When Kerowyn woke in the morning, Eldan was still asleep, his arms wrapped around her on the narrow cot. He woke when he felt her stirring. For a moment he lay still, then he brushed her mind gently with his own. :How's the head?: He lifted his hand to gently feel it, looking for lumps.
She smiled, "It's fine," she said aloud, "Jaran's very good."
:Don't give me that,: he Mindspoke with a half smile, :You Healed way too quickly the last time you were thumped on the head.: he referred to the first time they met, almost ten years gone now. :And there was no Healer there.:
She didn't say anything, just shrugged.
Eldan sighed when he realized she wasn't going to enlighten him, right now. "I'm just glad you're all right," he said, kissing her forhead, "I thought I'd lost you." he held her closer, "I've heard some people say that being Chosen was like being hit on the head with a mace..."
"No. it's not really like that at all." Kerowyn laughed.
"Captain?" called a voice from just outside, "Are you awake?"
Kerwyn untangled herself from Eldan's arms, "I'm awake." sitting up she saw that Sayvil was gone.
:Sayvil?: she Mindcalled, uneasily.
:Outside, kechara. Eating.: came the answer. That was the second time Sayvil called her that. It sounded Shin'a'in..but...not.
Sayvil's answer brought Kerowyn's own hunger to awareness. SHe couldn't think when last she'd eaten.
Another green robed Healer came in, a man this time, "How are you feeling, now?" it was the same man who'd just called from outside the tent. He put his hand on her forehead and smiled broadly, "You seem much better."
"I'm feeling quite well, thank you. " She realized she wore nothing but a long shift. She hadn't noticed that when she'd woken the last couple of times. She must have looked a sight when she'd jumped up pointing Need at that man the evening before, "Can I get dressed?"
"Yes, Captain. In fact, your Lieutenant brought some clean clothes over early this morning. Her Highness requests that you meet with she and Prince Darren as soon as you feel able." The Healer replied courteously, indicating a folding stool that held some of Kero's clothes, "I'm happy to release you from our care, now. Although perhaps you'd like your own Healer to check on you?"
"No, no that's fine." said Kerowyn, hastily. The Healer smiled and turned to check on the Companion and the Herald still sleeping at the end of the tent.
"How're they doing?" asked Eldan.
The Healer turned, still smiling, "It was a near thing, but they'll be all right."
Kero saw that someone had set up a screen in the corner and went to go change clothes. Eldan and the Healer were talking too quietly for her to hear, then she heard the Healer walk out. She came out from behind the screen, sat down to put her boots on.
"So what's going on with them?" asked Kerowyn nonchalantly, as she buckled on her sword belt, indicating the Companion and Herald.
"Kyldathar was wounded. The Healer's weren't sure they were going to save her." Eldan replied, "Although, it looks like she had more fight in her than they thought. It'll be some time before she'll be completely healed, but she'll be fine."
:Thanks to us: said Sayvil.
Kerowyn had to struggle to keep a straight face.
The camp was relatively quiet and Kerowyn guessed that many of the soldiers were still in their bedrolls after so many days on the run. Kerowyn reckoned she ought to go see Selenay before she found a meal. She and Eldan made their way to Selenay's tent.
When they arrived, Kero was unsurprised to see Darren and Selenay standing over piles of paper. They both looked up as Kerowyn and Eldan entered, "Kero!" said Darren, clearly pleased and relieved to see her.
Selenay smiled, "Have you eaten yet? We were just going to have something sent over."
Kerowyn smiled back, "No, and I'm starving."
That morning was a little strange for Kerowyn. Whatever reservations anyone might have had about her seemed to be banished by the fact of her being Chosen. The Heralds that made up Selenay's personal staff had been courteous to her before, but now they treated her like a long lost sister. It was slightly overwhelming. Strangest of all was the fact that Darren had also been Chosen and he was making eyes at Selenay like a boy with his first crush.
There was a great deal of business to take care of between the three forces. Decisions and plans needed to be made. The underlying mood was very different from the meetings before the battle, however. There was a great deal of good natured banter and teasing
Just before dinner, Talia came in, followed by Dirk. They both looked tired.
Selenay embraced her Herald, brought her over to the table they were sitting around. Darren and Kerwoyn were the only ones still there. The others having gone to take care of errands or to get their own dinners.
"Darren, you've already met Talia and Dirk?" Selenay asked.
Darren and Kerowyn had risen to clasp hands with Talia, then Dirk. Talia stared at Darren for a moment, then turned startled eyes toward Selenay, then turned back to Darren. "It is very good to see you again, Prince Darren," she said, with a wide smile.
"Ahrodie tells me you were both Chosen?" said Dirk,
Darren grinned, "I'm not sure how I'm going to explain to my brother that I'm not coming back because I have a new mount."
Selenay gestured for them all to sit.
"Are all the Heralds accounted for?" asked Talia.
Selenay's eyes dimmed a little, "Yes. All the ones that disappeared with Kerowyn's scouting parties are dead."
:How do they know that?: Kerowyn asked Sayvil, surprised.
:They know who the Death Bell rang for: Sayvil said solemnly.
Talia nodded, "I thought so, they knew better than to be captured." she had turned a little pale and Dirk grasped her hand.
