Why did they have to leave in the middle of the night? Wondered Meryl wearily. She mentally listed the reasons. If only to reassure herself that she had made the right decision. If she had not left, she would have had to endure goodbyes in the morning all over again; and Toby might try to kill Kylira again. Meryl was fairly certain it would not happen, but she did not want to risk his madness. Yet the biggest reason was simply that if she did not mount Kylira and leave that instant, she probably would have chickened out and gone to hide in her willow tree for the rest of her life. Meryl smiled ruefully at that mental image, then switched her focus so she was concentrating on not falling off, she had a death grip on Kylira's saddle, at any moment she could fall off and it was a long way to the ground...

: Relax chosen, I would never let you fall off. That voice that Meryl now knew to be Kylira's reassured.

: Right, whatever you say Kylira. Replied Meryl somewhat hysterically, as she concentrated on clearly forming the words in her mind. Meryl could have sworn that Kylira smiled, in response, she scowled the best scowl she could muster considering her somewhat frazzled mental state.

Trainee and Companion soon entered Haven. Under other circumstances, Meryl would have looked around hungrily, drinking in the sights. However, due to her tiredness and slight shock. It all passed in a looping blur.

It was much later when Meryl wearily looked up to see a man in a dark blue uniform standing before a gate set into a stone wall.

"You must be Meryl, Kylira's chosen" He phrased it as a question but it sounded more like a statement.

"Yes, Kylira chose me." Responded Meryl somewhat warily.

"Well then, I suppose you are eager to make it to Herald's Collegium, Come right through, it is only a little farther." The gate guard said in a friendly manner that dispelled her doubts.

"Thank you." Whispered Meryl, who was drooping with weariness, the long circular route through Haven Kylira took her on had passed by in a daze, she was making an effort to pay attention now but it was very hard. She felt Kylira start her brisk trotting again, and groaned. Did Companions even get tired? Wondered Meryl enviously. The pair soon reached a large stone building, three stories high with many windows. This had to be the Herald's Collegium.

: Welcome to the Collegium. Said Kylira. That answered her unspoken inference well enough. Someone must have alerted the people at the Collegium because a lanky teenager in grey clothing was waiting for her.

"Welcome, Meryl. Good evening Kylira. My name is Linette, I'm assigned to introduce you to the Collegium and how it runs, give you the tour and tell you other important things you need to know. Normally, you would be given the tour right away, but because it is so late, you'll get the tour in the morning, alright?"

"Um, sure."

"Anyhow, why don't you dismount from Kylira and let the grooms take care of her, just for tonight. You must be exhausted!"

"Well, yes I am exhausted. But, Linette, I- I can't dismount from Kylira, I don't know how!" Linette's chatter bemused Meryl, so she said the first thing that had popped into her mind. Inwardly, she cringed. Linette must think her a fool.

"Oh, that's a problem, um, just listen to your Companion, she will help you get off her. And anyways, if you fall, I can catch you." Linette responded with the slightest of hesitations.

"Fall? I could fall?"

"Well, yes, but Kylira would never let that happen, right?" Demanded Linette, staring right into Kylira's eyes. Kylira snorted and seemed to roll her eyes. With some effort, Meryl ungracefully got her feet on solid ground, a maneuver that required awkward sliding and a few muffled curses.

"Ow." She groaned. Everything hurt.

"Don't you worry; it'll only get worse in the morning." Said Linette cheerfully.

"Thanks a lot." Grumbled Meryl. Linette laughed.

"Don't worry, when I was chosen, I couldn't even ride a horse, let alone dismount and still stand afterwards. At least it looks like you rode one once in your life. Come on then, I'll show you to your room."

"Oh that sounds good." Meryl said, interrupting Linette's flow of speech. However, first, she turned to look Kylira in her eyes.

"Thank you." Meryl said sincerely.

Kylira snorted and a groom led her off into the darkness.

: I will see you in the morning chosen. Kylira's voice replied. Meryl gave a half-hearted wave.

Linette watched them with an envious look.

"You two must have a very strong bond to Mindspeak each other so easily so soon after you've met. I can barley talk to Olen and I've been a trainee for three whole years."

"I suppose so." Meryl shrugged "Um, sorry. For your communication problems I mean."

