Summary: Over the past ten years 28 companions have vanished while on search. When Herald Dylar got lost while on circuit, he discovered that a secrete war has been going on in Valdemar for the past 15 years in a city that has long since been forgotten. What will the Circle do to help these people? Can they help them against an enemy they don't know how to fight?

AN: This story takes place after By the Sword and mostly ignores the Mage Winds and the Mage Storm Trilogies. Some things from the Mage Winds might be mentioned later on. But for this story to work the alliance with Karse is not there. This story takes place in the Southeastern of Valdemar bordering both Karse and Hardorn, but separating the border between those two countries are mountains.

This story is in a way a Mercedes Lackey Crossover, both her Valdemar and the Obsidian Mountain Trilogy books. From the Obsidian Mountain Books I am using the Wildmages, the Endarkened Ones (they just make great enemies) and a lot of the Dark Creatures and even a lot of the light ones (so you don't really need to read that one first to understand this fiction)

Disclaimer: I don't own this story. Mercedes Lackey create this wonderful fiction world that I am writing in.

Chapter I

Chaos in the Circle

"It has happened again, Selenay" no need to say what it is, Talia thought to her self with bitter anger. The entire circle knows.

"That makes what twenty-eight" Selenay looked up at her Herald in shock "This is not suppose to be possible."

Over the course of ten years twenty-eight companions have mysterious disappeared, starting with Kayla, daughter of the Companions Caryo and Rolan. All of the Companions have willingly broken the bond with the others. That was the major mystery. They seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth. A search has been sent for them every year, few of which have returned, none with any leads. But the true mystery is, that the Companions are leaving younger and younger. The last one to vanish was only six.

"Twenty-Eight Companions gone, twenty-eight would be Heralds gone" Selenay whispered a loud in pained honesty.

"Rolan does not think they are dead your majesty" Talia said to the queen with the same flat voice. "There is still hope" Talia's thoughts turned inward as pictures went through her mind of a Herald, Companion and a feeling of urgency came over her.

"Your Majesty, Herald Dylar has disappeared somewhere in the southeast while on circuit"

Seleney looked up at the Queens Own in alarm, the southeast is dangerous and hostile land at the best of time, but deadly now.

"First the Companions and now this"

Why don't you ask for directions Chosen Sunter was getting annoyed with his chosen right now, no scratch that, he was beyond annoyed. It has been over a week since the last time either of them has even seen a waystation, town or anyone.

"Oh yes, turn right up at that sump and we can ask the nearest tree" Dylar said a loud sarcastically trying to hide his own misgivings.

Chosen this makes no since, we should of reach sta... Sunters mindvoice was cut off by what looked like a Wrysa jumping on Companion and Herald.

Drawing his sword Dylar lunged killing the Wrysa on Sunter. Slowly getting to his feet he looked around and noticed that they were surrounded by the pack. Before any plans fully formed on how to get out of this mess, several arrows flew from behind the trees each hitting a killing blow to a Wrysa and before either Companion or Herald could blink four horses jumped from behind them. No wait, that's a Companion Dylar thought to himself watching the death struggle taking place before his eyes. It was a dance; the likes of which he have never seen before. The three horses and what looked like a Companion, were moving as one, with sword, spear, bow and hooves.

"Sunter is that..." Dylar left that thought hanging while watching the Companion, but the rider was a female wearing brown, not the Heralds White.

Yes, Chosen, she is a Companion and not just any Companion but... Sunter looked over at one of the riders walking his horse over to the companion.

"Liege-Lady, the enemy is getting bolder. They have not come this close to Hawks Creek in our lifetime" The horseback rider said to the one on the companion.

"I know Sarder, I shall put up more warding tonight" The companion rider said looking to the horseback rider at her side. "Which means for the next day or two the patrols will be doubled."

"Ahhhh, Liege-Lady, that means we can't slack off" Horseback rider, Sarder, Dylar thought to himself, said to the lady at his side. "And we will have to count on ourselves for a change."

"Don't you know it" She said to Sarder. "Now get on with you, and make sure those Wyrsa bodies are burned, we don't want to lead any wild animals this close to the city".

"Yes, ma'am" he said all three horse riders dismounted, taking a long stick, to touching the bodies burning them where they laid.

"You know this is a dangerous territory to go riding in, Herald" While Dylar was looking at what had to be an impossible feat, burning bodies with a stick, the unknown companion and rider walked up to him, and dismounted with grace that he greatly envied.

"I know" Dylar said looking at the woman, no teenager "I got lost, me and Sun here were going to Starbrook when we got turned around".

"Obviously" She said with a very unladylike snort "cause only a fool or the insane travel in these woods. Starbrook is about a week ride westward, but another winter storm is coming in tonight, so it would be suicidal to travel. You and your companion are welcomed to stay with us, Herald"

"Thank you" he said gazing at her emotionless face "I am Dylar and this is Suntar"

"Remora" She said vaulting onto her companions back "and Kayla"