"Sooner or later we've all got to let go of our past."―Dan Brown
Bredin groomed Losanir while Lacaral stood beside them. Lacaral's brother had yet another false calling about a sennight before and the two were consoling the despondent Companion.
Trainee Rotherven came into Companions' stable with a very young boy at his side. "Bredin! I was looking for you. Young Theodren has been Chosen by Cheric. Could you introduce him to your yearmates? I thought you would be able to help him since you speak Karsite."
Bredin smiled at the tiny, blond boy. Speaking in Karsite, he said "Greet the Sun, Theodren. Welcome to the Collegium! This is Losanir, who hasn't found his Chosen yet and that is Lacaral, who Chose me." The two Companions nodded at Theodren.
"Greet the Sun, Bredin!" Theodren replied in an accent that Myste had told Bredin belonged to people living in the Northwestern hills of Karse.
As they spoke, the dinner warning bell rang. Bredin told Rotherven that he would take Theodren to dinner with him. The older Trainee left. Bredin finished grooming Losanir and took Theodren to join his yearmates. Theodren was the first Chosen since Bredin's yearmates, there wasn't a group for him yet.
Jill, Lars, Jan and the rest greeted Theodren warmly, placing him in the middle of the bench so he would not be neglected. Theodren was a little awestruck that Jan was highborn, but Jan managed to put Theodren at ease by getting him to talk about his home. Lacaral warned Bredin not to ask Theodren about his time in the Tedrel camp; from the 'listening' looks of Bredin's yearmates, their Companions were giving them similar advice.
Kadhael's expulsion was the main topic of conversation. Bredin had been at the Temple that day and hadn't heard. "That's a relief to me. No more ambushes. Stupid of him to defy Alberich, though. I wonder how he thought he could get away with that?"
Lacaral mindspoke Bredin. ::That sort of person usually manages to make a fatal mistake sooner or later.::
"Yes, they do." Bredin said, mindspeaking and speaking aloud at the same time. When Theodren looked at him strangely, Bredin explained that he had been talking to Lacaral. "Your Companion is your very best friend, Theodren. Cheric will never let you down. You will love him like I love Lacaral."
A warm feeling suffused Bredin. ::Thank you, Chosen. I think I am blushing.:: Lacaral said.
Jill taunted Bredin. "I thought Lacaral had quite emphatically let you down once."
Bredin laughed. "You know what I mean." He told Theodren about his problems learning to ride and how he had lost his temper.
With Spring Day and his brother's wedding approaching, Bredin had to find a wedding gift for the couple. Lacaral recommended that Bredin go to a pawn shop known as "Willy the Weasel's". The pawn shop had been there for centuries. The pawn shop was located in a part of the city where middle class merchants sold goods. It had once been a working-class neighborhood, but as Haven grew, merchants had displaced the laborers and built comfortable private homes.
Even merchant families fell on hard times, however, and they needed a place where their possessions could be turned to cash at need. So the pawn shop had remained where it was, gradually changing its merchandise and clientele to reflect the greater wealth of the neighborhood. Lacaral told Bredin that the shop was named for the original pawnbroker of centuries before.
Bredin entered the pawnshop, which was divided into two sections. The outer section contained the less valuable merchandise like pots, pans and tableware as well as large items that could not be pocketed by thieves. The inner section was locked off with admission granted only at the pawnbroker's approval. It contained more valuable goods like silver and jewelry. The one-legged pawnbroker took in Bredin's greys and Lacaral's presence outside and allowed Bredin full access.
Bredin looked suspiciously at the pawnbroker. There was something familiar about him, but Bredin couldn't put a finger on it. When Bredin explained what he was looking for, the pawnbroker made several suggestions. Though the pawnbroker used the street argot of Haven, Bredin was sure he knew the voice.
Bredin finally settled on a pair of pewter candleholders. They were beautifully shaped with a vine and grape theme and small enough that Bredin could easily pack them in his saddlebags for the trip to Bransat.
It was the pawnbroker's hands which triggered Bredin's memory. As the pawnbroker took Bredin's money, Bredin noticed the strong, graceful hands. ::Herald Jadus?:: Bredin mindspoke as their hands touched.
