AN: Yup. It's here. The next chapter. It's not much, just kind of a fluff chapter. Sigh I know. I'd like to apologize for my extreme lack of updating in my portfolio. I've been suffering from massive writer's block, and I think it's because of stress. I just moved into my own apartment with one of my friends, and it's a lot more stressful than I thought, keeping up with bills and whatnot. But things are smoothing out, and I've been writing a bit more. So, yeah…sorry everyone! I should have a couple more chapters coming soon!
Chapter 9
Kris folded Dirk's brief letter. Rather than coming back to Haven for the week before midwinter, he was just going to stay home, and Kris would join him at his home in the North.
He whistled as he walked down the corridor and through the student dorms. He was quite sick of taking his meals with the court. He entered the familiar dining room of the students, remembering that it hadn't been so long since he had been a lad in grays, sitting in this very dining room.
He smiled as he passed a group of boys whispering together with mischevious glints in their eyes. He took a seat in the corner near the door and accepted large helpings of Mero's delicious food. He went back to scanning the room, and paused when he spotted Talia blushing furiously as a large group of people around her laughed. Sure enough, Skif was in the vicinity. Rumors had been spreading like wildfire about the two, but Kris had trouble accepting that shy Talia would ever go for Skif, the former street rat and theif…but he couldn't deny that particular gleam in either of their eyes either!
:That Skif is a lot more grown up than you might realize. He's not a little boy thief anymore.: Tantris observed. :Just look at how his whole demeanor changes around her—he can sense how easily she can spook.:
:I believe you, featherfoot. He's definitely not the same half-starved rebelious boy he was when he arrived.:
:Dirk's going to have his hands full, anyway. If I'm thinking correctly, Skif will be getting his Whites any time within the next year and a half or so. Unless Dirk gets an assignment other than circuit riding, which I doubt, he'll end up with Skif as an intern.:
Kris looked back at the group of students just in time to see the former thief hand Griffon's belt pouch to him, which he must have filtched from right beneath Griffon's nose. The firestarter only glared at Skif with a wry sort of humor and snatched his belongings back. By now, everyone was used to Skif's antics and couldn't be angry.
Yes indeed, Dirk would certainly have an interesting time of it!
o
Kris breathed the snow-fresh air with content. It was beatiful weather for winter. A powdery snow was falling softly all around Tantris and himself. It wasn't too cold, and Tantris' bridle bells filled the air with pleasant cheer.
He had just spent the morning packing for the journey to Dirk's home, and was only now getting on his way out of the Palace gates.
:We'd be gone sooner, but SOMEONE had to load me down like a pack mule!: Tantris teased.
"Who's the one who bragged all over Companion's Field that he could carry double his own weight?" Kris teased right back.
:Well, I must be able to, with you as a Herald!:
Kris stopped laughing. "Have I gained so much weight since last time we rode out?"
Tantris laughed in his mind. :No, brother, you haven't. I was only teasing. What a vein little peacock you are!:
Kris sighed, and caught sight of something a bit further out in the distance—it was Ylsa, Keren, and Talia, skating happily on the lake. There was someone on the bank tending a small fire, but the figure was so wrapped up in furs that Kris couldn't make out who it was.
:I'll be! It's Herald Jadus!: Tantris exclaimed. Just then, the figure looked up and waved merrily. The others looked up to see who Jadus was waving at and as soon as they recognized him, they waved as well.
Kris laughed and waved back, then jumped from Tantris' back and gathered some snow in his hands. The girls shrieked when they realized what he was doing, but they didn't act fast enough. He got Ylsa on the arm, and Talia when she had her back turned.They burst into gales of laughter as Keren leaped onto her own Companion's saddle and took off after him. She chased him a good way before she caught up, and proceeded to dump about an armfull of snow down Kris's cloak. She galloped away and he could hear Ylsa and Talia laughing.
"You're evil!" Kris shouted after her.
Tantris snorted and threw back his head, laughing. :Come on, Herald of mine. Let's get to Dirk's before the weather changes!:
