He was not sulking in the dark, Estien found himself repeating like a mantra, simply practicing an inordinately complicated feat of stealth. He was also not scuttling between shadowed corners. It was simply an exercise of quiet, albeit hunched, walking.
A color like the taste of crisp green apples filled his mind.
:. Stop snickering, tail-sniffer. .: Shot the crown-prince of Valdemar to his Companion.
Estien felt Rolan sniff indignantly. :. Tail-sniffer? I would thank you to keep your disgusting notions to yourself, brother. I am not some sort of common canine, you know. Horse. . .dog. . .they're entirely different animals. .:
:. Ah-ha! So you admit you're a horse, Horse! .: If Estien hadn't been cramped behind a statue, he would have stomped his foot to emphasize his triumph. As it was, he simply nodded profoundly.
:. Oh, get over it, Chosen. And you're not sulking or scuttling, you're slinking. Now hurry-up or you're going to lose him. .:
A fleeting wave of annoyance tinged Estien's thoughts. I wouldn't have to 'slink' or worry about losing anyone if my damn Companion decided to stop keeping secrets, he found himself thinking. :. You know, Rolan, this would all be a lot easier if you would just tell me what the boy is up to, since you obviously know. .:
:.I told you, just follow him! You'll see soon enough. .: replied the Companion, voice tinged with obvious enjoyment. Estien understood that a lot of things surrounding the Companions were, by nature, hedged in mystery. However, sometimes (like now), he felt that Rolan took the mysterious role a bit too seriously. Estien felt Rolan snort in indignation, and knew with a twinge of regret that he'd pay for all the unshielded thinking he'd done tonight.
Estien plastered his back to the wall, walking sideways through the corridor, senses focused to pick up any noises or hints of movement in the soft light of the night lamps. With the care developed from years of weapons training, Estien placed one foot after another on the solid wood surface of the corridor floor with all the silence of a cat in every step. :. Rolan, remind me to revisit the guard schedules for the corridors and to look into those security traps the Artificers have been babbling about. It's entirely too easy to sneak about in here, and if it's easy for me it will be next to nothing for an actual spy. .:
The Herald-Prince felt his Companion grin in response. :. See, you're learning from the experience. .:
Estien fought down the urge to throttle the Companion. It's not Rolan's fault that he's an incredibly annoying fart-bag on four feet, after all, Estien thought with a sigh, very publicly.
:. It's also not my fault if Kyla remembers that you haven't gone through the advanced survival run in, oh, years. .: Flipped back Rolan.
:. You wouldn't. . . .:
:. Survival is very important, Chosen. .: Sent Rolan, his mental voice dripping innocence layered on amusement. :. It's important for you to be able to care for yourself in ANY situation, even ones where you can't get a daily bath. .:
Shaking a fist angrily into the air, Estien refused to respond to his Companion's jibe. Instead, he decided, it was probably safer to concentrate on the task ahead. Poking his head around the corridor's corner, he watched as Vanel's head disappeared down the south stairs. Stairs, which he knew from experience, led directly into the "working" area of the palace: the classroom corridors, the artificer's laboratories, and eventually to. . .the Healers' area.
Suddenly, everything fell into place. Foresight wasn't Vanel's only Gift, if Estien recalled correctly, there was talk of him also becoming a very powerful MindHealer someday. :. Okay Rolan, you are going to give me straight answer. Is Vanel, a half-trained MindHealer, going to try and help Yfandena, a patient that not even the best Healers have been able to help? .:
A brief silence filled the air around Estien as he felt Rolan think of how to answer. Finally, Rolan Sent a simple affirmative. :. Yes. .:
Anger filled Estien. Struggling for control of his temper, Estien tried to shunt away some of the fierce emotions that colored his mental voice. He had to stay calm. He had to get through this and think, he told himself repeatedly. :. And, dare I ask, WHAT you and Tylden were thinking when you undoubtedly allowed if not suggested this mad escapade? Fully aware, of course, of the dangers a HALF-TRAINED Healer places themselves in when they try to Heal without supervision. Not to mention the damage that could be done to Yfandena! .:
Estien could almost see Rolan's ears flatten in contrite response. :. We HAD to Chosen. Yfandena is out of options, he's her only hope, and if anything goes wrong. . . Well, you ARE awake. .:
:. ME? And what am I supposed to do, Rolan?.: Shouted back Estien. He could feel his throat close with a touch of panic as he thought of how truly little he could do if anything went awry. :. I'm no Healer. .:
:. You've enough empathy to channel and a strong Mage-Gift besides. You'll be able to do enough. I will show you if the need arises. .: Concluded Rolan. Estien could not help but note the tinge of uncertainty colored his tone. :.Yes, I'm uncertain, brother. It would be better for everyone if no need arose. .:
The Companion's voice begged for trust, for approval. Estien knew better than most the price of command, the weight of a decision. He could feel Rolan's heart, as he felt his own heart, ache with all that it had taken to do what was needed. I suppose, that's the key. It was needed. :. Choice is never easy, is it brother? .: Estien Sent quietly. :. Well, let's pray to the gods that this choice was right, and hope that I am not needed to do whatever little you seem to think I can do. .:
A color like the taste of crisp green apples filled his mind.