::Very good. Now forget what you have seen.:: Jadus sent back through the link. He pushed the bag with the candleholders into Bredin's hands. "Pleasure doin' business with ye, lad."
Bredin took his package and left the shop, but he could not forget as ordered. Why was Jadus pretending to be a pawnbroker?
He put the package into the saddlebag and mounted Lacaral. His Companion remained silent while Bredin puzzled at the problem. He remembered something Teren had told him on his first orientation class. "Sometimes, Heralds act as spies, gathering information for the Queen." Bredin had already deduced that Myste was teaching him Karsite partly so he could spy on Karse. Heralds were hated and feared in Karse, so Bredin would have to do so disguised as something else.
In Haven itself, Heralds were too conspicuous to gather information secretly, so they would need disguises here as well. All kinds of people came and went in pawnshops; they would be excellent places to meet agents and get reports. Bredin knew Jadus had once been a Bardic trainee. Presumably the older Herald had been taught acting. Jadus would be a good choice to play the role of pawnbroker.
How long, Bredin wondered, had the pawnshop been a spy's nest?
::Who was Willy the Weasel?:: Bredin asked Lacaral in mindspeech.
::Very good, Chosen. The first Willy the Weasel was King's Own Herald Nicholas.:: Lacaral replied. Bredin boggled slightly. He had studied the reigns of Kings Kiril and Sedric and was fascinated by the tale of Herald Mags, so he knew who Herald Nicholas was. The notion that the King's Own Herald would operate a spy's nest was almost unbelievable.
There was something else, too. Thought they had turned several corners and the pawnshop was long out of sight, Bredin glanced back the way they had come. ::You mean that has been there for five hundred years?::
Lacaral chuckled in Bredin's mind. ::Yes. Though I doubt Herald Nicholas would recognize it now.::
Bredin mulled it all over until they reached the Palace gate. As the guard waved them through, Bredin realized that there was a lot more to being a Herald than he had ever thought.
Still bemused, Bredin untacked and groomed Lacaral. After an affectionate hug, Bredin picked up his package and trudged back to the Collegium, still pondering what he had learned.
Two days before Spring Day, Bredin packed his saddlebags with his formal greys and his gifts along with Lacaral's formal tack to head back to Bransat. He had been given special leave to attend his brother's wedding.
Bredin and Lacaral took the journey sedately as Companions went, which was still faster than any horse's pace. Neither was in a hurry to get to Bransat and both just wanted to enjoy the time together. Bredin's improving riding skills made the time spent on Lacaral's back a pleasure rather than the chore it had once been. Lacaral's smooth paces enabled Bredin to ride automatically while the two discussed the scenery and the other travellers.
When their observations of their surroundings lagged, they played the riddle game.
"Swinging and ringing, its tune is quite sharp, when silent it wears a coat made of leather; its deeds are oft told to the music of harp, but all its great deeds may be undone by a feather."
Lacaral pondered this as they passed several caravans and Bredin waved cheerfully back to the children who waved at them. As they entered the yard of The Blue and the White, Lacaral finally answered ::Excellent, Chosen. It is a [Redacted by Author – work it out yourself! ]::
Bredin laughed. He swung down from Lacaral's back and hugged his Companion as Tom Murray hurried over to tend to Lacaral and his parents emerged from the inn.
After a leisurely luncheon, Bredin and Lacaral resumed their journey. They arrived at Bransat just before supper. Bredin's family had learned one thing from his previous visit: Lacaral's stall was spotlessly clean.
Asen was eating with the Cork family that night, spending the evening with his prospective in-laws. Tomorrow night, Zelar and Enro would host both families as well as the bridesmaid and best man for the prenuptial feast. As before, Bredin answered questions about life at the Collegium and Palace.
Just as they finished eating, Tag and Rhys knocked on the door to invite Bredin to join them at the Boarshead. Zelar excused Bredin from cleaning dishes and shooed him out the door to visit with his friends. Tag and Rhys had each brought a younger sister, Mara and Faye respectively, with them. The girls were mostly silent, though their hero-worship of Bredin was transparent. Lacaral teased Bredin silently about their wide-eyed stares.
Everyone in Bransat was talking about the attempt to kill Kensie Poldara. "I heard he hid behind his servants and Geoffrey Toews died protecting him." Rhys said. "What do you know?"
