In the few weeks since Second Calderon, everything's changed.

Uncle Bernard has been busy getting settled in as Count Calderon--somehow Tavi feels like he gets to see his uncle less. Amara's been coming to visit, which is nice; Tavi never thought he'd make friends with a Cursor of the Crown, but he has. A part of him hopes he can serve Alera with that much effectiveness one day, even though he doesn't think someone like him is likely to.

Some other part whispers he'll be a Cursor one day, and to be patient. Tavi hates being patient.

Aunt Isana's been trying to hide how worried she is about his moving away, although it only takes his enthusiasm for the classes he'll get to take to start putting a smile back on her face. And sometimes Tavi isn't sure if he should try to talk to Fade alone about what happened--Araris Valerian died fifteen years ago. Do you understand, Tavi?--and sometimes he knows with absolute certainty it isn't the right time.

Which is why Tavi's now out watching the sheep, instead of getting ready to go. He volunteered. So long as he's out here, things are almost like normal. He doesn't want to go back--there's too much to do, and see, and explore. He's getting all he ever wanted now, and doesn't even begin to imagine where it might lead.

He just needs a little quiet, and a little time. Sheep are good for that.

"TAVI, YOU LITTLE CROW-BITING--!"

Uncle Bernard's voice rang out as the boy sprinted out of the kitchen and into the yard, biting his lip to hold back a fit of giggles.  That went off even better than expected, he congratulated himself as he dodged around Beritte and made for the pen where the sheep were kept.  Uncle Bernard would get over it, he knew--probably almost as soon as he dried off. Hopefully.

Maybe.

Well, it had been a boring day anyway.

He crouched down by the fence and peered around, mentally starting to curse as he saw Aunt Isana standing there. Damn it, she probably knows I'm here...

"I know you're there, Tavi," she called out right on cue.  "We will find you eventually. Just come out."

Tavi tried his best to clamp down on his giddiness and minor fear of punishment, knowing it would make it even easier for his aunt to find him if he didn't.  Okay, Tavi. You need a plan...

And then Fade was there, smiling witlessly at Tavi.  Instantly Tavi knew what he was doing.  Some part of him felt horribly bad about it--after all, it was Fade who had inadvertently helped him get the prank set up, and had distracted everyone enough he could pull it off.  But... well... there he was.  "Fade," he hissed.

Fade looked at him with that blank expression.  "Tavi, Bernard, wet."

"Yes, Fade. You know Aunt Isana works with water, so you should go find her and ask her to dry off Uncle Bernard," Tavi said quickly in a fit of inspiration.  For a moment, Fade's eyes seemed to glitter, and then he shambled off to intercept Aunt Isana as she bore down on them across the yard.

Now for stage two... Tavi glanced around the yard, looking for an escape route.  "Fade, what are you-- Fade, stop that. Where is Tavi? I know you've seen him..." Tavi breathed a sigh of relief, eyes still scanning. Don't want to go into the barn, too obvious, but Uncle Bernard's still at the house... But then he heard a door slam open, and he knew his time was up. Without a thought he bolted across to the barn door, yanking it open and throwing himself in before pulling it shut behind him, as he gave way to his fit of giggles.