Jim said rising to his feet. ‘You’ll stay for dinner of course?’

  ‘Well that’s a nice idea. Are you sure we wouldn’t be intruding?’ Dorian asked.

  ‘Not at all, as long as you don’t mind putting up with the noise of the students,’ Jim warned cheerfully.

  ‘It’ll remind us of our student days,’ Dorian agreed, noticed Juliette roll her eyes and took her hand to lead her from the room.

  Drako took Cassy’s hand as they walked down the drive from the school. Cassy privately told him all that had been said and he wondered how he was going to get over her mother’s belief he wasn’t, as an animus, a good influence on her daughter. She probably thought he wasn’t good enough for Cassy either.

  ‘What is it about the headmaster’s aura that’s so unusual?’ Dorian asked his daughter. ‘I can’t put my finger on it.’

  ‘He’s a strong wizard with many capabilities,’ Cassy said carefully.

  ‘I could see that, but there’s more to him isn’t there.’ He looked more closely at Drako. ‘You have strong magic too, but it’s animus.’ As he stared, he suddenly sensed the flow of magic between his daughter and this warrior. He’d never seen a link working so clearly before between two people. Where the magic of their link met, it mixed into a different deeper shade before being reabsorbed between them. He silently drew Juliette’s attention to it, letting her see it through his senses. ‘With such a powerful link like that between them they must be very open to one another mentally and also be serious about each other. Notice it is not at all one-way; they are sharing not only their thoughts and emotions, but their power too.’

  ‘I’ve never seen such a thing. Do you think they have a physical relationship too?’ Juliette asked anxiously. She had thought they would be able to bring Cassy home, extricate her from the dangers surrounding the school.

  ‘I would be very surprised if they didn’t. Look at their body language; they are at ease with each other. It has been months since she first contacted us to introduce us to him. They already had a mental link then and it is clear they love each other.’

  ‘I know, time enough for the physical side to develop. I keep forgetting she’s a grown woman. He’s certainly a well built and handsome man,’ Juliette commented.

  ‘Hey, less comparing, please!’ Dorian said highly aware of his scholarly build next to this tall muscled warrior. ‘I very much doubt we could part them voluntarily,’ he added.

  ‘What future can she really have with an animus though? Do you think they’ve thought that far ahead? What happens if she falls pregnant,’ Juliette added uneasily.

  ‘Let’s find out more about him and reserve judgement. You know how stubborn Cassy can be if we try to thwart her wishes.’

  ‘True. Very well, we’ll see how it goes with him.’

  ‘Ah, Drako, everyone I’ve seen so far down here in this village is an animus. How is that possible?’ Dorian asked quietly as they walked down a prosperous, cleanly kept, but busy street. Everywhere he looked, he could see and hear activity; this was definitely a working village. He noticed Cassy return a wave or greeting here and there but she didn’t stop walking although they obviously were disappointed. How did she know all these people? No one stopped them however, which was a little odd since everyone marked their progress. Then he noticed Drako make a small hand gesture to someone standing to waylay him and that person nodded, glanced at Dorian and moved off.

  ‘You thought we’d all been killed off already?’ Drako responded.

  ‘Of course not. I only wondered how such a large village with so many diverse skills could have been established so quickly.’

  ‘Jim and I work well together. I have
the contacts and he had the school’s needs to cater for. It’s really quite straightforward.’

  Dorian was gathering the feeling Drako was more than an ordinary animus promoted to the headman position. The head of security, Freddie, nodded to them from outside the cottage nearest Drako’s elegant home on the hill. A nervous suspicion began to form in Dorian’s mind.

  ‘Dad, what is it?’ Cassy asked noticing he had stopped at the foot of the steps and appeared deep in thought. He came up the steps absently and looked around at the view of the village below, the grounds and the school. It was a fine spot and judging by the swing seat out here, Drako thought so too.

  ‘You’re Commander Drako, a lord and leader of Clan Green Bear aren’t you,’ Dorian blurted out nervously.

  Drako eyed him for a long moment. ‘My father is the lord and leader.’

  ‘But you are Commander Drako of Clan Green Bear, the military commander?’ Dorian pressed and Drako simply nodded. ‘You know this Cassy?’

  ‘Yes, of course I know. Clan Green Bear families always used to send their children here. They have close ties to the school even without the current children studying here. It made sense for some of the clan, and believe me, they are not remotely all here, to settle here where they could be most useful.’

  ‘This tie is why the headmaster is so complacent about the possibility of being attacked?’ Dorian concluded, shocked but impressed. He glanced about him at the warm inviting lounge of Drako’s home as he took the seat Cassy waved him to. He could feel Cassy’s touch in rather a lot of the design.