"I don't know anything, I wasn't there." Bredin replied. "What the reports said was that Geoffrey was paid to set Kensie up, but the killers double-crossed him. Lord Kensie supposedly killed two of his attackers and a merchant from Hardorn killed a third. The fourth one got away, but was murdered by whoever hired him."
Tag snorted derisively. "I don't believe it. Lord Coward fought everybody and got away without a scratch while his servants got killed."
Bredin shrugged. "Lacaral believes it. And Lord Kensie got hit by a crossbow bolt in the leg."
Tag shook his head. "Sure, sure. And a sennight later, he's on his feet except when he's on his knees begging for mercy."
Bredin shrugged again. "Two of my yearmates saw that. They were headed to their weapons class when it happened. Lord Kadhael had his sword at Lord Kensie's throat and Kensie dared Kadhael to go ahead and kill him. I heard the same thing from Lord Astey and Lord Urson, who were with Kensie at the time."
"Hoity-toity!" Rhys said. "You are hanging around with highborn now?" He mock-bowed to Bredin.
Bredin suppressed a flash of annoyance. "They are in an unarmed combat class with me at the Collegium." Bredin decided not to mention that he taught the class.
Rhys snorted derisively. "He probably knew that Lord Kadhael wouldn't kill him."
"It would be murder according to the law and Lord Kadhael would have hung for it. I think that there is something about estates being confiscated, too. So, you may be right." Bredin agreed.
The conversation moved on to other matters. Mara and Faye wanted to know about Companions. When Bredin said that he was about the worst rider in the Collegium, they looked skeptical, figuring Bredin was being modest.
His friends wanted to know if he'd seen the Queen. Bredin said she came out to ride her Companion most mornings, but all the Heralds and Trainees left her alone. "She told everyone that she just wants some time to herself." Bredin decided not to mention that she had talked to him on half a dozen occasions when he was with Lacaral or Losanir; his friends would never believe it. Besides, it felt like bragging.
::A wise decision, Chosen.:: Bredin kept his face expressionless at Lacaral's comment.
The topic turned to the village gossip. Despite the chortling of his friends, Bredin found he no longer cared that Wallis Mittel had been caught in bed with Donal Rains, the magistrate's son. Rather than start a feud or disgrace their children, the fathers hastily arranged a marriage between Wallis and Magistrate Rains' daughter Peony. Peony was reportedly very unhappy about the matter.
The goings and comings of Bransat were now removed from Bredin. Even more than at Midwinter, Bredin felt like a stranger in his home town.
After Sam Rankin called 'middle time', the five left the Boarshead. With Lacaral's approval, Bredin took his friends to meet his Companion. Mara and Faye cooed and petted Lacaral for half a candlemark while their brothers looked bored. Bredin bit his lip to keep from laughing at the Companion's observations, only passing along his thanks for the treats the girls gave him.
Bredin nearly had to leave Bransat before the wedding.
The next morning, the two families got together to go over the plan for the wedding ceremony. The Priest and the Priestess of the Twain were there as well. So was Syd Nugent, who had returned to Bransat to be Asen's Best Man.
After discussing who would carry the canopy for Twyla, the conversation turned to how Asen would come to the Temple.
Asen looked at Bredin. "I will borrow your horse to ride to the Temple."
"My horse?" Bredin said. "I don't have a…." It suddenly dawned on Bredin that Asen meant Lacaral.
::Don't even think about it.:: Lacaral's mindvoice was outraged.
"Don't be daft." Asen said. "I'll borrow your Companion -" Asen put a sneering stress on Companion "- to ride to the Temple." Beside Asen, Syd rolled his eyes.
"No!" Bredin's voice rose.
"What do you mean, 'no'? Just lend me your horse for a candlemark." Asen's voice rose as well.
"He is not a horse!" Bredin was shouting now.
Syd Nugent tried to intervene. "Asen, nobody but their Chosen ever rides a Companion."
Asen ignored his friend. He shouted at Bredin. "It's only three hundred yards. I'm not stealing him! What kind of brother are you that won't help me for my wedding?"
"It has nothing to do with the wedding." Bredin retorted. "I am the only one allowed to ride Lacaral."