"Don't worry about it." Linette dismissed the subject, clearly not wanting to talk about that. Again, she assumed her cheerful talkative mood. How could anyone be this cheerful in the middle of the night? Meryl thought grumpily.

"Now, I don't mean to be rude, but can you please show me to a bed? If I have to stand here any longer I think I'm going to fall asleep standing up!" Meryl asked, on her best manners. Linette laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Right this way Meryl." Meryl smiled gratefully and followed Linette.

Meryl awoke from a dreamless sleep by a soft knock on her door. Blearily smoothing her flannel nightgown, Meryl opened her door. There was Linette, standing dressed and ready for the day.

"Hurry up and change Meryl. We have lots to do today! Bring your dirty clothes with you; everyone has to wash up before breakfast so the washroom will be our first stop." Linette tossed Meryl a bundle of clothes then stepped out of the room and closed the door.

In the bundle there was a grey woollen undershirt, an over-tunic, also grey, dark grey almost black leggings and leather half shoes that looked much too big for her. Meryl shrugged, that problem would be addressed later she hoped. Dressing quickly, yet gingerly, because her whole body hurt from last night's exertions and she knew Linette was waiting, Meryl spared a glance for her room. There was the bed, pushed up against the far left wall and beside that; there was a nightstand with a candle on top. There was a wardrobe on the inside wall. Crammed against the right wall there was a desk with a chair pushed under it, beside the desk there was a small, unlit fireplace. Finally, squeezed between the wardrobe and the bed, a small bookcase stood. Meryl grinned; she had never had such a lovely room, much less a room all to herself. Moreover, there was a small window above her bed. Opening the door and squaring her shoulders, Meryl felt prepared to greet her first day as a Heraldic trainee.

The bathing room was a miracle in itself. Meryl was hardly paying attention as Linette rattled on about how they were in the girl's dormitory wing and how the boys slept on the other side; she was still trying to wrap her mind around water that came from taps, no wells necessary. The soap was amazing, pale green and scented with sage, unlike the coarse stuff they had used back at the farm. There were three large copper washtubs and quite a few china sinks, but the best thing of all was the indoor water closets. Meryl could never have fathomed such a thing was possible!

Once the girls had washed up, Linette led Meryl towards the Common room, where trainees, Heralds not on circuit and the Heralds who would be their teachers ate. It was, easily, the largest room Meryl had ever been into, she quickly became overwhelmed by amount of people crowding in.

"Come on Meryl, you should sit with me and my friends." Linette led her over to some kids all wearing the same grey uniform as she. Except for one girl who wore spilt skirts instead of breeches.

"Everyone, this is Meryl, the newest herald-trainee. Meryl, this is Caleb". Introduced Linette, pointing to a tall, skinny boy who looked about a year older than Meryl did.

"Hello." He said softly.

"And this is Richenda." Continued Linette, pointing to a blond girl with close-cropped hair and startlingly green eyes. "She was chosen a few days before you came and is still getting used to the Collegium."

"Nice to meet you Meryl." Richenda said, waving.

"Hi Richenda." Replied Meryl shyly.

"Oh, no need to be shy. We're all friends here." Stated Richenda. Meryl got the feeling that this girl was not afraid of much. Unlike her. The introductions continued. Meryl sat down and enjoyed a bowl of hot porridge with honey drizzled on top. Soon, Meryl was laughing along with the rest of them at a very funny anecdote told by Richenda, her shyness forgotten. Nevertheless, at the back of her mind, a little worry gnawed away. What would her new friends think if, no when they found out she was afraid of horses? Moreover, even slightly afraid of her own Companion?

The chiming of a bell signalled the end of Breakfast.

"Bells keep the time you know." Said Linette. "You slept through the wake up bell, but a bell always rings to wake you up, announce meals, changes of class, stuff like that. It can get bloody annoying but we have to live with it so you get used to it. Now come on, before I show you the rest of the Collegium, I've got orders to take you to see Housekeeper Seshel."

"Who's housekeeper Seshel?" Asked Meryl as she struggled to catch up with Linette, who was walking at a very brisk pace.

