Prolouge to Silver Magic
Author Notes: Note this, I have not read anything but the three 'Arrows' books and 'Take a Thief' so this is most definitely AU after those. It centers on Talia, Dirk, and a little girl that shows up on Rolan's back one day, nearly two years after 'Fall'. She seems normal enough, on the outside. But there's much more to her than anyone seems... and it starts... wait, we'll let you see that for yourself.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that rightfully belongs to Mercedes Lackey or anyone else for that matter.
Talia, herself, was far to busy to even notice that something was bothering Rolan on that stormy afternoon. But it was not only Rolan that was troubled, it was the whole of the population of Companions. This, however, could not go unnoticed.
A bit of a buzz was starting to overcome the Collegium by the time Talia had a free moment to slip off to Companion's Field, where Rolan normally met her for a few minutes of peace together. She only began to notice trouble when he did not meet her.
She stopped in her tracks, glancing around as best she could, and wondered heartily where her Companion was. She and Rolan had never been able to Mind-Speak well, but she did do a quick sweep for him. He was no where she could sense him, and that scared her.
She turned and was halfway back up to the Palace when she saw Elspeth coming towards her.
"Catling!" she called ahead, and the Heir rushed straight towards her. Talia's heart skipped a beat at this. "What's wrong?" she demanded, tone hushed.
By the look on Elspeth's face, it was obvious something was wrong.
"It's Rolan!" she gasped, breathing heavily. Talia's heart nearly stopped. If something had happened to him- but no, she would have known... wouldn't she?, she reasoned. "He's got mad or something. He ran straight out of here and out of Haven completely. He's gone, Talia!"
She stopped and immediately wondered what had happened. It was this moment that she caught a sense of Rolan, the last she would have for nearly a week but she didn't know that at the time. All she felt was a deep reassurance, underclouded with fear. Not for himself, or his Chosen. For... someone else... but who?