Epilogue

Six years, twenty mages, five engineers, and untold amount of stone and the Mage Collegium was open. It was settled over the old tower and the only outsider access was through a Keyed permanent Gate in the heart of the new Collegium.

The building was five stories tall and a circular with a memorial garden at its center in honor of those who had risked their lives to stop the mage storms. It was designed for as many races as the founding Mage Circle could think of.

There were burrows in the basement along with the kitchens, even there the Collegium had a wide hall that even a gryphon could pass through to allow access on the inside to rooms and small doors on the outside for the tenants. The ground floor was mostly classrooms but a section was given over to Companions and dyheli. The second floor was more classrooms and libraries, it was accessible by a ramp. The third floor was rooms like what the people from the north were familiar with and again was reached by ramps. The fourth floor was only half as deep as the floors below it allowing for a wide balcony for anyone, but especially gryphons. The rooms there were more like ekeles. The fifth floor was for gryphons with individual entries to each suite on the outer wall.

Only a tenth of each floor was a suite for a teacher or scholar. The rest were meant for students, which were already settling in.

It was not just mages in residence, the requirements to apply to study at this Collegium was the students must have already achieved their journeyman rank in whatever their field was. There were healers, mages, mindmages, engineers, bards, and scholars. Most weren't even there to study in the tower remains, which was only accessible with permission. They were there because the best teachers were there.

Elf leaned on the railing on the fourth floor balcony and watched as the work continued on a two story building that would be for the patients of Healers. If she walked around the balcony, she would see other structures under construction. One quarter of the outer area was the Field and was used by dyheli and Companions for grazing and everyone else for exercise. Another quarter was being divided up like slices of pie into wedge shaped pieces for other countries and that was where the Envoys from all the countries in the Alliance resided and it was their limit of authority. The quarter with the Healer's Hall was for outbuildings of the Collegium and for the herds that fed them. The last quarter was meant as a sanctuary for any Shin'a'in who need shelter. It could be from the weather or from misunderstandings.

There was a Vale shield over the area which would give them a near eternal summer that was never as hot as the plains and prevented any entry or exit that was not approved of by a Clan Elder, shaman or sworn. The buildings held no magic but to avoid bringing in too many outsiders most construction was done with magic.

"Elf, there you are." A familiar voice greeted her. Turning she saw Kenric with Keka and Calista in tow. He was on crutches still, he probably always would be, but his body was still healing. The miraculous healing her spell could do was just not possible on a nonmage. He was sent in the first Gate they'd opened to Valdemar to be her secretary. At the moment, he was the only other Herald here.

"Almost time." Kenric reminded her.

"I know." Elf wiped her palms on her whites.

They had established one permanent Gate to Kata'shin'a'in early on but it had taken them a while to gather enough power to create one to each home country. The result would mean no one would need to travel over the plains to reach the Collegium. It also meant there would now be an armed force established here to protect those gates. Their barracks were already completed.

Elf looked over the grounds again. "Do we have an order for food prepared?"

"Right here." Kenric held up a sheet. "I figured you would want the requests spread around."

"Excellent." Elf read it over. "Have the hertasi finished their swamp yet?"

"Yes. It is in the Tayledras wedge."

"Quarters." Elf corrected.

"Right, the Tayledras quarters." Kenric handed her another. "There are two more hopefuls in Kata'shin'a'in. A Shaman has approved of them both."

"Do you mind questioning them then?" Elf asked. Every new arrival was questioned under truthspell and by a shaman or Kalendral.

"I can head there this afternoon." Kenric assured her.

"The hot springs?" Elf asked. There were hot springs in the central garden and in the gardens around the foot of the Collegium. Those were crafted by four Tayledras mages who were also responsible for the hertasi swamp.

"They are now the proper temperatures." Kenric assured her. "I used one earlier."

"Did you want to head home for a visit?" Elf asked.

"You're going to be busy." Kenric pointed out.

"You haven't been home for two years. You aren't deserting me if you run off for a month." Elf assured him. "And if you do it while the weather is pleasant up there you won't have to worry about ice."

"Good point. Maybe I will head home for a week." Kenric surrendered.

Elf spotted a cluster of mages, all male. There were few females here so far and Kenric hadn't had a lover in that time. "Talk to the Healers while you are there. I don't have any Valdemaran Healers yet."

"I will." Kenric assured her.