"Who says?" Asen rose to his feet as he spoke.
"Lacaral. He lets me ride him. No one else." Bredin stayed seated, glaring at his brother.
"Then tell him to let me ride." Asen leaned across the table.
"I will tell him nothing." Bredin snarled back. "Ask him yourself, if you like. He will say 'no'."
::I'll launch him over the rooftops.:: Lacaral rage matched Bredin's. Bredin snickered at the mind-picture Lacaral sent.
Enro got into the argument. "Are you too good for us, now?" He shouted at Bredin. "You are going to be important and don't care about your family anymore?"
"I care!" Bredin snapped back. "But I don't own Lacaral. He is my Companion and my best friend. He is a person, not my slave. You don't lend people."
"Oh by Kerenos! What a pile of horse crap!" Enro shouted back. "He's yours. Lend him to your brother for a candlemark."
"I can't. I wouldn't. I won't." Bredin glared back at his father and folded his arms across his chest.
"You little ingrate!" Enro roared. "You turn your back on your family! Very well, you are no longer part of the family. Pack your bags and go! Go back to your Collegium. I never want to see you again."
Zelar tried to protest. Enro shook her hand away and pointed at the door. Everyone sat in stunned silence.
Bredin's clenched his jaw. "Very well." He said. He started to rise.
"I am afraid you will have to find another Temple for the wedding." The Priest spoke quietly in the stillness.
Enro turned around to look at the Priest. "What do you mean?"
"Your son," the Priest emphasize the word "rescued the Statues of the God and Goddess when impious thieves stole them three years ago. It would be an insult to them if we held a ceremony where he was not welcome." He stood up.
The Priestess rose as well. "Indeed. The Twain favored your son with a gift so that he could protect their images. They sent an avatar to him to guide him and protect him."
"An avatar?" Enro looked blank.
"The Companions are avatars of the Gods." The Priestess said in the tones she would use in a Temple service. "Know ye not that?"
"Truly." The Priest said. "Valdemar prayed to the Gods for protection of his Kingdom and the Gods sent the Companions as their avatars to protect us and to Choose Heralds to aid them. Your son is one such Chosen. It would be impious to spurn them."
::They overstate it a bit. But it is nice to be appreciated.:: Lacaral seemed to have regained his humor.
Enro gaped at the Priest and Priestess, his face draining of color. After a moment, he looked down. Enro growled "Very well, he can stay."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.
Before anyone spoke, Lacaral said to Bredin. ::I can carry Asen if he rides behind you.::
Bredin spun in his chair, facing the stable as if he could see through the wall of the house.
"What's the matter?" Davan Cork asked.
"Um. Lacaral just offered a solution." Bredin said. At Asen's hopeful look, he shook his head. "You may not like it."
"Spit it out." Asen said.
"If you want, Lacaral will allow you to sit behind me on his back. I will ride and he will carry you double." Bredin sounded hesitant.
Enro was still angry. "Why didn't you say that before?"
Bredin forced himself to speak calmly. "Because Lacaral just made the offer."
Enro opened his mouth, but Zelar spoke first. "That sounds like a nice compromise." She put her hand on Enro's arm and looked sternly at Asen. "It is a very great honor to ride a Companion."
::Heartbrother, I promise to bring you an apple every day for a moon.:: Bredin mindspoke fervently.
::Only a moon? I feel slighted.:: Lacaral teased back.
The group completed the wedding plan before noon.
After luncheon, Bredin was still shaken by the family argument. He saddled Lacaral for a ride. Lacaral was as restive as Bredin. As soon as they were clear of the village, the Companion took off at the fastest gallop Bredin had ever ridden.
The two of them tore along the back roads and forest trails for half a candlemark. For once, Bredin rode easily, joined completely with his Companion in the thrill of the ride. They finished on top of Beacon Hill, overlooking the river valley and the village.
Bredin dismounted and leaned against Lacaral's shoulder. The Companion was barely sweating from the run. Bredin wrapped his arms around Lacaral's neck and kissed him. ::Love you.::
::Love you back.:: The Companion hesitated, as though reluctant to say something. ::Chosen, I confess I do not like your home.::
Bredin turned and looked at the town below. He put his cheek against Lacaral's neck. ::It's not my home anymore.::