Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine. (sadly) they all belong to the wonderful Mercedes Lackey, so please don't sue me!
The Hazards of Choosing on a Battlefield
It felt like nothing else she had ever experienced. The Companion Sayvil pounded across the battlefield. All around her, humans were fighting, and other Companions fought as well. She felt the unmistakable shock of another of their number Choosing a new Herald. Jasan? I never thought he would find someone to suit him. What's he doing on the Choosing someone on the battlefield anyway? Not exactly a great place to introduce someone to being a Herald.
The Companion who had once been one of the most powerful Herald-Mages in the Kingdom came to a halt just in time to see a large gray Shin'a'in warsteed get cut out from under a tall blond women with the look of a professional soldier. Instantly, Sayvil knew what her mad dash across the battlefield had been about. This woman was her Chosen. She must be one of the mercenary soldiers the Queen hired, a small, detached corner of her mind thought. There was no time for such thoughts now. The woman, Kerowyn, she thought, would get cut down if she stayed. Sayvil ran in front of merc, and stopped. Kero got the meaning and mounted up. She was without saddle or bridle, but her rider would just have to do without. The Companion hoped her newly Chosen was a good enough rider to stay mounted.
Fortunately for both of them, the mercenary Captain proved to be not only able to ride bareback, but able to fight, as well. Oh, of course, Sayvil thought, investigating her Chosen's mind. She has Shin'a'in cousins. They would have taught her.
* * *
The battle was finally over. Sayvil felt her Chosen slip off her back. "Well, love," she heard a voice say. "Hellsbane's gone to the Star-Eyed's Pastures, but you more than earned her place. Lets have a look at you."
She thinks I'm a horse. Sayvil thought, then kicked herself mentally. Of course you silly goose. You haven't Chosen her yet, technically. Not that you've had a chance to yet. Well, I'll remedy that in a moment. She shook herself, making a cloud of dust rise up, and revealing herself to be white. Kerowyn looked into her eyes, seeming to drown in them.
:I am Sayvil. You are my- Look out!: Sayvil started to Choose the woman, then saw a man she had thought was dead rise up from the ground, and swing a mace towards Kero's head. Her Chosen whipped around, just in time to see the mace hit her. There was a sudden exclamation, and Jasan's Chosen flew up. The two Companions immediately started pounding the enemy to gloop. Meanwhile the new man tried to see if Kerowyn was still alive, only to be shoved aside by Herald Eldan, Chosen by Companion Ratha. The Herald started pounding on her Chosen's chest telling her she couldn't be dead. Sayvil looked up from her mutilating of the enemy in time to see Kero raise her head a little and say, "That's a little extreme, isn't it, ke'chara?" before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell unconscious again.
Just my luck, Sayvil thought. I pick someone who's already lifebonded to another Herald. Jasan's never going to stop teasing me about this one. Ah, well, at least I'll be able to learn about that fascinating sword she's wearing. It's pretty much the only magic object in this Kingdom now...
The Hazards of Choosing on a Battlefield
It felt like nothing else she had ever experienced. The Companion Sayvil pounded across the battlefield. All around her, humans were fighting, and other Companions fought as well. She felt the unmistakable shock of another of their number Choosing a new Herald. Jasan? I never thought he would find someone to suit him. What's he doing on the Choosing someone on the battlefield anyway? Not exactly a great place to introduce someone to being a Herald.
The Companion who had once been one of the most powerful Herald-Mages in the Kingdom came to a halt just in time to see a large gray Shin'a'in warsteed get cut out from under a tall blond women with the look of a professional soldier. Instantly, Sayvil knew what her mad dash across the battlefield had been about. This woman was her Chosen. She must be one of the mercenary soldiers the Queen hired, a small, detached corner of her mind thought. There was no time for such thoughts now. The woman, Kerowyn, she thought, would get cut down if she stayed. Sayvil ran in front of merc, and stopped. Kero got the meaning and mounted up. She was without saddle or bridle, but her rider would just have to do without. The Companion hoped her newly Chosen was a good enough rider to stay mounted.
Fortunately for both of them, the mercenary Captain proved to be not only able to ride bareback, but able to fight, as well. Oh, of course, Sayvil thought, investigating her Chosen's mind. She has Shin'a'in cousins. They would have taught her.
* * *
The battle was finally over. Sayvil felt her Chosen slip off her back. "Well, love," she heard a voice say. "Hellsbane's gone to the Star-Eyed's Pastures, but you more than earned her place. Lets have a look at you."
She thinks I'm a horse. Sayvil thought, then kicked herself mentally. Of course you silly goose. You haven't Chosen her yet, technically. Not that you've had a chance to yet. Well, I'll remedy that in a moment. She shook herself, making a cloud of dust rise up, and revealing herself to be white. Kerowyn looked into her eyes, seeming to drown in them.
:I am Sayvil. You are my- Look out!: Sayvil started to Choose the woman, then saw a man she had thought was dead rise up from the ground, and swing a mace towards Kero's head. Her Chosen whipped around, just in time to see the mace hit her. There was a sudden exclamation, and Jasan's Chosen flew up. The two Companions immediately started pounding the enemy to gloop. Meanwhile the new man tried to see if Kerowyn was still alive, only to be shoved aside by Herald Eldan, Chosen by Companion Ratha. The Herald started pounding on her Chosen's chest telling her she couldn't be dead. Sayvil looked up from her mutilating of the enemy in time to see Kero raise her head a little and say, "That's a little extreme, isn't it, ke'chara?" before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fell unconscious again.
Just my luck, Sayvil thought. I pick someone who's already lifebonded to another Herald. Jasan's never going to stop teasing me about this one. Ah, well, at least I'll be able to learn about that fascinating sword she's wearing. It's pretty much the only magic object in this Kingdom now...