People are already deferring to him. Judeth does, and so do the rest of the Silvers. The Haighlei are— I think they're rather in awe of the way he could play so many roles, too.

"Besides, I need to be here to help Silver Veil interview her replacement," Amberdrake continued, but this time with an amused sparkle in his eye. "We both agreed that, on the whole, I am not particularly suited to the position since Leyuet would never be able to unburden himself to someone he thinks of as being god-touched, but she's willing to talk to anyone from White Gryphon that I send for. I have a candidate or two. Jessamine, for one. She's competent, and she would be a complete change of pace from Silver Veil—which would make it impossible for anyone to ever compare the two."

Skan sighed with relief when he realized that Amberdrake was not even thinking about taking the job himself. That hadbeen a private worry of his; that Amberdrake would decide to stay here as Silver Veil's successor, with Winterhart in charge of the actual ambassadorial delegation. In many ways, it would be a good positioning of resources. Winterhart was admirably suited to such a task—and if Amberdrake was in the position of Imperial Kestra'chern, his people would be very well appraised of whatever situation currently prevailed in Shalaman's land.

But I want him home,Skan thought stubbornly. We're a good team, and I need him back home where he belongs.

Besides, he needs to take over from Lionwind, as well as taking over the city. The Kaled'a'in are more than they were before, and Lionwind is still acting as if they were just one of the Clans, with no outsiders among them to change things. I think he realizes that, too.

In fact— Hmm. There were some stirrings in that direction, before we left. It seemed to me that Lionwind was spending an awful lot of time with the shaman. Maybe he's thinking thathe ought to move on to something else, too.

Change or stagnate. Keep moving or die. That always seemed to be the choices facing Urtho's folk.

But if we change, we grow. If Drake takes all this leader business on, itwill make him grow. He's been stagnating, too.

This was going to wake him up, and that would be good, not only for him, but for Winterhart. She'll be his partner, just like always—Now that's interesting. She really wasn't suited—or trained—to be his partner when all he was doing was speaking for the kestra'chern. But as the full administrator? Oh, they'll handle that job together like two trained horses in harness!

"Winterhart would probably enjoy sharing the administrative things out with me," Amberdrake mused aloud, in an unconscious echo of Skandranon's thoughts. "She'd been wasting her talents, really, until we got here. She wastrained to rule, not only a household, but a full estate with a substantial number of retainers. It would be a shame to let that kind of training and skill go to waste."

"You're going to do it, then." Skan could hardly conceal his glee.

Amberdrake gave him a wry smile. "Sounds as though I've talked myself into it, haven't I? Well—yes. Wewill do it. Provided we don't make total fools of ourselves, setting things up here."

"Good!" Skan settled back to watch Makke pack with a much lighter heart. Everything was settled—and exactly as he wanted!

And now hewould be able to get back to doing what he did best—being the Black Gryphon, and all that entailed!

I won't be stagnating, either. We'll have to figure out how to work with the Haighlei forces; we have no idea what may be coming down out of the north. We gryphons really should put some thought into organizingourselves in some way—

He gryphon-grinned at Amberdrake, and the kestra'chern's wry smile softened into a real one.

And Skandranon Rashkae sat back on his haunches and pulled himself straight up in a deliberately statuesque pose against the sunlit sky, content with himself and the world. Life was good.

And his heart had never been quite so full of light.

The End