:Time to change.: Dayna reminded her. :Can you imagine? We are going to play host to the Queen and the Son of the Sun!:

Elf had invited every monarch to come when they opened the gates to the North so they could see where their funds had gone. Only Solaris and Selenay had accepted. Elf suspect the others sent regrets to avoid having to meet Solaris face to face. "Is Karal ready?"

"He is already in the Gate room." Kenric informed her. "He and Altra are nervous I think."

"I am too." Elf admitted.

"Because this gate will mean you will be able to see Deven for the first time in almost two years."

"That too." Elf admitted. Since arriving at the plains, she had seen Deven only three times. Twice when she had Gated to Valdemar and once when he had been sent to Kata'shin'a'in as the captain of guards for a large shipment of livestock. The other two times she had Gated to Valdemar he had been too far out on circuit to even allow them a day or two to visit.

There had been times over the last six years she thought her heart would break but somehow she pushed on.

A candlemark later Elf joined the rest of the Mage Circle, two from each nation that were in charge of the education of mages at the Collegium. Elspeth was the other one from Valdemar but she had yet to join them, she was too busy with the training of Herald Mages in Valdemar so Dayna stood in for her.

"Are we ready?" Elf asked.

Everyone quickly assured her they were. They had discovered that while it required more mages to create permanent Gates, it was easier to find the terminus without the noise in the void created by hundreds of other Gates. To avoid favoritism they had opted to gather enough power to raise all at once rather than one at a time.

The mages quickly made a circle. They had worked together so often in the last six years it was easy for them to establish links to each other.

The room that housed the gates in arches on the wall was massive with doors to the outside. Kalendral stood guard around the vaulted room, nervously awaiting the arrival of more foreigners.

"We'll start with Ruvan." Elf ordered.

In less than a candlemark, Gates stood in half the arches. They had made extras since odds were they would be needed in the future.

"Well done." Elf said wearily as she admired their handiwork.

An'desha nodded. "That was perfectly executed if I do say so."

Karal passed around a flagon of juice. "They will be coming through soon."

The other mages quickly left.

"Thanks." Elf said as she straightened her Whites and turned to face the arches for Valdemar and Karse. The keystone of Valdemar was a rearing horse, the one for Karse was a Sun in glory. The other keystones were in various stages of completion. Hertasi artisans were responsible for the work.

"Are you ready Karal?"

"I hope so." He said with a strained smile.

A pair of Sunsguard and a pair of Valdemaran Guards stepped through and replaced the Kalendral flanking their Gates.

Solaris was the first to step through but Selenay joined her within a minute.

Elf allowed them a minute to recover from the disorientation of gate sickness. "Welcome to the Plains." She said finally.

One of the Sunguards stiffened and hissed at her to call Solaris her Holiness.

Karal cleared his throat. "If you recall, one stipulation set by the Shin'a'in was that no one would hold any titles here."

Both monarchs looked stunned.

"Part of their culture is to never acknowledge a ruler or lord." Elf pointed out. "The only titles used here are ones you've earned."

:Welcome, Priest Solaris of Karse and Herald Selenay of Valdemar.: Dayna said as she entered. :Are you hungry? The Karsite and Valdemaran Quarters are not ready yet, but we have some rooms prepared for you and your company. We should move so Caryo can get through.:

Solaris's lips slowly stretched in a smile. "Thank you Companion. I believe Hansa and I would like a chance to refresh before seeing the rest of the grounds."

Selenay chuckled. "When you said that they did not want title used, I never considered that mine would be one of them. Talia and Dirk are also joining us."

"We have rooms for them as well." Elf assured them as she started towards the doors.

It took Elf and Karal nearly two candlemarks to get everyone settled. The Heralds all wanted to see the Companion Quarters and the Companions wanted to return the favor and see those for the humans since they could. It was nearly dark before Elf had a chance to return to the Gate room in hopes Deven would be able to come see her.

He and Mardren were just stepping through as she entered the room. "Elf!" Deven exclaimed as he dropped the bag he had on his shoulder and hurried towards her.

Elf nearly sobbed with relief as she launched herself into his arms. It took Mardren reminding them that they were scandalizing the guards who now flanked each gate to draw them apart. After Elf and Karal had led off Selenay and Solaris, the other mages had returned to greet envoys from their own countries so there were guards on each gate.

Elf blushed bright pink, with her pale skin and hair it could not be described as a delicate blush.

Elf grabbed Deven's bag with one hand and Deven's sleeve with the other and hauled him from the room. Mardren laughed in both their minds.

The next morning Dayna, and Mardren finally disturbed them.

