Ok! This is my first Mercedes lackey fanfic. It seems like no one is writing these. :( That makes me sad. Her books really are great, and there's so much you could do with her Valdemar series! Which, if you haven't guessed, this falls under. So, review if you can. Writers always likes feedback. Makes me feel special :).

Summary: Adriel's father is a mercenary, and his brothers are all well on their way to following in his footsteps. Adriel is too soft, in his father's opinion. He likes animals, raising and caring for them. He also likes to draw and read. He hates fighting. It makes him feel sick. His father forces him to go to the Academy, though. To toughen him up. Fate has a different plan for Adriel, though. In the form of a white horse.

(Yes, another herald fic. What can I say? I love them!)

Adriel walked swiftly down the stone path, keeping his head down and minding his own business. He only had half a candle mark for lunch, and the mess hall was on the other side of the academy grounds. Master Ourich was already displeased with his progress for the day. He did not want to disappoint his master any further.

The boy tried to step from stone to stone, but his legs were too short and the stones placed far too far apart for him to manage such a feat, so he mainly ended up walking in the dirt, getting his white uniform dirty. He would get marks off for that later…

He still didn't understand why they made them wear the white tunic and trews. They got dirt on them almost the moment he put the blasted things on. But that's just how things were at the Academy. He had a pale yellow stripe trailing down his tunic, denoting his rank: novice.

Adriel was only 9 years old, but his father had believed that he was ready for the Academy. In the border towns, families were run under a strict patriarchal hierarchy. His father had the last say. Adriel remembered the day quite clearly.

*Flashback*

He had just managed to catch two tadpoles in the little stream by their old stone house. He was in the process of transporting them back to his room, using his wool cap to hold them and running as fast as he could to try and get there before the water all leaked out, when his father caught him.

"What are you doing boy?!" He growled. "What have you got there?"

Adriel froze, stumbling a bit on the steps as he spun to face his father. "U-Uhm…" He said, uncertainly. His father didn't encourage his interest in animals. He thought it was weak.

"What have ya' done to your hat?! I worked hard all season, fighting to stay alive and support you, your brothers, and your mother, and this is how you repay me?"

"B-But… It'll dry out. I just need it real quick, to take these up to the tank, then I'll hang it up outside-"

"WHAT?! Is that another one of your stupid pets?!" Devron was a very intimidating man at the best of times, but the antics of his youngest son seemed to bring out the worst in him.

Adriel flinched, realizing his mistake. "I-I… They're just tadpoles!" He said, trying to salvage the situation as best he could.

Devron tore the hat from the boy's fingers and flipped it up, letting the tadpoles flop out and hit the stairs.

Adriel gasped, lunging for the helpless creatures and trying to gather them up. His father had other ideas, though.

"Oh no you don't!" Devron roared, grabbing the boy by the scruff of his neck and dragging him up the stairs to his room.

Adriel bit back a whimper of pain, wincing as he dragged him up the stairs. He knew better than to struggle.

"I'm SICK of it!" Devron growled. "I'm sick of your little experiments, and your picky eating, and you refusing to go hunting with your brothers and me. SICK OF IT! Do you HEAR me?!" He snarled, shoving Adriel into the room.

Adriel stumbled, barely managing to keep his feet under him. He might share his father's dark brown, almost black hair and hazel colored eyes, but his build was completely different. He had always been a bit scrawny, small for his age. It made him an easy target for his older brothers. He stared down at his feet, waiting for his father to finish his lecture.

"I'm done with it, I tell you! You're going to the Academy! Let them deal with ya!" Devron growled, decisively. "They won't put up with any of your pansy eating or pest collection!"

Adriel paled (which was saying something, considering how pale his skin was to begin with), eyes widening. "B-But… I've got another year!" He said, shocked

"You'll need it from what I've seen!" Devron snapped. "You're barely up to herding a flock of sheep, let alone fighting in a proper band. But the academy will fix that. You haven't got much hope of ever captaining your own band, being so scrawny, but they'll make a good fighter outta ya. A real fighter. Not some pansy."

Adriel just stared at his father, wide eyed. He knew there was nothing he could say, but he could feel tears gathering in the backs of his eyes. He didn't want to be a mercenary! He didn't want to leave all of his animals here… They wouldn't let him have any at the Academy. He had heard enough stories about the place from his brothers to know that.

"Get some sleep. You leave in the morning." Devron said, nodding sharply before leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind him.

*End Flashback*

Adriel started slightly at a movement in the corner of his eye, pulling him out of the unpleasant memory. It had been over a year since he had come to the Academy. But it still seemed so fresh in his mind. He swallowed, trying to clear the burning feeling in his throat.

He turned his head a bit and caught sight of a huge black bird, the source of the movement. It was easily the size of a crow! But he had never seen a crow with a brilliant blue streak down its wing… And parts of it chest were speckled white. Its movements seemed so graceful.

He eagerly reached for the sketchbook, when suddenly there was a mixture of loud pops and crackling. Another set of fireworks. The bird took off into the air, startled. Adriel sighed, putting the sketchbook back in his bag and continuing down the path.

Everyone seemed to be celebrating. He didn't quite understand why. It had something to do with some battle a long time ago. It didn't much matter to him. He had to attend training and Circle no matter what. At least he got to see the bird… even if he didn't get to draw it. Maybe he could return after Circle.