"Wait, what do you mean by that?" asked Kerowyn. A scant breath later, she knew she didn't want an answer. Selenay and Talia both looked away.
It was Dirk who answered, "Any Herald who looked like they were to be captured were to...avoid it any way they could." he paused and cleared his throat, "Even if it meant taking their own lives."
A long pause. Talia spoke at last, "So what are the other casualties like?"
"Mine were fairly light." said Darren, "Mostly because of those farmers that Ancar had bespelled--they were not planning on coming back anyway. All my troops had to do was stay out of their way."
"We're about the same," Selenay said, "Kerowyn's Skybolts took the brunt of it, I'm afraid. Whatever we can do to compensate your people, Kerowyn, just name it."
Kerowyn smiled sadly, "Just the terms of the agreement will do. All my people know what they were getting into."
Selenay nodded.
"How are the Herald's casualties?" asked Talia.
"The worst were Neave and Kyldathar. The rest were relatively minor. The Healers tell me that Kyldathar will live though." Selenay replied.
"I should go see him." said Talia, she turned to Dirk, "Would you go find us a bed, love?"
Dirk nodded, "If there's nothing else that's vital, I can see to that now."
"Go on, then," Selenay said, "I know you rode all night, to get here so soon."
Darren turned to Kerowyn, "I'm sure you want to have an early night, too." and he gave her a little wink.
Kerowyn had a hard time keeping from laughing, as she realized that Darren was trying very hard to get Selenay alone, without being obvious about it. She left them to it
:Sayvil?: Kerowyn Mindcalled. the sun was setting, and Kero wondered where Eldan could have gotten to.
:Here.: Sayvil came frisking over, passing Talia's Companion as Talia rode him off to the other side of the camp. He gave Sayvil a hard look as he passed her. Sayvil nodded her head.
:I'm in trouble.: said Sayvil placidly.
:Sorry?: asked Kero.
:Rolan wants to have a word with me about last night. Don't concern yourself.:
Sayvil didn't sound that worried, but Kerowyn wasn't sure she liked the sound of it, :About what? My damned sword? If he wants to have a conversation about it, he'd better talk to me.:
:It's not so much your sword as not consulting him about it.: Sayvil said.
They started walking in the general direction of the Skybolt's encampment, :So, this would be the proverbial begging pardon for not asking permission?: asked Kero.
:That it would.: replied Sayvil.
Long before they reached the Skybolt encampment, Rolan appeared out of the shadows. He looked first at Kerowyn and then at Sayvil. His attitude was one of irritation. He stood and looked at Sayvil for another moment.
:Rolan, I am well aware that there are rules.: Sayvil said sharply, :I have broken none of them.:
Another silence and then Sayvil said, :Would you prefer we did nothing and we lost more of us?: she stamped her front hoof for emphasis.
He shook his head, Kerowyn felt like a child, eavsdropping on her mother and father, when she could only hear the one who stood nearer the keyhole.
:She is my Chosen. That is not up for discussion. The artifact she carries also happens to be what prompted her to remind Faram what he owes us.: Sayvil must have picked that out of her brain last night, it was stretching the point ,but... :She also said that if you wanted to discuss her damned sword, you could talk to her your damned self.: Sayvil's Mind voice was acid.
"That's not, quite how I put it." Kero protested, feeling a little embarrassed.
A deep masculine voice spoke to her now, sounding tired, exasperated and vaguely amused, as Rolan looked at Kerowyn, :No, but perhaps you and she are both correct. It is only that I worry that the sword is a danger. I have spoken with Ratha about this--artifact." When Kerowyn had first met Eldan, the sword had created a problem by drawing Karsite Sunpriestesses to them while they were trying to escape from Karse.
"That makes sense, Sir." Rolan made Kerowyn want to treat him with all the respect she showed a head of state, but she didn't know his title, "I prefer to have anything my people pick up checked out by my mages."
:Quite.: Rolan seemed to look on her with a little more favor, :How did you get the sword to help the Companion?:
"I didn't. The sword helps women who are in danger. Apparently she thinks Companions are women. She was the one who wanted to help."
:Would you allow me to See?: he asked courteously.
Kerowyn hesitated, then replied, "All right." she dropped all her shields once again, Rolan was as careful as Sayvil had been, but he was more thorough. Examining things she'd forgotten she knew.
:Thank you, Captain.: He said finally. He seemed reassured. He also sagged a little with weariness, :My Chosen is looking for me and I am tired, so I will leave you. Welcome, Herald-Captain Kerowyn.: He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Kerowyn saw that the Skybolt's campfires were lit. The afterglow of the sunset had faded from the sky.
"Kerowyn? Is that you?" called Eldan's voice. She saw his white uniform in the darkness, "What are you doing out here?"
"I was..." Kerowyn hesitated, for a moment she couldn't think what she was doing. She had the disconcerting sensation that she had forgotten something important. She leaned against Sayvil and whatever it was seemed less so. The moon was rising and it looked like it was going to be a lovely clear night, "I was just watching the sunset, with my Companion."
"Gods, you watch sunsets?" Eldan smiled as he drew close enough to see her, "To hear some talk, you wouldn't ever do anything so frivolous."
She smiled back at his teasing and put her arm around his waist. "Sometimes, I do."