:Hertasi are bringing some breakfast.: Dayna informed them. :And Selenay, Talia, and Dirk are joining you.:

Elf muttered death threats but they quickly got dressed. Elf had a suite of four rooms since she was one of the Mage Circle so they didn't have to worry about the state of the bedroom.

"It's come along way." Deven said as he admired the hertasi carved furnishings.

"The hertasi have been life savers." Elf admitted.

As if to prove her words, there were two busily arranging the large receiving room so that Companions and humans could be accommodated. These two hertasi had adopted her when they were no longer needed to help with construction of the burrows.

"You should have warned us." The little female scolded. "We could have arranged a proper bower for you two."

"I thought Deven would be on Circuit, I hoped for a letter at best." Elf admitted as she and Deven took a seat at the table the hertasi had set.

Deven waited until the hertasi had scurried off before speaking. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"That it was." Elf assured him with a besotted grin. "I wonder if I can convince Solaris and Selenay I am sick and must be left alone for at least three days."

Deven tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I think it would give them both a very poor impression of us if we are both too sick to work."

"Work?" Elf said, hope that this wasn't just a respite of a few days bloomed in her heart.

"I'm the new commander of the Collegium Guards." Deven informed her. "It was requested by the Shin'a'in themselves."

"Really?" Elf could hardly believe what he said. "You're staying? You aren't going out on Circuit?"

"I am staying. And it wasn't a favor to you. Apparently the Shin'a'in want a non-mage in charge of the guards and they'd prefer someone who will likely spot trouble before it starts."

"Someone with Farsight and Foresight." Elf said in understanding. "I don't think I have ever been happier. You should have told me! I was dreading having to say farewell again."

"It slipped my mind." Deven said as he nuzzled the crook of her neck. "I can't imagine why."

Elf caught his face between her palms. "Dev, if I wasn't so deliriously happy right now I'd strangle you."

"If you two don't mind, we do have some business to deal with before we tour the school." Selenay interrupted as she entered.

Elf and Deven looked like a pair of teenagers caught cuddling behind a bush, which amused everyone as they settled around the table. The Companions arranged themselves on the empty side of the table that had seen many mage circle meetings.

"First we eat." Elf instructed. "In an attempt to honor all traditions we have developed a few odd ones of our own."

"Like no titles?" Talia asked.

"We have to honor the customs of our hosts." Elf informed her. "May I suggest the fish? The hertasi said it was caught in White Gryphon this morning."

A knock on the door warned Elf things were just getting started for the morning.

Kenric hobbled in using only one cane. "I was designated the sacrificial Herald."

"What?" Elf asked.

"I have a message for Deven actually, he's needed in the Gate room. I hope you've learned a few new languages."

"I had a dyheli dump them in my head." He assured them as he rose. "What are the customs about going armed?"

"No student may go armed inside the walls. There was a squabble between a Shin'a'in and a Karsite." Elf shrugged. "But nothing that applies to you."

"Until later." Deven kissed her then followed Kenric with Mardren in his wake.

A hertasi appeared like magic and filled a plate with food them hurried off after Deven grumbling in Kaled'a'in about Heralds.

Elf laughed. "Thank you for assigning Deven to here."

"Thank Alberich. He trained Deven then volunteered him for the position. He claimed it was to keep from being given the position himself." Selenay informed her with a fond smile.

"I do need a Weapons Master." Elf suggested hopefully.

Dirk smiled but he tried to hide it.

"Any retired Heralds are more than welcome here too." Elf persisted. "We have a Veil in place and hot springs. The Healers want me to make it clear that if any of 'Valdemar's idiot Heralds' need time and peace to recover they will be welcome too. So long as everyone who comes understands they are expected to contribute in some way. Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself, would you like some tea? It is not the dreaded butter tea of the Shin'a'in, it's from Karse."

"Are you aware every mage here has used you as a scapegoat for any plans their rulers have disapproved of?" Selenay asked.

"Of course. The bits that caused issue are straight from the Valdemaran code of laws. First being that there is no one true way." Elf explained. "Have they made problems for you in Valdemar?"

"Nothing terrible." Selenay admitted.

"I didn't think it would get out of hand since I also incorporated some of their demands which would have caused a kerfuffle at the Council if they hadn't voted to give me autonomy." Elf set a sweet pastry on a plate and pushed it across the table to Dayna.