"She provides us with uniforms, assigns chores and probably a host of other things us trainees will never know about. She will take your measurements and get you the right size of clothing and boots. We may wear much mended clothing, but our boots always fit! We do not have any servants around here if you have noticed. So all of us trainees have to help with upkeep. Depending on what you can do, we are assigned chores. You should have seen the faces of some of the trainees chosen from the nobility when they heard this. Simply hilarious!"

"I'll take your word for it." Said Meryl. They soon reached a door upon which Linette knocked.

"Enter." Said a voice from within. The girls entered the room, a harried looking woman looked up from some notes she was taking.

"Ah, the new trainee and her guide. Come in. Come in."

Within moments, the housekeeper was efficiently taking her measurements and mumbling to herself.

"Small feet." Commented the Housekeeper. Linette smirked.

"I had big feet you know." She said. The housekeeper and Linette shared a smile. Meryl figured there was a bit of history between the two. Soon, housekeeper Seshel had the girls sit across from her as she sat down on the other side of her desk.

"Now Meryl, as Linette has probably explained to you, all trainees are assigned chores. Do you have any specific skills you can tell me about?"

Meryl gulped nervously.

"I'm a passable cook and can clean justifiably well, but I can't sow or mend. The few times I tried that I messed up, and whatever I was working became unsalvageable. Ma gave up on me after a while. So did my older sisters. I know quite a bit about corn farming, though I don't see what that has to do with chores and I can weave baskets." She answered.

"You can cook?" Demanded Seshel.

"Enough so that I don't burn myself or whatever I'm cooking, although I'm much better at baking than cooking."

"That's good. Very good. I am assigning you to be one of the cook's helpers. You will help prepare the meals. Okay?"

"Sure."

"As for uniforms and boots, those will be delivered to your room soon, you are expected to put all dirty laundry down the laundry chute, have a bath at least once a day, and always wash yourself before meals and after Weapons Practice. Understand?"

"Yes housekeeper." Replied Meryl.

"Then you girls can go, Linette, continue the tour till lunch."

"I will. See you later" Said Linette.

"Yes, yes." Dismissed the housekeeper, waving a hurrying hand. The girls quickly made their escape.

Lunch passed the same as breakfast, Linette introduced her to many new people and Meryl was soon having a great time. The only real difference was the food. Fruit, cold slabs of roast beef and pocket pies for dessert made a filling and satisfying meal. Well, there was also the difference that her body had gone from being in direct pain, to an uncomfortable stiffness. Linette continued the tour then, Meryl saw almost all of the Collegium.

"But that's not all. I saved the best room for last." Proclaimed Linette as she led Meryl up a flight of stairs.

"Welcome to the Library!" Linette gestured grandly at the bookshelves filled with books.

"Wow!"

"That was my reaction too. I never knew there could be so many books gathered in one place!"

"And, we're allowed to read them?"

"As long as you don't take a book out of the library or damage it, we can come up here anytime we want, provided we aren't supposed to be in classes or other important functions like that. Herald- Chronicler Myste oversees this library. And there will be hell to pay if we mess it up."

"Sounds amazing!" Exclaimed Meryl.

"So you like to read?"

"I suppose so, my parents taught me to read, but we never really had any books."

"Well, you'll get your chance to read now."

"Now?"

"Not right now, I have to bring you to Dean Teren's office for your examination, but later on. Okay?"

"Sure, wait, hold on, did you say something about a test?"

"We get an oral test from the Dean so he knows what level of learning we are at in various subjects. Then he knows in which classes he should place us. I am sure he will explain more when we get there. So come on, don't look so frightened, it really isn't all that bad."

"I'm not frightened! Just- apprehensive. That's all." Meryl retorted defensively.

"Whatever, follow me."

Meryl did just that. A few minutes later, she found herself seated in a neat, but small office. Dean Teren sat across from her.

"Thank you Linette for the time you put into showing Meryl around. You girls can catch up later, because Linette, I believe you have a class to attend?" he said.

"Darn. I was hoping to get out of weapons training." The older girl grimaced. "Ah well. See you later Meryl." Linette waved and left the room. Now it was just Meryl and the Dean. Silence reigned as trainee and Dean stared at one another. Dean Teren broke first. Or maybe he just wanted to get on with his day.

"So Meryl, did Linette show you around well?"