:. Stop snickering, tail-sniffer. .: Shot the crown-prince of Valdemar to his Companion.
Estien felt Rolan sniff indignantly. :. Tail-sniffer? I would thank you to keep your disgusting notions to yourself, brother. I am not some sort of common canine, you know. Horse. . .dog. . .they're entirely different animals. .:
:. Ah-ha! So you admit you're a horse, Horse! .: If Estien hadn't been cramped behind a statue, he would have stomped his foot to emphasize his triumph. As it was, he simply nodded profoundly.
:. Oh, get over it, Chosen. And you're not sulking or scuttling, you're slinking. Now hurry-up or you're going to lose him. .:
A fleeting wave of annoyance tinged Estien's thoughts. I wouldn't have to 'slink' or worry about losing anyone if my damn Companion decided to stop keeping secrets, he found himself thinking. :. You know, Rolan, this would all be a lot easier if you would just tell me what the boy is up to, since you obviously know. .:
:.I told you, just follow him! You'll see soon enough. .: replied the Companion, voice tinged with obvious enjoyment. Estien understood that a lot of things surrounding the Companions were, by nature, hedged in mystery. However, sometimes (like now), he felt that Rolan took the mysterious role a bit too seriously. Estien felt Rolan snort in indignation, and knew with a twinge of regret that he'd pay for all the unshielded thinking he'd done tonight.
Estien plastered his back to the wall, walking sideways through the corridor, senses focused to pick up any noises or hints of movement in the soft light of the night lamps. With the care developed from years of weapons training, Estien placed one foot after another on the solid wood surface of the corridor floor with all the silence of a cat in every step. :. Rolan, remind me to revisit the guard schedules for the corridors and to look into those security traps the Artificers have been babbling about. It's entirely too easy to sneak about in here, and if it's easy for me it will be next to nothing for an actual spy. .:
The Herald-Prince felt his Companion grin in response. :. See, you're learning from the experience. .:
Estien fought down the urge to throttle the Companion. It's not Rolan's fault that he's an incredibly annoying fart-bag on four feet, after all, Estien thought with a sigh, very publicly.
:. It's also not my fault if Kyla remembers that you haven't gone through the advanced survival run in, oh, years. .: Flipped back Rolan.
:. You wouldn't. . . .:
:. Survival is very important, Chosen. .: Sent Rolan, his mental voice dripping innocence layered on amusement. :. It's important for you to be able to care for yourself in ANY situation, even ones where you can't get a daily bath. .:
Shaking a fist angrily into the air, Estien refused to respond to his Companion's jibe. Instead, he decided, it was probably safer to concentrate on the task ahead. Poking his head around the corridor's corner, he watched as Vanel's head disappeared down the south stairs. Stairs, which he knew from experience, led directly into the "working" area of the palace: the classroom corridors, the artificer's laboratories, and eventually to. . .the Healers' area.
Suddenly, everything fell into place. Foresight wasn't Vanel's only Gift, if Estien recalled correctly, there was talk of him also becoming a very powerful MindHealer someday. :. Okay Rolan, you are going to give me straight answer. Is Vanel, a half-trained MindHealer, going to try and help Yfandena, a patient that not even the best Healers have been able to help? .:
A brief silence filled the air around Estien as he felt Rolan think of how to answer. Finally, Rolan Sent a simple affirmative. :. Yes. .:
Anger filled Estien. Struggling for control of his temper, Estien tried to shunt away some of the fierce emotions that colored his mental voice. He had to stay calm. He had to get through this and think, he told himself repeatedly. :. And, dare I ask, WHAT you and Tylden were thinking when you undoubtedly allowed if not suggested this mad escapade? Fully aware, of course, of the dangers a HALF-TRAINED Healer places themselves in when they try to Heal without supervision. Not to mention the damage that could be done to Yfandena! .:
Estien could almost see Rolan's ears flatten in contrite response. :. We HAD to Chosen. Yfandena is out of options, he's her only hope, and if anything goes wrong. . . Well, you ARE awake. .:
:. ME? And what am I supposed to do, Rolan?.: Shouted back Estien. He could feel his throat close with a touch of panic as he thought of how truly little he could do if anything went awry. :. I'm no Healer. .:
:. You've enough empathy to channel and a strong Mage-Gift besides. You'll be able to do enough. I will show you if the need arises. .: Concluded Rolan. Estien could not help but note the tinge of uncertainty colored his tone. :.Yes, I'm uncertain, brother. It would be better for everyone if no need arose. .:
The Companion's voice begged for trust, for approval. Estien knew better than most the price of command, the weight of a decision. He could feel Rolan's heart, as he felt his own heart, ache with all that it had taken to do what was needed. I suppose, that's the key. It was needed. :. Choice is never easy, is it brother? .: Estien Sent quietly. :. Well, let's pray to the gods that this choice was right, and hope that I am not needed to do whatever little you seem to think I can do. .: