> "Aim for the grass." Were the only words of comfort she could
> muster.
******************
When he had finished emptying his stomach, Jennifer took Julian over
to the rainwater cistern by the porch and dunked the toucan in the
water. Oh, how that bird protested. Rude words in several languages,
not all of them human, questioned her parentage and intelligence
while exclaiming about the cold temperature of the water. She dunked
him again and then set the bird to perch on the railing of the porch.
"If we were anywhere but here, I'd throw your ass in
rehab", she growled at Julian. "If we were anywhere but here,
I wouldn't be here", was his comeback. She grabbed his beak
and held it closed, moved in real close and very quietly said,
"You will stay out here and get yourself cleaned up and behave
yourself until I come to get you. I have had enough of you this
morning." She released his beak and went inside the cottage.
Julian ruffled his wet feathers and quietly began to preen himself.

Leaning against the closed door, Jennifer took a deep breath and
tried not to loose her temper. She then decided it was OK to and cut
loose with a muttered diatribe not unlike the one Julian had
unleashed on her.
She walked across the room and picked the blanket up off the floor,
tossed it onto the bed and made to move the bed back into place when
she noticed something on the floor. It was set into the wood floor.
She tugged on the bed frame to move it some more to expose the thing
on the floor It was a large circle of marble and it took up almost
the entire space under the bed. Centered in the circle was a seven
point star carved in the marble. Framing the star was a band of brass
inlaid into the marble with symbols etched into it at each point of
the star.
She knelt down and touched it with her hand. It was very warm and had
a turquoise blue aura to it. Since she'd regained a part of her
vision, she'd been able to determine warm or cold auras but, never a
distinct color. It radiated from the plaque on the floor.
"Why is Duncan hiding this?" she wondered out loud.
"Because 'tis not for all to see." came the answer from the burly
blacksmith standing in the doorway.