"They still did. But they decided to let it stand rather than to ask you to explain yourself." Talia said with amusement. "I still don't know what scared them more, when you killed Danuven or when you hinted that you were going to start asking for donations when you returned."

"We brought the Collegium in under budget." Elf pointed out. Using a judicious use of gates they had brought stone from quarries in Hardorn since their coffers couldn't afford money, they brought mages from Karse to help move the stones, and they brought cattle from Valdemar over land for livestock herds. Rethwellan, Ceejay, and Ruvan had paid gold. The Tayledras were sculpting the land here so it was less open plains and more suitable for supporting a village. The Shin'a'in had offered land and protection. White Gryphon had sent young gryphons, hertasi, kyree, as well as trondi'irns and healers.

"The Collegia of the Plains." Selenay shook her head but smiled. "If anyone had said that after everything we had endured that I would be sitting in a truly international school that hosted more races than I ever suspected of existing prior to Elspeth leaving our borders I would have thought them insane."

Dirk raised a cup of tea. "To Elf, then. Who lied, manipulated, conspired and berated to make this school a reality."

Elf laughed. "Name one lie."

"The whole bit about no titles." Selenay pointed out.

:She told you. How was she to know you would need to hear you weren't special enough to be excluded from the rule?: Dayna informed her.

"You can't deny you did manipulate." Dirk pointed out.

"I did. But only when I was negotiating. Hardorn sent far more in stone than the gold they would have sent could have purchased." Elf countered. "Perhaps I was not Chosen for my magic, or for my gift of languages, but because I am the daughter of a merchant?"

The door opened without a knock and a hertasi led in another Herald.

"New arrival." The hertasi informed her.

"Alberich!" Elf hesitated only for half a heart beat between choosing dignity or enthusiasm then bolted to her feet so fast the chair toppled over and bolted to give Alberich a welcoming hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I was hoping you could come visit."

"I wanted to see what trouble you had made here, Kayvia." Alberich said in Karsite.

"Nothing too terrible." Elf shrugged. She was still experimenting with magic so there were a few odd little disasters in the not too distant past but she cleaned up after each of them. "I was hoping I could convince you to join us here."

A small explosion shook the room.

"Enjoy breakfast, I have to go." Elf kissed his cheek. "And normally it is very peaceful here!"

:She's lying, that would be one of the artificer students playing with fireworks.: Dayna waited for Elf to mount and trotted out the still open door.

"What have I been talked into?" Alberich asked of the room at large.

Selenay ignored the question. "Could you pass the pastries? They look delicious."

"You need a room too?" The hertasi asked him in Valdemaran. "I will see to one. A teacher's room, yes? With a Companion, yes?"

Not waiting for an answer the hertasi hurried off.

"Want to change your mind?" Dirk asked seriously.

Alberich studied the crowd around the table then took a seat. "Even mages training need." He said fatalistically.

Outside Elf was intervening between an artificer master and the journeyman, actually defending the journeyman. "He should have sought your guidance, but we do want to encourage experimentation to a degree." Elf soothed the Master artificer. The journeyman artificer blinked at her like a baby owl, his hair and face covered in soot and he reeked of sulfur. "I don't think expelling him is the right path."

"He could have killed someone! He could have started a fire!" The Master artificer protested.

"And I am certain far worse will occur in the future." Elf said calmly. "Take him to the Healers and set him to helping the hertasi or something as punishment for going behind your back, but don't expel him."

"I should set him to digging latrines." The Master grumbled. "Very well, Herald, I will hand him over to the Healers for now and wait until he can hear again to box his ears."

"Huh?" The Journeyman asked.

"What will you do when your mages create disasters?" The Master asked.

"Deal with them as they come." Elf said with a shrug. "And consider the motives behind their actions."

"So trying to craft a giant firework for the festivities tonight would be…"

"Dumb, but not malicious." Elf patted the man on the shoulder. "There is a reason there is a dining hall just for teachers. There are more alcoholic beverages there than you can shake a stick at, help yourself."

As the master led his student away, Elf leaned against Dayna's shoulder. :Do you think it is too early to go to the dining hall for a drink?:

:Oh, definitely.: Dayna said cheerfully. :You know, with a little magic, his fireworks would have worked.:

Elf pondered the blackened circle. He had been trying to design the fireworks so they would form figures of light in the sky. :No, I am not going to try.:

Dayna chortled.

Elf hesitated. :Actually, I think I know how it could be done with just the barest touch of magic. Where can I get more fireworks?:

May you live in interesting times.

--Shin'a'in curse