"Yes, I think so. She talked allot so it was kind of hard to remember everything she said but I think I got the gist of it."

"That's good. Now has Linette explained that I need to test you to see what you know?"

"Sort of."

"Then tell me this, can you read?"

"I can. My parents taught me and almost all of my siblings because we were to far away from a temple, although a priest came by once in a while to check on our education after-, never mind." Dean Teren looked at her shrewdly.

"So you can write as well?" He queried, moving on.

"My parents taught me that as well."

"And Meryl, you can do basic math too?"

"Sort of. Ma and Pa were not very good at math. However, when Auntie Penelope came to stay with us, she made sure to teach us how to figure. Although I'm not very good at it."

"Well, that is encouraging."

"It is?"

"Yes, this means you don't have to start from the ground up. Queen Selaney did make that rule about mandatory schooling at the temples for all children, but in some places, it is not enforced very well. Now, I just need to know a few more things..."

Meryl was in a daze as she slowly walked out of Dean Teren's office two bells later. Within half a candlemark, he had practically Meryl's whole life story! He even found out about her fear of horses. The Dean assured her it would get better with time. Not very useful, thought Meryl. It was time for dinner but Meryl did not feel very hungry, so she decided to skip it and go visit Kylira, she determined it would be a good start to getting rid of her phobia.

Kylira was waiting just outside the exit to Companion's field.

: Glad to see you decided to visit. She commented.

: Well, I was very busy.

: I know.

: How do you know?

: Well I was there in your head.

: How is that possible? If horses could shrug, that was what Kylira would have done.

: You have a strong Mindspeaking gift that is just awakening now, but horrible shields. You will have to work on that. However, I can help you for now. If you really want me to stay out of your head, I can. Somehow, I do not think you really want that.

: No, I guess I don't. Meryl said after a moment.

: And you know chosen, with the strength of your gift, you don't have to be this close to talk with me. We can communicate whenever or wherever for quite a distance.

: That's a relief.

: What, are you scared of me?

: No, It's just- easier when you're a disembodied voice in my head.

: Hmm. At any rate, would you like to go for a ride chosen?

: I don't know how, besides I'm still sore from yesterday. Linette said there would be riding classes so can we wait till then? I just, want to spend some time with you.

: Alright chosen, if that is what you want. Come with me to the stables, I'll walk you through how to groom me.

: Will- will there be other Companions there?

: Of course, it is Companion's stables after all, but they won't hurt you I promise, didn't you just think you wanted to start facing your fear?

: I did, in that case, let's go then.

Meryl had to admit, she loved grooming Kylira, brushing out her shiny silver mane.

Richenda and her Companion Gjerah were there as well.

"Save the hair, I can show you how to knot bracelets among other things out of it. If you want to that is." Advised Richenda, striking up a conversation.

"That would be nice." Meryl said shyly.

"Great! I love braiding and knotting, especially teaching others to do so as well. It's kind of my hobby."

"An interesting hobby, I look forward to learning how." Replied Meryl, carefully gathering the hair that was collected on the brush she was using on Kylira. Before either girl knew it, the sun was going down. Yet the girls had started the beginnings of what Meryl hoped would be a strong friendship.

"We'd better go now. I think Linette mentioned something about a lights out bell?" Suggested Meryl.

"That's right, we'd better go before we're missed."

: Don't worry, the people at the Collegium know you are here.

Meryl smiled gratefully at Kylira.

: I'll see you tomorrow.

: See you in the morning chosen. Pleasant dreams.

: You too. Replied Meryl.

Giving her Companion a final pat, Richenda and Meryl left the stables and headed towards the Collegium.

"Are you hungry?" Asked Richenda.

"A bit, I did skip dinner."

"As did I, c'mon, let's go get a snack from the kitchen. There's this cool pantry stocked with food for snacks. I discovered it on my first day here."

"Nice. Lead on Richenda."

Meryl lay in bed, thinking of her first day at Herald's Collegium. All in all, it had been a wonderful day. She had made new friends, was pretty sure she wasn't all that scared of Companions anymore and she had a promising array of classes arranged for her on the morrow. Meryl fell asleep with a smile on her lips just as a single ray of moonlight filtered through her small window, illuminating the slumbering form of a contented Herald-trainee.