What in the Havens just happened? I wondered, staring up at the branches waving gently in the chill winter breeze, revealing the stars behind them. They looked odd. It was no wonder- depth perception wasn't something I was used to, nor was I used to being able to point my head straight and see things right in front of my nose. I rolled over and pulled my legs beneath me, but again, it was wrong. My hind legs were too long, my forelock fell in front of my eyes in correctly, I couldn't hear right, I couldn't smell right... Finally, I took a deep breath and looked down, and despite the fact that I already knew what had happened, the sight of a pale, lithe, humanoid body still startled me.
I reached up a hand, yes a hand, and pulled my bridle over my head and then sat down on top of the saddle that I had been twisting around in this entire time. The leather was still blue, finely worked with silver bells hanging from the reins. But it no longer fit me. What magic had conceived to pluck me from my state and turn me upside down? I felt the leather with my fine, long fingers, and despite myself I felt a smile creep on my face. Oh to feel things with hands again! It was beautiful, and then the feel of a smile upon my face made me laugh.
However, the sound of my human voice, so like the mindvoice I had so often conversed in, brought me back to reality. I did not need hands, nor an expressive mouth any more. I was a Companion of Valdemar, and as I looked at myself, I realized that this situation was clearly far more serious than I had been taking it. I did not belong in this body.
The breeze blew again and I shivered, realizing suddenly how cold it was. Without a thought I reached for the energy lines and wrapped myself in warmth, like the blankets I'd cover myself in as a foal in the winter, when I was just a little too cold. With that, I stood up, my ears tense and prickling as the chill made me realize whatever had changed me might still be out there, and for such a deed their intent could only be malicious.
It was winter, yet the snows had not come yet, and the old ones were past. The air was dry and thin, and the trees starkly naked under the moonlit sky, echoing my state. It was very quiet, the nightly noises of summer were long gone. I heard nothing, I saw nothing, and I only smelt the cold. Whatever had changed me, was gone, and even looking at the energy lines I couldn't sense any foreign mage.
I climbed to me feet, wavering a little in the unfamiliar body, but as a Companion my memories of my past life are much closer, and I quickly caught my balance and adjusted. Reaching down I picked up my saddle and blanket and slung my bridle over my shoulder. I'd have to walk like this to the next town, and explain what had happened.
Suddenly I felt as if my warmth had left me. There was no Herald at this town. There were no Heralds or Companion for tens of miles. Who would believe a naked albino carrying a horse's tack through the winter apparently unaffected by cold? Who would give my words any credence at all? I shivered, despite my warmth and realized I would just have to lie, and get myself clothing and a horse somehow and ride back to Haven, where the powerful Mages there could turn me back to my natural form, where I would be believed.
But what would these people believe? Bandits were always a good excuse... Yes, the bandits came, they stripped me of all my belongings including my horse, but left his tack which happened to appear very much like the tack a Companion wore. Yes, they'd believe that. I snorted in disgust and realized I'd have to leave my tack.
Looking around at the empty plowed over farms I felt a sinking feeling. There was no where to hide it. Squinting in the moonlight I toyed with the idea of burying it, or putting it under the bushes in the thin tree line the road paralleled. It was so blue though, although in this light it looked the same as all, gray, in the morning someone would see the hint of blue, someone would ask question as to why a Companion's formal outfitting was hiding under a bush...
I'd have to be quick. If I could just get in to the next town by morning and then ride back out and get my tack... But no... I sighed, heaving out my sides and digging my toes into the hard dirt of the road, frowning curiously as I felt the grainy dirt digging back. Sensation. In my foot. Who the hell would give me a horse anyway? Clothes, yes, but a horse? No one could spare horses in a place like this.
I looked up a the moon, and whispered, :Oh bright Lady, what is a poor stallion to do:
And barely even that, I thought. I was just old enough to be considered an adult by a Companion's standards, and my human body translated that age, for from what I could tell, I had the body of a young man, maybe twenty or so. With a sigh, knowing that my Mage gifts really weren't meant for anything other than bodily enhancement, and gift control/supplementing, I pinched at the magic, wondering if I could change myself back. But as I prodded I knew it was useless. It would have to be some Adept. I could just imagine the look upon Elspeth and Darkwind's faces as they saw me.
With a sinking feeling I wondered if even they would believe me. But that was stupid. I had my memories, I had my powers... I had the tack. Well, I did now anyway. Whether or not it would come to Haven with me was the real question. Damn it all, I thought miserably, Choosing will just have to wait.
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